- Morning, everyone. - Morning, sir.
What have we got today?
We've detected several phenomenon.
A J'ral-class supernova remnant,
approximately three light-years off our course.
That's interesting.
What else?
A cluster of three neutron stars. Very unusual.
How about that. Three stone-cold stars.
Pretty exciting, huh?
Anything else?
There is one other thing might be worth swinging by to take a look.
A Minshara-class planet,
about four and a half light-years away.
Any life signs?
Only about 500 million.
If our scans are right, it looks like there's a whole civilisation down there.
You might have put that on the top of the list.
Put us into orbit at 500 kilometres.
I'm not picking up any other ships or satellites.
Should we hail them?
Who? I'm picking up dozens of cities on each continent.
Let's hold off a second.
We don't know whether they're using high-band frequencies
or smoke signals.
The latter's more likely.
I'm not detecting any EM transmissions.
Preindustrial?
Well, let's take a closer look.
Do you see that? Just off the coast.
I've got it.
Looks like an old clipper ship.
It's almost like travelling back in time.
I cannot wait to get down there.
I'd advise against that.
It's standard protocol to wait until a society develops warp drive
before initiating first contact.
Those are Vulcan protocols, not human.
Starfleet would be wise to adopt them.
There's no way to know how our arrival
would affect the evolution of their society.
So, what are you suggesting we do?
Our sensors can gather a great deal of data from orbit.
Give me a tighter view of the city, Hoshi.
Can you get tight enough to see their faces?
Freeze that.
They don't look so different.
What do you think, Trip?
I think you're right, captain.
You'd be recognised immediately as outsiders.
Not if we look like them.
Starfleet could've sent a probe out here to make maps
and take pictures, but they didn't.
They sent us so that we could explore with our own senses.
You okay?
The acoustic relay is picking up dozens of languages.
I could spend the next ten years studying this place.
Well, let's hear some of it.
It'll take a while to work out a translation matrix for all of them.
We'll be able to narrow it down for you once we pick a landing site.
I did find the one word you might wanna remember. Akaali.
It's the name of their species.
A farm.
It's remote and sparsely populated.
If you're exposed, there's a reduced risk of cultural contamination.
This must be why aliens are always landing in cornfields.
So...
...who do we send first?
It should stand up to scrutiny,
as long as you don't look too close.
Here. See for yourself.
- It itches. - You mustn't touch it, ensign.
The irritation will subside.
Are you sure I'm the right person for this?
If the translator goes down, you'll be able to handle yourself
- better than any of us. - The anterior crests
aren't quite symmetrical. I'll add a little more definition to the right...
We don't need it to be too perfect.
Of course, captain.
T'Pol to Archer.
- Go ahead. - Please report to the bridge.
Is there a problem?
I'm detecting neutrino emissions from a city on the eastern continent.
What's causing it?
Possibly an antimatter reactor.
These people don't even have indoor plumbing.
Maybe some of them are more advanced than others.
Or maybe we're not the first visitors.
What about nonindigenous bio-signs?
I'm not reading any.
But at this range, it's hard to be certain.
Trip, T'Pol, let's head down to Sickbay.
Let the quartermaster know we'll need three more sets of clothing.
My feet would be a lot happier in my own boots.
- What's this? - Identification papers.
Everyone in the city has to carry them.
T'Pol.
T'Pol.
- Over here. - I've got it too.
The reactor's about eight metres under this building.
Looks like some kind of a curio shop.
I guess we'll have to wait till morning.
There could be a lot more people around then.
It might be easier to get a look at this thing tonight.
Except we're on the wrong side of this door.
Not for long.
Seventy-eight light-years to get here...
...our first act is breaking and entering.
Maybe you don't have to mention this part in your log?
- Trip. - Going as fast as I can.
- Archer to T'Pol. - Go ahead, captain.
I think we found what we're looking for.
Acknowledged. We'll meet at your coordinates.
Back here.
The neutrino emissions are off the meter.
It's gotta be through here.
It's some kind of magnetic barrier.
Can you disable it?
I'll try.
Who are you?
What did you do to that door?
Nothing. Honest.
I wanna know what you're doing here.
