Post by magicmuggle01 on Jun 3, 2019 9:37:17 GMT
Picard tries to finish his old archaeology teacher's monumental last mission: solving a puzzle that leads Humans, Romulans, Klingons and Cardassians to the secret of life in this galaxy, revealing the origin of humanoid life.
Summary
While the USS Enterprise-D is studying protostars in the Volterra Nebula, Captain Picard receives an unexpected visit from Richard Galen, a reclusive professor, and personal mentor of his, from Starfleet Academy. In the Enterprise's observation lounge, Galen gives the captain a rare archaeological gift, a Kurlan naiskos, and encourages him to take a leave of absence from Starfleet to go on an expedition of vast importance to the galaxy.
Act One
Picard and Galen sit together in Ten Forward. Galen urges him to accept, telling Picard that when he announces his findings, it will be heard across the galaxy. Picard asks the professor if he can sleep on it. "Dream not of today", he tells the captain. Picard briefly mulls it over while talking to Dr. Crusher the next morning at breakfast, but knows that he can never leave the Enterprise, despite the tempting offer. He informs Galen that he cannot go with him, and receives a bitter rebuke from his former teacher, who immediately leaves on a shuttlecraft for his next destination.
Not long after, the Enterprise receives a distress call from Galen's shuttle, as it is under attack by a Yridian vessel. With a moderate phaser hit, Worf destroys the ship, but he is confused as he should not have been able to. They barely retrieve the professor, but, unfortunately, Galen dies in sickbay – telling Picard with his last breath that his earlier rebuke had been too harsh.
Act Two
Data and Geordi La Forge discover that Galen tried to protect certain files in his computer system when the Yridians attacked. However, without anything to narrow their search, it will be almost impossible to discover what the number blocks actually mean. Assuming the Yridians were going to sell the information, Picard asks about where Galen was. Data says his course had taken him through a star system with no current inhabitants, but with a planet, Ruah IV, capable of sustaining life. Picard abandons the ship's current diplomatic timeline to the planet Atalia VII to follow the clues in the number blocks listed in Galen's database. It will take four days to get there.
When they arrive, they see that there are some proto-hominids, but no sign of previous civilizations. Picard recalls that Galen was planning to head to Indri VIII on his archaeological expedition. Picard believes there is some connection between the two planets and he intends to find it, though Riker reminds him of his diplomatic responsibilities. When the Enterprise arrives at Indri VIII, they find the planet's atmosphere being destroyed, killing all life on the planet. Picard asks if they can prevent the destruction but Worf announces that the effect is global; they cannot stop it.
Act Three
In a science lab, Crusher and Picard discover that the number blocks from Galen's database are actually DNA strands from 19 different species, each of which has existed in the lifeforms of these planets since the formation of life on these planets, all scattered across the Quadrant. Crusher has all the DNA strands combined together by protein link compatibility. It forms a strange shape that Picard and Crusher cannot identify.
In engineering, Commander La Forge tells Picard and Crusher that it is not part of a natural design but rather an algorithm, suggesting that it is part of some kind of program. Picard, Data, Crusher and La Forge cannot determine what the purpose of the program is or why someone designed it apparently 4 billion years before. La Forge has tried every DNA material in the Enterprise's database to run the program but they cannot find any compatible protein combinations. Picard muses on this computer program designed by an apparently advanced civilization four billion years ago. "Whatever information this program contains could be the most profound discovery of our time… or the most dangerous. The professor knew that."
the Enterprise with the Klingon
and Cardassian ships in orbit
In Picard's ready room, he remembers Galen telling him earlier that he was in the neighborhood near Kurl. Crusher suggests he was in the Kurlan system collecting DNA samples. Picard, while looking through a PADD, finds that only one planet in the Kurlan system is capable of supporting life: Loren III. Picard has the Enterprise proceed to Loren III at maximum warp where they are immediately confronted by two Cardassian warships, prepared to attack in order to protect the planet for only their scientific mission. Immediately, the IKS Maht-H'a, a Klingon Vor'cha-class attack cruiser, decloaks, making the situation all the more tense.
