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The Borg make what we all fear is their first of many guest appearances on Enterprise and the usual havoc wreaking ensues. When the Borg put some human and Tarkalian faces on sub-space milk cartons, Quantum of Arc predictably wants to run off and rescue them, even though T'Pol feels the exact opposite. Phlox gets bitten by the Borgtse-Borgtse fly and decides that the physician must heal thyself. Sadly, he must have eaten the paper he wrote the cure on since there's gotta be some wanked out reason why the Borg-tidote doesn't survive over the centuries. Word of caution: May showers bring anvils popping up like stinkweed in the final scene. Want more? The full recap starts right below!
We are Berman of Braga. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated into not caring about continuity ever, ever again. Also, you love the song. You want to marry the song. Ear plugs and alcoholism are reportedly futile.
Seriously? Why did they do it? I cannot understand their reasoning for retreading a plot and an arc and a story and a denouement and all the other literary jargon out there when these people, these writers are paid to BE CREATIVE! After Voyager, the Borg does not scare. The Borg bores, and yes, Bermaga, there actually IS a difference. You know, I just can't. I'm too friggin' tired from ranting the same old bile in so many recaps over the past two years. You wore me down, Bermaga, and all I can say is that you suck. You suck for not coming up with something original. You suck for ruining the Borg in the last series and not acknowledging the fact that you ruined them. And you suck for not even getting trying to get Borg facts correct. I mean, what the hell is with the six Borg being downed by the same type of weapon before they adapted?! Did you even bother with an explanation? But do know how you suck the most? For just being so lousy that you've siphoned all my creativity away and the worst word I can come up with is "suck." So suck this, Bermaga. And you think I'm mad now? Just wait until my sexism rant week when you put T'Pol "in heat" while the two of you giggle like the prattish schoolboys you are.
Luckily, you seem to employ some sort of smidgen of talent on your staff and on the soundstage. Billingsley as usual rocked the screen left, right, and cross-eyed, as did Linda Park who we do not see integrated into enough episodes. Dominic Keating is making slow steps towards recovering his dignity lost so long ago (and again with his Bum Check last week) and really shone in this episode. And it wasn't just the sparkly lip gloss, either. The pacing was fairly good, and there actually were some tense moments in there, but still -- it's the Borg, guys. I just can't get past that gross failing on the part of the writers not to do something other than what's already been done to death, resurrected from the grave, and just done again.
Arctic Circle. In the midst of a gigglenormous destroyed ship, three humans (for now) find a few Ice Borgs. I was half expecting a Borg fist to come bursting through the skating rink and grab onto one of the scientists ankles. What -- you think Bermaga wouldn't stoop?
What did we tell us about the song? Put the damn earplugs away and dump that goblet of vodka down the drain. What part about "resistance is futile" didn't we understand? Don't make us come back there and assimilate us again because we'll pull the sphere right over! And knock that tone of thought off -- do we think we can't hear us?
The soon-to-become-one-with-the-collective scientists make plans to get the "humanoid species" out of their ice trays. In a lab, they goggle over the Borg's bio-mechanics and multi-specied background. They plan to transmit their info to Starfleet in hopes of finding a match. And also so no one can argue that the reason why no one knows about the Borg in two hundred years is because Starfleet was completely unaware of them. Another scientist -- we'll call her 1 of 4 -- determines that the ship's debris has been there for about one hundred years. And they're just finding it now because they can colonize the moon, but getting up to the Arctic Circle on a regular basis is difficult? A rogue Borg arm starts whirring its doohickey and then stops. The 4 of 4 scientists note in their livejournals that they are spooked. I'd like hands like that -- I could put a whisk attachment on one and a 12-inch blade on the other. I'd be a terror in the kitchen!
