I like being the first at things. I wanted to be the first to open a Web site, but I was off by like 10 years or so. I wanted to be the first to buy out Time-Warner using an upstart online company, but Steve Case beat me to the punch.

Heck, I would've settled being the first captain of the Starship Enterprise, but even that dream was stolen by one Scott Bakula.

So, I guess I'll just settle on being the first to write a review for the first episode of "Enterprise" ... the episode: "Broken Bow."

Now, before I begin, I have to give you the usual warnings. First of all, this review will contain spoilers regarding the first episode of the new UPN series. If you don't want to have the story ruined (I won't give away the ending, however), I suggest you visit one of the other great headlines at Airlock Alpha by clicking here. Also, this is a script that was not obtained through official means, however, they were legal. We did not break into anything to receive them. Since they aren't official, there's a small chance that there could be some inaccuracies, but the script checks out with our usual sources. However, treat the subject material of this review like you would any other rumor. And remember that all the script information, story, characters, etc., are under copyright of Paramount Pictures. Airlock Alpha absolutely claims no ownership over the property, however the review is under copyright by Michael Hinman and Airlock Alpha.

Broken Bow -- Written by Brannon Braga and Rick Berman

I remember when I watched "Encounter At Farpoint," the pilot episode for "Star Trek: The Next Generation." I was just 11 years old, and I was amazed by every second of that show -- so amazed, that I think I watched Farpoint Station transform into a huge jellyfish 100 times before they finally showed Episode No. 3.

Hey, what do you expect? I was just 11. I watched "Star Trek" after "G.I. Joe" and "The Transformers."

But I love the Next Generation, as much as I love the Original Series. I mean, who can beat that?

Well, "Enterprise" might just do it.

I received an alleged May 1 draft of the script for "Broken Bow," the "Enterprise" pilot. Set some 100 years before Kirk and the Enterprise NCC-1701, and about 100 years after the crew of the Enterprise-E helped Zefram Cochrane make his first warp flight in the 1996 movie "Star Trek: First Contact," the new series brings us a new captain -- Jonathan Archer, played by Scott Bakula of "Quantum Leap" fame -- and a new crew, on a sleek "new" ship that is more reminiscent of the main vehicle used in "The Hunt For Red October" rather than "Star Trek: Insurrection."

The Vulcans have been working with humans for nearly a century after they discovered warp drive, but using their own form of the Prime Directive, the Vulcans have become mere observers rather than a species willing to share their technology.

This has created quite a bit of resentment from a lot of the Terrans in the newly-formed Starfleet, including Archer. It seems like the first mission of the ship his father built -- the Enterprise -- would never get off the ground, that is until a Klingon crash lands in a farm in the town of Broken Bow, hence the name of the pilot.

One of the first classic lines of this new series has to be when the Klingon is brought in to Starfleet Medical, severely injured and on life support. Archer has been called in, and he is seeing the species for the very first time.

Outside the Klingon's surgery bay, Archer meets the brass of Starfleet. Adm. Forest acknowledges the captain confirming that he knows everyone that is in the room with them. "Not everyone," Archer says, looking toward Klaang.

"He's a -Kling-ot-," Adm. Leonard says to Archer. Tos, a Vulcan attache, corrects him, saying he is a -Klingon-.

"Where'd he come from?" Archer asks.

"Oklahoma," is the dry response from Commander Williams.

One of the things that was lacking in the later episodes of "Star Trek: Voyager," the predecessor to "Enterprise," was the kind of conflict found in the syndicated "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." Voyager had every opportunity to have that conflict, especially with Maquis and Federation officers mixed together in a cramped environment, but the most conflict we ever got was manufactured disputes that shoved morals down our throats.

Hopefully those situations won't be wasted in "Enterprise," and if the initial episode is any indicator, there will be plenty of drama found in the cast -- especially with Archer and Sub-Commander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock). We see that conflict right away from their first discussion on board the Enterprise.

"While you may not share our enthusiam about this mission, I expect you to follow our rules ... what's said in this room and out on that bridge is classified ... privileged information," Archer tells T'Pol. "I don't want every word I say being picked apart the next day by the Vulcan High Command."

"My reason for being here is not espionage. My superiors simply asked me to assist you."

"Your superiors don't think we can flush a toilet without one of you to 'assist' us."

"I didn't request this assignment, Captain," T'Pol shoots back. "And you can be certain that when the mission's over, I'll be as pleased to leave this ship as you'll be to have me go."

And of course, the fun doesn't end there.

"You've lost the Klingon. Your mission is over," T'Pol says, trying to get Archer to return to Earth.

"I didn't lose the Klingon ... he was taken. And I'm going to find out who took him," he says.

"How do you plan to do that? Space is very big, Captain ... a shadow on your sensors won't help you find them. This is a foolish mission."

A few seconds later, inside his Ready Room, Archer lays it on hard to T'Pol.

