"Come in." "Good morning." " Captain." " Sleep well?" "Well enough." "I wasn't sure what you wanted for breakfast... so I took the liberty of having Chef prepare his famous eggs Benedict." "That'll be fine, sir." "You plan to eat standing up?" "This isn't a visit to the principal's office, Malcolm." "At ease." "Thank you, sir." "I just wasn't sure if you called me here to discuss something." "No." "No business." "I wanted to have a long-overdue meal with my Armoury Officer." "I heard that England made it to the finals in the World Cup." "I beg your pardon?" "The World Cup." "Soccer." "I'm afraid I don't much follow football." "Any sports you do follow?" "No." "Not particularly." " Thanks." " You're welcome, sir." "I've been working on the duty roster, sir." "We only have two crewmen assigned to the Armoury full-time." "If we added a third..." "Ensign Tanner would be free to begin those upgrades... to those torpedo launchers I told you about." "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to bring your homework to the table?" "Sir?" "This looks fine." "Archer." "I'm sorry to interrupt, Captain... but we've detected an uncharted system along our present course." "One of the planets is Minshara-class." "Take us out of Warp." "I'm on my way." "Looks like we'll have to reschedule." "Whenever it's convenient." "After you, sir." "Anybody home?" "It's uninhabited." "What about geographical features?" "Anything interesting?" "There's a chain of volcanoes that spans an entire hemisphere." "I don't know about anyone else, but I could use some fresh air." " Put us into standard orbit." " Aye, sir." "Find a volcano with a gentle slope." "Preferably one that's not erupting." "Prep a shuttlepod, Travis." "We'll take shifts down to..." "Report." "It was a thermo-kinetic explosion on the outer hull, port forward quarter." "Breaches on C-Deck, D-Deck." "Bridge to Sick Bay." "We need medical assistance." " Acknowledged." " Emergency bulkheads?" "They're in place, but eight subsections have decompressed." " Was anybody in them?" " I can't tell, sir." "Not yet." "Find out what happened." "Malcolm." "I'd give you an answer if I could, sir." "The sensor logs aren't showing anything." " All systems were functioning normally." " Archer to Engineering." "Captain, what's going on?" "I was hoping you could tell me." "We've got plasma fires, an overload in the EPS grid... but what caused that explosion, I don't have a clue." " Weapons fire, an asteroid?" " Nothing on our sensors." "How are your people?" "A few bumps and bruises, but we're all right." "Keep me posted." "Archer out." " Any casualty reports?" " Figures are coming in, sir." "Seventeen so far, including Hoshi." "No fatalities." "Get this man into the imaging Chamber." "What's happening?" "Are we under attack?" " I don't know." " Doctor." "It needs to be addressed immediately, before there's internal bleeding." "Captain, something just struck the ship." "Starboard side, upper-aft quadrant." "Can you get a visual?" "There." "Just behind the secondary plasma vent." "You see it?" "Some kind of cloaked ship?" "It's too small." "I'm not reading any bio-signs." "It's armed with tri-cobalt explosives." "I think it's a mine." "And judging by the firepower, something similar damaged our ship." "Can you tell if it's active?" "No reason to believe it's not." "Captain, it's lodged near lmpulse Reactor Two." "An explosion anywhere near there could disable Enterprise." "What if we polarised the adjacent hull plating?" "We don't know how it's triggered." "Somebody has to go out there and defuse it." "And it should be me." "I have the ordnance training." "I've never heard of a minefield with just two mines." "Are the quantum beacons still mounted on the grappler arm?" "I believe so." "Lower them into position." "Then modify the viewscreen." "Activate the beacon." "They were designed to penetrate Suliban cloaking devices." "I'll try shifting the phase variance." "Lieutenant Reed to the Bridge." "I've opened the outer hatch." "Wish me luck." "I'm detecting something in the gamma spectrum." "Phase variant, .0075." "Its surface is pockmarked." "Probably micrometeorite impacts." "It seems to have been in orbit for some time." "The spikes are magnetic." "Two of them have locked onto the hull." "Stand by." "I'm going to run an internal scan." "There are proximity sensors." "But they appear to be off-line." "It looks like the mine doesn't think it's hit anything." "I believe I've found an access panel." "I'm going to try and remove it and get a look inside." "How bad is it?" "I can't really tell until we can get into the decompressed sections... but I imagine it's pretty ugly." "I've got one piece of good news." "I did a head count." "We didn't lose anyone." "Trip, I'm not sure Malcolm's gonna be able to defuse this thing." "Couldn't we just detach that section of hull plating?" "Let it drift away?" "We'd have to reroute some EPS conduits." "There's about 300 bolt couplings." "It could be done." "How long?" "Three or four hours." "But I wouldn't recommend it, sir." "We'd be exposing a good piece of the impulse manifold." "Get a team started." "I'll consider it our last resort." "I'm removing the