Rogue Planet

The Enterprise encounters a rogue planet, an isolated world which was thrown out of its sun’s orbit. Though science generally dictates that such a world would be dead, but thermal energy from the planet’s still-active core have kept a thriving (if nocturnal) ecosystem alive. Archer heads up a landing party that happens upon a group of hunters, led by Damrus. The non-indigenous hunters seem friendly enough, and Malcolm even convinces them to let him join them on their next foray. While the others rest up, Archer keeps watch at the camp, and hears a woman call his name. He sees her, but is unable to catch up with her, and no one else in the camp can find any evidence that she was there. She appears again later as he, Trip and T’Pol are exploring, but she only approaches when Archer is alone. The hunt goes badly, and one of the hunters is nearly killed by an amorphous life form; he is taken back to the Enterprise by shuttle and Dr. Phlox restores him to full health. Archer insists on staying on the planet overnight to see if the mysterious woman contacts him again, and she does. This time she stays long enough to have a conversation, and Archer learns that she’s not human, but a member of a sentient shapeshifting species. Though interfering with the well-armed hunters doesn’t seem like an option, Archer has a plan for evening the odds in the shapeshifters’ favor.

teleplay by Chris Black
story by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga & Chris Black
directed by Allan Kroeker
music by Paul Baillargeon

Cast: Scott Bakula (Captain Jonathan Archer), Jolene Blalock (Subcommander T’Pol), John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox), Dominic Keating (Lt. Malcolm Reed), Anthony Montgomery (Ensign Travis Mayweather), Linda Park (Ensign Hoshi Sato), Connor Trinneer (Commander Charles “Trip” Tucker III), Keith Szarabajka (Damrus), Stephanie Niznik (Woman), Conor O’Farrell (Buzaan), Eric Pierpoint (Shiraht)

Notes: An interesting “future history” note – the Boy Scouts are apparently still earning merit badges in the 22nd century. Archer earned 26 of them and made it to Eagle Scout, while Reed accumulated 28, including a merit badge in exobiology. Any scouts hoping to earn a hunting merit badge are out of luck, as Archer points out that hunting for sport has been out of fashion on Earth for a century. Guest star Keith Szarabajka has guest starred on Babylon 5 and, at the time he guest starred on Enterprise, also had a recurring role on Angel as immortal vampire hunter Holtz.