Thy ' lek Shran Thy ' lek Shran was an Andorian commander in the Imperial Guard in the 2150s . Despite his aggressive and xenophobic background , Shran became an unlikely ally of Starfleet Captain Jonathan Archer and a proponent of strengthened ties between Andoria and Earth . ( ) Early life . Several members of his family joined the Imperial Guard . His older brother joined while Shran was still in school and was assigned to a forward surveillance unit . ( ) When Shran was a boy , he stumbled into a large den of ice - bore s . As a result , Shran wound up with third - degree burn s over half his body . ( ) Commander of the " Kumari " . In 2142 , Shran was promoted to commander of the warship " Kumari " . ( ) In June of 2151 , Shran led an Andorian commando team which raided the Vulcan monastery at P ' Jem . The Andorians had for a long time accused the Vulcans of hiding a clandestine long - range sensor array in the monastery for illegal surveillance of Andorian territories . The Andorians had mounted two previous raids and found no conclusive evidence , but remained convinced that the sensor array was there . During this third raid , Captain Archer accidentally stumbled into the confrontation while on a courtesy visit to the Vulcan monk s . Shran , believing the Human s to be collaborating with the Vulcans against them , imprisoned Archer , along with Tucker and T ' Pol , who were accompanying him . T ' Pol ' s presence with the Humans only amplified Shran ' s suspicions , and Shran interrogated Archer for information , but learned nothing of use . While their first meeting was difficult , Shran and Captain Archer would develop a firm respect and trust for each other during their encounters . His prisoners , however , managed to stage an escape with support from security officers from . In the ensuing firefight , however , Archer and Shran accidentally uncovered a gateway into an advanced subspace sensor array – the Andorians had been right all along . As a gesture of peace , Archer gave Shran detailed sensor readings and images of the facility and allowed him to leave freely . As he departed , Shran said he was in Archer ' s debt . ( ) Later that year , Shran was assigned to an Andorian covert ops unit supporting an uprising on , a world allied with . When a from " Enterprise " carrying Archer and T ' Pol was shot down by the rebels , Shran contacted the security team sent to extract them and provided assistance . Shran , claiming that he had " lost sleep " over his debt to Archer , wanted to arrange the Captain ' s freedom as payment of that debt . His information proved crucial in releasing the " Enterprise " crewmen , and Shran also helped avoid a fire - fight with a commando squad from the Vulcan starship " Ni ' Var " by shooting Traeg , a Coridan rebel who was about to fire on Vulcan captain Sopek . ( ) In late 2152 , Shran was commanding ground forces deployed to Weytahn , a planetoid strategically located between Andorian and Vulcan space ( referred to by the Vulcans as " Paan Mokar " ) . Recognizing a dangerous stalemate with the Vulcan forces , Shran sought to negotiate a truce with Vulcan ambassador Soval , with the talks mediated by Captain Archer . Although the Vulcans resisted the inclusion of Archer due to their innate disdain toward Humans , Shran took the unusual step of insisting on Archer ' s presence , stating that he trusted Archer to be objective based on their previous encounters . Despite some pitfalls in the process ( Shran ' s lieutenant Tarah disobeyed his orders and opened fire on Archer ' s shuttlepod ) , the negotiations proved successful , and a final cease - fire was arranged . During the negotiations , Shran and Soval negotiated for weeks over little details and Soval never once lied to Shran . As a result , Shran grew to trust and respect Soval . ( ) In December of 2153 , the " Kumari " was deployed to the Delphic Expanse with orders to capture a prototype of a Xindi weapon for use as a deterrent against a potential Vulcan invasion . Shran followed the " Enterprise " s warp trail , hoping to save time as the Human ship was also searching for the Xindi weapon following the Xindi ' s unprovoked attack on Earth . The " Kumari " provided tactical and engineering assistance to " Enterprise " , helping to repair major damage the latter ship had incurred in an encounter with several spatial anomalies . The " Kumari " and the " Enterprise " launched a joint assault on a Xindi weapons - testing area , and Shran captured the Xindi prototype . Shran , however , had not informed Archer ahead of time of his intentions to take the weapon to Andoria . Furious , Archer used the weapon ' s remote activation codes to force Shran to jettison the weapon before it was destroyed . Their plan foiled , the " Kumari " returned to Andoria . Prior to leaving the Expanse , however , Shran secretly relayed all technical and tactical sensor readings his ship had taken from the weapon to " Enterprise " ; this information would prove to be of enormous use in preventing a second Xindi attack on Earth . ( ) During the Xindi weapon ' s attack on Earth , Shran and the " Kumari " appeared out of high warp , having managed to track Degra ' s shuttle through a subspace vortex to Earth . Shran offers his help to Archer in saving Earth , having the " Kumari " fly cover for Degra ' s near - defenseless shuttle against a Xindi - Reptilian warship commanded by Councilor Dolim . Shran ' s intervention allows Archer and an away team to beam to the superweapon and ultimately destroy it while Shran battles Dolim ' s ship . After detecting Dolim ' s transport to the superweapon , Shran orders his crew