Under microscopic investigation, the Borg's nanotechnology is discovered. "They're not just regenerating the damaged tissue, they're repairing the mechanical components as well!" 3 of 4 bores me and everyone else who has seen any of the other eight hundred Borg appearances in Trek. "The Denobulans have experimented with nanotechnology, but nothing like this," 4 of 4 explains. I believe that particular Denobulan research project is titled "Project Convenience." 3 of 4 suggests a safer course of action in dealing with the examination of the Borg, as in under "controlled circumstances," but the other 2 of 4 disagree. Somebody's getting dead tonight!
Outside. 1 of 4 offhandedly mentions that the crashed ship was once a "perfect sphere," just to quell everyone's "but-but-but what about First Contact?" fears. For me, there will be no quelling. Nor will there be any quashing, squelching, or any sort of vanquishing. The very fact that Borg are in this episode is a realization of all my fears for this series. 1 of 4 and 2 of 4 read a warp signature and go to investigate.
Inside. 4 of 4 brings 3 of 4 some coffee and says he has to go fix a radiator. He asks 3 of 4 if he'll be okay on his own. "Go ahead, I'll be fine," 3 of 4 says, waving a gun. It's got all the trappings of a bad horror movie. We know what's going to happen; we know he's not going to be "fine," and all they need is for the virgin among them to survive. 4 of 4 leaves. 3 of 4 spills his coffee, painstakingly cleans it up, and notices some readings on the computer screen. "Feeling better?" he asks the Borg sarcastically. Dude, don't taunt the Borg!
Outside. 1 of 4 wonders at the deuterium readings, and wants to find out if it's a warp coil.
Inside. The computer starts beeping, and 3 of 4 looks down at one of the Borg. The Borg's eyes are going fly open any minute now. Okay, or his mouth. The Borg gasps a bit. Do Borg breathe? I suppose that could be as rife with controversy and migraines as the same question applied to vampires. 3 of 4 starts taking readings of the Borg, and the Borg opens his eyes. The green-tinted light of Borg TV shows 3 of 4's face hovering over him.
Outside. 1 of 4 and 2 of 4 struggle with the warp coil removal until suddenly, they are distracted by something. I couldn't figure it out until I saw closed captioning indicating there was "loud gasping in distance." Because it makes perfect sense that they could hear "loud gasping in distance" happening inside the lab, when they were outside the lab in the violent Arctic winds that seem to be whipping around them. They run to check it out and see laser fire.
Upside-Down. In the lab, 1 of 4 and 2 of 4 see that at least one of the recovered Borg is missing; another one still lies on the examination table. They find 3 of 4 flat out behind some stuff, and he's gasping. We can see the grey lines of telltale Borg infection shooting up his throat. 2 of 4 orders 1 of 4 to get him a medical kit, but 1 of 4 runs smack into another Borg, who blinds her with his one red headlight.
Shot of my future hometown in the future. Admiral Forrest is told by Commander Bo Hunk that no one has heard from the excavation team in several days. The Admiral orders a sh'pod prepped.
Arctic Circle. Sh'pod lands at Borg crash site. The security team (and Admiral Forrest, I think?) enters the abandoned lab. Cmdr. Bo Hunk and the Admiral exchange looks of concern.
Wow. Seventeen whole minutes into the episode, and no sign of team Enterprise yet? Someone out there is trying to make me like this episode. Try harder.
Enterprise. Situation Alcove. Quantum pages through images of the Borg in the Arctic Circle lab and says the Admiral thinks that the technologically enhanced humanoids abducted the excavation team. Reed wants to know what they can do, as they aren't exactly near the Arctic Circle. "Earth tracking systems spotted the transport leaving orbit at warp three-point-nine," Quantum explains. Here's a question -- what did the Borg use as transport? The research team's vessel? Some babbling that the Borg reconfigured the transport to increase its warp capabilities. Quantum announces that they've been ordered to find the ship, since extrapolation puts the Borg ship in their neck of the woods. They make plans to start a search in the surrounding system, and go on tactical alert. Only Trip and Quantum remain in the Sitch Alcove. "Buried in the ice for a century," Trip comments, looking down at the images. "Hard to believe anything could survive," Quantum responds. "Handsome devil," Trip grins, and walks off. Nope, not a smidgen of a shred of a hint about what went on between them in the last episode. I was really hoping for something. Then again, I believe they filmed these eps in a completely different order from their air sequence.
