Andorian episodes rock! After recapping the dimly-lit Counxil and their planet-buster, fan favorite Commander Shran is called to his spartan bridge. His subordinate grows apprehensive in The Expanse as they search for the pink-skins; he would "expect that from a Vulcan." From data backups T'Pol has pieced a map so Travis can pilot the anomaly slalom. A big one cripples the ship but luckily Shran tractors them away; in an inventive viewscreen angle he greets Archer.

Archer doesn't trust the Andorians but he does trust Shran, who says he volunteered to come help, toasting Andorian ale and hinting at alliances. He offers his tactical officer Talas to help Reed; they banter back and forth about coffee and family problems (if not who's wearing brighter lipstick). She's reluctant to deal with his primitive systems, as signs of superior Andorian technology are found throughout: tractor beams, considerably faster ships, force-field containment, long range sensors, real time communication all the way back home, even variable compression nozzles for the antimatter injectors. While she nostalgically helps him expedite repairs, she also disables the sensors under his nose. (Call it a wash. )

They trace the Terran-busting kemacite to a system where four Xindi vessels attend the prototype, too many for a frontal attack. Shran interferes with the firing exercise, spontaneously lying about looking for "Archerite." Though "the Andorian Mining Consortium runs from no one!" they withdraw hoping to spy on the weapon; Shran is surprised when Archer wants to take it. It fails spectacularly as Gralik's sabotage succeeds. Enterprise can't safely carry the weapon but Shran (secretly plotting with an Andorian General) offers his ship as transport; after a spat Archer comes aboard. NX-01 distracts the Xindi ships as Shran swoops in to tractor it into his cargo bay. Then he orders a return home, as two centuries of border dispute have twisted the Andorian concept of "help" and Archer's been tricked! He does learn they bleed blue when hit in the mouth though.

Shran (mercifully I suppose) shpod-tosses Archer overboard where NX-01 finds him. They approach with the awesomely absurd challenge, "I think you're going to give it to us willingly." They intercepted the activation codes and Archer's eager to detonate the thing rather than lose it. In the explosion Shran escapes barely with his life and his ship, defeated because he ignored his own advice and underestimated the pink-skins. Later Hoshi and T'Pol intercept encrypted Andorian scans of the prototype - a good day for Enterprise, and another homerun for the series.