Enemy Unknown, Part 1
From Hidden Frontier
| Star Trek: Hidden Frontier episode | |
| "Enemy Unknown, Part 1" | |
| |
| Episode no. | 1.01 |
|---|---|
| Season | Season 1 |
| Release Date | 2000 |
| Writer(s) | Rob Caves |
| Story Elements by | Rob Caves |
| Director | Rob Caves |
| Year | 2375 |
| Stardate | 52941 |
| Episode chronology | |
| Previous
"-" | |
| Next | |
Contents |
Episode Summary
Synopsis
During the final push of the Dominion War, Captain Ian Quincy Knapp, commanding the USS Devonshire, encounters an unknown, powerful, and malevolent new force in the McAllister Nebula.
The Battle of Lapolis
It is the year 2375 at the Battle of Lapolis; the Captain of the USS Devonshire, Ian Quincy Knapp is enjoying the chance to strike back at the Dominion. Under his command are his Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rodriguez; Communications Officer, Lieutenant Paul Brickey; Medical Officer, Lieutenant Henglaar; Engineer, Lieutenant Toby Witczak, and Ensign Mark Abney.
The start of the battle looks good for the Federation as the Dominion is outgunned and outnumbered. But the Dominion is not ready to surrender without a fight.
We are then introduced to Captain Knapp who desires to pay back the Dominion for the death of his brother (John Knapp). Lt. Commander Rodriguez interjects that their mission is one of forced surrender and not to destroy the opposing force. Knapp responds that he realizes this, but that he would enjoy the work.
At the height of the battle, the Devonshire, along with the USS Tiananmen and the USS Rutledge, are ordered to pursue two warships, a Dominion heavy dreadnaught and Cardassian Galor-class warship. These ships break formation and were escaping into the nearby McAllister Nebula. In the pursuit, the two enemy ships broke off into two directions. Knapp orders the Rutledge ordered to follow the Galor while the Devonshire and Tiananmen focused on the dreadnaught. The dreadnaught is able to destroy the Tiananmen and disable the Devonshire with a "lucky shot" that disabled her main power. During this time, both the Galor warship and the Rutledge entered the nebula, whereupon the Devonshire lost contact (suggesting the nebula interferes with sensors).
McAllister Nebula
With main power restored, Knapp orders the ship into the nebula following the dreadnought's ion trail. Upon entering the nebula, they find the dreadnaught completely destroyed. It could not be at the hands of Starfleet since the Rutledge would have been no match. They then decide to enter the deeper into the nebula to locate the Rutledge, eventually finding it untouched while the Galor warship has been destroyed. With no evidence of another presence in the nebula nor any clear lifeform readings on the Rutledge, Knapp orders Rodriguez to prepare an away team to beam over.
An away team consisting of Rodriguez, Henglaar, and Brickey beam over to find the ship empty, but all systems still functioning. Henglaar determines that there is one life sign aboard on Deck 6, Section 23 (engineering). Upon arriving in engineering, Brickey begins a download of the ship's log files to determine if the internal sensors recorded anything of use. Henglaar and Rodriguez locate Lt. Myra Elbrey, who tells them they need to leave the Rutledge immediately. When questioned about what happened, she described how an unknown race appeared and took over the minds of the crew with a psionic attack and then destroying the Galor warship, and then transported the crew off the ship. During the attack she was able to shield herself, but mentions that they may not have known what they were after. Henglaar concludes her being a Betazoid helped her fend off their attack.
The Devonshire sees a large object, a ship of unknown origin, appear in the nebula. Knapp, quick to judge, orders the return of the away team and prepares to raise shields. Rodriguez gathers everyone together, but Lt. Brickey opens an incoming communication. He and Rodriguez are instantly affected by a strange noise. Elbrey tries to assist the away team in blocking it out, but both Rodriguez and Brickey are too far gone. Then we see a new figure appear from nowhere to take them off the ship. Elbry raises her phaser, but Rodriguez advises her against it, and all three disappear. Elbrey, who remained aboard, is quite surprised the Tellarite was able to withstand the attack.
Elbrey and Henglaar return to the Devonshire to find it being systematically stripped of personnel. A short firefight ensues with one of the beings controlling the bridge managing to graze Elbery with its weapon. Henglaar returned fire, killing the intruder. Raising the Devonshire‘s shields broke the psionic link, freeing the crew of the alien control and allowing them to defend themselves. Elsewhere on the Devonshire, the remaining crew wage a pitched battle to regain control of their ship.
Desperate Move
Realizing their prey was escaping, the mysterious ship begins firing on the Devonshire. With the helmsman missing, Henglaar took that station, despite mentioning the years it had been since he had piloted a ship. When asked by Knapp how long of time, Henglaar states, "twenty-five years, two months and twenty-three days", to which Knapp just asked for him not to hit anything. Henglaar responds that he only hits what he aims for.
Knapp orders Henglaar to leave the nebula and then engage the warp drive, but the pursuing ship is too fast and too powerful (possibly having ablative hull armor). With the Rutledge's shields failing and with the impending threat of another psionic attack, Knapp activated the ship's auto-destruct sequence (apparently the Devonshire only needs voice confirmation from the next highest ranking officer) and ordered Henglaar to set the autopilot to crash the Devonshire into the alien warship. The Captain then orders the crew to abandon ship. Henglaar manages to time the collision of the Devonshire with the conclusion of her auto-destruct sequence. The mysterious vessel is destroyed as escape pods limp away awaiting rescue.
Background Information
- This episode was the first to feature the Grey Confederacy, though they are not referred to by name until the next episode.
Memorable Quotes
- Henglaar: "I guess the old joke is true: The only way you get a new thought into a Tellarite's head is with a drill. I kind of wish they'd sharpened the drill bits first, though."
- Elbrey: "If they launch another psionic attack you might fall under alien control as well."
- Henglaar: "Then you'll just have to shoot me, Lieutenant."
- Knapp: "Just try not to hit anything Doc."
- Henglaar: "I only hit the things I aim for."
Production Notes
- Jennifer Cole was the Assistant Director for this episode. She appears later in the series, first as Fleet Captain Jennifer Cole, then subsequently as Commodore and Rear Admiral Cole.
- This episode features a rare appearance by series creator Rob Caves as Ensign Mark Abney. In an earlier version of the script for this episode, Ensign Abney was to have died.
Cast
Regular Cast
| Actor | Role |
| David W. Dial | Captain Ian Quincy Knapp |
| Jason Munoz | Lieutenant Commander Jason Munoz |
| John Whiting | Doctor Henglaar |
| Barbara Clifford | Counselor Myra Elbrey |
| Gregory Allen | Rayvan |
| Adrianne Lange | Ensign Jenna McFarland |
| Mike Johns | Commander Joseph Johns |
| Matt Kruer | Lieutenant Toby Witczak |
| Tyler Bosserman | Ensign Andrew Barrett |
| Anthony Diaz | Lieutenant John Martinez |
| Arthur Bosserman | Ensign Ro Nevin |
| Kelly Jamison | Lieutenant Commander Robin Lefler |
| Tristan Clark | Ensign Brad T. Rawlins |
| Betty Bainton | Ensign Amelia Hanley |
Guest Stars
| Actor | Role |
| Jeanne Garrington | Lieutenant Commander Rodriguez |
| Phillip Brickey | Lieutenant Paul Brickey |
| Rob Caves | Ensign Mark Abney |
| John Wallis | Grey |
