Maybe the Andorian Command gives him the assignment both as a punishment for losing his previous ship and as a away to develop relations with the pinkskins.
In the Enterprise novel Live by the code we get to see a lot about the Andorians and Shran is important in the book. So are the Klingons.The story is really good I highly recommend it.
Shran and Archer are good friends, so I can see Shran working under Archer's command (but probably would not do so under any other human). Most likely Shran would have become MACO commander if ENT had made it to a fifth season.
1) I would have liked to have seen more of Shran. (Either as a series regular or a couple of arcs a season) 2) I would have loved if they could have found something interesting for Mayweather to do 3) A little more Section 31 sprinkled here and there 4) A little Romulan intrigue on Vulcan 5) Another mirror mirror arc 6) Somehow bring Spiner back as Arik Soong for another arc. 7) Some sort of connecting story between Trelane and Q 8) An arc on Denobula 9) Some sort of closing arc for TCW 10) A follow-up to Two Days Two Nights and Detained - The Tandaran/Suliban stuff was left hanging. I would liked to have seen some resolutions
It should have ended with a final federation declaration speech, Trip and T'Pol successfully procreating, Arxher becoming an esteemed admiral, Mayweather getting promoted, Reed getting his own ship, and Hoshi further developing the universal translator and Phlox getting a teaching post on earth as the first full time alien Doctor.
I would be interesting in reading just the SCRIPTS for whatever wasn't filmed...toss it in a book form etc. SOMETHING.
There was a follow up story about Vulcan's situation In the Enterprise novel Uncertain Logic by Christopher L. Bennett the book gives you a lot of information about the events following the 3 part tv Vulcan arc and after the Romulan war.
As the only incarnation which hasn't ever received any, it amazes me graphic novels are still out of the question for Enterprise. Find an artist with a talent for cast likenesses... something I find pretty hit and miss with a lot of IDW output. Involve former show writers/runners to pitch their Season 5 ideas. Heck, go the John Byrne route and photoshop screencaptures for spot-on new episode recreations.
I would have liked to have various story lines interwoven with the main plot detailing the effects of the space exploration on Earth and among the characters. Technology begins to change, new cultural ideas are introduced, heck new foods and their impact on the crew and life in general. That sort of thing. The first ships coming back with tales of strange new worlds, and all they contain and actual samples of such wonders would have a HUGE impact on Earth. KID: "The hell is that?" TEEN: "Hasperat. It's from some planet called Bajor." KID: "What do you do with it?" TEEN: "Eat it, apparently..." KID: "Gross. Smells like a Runza full of puke." TEEN: "Lets set it on fire!"
I think it need some major changes. One thing for sure I didn't want to see more of is the temporal cold war. Jumping too far on tech too fast really ruined some of the early show for this with me. I get the loop but I've always had an itch to fast forward through these. Some crew changes I would have liked to see: A new Captain. Granted this would be totally unprecedented after 4 seasons to change the lead especially with an accomplished actor but I would have liked to see Archer promoted to Commodore and essentially providing "cover" for the new captain from certain political repercussions at home. With 4 ships it would have been almost perfect to have him in a senior role on a different ship as a recurring actor. More than that watching some of the old crew react to the new captain and them have to re-establish control and earn respect would have been really intriguing. This happens in the military all the time and power bases shift, like how does Trip handle not being the Captain's best friend? How does T'Pol handle dealing with someone who she hasn't built that relationship with. How does Hyoshi handle not being babied by her Captain anymore? Ditch Malcolm bring on Shram. Been covered well in other comments but Shram was a great character. Malcolm really wasn't he kept getting weened off in later seasons anyway. He's just not interesting as a character. He's really a functionary and should be just left behind. Have Shram work weapons and command the Mako crew. To keep him on the bridge when needed also make him the ships 2nd officer. Basically lots of Shram all over. Keep helmsm add the con. Mayweather and Hyoshi are the two weakest characters after Malcom. However even with Mayweather's early "Wesley Crusher" esque presentation at times, the story for him with his background to the earliest dates of space exploration (ships moving less than Warp 2) he's still got some more character work to do. Shift him to Con in a promotion and move in a new female Navigator. It's about time Star Trek lets a woman drive the space ship. Having a woman at helm and mayweather at Con would set up some jealousy aspects for Hyoshi. A recurring non-essential comic relief ensign tellarite assisting Trip. Basically puts 1 of each of the major races Vulcan, Tellarite, Andorian, and Vulcan on the ship. A launching of a trial run of working together to see if working together on a starship is possible or if you need all Vulcan crews, all Andorian crews, etc.... Good possible themes: Sneak attack on Mars colony -its mentioned a couple times not explored. NX-01A Refit. Upgrading the ships warp drive and tactical with new equipment to take on new challenges. Romulan War - Lots of obvious reasons as covered by others ; that said I would like to see them as the "fuel" of founding the federation. A nemesis with several of their members that vexes the Alpha Quadrant. The battle of Cheron as the conclusion , the "humiliating defeat" in 2160 of Romulans by a collaboration of Humans, Andorians, Vulcans, and Telleratites would be a great final episode. Introduction of some of the "other" federation members: Aldeberan Whiskey - The Aldeberan system is one of the early to join the federation perhaps the Whiskey is a major part of the background to this story. Or maybe it isn't but a people famous for liqour and music have to have a good story or two. Deltan IV - Home of beautiful bald women why not? Izar - Home of Garth one of the earliest Federation Captains (who also goes crazy) would make a good fit. Exploration and Introduction to "Member worlds of other Empires" We've never really seen this but I think it would have been interesting to see some member worlds that eventually become part of the Romulan or Klingon empires. Perhaps a few planets on the periphery that are considering joining with the Romulans.
Malcolm Reed seems interesting especially given his connection to Section 31 or the organization that preceded it. I think that deserved more exploration.
The mirror character was much better, though that could be said for most of the crew. Best line of the directors cut was them saying their direction was to put the "Ho" back in Hoshi. Some future Star Trek series will end up with the mirror reference now to the "Glory days of the empire under Empress Hoshi"
What a shame this will never be seen, espeically seeing all the races work together. They could have done a back retcon to explain why TOS Enterprise was so human dominated. Maybe the Vulcans found the humans too illogical, the Andorians found the human ship too warm and the Tellarites found the humans too sensitive. In one of the novels there is a meeting between the Feds and the Deltans and the latter decides the former are too sexually immature. 'Come back when you grow up' is the implied message.