You don't need to point that weapon at us.
We're collectors.
We're picking up an antique.
A real collector would've waited until the shop was open.
You're not here to pick up any antiques.
I've been watching the shop for weeks.
I know all about your evening deliveries.
Deliveries?
People are getting sick.
Some are even dying because of what's going on in here.
Did you know that?
Move away from the door.
- Was that necessary? - She was armed.
Let's try not to shoot anyone else while we're here, okay?
I'll try.
The reactor signature's coming from the other side of that door,
but it's protected by some kind of energy field.
We should go. It'll be dawn soon.
What about her? We can't just leave her here.
Hoshi.
Her name is Riann. She's an apothecary.
I'll meet you back at the shuttle.
What did you do to me?
Nothing.
You just collapsed.
That's the second lie you've told me.
You're not very good at it.
Why did you bring me back here?
Did Garos tell you to? Are you working for him?
Garos?
You don't know who I'm talking about.
He owns the shop you broke into.
I'm not working for anyone.
I just wanted to make sure you got home all right.
Wait.
If you don't work for him, what were you doing in there?
There's something strange going on in that shop.
I don't know what exactly, but I'm trying to figure it out.
I'm an investigator from another city.
Which city? Who sent you?
I can't tell you any more than that. Not right now.
I suppose telling me nothing is better than another lie.
My colleague's waiting for me.
I've got to go.
You said something about a sickness.
I wanted to come back tomorrow and talk to you about it.
Will you be here?
You didn't tell me your name.
Jon.
Jon.
How far away is this city?
Even if we flatten the building with a torpedo barrage,
it probably wouldn't make a dent in that energy field.
What about the shop itself? Can you scan underneath it?
That's strange.
Sensors aren't picking up anything under the shop.
No basement, no bedrock.
It's like the building's sitting on nothing at all.
There must be some kind of dampening field in place.
Keep your sensors locked on that shop.
If you notice anything else out of the ordinary, let me know right away.
Understood.
That woman...
...Riann said something about people getting sick.
I think we may have seen some of them.
Mottled skin, lesions on their faces.
If we can get these people to the ship,
Dr Phlox might be able to tell us what's wrong.
I'd advise against that.
If I'm not mistaken, the fear of alien abduction
caused a great deal of apprehension on your planet for centuries.
Perhaps we should talk to the shopkeeper first.
Welcome, gentlemen.
If I don't have what you're looking for,
I'm certain I can find someone who does.
Can I help you?
We noticed antiques in the window.
My friend here is an amateur collector.
Were you looking for something in particular?
These are interesting.
You won't find a more varied collection in the entire city.
This is the pride of my entire collection.
Who's it supposed to be?
Draylan, the mythical ruler of the afterworld.
You're not from this province, are you?
No.
And neither are you.
Your DNA doesn't match any other life form on this planet.
Nor does yours.
I see why you have a fondness for masks.
Who are you?
I'm Captain Jonathan Archer of the starship Enterprise.
We're explorers from the planet Earth.
Earth? I never heard of it.
How did you know I was here?
We picked up the signature from your reactor.
Now that you know who we are, maybe you could tell us
what you're doing here.
I'm an explorer as well.
At least, I used to be.
I'm from the Malurian System.
Two years ago, I led a survey mission to study the Akaali.
We had no plans to remain here,
but after a few months, I found myself quite taken with these people,
so I decided to stay.
If you enjoy the simple life so much,
why do you have an antimatter reactor in your basement?
There's nothing nefarious about it, I assure you.
The reactor powers a fabrication device.
It allows me to make food and clothing.
I don't know if you've heard, but there's an illness spreading through this area.
Some people seem to think you're the cause of it.
I see you've met our apothecary.
- You know her? - She's been making
baseless accusations against me for months.
There's a lethal virus spreading among the Akaali.
But it's indigenous. I certainly didn't bring it here.
Unfortunately, these people don't have the medical technology to cure it,
so this woman blames the newcomer, me.
If you wouldn't mind,
we'd like to take a look at this reactor of yours.
Perhaps some other time, captain.
Excuse me.
Welcome.
If I don't have what you're looking for,
I'm certain I can find someone who does.
Gentlemen.
