[S]Tonight on Enterprise - Dead Stop

[Takara_Soong 4]

Dead Stop

 

Enterprise, in desperate need of extensive repairs, docks with a mysterious, high-tech, automated space station that inexplicably and amazingly fixes everything, making it almost too good to be true. While waiting for the repairs to be completed, the Enterprise crew searches the unmanned space station and discovers its unique and horrifying power source.

 

An excellent episode directed by Roxann Dawson.

 

Synopsis from startrek.com:

Click for Spoiler:

Enterprise, in desperate need of extensive repairs, docks with a mysterious, high-tech, automated space station that inexplicably and amazingly fixes everything, making it almost too good to be true.

 

After the incident in the Romulan minefield, Enterprise is in need of repairs. Archer sends out a general distress call, and receives a jumbled response from a Tellarite freighter, containing the coordinates of a repair station. When the crew arrives at the station, it appears to be abandoned ... until one of the docking ports lights up and reconfigures itself to fit Enterprise. Still, there don't seem to be any lifeforms onboard. Once inside the station, Archer, T'Pol and Trip locate a sort of diagnostic center that contains holographic schematics of the ships, with the damaged sections clearly highlighted. Somehow, the station has managed to scan the ship and anticipate the crew's needs — the schematic even highlights Reed's recent leg injury. A computer voice addresses the trio, asking them to select a method of compensation for the repairs. Archer offers some warp plasma, and the station accepts, saying the repairs can be completed in less than 35 hours. Though he is wary of the automated nature of the station, Archer accepts the terms, and the station begins the repairs. In the station's recreation room, the trio is impressed by the amazing technology on display — a food replicator delivers both cold water and Trip's favorite fried catfish.

 

Back on the ship, the station's technology has managed to fix Reed's leg injury, and is repairing Enterprise in record time. Archer, however, can't help but be suspicious — it all seems too good to be true.

 

Meanwhile, Trip and Reed are enjoying replicated meals in the station's recreation room. Like Archer, Trip can't help but be a bit suspicious of the station — especially since he has calculated that the station's computer must be impossibly small. He convinces Reed to go with him and attempt to explore the station further and track down the computer. Unfortunately, they are detected by the station's computer and transported back to Enterprise. The duo is reprimanded by Archer, but the captain can't help but be curious as to what they found onboard.

 

The captain's concerns are put aside for the moment when tragedy strikes — Ensign Mayweather is found dead. While the crew attempts to cope with his death, Archer heads to the station's computer to determine a cause of death. The computer doesn't recognize his queries, and Archer grows even more frustrated. Meanwhile, Phlox performs the autopsy and discovers that the body is not Mayweather, but a nearly perfect replica.

 

Archer devises a plan: Archer, T'Pol and Reed make their way through the station's intricate passageways while Trip attempts to distract the station's computer with the crew's payment of plasma. When Archer and T'Pol reach the station's computer core, they discover a horrifying sight: 40 humanoid bodies, pale and desiccated, suspended from harnesses, with electrode-like devices attached to their skulls. T'Pol notes that the vital organs of the bodies appear to be functioning, but they've suffered severe neurological damage. Their synaptic pathways have been integrated into the computer core, giving the station the knowledge of many different species. As they begin to free Mayweather, the alien station begins overriding commands onboard Enterprise, effectively holding the ship hostage. Archer and T'Pol bring Mayweather back to the ship, but Enterprise is close to shutting down completely. With time running out, Archer instructs Reed to deliver their final payment. Reed pulls out a small detonator and activates micro-charges that were attached to the plasma canisters Trip left behind. The ensuing explosion and a final torpedo launched by Reed destroys the station, and Enterprise's command functions return to normal.

 

Phlox determines that the station was essentially tapping into Mayweather's brain, using his knowledge to enhance its processing power. This explains the station's incredible capabilities. The crew heads out, believing the station permanently destroyed. But in the distance, it ominously begins to repair itself ...

 

 

 

[Shrek 0]

It was pretty good.

[A l t e r E g o 9]

This one and Vox Sola both recaptured the feel of an TOS alien/episode!

[Makurosu 0]

This episode was really good. Enterprise gets slammed for being not so good, but this episode, like Minefield and the last few new episodes, were all pretty good. Sure, Enterprise has problems (some of which are characteristic to all of Trek, IMO. At least modern Trek), but so far it's had a fair number of enjoyable episodes. Now if only Archer wasn't such a wuss.... B)

 

One thing I really liked about Dead Stop was that the Enterprise had damage that carried over from a previous episode. I just loved this. This was exactly the sort of thing that Voyager needed to have in it. I liked Voyager somewhat, too (not so much after Seven joined the crew, though I liked her character. And not just for her um, assests. :) ), but it did a poor job of presenting the danger of being isolated in space. Their hull integrity, for instance, would drop to 30% during a fight, and yet at the end of the episode they were just fine as the credits rolled. If you hull is down to 30% integrity, you've got some serious repair issues ahead. Why not explore those? It wouldn't have needed to be the whole episode, but why not at least have some throwaway lines?

 

I hope we see more of this type of thing. So far, Enterprise has done a good job of making the humans seem relatively naive as they've finally joined the members of warp capable species. It's kind of sad to see it that way after the opening montage of brave explorers who ventrued out into space and then in the show humans appear to be the whipping boys of the Vulcans. :)

[Admiral Kirk 1]

It's a fine episode too me. Anything is better than A Night in Sick Bay.

[Stelfan 0]

One thing I really liked about Dead Stop was that the Enterprise had damage that carried over from a previous episode.  I just loved this.  This was exactly the sort of thing that Voyager needed to have in it.  I liked Voyager somewhat, too (not so much after Seven joined the crew, though I liked her character.  And not just for her um, assests.  :)  ), but it did a poor job of presenting the danger of being isolated in space.  Their hull integrity, for instance, would drop to 30% during a fight, and yet at the end of the episode they were just fine as the credits rolled.  If you hull is down to 30% integrity, you've got some serious repair issues ahead.  Why not explore those?  It wouldn't have needed to be the whole episode, but why not at least have some throwaway lines? 

Yes, I totally agree that Voyager really laked this.. The continuity.. Every ep. was a new start, on ENT things that happen in one ep. affects the other in a much more interesting and realistic way.

[fredbroca 0]

My friend sugested this to me that they should have has a episode of voyger that had just the normal people not bridge crew and what they had to do like go outside and clean the carbon scoring of the hull as you know voyer always looked clean I do think that would have been a good show :lol: