In �Dear Doctor,� an �Enterprise� episode set to air Jan. 30, Archer�s crew will pick up a ship from a pre-warp civilization, the Valakians, that years before encountered a warp-utilizing culture called �the Ferengi.� (T�Pol indicates she�s not not familiar with the folks from Ferenginar.) The Valakian astronauts have been traveling more than a year at sub-warp in hopes of encountering another warp-drive culture that might be able to help them conquer the disease that�s wiping out their planet (theirs was one of four Valakian ships on the same mission, and the only one to return).
When the Enterprise crew returns the astronauts to Valakis, they discover the planet is unusual in that it is home to two separate sentient species. When the Valakians ask Archer to share warp technology, Archer finds himself in the ironic position of denying the Valakians the same thing the Vulcans had long denied humans. The story is told in large part from the point of view of Dr. Phlox, who in this episode seems to launch a romance with Elizabeth Cutler (the hot ensign introduced in �Brave New World�).
Due to air during February sweeps is an "Enterprise" episode titled �Sleeping Dogs.� The title referes to a raptor-load of unconscious Klingons in orbit around a gas giant, apparently victims of an Orion biological weapon. After Enterprise crew members board in an effort to help, a female Klingon cook named Bu�kaH arrives in a scout ship and accuses Archer & Co. of raiding the vessel and infecting its crew. The episode will feature a return trip to the infamous �decon chamber� from the pilot, so we�ll get to see Hoshi join Trip in stripping down to her undies! Hoshi join Trip in stripping down to her undies! (emphasis mine)
I CAN DIE A HAPPY MAN!
.....just joking
Actually, its kind of cool. So the Federation "knew" about a mysterious race about the Ferengi for nearly two centuries before they actually bumped into them ... not a super big breach of canon: Federation expansion towards Ferenginar apparently gets blocked by the Klingon and Cardassians, so, I'm good with it.
[ November 23, 2001: Message edited by: The_Tom ]