Question about Season 3's "Twilight"

[Ethros]

I'm currently rewatching ENT Season 3 on DVD (up to Proving Ground so far, and really enjoying it)
Anyway I was just wondering something about the episode Twilight.

After T'Pol rams the docked Xindi ship into the other one and Enterprise's nacelle is screwed, the fastest they can go is Warp 1.7. And as such they can’t get to the weapon in time to stop it.
But in the teaser we see Enterprise over Earth witnessing the weapons destructive attack.

So how did they get all the way back to Earth from the Expanse in time?


Just something I wondered. Awesome episode though, probably my favourite ENT one

 

[SFRabid]

You would not want us to spoil it for you, would you? That is part of the enjoyment of watching one of the best seasons of any Star Trek series.

 

[Ethros]

Oh I've seen it all before, but haven't watched most of it since it first aired.

 

[JiNX-01]

I figured they just headed back home. They were never going to be able to find the weapon, but if they got back, they be able to help defend Earth.

Unfortunately, without Archer, there wouldn't be Strategem (his plan); he wouldn't learn anything about Degra that could become bait to get him to talk to Archer in Azati Prime that will lead to an alliance that will save humanity.
These are event that would stall the launch of the weapons. Without all that, the weapon was launched sooner.

 

[Ethros]

Still, at maximum warp it took them seven weeks just to get from from Earth to the edge of the Expanse. At Warp 1.7 it would have taken a loooong time to get home.


Maybe they got a lift back from the Xindi-Aquatics as in the true timeline. T'Pol said they located the facility where the weapon was constructed (Azati Prime) so maybe the events of Stratagem still played out, but perhaps Trip instead of Archer did the act on Degra. And then Xindi Council fractured and the Reptilians & Insectoids launched the weapon themselves (being successful this time)