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Riker calls a meeting of the [[senior officer|senior staff]] to discuss leadership of the team that will investigate the planet, suggesting that [[Wesley Crusher]] lead the team. After some debate about whether he is up to the task, Picard consents and allows Wesley the command.
 
Riker calls a meeting of the [[senior officer|senior staff]] to discuss leadership of the team that will investigate the planet, suggesting that [[Wesley Crusher]] lead the team. After some debate about whether he is up to the task, Picard consents and allows Wesley the command.
   
Crusher chooses members of his [[sciences division|science team]], including [[Prixus]] for [[materials and substances|mineralogy and metallurgy]], [[Alans]] for [[volcanology]], [[Hildebrant]] for [[geology|geomechanics]], and [[Davies]] for [[chemistry|geochemistry]]. He is initially apprehensive about commanding officers older than him, but a meeting with Riker and [[counselor]] [[Deanna Troi|Troi]] reassures him of his ability to lead the team. Davies questions Crusher's decision to run further tests because he has more experience in the matter, but after Crusher asks Riker for advice (that being no one questions Capt. Picard and thus Wes should think similarly), Crusher tells Davies to run the Ico-scans, to which Davies complies. After [[sensor]] scans, Crusher and his team discover that the planet has become unstable because unusually high levels of [[dilithium]] in the [[crust]] have formed a [[dilithium matrix|matrix]], which creates a piezoelectric effect that is tearing the planet apart.
+
Crusher chooses members of his [[sciences division|science team]], including [[Prixus]] for [[materials and substances|mineralogy and metallurgy]], [[Alans]] for [[volcanology]], [[Hildebrant]] for [[geology|geomechanics]], and [[Davies]] for [[chemistry|geochemistry]]. He is initially apprehensive about commanding officers older than he is, but a meeting with Riker and [[counselor]] [[Deanna Troi|Troi]] reassures him of his ability to lead the team. Davies questions Crusher's decision to run further tests because he has more experience in the matter, but after Crusher asks Riker for advice (that being no one questions Capt. Picard and thus Wes should think similarly), Crusher tells Davies to run the Ico-scans, to which Davies complies. After [[sensor]] scans, Crusher and his team discover that the planet has become unstable because unusually high levels of [[dilithium]] in the [[crust]] have formed a [[dilithium matrix|matrix]], which creates a piezoelectric effect that is tearing the planet apart.
   
 
At the same time, [[Data]] has been speaking with [[Sarjenka]], a member of a [[pre-warp civilization|pre-warp]] [[species]] inhabiting Drema IV via a [[radio]] transmission. After eight weeks of communication, Picard orders Data to terminate contact because it is in violation of the [[Prime Directive]]. However, he reverses his decision after a meeting of the [[senior staff]] when the staff hears Sarjenka's transmission pleading for help. Data beams down to Drema IV to meet Sarjenka and warn her and her family to travel to a safe region on her planet, but finds that her family has already left. Sarjenka returned to her home to retrieve the transmitter she had been using. Data, not able to leave her on the planet because of what is happening to it, has her beamed back to the ''Enterprise'' (much to the chagrin of Captain Picard) to watch the ''Enterprise'' use modified [[probe]]s as resonators to destroy the dilithium matrix and restore geological stability to the planet.
 
At the same time, [[Data]] has been speaking with [[Sarjenka]], a member of a [[pre-warp civilization|pre-warp]] [[species]] inhabiting Drema IV via a [[radio]] transmission. After eight weeks of communication, Picard orders Data to terminate contact because it is in violation of the [[Prime Directive]]. However, he reverses his decision after a meeting of the [[senior staff]] when the staff hears Sarjenka's transmission pleading for help. Data beams down to Drema IV to meet Sarjenka and warn her and her family to travel to a safe region on her planet, but finds that her family has already left. Sarjenka returned to her home to retrieve the transmitter she had been using. Data, not able to leave her on the planet because of what is happening to it, has her beamed back to the ''Enterprise'' (much to the chagrin of Captain Picard) to watch the ''Enterprise'' use modified [[probe]]s as resonators to destroy the dilithium matrix and restore geological stability to the planet.

Revision as of 04:01, 4 March 2011

Template:Realworld

Data makes contact with a young girl from a pre-warp civilization on a planet facing imminent annihilation. The Enterprise must wrestle with the moral dilemma of violating the Prime Directive or standing by while Data's friend dies.

Summary

The USS Enterprise is studying a series of planetary breakups in the Selcundi Drema sector. Planet after planet has been reduced to rubble, apparently as a result of natural cataclysms.

Captain Picard prepares to ride a horse on the holodeck. Just as he is about to climb onto the horse, Riker calls him to the bridge to view geological calamities on the once thriving planet Drema IV.

Riker calls a meeting of the senior staff to discuss leadership of the team that will investigate the planet, suggesting that Wesley Crusher lead the team. After some debate about whether he is up to the task, Picard consents and allows Wesley the command.

