- [Archer has been asked to write the preface of his father's biography]
- Captain Jonathan Archer: They only asked for a page. How am I supposed to sum up my father's life in a page? It would've been easier if they'd asked me to write the book.
- Dr. Phlox: How are you feeling?
- Ensign Travis Mayweather: A little tired. But the headache's gone. What'd you do?
- Dr. Phlox: Very little, fortunately.
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: I know you don't think this chair is important, but you're wrong. What's the most critical component on this ship? The main computer? The warp reactor? Uh-uh. It's the crew! And the most important member of the crew is the Captain. He makes life and death decisions every day, and the last thing he needs to be thinking in a critical situation is "Gee, I wish this chair wasn't such a pain in the ass!"
- [Reed has given Tucker two options for his new alert signal]
- Lieutenant Malcolm Reed: Which do you prefer?
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: For what?
- Lieutenant Malcolm Reed: A tactical alert!
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: They both sound like a bag full of cats.
- [Archer reads to Tucker the first lines of his preface]
- Captain Jonathan Archer: What do you think?
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: Sounds good.
- Captain Jonathan Archer: Let me read you the rest.
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: I really need to get to work on this.
- Captain Jonathan Archer: It's just a few more pages.
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: How many more?
- Captain Jonathan Archer: Nineteen.
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: *Nine-teen*? Are you writin' the preface or the book?
- Captain Jonathan Archer: I've got a lot to say.
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: No kiddin'.
- Captain Jonathan Archer: What's that supposed to mean?
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: If I may, sir, it's a little long-winded.
- Captain Jonathan Archer: You're lucky you're a decent engineer; because you obviously don't know anything about writing!
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: I'm not the only one.
- [Reed is searching for a name for his security protocol, while Tucker is working on a design for Archer's chair]
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: Do you think a cup-holder's too much?
- Lieutenant Malcolm Reed: I beg your pardon?
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: For the Captain's chair. He just wanted the seat adjusted, but I figured, as long as I'm working on it...
- Lieutenant Malcolm Reed: Just what the Captain needs in a crisis - a place to rest his beverage.
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: I'm also upgrading the status displays. He'll be able to access tactical data from the armrest.
- Lieutenant Malcolm Reed: If you really want to improve tactical readiness, why don't you help me with this protocol?
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: I'm a little busy right now, Malcolm.
- Lieutenant Malcolm Reed: It's a chair!
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: It's the Captain's chair! It's just as important as your... Reed alert.
- Lieutenant Malcolm Reed: 'Reed alert' - that's not bad...
- Dr. Phlox: [on possible causes for Mayweather's headache] It could be as innocuous as muscular tension. On the other hand... Terrellian plague starts out with a simple headache. And then all manner of nasty things begin to happen...
- [Sato is preparing the meal for an impatient crew]
- Ensign Hoshi Sato: That is a very complex recipe. I will not serve it till it's just right. My family's reputation is at stake!
- [Tucker deposits the sensor interface T'Pol has requested for her research, and turns to leave]
- Sub-Commander T'Pol: I'll need your assistance with this.
- Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker III: Weren't you listening to me? I don't have time to cater to your whims. You want to get your name immortalized in the Vulcan database? Get someone else to help you do it.
- [first lines]
- Sub-Commander T'Pol: Science Officer's log, August 14th, 2152 - Enterprise remains on course for the trinary system. I've transmitted a distress call, but the nearest Vulcan ship is more than nine days away. By the time they arrive, they may only find debris, if that. Even if Enterprise makes it past the black hole without being destroyed, it seems likely the crew won't survive.