Act Four
Picard decides to invite the commanding officers of each vessel to the Enterprise to discuss the situation and collaborate. Meeting Gul Ocett and captain Nu'Daq, he plays his cards, relating that the Enterprise crew has determined that Galen's research leads them to believe that a computer program has been written and scattered throughout the galaxy, being stored in the genetic code of organisms on certain planets. An uneasy truce is forged between the three powers so as to share the data the three factions contain.
In the science lab, Ocett and Nu'Daq provide their samples. Combined, it appears there are still missing pieces. Picard supposes that there should be a pattern, for the designers would have wanted the code to be found. He has Crusher program the computer to use the locations of the samples to extrapolate where the missing DNA would be. It will take some time, so Ocett and Nu'Daq wait. Nu'Daq decides to use this time to seek out Data in Ten Forward and challenge him physically, unsuccessfully. He then attempts to bribe him if he will tell him first what the results will be, also unsuccessfully.
However, chief engineer La Forge discovers that the Enterprise's defensive systems have been tampered with – rightfully anticipating deception on the part of the Cardassians. Secretly, Picard and Nu'Daq decide to tamper with their data a bit prior to the meeting. All three factions meet back in the science lab to view the star chart inferred by the data points. Immediately, and as predicted, Ocett transports off of the Enterprise and begins firing on both the Maht-H'a and the Enterprise.
Act Five
The Enterprise makes a good show of being damaged, and then heads to the proper coordinates with Nu'Daq on board, since the Maht-H'a needs a bit of time to get operational.
Once at the final planet, Vilmor II, they transport to the surface to take tricorder measurements of lichen growing in an ancient seabed. They don't get too far when Ocett and a team beam next to them. Then, suddenly, a team of Romulans appear, insisting that everyone leave the premises. They must have been monitoring communications since Galen's shuttle was intercepted. They all start to argue and threaten to destroy what they came for. Covertly, the away team takes readings of the lichen, and find that the program can reconfigure the tricorder to display a holographic image of a humanoid, silencing everyone. The recorded humanoid explains that her civilization existed in the galaxy alone, billions of lonely years before any of the others developed. As such, they spread their genetic material to other planets, in the hopes of creating a rich ecosystem of humanoids who could fulfill the joys of finding and integrating with alien cultures that these first beings never had. Most parties seem disgusted at the thought of a common progenitor.
Back on board the Enterprise, Picard is pleased at solving the mystery, but wishes Galen could see it, and that the message had not fallen on deaf ears. Then, he receives an unexpected message from the Romulan commander. In light of the recent events, he expresses his opinion that Humans and Romulans are not so dissimilar after all, and hopes that one day, the two powers could stand together in friendship.
Log entries
"Captain's log, Stardate 46731.5. We are in the midst of the Volterra nebula, a stellar nursery. Our three week mission is a routine analysis of several dozen protostars in various stages of development."
"Captain's log, supplemental. It's been over thirty years since I last saw my archaeology professor. His presence has taken me back to a time when I had considered a very different career."
"Captain's log, supplemental. We have completed our mission in the nebula and are en route to a diplomatic conference on Atalia Seven. I must admit I've lost my enthusiasm for those proceedings."
"Captain's log, supplemental. It seems that we have not one, but two competitors in our attempt to complete Professor Galen's puzzle. I have prevailed upon the Cardassian and Klingon captains to meet with me."
"Captain's log, stardate 46735.2. Our frequent use of high warp over the last few days has overextended the propulsion systems. We are finishing minor repairs before returning to Federation territory."
Memorable quotes
"When finished… and I announce my findings, it will be heard halfway across the galaxy."
- Richard Galen, to Picard on his discovery
"Dream not of today."
- Professor Richard Galen, to Picard
"If I go, I go for good… and it's not something that I'm prepared to do."
