Fight or Flight ( episode ) " Enterprise " finds an abandoned ship , filled with corpses which appear to have been used for an experiment . Summary . Teaser . The crew of is finally settling in on the new ship , and crewmembers are slowly getting acquainted with one another . In sickbay , Ensign Hoshi Sato is having Dr . Phlox take a look at her sick pet , Sluggo . arrives to report more power is available for Phlox . He sees Sato and expresses dissatisfaction at having been in deep space for two weeks with only a " dying worm " to show for it . Act One . Captain Jonathan Archer , meanwhile , not having done much exploring in space , is doing some exploring in his own quarters instead , trying to locate an irritating squeaking sound under his deck plating . He is also unhappy about the fact that they still have not run into anyone . T ' Pol enters to report , but he quiets her , insistent on finding the source of the sound . She continues , reporting that scans of the sector s ahead indicate little chance of finding inhabited planet s and even Vulcan star chart s have limited data on the course Starfleet set " Enterprise " on . Archer is not happy with this answer , but T ' Pol points out that Vulcans don ' t select their destination by what piques their interest as they don ' t share Human ity ' s enthusiasm for exploration . Space is vast , with only one out of every 43 , 000 planets supporting intelligent life . Archer is still not satisfied with this response , pointing out that at warp 5 they should be running into someone by now , when Sato comes in to see the captain . T ' Pol leaves them alone to talk . Sato complains that her quarters are " on the wrong side of the ship " where the star s are going the wrong way . She wants port - side quarters and would like the captain ' s permission to switch with someone else . He grants her wish and somewhat uneasy about all this , she leaves . While itching for a first contact , everyone keeps busy with various tasks . The captain , for instance , offers Malcolm Reed a little " target practice " session to adjust the torpedo targeting system . Dr . Phlox , on the other hand , is taking all this with the most easy - going spirit : in the mess hall , he is exploring a variety of dishes , pointing out their remarkable flavors . He loves speaking at the dinner table , as on his home - planet of Denobula speaking during dinner time is usually considered a waste of time . Somewhat bitter , Tucker points out that wasting time is all they have been doing lately . For Phlox , however , every moment has been an adventure . He considers Human s so unpredictable , pointing out the various little observations he has been making . It seems the day will go by with nothing interesting happening , when they suddenly encounter an alien vessel . The vessel does not respond to hail s . Shortly after a debate ensues regarding how to approach the situation : while the captain is eager to make contact with a new race , T ' Pol goes by her Vulcan training , suggesting that they don ' t let their curiosity dictate their actions , go by protocol and just resume their previous course while ignoring the vessel . But Archer insists on letting that curiosity dictate their actions and explore what ' s out there . Scans of the vessel indicate bio signs which T ' Pol interprets as the aliens not " wanting " to make contact , while Captain Archer interprets them as aliens not being " able " to make contact . After discovering multiple hull breach es as a result of possible weapons discharge , an away team is finally dispatched to the vessel . T ' Pol protests , pointing out that there are a number of protocols they have not tried yet , but somewhat irritated by her constant objecting to and discouragement of their actions , Archer ignores her objections and proceeds as planned . Act Two . Archer takes Sato and Reed with him to the vessel , even though Tucker cannot wait to get out there and do some exploring of his own . Archer tells him to be patient and that there will be plenty of other opportunities for him to explore . While recording his personal log , Archer complains about T ' Pol ' s behavior and how he didn ' t sign up for a mission with a Vulcan in tow who continuously " sucks the air out of the room . " He admits that she might be right to some extent , but still is reluctant to just ignore someone in distress based on some protocol . He realizes that if they are to make history with every light year , they are not going to do so while sitting on their hands . Later , Sato comes in , thinking that it would be better if she stayed on board , but Archer really believes it would be better if she joined them . She finally admits that her reason for not wanting to join the away team is that the environmental suit s make her a little claustrophobic . But Archer doesn ' t buy this as an excuse and insists on having her there . On the vessel , they discover that everyone on board is dead and that the bodies are hanging upside down , having been washed out with some kind of fluid . T ' Pol suggests leaving , pointing out that since the crew is dead , assistance from " Enterprise " is no longer required . A reluctant Archer agrees and resumes course . Act