Exciting, action packed second part of the adventure. It's the sort of thing that could've been drawn out into a several episode arc depending on how much detail they were willing to go into. But this compact, two part format was great for the story. Just as fast paced as the first part without a lot of heavy dialogue or lessons to be learned.
Picking up at the point it left off, the mercenary ship fires on the Enterprise at Will's command. Picard skillfully chooses not to do anything about the problems with the weapons system so their shot does little damage. Their second shot doesn't either. Data and Troi have both figured out that this skirmish is a show so Data only retaliates with minimal fire power, feigning ship damage. Since the mercenary ship is no prize, it doesn't take much to actually debilitate it so Picard keeps Baran informed of the mounting damage along with Tallera and the rest of the crew. It's enough to convince him that they've done plenty of damage and that it's safe to leave since the Enterprise can't follow in its crippled state so they take off. On the Enterprise Worf has already calculated the next two planets that they mercenaries may hit while the others are looking for hidden messages sent during the skirmish. Worf is agitated that Data simply rolled over and allowed them to get away and doesn't understand why they are staying where they are instead of going to one of the other targets. So far Data is confident that he can persuade Worf with his logical process of thought. He has guessed that Riker wanted them to let the mercenaries escape and Troi concurs. Shortly after, Geordi does find a message that was sent when Riker was using his codes to attempt to access the ship. At this point, Worf s continues to argue in a belligerent manner for other courses of action. On the mercenary ship Baran is grateful to Riker for getting them out of the jam and Picard picks a fist fight with Riker to try to seal their bond. He gets ordered away to inspect the artifacts.
Tallera follows him suspicious of his sudden inability to use the weapons systems to their full ability as well as the fact that he seems to be determined to stay on Baran's bad side by harassing Riker. The conversation doesn't last long since one of the artifacts turns up positive for the elemental matches they were looking for. Baran is pleased and continues to talk with Riker. He's remaining casually aloof about attacking a Federation outpost and Baran doesn't completely trust him yet, but he's falling for his rogue officer routine thanks in part to his hatred for Galen. Riker isn't making himself too available to Baran, but indicates that he'd be interested in joining up with him. To earn his place, however, Baran wants him to kill Galen at the appropriate time, of course. Geordi finally translates Riker's message and finds a flight plan hidden in his code sequence allowing them to follow. They discuss how long it would take and determine that they could beat the mercenary ship to the destination. Worf is satisfied in an openly sarcastic manner which prompts Data to take him aside for a talk. He reprimands Worf for openly questioning his orders after they are given. It's not brought up, but the prejudice implied is that Worf isn't confident in Data's leadership since he isn't endowed with what we call instincts. Worf defends himself citing that Riker and Picard often disagreed, but of course, Data's point is that once the order was final, it was followed whether Riker liked it or not. He asserts that he will replace Worf with another person as first officer and return him to tactical if necessary. Worf checks his attitude and requests to retain his position. And Data, even though he has no feelings is conscious of the fact that an incident like this could be a friendship ender, but Worf assures him that it's not. It's a good scene. On the mercenary ship Picard and Riker find some more time to conference. Riker tells Picard Baran's plans including how he's expected to kill him. They share a knowing smile and chuckle about it all and Picard has news as well. He tells Riker that they will be getting their next artifact from a Klingon vessel that they are meeting with. He also knows that these artifacts aren't Romulan, but Vulcan and that he'd really like to get a look at the Enterprise computer for a moment to sort out the symbols.
So, knowing he's in constant danger as long as Baran is in charge, Picard decides to feel out some crew members to see if he can incite a mutiny. After all, they'd been working all this time under the threat of Baran's little shock device and nobody has seen any pay off, so it isn't hard. He's very smart about it too. He doesn't offer himself as the new leader, but rather Tallera. And others are more comfortable with her as well. Speaking of the devil, Tallera then corners Picard and asks his true identity. She'd found the message that Riker sent through his access codes. But then there's a twist when she actually gives her true identity first. She's a Vulcan spy named T'Paal who has been undercover on this ship for a while investigating a threat to Vulcan. After learning that Picard is the captain of the Enterprise she tells him about a group of Vulcan isolationists who want to purge all contact with other life forms from the planet in the name of purity. Picard confesses that he knows that the artifacts are Vulcan and she confirms it. She also tells him that the artifacts are pieces of an ancient weapon that uses telepathy to kill. Picard has heard of it but thought it was only a legend. T'Paal tells him that it's real and that she'll have to destroy the ship if necessary to keep it from being reconstructed. Meanwhile the Enterprise does in fact beat the mercenary ship to the system where the Klingon shuttle craft is hanging out. Worf recommends bringing the shuttle aboard to search it, but Data quotes treaty specs that forbid this. Worf shows signs of feeling stifled again, but then cites a line that would allow them to bring it in and inspect it for health and safety concerns. Data again notes that this is pushing it which leaves Worf feeling defeated, but he then decides to use this loophole suggesting that the Klingon can always register a complaint. So Worf and Beverly go to search the ship.
