10 Incredible Times Star Trek Ensigns Saved The Day
9. NX To L-4 (Ensign Mayweather)
When Earth is brutally attacked by the Xindi in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode The Expanse, the Klingon Duras decides to use the moment to get a little revenge on Captain Archer. Duras has been holding a grudge ever since he was demoted following the pair’s encounter earlier in the second season. In the present episode, Duras first attacks when the NX-01 is arriving home, but he is fended off by other “Earth vessels”. He strikes again when Enterprise is on course for Vulcan but is readily fought off.
It is not until the ship reaches the thermobaric clouds which surround the Delphic Expanse that Ensign Mayweather’s extraordinary flying skills truly come into play to save the day. Those dastardly Klingons attack once more, but this time Enterprise's upgraded weapons (some fancy new photonic torpedoes) prove ineffective, as Duras has transferred his aft shields forward. The solution? Get Travis to perform a spectacular L-4 manoeuvre – at full impulse – which basically means flying the ship up and over the Klingons in a loop to arrive facing their unprotected stern. Lieutenant Reed then fires torpedoes, and the Klingons are expedited to Gre’thor.
This wasn't the first, or the last, time Ensign Mayweather saved the day at the helm of the pioneering warp five starship, but it sure was impressive.
"Nice going, Travis," indeed!