His reactor's got an awful lot of power for a fabrication device.
He could probably feed and clothe half the continent with it.
- Archer to T'Pol. - Go ahead.
How soon can you meet us?
Yes?
- Hello again. - Hello.
Who's your friend?
Her name's T'Pol.
She's helping me investigate Garos' shop.
You two have something in common. T'Pol is a scientist as well.
Your facility's impressive.
Would you mind?
If you're careful not to touch anything.
You two are from the same province?
Not exactly.
Must be difficult to make friends when you keep so much to yourself.
I'm sorry. I don't mean to be evasive.
Yes, you do.
Turn down that flame, please.
I was hoping you could tell us a little bit more about this illness.
Why don't you tell me why you were in Garos' shop.
We were trying to get into the basement.
We think there's some kind of machine there.
Something he's not supposed to have.
What kind of machine?
We're not sure.
But it may be indirectly connected to this epidemic.
If you tell us what you know, we might be able to help.
I can't tell you much.
People are dying, and I can't determine why.
Drop this in the water, carefully.
I learned of the epidemic about 18 months ago.
My brother was one of the first victims.
I'm sorry.
At first, I thought it was some kind of airborne contagion,
but it never spread beyond this part of the city.
I've sampled the soil, the water,
I can't find anything out of the ordinary.
Why do you believe this Garos is involved?
The first cases occurred here.
A few hundred metres from his shop.
That was just one month after he arrived.
You said something about evening deliveries.
Every few nights, someone carries crates from his shop
to different places outside the city.
When I've gone back in the morning,
crates are gone.
Hand me that.
That's why you were watching his shop.
You thought we were there for the crates.
What is that?
Tea.
Would you like some?
Jon, may I speak with you?
I'd love a cup.
Did you get what you need?
I should return to the ship and begin my analysis.
All right. You and the others head back.
- What about you? - I'll stay here,
see if I can learn more about Garos and these shipments.
The longer you remain, the more you risk cultural contamination.
These people are suffering from something a lot worse
than cultural contamination.
We've gotta find out what it is.
Enjoy your tea.
Quite impressive.
Did you say this is a preindustrial society?
Yes.
Her methods may be unrefined, but this woman is using
forensic techniques far more sophisticated than I would've expected.
Isn't it extraordinary?
Thousands of sentient species in our little corner of the cosmos.
Each one discovering science in their own unique way.
Had this woman been born on Vulcan or Earth,
I'm sure she would've made a fine physician.
Here's our culprit.
The water sample's contaminated with tetracyanate 622.
I'm not familiar with it.
It's a synthetic compound, primarily used as an industrial lubricant.
Usually under the strictest safety protocols.
It's quite toxic.
Could this be responsible for the epidemic?
If it's managed to seep into the ground water, absolutely.
I'll notify the captain.
Samples from three new subjects indicate no...
Did you say something?
Sorry. I mutter what I'm writing sometimes.
It's an old habit.
I have a similar one.
I talk to my dog.
My mother bought me a... once, but it:
What was that?
Are you all right?
- All right? - Yeah.
I'm all right.
Someone was walking this way,
but he turned and went around the corner.
I thought if we pretended to be...
I understand.
I want you to head back.
Not before I see what's in those crates.
Help me open this.
Move!
Have you ever seen anything like that?
Actually...
...I have.
Stay here.
Jon.
It's all right.
He's not dead.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell me, Jon?
If your ship can travel to so many stars,
then why would you come here?
- To meet you. - Me?
Not you personally, but your people.
Why? We're so backward compared to you.
If you take away our technology, we're not that different.
Come on.
They're mining some kind of veridium isotope.
Veridium is primarily used to manufacture explosives.
I'm not surprised.
Did you find any traces of tetracyanate?
Their drill bits are saturated with it.
We've gotta shut this all down.
The reactor seems to be powering the entire operation,
but I can't use my phase-pistol. I'd risk blowing up half the city.
Captain, let me come down there and take a crack at it.
I doubt that we have that much time.
Our best shot is the transporter.
I'll see what I can do about disengaging that dampening field.
- Give me a few minutes. - Understood.
I don't suppose you read Malurian.
Can't you use your device?
It wasn't designed for that.
What are we looking for?
There's an energy field surrounding the shop.
It's keeping my ship from seeing what's in here.
One of these controls should turn it off.
- Here. - What?
This is Tengala Street. Here's the shop.
This outline could have something to do with the energy field.
Wait. What are you doing?
If the blue line represents the dampening field,
this blue button should control it.
- What about the yellow dots? - What about them?
How do we know they don't represent the field?
- Maybe it's the yellow button. - The blue one's lit.
That's what worries me.
We could debate this all day. Blue or yellow?
Blue.
There's a ship approaching.
From where?
It must've been in a geosynchronous orbit on the other side of the planet.
I'm picking up multiple weapon platforms.
They're armed to the teeth.
We're being hailed from the surface.
- The captain? - I don't think so.
On, screen.
I suggest you leave this system at once,
or my ship will open fire.
I want to speak with Captain Archer.
That won't be possible. He's dead.
The ship's firing.
My vessel is capable of firing ten of those charges simultaneously.
Again, I suggest you break orbit.
How did you learn about this facility, captain?
Was it from a somewhat ugly Tellarite merchant perhaps?
I told you.
We detected your reactor from orbit.
I forgot, you're explorers.
We're trying to help these people.
What you're doing here is contaminating their water supply.
There are 500 million Akaali on this planet.
A few thousand won't be missed.
I'm willing to let you go, provided you promise not to return.
We've instructed your ship to send down a launch vehicle
to take you and the woman.
She belongs here.
Believe me, she'll be better off on your ship.
Now, step away from the control panel, captain.
If anyone walks through either of these doors,
aim this and pull the trigger.
They're recharging weapons.
Prepare to leave orbit on my order.
Belay that. Keep this ship right where it is.
I don't have to reiterate that I outrank you, Mr Tucker.
Ensign.
- Engineering. - Billy, stand by to vent the nacelles,
- on my order. - Yes, sir.
We're not going anywhere.
I didn't say leave orbit. I said, prepare to leave orbit.
I have no intention of abandoning the captain, dead or alive.
The dampening field's down.
- Anything? - I've got a fix on it.
Transfer the coordinates.
The forward hull plating's depolarising.
Evasive manoeuvres. Keep us within transporter range.
- I'll try. - Return fire.
They've got some kind of energy shielding.
Our weapons are ineffective.
- It's the captain. - Put him through.
How's it going up there?
A Malurian vessel's opened fire. We're taking damage.
- And the reactor? - We're trying to get a lock on it now.
Are you all right? He said you'd been killed.
Don't worry about me. Just get the reactor.
Jon.
We've lost lateral thrusters.
Commander Tucker, status?
This would be a lot easier if you'd stop rocking the boat.
How long?
- I've almost got a lock. - I can't shake them.
Even if we get the reactor, how are we gonna keep them
from taking it back?
If they want it so badly, perhaps we should give it to them.
I've got a lock.
Starboard tube's loaded.
Stand by to go to full impulse.
Now, commander.
Fire.
Their shielding is down.
Come about, ensign.
Target their weapons array.
The oil lamp.
What about it?
There should be at least a litre of residic oil in the container below it.
Residic oil ignites at 398 degrees.
You wouldn't happen to have anything that gets that hot?
Archer.
The reactor's been destroyed, captain.
We've disarmed the Malurian ship. Should we disable their engines?
No.
They're about to leave.
But first they need to pick up three passengers.
Archer out.
I don't think you're gonna have time to pack up your shop.
Captain's starlog, July 31 st, 2151.
We've removed the mining equipment from under the shop.
As far as we can tell, none of the Akaali
knows what really happened...
...with one exception.
Tell them to take the entire dose.
- Just one? - That's all they'll need.
What if Garos comes back?
I've notified T'Pol's people.
They're going to look in on you from time to time.
They could stop by for tea.
You bet.
It's probably best if you...
...keep all this to yourself.
Who'd believe me anyway?
Where is your starship headed now?
There are lots of inhabited planets to see.
But I doubt many will be this memorable.
Is your translator broken again?
I'm sorry?
I don't understand a word you're saying.

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