United (Star Trek: Enterprise)

"United"
Star Trek: Enterprise episode
270px Archer and Shran duel using an Ushaan-Tor.
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 13
Directed by	David Livingston
Teleplay by	Judith Reeves-Stevens Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Story by	Manny Coto
Featured music	Jay Chattaway
Production code	413
Original air date	February 4, 2005 (2005-02-04)
Guest actors
Jeffrey Combs - Commander Shran Lee Arenberg - Ambassador Gral Brian Thompson - Admiral Valdore Geno Silva - Senator Vrax Kevin Brief - Naarg Molly Brink - Lieutenant Talas J. Michael Flynn - Nijil Scott Allen Rinker - Pilot

"United" is the title of the eighty-ninth episode from the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, the thirteenth episode of the fourth season, first airing on February 4, 2005. "United" was the second of a three-part story which included the episodes "Babel One" and "The Aenar".

Set in the 22nd century, the series follows the adventures of the first Starfleet starship Enterprise, registration NX-01. In this episode, after the death of his companion, Commander Shran engages Captain Archer in traditional combat to settle a blood debt. Meanwhile, Archer tries to find unified common ground between Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites while a remote-controlled Romulan vessel works to keep them apart.

Plot

On Romulus, Admiral Valdore, Romulan scientist Nijil and their pilot continue to control the mysterious "marauder", cloaking it to look like Enterprise and then destroy a Rigelian vessel. Despite this success, Senator Vrax chastises them for losing full control of their drone, since Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed are still on board. Valdore and Nijil then work to trap Tucker inside a service junction as he attempts to divert power. After incapacitating him with leaked radiation coolant, Valdore then orders Reed to re-establish the damaged warp matrix on the drone or see his crewmate die. Reed complies in order to rescue Tucker.

Meanwhile, aboard Enterprise, Commander T'Pol and Ensign Mayweather devise a surveillance grid that will require the coordinated effort of 128 space ships. After seeking help from Earth and Vulcan, Captain Archer realizes that he will need to obtain Andorian and Tellarite support too. Archer's attempt hits a snag when Lieutenant Talas dies from the phaser wound sustained earlier. A devastated Commander Shran openly challenges Naarg to a blood-duel using Ushaan-Tor, an Andorian ice-miner's tool. Realizing that a death will derail trade negotiations, Archer announces himself as the Tellarite's substitute. The duel proceeds, and Archer is fortunately able to win, and spares Shran's life after severing an antennae.

With the duel completed, Shran promises continued Andorian support for the grid, and the Tellarite's Ambassador Gral does the same. Enterprise, as flagship, soon relocates and re-engages the drone. Reed and Tucker, now caught in the crossfire, and unable to be transported out, narrowly escape death by ejecting themselves into open space. A mixed fleet of "allied" vessels then arrive, forcing Vrax and Valdore to recall the drone at warp speed to Romulan space. Archer then invites the Andorians and the Tellarites to begin their negotiations early — and no-one aboard suspects that the drone's pilot is actually an Andorian albino.

External links

• United at IMDb
• "United" at TV.com
• United at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• United at StarTrek.com