BEST episode in Season 5?!?

[ChristopherPike]

Okay, so we've had galleywest asking us what the worst episodes were in The Would-Be Season 5. Quite a few Trekkers (both ENT fan and non-fan alike) have already contributed on what would've been truly awful to witness.

But what about the other side of the coin? What made for some of the best Star Trek we never saw, even if it came down to Enterprise delivering it?

Like most ENT fans who wanted another year, I have a few thoughts on this. I doubt an entire season devoted to the Romulan War would have happened Fall '05 - Summer '06. I imagine four episodes in which they are the unseen hand behind several skirmishes and the flashpoint of the war being that year's cliffhanger.

The majority of Season 5 probably continues forward with its proto-Federation strand, a 3-parter bringing Shran into the cast full-time, several TOS/TNG prequel ideas and some single episodes, which while standalone, had that continued continuity that Minefield/Dead Stop did. An event has consequences for next week's story but can be seen by itself.

Okay then. You're on the writing staff. What's your story? What story arcs would you have weaved for the characters? The only rules are to expand on what has already happened. No retconning, unless it explains an event better than already seen.

We can gather the "episodes" together, give them titles (with credit to their owners) and put them to the vote later.

 

[JiNX-01]

We actually played a similar game over at another site: Here was one of my proposals for an alternate version of The Expanse/setup for the Season 3 arc. It would still work as an opener for "Season 5."

"Alliance.": Hundreds are killed in a sneak attack on an outpost/colony, including Travis' family, who were on a cargo run. (Credit the great Rigil Kent ).

What follows is my (original) story outline:
Enterprise is recalled, of course, but Earth has few details because of the distances. Archer wants to go help the survivors but SF says no. They don't want to risk NX-01 in a confrontation with an unknown species so ruthless it would attack a defenseless colony without warning.

Archer is told to return home by way of Andoria to secure an alliance with the Andorians. He stops first at the "Marauders" mining colony and secures an agreement to supply deuterium for a battle fleet, if it becomes necessary, in exchange for whatever protection Earth can afford.

On Andoria, Shran tries to help, but the Imperial Gov't. isn't interested in Earth's problems, despite Archer's role in helping them in the past. He's then sent to Tellar. No luck there either. He contacts Axanar and they agree to assist.

Returning home, Archer is briefed, learning that Travis's family is gone. He and Trip break the news to Travis, who is devastated at first and then becomes angry and wanting revenge. He is insubordiate with Archer on the bridge. Forrest hears about it and insists that Mayweather be relieved of duty and put on medical leave (for counseling). Trip goes to see him and tries talking to him, to no avail.

Mayweather is not on restriction -- Archer insisted, because he sympathizes with what Travis is going through -- and uses his free time to contact friends among the boomers. They decide Stafleet isn't going to do anything about this. So they'll do it themselves. Travis goes AWOL.

 

[ChristopherPike]

The following is a work in progress, no title at the moment... could be a way to ease in Season 5, still including TATV (since you can't unwatch something) and basically recapping aspects of TGTMD without completely adapting it.

It's the late 23rd Century. An old man is being cared for in a home. His daughter visits from time to time. We never see her face and she's often seated with her back to camera. She wears a Starfleet Uniform from that period. The man is fond of telling entertaining stories, which see finds unbelievable. However, a nurse who works there is taken in by his easy going nature. Listening to his tall tales becomes part of her ritual each day. The aged guy imagines himself an officier aboard an old earth starship. Gradually his words become flashback scenes but seen from his p.o.v. So Archer and the crew are often seen addressing the camera. In the last of these, a reflective surface gives the game away.

Slowly over the course of the episode, the Nurse pieces together the evidence she's given and finds his story fits that of Charles Tucker III. Having been taught all about pre-Federation history in school, including his death, she finds this difficult to accept. At this point she is threatened by a Section 31 operative to stop snooping.

To be continued...

 

[Biggshow]

I'll go with my fake title from the Worst thread, "Cry Havoc!", the Season 5 cliffhanger finale that begins the Earth Romulan War in earnest (Set up by the dull, conference call-esque, "Honorable Men"). Following the revelation that Trip has been working undercover on Romulus to sabotage their warp-seven program, the Romulan High Command launches a pre-emptive strike on several outlying Earth colonies. This episode also includes the launch of the Daedalus class Starships and the loss of the Horizon near the galaxy's edge (presumed to also be part of a Romulan end-around run). By episode's end, Archer is taken prisoner by some "Vulcan" priests, Section 31 enlists T'Pol's aid in a mission to rescue both Trip and Archer, Malcolm and Travis exchange an awkward "moment", and Phlox is told to prepare Hoshi for a special "operation". The final shot of Starfleet ships facing the Romulan drone fleet leaves fanboys (and girls) drooling for more.

 

[MrPointy]

"93 Hours" - Basically, Archer, through some technobabble transporter accident, ends up in the US in 2001 and falls in love with a woman who will die aboard United Flight 93. Archer can prevent the event from happening, but can't decide whether to screw with history to save her.

Someone mentioned remaking a Phase II script into this idea a while ago, before I posted it in the Worst S5 ENT Episode thread. The idea has "City On The Edge Of Forever" or "The Visitor" potential.

It's pretty much completely stand-alone as far as episodes go. I don't really think there'd be a good B-story in it.