The Crossing (Star Trek: Enterprise)

The Crossing is the 44th episode of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise.

Synopsis

Non-corporeal aliens attempt to take over Enterprise.

Plot

A huge alien vessel overtakes and swallows Enterprise. Enterprise's engines and weapons are disabled, and her scanners register neither the alien ship nor its energy-ball-like beings, so Archer takes Reed and Trip on an away mission that finds Trip being invaded by one of the wispy energy balls before being returned to his normal state, albeit with memories of having been on Earth. Phlox's examination reveals no ill effects for the experience.

Trip is possessed again, and is tracked down in the mess hall where he's been enjoying the sybaritic pleasure of food. The alien says that they are benign explorers who want to experience the corporeal state they long evolved from. In exchange, the crew would have wonderful experiences. Archer demands the release of his ship, and the return of Trip—which quickly happens… for the most part. The Enterprise is again floating in space, but the engines are still not working.

One-by-one, crewmembers start being possessed and acting out of character, including Reed, who goes to T'Pol's quarters and suggests she takes her clothes off so that he may experience sexual intercourse. Travis discovers a sanctuary in the nacelle catwalk area, so Archer moves the non-infected crew back onto the cramped environs of the engines. While there, T'Pol proposes a plan that she will use her more disciplined mind to try to communicate with the beings instead of being infected by them. Archer objects to this dangerous plan, but there are no other alternatives.

T'Pol discovers that the aliens plan to co-opt corporeal bodies to save themselves from their failing ship. The E-Team hatches a plan to eject the beings by asphyxiating the infected crew. Though he has some trouble with an infected Trip, Phlox floods the ship with CO2, and the aliens return to their ship. When the ship attempts to recapture the Enterprise, Archer destroys it with two torpedoes.

External links

• The Crossing at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Crossing" at TV.com
• The Crossing at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• The Crossing at StarTrek.com