Sick Bay. Reed can't figure out the bio-metric data that the excavation team gathered before their untimely assimilation, and he needs Phlox's brains. As Phlox is happy to help, Reed wants to start with the dismembered arm that appears to contain a weapon. Cannon Boy is desirous of knowing the yield of the weapon. "What sort of people would replace perfectly good body parts with cybernetic implants?" Reed wonders. Phlox thinks that he of all people should be open-minded about this kind of stuff. Reed says that as long as it stays outside of his skin, he's okay with it. Phlox asks Reed how adverse he'd be to technology getting under his skin if he needed a heart transplant and the transplant was a completely synthetic heart. Omigod, what a coincidence -- Cpt. Picard in Star Trek: The Generation has one of those! What are the odds they'd mention that here in this completely original and never-used-before storyline? "That's different," Reed insists. Here's where Phlox babbles about the Binars (the BINARS!) and says that, at birth, the babies have their parietal lobe removed and replaced with a synaptic processor. Reed's not interested. Getting back to the Borg data, Phlox can't find any evidence of the arm containing a weapon, which makes Reed wonder how the Borg ever overpowered the heavily armed research team.
Quantum's Ready Room. T'Pol reports picking up an automated distress call from a Tarkalean freighter.
Bridge. Hoshi reads the S.O.S. back, which amounts to the Tarkaleans requesting immediate assistance, as they are under attack by an unknown species. May-XX thinks it will take them an hour to reach the freighter. Quantum orders the course set.
Enterprise arrives on the scene to see the Borg transport vessel doing stuff with a green laser to the Tarkalean ship. There aren't any explosions evident, so it must just be remodifications. Opening a channel, Quantum attempts to tell the Borg to back off. Instead of responding, the Borg ship charges weapons and fires a proton burst. "Those kind of transports aren't normally armed!" Reed announces, as T'Pol comes to the obvious conclusion that the engines aren't the only things the Borg upgraded. T'Pol detects nine bio-signs on the Borg ship, and reports that the readings are erratic. The Borg ship continues to fire on Enterprise, and Quantum tells Reed to disable the enemy weapons. With two red blasts, Reed reports that the Borg's weapons are down. That's all it took? As the Borg ship jumps to warp, Quantum decides he wants to rescue the remaining barely-alive Tarkaleans from the disabled ship. He and Reed catch a sh'pod and leave T'Pol in charge.
Sick Bay. Phlox examines two Tarkaleans and posits that they'll live, but many of their inner systems have been replaced by nanoprobes. "Essentially, these individuals are being transformed into some sort of cybernetic hybrid," Phlox finishes. Since the human bio-signs on the Borg ship were erratic, T'Pol thinks the abducted Arctic scientists are going through a similar transformation. Phlox can't surgically remove the nanoprobes, as they are multiplying with a quickness, but he thinks he may be able to slow their rate with a retrovirus. T'Pol suggests isolating the two Tarkaleans in the Decon chamber. Phlox pooh-poohs this, saying that he wouldn't be able to treat them as effectively, and opines that they are no danger to the crew. "I'm not so sure," Quantum says, looking at the Tarkaleans. "I'll have Malcolm post a guard. Keep me updated." So now we're supposed to buy that Quantum has suddenly had a flash of intelligence here? What about in "Dear Doctor" and "Breach" when he brought aliens aboard for treatment without posting a guard in Sick Bay?
