This finale rocked so hard that I haven't been this wound up since "Twilight," and Dr. Mathra's now got the bruises to prove it. You gotta love that the episode OPENS with the Snake Eyes toasting each other with mice that they then EAT! Okay, okay, it's sort of Spike with the kittens (except he never ate them. Onscreen.), but it's way more V-"mousie mousie," so it's way more awesome. But due to the totally WTF ending, if you took off your head and hid it under the couch, only to find it in the fridge grazing on the pickles, you weren't alone. But it was awesome.
Previously on Enterprise, the whole damn season happened. Got questions? Wanna know why no one really knows what the Temporal Cold War is, or why I started drinking at nine o'clock in the morning since they dropped that storyline along with the Suliban and Shower Guy? Read the recaps.
A passel of Snake Eyes stand around, swirling drinks in cups and gloating. "If they had made us the dominant species before The Wars, our homeworld would still exist," Dolum comments in what sounds like a blaspheremous statement. "And our Avian brothers would still fill the skies," another Snake Eyes says, swirling his cup. What's with the swirling? Is this the Reptilian Wine Tasting Society? "We should be grateful that the Golden Girls have finally come to their senses," Dolum says. The camera pans down to show an ashtray with a few squirming mice in it. The Snake Eyes each grab a squealer by the tail and hold them up in the air as Dolum hubrises on. And on. The Snake Eyes toast Dolum's blather and lower the mice into their mouths with lots of noisy gobbling. Dolum's the only one who looks like he actually chewed his snack rather than just deep-throating it. I guess that's because Scott McDonald gets his name in the credits. Of course, now that we've seen them eat fuzzy cute things, they can't possibly ever get redeemed. It's like having a smoker on teen shows. And the Avians mention with required "fill the skies" comment? WHY did they never bring them back? It's like they intended to include them in a storyline as more than just legend but never got around to it. Given the continuous harping, I'm really kinda bugged by that.
On top of Old Hokey
All covered with boudong,
I lost my whole stomach
Because of this song
For watching's a pleasure,
But spewing is grief,
And a stink-twisted singer,
Is worse than a queef.
“ Quantum reminds us that they are going to have to disable Mega Maid from the inside. You know, one would think that the reason to suffer through five minutes of previouslies is so one wouldn't have to wade through all this knee-deep exposition! ”
Mr. Man updates us that they will reach Snake Eyes and their ever-Pledging Mega Maid in a few hours. Because he's Mr. The Lipfinity Is Half-Empty, Reed complains that they aren't well-armed, and asks how many snake nests are escorting Mega Maid. Mr. Man stares off into the distance and says, "I can't tell," as though he were trying to be psychic about it or something. Quantum reminds us that they are going to have to disable Mega Maid from the inside. You know, one would think that the reason to suffer through five minutes of previouslies is so one wouldn't have to wade through all this knee-deep exposition! Three-Toed is unable to read Degra's encrypted schematics on Mega Maid, so Quantum announces that they need Hoshi. "She's in no condition to come up here," Reed protests firmly with his arms crossed. "I wish I had a choice, Malcolm!" Quantum furr-bellows. "Sir, she's barely conscious," Reed insists. Quantum asks Three-Toed to "transport [Degra's schematics] to a PADD -- something portable." Three-Toed nods.
We zoom to Florida, where Rose is telling another one of her St. Olaf stories that make all Minnesotans look like freaks and babbling weirdoes. The other Golden Girls ignore her (as usual) and bitch that their favorable outcomes in the timeline are still diminishing even though Mega Maid is about to reach Earth. Dorothy reminds us that Enterprise is on its way to fool with a sphere, and that can't be allowed to happen. Especially since Stan's back in town and he stopped wearing his toupee.
