Enterprise to Shuttlepod One.
Enterprise to Shuttlepod One.
Captain Archer, please respond.
Enterprise to Shuttlepod One...
Captain Archer, please respond.
Lieutenant?
They took some weapons fire.
Main power's off-line.
Gravity plating, life support.
Bio-signs?
None.
Captain's Starlog, supplemental.
Trip and I have left Keto-Enol, where we had a successful first contact with the Enolians.
We also found time to squeeze in a little R&R.
There's only one more log entry after that.
Something about a "pan zan" match.
- Pan zan? - It's a sporting event.
The Captain said it was the closest thing to water polo he's seen since we left Earth.
The sensor logs?
Too badly damaged to be much help.
If I may, I've been running a forensic analysis.
There are traces of human blood on the deck and bulkheads-- both the Captain's and Commander Tucker's.
Lieutenant Reed believes they were abducted.
If they were, they didn't go without a fight.
Set a course for Keto-Enol.
I'll be right back.
Captain.
Are you in charge here?
If you're not, I need to speak to your superior officer.
Captain.
I'm okay.
I'd stay quiet if I were you. The guards don't like questions.
Do you know where they're taking us?
I heard something about Canamar.
I assume that's where we're going.
It's a penal colony.
Is this how your justice system works?
Ship people off to prison without a trial?
There's a processing station in orbit. You'll be tried, sentenced, and sent down to the surface.
What if you're not guilty?
We're all guilty as far as they're concerned.
Why did they take you?
They think we're smugglers.
I wouldn't want to be accused of smuggling.
They'll probably make an example of you.
We're on an exploratory mission.
We believe our captain and chief engineer were abducted after visiting your planet.
Abducted by whom?
We don't know.
We're the busiest trading outpost in this system. We get thousands of visitors every day.
Unfortunately, that attracts just as many thieves and smugglers.
As you might imagine, my officers are kept quite busy.
I wish I could help you.
Let us send you their descriptions.
Perhaps you could find out if any of your officers have seen them.
Anything else on the menu?
If you don't like it, give it to me.
I like it just fine.
Give it to me.
Eat your own.
You don't listen too well.
Then why don't you save yourself the trouble and stop talking to me?
Thanks.
You should be careful with the Nausicans. Nasty tempers.
Thanks for the advice.
What were you smuggling?
Latinum? Enolian spice wine?
We're not smugglers.
I'm the Chief Engineer of a starship and he's my Captain.
Captain of a starship... interesting.
I should have tried that when they took me.
It might have helped.
"Captain Zoumas."
A patrol ship intercepted their shuttle as it was leaving orbit.
Where are they?
On board one of our transports.
They were carrying what appeared to be contraband, so they were taken into custody.
Are your patrols in the habit of arresting innocent people?
Smuggling is rampant in this system.
My men have orders to board unfamiliar vessels. Mistakes can be made.
You certainly made one this time.
I've contacted the transport. They're expecting you. These are the coordinates.
I trust you'll accompany us to ensure there are no further mistakes.
What if Enterprise doesn't find the shuttlepod?
Hopefully, there'll be a judge or someone on that processing station we can talk to.
And if not?
You might want to make friends with that Nausican.
Are you Archer?
You're being released.
A ship's coming to retrieve you.
Released? Why?
We're not criminals.
How much did they pay you to let them go?
Quiet.
I'm innocent, too.
I'll pay you.
I said quiet.
We're all innocent!
How much?!
That's enough!
Keep still!
All of you.
If you want to get out of here.
I told you we needed the pilot.
He's alive.
Does he look like he's in any condition to fly this ship?
He tried to get a weapon.
Just watch them!
What about the rest of us?
You'll be released soon enough.
When?!
Where are we going?
Be patient.
You'll find out.
I'm sure we're all grateful for your courageous effort, but we've been in these restraints for three days.
- Couldn't you just...? - Quiet!
I'll see if I can access navigation.
You ever fly a warp ship before?
It's harder than you think.
He's right.
You hit the wrong control, you could overload the plasma manifolds or shut down the antimatter containment field.
We'd all end up a cloud of ionized gas.
