Archanis IV Incident(2297)

Archanis IV was the inhabited fourth planet orbiting the primary Archanis. This star, located near to the Federation-Klingon border, was in the Archanis sector, in the Beta Quadrant. This is where the Second Known encounter with the Predator Hostile Alien Species happened.

In 2297, on the Planet Archanis IV the Federation Colony Angeles is suffering from both a sweltering heatwave and a vicious street war between Nausicaan and Chalnoth gangs, with Starfleet struggling to maintain order. At one shootout, Starfleet Officers Leona Cantrell and Danny Archuleta await the assistance of their boss, veteran Commander Mike Harrigan. Harrigan's aggressive tactics force the Chalnoth gang members to withdraw into a nearby building, which is then rocked by a series of explosions. Harrigan and his fellow officers proceed inside, only to find the Chalnoth have been mysteriously slaughtered. Harrigan follows the only survivor to the roof of the structure, but is forced to shoot the man in self-defence before he can question him. As reinforcements arrive, Harrigan catches sight of what appears to be the hazy silhouette of a large transparent man, but dismisses it as an effect of the heat.

Back at his precinct, Harrigan is introduced to Commander Peter Keyes, leader of a Starfleet task force investigating the Rival gangs, and is warned to stay out of his way. Harrigan is also introduced to a young, cocky officer who has been assigned to his team, Jerry "The Lone Ranger" Hudson. That night, Nausicaan gang members attack and murder Chalnoth leader Ranom Vige in his apartment, but are in turn slain by the Predator, which leaves only Vige's unarmed girlfriend alive. Arriving at the scene first, Harrigan and his team disobey orders and enter the building, observing one of the Predator's weapons stuck in an air-conditioner. They are interrupted by Keyes and his men, who threatens to have Harrigan eliminated if he continues to interfere in his investigation. Nevertheless, Harrigan arranges with Danny to return to the scene later for further investigation. Danny arrives first and retrieves the weapon they spotted earlier, but is killed by the Predator.

A devastated Harrigan vows to destroy Danny's killer at any cost. Secretly continuing his investigation, he learns from the city's chief pathologist that the weapon recovered from Vige apartment is made from a completely unknown element. Harrigan sets up a meeting with Nausicaan Leader Dubbed King Willie his real name being Cratar Wilning, hoping he may know who is behind the attacks. Wilning states that whoever is involved in the recent killings, they are not his men nor does he suspect it to be the Chalnoths. More confused than ever, Harrigan leaves — moments before the Predator attacks and beheads King Willie.

Leona suspects that the killer is toying with Harrigan. She and Jerry uncover information pointing to the city's slaughterhouse district, but on the way to meet Harrigan there they are caught up in another Predator attack on the Subway. Jerry is killed, while Leona is caught and overpowered by the creature. Harrigan arrives at the scene to discover Leona is still alive, apparently spared because she was pregnant. He sets off in pursuit of the Predator, following it to the surface and then across town in a Starfleet Hopper, only to be captured by Keyes' special team. Keyes finally reveals to Harrigan the true nature of the killer, and that he and his team have been trying to capture a Predator ever since an incident on another planet ten years previously. They now have a plan to capture the creature for study, equipping themselves with insulated clothing to mask them from the Predator's thermal vision and nitrogen sprayers to freeze it.

The operation begins in the slaughterhouse where the creature feeds. However, the Predator uses its helmet's alternative vision modes to spot the team's ultraviolet flashlights. As it begins to massacre Keyes' men, Harrigan escapes custody and arms himself to confront the Predator personally. During the battle, Keyes briefly comes to Harrigan's aid before the creature rallies itself and kills him. Harrigan flees to the rooftop where the battle continues, before moving through an apartment building and finally into the tunnels beneath the city, where Harrigan discovers the Predator's ship. The two engage in a final duel on board, which ends when Harrigan kills the Predator by slicing it open with its own weapon.

An exhausted Harrigan suddenly finds himself surrounded by several more Predators and resigns himself to his fate. Instead of attacking, however, the creatures carry away their dead clan-mate, while an Elder Predator gives Harrigan an antique flintlock pistol as a sign of respect. Harrigan escapes the ship just as it blasts off into space. Back on the surface, Harrigan is confronted by the remaining members of Keyes' team, who blame him for their failure to capture the Predator. However, they are forced to retreat when Colony Law Enforcement and Harrigan's Starfleet backup arrives, while Harrigan, holding the flintlock in his hand, comments that they will get another chance.