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December 14, 1992
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45 minutes
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SUMMARY
Stardate: 46357.4. Picard resigns as Captain of the Enterprise to lead a top-secret espionage mission into Cardassia with Worf and Dr. Crusher.
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REVIEWS
Jellico on board
Written by
kimmy on 2019-05-31
★
★
★
★
★
After season 5’s Unification, season 6 follows the trend with a mid-season two-parter, an opportunity to tell a big story! There is only a little bit of filler here (Picard, Worf, Crusher training for their mission) but not much; they are definitely better watched together, especially with the second part being almost entirely just Picard. The overall result is an impressive epic story that takes risks and goes to places unimaginable for Star Trek a few years ago. It is also a lead-in to Deep Space 9, refreshing the viewers’ memory of the Cardassians before they become an important part of DS9; the pilot of DS9 would air just a few weeks later.
The two episodes deal with two stories: Enterprise under the command of a Captain that deals with things very differently than Picard, and Picard held captive by the Cardassians.
The Enterprise crew experiences command under Captain Jellico (the excellent Ronnie Cox). He is more into vertical hierarchy, more confrontational, likes to use machiavellian tactics to force a result out of his crew or out of his opponents. What is interesting is that he is not an evil person or with anti-Federation intentions: he just has a different way of doing things. The viewer does get the impression that he is the “bad guy†— after all, he is replacing Picard!! — but the whole point is that he is not. It’s a complicated balance to pull off and the episodes are mostly successful. For instance, just when you are convinced he is kind of a bastard, you see another side of him when he talks about his children or when he has a nice chat with LaForge. I did expect that he would have a more strategic mind with the Cardassians and that Riker and Troi would find out about his true plan eventually; but in the end he was just playing with their temper until they would explode in anger. The obvious characterization of Jellico would be that he is sure of himself, but Troi sees through him and says that he is not, so perhaps he is projecting aggressiveness because of some inner imbalance or lack of love? I found this very interesting as it forces an entirely new reading on the character and the episodes. This is not touched upon again, but it would be great to get more of this type of psychological insights into Star Trek characters. Does this invalidate Jellico’s whole approach to command as something immature? No, it should not be read as such, and at the end he does get things done! But it does force a new appreciation of Picard and that not everyone in Starfleet is as utopian-like as this captain. Overall, I found that this story was well written and acted — albeit a bit simplistic — and did a great job at tackling some complex themes. I would love to see Jellico again, actually!
The quote:
Captain Jellico: “Get it done.†(echoing Picard’s “Make it so.�)
Alumni-spotting:
Ronny Cox (Captain Jellico) is…well…many people! He experienced John Boorman’s Deliverance, he developed the robot police in RoboCop, he was Cohaagen in Total Recall, he was Senator Kinsey in Stargate SG-1!
TRANSCRIPT
Captain's log, stardate 46357.4. We have rendezvoused with the starship Cairo near the Cardassian border for an urgent meeting with Vice Admiral Nechayev.
[Ready room]
PICARD: Come.
(Riker enters with a small blonde woman)
RIKER: May I present Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
PICARD: Admiral, welcome aboard.
NECHAYEV: Thank you. That'll be all, Commander.
(Riker leaves)
PICARD: Can I get you some coffee? Tea?
NECHAYEV: Thank you, no, Captain. I'm afraid there's no time for the usual pleasantries. I'm here to relieve you of command of the Enterprise.
(and on that bombshell we're straight into the opening titles)
[Observation lounge]
NECHAYEV: The Cardassian forces which were recently withdrawn from the Bajoran sector, have been redeployed along the Federation border. They have mobilised three divisions of ground troops and their subspace communications have been increased by fifty percent. We believe that they're preparing for an incursion into Federation space.
RIKER: Are the Cardassians ready for a war?
NECHAYEV: I didn't say war, Commander, I said incursion. Our intelligence reports suggests that they'll try to seize one of the disputed systems along the border. We think they're gambling that the Federation won't actually go to war over one system.
TROI: Will we?
NECHAYEV: I hope we won't need to make that decision. We have decided to send the Enterprise to meet with the Cardassian representative and open talks. We're hoping that the presence of the Federation flagship on the border will send a message to their leadership about just how seriously we view the situation.
RIKER: Where's Captain Picard?