While they're searching, Troi and Data are with the Klingon, Koral, in the observation lounge and it's quite awkward and funny to see them attempting to make small talk as though this is completely normal. Then the mercenaries arrive to see that the Enterprise got there first. Picard jumps in and starts blaming Riker immediately and by this time Baran's so sick of it he doesn't take it seriously. He wants to board the Enterprise with an away team to steal the artifact. Galen dutifully cowers at this idea, but Baran has complete confidence that Riker can maneuver around the security and assigns Galen to go with him which he readily agrees to out of apparent suspicion. They beam into the cargo bay just as Worf and Beverly are ending their search empty handed. On seeing Riker and Picard together, they know to stay quiet while they're being held up. Picard pretends not to know who they are and they ask where Koral is. Worf threatens them with security but Riker, after apologizing, stuns them with his phaser. They bust in on the observation lounge. Picard goes straight to Koral and searches him for the artifact. After ascertaining its authenticity, Riker fires on Picard and misses but Picard fires back and hits him. He then asks if he's dead to make sure that everyone in his party will hear Troi say that he is. They leave immediately. When Riker is revived, he says it'll take some time to explain. Back on the mercenary ship Picard uses the event of Riker's "betrayal" to begin the mutiny on Baran. He starts the rabble rousing claims of not having seen any profit from their work and points out that even though Baran has his punishment device that he can't kill them all at once. Baran is only interested in killing Galen though, but when he pushes his shock remote he ends up killing himself. Picard explains that he switched the transponder codes. He destroys the punishment device and suggests they continue as planned for now.
On the Enterprise, Riker contacts the head of Vulcan security, Satok, on Vulcan to warn him that the mercenary vessel that's been raiding Vulcan archeological sites is headed for them right now. Satok has no idea what Riker is talking about and Riker goes on to explain that he's aware of their agent, T'Paal, that's on board. The security minister has no knowledge of an operative on the mercenary vessel, causing Riker to look alarmed. Us as well since we now see that something is terribly wrong. On the mercenary vessel, Picard can see that T'Paal seems anxious and uninterested as he tries to talk about the symbols on the artifacts, wondering what symbol could possibly be set between the Vulcan gods of war and death on the final piece. She tells him that she'll go to the surface alone to avoid the suspicions of the isolationists and Picard proudly tells her that it shouldn't be a problem since he'd told Riker to warn them that they were coming. She's not happy about this but can't counteract the logic that warning them ahead of time would prevent their ship from being attacked or detained, so she lets it slide. When they get there Picard tries to use the crew's mistrust of leadership to make her leave one of the artifacts since she insists on going alone to ensure that she'll come back with the money they were promised. She's had enough now, and unmasks Picard as a Starfleet officer. Picard immediately tells them that she's going to create a weapon with the last piece she finds and has no intention of paying them. The crew is shocked and angry, but since they aren't being controlled anymore, they decide that a couple of them should go down with both Tallera and Galen to ensure that they get paid. They beam down to a cave where the last piece of the psionic resonator is. She points the woman to a chest that contains latinum, but it isn't even half of what they were promised. T'Paal doesn't listen to her complaints or threats as she pieces the weapon together.
She kills her and the other crewman by using her mind to send out a pulse that consumes them as they try to fight back. She then turns on Picard and orders him to defend himself but he won't. That's when Riker, Worf, and other security members beam into the cave. Picard quickly tells them to drop their weapons and empty their minds of violent thoughts. They obey and just in time. She tries to send a pulse at Riker, but it simply fades away. Picard explains that the resonator works by amplifying these emotions and destroying the person from within. T'Paal is angry that the resonator didn't work and aims again at Worf, possibly thinking that there's not as much of a chance that a Klingon could exhibit that kind of emotional control. But the pulse fades from him as well. Picard then goes to tell her why it's not working - because the symbol that is set between the Vulcan gods of war and death is the god of Peace and therefore peace can overcome the resonator. She tries again on him, but his countenance remains very peaceful as he takes the resonator from her.
On the ship, Riker tells Picard that they found him by tracking the neural implant of the Baran's punishment device. Picard wraps it all up by telling them that T'Paal has been handed over to Satok and they are going to search for the remaining isolationists. The psionic resonator will be destroyed and they all lament that it can't be studied. The mercenaries are criminals and have to answer to crimes from several other worlds, so they won't be going anywhere for a while. He tells Riker to set a course and Riker jokes with him, saying that since he's been declared dead he can't give orders. Data reminds Riker that since he's a renegade and facing several court martial charges, he can't give orders either. Picard decides to stay dead a little longer and retire for a nap and playfully suggests to Data that he take Riker to the brig. Data takes Riker's arm to lead him away much to Riker's chagrin. He tells Data that Picard was joking but Data continues leading him with his best poker face.
I guess the only flaw in this part is how Picard managed to corrupt Baran's punishment device, but I doubt anyone cares. I don't. This part was as exciting and fun as the first part with the added twist pertaining to Tallera and the Vulcan isolationists which gave the story depth and a lesson in peace and all without it being bogged down in dialogue and a heavy atmosphere. It's a much better story revolving around Picard's passion for archaeology than Captain's Holiday and it has all of the action movie fun like Starship Mine. Again, I loved that the Enterprise crew could now work together so smoothly that there wasn't even a need to telegraph that they were doing so like the episode, Allegiance. There's not much more to say about it. It's one of the best episodes of the series. Five stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment