SPOILER ALERT! In a show picking up on the events of "Proving Ground" (related story), guest actors Randy Oglesby and John Drennen didn't skip a beat as they returned immediately to their Xindi-Primate personae for the subsequent episode, the 14th of the season.

The story is called "Stratagem," written by Mike Sussman from a story by Terry Matalas, and directed by Mike Vejar. Having located the site where the Xindi are testing their new prototype weapon (in the previous segment), Enterprise now manages to capture Degra and his assistants. Archer then embarks on an elaborate scheme to dupe Degra into revealing the location of the actual under-construction Earthbound weapon.

Oglesby is "Degra," of the human-like race of Xindi (previously referred to as "Xindi-Humanoids" but now established as "Xindi-Primates"). He was introduced in the first episode of the season as the one designing the weapon the Council is so eager to deploy, and has appeared several times since. In "Proving Ground," Drennen is introduced as "Degra's Assistant," but now he has a name: "Thalen."

This was a relatively simple shoot, commencing on Monday, November 10, and running the usual seven days until Tuesday the 18th. The first day, the swing set representing Degra's Ship was immediately put back in action from the week before. The bulk of the schedule involved scenes exclusively between Oglesby and Scott Bakula, mostly in a set piece representing a shuttle of non-specific alien design — that went on for three full days and part of a fourth. There were some interesting makeup effects utilized, including one that will be enhanced optically in post-production (involving a worm crawling around under Degra's skin).

The other cast members, including Drennen, got to work again after that, for scenes in standard ship sets including Sickbay, the Brig, Cargo Bay, Engineering, the Command Center, and of course, the Bridge and adjacent Situation Room. During the three-plus days in the Alien Shuttle, some of that footage was shot specifically to run on some of the monitors in the Command Center on the last day of the schedule. As usual, the art department produced some very impressive video graphics for the other monitors to demonstrate key plot points. These visuals were implemented by Mike Okuda and Denise Okuda. For warping stars and other astronomical effects seen in viewports and on viewscreens, Mitch Suskin will oversee creation and compositing of those visuals in post.

Vejar is a seasoned Trek director whose last effort, "Carpenter Street," will air this Wednesday. "Stratagem" is his third Enterprise episode of the season, and eighth overall. This is the second writing credit for production associate Terry Matalas — he also contributed to "Impulse." Co-producer Sussman previously scripted the very well reviewed "Twilight," along with "Anomaly" and many others since joining the staff during Star Trek: Voyager.

"Stratagem" is tentatively set to air February 4 on UPN. Currently a repeat episode is scheduled for January 28. More information about the new show can be found at its Episode Detail page.

Please note: All production, story and scheduling information is subject to change.