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− | {{ |
+ | {{real world}} |
− | {{sidebar episode |
+ | {{sidebar episode/temp |
− | |<!-- See [[Memory Alpha:Episode data project]] --> |
+ | |<!-- See [[Memory Alpha:Projects/Episode data project]] --> |
− | | |
+ | |title = Stratagem |
− | | |
+ | |series = ENT |
− | | |
+ | |season = 3 |
− | | |
+ | |episode = 14 |
− | | |
+ | |production = 066 |
+ | |release year = 2004 |
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− | |sProductionSerialNumber = 066 |
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+ | |release month = February |
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− | | nAirdateYear = 2004 |
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+ | |release day = 4 |
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− | | sAirdateMonth = February |
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+ | |image = Degra aged.jpg |
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− | | nAirdateDay = 4 |
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− | | |
+ | |teleplay = [[Mike Sussman]] |
+ | |story = [[Terry Matalas]] |
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− | | wsWrittenBy = |
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− | | |
+ | |director = [[Mike Vejar]] |
− | | |
+ | |date = December 12, [[2153]] |
+ | |<!-- Navigation --> |
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− | | wsDirectedBy = [[Mike Vejar]] |
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− | | |
+ | |produced = 65 |
− | | |
+ | |released = 65 |
− | | |
+ | |all released = 694 |
⚫ | |||
− | | bFeatureLength = 0 |
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+ | |released prev = Proving Ground (episode) |
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− | | nSerialAirdate = 20040204 |
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+ | |all released prev = Proving Ground (episode) |
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− | | wsDate = December 12, [[2153]] |
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+ | |timeline prev = |
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⚫ | |||
− | | |
+ | |produced next = Harbinger (episode) |
− | | |
+ | |released next = Harbinger (episode) |
− | | |
+ | |all released next = Harbinger (episode) |
+ | |timeline next = |
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− | | aNextProducedInSeries = Harbinger (episode) |
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+ | |<!-- Arcs --> |
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⚫ | |||
+ | |arc = The [[Xindi crisis]] |
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− | |aNextInUniverseTimeline = Harbinger (episode) |
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− | | |
+ | |arc prev = Proving Ground (episode) |
⚫ | |||
+ | |arc number = 15 |
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+ | |arc count = 28 |
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+ | |||
}} |
}} |
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− | {{disambiguation|the game|Strategema}} |
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''Enterprise'' captures Degra, the mastermind behind the Xindi weapon project, and Archer tries to trick him into revealing the location of the final weapon. |
''Enterprise'' captures Degra, the mastermind behind the Xindi weapon project, and Archer tries to trick him into revealing the location of the final weapon. |
||
==Summary== |
==Summary== |
||
===Teaser=== |
===Teaser=== |
||
− | + | {{Captain}} [[Jonathan Archer|Archer]], disheveled, long-haired, and not in his normal [[uniform]], is on board an unusual shuttle with a grey-haired [[Xindi-Primate]], who is unconscious on the floor. As the [[Xindi]] wakes up, the shuttle rocks, and Archer tells him that the ship is being attacked by Xindi ships. Startled and disoriented, the Xindi looks out a portal, and sees two [[Xindi-Insectoid patrol ship]]s firing at them. He demands that Archer let him communicate with the attacking ships, because they will listen to him. |
|
− | :Archer |
+ | :Archer – "''It's been a long time since any Xindi took orders from you…''" |
− | After raising the [[shields]] and eluding the attacking ships by dumping [[warp plasma]] into their [[intake manifold]]s (and thus, Archer reports, overheating their engines), the Xindi demands to be told what is going on |
+ | After raising the [[shields]] and eluding the attacking ships by dumping [[warp plasma]] into their [[intake manifold]]s (and thus, Archer reports, overheating their engines), the Xindi demands to be told what is going on – he can't remember anything. Archer tells him his name is [[Degra]], and that, by working together, they've just escaped a Xindi prison camp where they've been held in the same cell for over three years. Degra isn't convinced, and he demands some proof. Archer rolls up his sleeve, and reveals Xindi prison script on both of their forearms. Degra still isn't convinced that a Xindi and a [[Human]] could have put aside their differences and become friends so easily. Archer explains about how they used to try and kill each other, but then decided there was no point – both of their species had lost the conflict. |
===Act One=== |
===Act One=== |
||
− | Degra is told that the [[Xindi weapon]] had been launched against [[Earth]], with the desired effect |
+ | Degra is told that the [[Xindi weapon]] had been launched against [[Earth]], with the desired effect – Earth had been destroyed. However, since then the old Xindi rivalries had re-emerged, with the Xindi-Insectoids coming out victorious after having stockpiled [[weapon]]s and ships during the building of the weapon. Many colonies of other species of Xindi had already been wiped out. |
During the discussion, Degra mentions his family, staying in a colony near a [[red giant]]. Archer asks the coordinates but Degra dismisses it as too risky, since they are being followed. Just then, a section of the shuttle's hull is ruptured, and [[coolant]] [[gas]] is expelled into the [[cockpit]]. Degra and Archer work together to fix the leak before settling down for the night. |
During the discussion, Degra mentions his family, staying in a colony near a [[red giant]]. Archer asks the coordinates but Degra dismisses it as too risky, since they are being followed. Just then, a section of the shuttle's hull is ruptured, and [[coolant]] [[gas]] is expelled into the [[cockpit]]. Degra and Archer work together to fix the leak before settling down for the night. |
||
Line 50: | Line 53: | ||
===Act Two=== |
===Act Two=== |
||
− | Archer, |
+ | Archer, {{Trip Tucker}}, [[T'Pol]], and [[Hoshi Sato]] discuss the tricking of Degra. The red giant mentioned by him could be a red herring and would not necessarily mean that it would be the construction site of the weapon; however Archer insisted that his family would certainly live in close proximity to where Degra worked. Another problem is that there were seven red giants in that vicinity. Archer dismisses T'Pol's advice to ask Degra directly and tells them he needs more time with him. |
Three days earlier, the crew of the ''Enterprise'' had returned to the [[Proving Ground (episode)|weapon test site]] and incapacitated a Xindi-Primate ship. After boarding, they found only three Xindi, and that any useful data had already been deleted. They took the three Xindi and searched the ship for anything useful. |
Three days earlier, the crew of the ''Enterprise'' had returned to the [[Proving Ground (episode)|weapon test site]] and incapacitated a Xindi-Primate ship. After boarding, they found only three Xindi, and that any useful data had already been deleted. They took the three Xindi and searched the ship for anything useful. |
||
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T'Pol is told by [[Lieutenant]] [[Malcolm Reed|Reed]] that another Xindi ship is approaching the system, about six hours away. Sato reminds T'Pol that Xindi [[sensor]]s are more advanced than those of the ''Enterprise'', and that they would probably notice them a long time before they arrived in the [[sector]]. With that, T'Pol orders the ''Enterprise'' back into the debris field of the test [[moon]]. |
T'Pol is told by [[Lieutenant]] [[Malcolm Reed|Reed]] that another Xindi ship is approaching the system, about six hours away. Sato reminds T'Pol that Xindi [[sensor]]s are more advanced than those of the ''Enterprise'', and that they would probably notice them a long time before they arrived in the [[sector]]. With that, T'Pol orders the ''Enterprise'' back into the debris field of the test [[moon]]. |
||