Enterprise. Technobabble between T'Pol and Trip as they try to get ready to emit a special pulse to destroy Sphere 41. They're encountering difficulties. "Two hours, Mr. Tucker!" T'Pol orders. So, we're back to formalities again? Also, even before she CRACK WHORED out his nickname last week, wasn't she usually calling him "Commander Tucker"? Does her new position as acting captain compel the "Mister" out of her bee-stung mouth? Trip gets irritated that their orders were to attempt to pull the plug on the spheres, not to destroy Enterprise in the process. "Has it occurred to you what will happen if Cpt. Archer fails? If Earth is destroyed?" T'Pol CRACK PIPES. "Ev'ry day," Trip answers. "Good, then you've already come to the conclusion that without humanity, there's no one to combat these Golden Girls. Their Expanse will continue to grow, encompassing one system after another," T'Pol CRACK PIPES on. Trip makes a face like he hasn't actually considered that. Why am I not surprised? "Your world is no longer the only one in jeopardy," T'Pol finishes. Okay, I have some problems with that idea. First of all, the "without humanity" part? Is bullshit, as will be proven when Shran shows up and takes out the Xindi without even breaking a blue sweat. We also know that since the Vulcans, Andorians, Klingons and a bunch of other species they've run into in three years have been in space much longer, they have better ships and better weapons. How would this be only humanity's battle? Don't you think that once Earth was destroyed -- or hopefully before, but we're not seeing too many signs of that now, which is a rant I will get to later -- those OTHER species would scratch their antennae, cranial ridges, or what have you, and say, "Hmm, this doesn't look good for us"? Stop making the humans be the most important beings in all n dimensions! It's stupid and it doesn't make sense! T'Pol again gives Trip two hours and leaves.
“ Hoshi's eyes wander away. Quantum grabs her face between his hands and whispers, 'Everything depends on it -- do you understand?' Yeah, they're getting together season. ”
Bridge. May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 is worried because with the sphere's cloaking barrier, they shouldn't be picking up anything on Sphere 41. However, they are picking up readings on something, and whatever's out there is getting bigger. He figures they could be anomalies, but they are clustered more tightly together than they've ever seen before.
Sickbay. Phlox has done some analysis for T'Pol, and determines that the Golden Girls are transforming the space around Sphere 41. "Not unlike the disturbance where we found the trans-dimensional being," Phlox adds. And though I'm still annoyed that -- as Sickbay seems to be very empty at this point -- it's clear he wasn't REALLY needed here and could have been tending Hoshi, I'll wager we got a lot more of Billingsly this way. Playing nursie to Hoshi would have been a very flat and uneventful role for him in this particular episode. T'Pol and Phlox discuss the ins and outs of getting near the sphere without killing the entire crew. Phlox says he can whip up a prescription that will keep them all conscious for twelve minutes, but there's nothing he can do to prevent the resulting ringworm. T'Pol CRACK WHORES that twelve minutes won't be enough time. Phlox encourages Trip and T'Pol to come up with a way to abbreviate their pulse plan so that twelve minutes is enough time.
Vortex. Degra's ship flies. We see an empty bed and pan over to find Hoshi wrapped in a blanket, staring blankly at the desk. Quantum pops in: "Any luck?" She doesn't respond. "Ensign?" Quantum prompts. In this case, I think it would be more appropriate to call her by her name, not her rank. Ass. Hoshi sighs that she doesn't feel very well, and creeps back to bed. She asks if Phlox can come down to see her. Quantum reminds her that they are on Degra's ship. Hoshi whimpers that she's not sure what she's supposed to be doing, and Quantum reminds her that she's supposed to be dealing with Degra's Le Chiffre Indchiffrable so he can save the world. "I gave them the third code," Hoshi creels, "they wouldn't have been able to arm the weapon if I hadn't given them the third code!" Quantum reminds her and us that she was drugged. "Drugged"? That's a bit soft for what I think they actually did to her, but whatever, Mr. D. Nial. Hoshi cries that she should have fought harder. Quantum bites at himself before hauling Hoshi out of bed and quivering at her that she needs to finish what she's doing. He sits her down at the desk and tells her she's almost there. "We're going to board the Mega Maid -- try to overload the power systems, but we can't DO THAT until we can READ THESE SCHEMATICS!" Hoshi sits there before muttering that she tried to jump, but she wasn't fast enough. "You need to finish THIS!" Quantum shouts. Hoshi jumps up and pushes at Quantum, who backs up quickly, and she screams, "You got the three codes, so why don't you just kill me? Didn't you say you were going to kill me?!" Quantum grabs at the flailing Hoshi and tells her she's gotta pull herself together just for a little bit longer. Hoshi stares at him. Quantum sits her back down and tells her she needs to complete the Vignere cipher. Hoshi's eyes wander away. Quantum grabs her face between his hands and whispers, "Everything depends on it -- do you understand?" Yeah, they're getting together season. "I understand," Hoshi says, hypnotized by his furrows. Quantum nods. I just had this flash of Audrey Hepburn running a finger along Quantum's furrows, asking, "How do you shave in there?"