Three . In sickbay , Sato , somewhat embarrassed for having " " screamed like a twelve - year - old " " while discovering the bodies on the the vessel , is talking to Dr . Phlox , who tells her that she really has nothing to be ashamed about . But she still feels uneasy , pointing out that no one else screamed . She also stresses that she came out here to explore and not to run into corpses on hooks . Phlox asks if she considered going back to the university , teaching , but Sato says that studying languages as an exolinguist is what she came out here to do . She doesn ' t want to go back . While Sato goes off on how she cannot just quit and go teach , Phlox points out that if her slug doesn ' t take the nutrients he is giving her , she won ' t survive . Sato feels bad , realizing that she shouldn ' t have brought her on board . She wonders if she can convince the captain to find a planet with an argon - rich atmosphere where they can drop off the slug ; she thinks that the slug needs to get back to an environment that is more suited to her . Phlox jokes , stating that maybe she needs to go some place where she can teach . During dinner , Archer feels guilty about having just left the alien vessel behind like that . He is especially edgy with T ' Pol , accusing her of having no remorse and guilt . He is angry for not having even tried to do anything . He just cannot come to terms with the fact that they basically stuck their tails between their legs and ran , leaving them behind to rot , hanging like some slaughtered animals . He is asking if he is the only one who is bothered by this . He doesn ' t believe in avoiding confrontation at all costs and burying his " head in the sand " as he accuses Vulcans of doing . Coldly , T ' Pol responds that they have a code of behavior which they try to obey , but that only upsets Archer even more , who points out that Humans have a code of behavior as well ; something which he almost ignored . So , he decides to return to the abandoned ship to investigate . This time he wants to take Phlox with him to examine the dead crew and see if he can find out what happened to them . On the alien vessel , Sato has initially a hard time deciphering the alien language . While working on it , she tells Tucker that she plans on asking the captain to take her home . She thinks she should have never left the university , as apparently she is not suited for this . She tells him about her behavior here yesterday and how she fell apart at the sight of those bodies . She believes that the captain needs a translator he can count on , someone who shows a little grace under pressure , and not someone like her . But finally , she is able to crack the language , enabling its communication system and sending a distress call from it . In the meantime , Phlox is able to shed some light to the circumstances that caused the crew ' s death . He , for example , finds out that whoever did this was trying to collect triglobulin from them ; for what reason exactly , he is not sure , as triglobulin has a wide variety of uses . Shortly after , a ship drops out of warp and , not responding to any scans and not being disturbed by the not - yet - aligned targeting system , proceeds to disable " Enterprise " s engines . T ' Pol points out , to Cpt . Archer , that the vessel ' s power signatures match the scans he ( Archer ) took of those bio - pumps . It appears that whoever killed that crew has returned . Act Four . The away team heads immediately for the shuttle and approaches the " Enterprise " while T ' Pol orders Reed for an assessment of their weapons . He ' s not optimistic that they can hit a moving target , but T ' Pol asks for his best and to get to the bridge . Archer calls in to try hailing the vessel , but they don ' t respond . The hostile alien ship starts to fire on " Enterprise " while Tucker struggles to get the shuttle docked . He finally succeeds and Archer , and the away team , are once again back on " Enterprise " . However , the hostile alien ship damaged " Enterprise ' s " port nacelle , thus rendering the warp drive inoperable , so they can ' t escape – they are forced to fight . Fortunately , the hostile alien ship stops firing . When Archer finally arrives on the bridge , he orders first one , then a second torpedo to be fired at the hostile vessel , but with the ongoing targeting system issues , they still prove quite ineffective . The hostile ship then scans " Enterprise " , leading Phlox to suspect that the aliens have discovered Humans also produce similar compounds useful to their nefarious purposes . The hostile ship locks on with a stabilising beam when another ship drops out of warp . This new ship , it is discovered via a quick scan , are of the same species as the dead crew . Following a difficult UT communication exchange , culminating in Ensign Sato being forced to communicate without her translator , the alien from the second vessel understands that " Enterprise " was just trying to help . The ship attacks the hostile vessel , finally destroying it . Archer is relieved , believing that they just made a friend , thanks to Hoshi . On an alien planet that has a suitable atmosphere , Ensign Sato is dropping off her pet slug , hoping that