panel." "The arming mechanism's extending." "Captain." "We see it, Malcolm." " Ever see a ship like that?" " No." "It's deflecting our scans." "Why didn't the beacons let us see through its cloak?" "Perhaps the mines use a more primitive cloaking system." "Sir, they're hailing us." "The translator's not locking on." "Archer to Sick Bay." "Yes, Captain." "Is Hoshi in any shape to return to the Bridge?" "It's urgent." "I'm afraid not." "She suffered a rather severe concussion." "Understood." "Tell them I'm on my way." "You'd be of little help in your present condition, Ensign." " Any luck?" " Not yet." "They're charging weapons." "They missed our starboard nacelle by less than 20 metres." "Not a very subtle warning shot." "Can you get us out of here?" "The orbits of those mines are pretty erratic, sir." " It's going to be tricky." " We'll give you whatever help we can." " Bridge to Lieutenant Reed." " Go ahead." "Our friends seem to be anxious for us to leave." "We're going to break orbit, nice and slowly." "Understood." "If you plan to go to warp, sir, you'll let me know?" "I'll try to remember." " Manoeuvring thrusters only." " Aye, sir." "Activate the beacon." "Our friends just vanished." "That doesn't mean they're not still close." "Lieutenant Reed to Bridge." "Go ahead." "I've identified four separate detonation circuits." "If I can isolate them in the proper sequence..." "I should be able to deactivate the mine." "It'll take some doing." "But to be honest, Captain, it's only a theory." "How good a theory?" "The closest thing I'm familiar with that this device resembles... is a Triton-class spatial torpedo." "I've disarmed at least half a dozen of those." "I believe I can do it, sir." "I've got Trip working on a backup plan." "But I'd prefer not to use it." "Right now, you're our best bet." "Be careful, Malcolm." "I see it." "Bridge." "Go ahead." "Another one of those spikes I told you about." "What about it?" "It just magnetised itself to the hull." "Is there a problem?" "On its way... it went through my leg, sir." "I'm on my way, Lieutenant." "The Bridge is yours." "Captain, I should be the one to go out there." "I'm the engineer." "That's why I need you here, Trip." "You'll have to wait in line for my osmotic eel to cauterise your wound." " He's getting quite a workout today." " Doctor." " Ensign." " They need a translator." " I should be at my post." " I realise you're anxious to help." "But you wouldn't make it to the turbolift." "If you'd like, I could have them bring the com-logs here." "Thank you, Doctor." "Thought you might need a hand." "Actually, I'd prefer a leg." "Let's see what we can do with the one you've got." "Could have been worse." "It missed the bone." "And it looks like the pressure from the spike... is keeping the wound from bleeding too much." "You'll be in Sick Bay in no time." "These should cut right through it." "Actually, sir, I wouldn't do that." "My scanner showed detonation circuits inside the spikes." "I would consider letting you amputate." "But if Chef got hold of it, he'd be serving roast Reed for Sunday dinner." "Just give me something for the pain... and I'll do my best to reach the access panel." "Not without doing more damage to that leg." "What's more important, my leg or your ship?" "I intend to save both." "I don't see how." "That backup plan I was telling you about?" "I asked Trip to prepare to detach this section of hull plating." "Seemed like a good idea at the time." "It's still a good idea." "Not with you attached to it." "I hope that's an anaesthetic." "Phlox's own recipe." "Please, sir, may I have some more?" "I don't want you too sedated." "I'm gonna need your help." "Someone's got to defuse this thing." "You're gonna talk me through it." "With all due respect, Captain... disarming mines is extremely delicate business." "I'm trained for it." "You're not." "I'm a quick study." "It's too dangerous." "In case you haven't noticed, Lieutenant... we're sitting about five metres from an impulse reactor." "I'm not leaving till we take this weapon off-line." "Sir..." "The way I see it, you don't have much choice." "You're sort of stuck here." "So would you let me get started?" "I hope you've got a steady hand." "They're ordering us to leave their system immediately..." " or they'll destroy us." " Charming." "Could you figure out a way to compose a message back... explaining we're going as fast as we can?" "I can try." "And their next message?" "They say they've annexed this planet in the name of something called..." ""The Romalin Star Empire."" "Romulan." "It's pronounced "Romulan."" "Romulans?" "I read about them when I was with Daniels." " What'd you find out?" " Not much." "Just the name." "He wouldn't let me see anything else." "T'Pol?" "They're rumoured to be an aggressive territorial species... but the Vulcan High Command has never made direct contact with them." "Ensign Sato's translation says... they're demanding we withdraw from the system immediately." "That's going to be a little tough to do at the moment." "Is there any way you can explain our situation?" "She believes she'll have a reply prepared within the hour." "How's it going out there, Captain?" "We've taken two