“ 'She's been there, Malcolm, that's where she decrypted the third launch code,' Quantum interrupts. So he thinks that being in a familiar place will jog her memory? More like freak her the fuck out! ”
Snake Eyes and Mega Maid Swiffer through space. Dolum finds out that when they leave the vortex, they will still be two million kilometers from Earth. "'Two million'?" he repeats incredulously. Well, if you'd taken Interspace 90 and exited on Vortex 5, you wouldn't have to go through downtown and deal with all the cross-dimensional traffic. A snakeling reminds Dolum -- and tells us for the first time -- that if they had all five codes, they'd be able to start the firing sequence immediately. As it is, they'll need additional time. Let me see if I've got this straight: five codes gets you "Fire now!" but three gets you "Fire in a bit"? Some security system. Snakeling reminds Dolum that they'd be vulnerable if they dropped into space closer to Earth. Vulnerable to what? From what we end up witnessing, Earth doesn't seem to be mounting much of a defense. They sent Quantum off to make sure Earth isn't destroyed, and then they pretty much forgot about the whole thing. Dolum orders Lt. Snakeling to get the weapon ready to fire as quickly as possible, and stalks off. Snakeling glares at Dolum's retreating back, comforted by the knowledge that this will make another nice little chapter for his tell-all book: Dolum Dearest: The Snakeling Diaries.
May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 enters and asks Trip if he wanted to see him. "I think I've found a way to boost the deflector pulse without tearin' the ship apart, but it's gonna mean transfering all impulse power to the array," Trip says. "Whin?" Mayweather Dohertys. "Soon as we reach the sphere," Trip tells him. May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 protests. Trip apologizes and says he's going to have to get them there on thrusters only. "That's tying my hands -- especially with the ticking clock," May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 complains. Trip tells him he can do it, and tells him to look over some schematics of the sphere.
Degra's ship. They can't beam directly onto Mega Maid's control platform because it's heavily guarded. Reed points out on a diagram where they will beam in and out. Mr. Man wonders aloud what they will do if they have to beam over to Mega Maid before Hoshi's done with the Cryptoquip. Quantum stalks around a bit before he admits that he's taking Hoshi with them. Reed doth protesteth with mighty mein. "She's been there, Malcolm, that's where she decrypted the third launch code," Quantum interrupts. So he thinks that being in a familiar place will jog her memory? More like freak her the fuck out! Reed continues to protest, but Quantum lays down the law. He tells Reed that his team will beam in right before him and Hoshi and secure the closest route to the platform. Three-Toed wants to know how they can be sure to get out in time after they overload Mega Maid's power source. "I'll give everyone a chance to reach the outer framework," Quantum says and turns to Reed: "You will be in charge of helping Hoshi." "And you, sir?" Reed asks. Quantum stands up and bluffs, "I have no plans of dying on that weapon, Malcolm." He hands over an e-pad and tells them he's going to check on Hoshi. He walks out the door...
“ Daniels says that Reed and Hoshi can work together in dying for the cause, since they aren't crucial to the future of mankind: 'You are.' And that's where my hate for Daniels divided and then asexually reproduced itself until it reached exponential proportions. ”
...right into Daniels' world. Ugh -- I hate this Michelin Man freak! There's a gauzily curtained window on one side and a big metal auditorium on the other. It's clear that Quantum and Daniels are standing on a balcony above some red-carpeted proceedings. "This is a very important day, Jonathan," Daniels says. Does anyone else get creeped out when Daniels uses Quantum's first name so familiarly? It's got that "Claaariiiice" ring to it. Quantum tells him he doesn't have time for this. Of course you do -- since you are out of your own time, you have all the time in the world. Presumably. Daniels promises that it will only take a minute; he points out someone on the platform below and asks if he can see the guy in the blue jacket. Since they're about a gadzillion miles away and the people are the size of midget ants, I'd give that one a big "no." Daniels says the guy in blue is Quantum "a little more than seven years from now." Now, would that "little more" be three seasons? He tells Quantum they're about to make history. I swear, Daniels is a freakin' broken record and he needs to SHUT UP! Quantum wanders over to the railing, and Bakula flexes Quantum's butt in his uniform before we go to commercial break.
