Hoshi is doing target practice with Malcolm, having trouble learning to use the new phase-pistol. Then, Enterprise discovers a gas giant. They probe it and find strange noises, radiation, and a spaceship with bio-signs on it sinking into the atmosphere.
Malcolm (even though he has a cold), T'Pol, and Hoshi (who wanted to go on the away mission to prove herself and for something to do) go onboard the ship, where the air is breathable, but stinky. They have only an hour to investigate before the ship sinks dangerously low, and they find out that it's a Klingon ship, but one of a type that even T'Pol doesn't know about.
They find an unconscious crew and debate on whether to rescue them — Malcolm wants to, but T'Pol points out that Klingons like dying at work and they'd probably try to kill the Enterprise crew if rescued. They contact Enterprise and tell them about the situation, also determining that it's a neurotoxin that's incapacitating the crew. Meanwhile, a Klingon woman spies on the away team. Malcolm sees her and chases after her, then she knocks him down, dives into the airlock, and leaves the away team stuck.
Back on the Enterprise, the shuttle flies past and the Klingon woman sends a signal, which turns out to be a request to attack the Enterprise, who she thinks has attacked her ship. They grapple the shuttle into the docking bay and stun the woman, then Archer decides to steer the ship into the atmosphere to save the away team.
On the Klingon vessel, the away team tries to decrypt the control panels to find a way out, since at this time, Klingons don't use escape pods. Enterprise informs them of the rescue attempt, but then a wave of pressure destroys the probe and interferes with Enterprise, forcing Archer to postpone the rescue attempt.
In sickbay, Phlox tells Archer that the reason the Klingon woman didn't pass out is because she hid in a low-temperature zone, which slowed down the effects of the poison. However, she, like her colleagues, is in danger of dying. Archer tries to talk to her, but she doesn't want to talk.
Travis finds out that the Klingon ship is Raptor-class, that it's a scout vessel, and that it is very well-designed with a tough hull. Trip suggests reinforcing a shuttle to save the away team, and Archer orders him to proceed. Meanwhile, the away team finds a log entry which reveals that the Klingons became sick after a raid, and they determine what is wrong with the ship— the fusion injector is broken.
While Archer and Trip work on the shuttle and discuss the trouble they've been having with Klingons, the away team explores the Klingon galley, Hoshi angsts about her emotions, and then the shuttle starts to lose its integrity. The team goes into the engine room, where Malcolm comes up with the idea to use the weapons to escape.
Trip updates Archer on his progress with the shuttle, and Archer tells Trip that Klingons put heavy emphasis on "honour". Archer then goes back to sickbay to talk to the Klingon woman, where Phlox has found a cure for the toxin and determined that it came from poisoned ale. Archer convinces the woman to help with the rescue by telling her that if she and her coworkers die, it'd be a dishonour.
On the Klingon ship, the away team fires the photon torpedoes to raise the ship's altitude, and they raise it high enough to allow the Enterprise shuttlepod, carrying Archer and the Klingon, to dock. They enter, and Archer reveals that her name is Bu'KaH. He hails the Enterprise, then two more Klingon ships show up. The Klingons demand that the Enterprise surrender, but Archer demands that they stand down or be destroyed. He then orders the ship around, while the away team enjoy themselves in decon.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Beneficial Disease: Downplayed — Malcolm's cold does prevent him from smelling a bad smell, but it also makes him woozy and gives him a sore throat and congestion.
- Brief Accent Imitation: Malcolm once again imitates Trip's Southern accent."To quote our very own Mister Tucker, (Southern voice) 'It means we're dead in the water.'"
- Face Your Fears: Hoshi's clearly not comfortable on the away mission, but she does her best to suck it up and do her job.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: After the Klingon captain orders the Enterprise to surrender, Archer points out that his ship is heavily damaged and out of torpedoes; they won't last ten minutes in a fight. Realizing that Archer is right, the Klingon slams his fist in anger and departs.
- Laser-Guided Karma: The Klingons raided a Xarantine colony and stole, among other things, some of their ale—which is what got them sick.
- The Main Characters Do Everything:
- Despite being sick, Reed is still sent on board the Klingon ship, despite its effect on his abilities as security officer and the danger of spreading the disease to Klingons. Funnily enough, the episode ends with him, Hoshi, and T'Pol in the decontamination chamber which exists precisely to prevent people from spreading diseases on the ship.
- And while they're on the Klingon ship, there doesn't seem to be anyone available to man their stations except Trip, who should be in Engineering.
- Meaningful Echo: Vulcan control being compared to a ship on a turbulent ocean was mentioned in the Voyager episode "Alter Ego".
- Poison and Cure Gambit: The Klingon woman accuses Archer of poisoning her just so he can miraculously cure her and gain her trust.
- Series Continuity Error: Potentially. T'Pol says that Klingon ships don't have escape pods, even though Worf used one on DS9 and later episodes would show Klingon ships equipped with escape pods. However, those are both examples of future Klingon ships having escape pods, so they could have been added after this episode.
- Sick Episode: Downplayed— Malcolm has a cold, but it's more of a subplot than anything.
- Sub Story: Combined with Sinking Ship Scenario as the Klingon ship is sinking in a gas giant with Enterprise trying to rescue them.
- Ungrateful Bastard: Archer and his crew save the Klingons from what would've been a dishonorable death, and they respond by threatening to attack Enterprise. And then there's the Klingon woman, who spends most of her screen time bitching at Archer.Archer: Remind me to stop trying to help people.
- Victory Through Intimidation: When the Klingon captain threatens to attack Enterprise, Archer makes him back off by reminding him that his ship is heavily damaged and out of torpedoes.Archer: Fire one shot and I'll blast you right back to where we found you.
- Working Through the Cold: Malcolm works despite having a literal cold. As it happens, the head cold comes in handy, as his stuffy nose isn't repulsed by the reek of a Klingon ship.