Quantum's Ready Room. Quantum reads TWoP and wonders over the term "HoYay!" Didn't I just tell you he's not that bright? T'Pol enters to tell him that she contacted Tarkalea and let them know they are doing all they can for their planetmen. Look, "countrymen" works, so don't quibble with "planetmen." Quantum's been taking his Ginkgo Biloba today, and has his second big flash of insight when he tells T'Pol that there's "something familiar about all this." "But I couldn't put my finger on it until I found this speech Zephram Cochrane made eighty-nine years ago." Quantum drones some more about reading everything (including Starfleet washroom graffiti) ever written about Cochrane. "He was giving a commencement address at Princeton ["Shout-out to me and to Sars!" -- Mathra] when he started to talk about what really happened during First Contact. He mentioned a group of cybernetic creatures from the future who tried to stop his first warp flight when he was living in Montana. He said they were defeated by a group of humans, who were also from the future." "As I recall, Cochrane was famous for his imaginative stories," T'Pol comments. He was also a big drunk. "He was also known to be frequently intoxicated," T'Pol finishes. Okay, then. Quantum agreed that no one took him seriously, and that he recanted the whole thing a few years later. "But you have to admit there are similarities," Quantum insists. "He said their ultimate goal was to enslave the human race," T'Pol reads. "If he was right," Quantum adds, "they may be heading back to their homeworld so they can try again." And again. And again.
You know that whole having a queen and living in a hive thing the Borg have going on? Well, does that mean that every time any of the collective comes back to report on the assimilation of a new species, they have to do a little butt-waggling dance so the rest of the hive knows the location of the planet?
Sick Bay. One of the Tarkaleans starts to wake up and freak out. Phlox decides to sedate him, but the Tarkalean starts a fight instead. The other Tarkalean jumps up and tosses a few of the security guards aside. The first Tarkalean injects Phlox's neck with two Borg wires and throws him across the room. The Tarkaleans escape up a shaft.
Blackness. Multiple voices whisper. Quantum's voice penetrates. Phlox opens his eyes. That was pretty cool. Quantum helps Phlox to his feet as Phlox explains that they were attacked. Phlox scans himself and quietly says that he's been infected with the nanoprobes. "One of the aliens injected me with some sort of...tubules," Phlox says. Aw, he sounds so upset. Last night? John Billingsley and I got married. Reed shows Quantum how the Tarkaleans escaped, and Quantum orders all maintenance shafts sealed off, with guards posted at every access point. "When you find them, put them in Decon, maximum security!" Quantum orders. Isn't he precious -- thinking they're actually going to apprehend the Borg. What childlike innocence mixed with colossal torpidity of mental functions he has. In a voice breaking with emotion, Phlox cautions Reed that the Borgaleans are very strong: "It's critical that you don't let them touch you!" Phlox scans a security officer and tells him he hasn't been infected. The security guard thanks him in a British (?) accent, and Quantum whisper-orders him to stay with Phlox. "Understood," the security officer responds in a definitely British accent. Quantum furrows at Phlox's turned back. "Call the Bridge if you need anything," Quantum offers. Phlox slowly turns around and says his Edosian slugs might like some boiled rootleaf. "I usually pick some up from the galley, but under the circumstances…" Phlox trails off. Quantum touches his doctor on the arm and assures him he'll have some sent down. That's mighty big of him -- why doesn't he bring it down his own damn self?
Bowels of ship. The Borgaleans fiddle with the ship.
Engineering. In a trying-to-be-ironic-but-failing-miserably parallel, Trip is telling Quantum how the Borgumans modified the Arctic vessels, but since the majority of us out there already know what the Borg can accomplish when they put their minds to it, I'm not going into the same amount of excruciating and REPETITIVE detail. Quantum notes that not all the aft-plating has been modified, and comes up with a plan to shoot the Arctic ship and disable it. T'Pol reports that she's located the Arctic ship, travelling at warp four-point-eight. The plate of anvil pasta tells me that they better hurry up or the Borgumans will soon upgrade that warp speed to one beyond that which Enterprise is capable. Quantum orders May-XX go find the Arctic ship, and asks Trip to "coax a little more power out of the engines." As he leaves, Quantum hopes the Borgumans haven't had time to upgrade their weapons.
