Episode Report Card Keckler: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Starfleet and Coffee, Maple Syrup and Damn
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 26 | Aired on 05.20.2003
Bridge. Trip and Quantum literally stumble into the scene, and T'Pol tells them it's Duras. Quantum orders Reed to try out his new torpedoes and to start on "low yield." They fire, and though Duras is surprised by their upgraded weapons, not much damage is done to the Klingon ship. Quantum tells Reed to bring the yield up "fifty percent." Enterprise fires back, and rocks fall all over the Klingon bridge. Duras gets angry, and another Klingon says that the Enterprise shields have been enhanced. That's the first we've heard of it, but I assume it was all part of that retrofit they had going on in the Giant Hairclip. The Klingons drop to impulse, and Enterprise stops firing. Quantum pauses in his chair, looks down at the floor -- he's getting the spins now, isn't he? -- and gets up to demand meanly that T'Pol figure out how long it will take Duras to repair his engines. She predicts three hours. Quantum hopes to get them into Vulcan space before the Klingons get their engines back online.
Quantum's Ready Room. T'Pol enters to vacillate on her decision to return to Vulcan. Quantum lists the reasons why she should be happy to leave: bad food and smelly humans. But she knocks them both down. "How about all those emotions we bombard you with every day?" Quantum asks. She only gets one from you, kid. T'Pol says she's grown accustomed to them, and she doesn't wish to return to Vulcan. Quantum reminds her that the High Command wouldn't allow it, but T'Pol tells him that she is resigning her commission. Quantum's confused. "You're taking Enterprise into a very dangerous place. This is not the time for me to leave," T'Pol explains. He damn well better be touched by her loyalty and stop taking his one emotion out on her. Quantum thinks they'll be all right without her. "You need a science officer whether she's a member of the High Command or not," T'Pol insists. Quantum says he's been thinking about who to promote to that position. "You need me, Captain," T'Pol tells him. Quantum looks at her and leaves the room. On the Bridge, he strides around and seems to prepare himself for An Important Speech In Which Gazelles May Or May Not Be Mentioned. "Keeping away from those Klingons isn't going to be as easy as we thought," he stiffs. May-rotic City is confused. "We're not going to Vulcan," Quantum tells him. He waits for everyone's reactions and then tells I May Die 4 Weather to head for the Delphic Expanse. T'Pol slowly retakes her post. Hoshi smiles slightly. Reed doesn't really have a reaction, even though the camera seems to think he does. So, if she resigns with the High Command, does that mean no more access to the Vulcan Database? Maybe she'll secretly keep her password. Also, who pays her wages now? Is she going to earn her keep on Enterprise by swabbing decks and administering rum?