NECHAYEV: The Captain, your Chief Medical Officer, and Security Chief have been reassigned. That's all I can tell you for now. Do any of you know Edward Jellico?
DATA: He is the commanding officer of the Cairo.
RIKER: I've heard of him. I don't know that any of us have
NECHAYEV: I'm giving him command of the Enterprise this afternoon. Captain Jellico helped to negotiate the original armistice two years ago and I believe he's the most qualified person to lead this mission. The change of command will take place at thirteen hundred hours. Thank you.
(everyone else leaves)
RIKER: Admiral, with all due respect, it's not necessary to give Captain Jellico command of the Enterprise just to conduct a negotiation.
NECHAYEV: I disagree. The Enterprise will be in a dangerous situation and I want someone on the Bridge who has a great deal of experience with the Cardassians. No offence, Commander, but that's not you.
[Holodeck caves]
(black-clad Worf and Beverly run along a tunnel then set a forcefield to protect their rear. A Cardassian soldier confronts them)
SOLDIER: Halt!
PICARD: Computer, freeze programme. You were five seconds slower that time.
WORF: You increased the difficulty level, sir.
PICARD: Mister Worf, it's going to be far more difficult where we're going.
CRUSHER: Which is where exactly?
PICARD: I'm sorry, I can't tell you that yet.
WORF: It would be helpful to know something about our mission.
PICARD: Mister Worf, I have my orders. I'm sure you understand that. Now Doctor, this deflector wasn't set properly. It must be positioned so that the emitter array blocks the entire passageway, or it's useless.
CRUSHER: Sorry. I was concentrating on getting away from the last Cardassian. Or maybe it was the falling rocks.
PICARD: I understand this is difficult. All I can do is ask you to trust me.
CRUSHER: All right, let's do it again.
PICARD: All right, Mister Worf. I want you to time the Doctor and me through that first tunnel. And this time we're going to pick up those five seconds.
[Transporter room]
(a silver-haired officer beams in)
RIKER: Welcome aboard, sir. I'm Commander
JELLICO: William T. Riker. Class of fifty seven, graduated eighth in his class. I'm looking forward to serving with you, Commander.
RIKER: Thank you. And I you.
JELLICO: I'm sure this change in command has taken everyone a little by surprise.
RIKER: Well, yes, sir.
[Corridor]
JELLICO: It caught me by surprise too. I must admit, I miss the Cairo already. But a Galaxy class ship, that's something special. I can understand why you turned down a ship of your own to remain aboard.
RIKER: Yes, sir.
JELLICO: How many duty watches does the crew stand?
RIKER: We've a standard three shift rotation.
JELLICO: I'd like to change that to four starting tonight. I'd also like to examine the duty roster and the crew evaluations as soon as possible. I want readiness reports from each department head by fourteen hundred hours, and a meeting of the senior staff at fifteen hundred. Do you prefer Will or William?
RIKER: Er, Will, sir.
(Jellico steps into a turbolift)
JELLICO: Where are my quarters, Will?
RIKER: We have you assigned to cabin seven thirty five. Deck si
JELLICO: Deck seven. I'll see you at thirteen hundred hours.
[Ten Forward]
(the two Captains are in dress uniform)
JELLICO: Yeah, I know. Wearing these uniforms reminds me of my first days at the Academy.
RIKER: Attention to orders.
PICARD: (reading) To Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commanding Officer USS Enterprise, stardate 46358.1. You are hereby requested and required to relinquish command of your vessel to Captain Edward Jellico, Commanding Officer USS Cairo as of this date. Signed, Vice-Admiral Alynna Nechayev, Starfleet Command. Computer, transfer all command codes to Captain Edward Jellico. Voice authorisation, Picard delta five.
COMPUTER: Transfer complete. USS Enterprise now under command of Captain Edward Jellico.
JELLICO: I relieve you, sir.
PICARD: I stand relieved.
JELLICO: Dismissed.
LAFORGE: I wonder how permanent this is going to be.
RIKER: I don't know. They don't usually go through the ceremony if it's just a temporary assignment.
TROI: Sore?
CRUSHER: Sore doesn't begin to describe it. I know. I wish I could talk about it.
PICARD: Most of the secondary systems were changed at the last overhaul. I don't think they'll give you any problems, but you might want to check out the port lateral
JELLICO: I'll take care of the Enterprise, Jean-Luc. You don't have to mother me. How's your team shaping up?
