Remmick’s Relentless Interrogation Undermines Trust in Picard
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Remmick interrogates Data, pressing him to uncover hidden problems aboard the Enterprise and questioning Picard's true nature, but Data firmly upholds the ship's integrity, rejecting the insinuation of wrongdoing.
Remmick grills Worf about a contaminant on board, probing the absence of formal procedures and provoking Worf's terse defiance, exposing tension and distrust between them.
Remmick presses Dr. Beverly Crusher on her personal feelings toward Picard, weaponizing her late husband's death to unsettle her, but she firmly rebuffs the intrusion, asserting the irrelevance of emotions to the inquiry.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Steadily resolute with underlying frustration at the ongoing mistrust and political scrutiny.
Captain Picard confronts Remmick’s accusations with measured dignity and resolute clarity, openly admitting his deliberate Prime Directive violation while defending his moral rationale and expressing frustration at the protracted investigation.
- • To affirm the justification for his controversial decisions.
- • To end the invasive and disruptive investigation on the Enterprise.
- • His actions, though controversial, were morally justified and necessary.
- • The investigation is excessive and undermines Starfleet’s trust in his command.
Calm and composed, with a steadfast resolve to uphold truth despite pressure.
Data responds calmly and logically to Remmick’s interrogations, firmly defending Captain Picard and the accuracy of the ship’s logs, embodying rationality and unwavering loyalty to Starfleet and his captain.
- • To provide accurate information and clear misunderstandings.
- • To defend Captain Picard’s integrity and the ship’s operational record.
- • The ship’s logs accurately reflect events under Picard’s command.
- • Truth and loyalty to Starfleet principles outweigh unfounded suspicion.
Reserved and defensive, internally wary of Remmick’s motives but outwardly controlled.
Worf answers tersely and defensively, maintaining loyalty to Picard and underscoring the accidental nature of a contamination incident, reflecting disciplined reserve and guarded skepticism toward Remmick’s insinuations.
- • To protect Picard and the crew’s reputation.
- • To deflect unsubstantiated accusations without escalation.
- • Picard’s actions and procedures are fundamentally sound.
- • Remmick’s interrogation is intrusive and unfair.
Guarded and resolute, suppressing personal emotion to maintain focus on professional duty.
Beverly Crusher maintains a firm, professional demeanor, refusing to engage with Remmick’s personal insinuations about her relationship with Picard and the death of her husband, defending Picard’s integrity while guarding her personal feelings.
- • To protect Captain Picard’s reputation from irrelevant personal attacks.
- • To uphold professionalism and confidentiality despite invasive questioning.
- • Personal feelings are irrelevant to the investigation of command decisions.
- • Picard’s leadership and integrity deserve defense against baseless speculation.
Driven by suspicion and determination, masking underlying impatience and desire to unearth scandal.
Inspector General Remmick conducts a probing, relentless interrogation of the Enterprise's senior officers in the Observation Lounge, pressing accusations and insinuations with a suspicious and accusatory tone, attempting to uncover hidden flaws and challenge Picard's leadership.
- • To expose any concealed misconduct or moral failings within the Enterprise command.
- • To undermine Captain Picard’s authority by planting seeds of doubt among his officers.
- • Captain Picard is not fully truthful or has made questionable decisions.
- • The integrity of the Enterprise’s command is compromised and must be investigated thoroughly.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Beverly Crusher's Medical Notes and Notebooks, though not explicitly referenced in dialogue, underpin the personal and professional tension during interrogation, representing documented medical and ethical considerations linked to Picard’s command decisions and the investigation’s scrutiny.
The Ship's Logs serve as the central evidentiary reference repeatedly cited and challenged by Remmick during his interrogations, symbolizing the official record of Starfleet operations and Captain Picard's contested decisions. Their accuracy is defended strongly by Data and Picard, anchoring the truth of the investigation.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Enterprise Observation Lounge functions as a formal, tense interrogation chamber where Remmick conducts his probing interviews. Its subdued lighting and reserved furnishings provide a claustrophobic, oppressive atmosphere that amplifies the psychological pressure on the officers, highlighting institutional authority confronting personal loyalty.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Worf’s vulnerability in confiding his fears parallels his later steadfast defense of Picard during Remmick’s harsh questioning, showing his psychological complexity."
"Worf’s vulnerability in confiding his fears parallels his later steadfast defense of Picard during Remmick’s harsh questioning, showing his psychological complexity."
"Worf’s vulnerability in confiding his fears parallels his later steadfast defense of Picard during Remmick’s harsh questioning, showing his psychological complexity."
Key Dialogue
"REMMICK: "There is a problem with this ship, Mister Data. It's in the records, somewhere. I need your help to find it." DATA: "All the ship's records are available to you, sir." REMMICK: "Your captain is not what he appears to be. Do not forget you have loyalty to Starfleet above all else." DATA: "Loyalty is not the issue, Commander. There is nothing wrong with Captain Picard -- or the ship's logs.""
"REMMICK: "Just how did this contaminant come on board?" WORF: "By accident, sir." REMMICK: "Meaning Captain Picard has no standing procedure for this type of situation?" WORF: "No. Meaning 'by accident' sir." REMMICK: "You don't like me very much, do you?" WORF: "Is it required, sir?""
"REMMICK: "How would you characterize your relationship with Captain Picard?" BEVERLY: "We're officers of Starfleet who have known each other for many years." REMMICK: "You can be completely open with me." BEVERLY: "My personal feelings about Captain Picard are irrelevant to this investigation. And none of your business.""
"REMMICK: "Then you confirm the logs are accurate: you violated the Prime Directive with the Edo? You deliberately interfered with their laws?" PICARD: "Yes. It's exactly as I explained it in the log records." REMMICK: "All to save Doctor Crusher's son?" PICARD: "One of my crew was held unjustly. I stand by my decision." PICARD: "The only thing I'm guilty of is allowing this charade to go on too long.""