"I'm not interested in what you think about this mission. So take your Vulcan cynicism and bury it along with your repressed emotions."

"Your reaction to this situation is a perfect example of why your species should remain in its own star system," T'Pol responds.

"I've been listening to you Vulcans tell us what not to do all my life. I watched my father work his ass off while you scientists held back just enough information to keep him from succeeding," Archer said. "He deserved to see that launch. You may have life spans of 200 years, we don't."

I am really impressed with the storyline that we get, and I especially love these new villains, the Suliban. They are like a little bit of Changeling and Spider-Man all rolled up into one. These little buggers can climb across ceilings, and even change their appearance like a chameleon. Sarin, the woman Archer finds on Rigel Ten, proves a lot of that to us when she turns from a beautiful woman into one of the scaly-skin creatures. And while some Web site writers have said the cross-temporal leadership is a bit hokey, I like the idea. The aliens are not known, and there is a good chance they could be more than meets the eye -- quite possibly, an alien race we are familiar with from other Modern Trek series, and trying to figure that out throughout the course of the series will be great fun!

"Broken Bow" is complete with action, a strong setup story, and conflict -- lots of conflict. But it also has good characters, most especially Hoshi Sato, played by Linda Park.

She is the linguist on the ship, filling a role that has not been used in any of the previous incarnations of "Star Trek." While we could draw comparisons of her to, say, Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) or Harry Kim (Garrett Wang), she is not filling any position we're familiar with. And without a strong universal translator, her abilities to pick up foreign languages will be very beneficial to the crew.

And, like Capt. Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), she is a strong woman -- yet, she also can be soft and friendly without it appearing forced, especially seen when Archer is trying to recruit her on Earth, and pulling her away from her linguistics classes.

"There's two more weeks before exams. It's impossible for me to leave now," Sato says.

"You've got to have someone who can cover for you," Archer slips in.

"If there was anyone else who could do what I do, you wouldn't be so eager to have me on your space ship."

"Hoshi ..." Archer pleads.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I owe it to these kids."

"I could order you."

"I'm on leave from Starfleet, remember? You'd have to forcibly recall me, which would require a reprimand which would disqualify me from serving on an active vessel."

"I need someone with your ear."

"And you'll have her ... in three weeks."

There is a lot of information in this episode -- some of it that would seem obvious to regular Trekkers, but required for those who aren't familiar with the franchise and want to give it a try. We learn that the Klingons are warriors, that Vulcans are logical and emotionless, that warp is a measurement for the speed of light, even that starship bridges are lacking a basic need that would make Ralph Nader cringe -- seatbelts. But it isn't shoved down our throat, nor are these characters backgrounds paraded in front of us like you see in most television pilots. We only get bits and pieces of these characters, leaving the rest of them good mysteries that can be explored in later episodes.

It's hard to tell how far we will be able to go without making a canon violation, and yes, even though James T. Kirk (William Shatner) hasn't even been born yet during this new series, the new "Enterprise" is just as bound to "Star Trek" canon as any other series, and there are even more opportunities to violate it than all the times Rick Berman and company found to do it in Voyager.

And will there simply be enough episodes to sustain at least seven years? How long will it be before we get to a "been there, done that" scenario? Will the Suliban be as intriguing as the Romulans in the Original Series, the Borg in Next Generation, or the Dominion in Deep Space Nine ... or will they be as uninspiring as the Kazon-Ogla in Voyager?

Those are questions that are just going to take some serious time to answer. But in the meantime, when "Enterprise" debuts on UPN Sept. 26, I definitely would recommend you tune in. The pilot is promising, and if Brannon Braga and Berman can make the commitment to maintain that high level of quality throughout the rest of the series' run, "Star Trek" may finally have another winner after a very long drought.

"I was beginning to think you understood why we have to do this alone," Archer tells T'Pol.

"You'll have other opportunities to demonstrate your ... independence," she says. "You both could be killed."

"Am I sensing concern? Last time I checked, that was considered an emotion."

"If anything happens to either of you, the Vulcan High Command will hold me responsible."

And I think those words sum it up in the perspective of "Star Trek" fans to those people who are in charge of the new show. Don't let this new series prove critics right that Paramount is beating a dead horse with this endeavour. Don't sell out for skin, don't sell out for dumbed-down, "Hercules"-style standalone plot stories.

In fact, sit down right now. All of you, including you, too, Mr. Berman. Turn on the Sci-Fi Channel, and just start watching the Original Star Trek. Then switch over to TNN, and pay close attention to Seasons 3-6 of Next Generation and 3 through 7 of Deep Space Nine. That's what we want from "Star Trek." Compelling stories, strong three-dimensional characters, and themes that haven't been already tackled before the opening credits of "Dawson's Creek."

Show us you can do it, and we'll in turn show you the numbers to pull UPN from the bottom and earn the network the respect it deserves.

Michael Hinman is news editor and co-owner of Airlock Alpha. He can be reached at michael@airlockalpha.com