| CONTRIBUTE |
CIVILIZATION
“These people are suffering from a lot worse than
cultural contamination.” – Jonathan Archer
Episode: 1.9 Original Airdate: 11/14/2001
Mission Date: July 31, 2151
“These people are suffering from a lot worse than
cultural contamination.” – Jonathan Archer
Episode: 1.9 Original Airdate: 11/14/2001
Mission Date: July 31, 2151
| SEASON 1 |
SYNOPSIS
Captain Archer and crew discover their first pre-industrial civilization and decide to investigate. But upon further
examination, they find the society has been infiltrated by an alien race with advanced technology. Even though
these mysterious aliens have been using it in secret, it is responsible for a terrible illness affecting the
indigenous population. Archer must rely on a local apothecary to help him stop the contamination.
EPISODE DATA ANALYSIS
Alien Species: Akaali, Malurian, Tellarites
Stellar Phenomenon: Akaal, Malurian System
Technology Encountered: Acoustic Relay, Anti-Matter Reactor, Force Field
Historical Facts:
After reaching the Akaalian world, Archer orders Mayweather to put the ship in orbit at 500 kilometers. One would
assume this a standard low orbit. A medium or standard orbit for a starship would most likely be around 2,000 to
10,000 kilometers, and a high orbit above 20,000. Of course, orbital heights would vary depending on the size of
the planetary body. For a Minshara-Class planet, these figures would change very little.
T’Pol makes several statements explaining Vulcan first contact protocol. Even though Archer resists at first, many
of those procedures will be incorporated later into Starfleet protocols.
Garos states there are over 500 million Akaali on the planet.
Archer comments that Starfleet has the technical ability to explore planets and civilizations using probes. This is
consistent with what we know from the other series in the franchise, particularly Earth’s ill-fated Nomad mission.
The NX-01 is equipped with visual devices capable of taking clear video and images of something as small as a
person face. The ship also has the ability to “listen in” on something as small as a person’s voice from orbit.
The Enterprise is equipped with a quartermaster capable of creating indigenous clothing for Away Teams if
needed. How the clothing is created, either by hand sewing or some sort of primitive replication, is never
explained. I would expect with the their level of technology, the quartermaster and their staff would be up all night
sewing four sets of Akaali costumes for the team to wear.
The Malurians, a warp capable reptilian species, was first mentioned in the Star Trek: The Original Series
episode “The Changling”. The race inhabited four planets in their system before the Nomad probe destroyed all
four billion of them in 2267.
Tetracyanate 6-2-2 is a synthetic compound used as an industrial lubricant that is toxic even in small quantities
to most lifeforms.
The mineral the Malurians are mining is veridium, which is used to manufacture explosives and introduced in
the Star Trek: Voyager episode, “Riddles”.
We also learn that anti-matter reactors create neutrino emissions and the Enterprise’s sensors and tricorders
can detect them.
This episode has Mr. Tucker making his second reference to a crewman named Billy in engineering.
Production Facts:
Wade Williams, who plays Garos in this episode, previously starred on the Star Trek: Voyager episode “One” as
Trajis Lo-Tarik.
It is interesting to note that the reveal of the Malurian's true appearance is reminiscent of another classic science
fiction television show, V. Unlike the reptilian species featured in that series, we are fortunate enough not to have
seen this race’s possible rodent-centric eating habits.
The production’s crafty set recycling shows up several times in this episode. The Malurian anti-matter reactor is
another redress of the Enterprise D’s plasma injector and features several modern outdoor lighting posts as
outer pods. We also see the sentient computer from the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Think Tank” turned upside
down and used as a piece of mining equipment. And if you look closely at the mining operations control room
you will find a couple of the lighted structural arches from the Defiant’s corridors surrounding the doorways.
Captain Archer and crew discover their first pre-industrial civilization and decide to investigate. But upon further
examination, they find the society has been infiltrated by an alien race with advanced technology. Even though
these mysterious aliens have been using it in secret, it is responsible for a terrible illness affecting the
indigenous population. Archer must rely on a local apothecary to help him stop the contamination.
EPISODE DATA ANALYSIS
Alien Species: Akaali, Malurian, Tellarites
Stellar Phenomenon: Akaal, Malurian System
Technology Encountered: Acoustic Relay, Anti-Matter Reactor, Force Field
Historical Facts:
After reaching the Akaalian world, Archer orders Mayweather to put the ship in orbit at 500 kilometers. One would
assume this a standard low orbit. A medium or standard orbit for a starship would most likely be around 2,000 to
10,000 kilometers, and a high orbit above 20,000. Of course, orbital heights would vary depending on the size of
the planetary body. For a Minshara-Class planet, these figures would change very little.
T’Pol makes several statements explaining Vulcan first contact protocol. Even though Archer resists at first, many
of those procedures will be incorporated later into Starfleet protocols.
Garos states there are over 500 million Akaali on the planet.
Archer comments that Starfleet has the technical ability to explore planets and civilizations using probes. This is
consistent with what we know from the other series in the franchise, particularly Earth’s ill-fated Nomad mission.
The NX-01 is equipped with visual devices capable of taking clear video and images of something as small as a
person face. The ship also has the ability to “listen in” on something as small as a person’s voice from orbit.
The Enterprise is equipped with a quartermaster capable of creating indigenous clothing for Away Teams if
needed. How the clothing is created, either by hand sewing or some sort of primitive replication, is never
explained. I would expect with the their level of technology, the quartermaster and their staff would be up all night
sewing four sets of Akaali costumes for the team to wear.
The Malurians, a warp capable reptilian species, was first mentioned in the Star Trek: The Original Series
episode “The Changling”. The race inhabited four planets in their system before the Nomad probe destroyed all
four billion of them in 2267.
Tetracyanate 6-2-2 is a synthetic compound used as an industrial lubricant that is toxic even in small quantities
to most lifeforms.
The mineral the Malurians are mining is veridium, which is used to manufacture explosives and introduced in
the Star Trek: Voyager episode, “Riddles”.
We also learn that anti-matter reactors create neutrino emissions and the Enterprise’s sensors and tricorders
can detect them.
This episode has Mr. Tucker making his second reference to a crewman named Billy in engineering.
Production Facts:
Wade Williams, who plays Garos in this episode, previously starred on the Star Trek: Voyager episode “One” as
Trajis Lo-Tarik.
It is interesting to note that the reveal of the Malurian's true appearance is reminiscent of another classic science
fiction television show, V. Unlike the reptilian species featured in that series, we are fortunate enough not to have
seen this race’s possible rodent-centric eating habits.
The production’s crafty set recycling shows up several times in this episode. The Malurian anti-matter reactor is
another redress of the Enterprise D’s plasma injector and features several modern outdoor lighting posts as
outer pods. We also see the sentient computer from the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Think Tank” turned upside
down and used as a piece of mining equipment. And if you look closely at the mining operations control room
you will find a couple of the lighted structural arches from the Defiant’s corridors surrounding the doorways.
Written By: Phyllis Strong & Mike Sussman
Directed By: Mike Vejar
GUEST CAST
Charlie Brewer Alien/Akaali #1
Diane DiLascio Riann
Wade Andrew Williams Garos
Directed By: Mike Vejar
GUEST CAST
Charlie Brewer Alien/Akaali #1
Diane DiLascio Riann
Wade Andrew Williams Garos
| MAIN PAGE |
| SEASON 1 |
| APPENDIX |
| SEASON 2 |
| SEASON 3 |
| SEASON 4 |