Malcolm Reed probably won't be too happy to see the MACOs on Enterprise next season, but don't expect the always-professional armoury officer to let it affect his work.

Speaking with StarTrek.com during UPN's Television Critics Association party, actor Dominic Keating (Malcolm Reed) jokingly referred to the new arrivals as "the younger, virile MACOs!".

"I don't want to paint myself into a corner too much early on about what Malcolm's reaction to them is, but don't get me wrong — there is some frisson there, there is a little tension," he said. "There's a good scene between me and Steven Culp, who plays Major Hayes. My instinct as an actor was to play it a bit rudely, but [director] Allan [Kroeker] came over and said, 'You know what? Don't give too many of your cards away just yet — there's a way to go with this'."

Keating's personal take on the situation is that the security officer isn't "particularly happy" with the additional military presence, who were brought aboard the NX-01 to help combat the Xindi threat. "His ego is allowing him to think that he's been passed over. But I think professionally he understands that they need to be there."

But could the stiff-upper-lipped Brit's heart be melted by one of these MACOs — perhaps a certain female officer by the name of McKenzie? Although an audition scene for "Anomaly" featuring Reed and McKenzie "had definite sexual tension", it was dropped in a later draft. But that doesn't mean Malcolm won't be seeing any action this season.

"There might be some mileage in Reed getting a love interest this year," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if that happens."

StarTrek.com's full report from the UPN's TCA press party, which also features comments from John Billingsley (Phlox) and Anthony Montgomery (Travis Mayweather) can be found here.

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