Silent Enemy ( episode ) " Enterprise " is attacked by an unknown alien starship , as Archer orders the crew to install experimental " phase cannons " . Meanwhile , Sato is ordered to find out what Reed ' s favorite food is for a birthday dinner . Summary . Teaser . launches " Echo Two " , a subspace amplifier . Hoshi Sato wants to run some tests , which will take about an hour . Malcolm Reed then detects an alien ship . Their configuration is unknown , but the captain tries to hail them , sensing an opportunity for first contact . Unfortunately , he gets no reply . The vessel then warps away , leaving Captain Archer to surmise , " " Was it something I said ? " " The only information Malcolm Reed is able to gather from their first contact is that their ship is protected by a sensor - dampening field , preventing the " Enterprise " from scanning the vessel . Act One . Sato guesses that perhaps " Enterprise " s signal didn ' t make sense to the alien ship , but T ' Pol thinks that they simply didn ' t understand their motives . Travis Mayweather thinks the aliens didn ' t find them interesting . As Archer tells them to calibrate the new subspace amplifier , Sato speaks to the captain in private , saying that she has tracked down Reed ' s parents , which currently live in Kotabaru , Malaysia . Stuart and Mary Reed speak to Captain Archer , thinking that perhaps Malcolm is in trouble . Archer finds out that they don ' t even know what position Malcolm has taken aboard " Enterprise " . When Archer tells them he is an armory officer , Mr . Reed says that Malcolm ' s grandfather would be pleased – he was an ordnance officer in the Royal Navy . Mrs . Reed says that the Reeds have been Navy men for generations . Archer then says that he is going to be making a special dinner for Malcolm ' s birthday , and he would like to know what he likes to eat . However , they don ' t know if he has a favorite food , as he " always ate what was put in front of him . " Ending the conversation , Archer finds Sato and asks her to find out instead . Sato thinks that maybe would be a better choice , but Archer claims that as it is a " delicate assignment " , it needs her " finesse . " Sato says that she ' s busy , but Archer orders her to complete the task . Archer is talking to . Tucker missed " dinner and a show " – T ' Pol ' s latest bout with chopstick s . Tucker has been catching up with people from home . He received a letter from " the Natalie from Pensacola " , who thought that their long distance relationship wouldn ' t work – after all , they are 100 light year s apart . Archer then talks about Reed , saying that they don ' t know much about him at all . Their conversation is cut short however , as the " Enterprise " drops out of warp and Archer is called to the bridge ; the alien ship has returned . Archer tries hail ing the alien vessel again , although the results are the same as the previous attempt . Sato then picks up something , and a high - pitched squeal is heard , temporarily startling the bridge crew , who clasp their hands over their ears in pain . T ' Pol says that they ' re being scanned , as the alien ship comes about and fires on the defenseless " Enterprise " , before going to warp . Nobody is hurt in the attack . Reed managed to get some scans when the vessel fired , as their shielding dropped for just a few seconds . He detects at least fifteen bio - sign s , but T ' Pol doesn ' t recognize the species . Reed doubts that their torpedo es would have made much difference anyway . Archer tells them to stay on long - range sensors , and leaves the bridge with T ' Pol . Act Two . Archer , T ' Pol , and Tucker assess the damage caused by the alien ' s attack . Archer says that " Enterprise " just wasn ' t equipped to handle some of the threats they are facing . There are phase cannon ports , but the weapons weren ' t installed because of their early departure from Earth . He suggests they should head back . However , Reed and Tucker are convinced they can install the phase cannons within two weeks ; Archer mentions that the crew at Jupiter Station is trained for the work . Tucker assures Archer that his engineers are just as good , but Archer says that other systems need overhauls as well . Reed asks for permission to start the work , as it would mean less time in spacedock . Archer gives them the green light , and as they get to work , Archer orders Mayweather to set a course for home . Reed and Tucker go over the specs for the phase cannons with the engineering crew . They must get their only cannon working and build two more from scratch . Tucker believes they can finish the work long before they get to Jupiter Station , saying the only thing the station ' s crew will be doing is giving the " Enterprise " a " wash and a wax . " Tucker gives them the motivational speech , and they get to work . Meanwhile , Sato is talking to Madeline Reed , Malcolm ' s sister . Unfortunately , she also has no idea what her brother likes to eat , but says that he went for a week " without " eating . She says that Malcolm isn ' t the easiest person to get to know , something that Sato is discovering . Sato then speaks to Mark Latrelle , Malcolm ' s best friend . He thinks it is fish , because he went to a restaurant on the Embarcadero with Malcolm , but the latter only went there because of Maureen , a waitress . Latrelle then says that Malcolm hates fish , to Sato ' s frustration . Mayweather walks in as Sato cuts the communication , and asks her how the secret mission is going . She has spoken to Malcolm ' s sister , his best friend , his uncle Archie , and his two spinster aunts , but all they know is that Malcolm " occasionally eats " . T ' Pol interrupts , and suggests that if Sato wants to know something about Malcolm , perhaps she should ask him . Sato sits with Reed in the mess hall . He is looking over the phase cannon schematics , and Sato attempts to make conversation . She asks him how his meal is , attempting to coerce the answer she wants out of him without him realizing . She says that maybe one night she should cook something herself , but Reed isn ' t paying attention . She goes directly to the point , asking him what his favorite food is , but he refuses her previous offer of cooking , without answering the question . Sato says that eating in the mess hall lacks a personal touch , and that she has a hot plate in her quarters . Unfortunately , Reed takes this the wrong way , thinking that Sato is flirting with him . As she realizes this , she takes her meal somewhere else , leaving an embarrassed Reed behind in the mess hall . Act Three . " Enterprise " detects the alien ship behind them , and they attack again . Reed , still in the mess hall , tries to contact the bridge and armory , to no avail . He orders the crewmen there to report to their stations . The alien ship activates a dampening field , as the lights go out . They then launch a shuttle . As all main systems go off - line , T ' Pol reports that the doors in launch bay 2 are opening . Archer heads there with a security team . Two crewmen are examining a relay , and they see two strange looking aliens walking past . Suddenly , they are knocked to the floor , unconscious . Archer and his team find them being probed by the two aliens , who are very tall and thin bipeds , with faces that looks slightly humanoid . Archer fires his phase - pistol at one of them , but there is no effect . The two aliens walk off , and Archer sends his team after them . He calls Phlox to the two injured crewmen . The alien shuttle leaves and docks with its mothership , which promptly fires at the port nacelle , damaging it . They then go back to warp . Phlox tells Archer that the two injured crewmen were subjected to some rather invasive scans , but they ' ll recover . Tucker calls and tells them that it ' ll be a few days before they can go to warp , but the impulse engines will be up and running within a few minutes . On the bridge , Mayweather suggests that they contact the Vulcan High Command , who could " give them a hand " . Archer swallows his pride and agrees . Sato can ' t make contact with " Echo Two " , and T ' Pol finds out that it has been destroyed – along with " Echo One " . They can ' t contact . Reed and Tucker are busy installing the phase cannons . While Tucker is calm and just getting on with the work , Reed is annoyed that they are falling behind . He gets even more agitated when his hand receives a rather nasty shock while touching the relays . They talk about power distribution with the phase cannons , but Reed wants to cut a few corners with what he describes as " acceptable risks " . Tucker tells him that he ' s the one who should decide what is an acceptable risk . Reed reluctantly agrees . Archer asks Tucker for a progress report in engineering . Tucker says the engines should be back by the " end of day tomorrow . " Archer tells him about his failed attempt to contact the Vulcan s , who would " oh - so - politely " offer to help them . He also says that " Enterprise " won ' t leave Earth before they ' re really ready . Tucker asks him if his ears are " a little more pointier than usual " . Archer says that he rushed out of spacedock because he had something to prove . Tucker however says that if he asked the crew whether their journey has been worth the risk so far , he ' d get the same answer from them all . Tucker and Reed continue working on the phase cannons . Reed disconnects them from the impulse engines , and asks Tucker to give him a hand . Two days after their last encounter with the alien vessel , and there has been no sign of them . It has taken just 48 hours to get the phase cannons working , and Archer congratulates the engineering team in his log . They are ready to test the new weapons , and find a moon with no signs of life . Archer asks for a couple of meters off the top of a mountain on the surface . The phase cannons do more however , completely obliterating the mountain and causing a power surge on " Enterprise " . The blast was ten times what was expected , and there was an overload . T ' Pol detects an anomalous reading from Launch Bay 2 . Archer , T ' Pol , Tucker , and Reed head there , and find a small device attached to the top corner of the wall . It caused the power surge in the phase cannons . Archer activates a visual sensor , and leaves a message for the aliens . After telling them he ' ll defend " Enterprise " , he destroys the device . Act Four . Sato enters sickbay , and sees that Phlox has released his patients . Asking him about Reed ' s favorite food , he notes that he likes egg s , cooked any way , pancake s , sausage s , and bacon . Sato asks if there is one food in particular , but once again her plan is foiled as Phlox doesn ' t know either . Just as she is leaving , Phlox shouts out " " bromelain ! " " , realizing that maybe he " can " help , after all . It would mean going into Reed ' s medical files , but Sato says she is under orders from the captain . Phlox notes that Reed suffers from a number of allergies , including dust mites , oak pollen , tropical grasses , and various plant enzyme s , including bromelain . He has been taking regular injections so his body can tolerate bromelain , which is found mainly in pineapple . Relieved , Sato thanks the doctor and leaves . The alien ship returns , but this time , " Enterprise " is ready for them . This time , they want to talk , but the only communication that " Enterprise " receives is a reworking of Archer ' s speech to them earlier , albeit with the word order changed : Archer cuts the transmission , and orders Reed to fire . The phase cannons have little effect though , only causing a slight fluctuation in the alien ship ' s shields . Archer wonders if they can overload the cannons again , but Reed is worried about the damage it would cause to " Enterprise " . Tucker comes up with a solution to feed the extra energy through structural integrity , and Archer tells him to do it . " Enterprise " fires again , and this time the alien ship ' s shields are penetrated , causing damage . Reed then fires two torpedoes , which disable the alien ship ' s warp engines . The bridge crew watches as the aliens flee at impulse , one of their engines leaking plasma . Archer then decides that there ' s little point in returning to Earth . Sato says that maybe it ' s a good thing they have come back so far – they can launch another subspace amplifier . Archer tells Mayweather to resume their previous course . It ' s September 2nd . Archer , Tucker , and Reed are sharing a beer in the armory , and they toast to their " mysterious friends " . Tucker says that a way to thank them for the job they did was to let them sleep in the next morning , which Archer agrees to . Sato enters , with the " component " that Archer asked for . He opens the case , and reveals a birthday cake to Reed , who cuts open the cake . He is surprised to see that it has pineapple inside , and he reveals it to be his favorite , to smiles all round . Asking how on Earth they knew , Sato replies that they " have their sources " . Smiling , Reed dishes out some cake to them . Memorable quotes . " " Maybe they checked us out and decided we weren ' t very interesting . " " " " Us ? Not interesting ? " " " " The Reeds have been navy men for generations . " " " " Until Malcolm decided to join Starfleet . I suppose the ocean wasn ' t " big " enough for him . " " " " We ' re talking about a delicate assignment , Hoshi . It needs your finesse . " " " " You know , they say long distance relationships