You're a pilot?
A damn good one.
I'm a smuggler, remember?
Come with me.
My partner's an engineer.
- I could use his help. - Just you.
I thought you were a pilot.
Every ship's different.
Give me some time.
These look like landing thrusters.
Attitude control.
Warp stabilizers.
Navigation?
Navigation.
There's a binary system four light years from here.
This one?
- Set a course. - Which planet?
I'll tell you that when we get there.
We're not going to get very far in a stolen...
Just get me to that system.
You know what happens if he dies.
If you get him medical attention, it'll work in your favor.
I'll tell the magistrate you showed compassion.
The guard said you were going to be released.
Why?
Because we're innocent.
I have friends who wanted to keep doing business with me.
They made a few discreet payments and now... I'm innocent.
I would have been off this ship by now if you hadn't staged your little revolt.
I hope you've thought this through.
Every detail.
I'm curious...
How'd you get out of those restraints?
You couldn't have a lockpick--the guards would have found it.
Would they?
Subdermal implants.
They depolarize triburnium alloys.
How did you know you were going to need them?
I served seven years on Canamar before I escaped.
I don't intend to go back.
So, I left prepared.
I don't know what you have in mind, but I'm involved now.
I don't want to go to Canamar any more than you do.
If we run into trouble, my partner could help.
What is that?
Subspace transceiver.
I hope you're not trying to send a message.
I'm taking it off-line.
It leaves a subspace signature even when it's not transmitting.
Someone could track us.
Now it's off-line.
I'm picking up an automated distress signal.
That's one of our frequencies.
Your transport vessel?
We have hundreds of ships. I don't know the signatures for every one.
The signal originated near our rendezvous coordinates, but they've stopped transmitting.
Try hailing them.
No response.
Increase our speed to warp 4.2.
We're still several hours away but we have patrol ships in that area.
Contact them.
Have you ever tried tojal?
What?
There's nothing like it, but you have to eat it before it cools, otherwise it'll congeal.
Sounds charming.
It's the first thing I'm going to have when we're off this ship.
Where do you think they're taking us?
Ask him.
I'll just wait and see.
The Enolians won't stop looking for us. We'll be fugitives.
I was thinking of having my face reconfigured.
There's a surgeon on Burala Prime who can do it. He could help you as well.
I'll take my chances with my own face.
Have you ever been to Burala Prime?
Can't say I have.
If you ever go, avoid the polar islands. The people are friendly, but the cold is unbearable. Nothing but ice and glaciers.
I was stranded there for three months when some colleagues of mine decided to leave without me.
Imagine that. The day I got lost, that was the worst.
14 hours. It took me 14 hours to find my way back to the outpost.
I lost three toes to frostbite. I've walked with a slight limp ever since, not that you'd notice.
I'm going to get that surgeon to do some work on my foot as well. Maybe he can replace the missing toes.
Excuse me.
Can I change seats?
I'm surprised we haven't crossed paths before.
We're new to this region.
We used to work mostly in the Sol system.
Sol?
It's our sun.
Our homeworld is called Earth.
What is it?
Two vessels approaching from aft.
Let me see them.
Enolian patrol ships.
They've found us.
More quickly than I expected.
When you were taking the transceiver off-line, you didn't activate it accidentally...?
You think I sent a distress call?
I told you we should have gotten rid of this ship.
It was too easy to track.
They're charging weapons.
Do the same!
Those are heavily armed patrol ships.
We're only a transport.
We have weapons-- use them!
We're outgunned!
I'd rather take my chances on Canamar.
And I'd rather not.
Now charge the weapons.
They're targeting our engines.
Return fire!
No.
I'm warning you...
We don't have the firepower.
If we attack those ships, they'll destroy us.
I think I can get us out of this... but I'll need Tucker's help.
What's happening?!
If those are patrol ships, you're going to be recaptured.
Shouldn't we be getting to the escape pods?
The next person who speaks goes out the airlock!
He needs to concentrate.
Trip, what's your status?
Almost there!
Let us go! I don't want to die, tied up like an animal!
Ready when you are!
Cease fire! cease fire! We surrender.
