The Andorian Incident ( episode ) " Enterprise " visits a Vulcan monastery , only to find that it is in the midsts of being taken over by the Andorians . Summary . Teaser . Several hooded Vulcan priests are meditating in a monastery , when there is a loud banging . The doors fly open and four aliens walk into the room . . . Andorian s . Act One . In the ready room , is telling Captain Archer that using the Vulcan star charts takes all fun out of being explorers . Archer replies that Human s have never been to these places and mentions that a protostar encountered a week before was nowhere to be seen on the charts . Tucker jokes that if the charts are inaccurate , good luck getting the Vulcan s to admit it . T ' Pol enters , saying that Archer wished to see her . He explains that while going through the charts he found a remote outpost on a planet a few light year s off their current heading . T ' Pol replies that she is aware of the outpost , which she calls P ' Jem . She describes it as an ancient Vulcan spiritual retreat , a place for " kolinahr " and peaceful meditation . Archer ' s interest is piqued and he asks if they could visit . T ' Pol replies that the Vulcans may object to the intrusion . However , Archer decides that it is worth a detour and has Ensign Mayweather change course . T ' Pol notes that she will find the proper protocols for the visit , and leaves . Later , she is sharing a meal with Dr . Phlox in the mess hall . He observes that she seems hesitant about being seen with a Human crew . She remarks that it would create a " certain awkwardness . " Phlox states that he sometimes feels out of place aboard and reminds her of the Vulcan motto ' Infinite diversity in infinite combinations ' . Phlox states that the Human mission is to seek diversity , so a Human / Vulcan cultural exchange is simply fulfilling that mission . In the launch bay , Tucker incredulously asks if the monk s don ' t even know that they are coming . T ' Pol states simply that it was not possible to hail the monastery , as the monks consider technology a distraction from their spiritual pursuits . T ' Pol then explains that they should not speak to anyone unless spoken to first , talk to anyone who appears to be meditating , or touch any relics or ornamentation . The three then enter the . Planetside , the trio notes that door to the monastery looks bashed in . T ' Pol rings for admittance , but no one answers . They enter anyway , but are told by a solitary monk that they have arrived at the time of " kolinahr " and that the order must remain in silent reflection for the rest of the lunar cycle . Disappointed , they only wait for the reception of the stone of J ' Kah before leaving . However , T ' Pol notes that there are too few monks in the main atrium , and that a figure of Surak appears to have been knocked over . Archer and Tucker pretend to wander around aimlessly , looking at the monastery . When Tucker remarks on a broken vase , the monk states that " kohlinar " encourages the members of the orders to face their emotions and that the repercussions can sometimes be violent . The threesome are not convinced , and continue to wander until Archer spots the reflection of a blue alien hiding behind a wooden frame . Tucker and Archer rush the frame , knocking over the alien . Before they can restrain him fully , more rush in and take the three hostage . Act Two . The three are led to a back room where the rest of the monks are being held . The blue - skinned aliens are from the Imperial Guard of Andoria – Commander Shran , Tholos , Keval , and Thon . When Shran questions Archer about their reasons for visiting the monastery , he explains that the Humans have come out of simple curiosity . But given that they are traveling with a Vulcan , the Andorians find this incredible . Shran states that their arrival has proved that P ' Jem is far more than a spiritual sanctuary . After the Andorians leave them in confinement , T ' Pol and the elder monk explain that Andorians are known for their suspicious and volatile nature . Vulcans and Andorians are from neighboring systems and have been in conflict for many years . A treaty was signed to alleviate tensions , but some Andorian factions still believe that the Vulcans are bent on the conquest of their homeworld . When Tucker asks why the Andorians have invaded P ' Jem , the Elder points to their suspicion that the Vulcans may be hiding a long - range sensor array here . The Andorians have