| CONTRIBUTE |
DESERT CROSSING
“Decisions to get involved in the conflicts of other worlds
should be left to governments not Starship Captains.” –
T’Pol
Episode: 1.24 Original Airdate: 05/08/2002
Mission Date: February 12, 2152
“Decisions to get involved in the conflicts of other worlds
should be left to governments not Starship Captains.” –
T’Pol
Episode: 1.24 Original Airdate: 05/08/2002
Mission Date: February 12, 2152
| SEASON 1 |
SYNOPSIS
After helping an alien named Zobral repair his ship, Archer and Trip are invited to dine on his desert planet as
thanks for their help. But once they arrive, Archer quickly realizes that the invitation was motivated by more than
simple hospitality. They have landed in a war zone, with a perilous trek across the desert as their only means to
safety. With Archer and Trip lost on the planets surface, T'Pol must mount a rescue while attempting to keep
Starfleet out of the war.
EPISODE DATA ANALYSIS
Alien Species: Teracaq, Torathans
Stellar Phenomenon: Torath
Technology Encountered: Impulse Manifold, Torathan Shuttle
Historical Facts:
Geskana, the game that Archer and Trip play with Zobral and his men, is almost identical to the game Lacrosse.
Lacrosse was invented by Native Canadians, and together with hockey, is one of two official sports of Canada.
Trip reveals that the warp reactor has eight major components. Unfortunately, it is never explained what those
components are since he was much more interested in discussing a chicken at the time.
This episode also marks the first time we see Starfleet’s desert gear, which consists of tan colored cargo pants
and a light zippered shirt. Starfleet training includes desert survival.
The episode also shows the shuttlepod’s aft passenger bench equipment stores again.
The stun setting on a phase pistol can be used to start a fire.
To further establish the continuity of the new series, Archer makes several quick reference to the events in
previous episodes. He also mentions the alien attackers in “Silent Enemy” and the prisoner escape in
“Detained” specifically.
Adding yet another item to Trip’s list of favorite foods, we hear him mention cheery flavored snow cones as
something else he likes to eat.
Zobral’s people created a wine called Yalasat from an indigenous cactus that grows on their planet. They also
eat a meat called teracaq which they roast. Even though it is never explained in the episode, teracaq may be the
horned goat-like creatures we see being herded by the Torothans.
Production Facts:
This episode marks the beginning of a tradition for the new series. Each year the producers invite officers from
the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise to appear as extras on the show. Robert Pickering, Timothy Whittington and
Sara Elizabeth Pizzo were the first to do so. During their visit, the officers presented a plaque to the cast and crew
for their support of the U.S.S. Enterprise during the war on terrorism.
The game of "Geography" that Archer plays with Trip to keep him awake was originally written for the episode
“Fight or Flight”. The original dialog was meant for Archer and Mayweather while they walked down a corridor.
Clancy Brown, who plays Zobral, shouldn’t be a stranger to genre fans. He played the gruff but heroic John
Danziger in the short lived sci-fi series Earth 2 and recently as Brother Crowe in the fantasy series Carnivale. He
has also appeared on ER, The Practice and Lost. But most people recognize his distinctive voice more so than
his face. Brown has voiced several popular cartoon characters such as Lex Luther in the animated Superman
series and his most popular, Mr. Krabs, in Sponge Bob Square Pants. He has also been heard in Gargoyles,
Batman, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Ben 10.
Novelist, playwright and occasional actor, Charles Dennis, plays the Torothan governor, Trelit. Dennis has
appeared once before on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Commander Sunad in the episode
“Transfigurations”.
Zobral’s compound was constructed from the hexagonal structural trusses that were created for the Tandaran
detention center in “Detained”.
It is interesting to note that Zobral’s small ship seen in the launch bay was entirely computer generated and
seamlessly composited into the live action.
After helping an alien named Zobral repair his ship, Archer and Trip are invited to dine on his desert planet as
thanks for their help. But once they arrive, Archer quickly realizes that the invitation was motivated by more than
simple hospitality. They have landed in a war zone, with a perilous trek across the desert as their only means to
safety. With Archer and Trip lost on the planets surface, T'Pol must mount a rescue while attempting to keep
Starfleet out of the war.
EPISODE DATA ANALYSIS
Alien Species: Teracaq, Torathans
Stellar Phenomenon: Torath
Technology Encountered: Impulse Manifold, Torathan Shuttle
Historical Facts:
Geskana, the game that Archer and Trip play with Zobral and his men, is almost identical to the game Lacrosse.
Lacrosse was invented by Native Canadians, and together with hockey, is one of two official sports of Canada.
Trip reveals that the warp reactor has eight major components. Unfortunately, it is never explained what those
components are since he was much more interested in discussing a chicken at the time.
This episode also marks the first time we see Starfleet’s desert gear, which consists of tan colored cargo pants
and a light zippered shirt. Starfleet training includes desert survival.
The episode also shows the shuttlepod’s aft passenger bench equipment stores again.
The stun setting on a phase pistol can be used to start a fire.
To further establish the continuity of the new series, Archer makes several quick reference to the events in
previous episodes. He also mentions the alien attackers in “Silent Enemy” and the prisoner escape in
“Detained” specifically.
Adding yet another item to Trip’s list of favorite foods, we hear him mention cheery flavored snow cones as
something else he likes to eat.
Zobral’s people created a wine called Yalasat from an indigenous cactus that grows on their planet. They also
eat a meat called teracaq which they roast. Even though it is never explained in the episode, teracaq may be the
horned goat-like creatures we see being herded by the Torothans.
Production Facts:
This episode marks the beginning of a tradition for the new series. Each year the producers invite officers from
the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise to appear as extras on the show. Robert Pickering, Timothy Whittington and
Sara Elizabeth Pizzo were the first to do so. During their visit, the officers presented a plaque to the cast and crew
for their support of the U.S.S. Enterprise during the war on terrorism.
The game of "Geography" that Archer plays with Trip to keep him awake was originally written for the episode
“Fight or Flight”. The original dialog was meant for Archer and Mayweather while they walked down a corridor.
Clancy Brown, who plays Zobral, shouldn’t be a stranger to genre fans. He played the gruff but heroic John
Danziger in the short lived sci-fi series Earth 2 and recently as Brother Crowe in the fantasy series Carnivale. He
has also appeared on ER, The Practice and Lost. But most people recognize his distinctive voice more so than
his face. Brown has voiced several popular cartoon characters such as Lex Luther in the animated Superman
series and his most popular, Mr. Krabs, in Sponge Bob Square Pants. He has also been heard in Gargoyles,
Batman, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Ben 10.
Novelist, playwright and occasional actor, Charles Dennis, plays the Torothan governor, Trelit. Dennis has
appeared once before on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Commander Sunad in the episode
“Transfigurations”.
Zobral’s compound was constructed from the hexagonal structural trusses that were created for the Tandaran
detention center in “Detained”.
It is interesting to note that Zobral’s small ship seen in the launch bay was entirely computer generated and
seamlessly composited into the live action.
Teleplay By: Andre Bormanis
Story By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga & Andre Bormanis
Directed By: David Straiton
GUEST CAST
Clancy Brown Zobral
Charles Dennis Trelit
Brandon Karrer Alien Man
Story By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga & Andre Bormanis
Directed By: David Straiton
GUEST CAST
Clancy Brown Zobral
Charles Dennis Trelit
Brandon Karrer Alien Man
| MAIN PAGE |
| SEASON 1 |
| APPENDIX |
| SEASON 2 |
| SEASON 3 |
| SEASON 4 |