Pressurize your docking port and prepare to be boarded or our next shot will breach your hull.
Acknowledged.
Now!
The plasma vents are open!
They've taken damage...
Propulsion is down on both ships.
- Lock weapons. - We should get out of here while we can.
- Target their warp reactors! - There's no need.
As soon as they repair their damage, they'll come after us again.
Do you think the Enolians are just going to give up if we destroy two of their ships?
All I'm wanted for is smuggling.
I don't need to add murder charges to it.
Let me get us out of here.
All right.
Is this really necessary?
I just saved your skin and you still don't trust me?
Do you know how much power flows through those plasma conduits?
How much?
A lot.
I could have been electrocuted... and the least you can do is say thanks.
Thanks.
That was nice.
- It reminds me of the time I was... - Shut up!
Both our ships were disabled before the transport escaped.
My superiors don't want our patrols taking any more chances.
They've issued orders to destroy the prison transport.
Are your superiors aware that there are two innocent humans aboard?
They're more concerned with the man who planned this escape.
They were able to match his voice-print to a prisoner named Kuroda Lor-ehn.
He was responsible for many crimes, some of them brutal.
They're determined to stop him.
And we're determined to get our people back.
Then I suggest you find them before our patrols do.
That was a clever trick, igniting the plasma.
I used it once before... outrunning a customs vessel near Coridan.
You obviously ran out of clever tricks, otherwise you wouldn't be here.
What happened?
Every ship leaving Keto-Enol was being boarded and searched.
To get through the checkpoint, I said I was a starship captain and Tucker was my engineer.
I made quite a point about how I was on a peaceful mission of exploration.
They didn't believe you?
What do you think?
They turned our shuttle inside out... found my cargo, and we wound up here.
My good fortune.
You should consider coming with us.
Your partner, too.
Doing what?
I have some business I wasn't able to finish before I was arrested.
it could be profitable.
I'm a smuggler;
I'm not good at much else.
Trust me, you'll be very interested when you find out what I have in mind.
It's not as if I have a lot of options right now.
Before we're going to work together...
I'd like to know where we're headed.
The fourth planet.
There's a trading outpost called Tamaal.
And then?
A ship's going to meet us there.
This transport draws too much attention.
Once you get past the texture, they really don't taste that bad.
The fun part is keeping them in your mouth.
- They jump around until you crunch down on them... - Enough!
Is something wrong?
No. I love hearing how delicious Melvaran mud fleas are or about the time you spent two hours with an Orion slave girl or the miracles doctors can perform these days, getting rid of Fluvian fungus!
Well, what makes you think I want to hear your stories?
I haven't told you any!
You won't let me get a word in edgewise!
I can't even put my fingers in my ears.
Ten minutes--that's all I'm asking.
Just ten minutes of silence.
I didn't realize I was being so annoying.
We seemed to be getting along so well.
I just thought it might be nice to have a pleasant conversation before I spend the next ten years on a penal colony.
Look... I'm sorry I snapped at you... but this isn't exactly the best place to socialize.
This thruster assembly took a lot of damage. We should have Turker take a look at it.
Don't bother.
You're not the one who has to fly this thing.
It won't be flying much longer.
I'm not hungry.
You haven't eaten for two days.
I can wait.
Don't be a fool.
I said I'm not hungry!
Prison rations!
It's better than nothing.
You've obviously never spent time on a penal colony.
I was 14 when I first tasted those rations.
I've had enough for one lifetime.
Sounds like you started your career early.
I was young... but I was no criminal.
No?
My father and I were working at a transport yard on Keto-Enol.
The supervisors accused me of stealing a brace of latinum.
I had nothing to do with it, but they couldn't find anyone else to blame.
I was sentenced to five years at Duronom.
That sounds pretty severe.
Enolian Guards are known for their severity.
Haven't you seen that by now?
I learned far more in prison than my father could have ever taught me.
After I was released, I chose to put my new skills to use.
I suppose I should be grateful.
If it wasn't for the Enolian Guard, my life... would have been quite dull.
Welcome to Tamaal.
Where are your friends?
They'll be here.
