“The Forgotten” is episode twenty of season three of Star Trek: Enterprise.
Captain Archer is speaking to the crew, saying that they are in bad shape but one piece. They and the ship took all anyone can ask and then some. He thanks them, and wishes he could thank the 18 they lost. They are going to succeed and complete their mission.
In the captain’s ready room, Trip reports that they found the bodies of the last two missing crew and T’Pol gives the status of weapons and hull plating. The captain thinks that will have to do. Trip says they could wait; T’Pol says that the message they found from Degra in the previous episode, “Damage”, had a deadline. Trip wonders if it could be an ambush – unlikely; Enterprise could have been destroyed already – and the captain has made his decision. He also wants Trip to write to the parents of one of the dead crew, Taylor; she was in his section. Trip doesn’t want to, but agrees.
T’Pol arrives in sickbay and Phlox takes time to scan her, complaining as he does that Trip pulled off the repair team for the imaging chamber as it is low priority and suggesting that the next time Trip burns his fingers it will also be low priority. Phlox asks if T’Pol has had any more withdrawal symptoms from the trellium-D – no – and tells her there are only trace amounts in her system. T’Pol is concerned about her emotions; her usual suppression techniques are not as effective. Phlox warns T’Pol she caused significant damage to her neural pathways; her emotions may never subside and she may have to learn to live with them.
Enterprise arrives at the coordinates. There are no ships but there is a dense field on spatial anomalies. Before they can leave, a ship emerges from a subspace vortex. Degra contacts Enterprise and tells them to follow his ship into the vortex. They arrive at a sphere and Degra hails them. He wants the captain to come aboard.
Degra’s ship docks with Enterprise and the captain meets with Degra and Jannar (Rick Worthy) aboard it. Degra says he arranged to have the Aquatics deliver Archer and called off the attack. The Reptilians weren’t pleased. Yes, Degra took a risk, but if what Archer says is true, the future of his people is at stake. Jannar wants the captain to demonstrate time travel. That might be difficult. Archer asks them to come aboard his ship and he’ll give them proof. First, he wants to know when the weapon will be launched. He’s told it won’t be for a few days. If the captain provides proof, Degra will do what he can to stop it.
T’Pol joins Trip in the wrecked mess hall; they’re all eating rations. Trip is struggling with his letter. He doubts Taylor’s parents will care what he has to say about her daughter. T’Pol asks Trip when he last slept. Not since the attack. Two days then. T’Pol wants Trip to get some sleep and suggests ordering him to do so. Trip says he doesn’t have the time. Then the ship is rocked by an explosion. Trip and T’Pol head there and Trip manages to fix it. But something is venting from the hull, unknown to him.
Degra and Jannar are shown the Reptilian corpses from those found on Earth in “Carpenter Street”. Degra recognises the leader; he and his team disappeared after the bioweapon was vetoed. The captain had help travelling back in time to stop them. Janner asks how he can know they weren’t captured in the present. The captain then shows them the equipment taken from the Reptilians. Degra says it appears to be Xindi; he wants his people to take a look at it. Janner thinks this just proves the Reptilians disobeyed the council; not a surprise.
Trip is having a go at someone when Phlox arrives and tells him to go to his quarters and sleep. Trip refuses. He’s told that was an order. Phlox wants six hours, but settles for four. The captain contacts Phlox; he’s needed in sickbay. Phlox doesn’t leave until Trip heads to his quarters.
Degra and Janner are shown the Sphere Builder data from “Harbinger”. They have met one. Phlox explains their space is toxic to the Builders and they are making it more compatible. The captain says they are destined to form an alliance to stop them. But if Earth is destroyed, that won’t happen.
The venting is getting worse, and eventually causes a problem. Trip is struggling with his letter and is also not being remotely diplomatic with Degra; T’Pol points out they are trying to get Degra on side. Janner is far less inclined to trust Captain Archer than Degra is.