The Crossing (episode)

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"The Crossing"
ENT, Episode 2x18 Production number: 044 First aired: 2 April 2003
←	43rd of 97 produced in ENT	→
←	43rd of 97 released in ENT	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 97 released in ENT Remastered
←	672nd of 726 released in all	→

Teleplay By Rick Berman & Brannon Braga Story By Rick Berman & Brannon Braga & Andre Bormanis Directed By David Livingston
Unknown (2152)
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Enterprise is captured by another spaceship, crewed by noncorporeal beings who wish to trade consciousnesses with the crew's bodies.

1 Summary
2 Memorable Quotes
3 Background Information
4 Links and References

[edit] Summary

Enterprise is taken into the hold of a mysterious alien ship. The crew is unable to make any contact and at first, as there seem to be no lifeforms aboard. When a team goes outside to explore the interior of the ship, it is clear that they are dealing with sentient beings: the atmosphere changes to be breathable by Humans and the strange wisps that populate the ship's interior are obviously not moving at random.

Then, a wisp approaches Trip Tucker and enters his head. When it comes out, its color has changed from blue to yellow. A little later, the yellow wisp returns and Tucker regains control over his body. Back on board Enterprise, there seem to be no consequence to the body exchange and a wisp returns again, but for a longer experience this time. After learning a little more about the human way of life, the creature is confronted by Jonathan Archer and says that his people are explorers, just like the Enterprise crew, that used to be corporeal beings generations ago and are trying to learn more about their ancestors' way of living.

Following that, many body exchanges occur, and since the wisps are able to pass through walls, there is little Archer can do but confine the exchanged crewmen to quarters. He is still unsure about the intentions of the aliens, even after they agree to release Enterprise. Then, Travis Mayweather stumbles upon a way to keep the wisps out: the catwalk shielding seems to be impenetrable to the beings. The crew then proceeds to relocate into the warp nacelles.

A little after that careful move, there is the first sign of hostility from the aliens when Hoshi's resident assaults Doctor Phlox, who is still outside the nacelles because his physiology is apparently incompatible with the beings. T'Pol then proposes to try to make contact with one of the creatures to learn more about their motives in a kind of mind meld. What she learns is a little disturbing: the aliens' ship is deteriorating and they are trying to find corporeal hosts in order to survive.

With this new insight, Archer devises a plan to momentarily "kill" the crew by flooding the decks with carbon dioxide so the wisps will leave their hosts' bodies. Phlox is able to execute the plan almost flawlessly, the only hitch being a fight with a possessed Trip Tucker which ends in the "death" of the engineer.

When the aliens realize what has happened, they move to recapture Enterprise. This time, though, all they get are two torpedoes that destroy their entire ship from the inside.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"Are you a female?"
"Sir?"
"Your gender... you are a female, correct?"
"Last time I checked."
"I am a male!"
"I'm aware of that, Lieutenant."
"There seem to be a number of anatomical differences..."
"Sir!"

- wisp-alien in Malcolm Reed's body, talking with a female crewman

"I've reached the access tube, Captain"
"Good. Now pull off the panel."
(Phlox strains to remove the panel.)
"It's not coming off"
"It'll come off. You just need to use a little muscle."
(He tries again, grunting, but the panel still won't come off.)
"I've used every muscle I've got - it won't budge."
"Try using your foot for leverage."
(Phlox tries one more time and the panel comes off, sending him tumbling backwards with the panel in his hands.)
"Good suggestion."

- Phlox and Archer

[edit] Background Information

This is the first appearance of Crewman Michael Rostov since "Two Days and Two Nights", in the first season of Enterprise.
The fact that the secondary bridge was left in the catwalk after the episode "The Catwalk" may demonstrate the original Starfleet concept of a battle bridge.
This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series.