Introduction

“The Breach” is the twenty-first episode of the second season and forty-seventh episode of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise.

The starship Enterprise is asked to evacuate three Denobulan geologists after the controlling government is taken over by a militant faction.

Outline

At the request of the Denobulan Science Academy, Enterprise goes to extract a group of three geologists from a planet where xenophobic militants have taken charge and decreed that all off-worlders must evacuate. Being experienced with caving, Ensign Mayweather is chosen to lead Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed on the underground rescue mission. They have only three days to return to the surface with the scientists before the negotiated government ceasefire expires.

As the Enterprise nears the planet, it comes to the aid of an alien evacuee transport, suffering from a dangerous radiation leak. The most seriously injured of the various aliens brought aboard is Hudak, an Antaran, whose species has a centuries long history of conflict and animosity with the Denobulans. Though suffering from a fatal case of radiation poisoning, and being the first time the divorced species have interacted in generations, he immediately refuses help from Doctor Phlox. Archer orders Phlox to treat him, but he reluctantly declines, since Denobulan medical ethics places the patient’s wishes above all other considerations.

Underground, the crew make good progress, but Mayweather injures his leg. Leaving him behind, Reed and Tucker soon locate the Denobulan geologists, who are happily engaged in recording the various rare and precious geological features of the cavern. With time running out, Tucker is insistent the group departs, while the scientists downplay the level of the threat, but finally assent. Back on the ship, using tact and diplomacy of his own, Phlox endeavors to help Hudak, but his initial attempts end in failure. Phlox, for his part, is also upset at the mutual hatred between the two species – but since Hudak refuses to be treated, Phlox must wait. Eventually, Hudak reflects on Phlox’s words and agrees to the lifesaving procedure. A détente is then reached in which the three Denobulans are granted passage home aboard Hudak’s vessel.

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Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): Robert Duncan McNeill.
• Writer(s): Daniel McCarthy.
• Release Date: 23 April 2003.
• Running Time: 45 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.