Stiff-posed and evil, the Counxil is ready to test its Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulatoooor. Meanwhile a debate rages in Command Center over "sensor glitch" or "secret base;" Archer opts for reconnaissance. NX-01 hides behind a moon while Reed and sharksuited Major Hayes join him down to a dark patch of woods adjoining a Xindi-sloth factory producing a versatile form of heavy water, here called "kemacite."

Some fence-phasering and they're in. Stinky almost blows cover but they beam a sample back to T'Pol who confirms the stuff's "sub-quantum imprint" matches the Florida bomb. Chief Sloth Gralik Dur strolls home (it would've been way cool had his house been all tree limbs and stuff - sigh) where Angry Archer confronts him. Drinking casually at gunpoint he denies building any weapon. Reed's eager to pass on peace but Archer isn't - good for him.

A recap of Xindi history describes a sixth avian species wiped out in a century-long Xivil War only a few generations ago - desperate Bugdis and Repdis blew up their homeworld (on purpose or not isn't clear). Degra and Reman Reptar arrive early for their kemacite; Gralik knows they'll come looking for him and that they do, using chilling "Seekers" - flying probes moving bloody fast. The landing party takes refuge in a secret cloaking cave; Archer risks allowing Gralik to return.

Trip studies the synaptic impulse maggot-slug weapon, all cool and Taelon-ish. Phlox determines that Delta radiation - what fried Chris Pike - kills the weapon-slug but Omicron radiation energizes it. Trip tries to test-fire the weapon and it overloads. He barely beams it off the ship, with a neat shot of it exploding outside the ship.

Archer'll be damned before killing innocents so he spares the sloths. Tagging a vial of kemacite, with an odd salute to Reed he dashes to plant it on Reptar's shuttle (why not just beam it in?). Degra answers Gralik's inquiry concerning "The Shipment" describing their self-defense against a "ruthless alien species." They take off and escape in an "energy portal," and Gralik's left to contemplate trusting strangers and betraying his species.

So the Great Warrior reignites a dormant Xivil War but makes a splendid new pal. When not slobbering mad Archer was quite captainy - his snappy "Speaking freely as well, Major?" was perfect. He gets the point - all Xindi are not the enemy. And I adore the brave Gralik, snarking to Reptar, "I'll miss the pleasure of your company," or calling Archer "apelike." Let's hope another shipment - and his reappearance - comes due soon.