Reed searches for the Borgaleans. The Borgaleans tamper with more of the ship's systems. Reed finds the Borgaleans tampering, and commands them to stop or else he'll shoot. They don't stop. Reed shoots. After the first shot, the Borgalean barely sways in reaction. Reed orders his security team to kick their weapons up a notch to maximum. They fire again. This time, the lasers don't even get a reaction out of the Borgalean. Although there's none of that cool squared-off shielding either. They try a few more shots, and the Borgalean advances on them. Reed orders his team to fall back. The second Borgalean finds them and beats them up. The Borgalean starts to do some assimilating on one of the security team, but Reed conks him on the head with his gun and knocks him out. The security team escapes unassimilated. Reed contacts the Bridge, reporting the location of the Borgaleans and the fact that they were fiddling around with a portion of the ship.
Bridge. Quantum asks T'Pol what systems are located there and she reports, "Warp plasma regulators." After Quantum determines that Reed is in a full-on retreat, May-XX announces that their warp field is destabilizing. "It's them," T'Pol confirms. "Isn't there an outer hatch in that junction?" Quantum asks. "Yes," confirms T'Pol. Awesome! Quantum tells Reed to get his team out of the section and to seal it off behind them. Reed complies. Quantum orders a drop out of warp. Reed reports that they're clear of the maintenance shaft. "Subcommander," Quantum says. T'Pol pushes some buttons. Enterprise vomits the Borgaleans into space. "The junction's empty," T'Pol reports calmly. Quantum wants Reed to put his head together with Trip and figure out what the Borgaleans did to the ship. "Resume course and speed," Quantum chokes out. "You had no choice," T'Pol tells him. Quantum won't look at her as he wriggles his facial muscles in an attempt to look as though he's controlling a quivering lip. Oh, please! He's upset over the death of some aliens who might have killed his doctor and who could have slaughtered his whole crew? That's really taking Archer's bleeding heart a little too far for believability's sake.
Sick Bay. Hoshi arrives with some food for Phlox and for his animals. Phlox refuses his own meal of angel hair pasta. Hoshi pleads that he needs to keep up his strength. "If I eat, my cellular metabolism will accelerate. The nanoprobes could spread further," Phlox rasps. Hoshi puts the tray down and says it's there for him if he changes his mind. "Why are you wearing a phase pistol?" Phlox suddenly asks, noticing Hoshi's hip. "Oh, it's Lieutenant Reed's idea. If you come near me, I'm supposed to shoot you," Hoshi says casually. Hee. "I hope you'll use the stun setting," Phlox says. Instead of answering, Hoshi offers to keep Phlox company. Phlox refuses, arguing that he has no idea how dangerous he could become. "I'm armed, remember?" Hoshi reminds him. Phlox says nothing, and Hoshi tells him that he's looked after her so many times, she'd like to return the favor. "The technology could assert itself at any moment. I don't know what will happen if it does. I underestimated these nanoprobes once, I don't intend to make the same mistake twice," Phlox says. We can see a patch of the grey-white skin of the Borg on Phlox's neck. "Mind if I feed your animals before I go?" Hoshi asks. Phlox nods and half-smiles his assent. Hoshi steps over to the cages and starts feeding. Phlox glances over at her with an eerie look on his face, then shakes his head slightly and looks down at his data.
Maintenance shaft. Reed and Trip gossip as they attempt to untangle the Borg technology. Trip wonders why the Borgaleans were trying to overload the plasma drive and blow up a ship they themselves were on. Reed admits to being impressed by the personal shields the Borgaleans had on them: "We might as well have been firing holographic bullets." Having said that, Reed suddenly comes up with a way to penetrate the Borg shields, and runs off to the armory. I think he just realized that his lipliner isn't showing up in the dim light of the shaft.
