"Affliction" is the title of a Star Trek: Enterprise television episode from season four.

The Enterprise returns to Earth to take part in the maiden launch of the newest NX class ship, Columbia, captained by Erika Hernandez. Shortly after taking shore leave with the others, Phlox is kidnapped and taken to a secret Klingon research facility. The Klingon Empire needs Phlox's help to stop a disease that is the greatest threat that the Klingon race has ever faced. It is stated that the virus is the worst threat to the Klingon Empire since the Hur'q invasion. Archer sets out to find Phlox with few clues to go on, but is obstructed by Malcolm Reed. Meanwhile, Trip settles into his new life as Columbias chief engineer.

Links to later episodes

The episode is part of the last ever television season of Star Trek, but contrasts with episodes which had been made earlier but were set in later centuries.

• Dr. Janice Lester, in Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Turnabout Intruder", claimed that women could not become captains in Starfleet, despite the female captain featured in "Affliction". However, Lester's mental condition was unstable, and she may have rationalized her inability to command a starship by telling herself her gender was the issue.

• In DS9's "Trials and Tribble-ations", when trying to figure out why the Klingons of the Original Series era had smooth heads, O'Brien suggested genetic engineering and Bashir assumed a viral mutation. This episode reveals that both were correct.

Casting

Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the animated show Family Guy (2003-present), made a guest appearance in this episode as Ensign Rivers.

John Schuck, better known for his role as the Klingon Ambassador in the fourth and sixth Star Trek movies, also appears in this episode as the Klingon doctor Antaak.

External links

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