Post by magicmuggle01 on Jun 19, 2019 9:35:07 GMT
The Enterprise tries to save a "perfect" colony from destruction, but the assistance causes damage of its own.
Summary
"Captain's log, Stardate 45470.1. The Enterprise has been diverted to the Moab sector to track a stellar core fragment from a disintegrated neutron star. Our science teams have been asked to monitor the planetary disruptions it may cause."
While the USS Enterprise-D crew is observing the fragment, they find that Moab IV, one of the planets it would affect as it passes by, is inhabited by Humans and that an artificial environment biosphere has been created there. When they contact the inhabitants, after a reluctant response by Aaron Conor, Picard arranges for Commander Riker and an away team to beam down.
Act One
The away team explains to Conor and Martin Benbeck that given the nature of the stellar core fragment evacuation may be inevitable. However, Conor and Benbeck explain that it is in fact imperative that they remain on the planet and preserve the colony. It is explained to Commander Riker, Counselor Troi and Lieutenant Commander La Forge that this is a genetically-engineered society; their ancestors came from Earth to create a perfect society, believing that through controlled procreation they could create people without flaws and those people would build a paradise. They have evolved beyond Humanity. They also explain that they have achieved a fully integrated existence with their environment, thanks also to their master design. They cannot separate themselves from it without irreparably altering who and what they are.
Benbeck, who is the interpreter of the colony founders' wishes, is the one who continually emphasizes the importance of preserving the balance of their society. He dislikes the away team's presence. Conor, on the other hand, is more receptive: he understands the necessity of them being here, and being the diplomat he is, welcomes them, and allows La Forge to work with Hannah Bates – their top astrophysicist – to find a solution. He even begins to find a liking in counselor Troi. However, he reiterates that this is a perfect existence for them which they will not give up easily.
When Bates shows La Forge a design for a multiphasic tractor beam, he believes the Enterprise could use it to move the fragment just enough to reduce the effects below dangerous levels. However, he would need her assistance in setting it up, which means she would have to leave the colony and beam up to the Enterprise.
Benbeck strongly objects, arguing that her absence would create a dangerous imbalance. Insistent though he is, Conor overrules him, and she is beamed aboard.
Act Two
"Captain's log, supplemental. Commander La Forge and Hannah Bates have spent three days trying to find a way to adjust the path of the core fragment. If they do not succeed in the next 48 hours, we will need to begin evacuation."
While discussing the matter with Captain Picard, Troi notes that some of the colonists would chose to risk death rather than leave. Picard, who is opposed to the very idea of genetic engineering, has a hard time buying that. He thinks it is a bad idea whose time has long passed. In his opinion, the genetic engineering practiced by the founders of the colony eliminates much of the qualities that make life worth living. He advises Troi to use Conor's openness to suggestions and reasonable attitude, as well as her personal admiration for him, to help him see the reality of the situation and convince others to do the same.
Meanwhile, as Bates and La Forge work on their multiphasic tractor beam, they find that it would overload some of the power conduits. As they try to come up with a solution, a tired La Forge takes his VISOR off, and she sees his non-functioning eyes. He bitterly observes that he probably wouldn't be here, were he born on their world, likely terminated as a fertilized cell. When she asks about how it works, he explains it to her and suddenly has an idea as how to solve the problem: he suggests using the same technology that his VISOR utilizes. He chuckles, saying that it would be an irony if the answer to all of this is in a device created for a blind man who never would have existed in their society.
Down on the planet, during a piano recital by Matthew, there is an earthquake. It is the first tremor of what would become many. Counselor Troi is strongly attracted to Conor, almost falling in love. That's when she realizes that this is all wrong. Conor is obviously changed, ever since the Enterprise has been in touch with the colony, and she is concerned that this is affecting his decision making. He seems willing to throw everything away for her, not just for the survival of the colony.
Act Three
La Forge and Bates brief Picard and Riker on the design they came up with. They can't quite get what they need, so they suggest additionally fortifying the biostructure, which means beaming down about fifty engineers from the Enterprise. Picard approves and Riker will make preparations while they get Conor's approval.
On the planet, Troi tells Conor she must leave because her presence is affecting the decision. Despite the concern about external influences on the colony, she allowed herself to become involved with him, and is angry at herself for it. Conor begins to say he doesn't see it that way, and that he needs her, but she is convinced they both know what would happen if they continued the relationship. They get interrupted when La Forge and Bates beam down to brief Conor on their plan. He is surprised at the need for even more people in their environment, but reluctantly agrees.
Act Four
"Captain's log, supplemental. The Enterprise has moved to a parallel course with the core fragment. We must adjust its trajectory by a minimum of 1.2 degrees to ensure the colony's safety."