to target the warship ' s unshielded engines and the " Kumari " destroys the Xinti ship , rendering Dolim unable to escape . Shran states that he and Archer are no longer even , Archer now owes him for his help . ( ) In 2154 , the Vulcan High Command planned an invasion of Andoria . Shran led a group of Andorian ships who were hiding in a nebula . " Enterprise " , with help by Soval , located Shran and attempted to alert him to the invasion . Not fully convinced , Shran kidnapped Soval and restrained him . Using a machine to prevent Soval from blocking his emotions , Shran attempted to retrieve the real location of the Vulcans ' fleet . Shran , however , did not want to harm Soval and simply wanted the real location of the fleet , growing more desperate and upset as he tortured Soval . When " Enterprise " found out about Shran kidnapping Soval , he was returned to the ship . Having been convinced by Soval ' s continuing insistence on his innocence , Shran shows remorse for his treatment of Soval and genuine concern for his condition , stating he did what he had to do and Soval would understand . After being convinced , Shran and " Enterprise " set forth to the location of the incoming Vulcan fleet . Shran only had a fleet of seven ships while the Vulcans had twelve , though more Andorian ships were on the way . When the Vulcan fleet arrived , the first fights occurred just between the Vulcans and Andorians . When " Enterprise " was ordered to be destroyed , Shran attempted to stop the Vulcans from doing so , stating that Archer now owed him twice . When problems in the Vulcan High Command ended , the battle halted . ( ) Shortly after this , Shran became romantically linked with his tactical officer Talas . She initiated the pairing ; Shran later told Jonathan Archer that he had the choice between arresting her and mating with her . He chose the latter . ( ) In November of the same year , the " Kumari " was destroyed by a Romulan ship posing as a Tellarite vessel . Shran made it to an escape pod . Shran , Talas , and eighteen other crew members were rescued by " Enterprise " . Determined to make Gral , the Tellarite ambassador , confess to the attack , Shran and Talas burst into Gral ' s quarters and held him at gunpoint . Archer eventually cooled the dispute , but Gral ' s aide Naarg wounded Talas with a phase - pistol . The wound proved mortal , and as she lay dying , Talas asked Shran to avenge her . After her death , Shran challenged Naarg to the Ushaan , a traditional Andorian duel , but Archer , fearing the collapse of the fragile Andorian - Tellarite - Vulcan alliance , invoked the right to substitute for the Tellarite . Shran was hesitant to fight the Captain because he did not want to hurt someone he considered a friend . During the duel , Shran wounded Archer and urged him to give up , while the captain retorted that he " was merely making Shran look good in front of his soldiers . " The duel ended when Archer lopped off Shran ' s left antenna , rendering him defenseless . He was expected to compensate for the loss of the antenna in a few days and regrow it in nine months , or half that time with therapy . ( ) When evidence suggested the Romulan ship was being controlled via telepresence by an Andorian Aenar , Shran and Archer traveled to Andoria to meet with them . After enlisting the assistance of an Aenar female named Jhamel , they were able to contact the Romulan ship ' s unwilling pilot and stop the attack . Shran assisted Jhamel during this time , showing deep care for her . Before departing the " Enterprise " , Shran tells Archer that he may not get a new ship so it could be some time before they see each other again . Archer and T ' Pol offer any assistance they can give him in the matter . ( ) Later life . Shran eventually married Jhamel . In 2156 , she gave birth to their first child , Talla . Two years later , Shran had quit the Imperial Guard , even though he was considered a hero . He thought he needed some change as he had a family . As a civilian he made some poor choices and had friends involved in questionable businesses . As they thought he had taken a Tenebian amethyst that belonged to them , Shran was forced to fake his death . With the help of some old colleagues from the Imperial Guard , Shran managed to disappear for three years until he was discovered . Shran emerged from hiding in 2161 , just prior to the signing of the Federation Charter , after his daughter was abducted . With the assistance of Archer and " Enterprise " , Shran was able to rescue his daughter . ( ) Sometime prior to 2164 , he had rejoined the Imperial Guard and was promoted to general . In 2164 , he appointed Jonathan Archer an honorary member of the Andorian Guard . ( ) Alternate timeline . In the alternate timeline where the Xindi destroyed Earth , Shran had been promoted to general sometime prior to 2165 . He assisted the Human colony on Ceti Alpha V , providing " Enterprise " with deflector shield s to replace its polarized hull plating . ( ) Awards and honors . The Federation starship may have been named after the general . ( ) Memorable quotes . " " You should be the one dying , not her . " " " " Captain Archer . Look at the trouble you ' ve gotten your pink skin into this time ! " " " " Your world is in jeopardy , and where are your friends , the Vulcans ? Where is their mighty fleet ? They couldn ' t even spare one officer ! She was forced to abandon her career to remain on your ship – a remarkably selfless act . . . for a Vulcan . But we ' ve come to your aid . We ' ve come into the Expanse when they refused . We ' re here to help you . " " " " So . . . how did you get picked for