PICARD: Very well. But I would prefer more recent intelligence on the exact layout of the installation. The most current information we have is two years old.
JELLICO: Two years? I don't know how Nechayev ever talked you into this.
PICARD: She gave me no choice.
JELLICO: Well, maybe there's something we can do to help. We'll launch a class five probe just before we reach the border. You could pick up the telemetry aboard the shuttle.
PICARD: Now that would be extremely helpful.
JELLICO: Will.
RIKER: Captain. Captain.
JELLICO: I believe we're scheduled to arrive at the Cardassian border during delta shift. Please inform the delta tactical officer that I want to launch a class five probe just before we drop out of warp.
RIKER: I was actually going to talk to you about delta shift a little later, sir. Right now, gamma shift will be on duty when we arrive and I will tell Lieutenant McDowell about the probe.
JELLICO: Is there a problem with delta shift, Will?
RIKER: There is no delta shift yet, sir. I have spoken to the department heads about changing from three shifts to four, and they assure me it's going to cause us significant personnel problems.
JELLICO: So you have not changed the watch rotation.
RIKER: I was going to explain this to you after the ceremony, sir.
JELLICO: You will tell the department heads that as of now the Enterprise is on a four shift rotation. I don't want to talk about it. Get it done. Now that means delta shift will be due to come on duty in two hours. I expect you to have it fully manned and ready when it does. Is that clear?
RIKER: Yes, sir. If you'll excuse me, sir. Captain.
JELLICO: He was your first officer for five years.
PICARD: One of the finest officers that I have ever served with.
JELLICO: Of course he is, Jean-Luc. I'm sure it'll all work out.
Captain's log, stardate 46358.2. The Enterprise is on course for a rendezvous with the Cardassian ship Reklar. Fortunately, I still have time to prepare the ship and crew for the task ahead.
[Bridge]
JELLICO: I want you to install a bypass between the main phaser array and the secondary generators. I also want to run the main deflector pathway through the warp power grid and the auxiliary conduits through the lateral relays. You may have to reconfigure the transfer interface.
DATA: Sir, the transfer interface was not designed for that configuration. It will take seven hours to make those changes.
RIKER: Sir, you may not be aware that our normal interface already routes auxiliary power through three separate relays.
JELLICO: I'm aware of your current design system. It's not good enough. If these negotiations fail, we could find ourselves in a war zone and if that happens I want to be loaded for bear.
RIKER: I'll get right on it.
JELLICO: Good. Now these stations should be devoted to damage control and weapons status from now on. See that they're manned at all times.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
JELLICO: Mister Data, how long before we reach the rendezvous point?
DATA: We will arrive in fifty one hours, thirty two minutes, sir.
JELLICO: Schedule four battle drills, one for each shift. Run a series of simulated attacks from a Cardassian squadron. I want you to conduct the exercises personally, Will. Get it done. Oh, and get that fish out of the ready room. Data, you're with me.
[Engineering]
(Jellico and La Forge climb out of a Jefferies tube)
JELLICO: Power transfer levels need to be upgraded by twenty percent. The efficiency of your warp coils is also unsatisfactory.
LAFORGE: Coil efficiency is well within specifications, Captain.
JELLICO: I'm not interested in the specs, Geordi. The efficiency needs to be raised by at least fifteen percent.
LAFORGE: Fifteen percent.
DATA: That is an attainable goal, but it will require realigning the warp coil and taking the secondary distribution grid offline.
JELLICO: Very good, Data. That's exactly what I want you to do.
LAFORGE: If we take this grid offline, we're going to have to shut down exobiology, the astrophysics lab and geological research.
JELLICO: We're not on a research mission. Get it done in two days.
DATA: I believe that is also an attainable goal. If we utilise the entire Engineering department, there should be sufficient manpower available to complete the task.
LAFORGE: Sure, if everybody works around the clock for the next two days.
JELLICO: Then you'd better get to it, Geordi. It looks like you have some work to do. Data.
[Ready room]
(Jellico is arranging a sculpture or something when the doorbell rings)
JELLICO: Yes?
TROI: May I speak with you, Captain?
JELLICO: Deanna. Come in, come in.
(there are some child's drawings on his desk.)
JELLICO: The latest masterpieces from my son. It's an elephant. I think.