Mess Hall. T'Pol drinks tea. Quantum walks in, looks at the racks of food, and orders up a coffee with cream. "I believe Crewmen Cunningham is in the galley if you would like something else," T'Pol comments. So, Chef has a Garde Manger? Quantum says he'll be fine with his coffee. Of course he will, because his sudden conscience attack is leaving him without an appetite. God. It's after six o'clock, Quantum. You can stop being sanctimonious. Quantum joins T'Pol, who says, "Lt. Reed told me that you plan to disable the transport when we find it." Quantum says, "He thinks we can knock out the power systems without causing too much damage." T'Pol realizes that this means Quantum still thinks he can save the humans. "That's the general idea," Quantum says. Well, I think it's generally STUPID. T'Pol attempts to reason with her thickheaded captain, pointing out that if the humans are transformed by the nanoprobes, there will be no rescuing going on. "I wanna take these people home. The humans and the Tarkaleans. No matter what state they're in," Quantum nobles. Great. So they can infect each of their ENTIRE PLANETS in turn! T'Pol tries to make Quantum understand that bringing infected individuals aboard Enterprise could endanger his entire crew: "Perhaps you should reconsider." "Are you saying we shouldn't go after that ship?" Quantum duhs. "I'm saying we destroy it," T'Pol clarifies. Phlox comms Quantum. Quantum sits for a bit before answering, which really pissed me off, considering what sort of state Phlox is known to be in. Phlox asks him to please come to Sick Bay. Quantum opens the door, but as The Strings Of The Noble Brow sound off, he feels the urge to deliver a short speech: "I'm not ready to declare them a lost cause."
Sick Bay. Phlox explains his research progress and the fact that the nanoprobes, while slowed a bit by his Denobulan immune system, are "persistent little fellows, and it won't be long before they adapt." Quantum asks about possible treatment. Phlox tells him intense radiation is the way to go. "Their intra-molecular processors appear to be vulnerable to omicron particles. But if one of the nanoprobes survives, it will start to multiply again, so I'll need to program a rather excessive dose. The side effects will not be pleasant," Phlox explains. Phlox hands over a hypospray to Quantum and instructs him to inject him with it if he is unsuccessful. Phlox explains it is "a cure of sorts" and that it will kill him instantly. "Aren't you jumping the gun a little?" Quantum asks, getting all annoying again about preserving life that really isn't his choice to preserve. "I have no intention of turning into one of those cybernetic creatures," Phlox tells him.
Armory. Reed tests a new weapon and seems happy with the outcome. He orders as many phase pistols modified to his specs as possible.
Enterprise pursues the Arctic transport.
T'Pol and Reed both note that the ship has upgraded more stuff since they last laid eyes on it. Quantum increases Enterprise's speed and commands that they target the EPS manifold. The Arctic transport drops to impulse. Enterprise follows suit. Hoshi reports, "They're sending a transmission. Some sort of activation sequence?" Quantum flings himself out of his chair and orders her to block it. She can't. Suddenly, Enterprise's engineering systems go offline and the green of the Borg systems takes over. From his access shaft, Trip reports something about stuff lighting up like a Christmas tree. Shut up, Trip. T'Pol announces that their main power is failing, and Reed says they're losing weapons. "They set us up," Quantum growls. You think? Not those nice Tarkaleans you want to bring back to their homeworld no matter what state they're in! Hoshi announces an audio hail. Are we really ready for this? Quantum starts to say, "This is Captain Archer," but his polite greeting is hilariously truncated by: "You will be assimilated. Resistence is futile." Everyone looks confused.
The Arctic ship swings its bow around to face Enterprise.
The great thing about the Borg is that, being a collective, they never feel alienated as teens. They don't have to fret about who they will go to the dance with -- they'll just go as a group. They can't complain about not being understood, since their minds are all connected. And forget about sulking in their room to write embarrassingly angsty poetry, because if one of them writes bad poetry, they'll all be writing bad poetry. You know, I never felt alienated as a teen and I sort of feel alienated about that. Alienated, alienated, alienated. What were we talking about?