Bates and La Forge activate the tractor beam in engineering and begin to use it on the fragment. Slowly but surely, the Enterprise pushes the fragment away, almost losing life support in the process. Conor is pleased, as is everyone on the colony. He is patched through to Bates and tells her the entire colony will celebrate her return. After the channel is closed, Bates walks away, looking reluctant to returning.
Act Five
"Captain's log, supplemental. The stellar core fragment has passed safely out of the Moab system. The colony was shaken by powerful tremors, but fortunately there were no injuries, and only minor damage was reported."
It is only now, after most of the engineering crews have left, that the damage has been done. When Bates indicates a breach in the artificial biosphere and goes to the lab to analyze it, La Forge points out that there is no such breach for his VISOR's positronic scan would have detected even the smallest crack. He concludes she faked the incident. Bates admits she did that because of her encounters outside her world: if she's so brilliant, she wonders, why didn't she invent starships or deflector shielding. As a result, she requests asylum, and Riker indicates she may not be the only one wishing to leave.
Captain Picard himself decides it is time for him to finally meet Aaron Conor. On the way to the transporter room, Troi confesses to Picard her brief relationship with Conor, apologizing for acting so unprofessional but assures him she can still beam to the surface. As Troi notes that she only wanted to help Conor, Picard reminds her they all went into this with good intentions and, in the end, "nobody's perfect". When they arrive, Benbeck immediately starts denouncing Picard, saying all of these people wanting to leave is his fault. Conor decides to talk to Captain Picard alone, and explains he didn't want to listen to Martin from the first moment they were hailed. He understands the desire to leave, with a curiosity about the outside world, and feels responsible for it happening. He asks that Picard refuse them passage, since his leaving will solve the problem he created with his arrival. Picard points out that this is simplistic. He cannot deny their Human rights, whatever other consequences it may have. However, he is willing to try to dissuade them from leaving.
Conor and Picard stand before Hannah and the others wanting to leave, and Conor implores them to consider staying asking them to at least wait six months. Picard tries as diplomatically as possible to convince the colonists not to make any hasty decisions but to carefully consider the consequences, telling them that feelings are running high and they're only had the briefest of glimpses into the life outside the biosphere. Despite this and the promise that the Enterprise will return in six months, Hannah stands firm insisting that being forced to stay will only cause more problems. Conor finally gives in, but decides not to leave as well instead telling the departing colonists they are welcome to return if they like. He then discusses his impossible task of rebuilding the colony with Troi, and while he doesn't know what his mistake was he knows he would do it all again if he could before confessing he has fallen in love with her.
The Enterprise takes twenty-three colonists in all, and Picard points out to Riker this is the best reminder of the Prime Directive. Riker reminds Picard that because they're Human the Prime Directive does not apply. Despite that technicality Picard tells Riker that ultimately they are responsible for any consequences, good or bad, to the colony and were just as destructive as any core fragment could ever have been.
Memorable quotes
"Perhaps it is your imperfections that make you so unique?"
- Aaron Conor, trying to smooth talk Deanna Troi
"This is wrong."
"Terribly wrong."
- Deanna Troi and Aaron Conor, as they kiss
"Picard, I was born to govern this colony, not to dismantle it."
"If you force them to stay, you will be suppressing their Human rights."
- Conor and Picard, as members of the Genome colony on Moab IV consider leaving
"Your arrival created this problem; your departure solves it."
"That is simplistic."
- Conor and Picard
"We were innocent. It will never be that way again."
- Hannah Bates
"It was the wish of our founders that no one have to suffer a life of disabilities."
"Who gave them the right to decide whether or not I might have something to contribute?"
- Hannah Bates and La Forge, on eugenics
"Oh, that's perfect."
"What?"
"If the answer to all of this is in a VISOR created for a blind man who never would have existed in your society."
- La Forge and Hannah Bates
"My VISOR's positronic scan would have detected the leak. Its molecular-pattern enhancer would pick up even the smallest crack."
"The damn thing doesn't miss much, does it?"
- La Forge and Hannah Bates
"They've managed to turn a dubious scientific endeavor into dogma."
- Picard
"They've given away their Humanity with this genetic manipulation. Many of the qualities that they breed out – the uncertainty, self-discovery, the unknown – these are many of the qualities that make life worth living. Well, at least to me. I wouldn't want to live my life knowing that my future was written, that my boundaries had been already set."
- Picard, on genetic engineering
"Genetic manipulation or not, nobody's perfect."
- Picard
"We are responsible."
"We had to respond to the threat of the core fragment, didn't we?"
"Of course we did. But, in the end... we may have proved just as dangerous to that colony as any core fragment could ever have been."
