Proving Ground
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 21 January 2004
- ON
- UPN
- STARDATE
- None given
- DIRECTED BY
- David Livingston
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 065
WRITTEN BYWritten by Chris Black
Commander Shran turns up in the Expanse offering to help Archer against the Xindi, but Archer has every reason to wonder what the Andorians really want.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
Caught in a dangerous vortex, Enterprise is rescued by an Andorian ship commanded by Shran, who offers to help against the Xindi and says Andoria wants an alliance with Earth. Archer is wary but accepts, and the two crews work together to repair Enterprise and scan a site where the Xindi are testing a prototype of their weapon. When the moment comes, Shran seizes the prototype, which the Andorians secretly intend to use against the Vulcans. Archer contacts Shran and threatens to detonate the weapon unless he hands it over. Shran doubts that Archer will do it, but when the detonation begins he ejects the weapon, which explodes and damages the Andorian ship while Enterprise escapes unharmed. Shran nonetheless transmits detailed scans of the weapon to Enterprise. Archer has them sent on to Starfleet, and invites Trip and T'Pol to share some Andorian ale.
- 01Ted Sutton originally played the Andorian general but was unavailable for reshoots, so Granville Van Dusen replaced him in the viewscreen role.
- 02Shran's antennae are remote controlled. Jeffrey Combs and the puppeteer worked out a shared language of movements reflecting the character's mood.
- 03Manny Coto hoped to make Combs a series regular had Enterprise been renewed for a fifth season.