TROI: Definitely an elephant.
JELLICO: I'm glad you're here. I'd like to go over the duty roster with you.
TROI: I'd be happy to. But first, I'd like to talk about how the change in command is affecting the crew.
JELLICO: I've noticed some resistance.
TROI: I wouldn't call it resistance. More like uncertainty. Most of them had served under Captain Picard for several years. They knew him, they knew what he expected. Now they're being asked to adjust to a new captain and a new way of doing things, and they're uncertain how to react.
JELLICO: I see your point. This all could be very unsettling to them.
TROI: And to you. Perhaps everyone just needs some time. Time for you to get to know and trust the crew, and time for them to understand how you want things done.
JELLICO: I'm glad you brought this to my attention, Deanna. Unfortunately, I don't have time for a honeymoon with the crew. You've clearly given this a lot of thought, so I'd like you to take charge of the morale situation. Please see to it that they make the adjustment to the new routine quickly and easily. I have a meeting with the new Security Chief in five minutes, so the duty roster will have to wait. Thank you, Counsellor. By the way. I prefer a certain formality on the Bridge. I'd appreciate it if you wore standard uniform when you're on duty.
TROI: Of course, sir.
[Corridor]
LAFORGE: Commander, he's asked me to completely reroute half the power systems on the ship, change every duty roster, realign the warp coils in two days, and now he's transferred a third of my department to Security.
RIKER: If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. Captain Jellico has made major changes in every department on the ship.
LAFORGE: Yeah, well, I don't mind making changes and I don't mind hard work, but the man isn't giving me the time I need to do the work. Someone's got to get him to listen to reason.
RIKER: It's not going to be me. He's made that abundantly clear.
LAFORGE: Well then, can I make a suggestion? Talk to Captain Picard. Maybe he can do something. We just need a little time.
RIKER: All right.
[Picard's quarters]
(Picard staggers home weary and worn out from a hard day on the holodeck. Just as he manages to sit down the doorbell rings.)
PICARD: Come.
RIKER: Are you all right, sir?
PICARD: Yes, I am. The last time I had to train like this was for the Academy marathon, but I'm managing. What can I do for you?
RIKER: It's nothing urgent. I'm sorry I bothered you. Good night.
[Ready room]
PICARD: My orders are to maintain radio silence until we've completed the mission.
JELLICO: Well the Enterprise will be monitoring your channel just in case you do need to transmit a signal.
RIKER [OC]: Bridge to Captain Jellico. We've arrived at the shuttle departure coordinates.
JELLICO: Did you launch the probe I requested?
RIKER [OC]: Yes, sir. I wasn't aware you wanted to be informed.
JELLICO: Thank you. Jellico out. I can see why he's still only a first officer.
PICARD: Captain, I would just like you to know that Commander Riker is
JELLICO: I've read your reports, Jean-Luc. I know you think highly of him.
PICARD: It's not just my opinion. He's been decorated by Starfleet Command five times. He's been offered his own ship more than once. I think if you just gave him a chance, you'd find him an outstanding officer.
JELLICO: Jean-Luc, let's be candid for a moment. The Cardassians aren't going to listen to reason, and the Federation isn't going to give in to their demands. And the chances are you won't be coming back from this mission of yours. I want this ship ready for action and I don't have time to give Will Riker or anyone else a chance. And forgive me for being blunt, but the Enterprise is mine now. Well, here's hoping you beat the odds. Good hunting.
PICARD: Thank you.
JELLICO: Jean-Luc. I believe this is yours.
(and Shakespeare leaves the room)
[Shuttlecraft]
WORF: Shuttlecraft Feynman to Enterprise. We have cleared the shuttlebay.
RIKER [OC]: Acknowledged, Feynman. Good luck.
PICARD: Thank you, Enterprise. Well, now that we're under way, I can tell you about our mission. Starfleet Intelligence believes the Cardassians are developing a metagenic weapon.
CRUSHER: Oh my God.
WORF: I am not familiar with metagenics.
CRUSHER: They're genetically engineered viruses that are designed to destroy entire ecosystems. When metagenic toxins are released into a planet's atmosphere, they immediately begin to mutate. They seek out and destroy all forms of DNA they encounter. In a few days, everything is dead.
