{{for|the Australian rules footballer|Malcolm Reed (footballer)}}
{{In-universe|subject=Star Trek|category=Star Trek|date=October 2009}}
{{Infobox Star Trek character
| title       = Malcolm Reed
| image       = MalcolmReed.jpg
| species     = Human
| gender      = Male <!--not implemented-->
| born        = September 2, 2117
| planet      = [[Earth]] ([[England]]) <!--not implemented-->
| affiliation = [[Starfleet]]
| rank        = [[Starfleet ranks and insignia|Lieutenant]]
| posting     = Tactical officer,<br />[[Enterprise (NX-01)|''Enterprise'' (NX-01)]]
| portrayer   = [[Dominic Keating]]
}}

'''Malcolm Reed''', portrayed by [[Dominic Keating]], is a [[Character (arts)|fictional character]] on the [[Television program|television series]] ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''.

Reed, born 2117, is [[English people|English]], and is, at different times, the tactical officer and armory officer aboard the starship ''[[Enterprise (NX-01)|Enterprise]]''. He holds the rank of [[Starfleet ranks and insignia|Lieutenant]].  However, in the episode "Twilight", the alternate timeline Reed holds the rank of [[Starfleet ranks and insignia#Captain|Captain]]—he is in the process of taking over the Earth Starfleet vessel Intrepid.

==Character overview==
Reed's parents are Stuart and Mary, and he has a sister, Madeline. They appeared on-screen in the episode "[[Silent Enemy (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Silent Enemy]]" while communicating with ''[[Enterprise (NX-01)|Enterprise]]''. In addition to his parents and sister, other relatives also known are an Uncle Archie and "two spinster aunts."

Reed's great-uncle was in the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Royal Navy]] on [[Earth]], but was killed in action while chief engineer of the HMS ''Clement'' (a submarine that struck a mine, a left over from an unmentioned war). Reed has a strong appreciation for his uncle, not only because of the heroics of this relative, but because they both share a common condition: [[aquaphobia]], or the fear of drowning. He is one of the few men in his family who did not join the Royal Navy, a fact which led to some friction with his father, who is also a Royal Navy veteran. Reed is also an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]], obtaining 28 [[Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America)|Merit Badge]]s, two more than his commanding officer, [[Jonathan Archer]].

Reed is responsible for the development of or contributing to the development of procedures that are used throughout the ''Star Trek'' timeline. In the episode [[Singularity (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Singularity]], Reed develops what would be known as the Tactical Alert which would bring the ship to battle readiness at a moment's notice. This was jokingly referred to by Commander Tucker as the "Reed Alert". Reed initially liked the idea but then decided it was "a bit narcissistic". The Tactical Alert would evolve into the condition "[[Red alert (Star Trek)|Red Alert]]" and "Yellow Alert" used in all other Star Trek series.

Reed is [[Allergy|allergic]] to [[House dust mite|dust mite]]s, oak [[pollen]], tropical grasses, and various plant enzymes, including [[Bromelain|bromelin]], which, ironically, is found in [[pineapple]], his favorite food. He is also prone to space sickness in some circumstances.

Reed has an almost suicidal sense of self-sacrifice, and can also be consumed at times with regret over paths not followed in his love life; he and [[Charles Tucker III]] have at least one ex-girlfriend in common. In [[E²|one alternate timeline]] seen during the [[Xindi (Star Trek)|Xindi]] mission in which ''Enterprise'' becomes a generational ship unable to return to [[Earth]], Reed dies without leaving any heirs, having chosen not to marry or have children. The episode "[[Shuttlepod One]]" revealed that Reed has a crush on [[T'Pol]], but this was never expanded upon further, he even went as far as to state to Trip that " T'Pol has an awfully nice bum!". Despite the reluctance of the producers, Dominic Keating purposefully played him as gay, and stated so repeatedly in interviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtGHbeFtRec http://web.archive.org/web/20130621060823/http://thecinemasource.com/blog/interviews/dominic-keating-interview-for-star-trek-enterprise

The episode "[[Divergence (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Divergence]]" revealed that in 2149, Reed, then an [[Starfleet ranks and insignia|Ensign]], had been recruited as an operative for a mysterious offshoot of [[Starfleet#Starfleet Intelligence|Starfleet Intelligence]], which in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' would be identified as [[Section 31]]. He believed he had left Section 31 behind when he was posted aboard ''Enterprise'' in 2151; however, in 2154, he was reactivated as an agent during a mission to recover [[Phlox (Star Trek)|Phlox]], who had been kidnapped by a group of [[Klingon]]s trying to stop a genetically engineered virus running rampant in the Empire. Part of his mission involved sabotaging a piece of evidence that might have assisted ''Enterprise'' in tracking down the Klingons faster. For this, Reed was temporarily relieved of duty and incarcerated in the brig by Archer, although Archer later reinstated Reed after determining that he had been placed in what Archer called "an impossible situation" by his Section 31 superior, Harris.

Following the Klingon mission, Reed demanded that Harris never communicate with him again. Harris, however, replied that Reed had committed himself to a cause he could never simply walk away from. Indeed, Reed would later re-establish contact with Harris under orders from Archer during the [[Terra Prime]] incident.

==Apocrypha==
In the ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' novels set after the formation of the United Federation of Planets, Reed is promoted to Captain and is given command of the newly commissioned USS ''Pioneer''.

==Mirror Universe==
An alternate version of Reed appears in the two-part episode "[[In a Mirror, Darkly]]", which takes place in the [[Mirror Universe (Star Trek)|Mirror Universe]]. Little is known about this version of Reed, except that he is a [[major]] in the MACO corps (the regular universe's version of Reed was, for a time, considered for such a role by the show's writers), and is the head of all MACOs on the [[Starship Enterprise#ISS Enterprise|ISS ''Enterprise'']].

Reed invented the [[Mirror Universe (Star Trek)|Agony booth]], which is used to torture prisoners. After transferring to the [[List of Starfleet starships ordered by class#Constitution class|USS ''Defiant'']], which had drifted into the Mirror Universe, he leads a team to attempt capture of a [[Gorn (Star Trek)|Gorn]] stowaway on the ship. Reed's team is killed when the Gorn detonates a bomb in their path. Badly injured, all Reed says is, "I've failed you, captain," showing he still had a suicidal sense of self-sacrifice in the Mirror Universe. Dr. [[Phlox (Star Trek)|Phlox]] later said that Reed had a 50/50 chance of recovering, but that he didn't think anyone would really mind if Reed died. It is not revealed whether Reed survives. However, in the Star Trek Mirror Universe book that follows on from the episodes, 'Age of the Empress' it states that he survives.

==History of character development==
*In light of Star Trek's long history of representing characters of all races, genders, and creeds, some fans have petitioned Paramount for years to include a [[gay]] or [[Bisexuality|bisexual]] person as a regular character. In the development stage of ''Enterprise'', it was reported that producers originally intended for one of the main characters to be the first openly gay character on Star Trek. This theory was proved false as early back story clearly stated Reed's [[sexual orientation|orientation]] (as well as everyone else's) as heterosexual. Actor Dominic Keating, for his part, stated at a science fiction convention that the possibility that his character would be gay was discussed, and rejected, although it is unclear what was the context of this discussion and who made the final decision.

==See also==
{{portal|Star Trek}}
* [[List of Star Trek characters#Star Trek: Enterprise|List of ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' characters]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{unreferenced|date=November 2014}}

==External links==
* {{Memory Alpha}}
* {{Memory Alpha|Malcolm Reed (mirror)}}

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