Kir'Shara (Enterprise episode)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kir'Shara is the name of the 85th episode from the television series Star Trek: Enterprise. "Kir'shara" first aired on December 3, 2004 on the American television network UPN.

This episode is entitled Kir'Shara for the mythical artifact that was claimed to contain the only surviving writings of the revered Surak, father of Vulcan logic.

1 Plot summary
2 Guest cast
3 Trivia
4 External link

[edit] Plot summary

Note: This episode is part of a three episode arc involving Captain Archer's clandestine journey through planet Vulcan. To follow the full plot, see the other two episodes of the arc "The Forge", and "Awakening".

T'Pau of Vulcan

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

As the Enterprise under the temporary command of Commander Tucker is diverted to Andoria, the Vulcan High Command begins planning for a large scale pre-emptive strike against Andoria based on the falsified report that the Andorian Imperial Command is planning to adapt their vessels with a powerful Xindi weaponry. Furthermore, the Vulcan High Command, under the leadership of the villainous Administrator V'Las, is working under the assumption that the Andorians will "sooner or later" make use of their new weapon, and wonder "Is it logical for us to wait to that day?"

Back at the forge, Captain Archer, his science officer T'Pol, and the leader of the Syrranites T'Pau, have found the sacred Kir'Shara and begin on their journey to take the ancient relic back to the Vulcan capital. We learn from T'Pau that the discovery of the Kir'Shara would have an enormous impact on the High Command and all of Vulcan.

Meanwhile, onboard the Enterprise, Lieutenant Reed raises the concerns of some of his fellow crewmates whether Commander Trip's plan to disobey Admiral Gardner's direct orders, and warn the Andorians of the impending Vulcan pre-emptive strike is in the best interests of Starfleet.

Enterprise's long time friend in the Andorian military, Commander Shran, has been hiding his military task force inside a nebula. Upon contact with Enterprise and it's temporary occupant, Ambassador Soval, Shran learns that the Vulcan High Command has been assembling a massive fleet near Regulus, beyond the range of Andorian listening stations. However, Shran does not fully trust the words of a Vulcan, even if it is from the highly respected Ambassador Soval. Therefore, to be certain that the mobilization of the massive Andorian Imperial fleet is not in vain, Shran abducts Ambassador Soval, secretly teleporting him from the Enterprise. A device that lowers Vulcan emotional threshold is then used on the Ambassador as Shran repeatedly asks the actual location of the Vulcan invasion fleet.

Upon the discovery that their guest, Ambassador Soval, has been abducted by the Andorian fleet, Enterprise pursues Shran's lead ship into the nebula and begins firing. Upon this act, Shran orders his ships out of the nebula and agrees to return the Ambassador to Enterprise. Shran does not fire back at the human ship, afraid to "make enemies of the humans."

Still at the forge, T'Pol and T'Pau engage in a heated discussion over the logic of following the leadership of Captain Archer - a man who claims to be in possession of Surak's katra. During the exchange, T'Pol becomes emotional, and quickly apologizes, saying "My mother's death has affected me more than I realized." She also discloses that during a forced mind-meld several years ago, she was infected with Pa'nar syndrome. T'Pau explains that Pa'nar syndrome is caused by melders who have been improperly trained and, further, that one with great experience can correct the neurological imbalance - a fact the Vulcan High Command has kept secret, preferring to refer to the condition as an incurable, stigmatizing disease. T'Pau performs a mind-meld on her and a subsequent episode confirmed that T'Pol's Pa'nar syndrome was cured as a result.

As Archer's journey to the Vulcan capital is progressing, a team of commandos with direct orders from the High Command to take the Kir'Shara from the Syrranites, tracks down Archer and his team. In the brawl that follows, T'Pol is injured and is taken prisoner by the commandos while Archer and T'Pau narrowly escape. Upon interrogation, T'Pol claims that the Kir'Shara is being taken to Mount Seleya, thus diverting the commandos from Archer's true destination -- the Vulcan capital. T'Pol further declares to her captors that "I am a Syrranite. We don't lie". Whether this is, in fact, a lie is a matter of debate, as there are signs that T'Pol may have, indeed, become a Syrranite following her meld with T'Pau.