− | Archer and Degra are sharing a bottle of [[Andorian ale]] when their message alert sounds. It is a response to their call for help. After clearing it up, the voice claims to be [[Thalen]], one of Degra's colleagues. Sato is using a voice synthesizer of some sort, presumably after having sampled the voice of one of the Xindi prisoners in the [[brig]]. "He", tells Degra that "he" is safe on [[Azati Prime]], to which Degra responds by asking if his wife [[Naara]] and his daughters are "still there". Degra is convinced to enter the coordinates of the system, and does so, being intercepted by Hoshi. |
+ | Archer and Degra are sharing a bottle of [[Andorian ale]] when their message alert sounds. It is a response to their call for help. After clearing it up, the voice claims to be [[Thalen]], one of Degra's colleagues. Sato is using a voice synthesizer of some sort, presumably after having sampled the voice of one of the Xindi prisoners in the [[brig]]. "He", tells Degra that "he" is safe on [[Azati Prime]], to which Degra responds by asking if his wife [[Naara]] and his daughters are "still there". Degra is convinced to enter the coordinates of the system, and does so, being intercepted by Hoshi who confirms that the coordinates are being encrypted which should validate their authenticity. T'Pol confirms that the coordinates match one of the red giants but will take three weeks to reach at maximum warp. |
− | Just then, the ''Enterprise'' experiences ship-wide power fluctuations from the debris field that affect the shuttle |
+ | Just then, the ''Enterprise'' experiences ship-wide power fluctuations from the debris field that affect the shuttle. Degra notices one of the 'windows' flicker and realizes that he's in a simulation. After asking Archer some questions to validate his story, Degra lunges forward and attacks him with a knife. The ''Enterprise'' crew bursts into the shuttle just in time, and take Degra back into custody. |
===Act Four=== |
===Act Four=== |
||
+ | Back in the brig, Degra claims that he worked out the shuttle scenario was a deception when he received the com signal from his colleague as Azati Prime has a [[deuterium]] facility run by the Insectoids and would be the last place to hide from them. Although Archer (correctly) suspects he didn't know until the simulator malfunctioned, Degra insists that he intentionally provided false information. The crew discuss if they should head to Azati Prime; three weeks could be a critical waste of time if the weapon isn't located there. Hoshi suggests that the coordinates are genuine as Degra encrypted them, but T'Pol suspects it could have been a double bluff if Degra had indeed already worked out he was being lied to. As there's no way to know for sure, and no time to do the simulator scenario again, Archer puts another plan into action, involving the entire ship this time. |
||
− | The crew discovers that the coordinates that Degra input lead to a [[red giant]] that will take three-weeks to reach, which could be a critical waste of time if Degra was lying and the weapon isn't located there. Archer puts another plan into action, involving the entire ship this time. |
||
Reed bursts into the ship's brig, and demands that two of the Xindi, including Degra, follow him. The ship is being rocked and jolted as they race to [[engineering]], where Archer explains that they've adapted the Xindi technology from their ship to open one of the Xindi's [[subspace vortex|subspace vortices]]. After [[Travis Mayweather]] inverts the warp field and brings them back into normal space, Degra is led with Archer up to the [[bridge]]. |
Reed bursts into the ship's brig, and demands that two of the Xindi, including Degra, follow him. The ship is being rocked and jolted as they race to [[engineering]], where Archer explains that they've adapted the Xindi technology from their ship to open one of the Xindi's [[subspace vortex|subspace vortices]]. After [[Travis Mayweather]] inverts the warp field and brings them back into normal space, Degra is led with Archer up to the [[bridge]]. |
||
Line 100: | Line 103: | ||
− | "''When it arrived in |
+ | "''When it arrived in [[Sol system|your star system]], I watched the incoming telemetry with the other members of the council. Seven million lives… were extinguished in front of my eyes. I asked myself how many of those were children? I suppose I've told you this before.''"<br /> |
"''Actually, you'' haven't." |
"''Actually, you'' haven't." |
||
: - '''Degra''' talks to '''Archer''' about viewing the deployment of the prototype weapon while in the simulator |
