The Enterprise arrives at Azati Prime, the construction site of the sphere-weapon which could destroy Earth. Using a stolen Xindi ship, Trip and Mayweather make a reconnaissance run, collecting sensor readings on the weapon as it is assembled underwater on a nearby planet. The most obvious solution to the problem of the weapon seems to be detonating a large-yield explosive at the construction site – and Archer refuses to send any of his officers on this suicide mission, volunteering to deliver the deadly cargo himself. But then he’s whisked away – by Daniels, his occasional contact from the 26th century. Daniels treats Archer to an awesome sight: a pitch battle between Federation forces and a race he calls the Sphere Builders, from the vantage point of a ship called the Enterprise-J. Daniels explains that the Federation – an alliance that includes Earth, the Vulcans, the Andorians, the Klingons and the Xindi – beats back an invasion attempt by the Sphere Builders in 400 years’ time. To undo that defeat, the Sphere Builders have gone back in time to offer their technology to the Xindi – and the price of Xindi superiority in the 22nd century is the eradication of the human race. Daniels points out that Archer could turn the tide of events by extending an offer of peace to the Xindi now – but for the captain, anything less than destroying the Xindi weapon is unacceptable, even if it unravels the future.
teleplay by Manny Coto
story by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga and Manny Coto
directed by Allan Kroeker
music by Jay ChattawayGuest Cast: Matt Winston (Daniels), Randy Oglesby (Degra), Scott MacDonald (Reptilian Commander), Tucker Smallwood (Xindi-Humanoid), Rick Worthy (Xindi-Arboreal), Christopher Goodman (Thalen)
LogBook entry by Earl Green