"Do you remember I told you about a Federation?" Daniels asks. Shut up, Daniels. "What about it?" Quantum asks, tearing his gaze away from Ant Quantum. "I work with some people who are going to be pretty angry at me for telling you this, but you are going to be an integral part in forming that Federation," Daniels natters on. Shut up, Daniels. He goes on that Quantum is down there right now with Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites as they sign the charter for the Federation. Well, they pretty much had to get all the Founding Aliens right if they didn't want a mighty cry to rise up from the hills and valleys of Fandom. Although, considering the ratings, it would have been more like a whimper. Daniels, who is wearing more eyeliner than is appropriate for his over-plucked eyebrows, says that the membership will grow to include hundreds of species. "A United Federation of Planets," Daniels finishes. Shut up, Daniels. Quantum says he's got other things on his mind. Daniels encourages Quantum to sacrifice Reed on the control platform because history can't afford to lose him. Shut up, Daniels. Quantum blusters. "It's essential that you be a part of this," Daniels insists. Shut up, Daniels. "Where. Are. We?" Quantum asks sort of pointlessly. "In. A. Painting," the Evil Dr. Mathra mimics. Daniels says, "Earth." Shut up, Daniels. "Seems to me it's just as essential that Earth be around for this too," Quantum points out. Daniels says that Reed and Hoshi can work together in dying for the cause, since they aren't crucial to the future of mankind: "You are." And that's where my hate for Daniels divided and then asexually reproduced itself until it reached exponential proportions. "My mission is to save Earth, not your [he tosses his head rather foppishly] Federation," Quantum counters. "You can't ignore your place in history," Daniels insists. First of all, shut up, Daniels. Secondly, you've already told him that in oh so MANY episodes that you've now become the time-traveler who cried, "Destiny!" Thirdly, most of us DO ignore our "place in history" because we're NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT IT! Fourthly, where have you been up to now when all the other crap with the Mega Maid was happening? And finally, SHUT UP, DANIELS! Quantum pretty much covers all that when he says his place is on Mega Maid's control platform: "Now getmethehellbacktoDegra'sship!" Daniels glares. Shut up, Daniels.
“ Excuse me, but it is really such a good idea to interrupt someone who has just undergone severe neurological trauma? Aside from how completely rude it is, it's probably really easy for them to totally forget what they were saying in the first place. ”
Enterprise. Sickbay. Phlox composes an audio letter asking a friend to dispense with various articles of his property. T'Pol walks in and wonders what he's doing. Phlox cheerfully explains that Dr. Lucas offered to make sure his affairs were in order in the event of them not being on the "success" side of successful. "I've always found it distracting to think of death especially when entering a dangerous situation," T'Pol says. Honey, they way you've been written, you find it distracting just to breathe around those implants. Phlox bobbles his head happily and says, "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst!" and goes on that Denobulans really like to make out their wills. Is there anything Denobulans don't like? T'Pol reminds him that they aren't dead yet. May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 comms that they are approaching Sphere 41. "Take us out of warp," T'Pol CRACK WHORES. Fiddling with the prescription he gave her to keep the crew alive, she turns to look at Phlox. "Hope for the best, Doctor," she says, and leaves.
Bridge. May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 reports that the anomaly cluster has grown. Phlox announces that he punched up his neuro-lyptic compound, but advises they stay in the anomaly for no more than fifteen minutes. As he says this, the camera randomly focuses in on the reaction of an extra. That was weird. T'Pol gives orders: Phlox to release the compound, Trip to charge the deflector, and May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 to set a course.
Degra's ship. Quantum logs that Hoshi has made some progress with The Gold-Bug. In Hoshi's room Quantum cryptobabbles about needing to find a certain sequence. Hoshi says she found the sequence, but de-Bob-and-Alice-ing it isn't going to be easy. "Wish I could tell you to take your time," Quantum says, and sits down. "First time you came to visit me in Brazil --" Hoshi starts. "Didn't stop raining for a week," Quantum butts in. Excuse me, but it is really such a good idea to interrupt someone who has just undergone severe neurological trauma? Aside from how completely rude it is, it's probably really easy for them to totally forget what they were saying in the first place. "I had a bug then too -- a tropical bacteria, not a reptilian parasite. I was sick as a dog but I wanted to make a good impression," Hoshi meanders. "When we get back home I'll see to it you get some R-and-R in Canada or Norway -- some place where there's not a tropical bug in sight," Quantum promises. "Or reptiles?" Hoshi asks, gazing up at him. "Or reptiles," Quantum promises, and leaves for the Bridge.
On the Bridge, Three-Toed tells him they are close enough to isolate Mega Maid's escorts' signatures. "The Insectoid ship is no longer with them," Mr. Man notes. Quantum wonders why they -- I guess he means Bug House -- would leave the vortex. Three-Toed has no idea, and says that all they know is that Dolum's is now the only ship escorting Mega Maid. Reed is relieved they have only one ship to contend with.
