Fabula
S1E25 · Conspiracy
S1E25
· Conspiracy

Picard’s Uneasy Reception in the Silent Great Hall

Captain Jean-Luc Picard arrives alone at the unsettlingly quiet Great Hall of Starfleet Headquarters, immediately met by Admirals Savar and Aaron whose polite yet subtly hostile demeanor betrays deep mistrust. Lieutenant Commander Dexter Remmick stands nearby, his soft but strained greeting adding to the pervasive tension. Picard's probing about the unusual silence is met with evasive reassurances and hollow hospitality, including an offered dinner prepared in his honor. This charged encounter exposes the fractures and shadowy conspiracies within Starfleet’s highest ranks, foreshadowing the parasitic infiltration threatening the Federation’s core.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

Picard materializes into the imposing Great Hall where Admirals Savar and Aaron greet him, their cordial welcome shadowed by the unsettling emptiness and the distant presence of Lieutenant Commander Remmick.

formal welcome to subtle unease ['Great Hall of Starfleet Headquarters']

Picard exchanges polite remarks with Savar and Aaron, whose cryptic responses and Picard's silent recognition of their odd tone deepen the atmosphere of distrust.

courteous dialogue to growing suspicion ['Great Hall of Starfleet Headquarters']

Aaron introduces Commander Remmick to Picard, whose brief, friendly acknowledgment contrasts with the lingering tension as Remmick follows the admirals down the eerily quiet corridor.

forced cordiality to underlying menace ['Great Hall corridor']

Savar offers a prepared meal as a hollow gesture of hospitality, while Picard probes the strange silence in the usually bustling corridor, receiving only vague reassurances from Remmick.

hospitality to growing unease ['Great Hall corridor']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

4

Curious and uneasy beneath a composed exterior, sensing deep mistrust and underlying threats.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard materializes alone into the Great Hall and engages in cautious dialogue, expressing curiosity and unease about the unusual silence. His demeanor is thoughtful and guarded as he navigates the thinly veiled hostility while maintaining his composure.

Goals in this moment
  • To gauge the atmosphere and uncover the cause of the unusual silence.
  • To maintain diplomatic relations while probing for signs of conspiracy or betrayal.
Active beliefs
  • There is something amiss within Starfleet's upper echelons.
  • His loyalty to his crew and Starfleet compels him to seek the truth discreetly.
Character traits
resolute cautious inquiring diplomatic
Follow Jean-Luc Picard's journey

Feigns calm and cordiality while harboring suspicion and concealed hostility.

Admiral Savar greets Picard with formal politeness, masking a cryptic and subtly hostile demeanor. He leads Picard down the hall, using measured words that hint at suspicion and control.

Goals in this moment
  • To assert control over the encounter and manage Picard’s investigation discreetly.
  • To conceal the presence of the parasitic infiltration lurking within Starfleet's hierarchy.
Active beliefs
  • The conspiracy must remain hidden at all costs.
  • Picard is a threat that must be monitored and manipulated.
Character traits
calm calculating diplomatic menacing undertone
Follow Savar's journey

Politely hostile with an undercurrent of contempt and guarded calculation.

Admiral Aaron also participates in greeting Picard, introducing Commander Remmick and sharing in leading Picard, his polite facade overlaying a subtle menace. His tone carries a restrained hostility, contributing to the oppressive atmosphere.

Goals in this moment
  • To maintain the appearance of hospitality while surveilling Picard closely.
  • To protect the parasitic conspiracy by managing Picard’s movements and interactions.
Active beliefs
  • The parasitic threat within Starfleet must be concealed.
  • Picard’s suspicions are dangerous and must be controlled.
Character traits
sarcastic undertone ruthless manipulative politically savvy
Follow Aaron's journey

Strained politeness masking apprehension and internal conflict.

Lieutenant Commander Dexter Remmick stands quietly in the background, offering a soft but strained greeting to Picard that betrays his cautiousness and discomfort in the tense environment.

Goals in this moment
  • To appear cooperative while avoiding revealing any compromising information.
  • To monitor Picard’s intentions and report back to senior conspirators if necessary.
Active beliefs
  • The situation in Starfleet is precarious and dangerous.
  • Any misstep could endanger his position and the conspiracy’s secrecy.
Character traits
furtive strained loyalty conflicted reserved
Follow Dexter Remmick's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Starfleet Headquarters / Starfleet Command

The Great Hall of Starfleet Headquarters serves as the solemn and imposing backdrop for this tense encounter. Its usual bustling activity is replaced by an unnerving silence, amplifying the sense of unease and suspicion. The hall functions as a crucible for political intrigue and fractured loyalties, symbolizing Starfleet’s faltering unity.

Atmosphere Oppressively quiet, charged with unspoken hostility and restrained tension.
Function Meeting place for covert power plays and subtle confrontations among Starfleet’s senior leadership.
Symbolism Represents institutional decay and the isolation wrought by internal conspiracy.
Access Restricted to senior Starfleet officers and trusted personnel; heavily guarded and surveilled.
Strangely empty of usual personnel and activity Echoes of footsteps accentuate the silence Sparse lighting casting long shadows

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 6
Causal

"The suspicious attitude and cryptic behavior of Admirals Savar and Aaron lead directly to their hostile confrontation and reveal as infected conspirators during the dinner scene."

Picard Uncovers the Parasitic Conspiracy and Riker’s Betrayal
S1E25 · Conspiracy
Causal

"The suspicious attitude and cryptic behavior of Admirals Savar and Aaron lead directly to their hostile confrontation and reveal as infected conspirators during the dinner scene."

Admirals’ Treachery and Riker’s Deceptive Coup
S1E25 · Conspiracy
Causal

"The suspicious attitude and cryptic behavior of Admirals Savar and Aaron lead directly to their hostile confrontation and reveal as infected conspirators during the dinner scene."

Riker’s Double Betrayal and the Shattering of Alliances
S1E25 · Conspiracy
Thematic Parallel

"The polite, cryptic reception by Admirals Savar and Aaron parallels their later revealed monstrous nature, illustrating the theme of betrayal cloaked in civility within Starfleet's leadership."

Picard Uncovers the Parasitic Conspiracy and Riker’s Betrayal
S1E25 · Conspiracy
Thematic Parallel

"The polite, cryptic reception by Admirals Savar and Aaron parallels their later revealed monstrous nature, illustrating the theme of betrayal cloaked in civility within Starfleet's leadership."

Admirals’ Treachery and Riker’s Deceptive Coup
S1E25 · Conspiracy
Thematic Parallel

"The polite, cryptic reception by Admirals Savar and Aaron parallels their later revealed monstrous nature, illustrating the theme of betrayal cloaked in civility within Starfleet's leadership."

Riker’s Double Betrayal and the Shattering of Alliances
S1E25 · Conspiracy

Key Dialogue

"SAVAR: Welcome home, Captain Picard."
"PICARD: Thank you, sir. My first officer will be joining us shortly."
"PICARD: Tell me, why is it so quiet here? The last time I saw this corridor it was bustling with activity."
"REMMICK: It often is. Tonight's a quiet night."