: - '''Degra''' talks to '''Archer''' about viewing the deployment of the prototype weapon while in the simulator |
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Line 108: | Line 111: | ||
: - '''Archer''', when Degra ultimately reveals Azati Prime as the location of the weapon |
: - '''Archer''', when Degra ultimately reveals Azati Prime as the location of the weapon |
||
− | ==Background information== |
+ | == Background information == |
+ | === Story and script === |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | *The basic story concept of this episode is very similar to that of "The Train" |
+ | * The basic story concept of this episode is very similar to that of "36 Hours"; a 1965 film starring James Garner and Rod Taylor, which also inspired "The Train"; a 1967 episode of ''[[Mission: Impossible]]'' directed by [[Ralph Senensky]] and guest starring [[William Windom]] and [[William Schallert]]. |
⚫ | *In this episode, Phlox refers to [[Regulan bloodworm]]s as "harmless." Ironically, [[David Gerrold]]'s rejected "Blood and Fire" script for |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | == |
+ | === Sets and props === |
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | === Continuity === |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | * In this episode, Phlox refers to [[Regulan bloodworm]]s as "harmless." Ironically, [[David Gerrold]]'s rejected "Blood and Fire" script for {{s|TNG}} would have included Regulan bloodworms carrying a dangerous and terrible plague, with a social stigma on carriers. [http://www.ottens.co.uk/forgottentrek/tng_9.php] |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | * In the Teaser, when Archer simulates raising the shuttle’s deflector shields, a [[computer]] [[schematic]] shows the ship being enveloped by a series of dots. This is similar to computer schematic depictions of the shields being raised (or dropping) on the ''[[USS Reliant]]'' and {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} in ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'' and ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]''. |
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⚫ | |||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | == Links and references == |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
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=== Guest star === |
=== Guest star === |
||
− | *[[Randy Oglesby]] as [[Degra]] |
+ | * [[Randy Oglesby]] as [[Degra]] |
=== Co-star === |
=== Co-star === |
||
− | *[[Josh Drennen]] as [[Thalen]] |
+ | * [[Josh Drennen]] as [[Thalen]] |
=== Uncredited co-stars === |
=== Uncredited co-stars === |
||
+ | * [[Brian Avery]] as [[EnterpriseNX operations command crewman 003|command crewman]] |
||
⚫ | |||
− | *[[ |
+ | * [[Douglas Bierman]] as [[Xindi-Primate crewman 1|Xindi-Primate]] |
+ | * [[Dominic Calandra]] as [[EnterpriseNX command lieutenant 001|command lieutenant]] |
||
⚫ | |||
− | *[[ |
+ | * [[Mark Correy]] as [[Alex]] |
+ | * [[Paul Eliopoulos]] as [[EnterpriseNX operations engineer 016|operations crewman]] |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | **[[Unnamed Xindi|Xindi-Primate #3]] |
||
+ | * [[Peter Godoy]] as [[EnterpriseNX operations command crewman 001|operations crewman]] |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | * [[Glen Hambly]] as [[EnterpriseNX operations ensign 004|operations ensign]] |
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+ | * [[John Jurgens]] as [[EnterpriseNX command operations crewman 001|operations ensign]] |
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⚫ | |||
+ | * [[Ricky Lomax]] as [[W. Woods]] |
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+ | * [[Aric Rogokos]] as [[EnterpriseNX sciences crewman 004|sciences crewman]] |
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+ | * [[Ator Tamras]] as [[EnterpriseNX sciences technician 002|sciences crewman]] |
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+ | * [[Unknown actor]]s as |
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+ | ** [[EnterpriseNX command helmsman 003|Command crewman]] |
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⚫ | |||
− | ===Stunt double=== |
+ | === Stunt double === |
− | *[[Edward Conna]] as stunt double for [[Randy Oglesby]] |
