“Awakening” is episode eight of season four of Star Trek: Enterprise.
Soval comes before the High Command, after showing in the previous episode, “The Forge”, that he could mind meld. With regards to the attack on the embassy, V’Las says Stel is a Syrannite. Soval finds that difficult to accept; Vulcan for finding it total rubbish. V’Las claims the evidence is irrefutable. And Soval’s position is terminated immediately. But his loyalty oath remains in effect. Soval is asked if there’s anything else he’d like to say. He replies a great deal needs to be said, but no-one is willing to listen.
Captain Archer and T’Pol were caught by the Syrannites and are brought before T’Pau. Who they still believe was responsible for the bombing. T’Pau says she hasn’t left the desert in two years. What does that tell them? Archer says it tells them she’s lying. T’Pol’s mother, T’Les, is brought out and the two are asked if anyone else was with them. Yes, they met a Syrannite. They give his name and say he didn’t make it. They’re told his true name was Syran and he was their leader.
Archer and T’Pol are taken to a small room. The captain explains that Syran put his hand on the captain’s forehead and he felt something inside his head. He doesn’t know if Syran was trying to mind meld but hasn’t felt the same since.
T’Pau and T’Les are arguing over what to do with them. And if Syran is dead, T’Pau says everything they worked for is lost.
Soval is on the Enterprise with Trip. Trip asks who put V’Las in charge; Soval says their society rewards merit and V’Las has shown a singular talent for governing. But there’s something important they need to discuss. V’Las plans to wipe out the Syrannite encampment in the Forge and the captain and T’Pol may be in grave danger.
T’Pol is taken to see her mother; T’Les explains that Syrannites believe Vulcans have strayed from the teachings of Surak. The High Command’s actions made her question them. Yes, she did kind of hope T’Pol might join her.
Captain Archer has a vision in the room he’s in, and sees a war. A Vulcan says the war is taking its toll. The captain asks who he is; the man says Archer knows. A nuclear explosion is seen and the Vulcan – Surak – says Archer is seeing the past through his eyes. Surak says Syran chose him. He knows Archer doesn’t trust Vulcans and can’t blame him. Surak’s people have strayed and someone must restore them to the path. They’re stuck with each other. Open his mind, and the way will become clear. T’Pol shakes him from a trance.
At the High Command, V’Las is instructing that preparations be made to bombard the Syrannite camp with photonic weapons.
The captain tells the Syrannites what he saw. Surak. T’Pau says they believe him; Syran had Surak’s katra. If he knew he was close to death, eh would have tried to transfer it. To be certain, she needs to meld with him. Neither finds this appealing, but the meld confirms Surak’s katra is there.
On Enterprise, Soval and Trip are planning to glitch the Vulcan sensor net to get a shuttlepod down to the surface. Trip asks why Soval is doing this; he never got the impression that Soval cared for humans. Soval says he lived on Earth for 30 years and developed an affinity for the world and its people. Trip says he did a pretty good job of hiding it. Soval takes that as a compliment. Travis contacts Trip from the launch bay where they’re rigging a shuttlepod.
Back in their chamber, T’Pol is explaining to the captain that attempts have been made to prove the existence of the katra, and none succeeded. They don’t exist. Archer reminds her about time travel being impossible. T’Pol suggests that what he has is, essentially, a mind meld hangover. The captain thinks it’s more than that. But he still wants it out. T’Pol tells him that might not be possible.
Enterprise is planning to get down to the Forge. V’Las is planning to bombard the area and it doesn’t look like all of the High Command is pleased with this. T’Les thinks T’Pau is letting her prejudice against humans get in the way. Events continue in the next episode, “Kir’Shara”.