- Picard reluctantly refuses Galen's offer to join him on his archaeology mission
"Will you come with me?"
"…I can't."
"Then I'll be going."
- Galen and Picard
"Jean-Luc… I was too harsh."
- Richard Galen's dying words
"This is not part of a natural design, Captain. This is part of an algorithm coded at the molecular level."
"An algorithm? Are you saying that these DNA fragments are elements in some kind of computer program?"
"I know how it sounds, but there's no way this could be a random formation. This is definitely part of a program."
"This fragment has been part of every DNA strand on Earth since life began there and the other fragments are just as old. Someone must've written this program over four billion years ago."
"So…four billion years ago someone scattered this genetic material into the primordial soup of at least 19 different planets across the galaxy?"
"The genetic information must have been incorporated into the earliest lifeforms on these planets and then passed down through each generation."
"But why would anyone do this in the first place?"
"And what was this program designed to do?"
"Well, we couldn't know that until we assembled the entire program and ran it. We've tried all of the DNA material in the Federation computer but we haven't been able to come up with any compatible proteins."
"Then, they must be from worlds outside the Federation."
- La Forge, Picard, Crusher, and Data
"Until we assemble it, we will never know its purpose."
"He's right. As far as we know it might just be a recipe for biscuits!"
"Biscuits? If that's what you believe, then go back to Cardassia, I will send you my mother's recipe."
- Picard, Gul Ocett, and Nu'Daq
"My upper spinal support is a polyalloy designed for extreme stress. My skull is composed of cortenide and duranium."
- Data, explaining to Nu'Daq why he was unaffected by a Klingon head-butt
"A being of your abilities would go far in the Empire."
"You are attempting to bribe me."
- Nu'Daq tries to get Data to reveal the results of the combined DNA samples to him before anyone else
"That's all!? If she were not dead, I would kill her!"
- Nu'Daq, expressing his disappointment about the message
"It would seem that we are not completely dissimilar after all; in our hopes, or in our fears."
"Yes…"
"Well then perhaps, one day…"
"…one day…"
- Romulan Captain to Picard
Summary
While the USS Enterprise-D is studying protostars in the Volterra Nebula, Captain Picard receives an unexpected visit from Richard Galen, a reclusive professor, and personal mentor of his, from Starfleet Academy. In the Enterprise's observation lounge, Galen gives the captain a rare archaeological gift, a Kurlan naiskos, and encourages him to take a leave of absence from Starfleet to go on an expedition of vast importance to the galaxy.
Act One
Picard and Galen sit together in Ten Forward. Galen urges him to accept, telling Picard that when he announces his findings, it will be heard across the galaxy. Picard asks the professor if he can sleep on it. "Dream not of today", he tells the captain. Picard briefly mulls it over while talking to Dr. Crusher the next morning at breakfast, but knows that he can never leave the Enterprise, despite the tempting offer. He informs Galen that he cannot go with him, and receives a bitter rebuke from his former teacher, who immediately leaves on a shuttlecraft for his next destination.
Not long after, the Enterprise receives a distress call from Galen's shuttle, as it is under attack by a Yridian vessel. With a moderate phaser hit, Worf destroys the ship, but he is confused as he should not have been able to. They barely retrieve the professor, but, unfortunately, Galen dies in sickbay – telling Picard with his last breath that his earlier rebuke had been too harsh.
Act Two
Data and Geordi La Forge discover that Galen tried to protect certain files in his computer system when the Yridians attacked. However, without anything to narrow their search, it will be almost impossible to discover what the number blocks actually mean. Assuming the Yridians were going to sell the information, Picard asks about where Galen was. Data says his course had taken him through a star system with no current inhabitants, but with a planet, Ruah IV, capable of sustaining life. Picard abandons the ship's current diplomatic timeline to the planet Atalia VII to follow the clues in the number blocks listed in Galen's database. It will take four days to get there.