+ | * [[Edward Conna]] as [[stunt double]] for [[Randy Oglesby]] |
− | === |
+ | === Stand-ins === |
+ | * [[David Anderson]] – [[stand-in]] for [[Anthony Montgomery]] |
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⚫ | [[Andorian ale]]; [[anti-intoxicant]]; [[Azati Prime]]; {{dis|Azati Prime|star}}; [[bloodworm]]; [[brig]]; [[Calindra system]]; [[computer core]]; [[coolant tank]]; [[debris]]; [[defense perimeter]]; [[Degra's ship]]; [[Delphic Expanse]]; [[Denobula]]; [[dermal art]]; [[deuterium]]; [[dilithium]]; |
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+ | * [[Jef Ayres]] – stand-in for [[Connor Trinneer]] |
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+ | * [[Dominic Calandra]] – [[hand double]] for [[Scott Bakula]] |
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+ | * [[Evan English]] – stand-in for [[Dominic Keating]] |
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+ | * [[J.R. Quinonez]] – stand-in for [[John Billingsley]] |
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+ | * [[Richard Sarstedt]] – stand-in for Scott Bakula |
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+ | * [[Jessica Vash]] – stand-in for [[Jolene Blalock]] |
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+ | * [[Susan Yee]] – stand-in for [[Linda Park]] |
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⚫ | |||
+ | ** Hand double for Jolene Blalock |
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+ | ** Hand double for [[Josh Drennen]] |
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+ | ** [[Photo double]] for [[Randy Oglesby]] |
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+ | ** Stand-in for Josh Drennen |
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+ | ** Stand-in for Randy Oglesby |
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− | === |
+ | === References === |
⚫ | [[Andorian ale]]; [[anti-intoxicant]]; [[Azati Prime]]; {{dis|Azati Prime|star}}; [[bath]]; {{dis|beach|formation}}; [[bloodworm]]; [[brig]]; [[buckling]]; [[Calindra system]]; [[computer core]]; [[coolant tank]]; [[debris]]; [[defense perimeter]]; [[Degra's ship]]; [[Delphic Expanse]]; [[Denobula]]; [[dermal art]]; [[deuterium]]; [[dilithium]]; {{revname|Gralik|Durr}}; [[Earth]]; [[engram]]; [[flight school]]; [[flight simulator]]; [[grasshopper]]; [[hair follicle]]; [[Human]]; [[hydraulics]]; [[intake manifold]]; [[Jaina]]; [[kemocite]]; [[kilometer]]; [[lake]]; [[liter]]; [[lymphatic system]]; [[Maarek III]]; [[MACO]]; [[Malosian]]; [[Malosian cargo shuttle]]; [[memory engram]]; [[military habitat]]; [[Naara]]; [[navigational log]]; [[navigational deflector]]; [[neural pathway]]; [[neurophysiology]]; [[phase deflector pulse]]; [[Piral]]; [[plasma conduit]]; [[plasma network]]; [[plasma tank]]; [[pylon]]; [[reactor coolant]]; [[red giant]]; [[red herring]]; [[Regulan bloodworm]]; [[respirator]]; [[reunification]]; [[sensor drone]]; [[sensor]]; [[shields]]; [[spatial charge]]; [[subdermal transceiver]]; [[subspace transceiver]]; [[subspace turbulence]]; [[subspace vortex]]; [[tactical alert]]; [[trellium]]; [[truth serum]]; [[warp field]]; [[warp nacelle]]; [[warp plasma]]; [[warp reactor]]; [[weapons expert]]; [[Xindi-Aquatic]]; [[Xindi-Arboreal]]; [[Xindi Council]]; [[Xindi identification tattoo]]; [[Xindi-Insectoid]]; [[Xindi-Insectoid patrol ship]]; [[Xindi-Insectoid prison colony]]; [[Xindi-Primate]]; [[Xindi-Reptilian]]; [[Xindi reunification]]; [[Xindus]] |
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⚫ | |||
+ | |||
+ | === External links === |
||
+ | * {{Startrek.com|stratagem|"Stratagem"}} |
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+ | * {{mbeta-quote|Stratagem}} |
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⚫ | |||
+ | * {{IMDb-ep|tt0572243}} |
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{{ENT nav|season=3|last={{e|Proving Ground}}|next={{e|Harbinger}}}} |
{{ENT nav|season=3|last={{e|Proving Ground}}|next={{e|Harbinger}}}} |
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[[cs:Stratagem]] |
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[[ja:ENT:策略]] |
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Revision as of 02:48, 30 May 2020
(written from a Production point of view)
Template:Sidebar episode/temp Enterprise captures Degra, the mastermind behind the Xindi weapon project, and Archer tries to trick him into revealing the location of the final weapon.
