“Fortunate Son” is episode ten of season one of Star Trek: Enterprise.
Two people are throwing a ball in the low-grav of a freighter when the ship shudders. The bridge contacts one, the captain, and says they are under attack by Norsicans.
Archer is asleep when the bridge contacts him; there’s an incoming transmission from Starfleet Command and Admiral Forrest. The connection is poor, and the captain says they are ready to deploy their first subspace amplifier. The admiral states he wants to keep the reports coming, such as the scans of the comet encountered in “Breaking the Ice”. But the call is because they need Enterprise to turn around. An automated distress call was received from a freighter, the Fortunate, and the nearest other vessel is three weeks away compared to the Enterprise‘s day and a half. The Fortunate isn’t responding to hails and Forrest wants Enterprise to check it out and offer assistance if needed.
T’Pol is briefing the staff on the specs for the freighter; Travis says the crew number may now include new-born babies. He grew up on a similar ship and, at warp 1.8, people have a lot of time on their hands between ports. That’s how he was born. Reed describes the weapons but Travis says most freighters upgrade, as transporting valuables a long way from help needs more than a popgun.
The Fortunate is drifting when encountered with many primary systems down and no response to a hail. There are 24 biosigns onboard. Dr Phlox accompanies Travis, Archer and Reed in a shuttlepod through some debris, some of which is not from the Fortunate. Phlox states there are no bodies. The freighter’s main hatch is damaged and they have to use the secondary.
When docked, the first officer, Ryan, and several others greet them. Ryan says that Norsicans tried to board, but they fought them off. Travis explains Norsicans are pirates who have been attacking freighters for years. Ryan doesn’t seem to want help, but says they had no way of cancelling the distress call. However, on hearing that the captain is injured, Phlox states he will see him. The captain will take 2-3 days to recover and Archer says, as they have to stick around, they can help fix the ship. they might be able to upgrade hull plating and weapons and the sooner the Fortunate can get back to warp, the better. Ryan agrees, but he has a concern. His crew are holding a Norsican captive and interrogation.
Travis, back on the Enterprise, talks to Ryan about how he grew up on a freighter, but decided he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life on the same run. They take a part to Trip in engineering; it will take about 40 minutes to fix. Trip tells Ryan that Travis can show him the ship. Ryan has seen most of it, but Trip tells him he’s missed the best part. The only warp 5 engine in the fleet. Once faster engines start getting out, there will be changes. Ryan is perfectly happy at warp 1.8; going faster gives you no time to enjoy the trip.
Whilst Trip fixes the part, Travis takes Ryan to the mess hall. They are reminiscing, but it seems that Ryan’s parents were killed on the North Star; he was one of the survivors. Travis suggests joining Starfleet but Ryan doesn’t seem to like Starfleet. If Starfleet stakes all the good crew, what will be left for the freighters? The conversation goes downhill.
T’Pol is on the Fortunate and asks why internal sensors were rerouted to weapon systems. Because they were in a battle. They are not in a battle now and T’Pol offers to remove the bypass. It’s not necessary. T’Pol opens a hatch to find a girl hiding. She closes it as someone comes looking for her and asks T’Pol has seen Nadine. T’Pol doesn’t know which child is Nadine. Afterwards, T’Pol tells the girl she just told the boy the truth. Which she did.
T’Pol contacts the captain; she needs to talk to him in private. Later, Ryan is speaking to Archer with T’Pol there. After some dancing around. Archer states they detected the Norsican. Ryan thinks the Norsicans have no right to be attacking their ships and that Starfleet has no jurisdiction. The captain tells Ryan he’s right. Starfleet has no jurisdiction onboard the freighter, but they do have jurisdiction over the spare parts. And tells Trip to remove them. Ryan agrees to let them see the Norsican, but is planning an ambush.
Travis, having grown up on a freighter, understands Ryan’s point of view and is feeling a bit conflicted. Ryan himself is out for revenge on the Norsicans, perhaps a little too much, and ends up biting off more than he can chew.