Do you have landing coordinates?
We're not landing.
They're going to dock with us.
What about the others?
Are you going to let them go to prison?
No.
Before we leave, you're going to set this ship on a decaying orbit.
It'll be incinerated.
As far as anyone will be able to tell, we crashed, trying to land.
Why kill all these people? Just leave them.
No one will be looking for us if they think we're dead.
If you don't like it, you can always go back to your seat.
I may not know how to fly this ship, but I'm sure I can figure out how to crash it.
The transport's dropped out of warp.
It's entered a binary system.
It looks like they're heading for the fourth planet.
Tamaal--It's a large trading outpost with over two million inhabitants.
A good place to get lost in the crowd.
Drop to impulse.
Take us into the system.
Any human bio-signs?
Two. It's them.
I recommend we use the transporter once we're in range.
You're forgetting that's a prison ship. It's heavily shielded.
Where you going?
The docking hatch was damaged by the patrol ships.
Kuroda wants Tucker to see if he can repair it.
Nice of you to visit.
Who are we docking with?
Your guess is as good as mine.
He's taking us off on a shuttle... then he plans to crash the ship.
I hope you've got something else in mind.
We can't wait for Enterprise.
We've got to try to take control.
Think you can handle him?
Piece of cake.
There's a small vessel dropping out of warp.
Patrol ship?
I don't think so.
Four bio-signs. They're all Enolian.
It's not one of our ships.
Magnify.
Where's it heading?
The fourth planet.
They're trying to hail the prison transport.
They're not getting a response.
They may have come to rescue Kuroda.
How heavily armed is it?
Fore and aft particle cannons--nothing we can't handle.
My friends will be here soon.
Lay in a descent course.
Their ship might be big enough to hold everyone here.
- Why don't we take them along? - We have already discussed this!
Trip... how's that docking port coming?
I need a minute.
It's a big job.
Do your best.
Listen... I know we kind of got off on the wrong foot. No hard feelings.
But now that we're friends, I could use a hand.
You're the engineer.
True.
But I'm having trouble getting the intake valve open.
I guess I don't have the muscle for it.
Unless I'm mistaken, Kuroda wants this hatch repaired.
That one-- if you could turn it counterclockwise.
Okay, a little more.
It's got to go at least 90 degrees.
That's it.
You almost got it.
What are you doing?!
They said they were going to let us go!
They lied. They're planning to kill you-- all of you.
- How do you know that? - You're going to get us sent to Canamar!
Keep it down!
Stay here.
Watch out!
Do you know how to repair that docking hatch?
It's not easy.
We're in a decaying orbit!
Shoot me, and you'll die with the others.
Get to work.
- You don't have to kill these people. - Move!
You should thank me.
What?
Where's Archer?
He's with them, repairing the docking hatch.
They said there's a shuttle coming for us.
I'm sorry I had to intervene, but you didn't give me much choice.
You're lucky they didn't kill you. Kuroda was furious.
But everything's fine now. They're going to set us free.
You're welcome.
They've docked.
I see my message got through.
Loud and clear, sir.
Captain? Would you mind?
Who are these people?
This will open the restraints.
Get everyone on that shuttle!
Go!
Let's go. Let's go.
Come on.
Go! Go! Go!
Anything I can do?
Unless you have a spare thruster assembly.
Is everyone off?
Just about.
I'll be right there.
Captain!
Travis says he can't maintain the docking seals much longer.
He won't have to! Let's go!
We need to break orbit!
It's too late! We've lost thrusters!
You're lying!
We got to get out!
Kuroda!
It's over!
I won't go back!
It's now or never, sir!
We've got some men in there who could use your help.
- And you? - I'll be fine.
On behalf of the Enolian government, I'd like to extend our apologies for this inconvenience.
- My superiors will... - Trip.
Uh, Captain...
Captain, my superiors will want a report on what happened. I'll give you one right now:
Kuroda's dead, the other 11 prisoners are under guard. As you're aware, my engineer and I were falsely arrested.
We almost wound up in Canamar. Makes me wonder how many others don't belong there.
You wanted a report?
You've got one.

---

---