- Picard and Riker, discussing the fate of the now crippled Genome colony (last lines)
Summary
"Captain's log, Stardate 45470.1. The Enterprise has been diverted to the Moab sector to track a stellar core fragment from a disintegrated neutron star. Our science teams have been asked to monitor the planetary disruptions it may cause."
While the USS Enterprise-D crew is observing the fragment, they find that Moab IV, one of the planets it would affect as it passes by, is inhabited by Humans and that an artificial environment biosphere has been created there. When they contact the inhabitants, after a reluctant response by Aaron Conor, Picard arranges for Commander Riker and an away team to beam down.
Act One
The away team explains to Conor and Martin Benbeck that given the nature of the stellar core fragment evacuation may be inevitable. However, Conor and Benbeck explain that it is in fact imperative that they remain on the planet and preserve the colony. It is explained to Commander Riker, Counselor Troi and Lieutenant Commander La Forge that this is a genetically-engineered society; their ancestors came from Earth to create a perfect society, believing that through controlled procreation they could create people without flaws and those people would build a paradise. They have evolved beyond Humanity. They also explain that they have achieved a fully integrated existence with their environment, thanks also to their master design. They cannot separate themselves from it without irreparably altering who and what they are.
Benbeck, who is the interpreter of the colony founders' wishes, is the one who continually emphasizes the importance of preserving the balance of their society. He dislikes the away team's presence. Conor, on the other hand, is more receptive: he understands the necessity of them being here, and being the diplomat he is, welcomes them, and allows La Forge to work with Hannah Bates – their top astrophysicist – to find a solution. He even begins to find a liking in counselor Troi. However, he reiterates that this is a perfect existence for them which they will not give up easily.
When Bates shows La Forge a design for a multiphasic tractor beam, he believes the Enterprise could use it to move the fragment just enough to reduce the effects below dangerous levels. However, he would need her assistance in setting it up, which means she would have to leave the colony and beam up to the Enterprise.
Benbeck strongly objects, arguing that her absence would create a dangerous imbalance. Insistent though he is, Conor overrules him, and she is beamed aboard.
Act Two
"Captain's log, supplemental. Commander La Forge and Hannah Bates have spent three days trying to find a way to adjust the path of the core fragment. If they do not succeed in the next 48 hours, we will need to begin evacuation."
While discussing the matter with Captain Picard, Troi notes that some of the colonists would chose to risk death rather than leave. Picard, who is opposed to the very idea of genetic engineering, has a hard time buying that. He thinks it is a bad idea whose time has long passed. In his opinion, the genetic engineering practiced by the founders of the colony eliminates much of the qualities that make life worth living. He advises Troi to use Conor's openness to suggestions and reasonable attitude, as well as her personal admiration for him, to help him see the reality of the situation and convince others to do the same.
Meanwhile, as Bates and La Forge work on their multiphasic tractor beam, they find that it would overload some of the power conduits. As they try to come up with a solution, a tired La Forge takes his VISOR off, and she sees his non-functioning eyes. He bitterly observes that he probably wouldn't be here, were he born on their world, likely terminated as a fertilized cell. When she asks about how it works, he explains it to her and suddenly has an idea as how to solve the problem: he suggests using the same technology that his VISOR utilizes. He chuckles, saying that it would be an irony if the answer to all of this is in a device created for a blind man who never would have existed in their society.
Down on the planet, during a piano recital by Matthew, there is an earthquake. It is the first tremor of what would become many. Counselor Troi is strongly attracted to Conor, almost falling in love. That's when she realizes that this is all wrong. Conor is obviously changed, ever since the Enterprise has been in touch with the colony, and she is concerned that this is affecting his decision making. He seems willing to throw everything away for her, not just for the survival of the colony.
Act Three
La Forge and Bates brief Picard and Riker on the design they came up with. They can't quite get what they need, so they suggest additionally fortifying the biostructure, which means beaming down about fifty engineers from the Enterprise. Picard approves and Riker will make preparations while they get Conor's approval.
On the planet, Troi tells Conor she must leave because her presence is affecting the decision. Despite the concern about external influences on the colony, she allowed herself to become involved with him, and is angry at herself for it. Conor begins to say he doesn't see it that way, and that he needs her, but she is convinced they both know what would happen if they continued the relationship. They get interrupted when La Forge and Bates beam down to brief Conor on their plan. He is surprised at the need for even more people in their environment, but reluctantly agrees.
Act Four
"Captain's log, supplemental. The Enterprise has moved to a parallel course with the core fragment. We must adjust its trajectory by a minimum of 1.2 degrees to ensure the colony's safety."