PICARD: In a month, the metagenic agent itself breaks down and dissipates completely, leaving every city, every road, every piece of equipment perfectly intact.
WORF: Leaving the planet safe to be conquered. Wouldn't using such a weapon pose as great a risk to the attacker as to the target?
CRUSHER: That's why metagenics and other biological weapons were outlawed years ago. Even the Romulans have abided with those agreements.
PICARD: Starfleet Intelligence believes that the Cardassians are developing a new delivery system, one that would protect them from accidental exposure to the toxin. They believe that the Cardassians are testing a way of launching dormant metagenic material on a subspace carrier wave.
CRUSHER: So they could activate the toxins after the launch, thereby preventing any accidental exposure.
PICARD: And because the subspace wave would appear simply as background radiation, no one would realise what was happening until it was too late. Now, for the past few weeks, theta-band subspace emissions have been detected coming from Celtris Three. Those emissions may indicate that a metagenic delivery system in operation.
WORF: What do we know about Celtris Three?
PICARD: Very little. It was thought to be uninhabited until these emissions were detected. Starfleet believes that the Cardassians may have a secret research lab located somewhere below the planet surface. Our orders are to penetrate this Celtris Three installation and determine if the Cardassians are actually building a metagenic weapon.
CRUSHER: And if they are?
PICARD: Destroy it. At any cost. When I was on the Stargazer, we conducted extensive tests using theta band carrier waves. One of the reasons I was selected for this mission is my familiarity with the methods used for generating them. Mister Worf, your presence here is obvious. Doctor, your job will be to locate and destroy any biotoxins we may find.
WORF: Celtris Three is in Cardassian space. How will we get there undetected?
PICARD: I know a way of acquiring some discreet transport. Mister Worf, set a course for Torman Five.
[Torman bar]
(Picard is directed to the person he is looking for.)
SOLOK: If he doesn't pay up, I know three large Ferengi who will not be so forgiving.
(As our trio stand around, the person the little Ferengi was talking to leaves in a hurry)
SOLOK: I didn't do it.
PICARD: I'm not accusing you of anything.
SOLOK: What do you want then?
PICARD: We're looking for DaiMon Solok.
SOLOK: Why?
PICARD: I have a business proposition to discuss.
SOLOK: Solok is a very busy, very important man. He isn't here. (Worf sits him down again) But I could relay a message.
PICARD: Good. Please, will you tell DaiMon Solok that we're interested in transportation to Celtris Three.
SOLOK: That's a Cardassian planet.
PICARD: Now, we understand that DaiMon Solok runs cargo there from time to time.
SOLOK: Solok is no smuggler.
PICARD: Yes, but if Solok were to go to Celtris Three for legitimate reasons, we would be interested in quietly booking passage for the journey.
SOLOK: I don't think he would be interested in dealing with Federation spies.
CRUSHER: You know, I heard that Solok was quite a man.
SOLOK: Why, yes, he is an extraordinary man.
CRUSHER: That's why we came here, because only Solok could help us. I guess there's some things even Solok can't do. It's too bad. (stroking Solok's lob) Because if he could, I would be very, very
SOLOK: Yes?
CRUSHER: Grateful.
SOLOK: (quivering with excitement) When do you want to leave?
[Caverns]
PICARD: Beverly, make sure that your tricorder is keeping a precise map of the route. We could very easily get lost in here.
CRUSHER: Right. I'm picking up some subspace signals, but I can't seem to get a lock on them.
PICARD: That's typical of theta-band emissions. You have to compress the detection band width in order to determine the fix. The source emission is five hundred metres east of here. And seven hundred metres below.
(something flies overhead)
PICARD: It's all right. They're called lynars, a kind of Celtrine bat. They're harmless.
WORF: Bats?
CRUSHER: You're not afraid of bats, are you, Worf?
WORF: Of course not.
First Officer's log, supplemental. We have rendezvoused with the Cardassian ship Reklar to begin diplomatic talks designed to ease tensions along the border.
[Bridge]
RIKER: Gul Lemec has arrived. He's waiting for you in the Observation Lounge.
JELLICO: Very good. I'll be in my Ready room.
[Ready room]
(the wall behind the desk is now decorated with frames pictures from his son)
JELLICO: Yes?
TROI: Captain, I think there's been a slight miscommunication. Did you want to meet with Gul Lemec in here?
