Episode Report Card Keckler: D+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Manura Penthe
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 19 | Aired on 04.08.2003
Tribunal. Whitey asks more leading questions to get Quantum to further illustrate his purer-than-the-driven-snow actions. Prosecutor Klingon shouts about Quantum's unnecessary interference in their politics while Whitey defends his client. Quantum continues with his flashbacks.
Flashback: Quantum's Quarters. Quantum tells T'Pol that they'll have to take on the Rebels With A Debatable Cause since their own ship is not seaworthy. T'Pol admits to already making arrangements along those lines, and Quantum looks at her in surprise. T'Pol explains that she anticipated his decision. They jaw a bit about how far they should take the Rebels With A Debatable Cause, before Reed implores Quantum to join them on the Bridge. Quantum and T'Pol ascend the Bridge and catch sight of a Klingon ship on the viewscreen. Considering that it's a battlecruiser, T'Pol hypothesizes that they aren't bringing supplies to the Rebels. Quantum orders the ship on Tactical Alert. Or "Reed Alert," as we like to call it around my house.
Present: Tribunal. Whitey suggests that Quantum was arming his ship as any Klingon would when faced with an attacker, but Prosecutor Klingon thinks it was a human act of war against the Empire.
Flashback: Enterprise situation room. Quantum and Qrew discuss what to do. Quantum formulates a technobabbilicious plan for Reed and his torpedoes to carry out. Something I noticed in this scene: Reed really needs to find his place in the sun -- the boy is looking downright peaked.
Present: Tribunal. Prosecutor Klingon accuses Quantum of laying a trap for the Vor'Tas, but Quantum argues that he had no intention of firing first.
Flashback: Enterprise Bridge. The Klingon ship drops out of warp with weapons charged, and Duras gets on the viewscreen and threatens them. A lot. Given that it's all from Quantum's perspective, the whole exchange is all "please" and "thank you" and "fair enough" and "let's all sit down, break bread together, and have an amiable roundtable discussion of the dispute at hand" from his end. Duras bahs him and starts firing. Enterprise fires back and heads into the ring system for cover. They hide the Starfleet ship behind a big rock and count to one hundred. Reed's torpedo thingy gets fired and takes out Enterprise's own sensors. Quantum hopes the Klingon's sensors are likewise FUBAR, and gives orders to take the ship out of there.
Present: Tribunal. Whitey points out that Quantum was just defending his own ship, and asks why he didn't destroy the Vor'Tas when he had the chance. "Because Captain Duras [I think that's 'Baggage Handler Duras' to you] is not my enemy," Quantum Nobel Peace Prizes. "Not. Your. Enemy," Whitey repeats, and turns to face the judge: "I submit to this tribunal that Captain Archer is guilty." Oh, he's going somewhere with this. Loud mutters all around -- sort of like Prime Minister's Question Hour. Whitey continues, "Guilty of meddling in Klingon affairs on more than one occasion. In fact, I've discovered that his name is well known to the High Council." Whitey goes on to relate all of Quantum's Good Klingon Deeds, and twits the opposing council for not checking out LEXUS-NEXUS. Prosecutor Klingon snarls that none of those brownie points has anything to do with the case. "It has everything to do with this case," Whitey goes on. "It shows a pattern in Archer's behavior that was repeated in his encounter with Captain Duras. Yes, he may be self-righteous [hah!] but his meddling has saved a Klingon ship and perhaps the fate of the Empire itself. If Captain Archer is guilty, he is guilty of nothing more than being a nuisance [I'll second that!] and hardly worth the attention of this Tribunal. And if he must be punished, let the punishment fit that crime."