of the detonation circuits off-line." "Three more to go." "Keep me posted." "The next one's going to be tricky." "Do you see the Y-shaped components surrounding the circuit?" " There are six of them." " Right." "Those are timing relays." "You'll have to rotate each one counterclockwise 70 degrees." "But it has to be done in the proper order." "I'll guide you through it." "Start with the relay to your upper right." "One centimetre... and then turn it 70 degrees... counterclockwise." "Good." "Now pull it out, slowly." "Be careful not to touch the housing." "Well done." "Now complete that set, on the diagonal." " So where were we?" " Sir?" "This morning, at breakfast, before we were interrupted." "You said... you didn't follow any particular sport." "I'm afraid I haven't started following one since breakfast, sir." "Now go to the relay top centre." "Watch that one." "I believe it may be damaged." "It'll need some extra torque to deactivate it." "How about hobbies?" " Any hobbies?" " No." "Not really, sir." "I could have sworn I've seen you reading a book or two in the mess hall." "Sir, do you really think that this is the appropriate time for a chat?" "It helps me focus." "Calms my nerves." "It isn't calming mine." "Sorry." "It made you a little nervous this morning, too, didn't it?" "Why is that?" "If you must know, I was honoured to be asked to sit at your table." "I just wasn't entirely comfortable having a casual meal with my captain." "I was trained not to fraternise with superior officers." "Never too late to learn." "Frankly, sir, from my point of view... that kind of socialising has no place on a starship." "I had a CO once, felt the same way." ""They're your crew, not your friends."" "I thought about that a lot when I took this command." "But then I realised this is not your typical mission." "We could be out here for years." "All we have to depend on is each other." "There are two left." "Top left first." "I appreciate your suggestions, Malcolm." "Anything else?" "Since you asked, Bridge protocols have become somewhat lax." "Too many people offering opinions." "We're here to carry out your orders, sir." "You're the Captain." "What's the point of having a senior staff... if they just sit around with their mouths shut?" "I'm glad they have opinions." "I rely on them." "Keep going." "And in the area of security..." "I sometimes think you could show a little more caution, sir." "I'm aware of your concerns in that area." "Not to say it hasn't been a privilege to have served with you." "Sir?" "You're talking in the past tense, Lieutenant." "Now reinsert all six relays... but in the reverse order." " You're doing fine, sir." " Thanks." "You've earned yourself a break, Travis." "Ensign Hutchison can cover the helm for a while." "Thank you, sir, but I'd prefer to stay at my post." "Bridge to Captain Archer." "Go ahead." "We're clear of the minefield." " Maintain course and speed." " Understood." "This last detonation circuit has an added attraction." "I'm seeing something that looks like a backup arming mechanism." "We'll have to fool the circuit into thinking it's still on-line." "How do we do that?" "There's a hyperspanner in the equipment case." "Take out its power cell and strip off the casing." "You must've realised this wasn't going to be your typical armoury posting." "That my command style lacked... a certain spit and polish." "It was obvious, if you don't mind my saying so." " Strange." " What's strange, sir?" "I understand you came from a long line of Royal Navy men." "Your father, your grandfather." "Why pick Starfleet?" "Why not continue the family tradition?" " God knows I tried." " What happened?" "I'll need a circuit probe." " So what happened?" " I was raised on the water." "I knew how to handle a boat before I could ride a bicycle." "Studied all the great naval battles." "I don't know, I suppose I thought I'd just grow out of it." "Grow out of what?" "Aquaphobia." "You're afraid of the water?" "More precisely, afraid of drowning." "So instead of a life on the sea... you chose a life in the vacuum of space?" "I had a great-uncle who suffered from the same problem." "But he faced his fears... joined the Navy, had a distinguished career." "All you have to do... is attach it to the cylinder on your upper right." "It's working." "Start with the top-most component." "Use the calliper to lift it a few millimetres... and then turn it clockwise 360 degrees... and then gently re-insert it." "He was something of a hero to me, my great-uncle." " The one with aquaphobia?" " Indeed." "He signed up with the submarine service." "Talk about facing your deepest fears." "He was a brave man." "Wasn't long before he'd worked his way up through the ranks... made Chief Engineer on the H.M.S. Clement." "Do you know the story of the Clement, sir?" "I don't think I do." "Good." "Now the other five components." "Repeat the same process on each one, counterclockwise." "You were telling me about the Clement." "They were on a routine patrol... when they had an accident." "Now there's a beautiful irony for you." "They hit a mine left over from some world war." "There they were, trapped, underneath an ice shelf... several compartments