this assignment ? " " " " I volunteered . It made sense . I ' ve had the greatest amount of contact with pink . . . with Humans , and the last time we met you helped my people avert a war . I don ' t like unpaid debts . " " " " We keep doing each other favors . " " " " Isn ' t that how alliances are born ? " " " " The Andorian Mining Consortium runs from no one . " " " " This was a " failure ? ! " " " A spectacular one – but , yes . " " " " For two hundred years , all that ' s kept them from invading Andoria is the threat of massive retaliation . With a weapon of this magnitude at our disposal , they wouldn ' t dare attack us . " " " " You ' re putting Earth at risk because of a border dispute with the Vulcans ? ! " " " " We disrupted the Xindi test , took their weapon . We may have helped save your world ! " " " " I guess I ' m not familiar with the Andorian concept of help ! " " " " You ' re not using your head , pink skin . That ship you ' re on is no match for the Reptilian . " " " " Tell Archer . . . we ' re not even anymore . He owes me ! " " " " One Reptilian transported to the weapon . . . " " " " Let ' s make sure he has nowhere to go back to . " " Appendices . Background information . Shran was played by " Star Trek " regular Jeffrey Combs . The first name " Thy ' lek " and Shran ' s rank as general in 2164 were mentioned in , seen in . In the script for , Shran was introduced with the description , " " His white hair and blue skin make his teeth appear sickly gray by contrast . " " Without auditioning for the part , Jeffrey Combs was offered the role of Shran by Executive Producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga . Braga later explained , " " Casting the role of Shran was a daunting challenge , because you ' ve got to have some blue guy with antennae be threatening . When you have someone like Jeffrey , who you know is going to nail it and bring it dimension , you ' re like , ' Let ' s use him . ' Plus , the fans love him . " " ( ) A fan of himself , Jeff Combs thought it would be interesting to explore the Andorians , a race which was rarely seen on - screen prior to " Enterprise " . He made a point to ask whether the character would be killed off at the end of the episode , recalling his experience of playing Weyoun . Once informed that Shran would survive " The Andorian Incident " , Combs readily accepted . In a interview , Combs recalled , " " Shran was a gift . I loved Shran . I got to play a completely different color , and I was excited about that . And I don ' t mean blue . Shran gave me a totally different spectrum than I had with Brunt and Weyoun . I got to play a captain , someone with a real chip on his shoulder . My prototype . . . I looked at the Vulcans as if they were the British and the Andorians as if they were the Irish , and was my ideal . That ' s the kind of the guy I saw Shran as , a tough little guy who holds his ground , and you ' ve got to go through him , not around him . " " As the director of " The Andorian Incident " , Roxann Dawson was delighted with Combs ' initial work as Shran . She later remarked , " " He really created an extraordinary character there , didn ' t he ? " " ( ) Between the filming of " The Andorian Incident " and the production of " Shadows of P ' Jem " , Rick Berman stated about the character of Shran , " " He ' s not necessarily an Andorian terrorist in the sense of being destructive . There ' s a little of that but I think he ' s more of an Andorian . He ' s an Andorian on a very important reconnaissance mission . " " ( ) The final draft script of stated , " " Shran is a student of history . " " Along with Ambassador Soval , and Porthos , Shran is one of only four characters , outside of the ensemble cast , to appear in all four seasons of " Star Trek : Enterprise " . Manny Coto has stated that , had the series been given a fifth season , Shran may have joined the crew of " Enterprise " , as an " auxiliary or an advisor . " Jeffrey Combs himself was unaware of this idea until after the series ended . He commented , " " I deeply appreciate it . At the same time it sort of hurts . ' Ah , man , the one that got away ! Dang it ! Coulda , shoulda , woulda . ' But I take it as the huge compliment that it is . I was quite involved in that fourth season and so it sounds like it would have been a natural progression , and it would have been a cool one , to have a new alien on the bridge adding another dynamic . That would have been really , really interesting . " " Ultimately , Jeff Combs felt that , of all the characters he had played on " Star Trek " , Shran was the one he ' d most like to play again . " " I like his attitude and his complexity . And there was still some stuff to explore about him . I think I ' d like that . " " Shran was also popular with other production staffers , including married writing couple Judith and Garfield Reeves - Stevens . The latter noted about Combs ' portrayal of the character , " " Jeffrey is sort of everyone ' s favorite Andorian . " " Added Judith Reeves - Stevens , " " Jeffrey as Shran , you ' re not concentrating on the fact that he has blue antennae that move , he sells the character . " " ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 37 , No . 2 , p . 40 ) Shran was also a character in the aborted film " " . The 23rd century Starfleet ship appears to have been named for him . Apocrypha . In the non - canon Pocket Books novel " The Good That Men Do " , Shran ' s complete name is " Hravishran th ' Zoarhi " . Later novels establish that " Thy ' lek Shran " is the Aenar form of his name . His mirror universe counterpart appeared in the novella " Age of the Empress " .