Divergence

Columbia pulls alongside Enterprise so Trip can transfer to his old ship to sort out the engine damage. On the Klingon colony, Phlox has discovered that an attempt by the Klingon military to splice their own DNA with that of human Augments has created a highly contagious plague. Worse yet, the Empire’s response to that plague has been to begin a widespread program of “sterilization” – destroying any infected colonies, ships or outposts – and the colony where Phlox is fighting the odds to find a cure is next. Captain Archer gives Lt. Reed one last chance to help, and Reed leads the Enterprise and Columbia to the colony where Phlox is being held. Phlox has narrowed his research down to four possible antiviral strains, but even if he finds one, he won’t have enough time to create the cure. Captain Archer beams down to the colony to rescue Phlox, but he may be forced to take on a new role as a human incubator for the cure.

written by Judith Reeves-Stevens & Garfield Reeves-Stevens
directed by Dave Barrett
music by Jay Chattaway

Guest Cast: Terrell Tilford (Marab), John Schuck (Antaak), James Avery (General K’Vagh), Ada Maris (Captain Erika Hernandez), Eric Pierpoint (Harris), Kristin Bauer (Laneth), Wayne Grace (Krell), Matt Jenkins (Tactical Officer)

Notes: Section 31 is, of course, the same covert intelligence organization within Starfleet that takes an active role in the 24th century Dominion War (and recruits Dr. Julian Bashir of Deep Space Nine). Given Section 31’s ambitious attempts to manipulate other governments, it’s not entirely unlikely that Admiral Cartwright (and, in added scenes for the home video and DVD releases, Colonel West) may have been working for Section 31 in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Section 31’s interest in the Augments exists in an alternate timeline as well (Star Trek: Into Darkness).