Dead
Stop
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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. |
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