Riker Deflates Expectations — Privilege Over Pride
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Geordi probes Riker's odds with a volley of hopeful questions; Riker swats each away with clipped refusals, signaling zero expectation of victory and draining hype from the upcoming match.
Needling whether he'll even show, Geordi triggers Riker to reframe the event as an honor to face Kolrami, the Strategema master—humility over ego becomes Riker's stance.
Geordi asks for any reason to be excited; Riker offers none, and Geordi lands on dry sarcasm, cementing a wry, low-expectation tone before the match.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Measured and deliberately muted — he downplays enthusiasm to control tone, protect others from disappointment, and steady himself emotionally.
Riker walks calmly, repeatedly deflecting Geordi's attempts to build expectation, dismissing chances of victory and reframing the match as a privilege to face Kolrami rather than an occasion for boastful hope.
- • Temper crew expectations to prevent overconfidence and public embarrassment.
- • Reframe the encounter as honorable to reduce pressure on himself and the crew.
- • Kolrami is the superior strategist and a worthy opponent; beating him is unlikely.
- • Managing emotional stakes is as important as tactical preparation; lowering expectations prevents morale collapse if they lose.
Playful curiosity with a streak of eager anticipation — he wants to believe in a contest and to share the thrill with his friend.
Geordi walks with Riker toward Ten‑Forward, teasingly pressing Riker for optimism about the Strategema match and attempting to generate excitement with light sarcasm and prodding questions.
- • Elicit confident, competitive talk from Riker to raise morale and excitement.
- • Confirm whether Riker will actively contest Kolrami so crew expectations can form.
- • He believes camaraderie and visible confidence will boost crew morale.
- • He assumes Riker would want to compete and win, or at least project competitiveness.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Strategema holographic cone is referenced as the impending contest and functions as the narrative catalyst for the exchange; the game's reputation shapes Riker's comments and Geordi's teasing, even though the physical display is not present in the corridor.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Ten‑Forward is invoked as the destination and social stage where the Strategema match will take place; in this event it functions as the implied public arena whose presence heightens the stakes and the social pressure that Riker seeks to diffuse.
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
"GEORDI: So you're going to beat him?"
"RIKER: Nope."
"RIKER: Sure, Kolrami is the best at Strategema. To even get to play him is a privilege."