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Our adventures on Vulcan come to a conclusion in “Kir’Shara”! Archer and T’Pol must bring the Spikey Thing of Vulcan Knowledge to the High Command in time to prevent a war from consuming the Alpha Quadrant. The Syrannite Arc has been somehwta underwhelming to this point, so we need an episode to start questioning things and digging deep to uncover the core conflict that threatens to tear Vulcan society apart. Will “Kir’Shara” be able to do it?
The Wikipedia plot summary for “Kir’Shara”:
Enterprise heads to Andoria after Ambassador Soval informs them that the Vulcans believe they have been developing Xindi weapon technology. Soval guides Enterprise to a nebula where the Andorian fleet is hiding. Commander Shran is dubious, and abducts and tortures Soval. After believing him, Enterprise joins a fleet of six Andorian ships to intercept the Vulcans. Commander Tucker attempts to buy time by ordering Enterprise directly between the two fleets — this works for a while until Administrator V’Las orders them to be targeted too.
Meanwhile, at The Forge, Captain Archer, Commander T’Pol, and T’Pau, having found the sacred Kir’Shara[a] (which the Syrrannites believe will usher a Vulcan enlightenment), endeavor to take it to the capital. En route, T’Pol and T’Pau discuss the taboo of mind-melds, and T’Pau offers to mind-meld with T’Pol. She states the meld is safe when performed by those trained in the art, and that Pa’nar Syndrome is merely the by-product of an improperly conducted meld. The trio are then attacked by Major Talok and Vulcan commandos, and T’Pol is captured while the others escape. She tells her captors that they are headed to Mount Seleya in order to mislead them from their true destination.
She is then taken to the capital. Archer and T’Pau also arrive after T’Pol’s husband, Koss, provides transporter security codes. They present the Kir’Shara to the High Command and reveal that the embassy bombing was merely a pretext to weaken the pacifist Syrrannites prior to the Andorian strike. Visibly angered, V’Las lunges for the Kir’Shara, but is stunned by High Minister Kuvak, who orders the fleet to stand down. Enterprise returns to Vulcan, and Koss visits to release T’Pol from their marriage. Meanwhile, the Vulcan High Command is dissolved, granting Earth greater autonomy, and the katra of Surak is transferred to a Vulcan high priest. V’Las, relieved of his post, meets secretly with Talok, revealed to be a Romulan agent, who states that the reunification of their worlds is only a matter of time.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Kir’Shara” and the conclusion to the Syrannite Arc of Star Trek: Enterprise. Plus! The guys talk about continuity notecards, the spikey thing, and the dearth of Romulan interference.