actually come twice before , he says , both times leaving on the same day . Unfortunately , Archer ' s arrival has amplified their suspicions and – in the words of an initiate – " endangered us all . " Learning that T ' Pol has been aboard the Human vessel for " nine weeks and four days " , the Elder asks her how she has been able to bear it . She tells him she has used a nasal numbing agent . Back on " Enterprise " in the situation room , Lieutenant Reed points out an alien vessel that the sensors have detected . He is distressed that they had scanned for alien ships before sending down the landing party and that they have not heard from Archer in some time . Sato and Mayweather feel he ' s over - reacting – the captain is probably on a tour or observing some meditation ritual . Archer is brought out for interrogation . Shran wants to know where the sensor array is . Wrongly disbelieving Archer ' s protestations of ignorance , Shran beats him . He is no more satisfied with Archer ' s explanation for the use of a Vulcan science officer aboard a Human vessel . " Enterprise " tries to contact its captain by his confiscated communicator . Shran seizes it and declares the landing party to be prisoners of the Imperial Guard – and its hostages , to be killed if " Enterprise " attempts any action . Shran terminates the conversation and destroys the communicators , one after the other . When Archer is returned to confinement , Tucker is appalled by the signs of torture . Even the Vulcans now relent ; there is a transmitter which the Humans may use , it turns out , in the monastery ' s catacombs , amongst the sacred relic s . Act Three . Following the initiate by torchlight through the catacombs , Tucker spots some natural light coming in through holes at the top of a stairway . Next he is startled by the remains of Haadok , one of the founders of P ' Jem , and addresses the other dried bodies as " fellas " . Just before reaching the transmitter he asks about another passage , and is told it leads to the reliquary of sacred artifacts . Tucker recognizes the transmitter as using a krellide power cell and is sure he can fix it . He gets back in time for the Andorians ' midnight headcount . The merits of a transporter landing are debated . The Andorians do not have this technology , T ' Pol says . Archer offers to share his blanket ; she says she ' d rather freeze , as " " it ' s been 24 hours since I took my nasal numbing agent . " " Finally lying down beside her captain , she debates his planned resort to non - pacifistic means then turns away and snags the blanket from him . Tucker raises the " Enterprise " and tells Reed that the landing party has walked into a " hostage situation " . Reed has read about the Andorians in the Vulcan database . Tucker tells him that they suspect P ' Jem to be a covert spy station , and have left Archer with " a face full of bruises " . Nonetheless the captain ' s orders to Reed are to wait . In the morning the monks and the landing party make a model of the catacombs . The Elder lies to Archer about the reliquary , saying " " no one has entered it in years " . " T ' Pol notes that the stairway must be under the atrium . Tucker models the pattern of light he saw there and Archer wonders if it might not be the large face on the atrium wall . He braves one more torture session , feigning such desperation to escape confinement with the Vulcans that he would even promise information for Shran and then delay giving it . After a punch in the kidney and a kick in the stomach , Archer offers trivia about Earth – the fact that bacteria accounts for 70 % of the planet ' s lifeform s , and amusing anecdotes about historical Humans in Canton , Ohio , the USA , and in Denmark . Archer is returned to confinement – but he has tossed a green figurine through one of the openings in the atrium wall for Tucker to recover . Reed has the two tactical crewmen in his rescue party set their phase - pistol s on stun . One expresses hesitation about beaming down ; Reed dismisses his fears and orders him onto the transporter platform – but confesses to some nervousness of his own . Act Four . The rescue party heads off into the catacombs . The Andorians come fast but are too late to find anything that might account for the energy surge . T ' Pol suggests that their detection equipment may be at fault ; Shran prefers the possibility that the Vulcans may have equipment of their own . He leaves Tholos to watch the prisoners . Reed ' s party finds the stairway and places charges inside the Atrium wall face . Tholos pays T ' Pol unwanted sexual attention , telling her what he has heard of her world ' s exotic mating rituals . Intervening , Archer is threatened with death . Reed sets off the charges and Keval is knocked forward onto the floor . The rescue party enters the atrium and stuns Thon before he can rise and fire . Shran fires and hits the hesitant beamer ; Reed drags him to safety . Keval has come to ; Shran calls his name and tosses him a weapon . The two escape the Humans by plunging into the exposed stairwell . In the confinement room , Tucker has failed to subdue Tholos and has been beaten for his efforts . Archer nearly succeeds but he too is thankful for Reed ' s entry . The Elder hypocritically – and with some emotion – says : " " You ' ve turned a place of solitude into a war - zone " . " Reed , Archer , and T ' Pol prepare to hunt for the two Andorians in the catacombs . Tucker is given a phase - pistol and told to stun Tholos if he wakes . The initiate takes up Tholos ' weapon and will come along , saying to the Elder meaningfully : " " We must protect what is ours . " " T ' Pol locates the fugitive aliens in the reliquary . The initiate tries to block the Humans , but Archer pushes through . A firefight ensues , smashing several religious treasures – but sparing a statue of what looks very much like a horse . Even the initiate gets off a shot . A great metal portal is uncovered and Archer opens it . Beyond it is a huge multi - level spy station . Archer calls a ceasefire and invites the Andorians to take a look . The sensor array is powerful enough , Reed observes cynically , to tell the Vulcans " " what every Andorian is having for breakfast . " " Archer commands T ' Pol to make full scans of the station . The initiate briefly takes Archer hostage in a last attempt to protect the remaining secrets of the base . Archer ' s blow , which handily disposes of this threat , is quick but " " boy " , " Archer says , " " did it feel good " . " He commands T ' Pol to hand her scan records over to the Andorians ; she commands " Enterprise " to allow them to leave the planet unmolested . Shran remarks that he is in Archer ' s debt . Memorable quotes . " " I thought Starfleet training was tough . " " " " You say this is a place to purge emotions ? Looks like somebody had to purge pretty bad . He bashed the door in . " " " " Energize . . . before we change our minds . " " " " Okay , okay . Don ' t get your antennas in a twist ! " " " " Why did you come here ? Answer me , pink skin ! " " " " Take a look at the Vulcan database . See if it has anything on these Andorians . " " " " I ' ll enjoy having you – as a prisoner . " " " " The smell must be intolerable . " " " " You get used to it . And I was given a nasal numbing agent . " " " " Whose idea was it to visit this place ? " " " " I don ' t take orders from a com voice , ensign , unless that voice belongs to the captain . " " " " Sir , you ' re wearing a hole in the deck plating . " " " " So if anyone has a suggestion . . . I ' m all ears . No offense . " " " " For people without emotion you sure have a flair for the dramatic ! " " " " Andorians , yes . I ' ve been reading about them in the Vulcan database . Militaristic , blue - skinned ? " " " That ' s them . " " " " I ' ve heard about your mating rituals . . . that Vulcan women force their men to fight to the death . Would you like me to kill someone for you ? " " " " Leave her alone . " " " " Would you like me to kill him ? " " " " Violence in a sanctuary , captain ? " " " " Very disrespectful , but , boy , did it feel good ! " " " " All this time . . . they ' ve been calling these monks liars - and all this time , they ' ve been right ! " " " " We ' re in your debt . " " Links and references . References . Andoria ; Andorian s ; Andorian Empire ; Andorian Imperial Guard ; astronomer ; bacteria ; Blarney Stone ; ; Buddha ; Canton ; Earth ; ethics ; gesture ; Haadok ; hemisphere ; IDIC ; " kolinahr " ; krellide power cell ; logic ; mating ritual ; motto ; mummy ; nasal numbing agent ; Ngari ; Ohio ; outpost ; P ' Jem ; " pinkskin " ; protostar ; salad ; San Francisco Zoo ; Stone of J ' Kah ; string ; Surak ; Tibet ; torch ; transmitter ; Vulcan s ; Vulcan database ; Vulcan High Command ; Vulcan mummies ; Vulcan star charts Unreferenced materials . Atlanta ; evolution ; Hall of Katras ; Memory Alpha ; Mount Seleya ; Starfleet Ranger School