The Arctic transport -- screw it, it's a Borg ship, okay? -- fires at Enterprise. Quantum wants weapons from Trip, who says it's going to be a few minutes. Where's his team of engineers? Why doesn't he have anyone helping him? Reed reports a loss of hull plating. Quantum ascertains that the transporter is still online, and tells Reed to come with him. T'Pol calls out to him for instructions. "I'm counting on you to pull us out of there," Quantum tells her. He and Reed leave.
Sick Bay. More of the Borg complexion is taking over Phlox's face. Phlox starts to hear the gibbers of the Collective, and looks around blankly. The security guard rushes to his side. Phlox tells him that he needs him to activate the irradiation sequence once he's in the chamber. Phlox drags himself onto a SCAT bed, and the bed takes him into the chamber. Good thing all the firing on the ship and the loss of power doesn't seem to be affecting Sick Bay's energy sources in the least. Inside the chamber, Phlox is sitting up as the radiation starts. At first I thought he was smiling evilly, but it turns out his grin is more like a rictus of death as he whimpers in pain. Ew.
Transporter pad. Reed explains what he's done to the weapons, and advises that it might take a few seconds to recharge after each shot. Quantum orders the guy operating the transporter (they don't call them Transporter Chiefs yet, do they?) to set them down close to the Borg ship's EPS manifold. In an odd slo-mo, we see the transporter operator's hands pushing up the levers. Quantum and Reed pose for transport with their weapons aimed. It struck me as such an A-Team stance that I giggled. On board the Borg ship, they look around.
Enterprise continues to lose hull plating.
Borg ship. Without comment, Quantum and Reed examine the Borg in their regeneration closets. Now all we need is for a Borg to walk calmly by them and not molest them and the cycle will be complete. Second time watching this, Reed looks really comical in this scene. As Quantum scans stuff, he's got his weapon out and is sometimes walking in a half-crouch. Two Borg advance on them from behind. Quantum and Reed easily take them out. Upon closer examination, Quantum discovers that one of them was one of the Arctic Circle scientists. "'Was'?" Reed wonders. Quantum shows him the scans he just took and points out that the bio-signs are no longer human. I guess this means Quantum finally got it into his thick head that this isn't a search-and-rescue effort anymore. A flock of Borg come at them, and Quantum and Reed back away quickly.
Enterprise. Hoshi announces that six bio-signs have come aboard. T'Pol orders a security alert and asks Trip how much longer he's going to take. Trip thinks he's nearly there.
Borg ship. Quantum and Reed fire at the flock of Borg, knocking two of them down. Shouldn't they have modified their shields after they took out the first two? This is just insanely easy for the humans. Quantum scans the downed bodies, and again determines that they were once human but have since shuffled off that coil for a techno one.
Enterprise. A security team uses their newly modified weapons on the six Borg and take down two of them. Again, what is with the Borg not modifying their shielding?! This is absolutely ridiculous. The security team tries to fire at the remaining four Borg, and FINALLY the Borg's shielding has adapted to ward off their weapons. The security team retreats. The Borg follow.
Borg ship. A Borg grabs Reed from behind and holds him up against a wall by his neck. Quantum aims his pistol at the offending Borg, but the Borg ignores him. Quantum sheathes his weapon and tries hitting him instead. The Borg still doesn't react, so Quantum pulls a tube from his head and wrestles him away from Reed. In the most hysterical shot of the night, Reed launches himself at the Borg's middle and tackles him and Quantum to the ground. What was so hysterical about that? The angle in which Reed attacks from. He flies through the air, almost perfectly horizontal to the floor, and I just can't think of any way someone could do that without the help of an off-camera springboard. I rewound it many times and even paused the tape when Reed was in mid-air. You have to give me my small amusements. Something that Quantum and Reed do -- which naturally is not explained -- sends the Borg into paroxysms of static electricity, and he shorts out. Quantum and Reed finally find the EPS manifold, fighting a few more Borg as they come out of their closets (again having not adapted to their phaser fire, regardless of the fact that now six of the collective have been taken down by the exact same phaser frequency), and put some doodads on the EPS manifold.