“ Snakeling reports that Degra's ship is less than twenty minutes behind them. Don't you find it singularly convenient that the Xindi use the exact same measure of time as us? Me too. ”
Enterprise flies into the cheese pizza anomaly, so we're now looking at the Bridge through a red lens. Enterprise looks for the sphere.
Dolum's ship prepares to drop out of the vortex and initiate Mega Maid's firing sequence. Snakeling reports that Degra's ship is less than twenty minutes behind them. Don't you find it singularly convenient that the Xindi use the exact same measure of time as us? Me too. Dolum learns that there are no other vessels around, but there is an unarmed space station.
Dolum's ship and Mega Maid leave the vortex. Dolum demands to see Earth. They get a teeny tiny visual onscreen. "En-laaaarge," Dolum orders. Earth gets a little bigger. "It's a shame -- all that water, the Aquatics would feel at home here," Dolum notes. I have a really hard time trying to decide if he's being totally sincere or totally sarcastic. At any rate, I don't know how "at home" the Aquamen would feel in all that pollution.
Enterprise gets closer. The time-release on Phlox's meds ticks away. There's a lot of maintaining courses and standing bys, and in all of this, Trip notices the skin on his hand getting crackly. It's because he didn't use Palmolive.
Degra's ship drops out of the vortex. Quantum orders Reed to get his team ready. Mr. Man notices that Dolum's changing course and heading for a space station. Mr. Man calls up the space station onscreen, and Quantum notes, "Yosemite III." "A military installation?" Three-Toed asks. "A research post," Quantum informs him, "usually thirty to forty civilians aboard." He thinks of something and punches up stuff before ordering Mr. Man to hail the station on that frequency. They can't, because Mega Maid is emitting disruption waves. Even if they could be hailed, to what end? The civilians can't beam off the station to Earth, can they? I don't know, maybe they can. I just don't see what these people on Yosemite III could do to protect themselves.
Enterprise nears Sphere 41. T'Pol -- whose facial skin is now also cracking -- gives directions. "Doc?" Trip says. "There's something weird happening to my skin." "Me TOO!" May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 announces. Hee -- his delivery just tickled me -- it was so...exuberant. Phlox tells them it's expected, and orders them not to scratch at it. Dammit, Phlox, I'm supposed to say that! They have eleven minutes left.
Dolum's ship. Dolum says that the Golden Girls want them to destroy all human colonies in addition to Earth -- that harkens back to why they were pursuing everyone in "Twilight" -- so he thinks they should begin with Yosemite III. Dolum's ship fires at, and destroys, the outpost.
“ That's six, right? So, who's the extra? Is Daniels a stowaway? Do his bio-signs even show up in scans? Is it important? Are the writers just really, really tired? Am I just really, really tired? ”
On Degra's ship, Quantum rushes to the viewscreen...as though he could stop it? See better? But then he stops suddenly, stricken, as the outpost explodes. He looks down and around at the floor, flexing almost every muscle in his face EXCEPT his brow! With the comparatively small amount of furrowing he does in this episode, I'm convinced Bakula had Novocaine injected into his brow prior to shooting. Three-Toed announces that Dolum's ship is going back to Mega Maid.
Enterprise. More directions, more adjustments. Trip finally begins firing at the target point on Sphere 41. The ship shakes. "Fish inna burrel," Trip says. Phlox says they have less than ten minutes left in their prescription. T'Pol sits down nervously. Because she's a CRACK WHORE.
Enterprise fires at Sphere 41. People with skin problems do stuff all over the ship. Dorothy and St. Spheridian muumuu onto Enterprise and start flinging balls of dimensions at people.
Dorothy and St. Spheridian screw with things. Trip freaks about their power failing by ten percent. May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 reports explosions on E Deck, but T'Pol can't get any news from Engineering. Trip shouts that he's losing the beam. Phlox announces that the Golden Girls are on the ship to play shuffleboard. May-Rainy-Day-Woman-#35 wonders how that's possible. Phlox figures that the area around Sphere 41 has been altered enough to sustain them, and that they got a group fare through Elder Travel.
Dolum's ship. Snakeling announces the approach of Degra's ship and reads off the manifest. Weird thing here -- Snakeling says that there are seven humans aboard Degra's ship. By our last count there was Quantum, Reed, Hoshi, and the three Uh-Ohs Reed selected for duty. That's six, right? So, who's the extra? Is Daniels a stowaway? Do his bio-signs even show up in scans? Is it important? Are the writers just really, really tired? Am I just really, really tired? "Have their weapons been upgraded?" Dolum asks. Snakeling answers in the negative. "Pa-thetic," Dolum sneers, and orders an intercept course. Dolum's an awesome baddie. Especially if he really did eat his grandson.