Bates and La Forge activate the tractor beam in engineering and begin to use it on the fragment. Slowly but surely, the Enterprise pushes the fragment away, almost losing life support in the process. Conor is pleased, as is everyone on the colony. He is patched through to Bates and tells her the entire colony will celebrate her return. After the channel is closed, Bates walks away, looking reluctant to returning.
Act Five
"Captain's log, supplemental. The stellar core fragment has passed safely out of the Moab system. The colony was shaken by powerful tremors, but fortunately there were no injuries, and only minor damage was reported."
It is only now, after most of the engineering crews have left, that the damage has been done. When Bates indicates a breach in the artificial biosphere and goes to the lab to analyze it, La Forge points out that there is no such breach for his VISOR's positronic scan would have detected even the smallest crack. He concludes she faked the incident. Bates admits she did that because of her encounters outside her world: if she's so brilliant, she wonders, why didn't she invent starships or deflector shielding. As a result, she requests asylum, and Riker indicates she may not be the only one wishing to leave.
Captain Picard himself decides it is time for him to finally meet Aaron Conor. On the way to the transporter room, Troi confesses to Picard her brief relationship with Conor, apologizing for acting so unprofessional but assures him she can still beam to the surface. As Troi notes that she only wanted to help Conor, Picard reminds her they all went into this with good intentions and, in the end, "nobody's perfect". When they arrive, Benbeck immediately starts denouncing Picard, saying all of these people wanting to leave is his fault. Conor decides to talk to Captain Picard alone, and explains he didn't want to listen to Martin from the first moment they were hailed. He understands the desire to leave, with a curiosity about the outside world, and feels responsible for it happening. He asks that Picard refuse them passage, since his leaving will solve the problem he created with his arrival. Picard points out that this is simplistic. He cannot deny their Human rights, whatever other consequences it may have. However, he is willing to try to dissuade them from leaving.
Conor and Picard stand before Hannah and the others wanting to leave, and Conor implores them to consider staying asking them to at least wait six months. Picard tries as diplomatically as possible to convince the colonists not to make any hasty decisions but to carefully consider the consequences, telling them that feelings are running high and they're only had the briefest of glimpses into the life outside the biosphere. Despite this and the promise that the Enterprise will return in six months, Hannah stands firm insisting that being forced to stay will only cause more problems. Conor finally gives in, but decides not to leave as well instead telling the departing colonists they are welcome to return if they like. He then discusses his impossible task of rebuilding the colony with Troi, and while he doesn't know what his mistake was he knows he would do it all again if he could before confessing he has fallen in love with her.
The Enterprise takes twenty-three colonists in all, and Picard points out to Riker this is the best reminder of the Prime Directive. Riker reminds Picard that because they're Human the Prime Directive does not apply. Despite that technicality Picard tells Riker that ultimately they are responsible for any consequences, good or bad, to the colony and were just as destructive as any core fragment could ever have been.
Memorable quotes
"Perhaps it is your imperfections that make you so unique?"
- Aaron Conor, trying to smooth talk Deanna Troi
"This is wrong."
"Terribly wrong."
- Deanna Troi and Aaron Conor, as they kiss
"Picard, I was born to govern this colony, not to dismantle it."
"If you force them to stay, you will be suppressing their Human rights."
- Conor and Picard, as members of the Genome colony on Moab IV consider leaving
"Your arrival created this problem; your departure solves it."
"That is simplistic."
- Conor and Picard
"We were innocent. It will never be that way again."
- Hannah Bates
"It was the wish of our founders that no one have to suffer a life of disabilities."
"Who gave them the right to decide whether or not I might have something to contribute?"
- Hannah Bates and La Forge, on eugenics
"Oh, that's perfect."
"What?"
"If the answer to all of this is in a VISOR created for a blind man who never would have existed in your society."
- La Forge and Hannah Bates
"My VISOR's positronic scan would have detected the leak. Its molecular-pattern enhancer would pick up even the smallest crack."
"The damn thing doesn't miss much, does it?"
- La Forge and Hannah Bates
"They've managed to turn a dubious scientific endeavor into dogma."
- Picard
"They've given away their Humanity with this genetic manipulation. Many of the qualities that they breed out – the uncertainty, self-discovery, the unknown – these are many of the qualities that make life worth living. Well, at least to me. I wouldn't want to live my life knowing that my future was written, that my boundaries had been already set."
- Picard, on genetic engineering
"Genetic manipulation or not, nobody's perfect."
- Picard
"We are responsible."
"We had to respond to the threat of the core fragment, didn't we?"
"Of course we did. But, in the end... we may have proved just as dangerous to that colony as any core fragment could ever have been."
- Picard and Riker, discussing the fate of the now crippled Genome colony (last lines)
