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Hoshi’s “friend” from “Exile” has come through for Enterprise: his information about the Xindi has led Archer and the crew to a facility where components of the Xindi super-weapon are being assembled. Archer leads a covert mission to the facility to obtain information and possibly incapacitate the production. But after meeting a member of the Xindi who is unaware of the plans to destroy Earth, Archer learns that he might have to bring a bit more nuance to his plans. “The Shipment” is not the only thing to be stopped.
The Wikipedia plot summary for “The Shipment”:
At the Xindi Council, Degra reports that the weapon should be ready in a matter of weeks. On Enterprise, the coordinates provided by Tarquin (in “Exile“) lead to a planet, and the crew decide to hide the ship while a shuttlecraft manned by Captain Archer, Lieutenant Reed and Major Hayes approaches it. Evading detection, they land and enter a Xindi settlement, where they find a great quantity of kemocite being refined. They then observe Gralik Durr and two associates discussing the deal they have to mine the kemocite for Degra. The away team then beams up a canister of kemocite for analysis, and then follow Gralik back to his home, where they confront him.
T’Pol‘s analysis shows that the Xindi probe which attacked Earth (in “The Expanse“) contained kemocite. Archer then tells Gralik that Degra will use the kemocite to build a weapon, but the Arboreal denies any knowledge of the plan. Back on Enterprise, Commander Tucker also learns that the kemocite is the key to Reptilian rifle technology. Archer approves his idea to reverse engineer a rifle, but Tucker unknowingly triggers a self-destruct sequence and the weapon is beamed into space. Archer then decides not to destroy the kemocite mining complex as he does not want the Xindi to think of them as aggressors.
On the planet, Gralik explains that Degra told him that the kemocite was for research, and explains how the Avian race were assumed to be made extinct in the Xindi Civil War. A Reptilian shuttle arrives early, carrying Degra, to collect the final shipment of kemocite. Gralik takes the away team to a cave that will protect them from scans, but they are soon attacked by robotic drones sent by the Reptilians. When Gralik returns home, he is confronted by Degra, who reveals the true purpose of the kemocite, to build a weapon to destroy a ruthless alien species. T’Pol in the meantime has modified the canister of kemocite so that the ship can track it. Archer manages to sneak it aboard the shuttle and after the Reptilians leave, Archer thanks Gralik for his trust and help.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “The Shipment” and making rash decisions you might later regret. Plus! The guys chat about intra-Xindi relationships, constructing the right away team, and getting bugs out of your guns.