she ' d feel better there than on " Enterprise " . She smiles at Phlox and together they leave to return to " Enterprise " . Memorable quotes . " " Maybe we should go have a look . " " " " If you insist on allowing your curiosity to dictate your actions . " " " " We do insist . " " " " I didn ' t realize you spoke slug . " " " " Crewmen Bennett and Hayden over there , do you see them ? If I ' m not mistaken , they are preparing to mate . Do you think they might let me watch ? " " " " It ' s good to see you ' re enjoying yourself . " " " " Come on , Travis . We ' ve gotta find Mr . Reed something to blow up . " " " " Well , at least we know they ' re bipeds . " " " " What gives you that idea ? " " " " The ladder . " " " " Have you smelled Ensign Socorro after she exercises ? " " " " Uh . . . " " " " She gives off a fragrance not unlike the adrenal gland of a Nausicaan ! " " " " You ' ve seen too many science fiction movies . We just need the three phase - pistols . Put the rifles back . " " " " We ' ve been out here for two weeks now and the only first contact we ' ve made is with a dying worm . " " " " Seems like everyone else on board is itching for a first contact . " " " " I don ' t think you need a translator ! " " " " The residue indicates oxidation and thermal shock effects ; it could be the result of a high yield particle impact . " " " " Weapons ? " " " " Possibly . " " " " This fellow hasn ' t suffered as much cellular decay . He ' s our best candidate for a post - mortem . Care to assist ? " " " " If I can ' t isolate it , I ' m going to have to tear the whole flooring up . " " " " That would be . . . unfortunate . " " " " There ' s a vessel approaching Captain ! It ' s power signature matches the scans you took of those bio pumps ! It appears that whoever killed that crew has returned ! " " Background information . Deleted scenes . On the Season One DVD release of " Enterprise " , there are two deleted scene s which were removed from this episode . Please note , the numbers on the scenes indicate their place in the episode before being cut . Scene 05 . This scene has Archer and Mayweather heading down a corridor towards a turbolift as they discuss finding an area to test the ship ' s weapons . Mayweather comments to Archer on how , when he was a child , the once went on a nine - month , two - and - a - half light - year journey from Lavinius to Bylaran Prime . To keep the children occupied , they were taught to play . Archer and Mayweather proceed to play a quick round . The two soon begin to argue as to what can and cannot be used in the game . This leads Archer to comment that he thought the game was meant to avoid arguments . The allusions to planet s " Lavinius " and " Bylaran Prime " from this scene may have been in reference to Levinius V and the Bilaren system , respectively . The dialogue from this scene later went on to be used , almost word for word , in the episode , but with Archer starting the game this time and Tucker joining in . The two soon also begin to argue as to what can and cannot be used in the game . Scene 28 . Aboard the predominantly dark Axanar cargo ship , Archer , Sato , and Reed enter a room ( after forcing the doors open ) in which they find several consoles , still lit . While Sato and Reed wonder whether a specific deactivated console could have been used for communications , Archer studies what appears to be the ship ' s engineering display . He asks Sato if she can understand the schematic and shows the same display to Reed , who , after forming the theory that the diagram is showing an enormous power drain inside the ship , decides to investigate the source of the power drain . Links and references . References . adrenal gland ; androgyny ; Amazon ; amino acid ; anaconda ; Anchorage ; aphrodisiac ; appetite ; argon ; atmosphere ; Axanar ; Axanar cargo ship ; Axanar language ; Axanar warship ; bile ; bio pump ; black bear ; blood ; body odor ; cargo ship ; cheddar cheese ; ; chloraxine ; class 3 pulse rifle ; claustrophobia ; code of behavior ; Denobula ; disilicon polymer ; docking arm ; Earth ; EM 33 sidearm ; environmental suit ; exobiology ; exolinguist ; eye tooth ; ; grammar ; ; ; hydraulics ; hydro - skimmer ; iced tea ; infrared scanner ; ladder ; lamp ; laundry list ; locker room ; logic ; lymphatic system ; micro - charge ; methane ; molecule ; Namod ; Nausicaan ; nitrogen ; nutrient ; oxidation ; particle weapon ; pasta ; phase - pistol ; phonetic processor ; pink dolphin ; ; postmortem ; potato ; protein concentrate ; protein resequencer ; pulsar grid ; pump ; Pyrithian bat ; science fiction ; sector ; " " ; sloth ; Sluggo ; snake ; Socorro ; Spanish language ; spatial torpedo ; stabilizing beam ; statistics ; stellar nursery ; stress ; sub - molecular bioscan ; Suliban ; synonym ; targeting scanner ; telescope ; tributary ; triglobulin ; Triglobulin harvester ' s starship ; trinary star cluster ; tritanium ; universal translator ; university ; vaccine ; vocabulary ; Vulcan s ; Vulcan star charts ; warp core ; zymuth gland Unreferenced material . Amazon River ; asteroid field ; Bylaran Prime ; comet ; Draylax ; frequency band ; ; icon ; Lavinius ; power coupling ; Rhode Island ; schematic ; transfer conduit ; Xanadu