When they arrive, they see that there are some proto-hominids, but no sign of previous civilizations. Picard recalls that Galen was planning to head to Indri VIII on his archaeological expedition. Picard believes there is some connection between the two planets and he intends to find it, though Riker reminds him of his diplomatic responsibilities. When the Enterprise arrives at Indri VIII, they find the planet's atmosphere being destroyed, killing all life on the planet. Picard asks if they can prevent the destruction but Worf announces that the effect is global; they cannot stop it.
Act Three
In a science lab, Crusher and Picard discover that the number blocks from Galen's database are actually DNA strands from 19 different species, each of which has existed in the lifeforms of these planets since the formation of life on these planets, all scattered across the Quadrant. Crusher has all the DNA strands combined together by protein link compatibility. It forms a strange shape that Picard and Crusher cannot identify.
In engineering, Commander La Forge tells Picard and Crusher that it is not part of a natural design but rather an algorithm, suggesting that it is part of some kind of program. Picard, Data, Crusher and La Forge cannot determine what the purpose of the program is or why someone designed it apparently 4 billion years before. La Forge has tried every DNA material in the Enterprise's database to run the program but they cannot find any compatible protein combinations. Picard muses on this computer program designed by an apparently advanced civilization four billion years ago. "Whatever information this program contains could be the most profound discovery of our time… or the most dangerous. The professor knew that."
the Enterprise with the Klingon
and Cardassian ships in orbit
In Picard's ready room, he remembers Galen telling him earlier that he was in the neighborhood near Kurl. Crusher suggests he was in the Kurlan system collecting DNA samples. Picard, while looking through a PADD, finds that only one planet in the Kurlan system is capable of supporting life: Loren III. Picard has the Enterprise proceed to Loren III at maximum warp where they are immediately confronted by two Cardassian warships, prepared to attack in order to protect the planet for only their scientific mission. Immediately, the IKS Maht-H'a, a Klingon Vor'cha-class attack cruiser, decloaks, making the situation all the more tense.
Act Four
Picard decides to invite the commanding officers of each vessel to the Enterprise to discuss the situation and collaborate. Meeting Gul Ocett and captain Nu'Daq, he plays his cards, relating that the Enterprise crew has determined that Galen's research leads them to believe that a computer program has been written and scattered throughout the galaxy, being stored in the genetic code of organisms on certain planets. An uneasy truce is forged between the three powers so as to share the data the three factions contain.
In the science lab, Ocett and Nu'Daq provide their samples. Combined, it appears there are still missing pieces. Picard supposes that there should be a pattern, for the designers would have wanted the code to be found. He has Crusher program the computer to use the locations of the samples to extrapolate where the missing DNA would be. It will take some time, so Ocett and Nu'Daq wait. Nu'Daq decides to use this time to seek out Data in Ten Forward and challenge him physically, unsuccessfully. He then attempts to bribe him if he will tell him first what the results will be, also unsuccessfully.
However, chief engineer La Forge discovers that the Enterprise's defensive systems have been tampered with – rightfully anticipating deception on the part of the Cardassians. Secretly, Picard and Nu'Daq decide to tamper with their data a bit prior to the meeting. All three factions meet back in the science lab to view the star chart inferred by the data points. Immediately, and as predicted, Ocett transports off of the Enterprise and begins firing on both the Maht-H'a and the Enterprise.
Act Five
The Enterprise makes a good show of being damaged, and then heads to the proper coordinates with Nu'Daq on board, since the Maht-H'a needs a bit of time to get operational.
Once at the final planet, Vilmor II, they transport to the surface to take tricorder measurements of lichen growing in an ancient seabed. They don't get too far when Ocett and a team beam next to them. Then, suddenly, a team of Romulans appear, insisting that everyone leave the premises. They must have been monitoring communications since Galen's shuttle was intercepted. They all start to argue and threaten to destroy what they came for. Covertly, the away team takes readings of the lichen, and find that the program can reconfigure the tricorder to display a holographic image of a humanoid, silencing everyone. The recorded humanoid explains that her civilization existed in the galaxy alone, billions of lonely years before any of the others developed. As such, they spread their genetic material to other planets, in the hopes of creating a rich ecosystem of humanoids who could fulfill the joys of finding and integrating with alien cultures that these first beings never had. Most parties seem disgusted at the thought of a common progenitor.