Enterprise. May-XX announces that they've lost hull-plating, and Hoshi adds that the Borg are cutting into the hull. T'Pol wants that section evacuated.
Borg ship. As Reed continues to fiddle, Quantum fires at some more Borg. This time his phaser fire is met with the Borg shielding. "They've adapted," Quantum says. "Hurry, Malcolm!" Took them bloody long enough, with no explanation as to why these particular Borg must be such thickies! Oh, right -- because Bermaga want them that way. Quantum orders T'Pol to transport them out. The Borg gather around the EPS manifold and pick up all the doodads Reed left behind.
Enterprise transporter pad. Quantum nods at Reed, who pushes a button on some little remote thing. On the Borg ship, all the doodads explode in the Borg hands, as does the EPS manifold. From outer space, we see a small explosion take place on the Borg ship.
Trip announces that the alien circuits are all losing power and that Enterprise's weapons are coming back online. Inexplicably, the four remaining Borg on Enterprise phase out. On the Bridge, T'Pol tells Quantum that both the Borg vessel and the alien circuitry have been disabled. Quantum seems to see something in the distance as T'Pol asks him if he found the research team. "There isn't anyone on that ship we can help anymore," he says. May-XX and Hoshi exchange looks. Reed reports that something is happening on the Borg ship: "Their systems are being restored. They're charging weapons!" Quantum orders, "Target their warp core and hit them with everything we've got!" With some spectacular special effects, the Borg ship explodes. "Get me Admiral Forrest," Quantum growls at no one in particular as he goes to his Ready Room.
Quantum logs that their repairs are underway, they are flying around at low warp, and Phlox thinks he'll make a complete recovery.
Sick Bay. T'Pol and Quantum pay Phlox a visit. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Quantum demands. Phlox says he's catching up on paperwork: "Nothing too strenuous, I assure you. It's vital to keep the mind occupied during the healing process." "They say doctors make the worst patients," Quantum comments. Whatever, buddy -- it sounded to me like Phlox was making good sense, not a bad patient. Phlox's makeup is really excellent in this scene; he's pasty and dry-looking and there're even veins showing through as a result of the intense radiation treatment. In a disturbed tone, Phlox tells Quantum about his experience being mentally connected to a "group consciousness." At first T'Pol and Quantum don't believe him, because he was under such a great deal of strain. Phlox insists that it "seemed" very real, and though he couldn't understand most of it, he got the distinct impression that they were trying to send a sub-space message. "They transmitted a numerical sequence," Phlox continues, reaching for an e-pad. "I heard it over and over again." T'Pol and Quantum examine the e-pad.
Quantum's Ready Room. T'Pol enters, and Quantum tells her that he's been examining Phlox's numerical sequence: "They're pulsar frequencies with geometric light-year measurements." "Spatial coordinates," T'Pol adds. "Don't even use 'Delta Quadrant' because that term doesn't exist yet!" Mathra screams. "They told their homeworld how to find Earth," Quantum says. "Did you learn where the message was sent?" T'Pol asks. "Somewhere deep in the Delta Quadrant," Quantum says as Mathra's head explodes. Great, another mess I have to clean up. Thanks a whole buncharoo, Bermaga! T'Pol doesn't think they're in immediate danger: "It would take at least two hundred years for a sub-space message to reach the Delta Quadrant, assuming it's received at all." And in case that TNG anvil landed on the part of your brain that can do basic addition: "Sounds to me like we've only postponed the invasion until what? The twenty-fourth century?" Quantum rejoins.
week: As tango music plays, Bermaga equate T'Pol with a bitch in heat and seem to think it's sexy. Minor rant: People can defend Bermaga to their dying day and say that UPN picks the promos, but remember, Bermaga has to sanction them. The big red letter for "objectifying and degrading women as much as possible" is just as much on their chests as it is on the network's. And to further add to my pain, I have another ep to recap that week in which Quantum punches out Keith Carradine. Why oh why isn't Quantum the one getting punched?