Picard Orders Removal of Contagion-Compromised Wesley
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Picard logs the crisis aloud, declaring Wesley Crusher has commandeered Engineering, signaling the contagion's escalation aboard the Enterprise.
Picard commands MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, initiating an immediate response to regain control.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Distracted and evasive, struggling with the contagion’s influence and a possible desire to avoid further command pressure.
Lieutenant Yar responds to Picard’s communication from her quarters, stating she is busy and reluctant to immediately comply, revealing her conflicted engagement amid the contagion’s psychological grip.
- • Maintain distance from escalating command crisis
- • Delay engagement until compelled
- • Current situation is overwhelming and chaotic
- • Personal space and autonomy are important despite orders
Urgently concerned with maintaining order and control, masking rising frustration and pressure beneath a veneer of calm authority.
Captain Picard authoritatively logs the contamination crisis in his captain's log, commands MacDougal and Riker to expel Wesley from Engineering, coordinates security response, and maintains a strategic grip on the unraveling command structure from the bridge.
- • Regain control of Engineering from Wesley Crusher
- • Stabilize ship discipline amidst contagion-driven chaos
- • The contagion threatens both personnel and critical ship systems
- • Strong leadership and rapid decisive action are essential to prevent total breakdown
Calm and methodical, with a hint of curiosity about human irrationality despite physical impairment.
Data analytically confirms bizarre transmissions shipwide, quotes an incomplete limerick, and obeys Picard's order to retrieve Lieutenant Yar from her quarters and bring her to Sickbay, demonstrating calm logic amid growing disorder.
- • Collect and analyze anomalous ship broadcasts
- • Comply with Picard’s orders to secure Lieutenant Yar
- • Bizarre behavior is symptomatic of contagion’s effect
- • Following chain of command is vital despite confusion
Alert and uneasy, grappling with incomprehensible disruptions to normal ship operations.
Worf reports disturbing and strange orders from various ship decks to Picard, expressing concern and puzzlement about the contagion’s effect on crew discipline and command integrity.
- • Inform Picard of anomalous crew behavior
- • Help preserve order amid contagion-driven chaos
- • Irregular orders indicate contagion’s deep infiltration
- • Maintaining vigilance is essential to crew safety
Focused and determined to execute Picard’s orders effectively, while apprehensive about the contagion’s impact on crew behavior.
Commander Riker promptly responds to Picard's command and moves toward the turbolift, preparing to assist in expelling Wesley from Engineering, demonstrating cooperative and concerned leadership.
- • Assist in restoring Engineering control
- • Support Picard’s command amid mounting crisis
- • Wesley’s control of Engineering jeopardizes ship operations
- • Teamwork and swift action can mitigate contagion effects
Determined and composed, balancing stress with commitment to ship and crew safety.
Sarah MacDougal receives Picard’s urgent order and immediately moves to Engineering to help remove Wesley, showing focused professionalism despite the chaotic contagion-driven situation.
- • Expel Wesley Crusher from Engineering
- • Restore technical control and operational normalcy
- • Engineering must be secured to preserve the ship’s functionality
- • Following Picard’s orders is critical despite internal turmoil
Casually dismissive, showing minimal concern or urgency despite critical situation.
The Enterprise Security Com Voice responds lazily and with clear disinterest to Picard's repeated demands, exemplifying breakdown in ship security discipline as contagion disrupts normal duty execution.
- • Minimize effort in communications
- • Avoid escalation of command pressure
- • Situation is not worth full attention
- • Command demands can be delayed or ignored
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Enterprise Main Bridge console serves as a communication hub for Picard to relay commands to security, summon Lieutenant Yar, and coordinate the response to the contagion and Wesley’s mutiny-like takeover of Engineering.
The USS Enterprise-D Forward Turbolift facilitates rapid movement of Riker and MacDougal as they respond to Picard’s urgent orders to expel Wesley Crusher from Engineering, underscoring the ship’s internal lifeline amid fracturing command.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Enterprise Main Bridge serves as the nerve center for Picard’s command efforts during the contagion crisis, embodying the escalating tension and fracturing discipline as strange orders and bizarre communications flood the ship. It is the stage for the critical decisions to expel Wesley and mobilize security.
Engineering is the critical ship section currently under Wesley Crusher’s unauthorized control, representing a focal point of the contagion’s disruptive power. Picard’s orders to expel Wesley highlight Engineering’s symbolic and practical importance to the ship’s survival.
Lieutenant Yar’s quarters on Ligon serve as her isolated refuge from command pressures, where she is contacted by Picard but reluctant to comply immediately, illustrating the psychological impact of the contagion and fracturing discipline.
Enterprise Sickbay is designated by Picard as the destination for Lieutenant Yar upon Data’s retrieval, symbolizing the attempt to bring medical and command stability amid contagion chaos.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"MacDougal leaves Engineering to obey Picard's order, leaving Shimoda vulnerable to infection and enabling Wesley's control over critical ship systems."
"MacDougal leaves Engineering to obey Picard's order, leaving Shimoda vulnerable to infection and enabling Wesley's control over critical ship systems."
Key Dialogue
"PICARD (V.O.): Captain's log, Stardate 41209.3. The strange contaminant that led to the deaths of the Tsiolkovsky crew is now aboard the Enterprise... and our Engineering Section has been commandeered by young Wesley Crusher..."
"PICARD: Number One, MacDougal -- get that boy out of Engineering."
"WORF: Sir, I'm getting very strange reports from all decks --"
"PICARD: Such as?"
"WORF: Such as the ship's training division ordering all officers to attend a lecture on metaphysics."
"PICARD: Metaphysics?"
"DATA: Confirmed, sir. And there is a rather peculiar limerick being delivered by someone in the shuttlecraft bay. I am not sure I understand it..."
"DATA (quoting): There was a young lady from Venus whose body was shaped like --"
"PICARD (interrupting): Captain to Security, come in!"
"PICARD: Where's my security chief?! Get me Lieutenant Yar."
"TASHA'S COM VOICE: Captain Picard..."
"PICARD: Yar, where are you?"
"TASHA'S COM VOICE: I'm in my quarters and pretty busy right at this moment, Jean-Luc."
"PICARD: (gathering self together) All right, Lieutenant, just stay right there."
"PICARD: (turning) Data, please go to Lieutenant Yar and get her down to Sickbay."
"PICARD: (into console) Security, I want all your senior supervisors to report to the bridge immediately."