never work . Well . . . this is about as long distance as you can get . " " " " You missed T ' Pol ' s latest bout with chopsticks . " " " " Damn ! Dinner " and " a show . " " " " If I asked your parents what you like to eat , would they be able to tell me ? " " " " Are you kidding ? My mom would give you her recipe for pan - fried catfish and wouldn ' t let you go till you promised not to screw it up . " " " " By the time we reach Jupiter Station , I don ' t want their engineers to have a thing to do but give us a wash and a wax . " " " " Tactical systems are down . " " " " Why don ' t you save time and tell me what isn ' t down ? ! " " " " You looking forward to seeing Earth ? " " " " Sure . I just didn ' t think I ' d be seeing it so soon ! " " " " This time , we won ' t be leaving before we ' re ready . " " " " Are your ears a little pointier than usual ? " " " " I . . . I never said we didn ' t belong out here , I just wish we had launched with all our systems online . . . especially weapons ! " " " " If we hadn ' t launched when we did , they would have sent Klaang back to Qo ' noS in a " box " . " " " " I keep reminding myself of that , but I rushed us out of spacedock because I had something to prove . " " " " In the old days astronauts rode rockets with millions of liters of hydrogen burning under their seats . Do you think they said ' Gee , I ' d like to go to the moon today , but it seems a little risky ' ? I think that if you asked any one on board whether this mission was worth the risk , you ' d get the same answer from every one of them . " " " " You ' re sure there ' s nothing down there ? " " " " Yes , captain . " " " " Not even a microbe ? I don ' t want to blow up something that could evolve into a sentient species in a couple of billion years . " " " " I just asked for a little off the top ! " " " " I assume you planted that device because you wanted to learn more about us . I ' ll be happy to give you a quick lesson . We ' re not here to make enemies . But just because we ' re not looking for a fight , doesn ' t mean we ' ll run away from one . You may think you ' ve left us defenseless , but let me tell you something about Humans . We don ' t give up easily . We ' ll protect " Enterprise " . . . any way we can . " " " " I don ' t suppose scanning his taste buds would help ? " " " " Medically speaking , there ' s no accounting for taste . " " " " You are defenseless . Prepare to surrender your vessel . " " " " To our mysterious friends . I wish I could have seen the looks on their faces . " " " " Don ' t get too used to drinking on duty . But you did your jobs pretty damn well yesterday . I ' d say that deserves a little celebration . " " " " Cheers . " " " " Pineapple ? But that ' s my fav – " " " " How on Earth did you know ? " " " " We have our sources . " " Links and references . References . allergy ; apple juice ; Archie ; armory ; armory team ; astronaut s ; bacon ; beam emitter ; B - deck ; beer ; bread ; bromelain ; catfish ; C - deck ; ; chief engineer ; chopstick ; cook ; D - deck ; DNA ; Denobulan ; dilithium alignment ; drive plasma ; dust mite ; Duvall ; Earth ; " Echo One " ; " Echo Two " ; E - deck ; egg s ; Embarcadero ; enchilada ; encryption code ; enzyme ; EPS grid ; evasive maneuvers ; fish ; galley ; gigajoule ; grav - plating ; halibut ; helium ; hot plate ; hull plating ; hydrogen ; impulse drive ; Indian food ; internal sensor ; joule ; Jupiter Station ; Klaang ; Kota Bharu ; launch bay ; long range scan ; mahi - mahi ; Malaysia ; Malcolm Reed ' s spinster aunts ; Maureen ; medical file ; medical record ; megajoule ; mess hall ; microbe ; micron s ; microscope ; moon ; Mount McKinley ; nacelle ; Natalie ; oak ; ocean ; octopus ; omelette ; ordnance officer ; ; pancake ; peanut butter ; Pensacola ; phase cannon ; phase cannon port ; phase - modulated energy weapon ; phase modulator ; phase - pistol ; pineapple ; pizza ; plant ; plasma ; plasma leak ; plasma recoil ; plasma relay ; polarized hull plating ; pollen ; primary coil ; protein concentrate ; Qo ' noS ; ravioli ; ready room ; Reed family ; restaurant ; rocket ; Royal Navy ; salad ; San Francisco ; sausage ; scallop s ; scope ; sea bass ; " Shenandoah " ; spacedock ; structural integrity ; subspace amplifier ; subspace transceiver array ; suction cup ; survival training ; ; swordfish ; targeting scanner ; taste bud ; toast ; translator ; tropical grass ; visual sensor ; Vulcan ; Vulcan ( planet ) ; Vulcan High Command ; warp drive ; water ; waveguide ; welder