Summary
Captain Archer, disheveled, long-haired, and not in his normal uniform, is on board an unusual shuttle with a grey-haired Xindi-Primate, who is unconscious on the floor. As the Xindi wakes up, the shuttle rocks, and Archer tells him that the ship is being attacked by Xindi ships. Startled and disoriented, the Xindi looks out a portal, and sees two Xindi-Insectoid patrol ships firing at them. He demands that Archer let him communicate with the attacking ships, because they will listen to him.
- Archer – "It's been a long time since any Xindi took orders from you…"
After raising the shields and eluding the attacking ships by dumping warp plasma into their intake manifolds (and thus, Archer reports, overheating their engines), the Xindi demands to be told what is going on – he can't remember anything. Archer tells him his name is Degra, and that, by working together, they've just escaped a Xindi prison camp where they've been held in the same cell for over three years. Degra isn't convinced, and he demands some proof. Archer rolls up his sleeve, and reveals Xindi prison script on both of their forearms. Degra still isn't convinced that a Xindi and a Human could have put aside their differences and become friends so easily. Archer explains about how they used to try and kill each other, but then decided there was no point – both of their species had lost the conflict.
Act One
Degra is told that the Xindi weapon had been launched against Earth, with the desired effect – Earth had been destroyed. However, since then the old Xindi rivalries had re-emerged, with the Xindi-Insectoids coming out victorious after having stockpiled weapons and ships during the building of the weapon. Many colonies of other species of Xindi had already been wiped out.
During the discussion, Degra mentions his family, staying in a colony near a red giant. Archer asks the coordinates but Degra dismisses it as too risky, since they are being followed. Just then, a section of the shuttle's hull is ruptured, and coolant gas is expelled into the cockpit. Degra and Archer work together to fix the leak before settling down for the night.
After a few hours of sleep, Archer gets up and uses a hypospray on Degra, then opens the shuttle door. As Archer steps out of the shuttle, it is revealed that the shuttle is in fact some type of simulator, and they are actually inside the Enterprise.
Act Two
Archer, Trip Tucker, T'Pol, and Hoshi Sato discuss the tricking of Degra. The red giant mentioned by him could be a red herring and would not necessarily mean that it would be the construction site of the weapon; however Archer insisted that his family would certainly live in close proximity to where Degra worked. Another problem is that there were seven red giants in that vicinity. Archer dismisses T'Pol's advice to ask Degra directly and tells them he needs more time with him.
Three days earlier, the crew of the Enterprise had returned to the weapon test site and incapacitated a Xindi-Primate ship. After boarding, they found only three Xindi, and that any useful data had already been deleted. They took the three Xindi and searched the ship for anything useful.
Archer tried to convince the lead Xindi, known as Degra, to tell him where the weapon was being made. After failing, he decided to try to trick him into telling him. Doctor Phlox told the captain that he can selectively wipe their short-term memories. With this information, Archer decided to create a simulation of a shuttle, and use Degra's wiped memory as an advantage. Captain Archer was implanted with a MACO subdermal transceiver so he could covertly communicate with the Enterprise crew. T'Pol also helped Archer work out the details of the backstory. Phlox created tattoos on Degra's arm as prison markings and injects him with a (harmless) Regulan bloodworm, which Archer tells Degra are a means of interrogation and are the explanation for his memory loss.
Back inside the shuttle, Degra is woken again by a sudden jolt. The captain tells him that they're entering a region with high concentrations of spatial anomalies. Apparently the ship's hull was not lined with trellium-D. Archer convinces Degra to send out a distress message to his colleagues, hoping that it won't be intercepted by a Xindi-Insectoid ship.
In the command center, Sato and T'Pol are working to gain any information from Degra and the garbled data they recovered from the Xindi ship. Sato intercepts Degra's "transmission", and begins to formulate a reply.
Act Three
T'Pol is told by Lieutenant Reed that another Xindi ship is approaching the system, about six hours away. Sato reminds T'Pol that Xindi sensors are more advanced than those of the Enterprise, and that they would probably notice them a long time before they arrived in the sector. With that, T'Pol orders the Enterprise back into the debris field of the test moon.