Degra's ship. Three-Toed announces that Dolum's ship is arming their torpedoes. Reed gains the bridge and tells Quantum Hoshi's doing okay; she and the Uh-Ohs are waiting at the transporter. "Remember, no heroics," Quantum tells the Good Xindi. "Just get us in and keep them off your ass." It's been quite a few seasons since we had the pleasure of Quantum saying "ass" like that. I mean, I know I call him that all the time, but there's something about Bakula's delivery that's quite singular. He's got a singular "ass." There's a beep-beep, and Three-Toed announces another ship approaching at high warp: "They're asking for you." Quantum turns around. "You're not using your head, Pinkskin," Shran says from the viewscreen. This is where I screamed, "YES!!" and starting pounding on the Evil Dr. Mathra's leg in excitement, because I was fortunate enough NOT to see his name in the opening credits and was therefore awesomely surprised. For his part, the Evil Dr. Mathra screamed, "SHRAN MCCAIN TO THE RESCUE JUST LIKE IF KERRY WAS SMART ENOUGH TO CHOOSE HIM AS A RUNNING MATE!" Shran McCain tells him his ship is no match for the Snake Eyes. "I'm busy, Shran, what are you doing here?" Quantum grouses gracelessly. Shran McCain says he anticipated that they would need some help.
“ It really bothers me that the Vulcans are STILL being portrayed as blas non-interferers at this point. Think about it: they've been in an arms race with the Andorians all these years, so their weapons have GOT to be kick-ass. Why the hell aren't they here?! ”
Enterprise continues to fire at Sphere 41, and the Golden Girls continue to wreak havoc on Enterprise. Uh-Oh Kelly comms T'Pol that their weapons are ineffectual against the rampaging AARP members. Trip says, "Yew gotta stop this -- if I don't get full power back, this is going to take three, four minutes longer than I thought." Phlox reminds us it can't take that much longer, and orders Uh-Oh Kelly to modulate their weapons to a rotating frequency. Isn't that how they battled the Borg? T'Pol gets up and says, "Doctor," warningly. Shut up and let him talk, CRACK WHORE. Phlox confides that he had a lot of time to study Impetigo's physiology: "Let's hope my memory serves me well."
On his ship, Shran McCain says he'll be right in front of Degra's ship, and orders them to keep a low profile. "We're matching speed," Mr. Man calls.
Dolum's ship. Dolum bitches at Snakeling for saying there weren't any human vessels in the vicinity. "They're not human," Snakeling points out. Hee, way to throw the attitude. Dolum orders Snakeling to destroy them. Dolum's ship fires at the Andorians.
Shran McCain shouts that the third torpedo almost got Degra's ship, and orders them to be careful. They come about. Mr. Man says they'll need to get within a kilometer of the weapon. "Just stay below me," Shran McCain orders. His ship shakes. Shran McCain gets slowly to his feet. "Let's fight back this time, shall we?" Shran McCain says in a voice of calm rage. His antennae straighten themselves up. "Bring the forward cannons online," he orders. Shran's ship does a lot of firing at Dolum's ship. "Go!" Shran McCain bellows. "And tell Archer, we're not even any more -- he owes ME!" Shran punctuates that "ME!" with a smack to his chest. It really bothers me that the Vulcans are STILL being portrayed as blas non-interferers at this point. Think about it: they've been in an arms race with the Andorians all these years, so their weapons have GOT to be kick-ass. Why the hell aren't they here?!
Degra's ship flies off to the now-unescorted Mega Maid.
On Mega Maid, snakelings do stuff. Suddenly, one of them looks up and sees Quantum standing there with Hoshi clinging to his arm. It's kind of horror-movie sudden. Silent with no visual cues -- they're just there. The three snakelings barely have time to react before Reed and his team of Uh-Ohs take them out. Quantum flips one over. Presumably to go through his pockets for loose change.
Enterprise continues to fire at Sphere 41. "It's comin' back -- tell them to keep doin' what they're doin'!" Trip shrieks, referring to the power. Uh-Ohs fire at the Golden Girls, who pass through bulkheads after grinning at them. Yes, yes, we all know you use Polident, no need to brag. Phlox tells Trip it's time to "work [his] magic or everyone on the ship is going to start dying." "No pressure," Trip and I say together. Trip does stuff.