JELLICO: No. The Observation Lounge is appropriate.
TROI: I see.
JELLICO: Lemec is a Cardassian, and Cardassians are like timber wolves, predators, bold in large numbers cautious by themselves, and with an instinctive need to establish a dominant position in any social gathering.
TROI: So you're trying to establish a dominant position by making him wait for you. The trouble with wolves is that sometimes the fight for dominance, one of them ends up dead.
JELLICO: In that case, the trick is to be the wolf that's still standing at the end.
[Precipice]
CRUSHER: The floor is over five hundred metres down from here.
PICARD: There doesn't seem to be a way around. We'll have to rappel from here. This is sheer granite. We'll have to use fusing pitons.
CRUSHER: We could try to find another way down.
PICARD: Unfortunately, that would take several hours. We don't have the time.
WORF: You're not afraid of heights, are you, Doctor?
CRUSHER: Of course not.
(They get into their harnesses and secure the lines)
PICARD: Now, remember to control your descent and don't get the lines tangled.
CRUSHER: I'll remember.
PICARD: All right?
[Observation lounge]
LEMEC: What is going on? I have been waiting here for over an hour!
JELLICO: I'm Captain Jellico. I believe you know Commander Riker, and this is Lieutenant Commander Troi. Let's get to it, shall we?
LEMEC: This treatment is a deliberate insult to the Cardassian Union. I have been kept waiting here for over an hour.
JELLICO: Then I'm sure you're ready to talk.
LEMEC: I did not agree to allow others into this meeting.
JELLICO: If it alarms you, I can ask them to leave.
LEMEC: I am not alarmed. But we did not
JELLICO: A great many people are depending on our efforts here, Gul Lemec. We don't need to quibble over minutiae.
LEMEC: I have here come to negotiate a Federation withdrawal from the border, not to be dictated to by some mere captain.
JELLICO: I can see you're not serious about these talks. If the Cardassian Union truly wishes to discuss peace, they can send someone who can negotiate in a civilised manner.
[Bridge]
DATA: Captain on the Bridge.
JELLICO: Let him stew for a few minutes, then go in and tell him you've convinced me to meet with him one more time. Tell him I'm a loose cannon and that he needs to be more reasonable because I'm such an unreasonable man. Lemec will want to bring his own aides on board. Pretend to be worried that I'll object, and then give grudging permission for two aides, no more. Understood?
TROI: Yes, sir.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
(Jellico goes into his Ready room)
RIKER: Well, I'll say this for him. He's sure of himself.
TROI: No, he's not.
[Precipice bottom]
PICARD: The installation should be about three hundred metres this way.
CRUSHER: I don't suppose we'll be able to find another way to get back up there.
WORF: I doubt it.
CRUSHER: That's what I thought.
[Caverns]
(the wonderfully flat passageway leads them to a dead end)
PICARD: There's a lava tube beyond here that runs for seventy five metres, then it connects with another chamber. We need to get through here. This tube opens up beyond this crack. We could widen the opening, then we should be able to crawl through. Mister Worf.
WORF: A phaser set to level sixteen should suffice.
PICARD: Make it so.
(Worf melts the rock face away)
PICARD: Well done, Mister Worf.
[Observation lounge]
JELLICO: Gul Lemec, a pleasure.
LEMEC: May I present my aides, Glin Corak and Glin Tajor.
JELLICO: Welcome aboard. For the past three weeks you've been massing troops in staging areas, assembling strike forces, and pulling ships from their normal patrols. We will not stand for this clearly provocative behaviour.
LEMEC: I see the Federation spy network has again provided you with faulty information. We are conducting routine training operations, nothing more.
JELLICO: Then I'm sure you won't mind if we send a few starships into this sector for our own training operations.
LEMEC: Your fleet deployments do not concern us. However, we are very concerned about your refusal to vacate those territories along the border which are clearly Cardassian.
JELLICO: You gave up your claims on those territories when you signed the armistice. You couldn't take those worlds by force, so you want us to give them to you at the bargaining table.
TROI: Captain, please, we should listen to them.
RIKER: Gul Lemec, as you know. the systems are still subject to negotiation by the terms of the treaty.
LEMEC: Negotiations which we have pursued in good faith. Unfortunately, the Federation has not been as forthcoming.
JELLICO: So to speed up the process, you are preparing for war.
