See Also: 'Proving Ground' Episode Guide

Dubious ally Shran and potential enemy Degra both return to Star Trek: Enterprise in the upcoming "Proving Ground", when the Andorians make an unexpected appearance in the Expanse.

StarTrek.com has released the official synopsis of the episode, which is currently scheduled to air on January 21:

An Andorian ship led by Commander Shran arrives in the Delphic Expanse to help Enterprise hone in on the Xindi superweapon.

"Proving Ground" was written by Chris Black, most recently of "The Shipment", and is helmed by longtime Trek director David Livingston, who directed "Impulse" earlier this season and eight other episodes over Enterprise's run.

The episode's guest cast includes the following actors:

• Jeffrey Combs as Shran
• Randy Oglesby as Degra
• Scott MacDonald as Xindi Reptilian
• Tucker Smallwood as Xindi Humanoid
• Rick Worthy as Xindi Sloth
• Molly Brink as Talas
• Ted Sutton as Andorian General
• Josh Drennen as Degra's Assistant

Combs is well-known to fans not only for his recurring role on Enterprise but as both the Vorta Weyoun and the Ferengi Brunt on Deep Space Nine. He is a perennial favorite as Herbert West in the Re-Animator films as well.

Production on "Proving Ground" began on Thursday, October 30th and took place over seven days. Combs filmed each day of the shoot for this thirteenth episode of the season, marking the mid-point for Enterprise's year.

In addition to scenes on the NX-01 using the sets for the Bridge, Captain's Mess, Command Center and Ready Room, Shran appeared on his own ship, the first time an Andorian bridge and ready room will be revealed.

Oglesby, who appeared in the season premiere "The Xindi" and several other episodes this season, has appeared previously on Enterprise as Trena'L in "Unexpected" and in multiple guest spots on Voyager and Deep Space Nine.

Smallwood as another Xindi-Humanoid, MacDonald as a Xindi-Reptilian and Worthy as a Xindi-Sloth all reprise their earlier roles as members of the Xindi Council.

Brink, a newcomer to Enterprise, plays an Andorian who forms "an uneasy collaboration" with Malcolm Reed.

The full production report can be found here at StarTrek.com.

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