Archer and Degra are sharing a bottle of Andorian ale when their message alert sounds. It is a response to their call for help. After clearing it up, the voice claims to be Thalen, one of Degra's colleagues. Sato is using a voice synthesizer of some sort, presumably after having sampled the voice of one of the Xindi prisoners in the brig. "He", tells Degra that "he" is safe on Azati Prime, to which Degra responds by asking if his wife Naara and his daughters are "still there". Degra is convinced to enter the coordinates of the system, and does so, being intercepted by Hoshi who confirms that the coordinates are being encrypted which should validate their authenticity. T'Pol confirms that the coordinates match one of the red giants but will take three weeks to reach at maximum warp.
Just then, the Enterprise experiences ship-wide power fluctuations from the debris field that affect the shuttle. Degra notices one of the 'windows' flicker and realizes that he's in a simulation. After asking Archer some questions to validate his story, Degra lunges forward and attacks him with a knife. The Enterprise crew bursts into the shuttle just in time, and take Degra back into custody.
Act Four
Back in the brig, Degra claims that he worked out the shuttle scenario was a deception when he received the com signal from his colleague as Azati Prime has a deuterium facility run by the Insectoids and would be the last place to hide from them. Although Archer (correctly) suspects he didn't know until the simulator malfunctioned, Degra insists that he intentionally provided false information. The crew discuss if they should head to Azati Prime; three weeks could be a critical waste of time if the weapon isn't located there. Hoshi suggests that the coordinates are genuine as Degra encrypted them, but T'Pol suspects it could have been a double bluff if Degra had indeed already worked out he was being lied to. As there's no way to know for sure, and no time to do the simulator scenario again, Archer puts another plan into action, involving the entire ship this time.
Reed bursts into the ship's brig, and demands that two of the Xindi, including Degra, follow him. The ship is being rocked and jolted as they race to engineering, where Archer explains that they've adapted the Xindi technology from their ship to open one of the Xindi's subspace vortices. After Travis Mayweather inverts the warp field and brings them back into normal space, Degra is led with Archer up to the bridge.
Once on the bridge, Archer shows Degra a red giant on the main viewscreen. The other officers on the bridge confirm Xindi ships in the sector, along with high levels of kemocite. This is enough evidence for Degra to shout out:
- "You'll never get close to the weapon! Our defense perimeter will destroy you!"
Archer slowly turns round to Degra, and reveals that it has been another hoax, and the viewscreen reverts to show the test site. A stunned Degra is led back to the infirmary. "Thanks for your help," Archer says.
After wiping all three Xindi's memories, returning them to their ship, and faking a plasma leak to explain their loss of consciousness, the Enterprise leaves the test site for Azati Prime, on what Archer hopes to be the final leg in their search for the Xindi weapon.
Memorable quotes
"Too bad he didn't go for the Andorian ale. That would have loosened him up."
- - Tucker, while Archer tries to get Degra to give him the coordinates for Azati Prime
"By capturing us, you've accomplished nothing."
- - Degra, to Archer
"On my mark, initiate a sharp jolt to starboard."
"How sharp do you want it?"
"Sharp."
- - T'Pol and Tucker while operating the simulator
"The captain's certainly drinking a lot."
"The doctor gave him an anti-intoxicant."
- - Sato and T'Pol observing Archer and Degra drinking Andorian ale in the simulator
"When it arrived in your star system, I watched the incoming telemetry with the other members of the council. Seven million lives… were extinguished in front of my eyes. I asked myself how many of those were children? I suppose I've told you this before."
"Actually, you haven't."
- - Degra talks to Archer about viewing the deployment of the prototype weapon while in the simulator
"Thanks for your help."
- - Archer, when Degra ultimately reveals Azati Prime as the location of the weapon
Background information
Story and script
- The final draft script of this episode was issued on 7 November 2003.
- The basic story concept of this episode is very similar to that of "36 Hours"; a 1965 film starring James Garner and Rod Taylor, which also inspired "The Train"; a 1967 episode of Mission: Impossible directed by Ralph Senensky and guest starring William Windom and William Schallert.
