Tectonic Alert — Data Rushes for Picard
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Data commands a full tectonic scan of Drema Four, shifting the bridge from passive observation to active investigation, as the planet's violent地质 upheaval floods the viewscreen with data that will later reveal the dilithium lattice's deadly resonance.
Data learns Picard is on Holodeck Three, and without hesitation, he crosses the bridge and enters the turbolift—his serious expression betraying a crisis beyond technical duty, signaling the moment his connection to Sarjenka becomes too heavy to remain silent.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Externally controlled, but gravely concerned—Data's mechanical calm gives way to urgent seriousness, implying a personal stake beneath objective analysis.
At Science One Data issues an immediate, technical order, ingests the arriving seismic and volcanic telemetry with a fast read, queries for Picard’s location, then crosses to and enters the turbolift with a very serious expression.
- • Obtain complete, rapid diagnostics of Drema Four's tectonic/volcanic activity.
- • Locate and inform Captain Picard (or summon his presence) to escalate command decision-making.
- • Accurate, immediate data is necessary to assess scale and response options.
- • This situation requires captain‑level authority or consultation; personal action alone may be insufficient or improper.
Alert and watchful—Worf's stance is one of disciplined readiness, expecting possible orders or threats and prepared to act without hesitation.
Worf is stationed at Tactical, watching displays and standing ready; he functions as the bridge’s procedural sentinel while the scientific data arrives and the command hierarchy is consulted.
- • Monitor tactical implications of the seismic/volcanic data for ship and crew safety.
- • Ensure security posture is maintained while command evaluates the crisis.
- • Situational awareness and preparedness prevent escalation or surprise.
- • Adherence to procedure and chain of command is essential during crises.
Focused and vigilant—Riker is ready to translate incoming data into tactical or operational steps while waiting for higher command input.
Riker holds command of the bridge, receiving Data's orders and the flood of diagnostic information while maintaining overall operational control and presence at the helm; he remains prepared to act on bridge procedures or Picard's direction.
- • Maintain bridge order and readiness while new crisis data is assessed.
- • Be prepared to implement command decisions or emergency procedures as they are issued.
- • The bridge must remain functional and decisive under pressure.
- • Protocol and chain of command guide responses to crises; unnecessary improvisation risks compounding problems.
Neutral and functional—providing information without interpretation or emotional coloring.
The Enterprise Computer responds to Data's requests with concise confirmations: it begins data access routines and reports Captain Picard's current location, enabling rapid operational decisions and directing Data's next move.
- • Execute requested data access and reporting tasks accurately and quickly.
- • Provide authoritative system responses that enable crew decision-making.
- • Fulfilling procedural queries promptly supports bridge operations.
- • Objective reporting of status and locations is the proper role of shipboard systems.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The aft turbolift doors function as the physical threshold where Data's private urgency becomes public action—he crosses the bridge and the doors hiss as he departs, converting an analytic alert into movement toward command consultation and escalating the scene's stakes.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Science One (Data's workstation) is the immediate analytic locus: Data issues commands from here, rigs and reads telemetry, and initiates the diagnostic sequence that reveals Drema Four's catastrophic geological processes.
Drema Four is the off-world subject of the diagnostic sweep; seismic and volcanic telemetry from this planet provide the evidentiary basis for the bridge's alarm and for Data's determination that the problem is catastrophic and possibly tied to a dilithium lattice anomaly.
Holodeck Three is the off-bridge location reported by the computer as Captain Picard’s whereabouts; its mention instantly reframes the crisis as one requiring retrieval of the captain and signals that command counsel is not physically present on the bridge.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
No narrative connections mapped yet
This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph
Key Dialogue
"DATA: Access all volcanic and tectonic plate activity of Drema Four."
"COMPUTER VOICE: Accessing."
"DATA: Computer, locate Captain Picard."
"COMPUTER VOICE: Captain Picard is on Holodeck Three."