flooding, including Engineering." "Can you imagine?" "My great-uncle... the man afraid of drowning?" "The ship was sinking, losing power." "According to his lieutenant... my great-uncle sealed himself in the engine room... and kept the reactor on-line long enough... for his crew to make it to the escape pods." "He went down with the ship." "He did what he had to do to save his crewmates." "I appreciate what you're trying to tell me, Malcolm... but I was hoping... you'd be able to save your heroics for another time." "I just want you to know, sir, that I am prepared." "Got you." "If we're not able to defuse this mine, the safety of the crew..." "I said I heard you, Lieutenant." "I'm afraid we have another problem, sir." "What?" "What is it?" "I need to use the bathroom." "I won't tell a soul." "In my EV suit, sir?" "Sir." "We're being hailed." "You've ignored our warnings." "We were unable to translate your language until a short time ago." "We're trying to defuse a weapon lodged on our hull." "I'm well aware of your situation." "Our scans show... you're prepared to detach the hull segment surrounding the mine." "Complete the procedure and leave this system immediately." "We've got a man trapped out there." "Don't your scans show you that?" "One crewman." "You have 82 others safely aboard." "Jettison the hull segment and leave." "We will not tolerate espionage." "T'Pol, report." "They're demanding we jettison the section of hull plating and leave." "They scanned us, Captain." "They know we're ready to detach it." "I'm defusing the last detonation circuit." "Stand by." "It's rearming!" "Reset that last component!" "Quickly!" "Lieutenant?" "When you deactivated that final circuit... it triggered a subdetonator." " How can we get to it?" " We can't." "It's too deep inside." "We'd have to dismantle the entire mine." "Captain... those heroics we spoke about..." "I think it may be time." "You've done all you can, sir." "For what it's worth, you'd make a fine Armoury Officer." "Show me that subdetonator." "I'd prefer a burial at sea, if I'm not completely vaporised." "I thought you were afraid of the water." " Your scanner, Lieutenant." " I told you, sir." "There's nothing we can do." "We'll dismantle this thing piece by piece if we have to." " That'll take days." " My schedule's open." "And these Romulans?" "They don't seem like the patient types." "The longer we stay in this system, the more likely they're going to attack." "As much as I appreciate all your efforts... you have to detach the hull plating." " It's the only option." " I'm not leaving one of my crew behind." " You're putting Enterprise at risk." " We're wasting time." "Help me figure out a way to get you off of here." "That's an order." "What the hell are you doing?" "Great." "If I were the kind of captain you think I should be..." "I'd bust your ass back to crewman." "Begging your pardon, sir... but if you were that kind of captain... we wouldn't be having this conversation." "You'd have cut me loose by now." "I'm not going to do that, Malcolm." "When we triggered that subdetonator, why didn't the mine explode right away?" "How many seconds went by before I rearmed it?" " Sir?" " How many seconds?" "I don't remember." "Ten, maybe 12." " It felt more like 20." " Ten, 20, what's the difference?" "If it had exploded... how big would the yield have been?" "Judging by the damage the first mine caused..." "I'd guess about a quarter of a kiloton." "What are you getting at, sir?" "How close is your team to finishing?" "They're down to the last few couplings." "What's going on out there?" "We're going to detach the plating." " You did everything you could, Captain." " I'm going with him." "Could a shuttlepod hatch withstand a quarter kiloton blast?" " Depends how close it was." " Twenty metres, maybe 25." "They're reinforced with duratanium alloy." "They can take a hell of a beating." "What have you got in mind?" "I need two shuttlepod hatches." "Have them brought up here on the double." " Sir?" " On the double." "Captain, I assume there's no point in my questioning your plan." "Bridge to Captain Archer." " Go ahead." " We're ready." "See you soon." "Hang on, fellows." " Six hundred metres." " Another 100 ought to do it." "Sub-Commander." "Hail them." "No response." "They're charging weapons." "Polarise the hull plating." "I'll do what I can, but keep in mind we're missing some of it." "It's rearming!" "That's it." "Let's go." "Now, Malcolm." "Enterprise to Captain Archer." "Captain, respond." "Maybe their transmitters were knocked out in the blast." "I see them." "Bearing two-one-three, mark four." "Closing in." "Open the doors to Launch Bay 2." "The Romulans are locking weapons!" " Bridge to Dr. Phlox." " Go ahead." "Meet us outside Launch Bay 2." "They're targeting our engines." "A hundred metres more." "Fifty." "I've got them." "Sealing Launch Bay doors." "Go to warp, Ensign." "You all right?" "All things considered." "If I may say so, sir... your style of command does have its advantages." "So how long was it?" "I counted 10 seconds." "Ten?" "It was more like 20." "Respectfully, sir, it was 10." "I'm not going to argue with you." "It was 20." "That's an order."