Sets and props
- The bottle of Andorian ale Archer shares with Degra is a reuse of a Skagaran whiskey bottle seen in the episode "North Star".
Continuity
- This was the second episode written by Terry Matalas. The first was "Impulse", in the same season.
- In this episode, Phlox refers to Regulan bloodworms as "harmless." Ironically, David Gerrold's rejected "Blood and Fire" script for Star Trek: The Next Generation would have included Regulan bloodworms carrying a dangerous and terrible plague, with a social stigma on carriers. [1]
- In the Teaser, when Archer simulates raising the shuttle’s deflector shields, a computer schematic shows the ship being enveloped by a series of dots. This is similar to computer schematic depictions of the shields being raised (or dropping) on the USS Reliant and USS Enterprise in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
Links and references
Starring
- Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer
- John Billingsley as Doctor Phlox
- Jolene Blalock as Sub-Commander T'Pol
- Dominic Keating as Lieutenant Malcolm Reed
- Anthony Montgomery as Ensign Travis Mayweather
- Linda Park as Ensign Hoshi Sato
- Connor Trinneer as Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker III
Guest star
Co-star
Uncredited co-stars
- Brian Avery as command crewman
- Douglas Bierman as Xindi-Primate
- Dominic Calandra as command lieutenant
- Mark Correy as Alex
- Paul Eliopoulos as operations crewman
- Hilde Garcia as Rossi
- Peter Godoy as operations crewman
- Glen Hambly as operations ensign
- John Jurgens as operations ensign
- Chase Kim as R. Azar
- Ricky Lomax as W. Woods
- Aric Rogokos as sciences crewman
- Ator Tamras as sciences crewman
- Unknown actors as
Stunt double
Stand-ins
- David Anderson – stand-in for Anthony Montgomery
- Jef Ayres – stand-in for Connor Trinneer
- Dominic Calandra – hand double for Scott Bakula
- Evan English – stand-in for Dominic Keating
- J.R. Quinonez – stand-in for John Billingsley
- Richard Sarstedt – stand-in for Scott Bakula
- Jessica Vash – stand-in for Jolene Blalock
- Susan Yee – stand-in for Linda Park
- Unknown performers as
- Hand double for Jolene Blalock
- Hand double for Josh Drennen
- Photo double for Randy Oglesby
- Stand-in for Josh Drennen
- Stand-in for Randy Oglesby
References
Andorian ale; anti-intoxicant; Azati Prime; Azati Prime; bath; beach; bloodworm; brig; buckling; Calindra system; computer core; coolant tank; debris; defense perimeter; Degra's ship; Delphic Expanse; Denobula; dermal art; deuterium; dilithium; Durr, Gralik; Earth; engram; flight school; flight simulator; grasshopper; hair follicle; Human; hydraulics; intake manifold; Jaina; kemocite; kilometer; lake; liter; lymphatic system; Maarek III; MACO; Malosian; Malosian cargo shuttle; memory engram; military habitat; Naara; navigational log; navigational deflector; neural pathway; neurophysiology; phase deflector pulse; Piral; plasma conduit; plasma network; plasma tank; pylon; reactor coolant; red giant; red herring; Regulan bloodworm; respirator; reunification; sensor drone; sensor; shields; spatial charge; subdermal transceiver; subspace transceiver; subspace turbulence; subspace vortex; tactical alert; trellium; truth serum; warp field; warp nacelle; warp plasma; warp reactor; weapons expert; Xindi-Aquatic; Xindi-Arboreal; Xindi Council; Xindi identification tattoo; Xindi-Insectoid; Xindi-Insectoid patrol ship; Xindi-Insectoid prison colony; Xindi-Primate; Xindi-Reptilian; Xindi reunification; Xindus
External links
- "Stratagem"
- "Stratagem" at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- "Stratagem" at Wikipedia
- "Stratagem" at the Internet Movie Database
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Star Trek: Enterprise Season 3 |
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