Back on board the Enterprise, Picard is pleased at solving the mystery, but wishes Galen could see it, and that the message had not fallen on deaf ears. Then, he receives an unexpected message from the Romulan commander. In light of the recent events, he expresses his opinion that Humans and Romulans are not so dissimilar after all, and hopes that one day, the two powers could stand together in friendship.
Log entries
"Captain's log, Stardate 46731.5. We are in the midst of the Volterra nebula, a stellar nursery. Our three week mission is a routine analysis of several dozen protostars in various stages of development."
"Captain's log, supplemental. It's been over thirty years since I last saw my archaeology professor. His presence has taken me back to a time when I had considered a very different career."
"Captain's log, supplemental. We have completed our mission in the nebula and are en route to a diplomatic conference on Atalia Seven. I must admit I've lost my enthusiasm for those proceedings."
"Captain's log, supplemental. It seems that we have not one, but two competitors in our attempt to complete Professor Galen's puzzle. I have prevailed upon the Cardassian and Klingon captains to meet with me."
"Captain's log, stardate 46735.2. Our frequent use of high warp over the last few days has overextended the propulsion systems. We are finishing minor repairs before returning to Federation territory."
Memorable quotes
"When finished… and I announce my findings, it will be heard halfway across the galaxy."
- Richard Galen, to Picard on his discovery
"Dream not of today."
- Professor Richard Galen, to Picard
"If I go, I go for good… and it's not something that I'm prepared to do."
- Picard reluctantly refuses Galen's offer to join him on his archaeology mission
"Will you come with me?"
"…I can't."
"Then I'll be going."
- Galen and Picard
"Jean-Luc… I was too harsh."
- Richard Galen's dying words
"This is not part of a natural design, Captain. This is part of an algorithm coded at the molecular level."
"An algorithm? Are you saying that these DNA fragments are elements in some kind of computer program?"
"I know how it sounds, but there's no way this could be a random formation. This is definitely part of a program."
"This fragment has been part of every DNA strand on Earth since life began there and the other fragments are just as old. Someone must've written this program over four billion years ago."
"So…four billion years ago someone scattered this genetic material into the primordial soup of at least 19 different planets across the galaxy?"
"The genetic information must have been incorporated into the earliest lifeforms on these planets and then passed down through each generation."
"But why would anyone do this in the first place?"
"And what was this program designed to do?"
"Well, we couldn't know that until we assembled the entire program and ran it. We've tried all of the DNA material in the Federation computer but we haven't been able to come up with any compatible proteins."
"Then, they must be from worlds outside the Federation."
- La Forge, Picard, Crusher, and Data
"Until we assemble it, we will never know its purpose."
"He's right. As far as we know it might just be a recipe for biscuits!"
"Biscuits? If that's what you believe, then go back to Cardassia, I will send you my mother's recipe."
- Picard, Gul Ocett, and Nu'Daq
"My upper spinal support is a polyalloy designed for extreme stress. My skull is composed of cortenide and duranium."
- Data, explaining to Nu'Daq why he was unaffected by a Klingon head-butt
"A being of your abilities would go far in the Empire."
"You are attempting to bribe me."
- Nu'Daq tries to get Data to reveal the results of the combined DNA samples to him before anyone else
"That's all!? If she were not dead, I would kill her!"
- Nu'Daq, expressing his disappointment about the message
"It would seem that we are not completely dissimilar after all; in our hopes, or in our fears."
"Yes…"
"Well then perhaps, one day…"
"…one day…"
- Romulan Captain to Picard