LEMEC: We are preparing to defend ourselves.
RIKER: The Federation will not start a war.
LEMEC: That has always been your position. However, I have heard reports that a small team from the Federation has already been sent into our territory. Of course, I don't believe it. Such an attempt would almost certainly fail, and even if it succeeded, it would trigger a very serious response on our part.
JELLICO: I don't know what you're talking about.
LEMEC: Then there's no need for worry. A short recess would seem to be in order.
JELLICO: Very well.
LEMEC: Where is Captain Picard?
JELLICO: Reassigned.
LEMEC: Well, I hope his new assignment is not too dangerous. It would be a shame if something were to happen to such a, er, such a noted officer.
JELLICO: Yes, it would.
[Lava tube]
PICARD: Only a few more metres.
(Picard and Worf are clear when there's a small rock fall)
PICARD: Beverly, get out of there! Beverly!
(Worf scrabbles at the small rocks)
WORF: I have her.
(they pull her out of the now-blocked tube)
PICARD: Are you all right?
CRUSHER: I think so. Next time, you try bring up the rear.
PICARD: We're nearly there. Can you continue?
[Installation entrance]
(an incongruous metal door set in the rock wall)
PICARD: Looks like a maintenance hatch to the installation. I'm picking up three proximity sensors around it.
(Worf puts a device on the ground that sends out beams to the door)
WORF: Sensor echoes established, but the false image will only last a few minutes. The hatch is magnetically sealed, but I believe I can bypass it.
CRUSHER: I can't get a scan from the other side of the hatch. It's been shielded.
PICARD: We have no choice. Remember, aim low. Fire in short, controlled bursts.
WORF: Ready.
PICARD: Now.
[Chamber]
(the door slides open and they dash into another rock chamber with just one single pulsing piece of equipment.)
CRUSHER: There's no one here. There's no lab.
PICARD: It's a trap. Come on.
(there is weapons fire, then the door starts to close. Worf blocks it with his body. Beverly squeezes through but Picard is in hand-to-hand combat)
WORF: Captain!
(an injured Cardassian shoots Worf in the shoulder and he falls out of the chamber. By the time Picard gets there, the door is shut)
[Installation entrance]
CRUSHER: Let's go.
WORF: The Captain.
CRUSHER: No. There are five more of them heading this way from another tunnel. Come on. Now!
[Chamber]
(Picard drops his phaser. One of the Cardassians switches off the device and they take their prisoner away)
CARDASSIAN: Come on.
[Bridge]
DATA: Captain on the Bridge.
JELLICO: What have you got, Will?
RIKER: I'm not sure. We're picking up a lot of coded messages from a Cardassian planet near the border.
JELLICO: Which planet?
RIKER: Celtris Three.
JELLICO: Can you detect any theta-band subspace emissions coming from Celtris?
RIKER: There are some residual traces. It seems there were emissions up until a few minutes ago.
JELLICO: Open a secure channel to Admiral Nechayev. Priority two. Put it through to my Ready room.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
[Ready room]
NECHAYEV [on monitor]: Captain?
JELLICO: Those emissions you were so concerned about have just stopped. I'd say one way or another, our friends have finished their task.
NECHAYEV [on monitor]: Have you heard from our friends?
JELLICO: No.
NECHAYEV [on monitor]: Let me know if you do. I'd very much like to see them again.
JELLICO: So would I, Admiral.
[Interrogation room]
(Picard is brought in, handcuffed. The Gul is on a chair behind a large desk. There is one other chair in the room.)
MADRED: A challenge. (the guard leaves) You should prove to be an interesting challenge. Possibly the most interesting to come through that door in many years.
PICARD: What do you want?
MADRED: Why you, of course. Picard. Jean-Luc. Serial number SP dash nine three seven dash two one five. Son of Maurice and Yvette Picard. Born in La Barre, France. Formerly Captain of the Stargazer, where you conducted extensive studies on theta-band subspace carrier waves. Don't look so surprised. How could we have designed a lure for the Captain of the Federation flagship unless we knew something about his background.
PICARD: So you concocted an elaborate ruse to bring me here. Why?
MADRED: In this room, you do not ask questions. I ask them, you answer. If I'm not satisfied with those answers, you will die.
To Be Continued...
2024-09-12 00:30:44 -
Pike:
Added the transcript.
