“Fight or Flight” is episode three of season one of Star Trek: Enterprise.
Hoshi is looking at something in a container in sickbay. Dr Phlox wasn’t aware she spoke slug. She wishes she did; the slug doesn’t look any better. Hoshi regrets taking her; she’s decided on a sex whilst Phlox hasn’t been able to determine what gender it is or if it even has one. Phlox says something can be learned from every lifeform. He will do his best to keep it alive. Because his bat won’t eat anything dead. Trip arrives; he’s diverted more power to sickbay. He asks about Sluggo. In two weeks, this is the only first contact they’ve made.
The captain is searching his quarters for a mysterious noise when T’Pol arrives. He might have to tear up all the flooring. T’Pol reports that scans indicate little chance of inhabited planets. The Vulcan star charts have limited data on the course Starfleet assigned them. Archer says there are thousands of systems; didn’t anything pique the Vulcans’ interest? Vulcans don’t select planets by piqued interest. They don’t share humans’ enthusiasm for exploration. Archer is sure something must be out there. Hoshi arrives and T’Pol departs. Hoshi wants to switch cabins; she’s used to sleeping on the other side of the ship.
Travis and Reed are in the armoury working on the targeting scanners. The simulation misses by 3m. Enough to destroy another ship, and possibly them, instead of disable it according to Reed. Reed is relieved they haven’t met anyone, because shooting could be problematic. Archer arrives and asks about the problem. He suggests the sims may be off. How long would it take Reed to ready a few torpedoes? Minutes. Archer contacts T’Pol and order them to drop out of warp. They are going to find Reed something to shoot at. The first torpedo cleanly misses an asteroid. The second grazes it, bounces off and heads back towards the Enterprise. Fixing the problem will take about a day so course is resumed.
Trip speaks to Dr Phlox in the mess hall. Unlike everyone else, Phlox is enjoying himself. Having the chance to watch humans in close contact.
T’Pol contacts Archer from the bridge. They’ve found something. A ship, not moving, nearly 3 lightyears from the nearest system. Trip wants to take a look. T’Pol mentions letting curiosity determine their actions. They do.
The ship shows no propulsion, weapons or communications active. No response to hails. There seem to be venting ports near a hatch, but on closer inspection they look like hull breaches. Possibly from weapons fire. T’Pol suggests resuming course. The captain wants to find another hatch. There are faint biosigns onboard. Archer thinks they may be in trouble. T’Pol suggests they might not want visitors. Archer wants a shuttle readied and wants Reed and Hoshi with him. Trip asks to go as well, because he wants to look at something new, but the captain wants his chief engineer with the engine on a ship this young.
In his quarters, Archer is recording his personal log, musing about T’Pol again, when Hoshi arrives. She starts making excuses as to why she shouldn’t go. The captain states that most everyone on the ship would love to go. It should be exciting. Hoshi doesn’t like environmental suits. She’s a little claustrophobic. Archer points out she took a job on a starship. Yes; because Archer talked her into it.
Reed is arming them with rifles but Archer things phase pistols will be adequate. Hoshi hasn’t used those yet. The shuttle docks with the derelict and Reed plans to blow his way in. Archer finds the catches. It’s cold inside and there’s what appears to be alien blood splashed around. Not a great sign. Things do not improve.
Hoshi is not having a lot of fun on the Enterprise as yet and she’s wondering if she did the right thing. T’Pol’s advice runs counter to what Archer would like to do. The Enterprise also discovers that they are well out of their league when it comes to some encounters.