Captain Archer and T'Pau, in a daring plan to free T'Pol, lure the commandos to Gallicite deposits where their metallic weapons act as lightning rods and incapacitate the commandos. Archer then learns that, unfortunately, his first officer is not with the commandos, instead, she is being taken to the Vulcan High Command.

Back at the Enterprise, Ambassador Soval has been returned, and remains at the Sick bay where his former captor, Shran, pays him a visit to check on his condition. To the pleasure of Shran, the Ambassador is expected to recover.

Meanwhile, Enterprise and six other alien ships have taken position near the Andorian system, directly in the path of the Vulcan strike fleet. They have learned that twelve Vulcan cruisers are approaching, and unfortunately, allied ships are too far out of range, and they will be on their own for the subsequent confrontation with the Vulcan fleet.

Once the Vulcan fleet meets the Andorians, Commander Tucker orders the Enterprise directly between both fleets, saying, "If the Vulcans want to start a war, they're going to have to get through us first." The Vulcans begin their attack nonetheless. Although at the first, the Vulcan fleet only targets the Andorians, they are ordered by the High Command to destroy Enterprise after Enterprise opens fire on one of the Vulcan ships to protect a damaged Andorian ship.

Archer and T'Pau reach the Vulcan capital and T'Pol's husband, Koss, helps the duo transport into the Vulcan High Command by providing them with the required access codes. Thereupon, they present the Kir'Shara to the High Council and reveal that the bombing of Earth's embassy was an excuse by the High Command Administrator to round up the Syrranites. Minister Kuvak, a member of the High council, quickly takes control of a hand weapon and fires on Administrator V'Las, who is attempting to destroy the Kir'Shara. Kuvak also immediately orders the Vulcan fleet commander to cease the attack on the Andorians and withdraw.

Koss comes aboard the Enterprise to inform T'Pol that he is releasing her from their marriage, saying "I know you only bonded with me to help your mother." Soon afterwards, the katra that had been hosted by Captain Archer is transferred to a Vulcan priest (coincidentally the same priest who conducted Koss and T'Pol's marriage ceremony).

The far reaching consequences of these events include the fact that Administrator V'Las has been relieved of his position and the conflict between Vulcan and Andoria appears to have been averted. Even more substantial, the Vulcan High Command is dissolved. This means that the Vulcans would no longer be watching over Starfleet's every move, as T'Pau explains, "It's time for Earth to stand on its own."

The end, however, does not come until former Administrator V'Las meets with Talok, the officer in charge of his former commando team - and we find that Talok is actually a Romulan. V'Las asks to be allowed to leave Vulcan with Talok (who is returning to Romulus), but Talok refuses, claiming that V'Las' disappearance would draw suspicion. V'Las asks Talok what will happen now that their operation has failed; Talok replies, "The reunification of our people is only a matter of time." Star Trek: Enterprise was cancelled before this plotline could be continued, although the theme of Romulan-Vulcan reunification would emerge in the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

[edit] Guest cast

Robert Foxworth as V'Las
Jeffrey Combs as Shran
John Rubinstein as Kuvak
Gary Graham as Soval
Michael Reilly Burke as Koss
Kara Zediker as T'Pau
Todd Stashwick as Talok
Jack Donner as Vulcan Priest
Melodee M. Spevack as Andorian Com Voice

[edit] Trivia

The character of T'Pau would make a "later" appearance in the Star Trek Original Series episode "Amok Time".
The Romulan that appears briefly at the end of this episode is physically different from those seen in the Star Trek Original Series episode "Balance of Terror". He has cranial ridges much like the retcon Romulans' appearance when they appeared in later Trek series - a similar continuity fudge to that concerning the Klingons' differing appearances over the different timelines of the various movies and television shows. The difference in the Klingon's appearances was the basis of a multi-part story in Enterprise's fourth - and final - season, but the explanation for the disparity in Romulan appearances was never addressed - possibly because of the show's cancellation before it could reach the planned Earth/Romulan war arc.