Enterprise and enslave his crew. Kessick claims to know how to escape the mine, but asks for Archer's help in return for guiding the Starfleet officers. Archer reluctantly agrees, and Kessick leads him and Tucker through the mine's sewage removal system. However, the group is soon detected in a conduit, and the foreman floods the system with plasma in an effort to kill them. They narrowly escape being killed, but quickly fall into the hands of the mine's security forces. Meanwhile, Sub-Commander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) persuades Lieutenant Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating) to allow the newly assigned MACOs (Military Assault Command Operations) to attempt an extraction. Led by him, they perform remarkably well in combat, and manage to rescue Archer, Tucker, and Kessick. Enterprise then leaves orbit just as the warships arrive. Kessick dies, but not before providing coordinates for the Xindi homeworld. When the ship reaches this position, there is nothing but a 120-year-old field of space debris. Character Development "Vulcan Neuro-Pressure" becomes a routine Enterprise activity beginning with this episode and provides the structure for the ongoing development of the "Trip'Pol" (Trip + T'Pol) relationship, further sexualizing both actor Blalock and her character T'Pol as she appears topless alone in the same room with Trip. As noted previously, Trip can't sleep because he is haunted by his sister's death. Quantum anomalies from The Expanse (which will be explored throughout Season 3 in general and in the next episode in particular) are disturbing T'Pol's ability to sleep as well. Vulcan Neuro-Pressure (VNP) can release mental stresses and allow sleep probability to increase. Because of these weaknesses, the two agree to "treat" each other. Production The episode followed up on the plot introduced in the final instalment of the second season in which a probe from an unknown alien species attacks Earth. A number of new sets and costumes were required, with preparations beginning for some departments up to three weeks before filming began. One change which was made was a new outfit for T'Pol, with costume tests taking place a week in advance of filming. The redesign was due to studio executives wanting the show to appeal more to the 18–49 male demographic. The production team looked to emulate the mid-series boost that the introduction of Seven of Nine provided on Star Trek: Voyager. Kate O'Hara of New York Magazine later chided in reference to the change, "Women of the