Crusher chooses members of his science team, including Prixus for mineralogy and metallurgy, Alans for volcanology, Hildebrant for geomechanics, and Davies for geochemistry. He is initially apprehensive about commanding officers older than he is, but a meeting with Riker and counselor Troi reassures him of his ability to lead the team. Davies questions Crusher's decision to run further tests because he has more experience in the matter, but after Crusher asks Riker for advice (that being no one questions Capt. Picard and thus Wes should think similarly), Crusher tells Davies to run the Ico-scans, to which Davies complies. After sensor scans, Crusher and his team discover that the planet has become unstable because unusually high levels of dilithium in the crust have formed a matrix, which creates a piezoelectric effect that is tearing the planet apart.

At the same time, Data has been speaking with Sarjenka, a member of a pre-warp species inhabiting Drema IV via a radio transmission. After eight weeks of communication, Picard orders Data to terminate contact because it is in violation of the Prime Directive. However, he reverses his decision after a meeting of the senior staff when the staff hears Sarjenka's transmission pleading for help. Data beams down to Drema IV to meet Sarjenka and warn her and her family to travel to a safe region on her planet, but finds that her family has already left. Sarjenka returned to her home to retrieve the transmitter she had been using. Data, not able to leave her on the planet because of what is happening to it, has her beamed back to the Enterprise (much to the chagrin of Captain Picard) to watch the Enterprise use modified probes as resonators to destroy the dilithium matrix and restore geological stability to the planet.

Picard orders Dr. Pulaski to erase Sarjenka's memory of her Enterprise experiences. While in Sickbay, she picks up a stone on Dr. Pulaski's desk - an Elanin singer stone, which sings a different song for anyone who touches it. After Sarjenka's memory is modified, Data returns her to her home planet, safe and sound, but leaves with her the Elanin singer stone as a token of her experience on the Enterprise.

Later Data apologises to Picard for putting him in a difficult position, but the captain is grateful to his officer for the reminder that some obligations transcend duty. Although Sarjenka won’t recall him, Data is content that he'll remember her, and Picard comments that learning about friendship and remembrance has brought Data a little closer to understanding Humanity.

Log Entries

Memorable Quotes

"The game isn't big enough unless it scares you a little"

- Riker


"Is anybody out there?"
"Yes."

- Sarjenka and Data


"In your position it's important to ask yourself one question: 'What would Picard do?' "

- Riker, giving Wesley Crusher advice on taking command


"There are no options. The Prime Directive is not a matter of... degrees, it is an absolute."
"I have a problem with that kind of rigidity. It seems callous, and even a little cowardly."
"Doctor, I'm sure that is not what the lieutenant meant but in a situation like this, we have to be cautious. What we do today, may profoundly affect the future. If we could see every possible outcome..."
"... we'd be gods, which we are not. If there is a cosmic plan, is it not the height of hubris to think we can or should interfere?"
"If there is a cosmic plan, are we not part of it? Our presence at this place at this moment in time could be part of that fate."

- Worf, Pulaski, Picard, Riker, and Troi discussing how to proceed after Data's revelation


"O'Brien, take a nap. You didn't see any of this. You're not involved."
"Right, sir. I'll just be standing over here dozing off."

- Riker and O'Brien, as Riker enters to take the transporter controls


"Where are we going?"
(Data slowly points his finger up.)

- Sarjenka and Data


"I will require my hands. Thank you."

- Data to Sarjenka


Background Information

  • This episode featured the only location shoot of Season 2, Picard's equestrian holodeck sequence, which was filmed at a ranch near the LA suburb of Thousand Oaks.
  • According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, "the writers had to limit the two characters' (Data and Sarjenka) closeness, because Nikki Cox's orange make-up became smudged so easily on contact.
  • The relationship Data forms with the little girl resembles that of Odo and Taya in DS9: "Shadowplay".
  • This episode marks a clear and conscious violation of the Prime Directive
  • This episode was one of the growth episodes for Wesley Crusher, as he was given his first "command," being put in charge of the mineral survey.
  • This is the first episode where we see Picard drinking his signature drink, Earl Grey tea. He had previously ordered a cup of Earl Grey from the replicator in TNG: "Contagion", but owing to a computer malfunction he instead received a small potted plant.

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Special appearance by

Guest stars

Uncredited co-stars

References

2215; Allah; Andor; aquarium; Arab; Arabian horse; Asteroid belt; Bedouin; Betazoid; Betazoid cat; British pound; cerebral cortex; Class-1 probe; cosmic plan; cosmic ray; crust; dilithium; distress call; doll; Drema IV; Drema V; Dreman; Earl Grey tea; earthquake; Elanin singer stone; English; engram; galaxy; generator strata; geochemistry; geology; geomechanics; holo-programs; holodeck 3; horse; horse tack; hubris; ico-spectrogram; illium-629; Klingon; magnetic field; mechanical energy; medical ethics; memory wipe; metallurgy; mineralogy; nebular cloud; neuron; organic molecule; penny; piezoelectric effect; planetary mineral survey; Prime Directive; radio frequency; resonator; resonator field; Sark; science laboratory; Selcundi Drema sector; Starfleet Academy; subspace communications; tectonic stress; three-dimensional chess; torpedo; traker; tremor; Troi, Lwaxana; ultraviolet radiation; universal translator; volcano; volcanology; Zabathu

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Star Trek: The Next Generation
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