Shelby’s Gambit: The Borg Footprint and the Power Play
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Shelby explains her theory about magnetic-resonance traces left by the Borg to Riker, suggesting it could be a 'Borg footprint.' She then informs Riker that she will be reassigning Data and La Forge to her away team.
Riker asserts his authority by stating that he has already assigned Data and La Forge to the away team and that he will be joining them. Shelby acknowledges his decision, though with visible awkwardness.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Confident and subtly aggressive, masking her ambition behind a veneer of professional curiosity and camaraderie.
Shelby leads the conversation with Riker, her tone initially casual as she discusses the Borg’s residue and her 'footprint' theory. She smoothly transitions to assigning Data and La Forge to her away team, only to be met with Riker’s assertion of prior assignments. Undeterred, she shifts to a more personal line of inquiry, probing Riker about his experience aboard the Enterprise and his potential departure. Her 'innocent slip' about replacing him as first officer is a calculated maneuver to test his reaction. Shelby’s smile and measured gaze reveal her confidence and strategic mind, even as Riker deflects her advances with a poker invitation.
- • Establish her scientific theory as credible to gain influence over the away team and mission strategy.
- • Gauge Riker’s reaction to her ambition for his position, testing his resolve and potential weaknesses.
- • Her 'Borg footprint' theory is a legitimate scientific approach that will earn her respect and authority.
- • Riker’s potential departure creates an opportunity for her to ascend to first officer, and she must position herself accordingly.
Calmly guarded, masking irritation at Shelby’s power play while maintaining professional composure.
Riker moves with Shelby through the corridor, engaging in a conversation about the Borg’s residue. He listens intently as Shelby outlines her 'Borg footprint' theory, his expression betraying a mix of professional curiosity and guarded skepticism. When Shelby attempts to assign Data and La Forge to her away team, Riker subtly asserts his authority by revealing the assignments are already made, including his own participation. His demeanor remains calm but firm, masking his awareness of Shelby’s underlying ambition. He deflects her probing question about his career with a poker invitation, maintaining control of the interaction while exposing the tension beneath their exchange.
- • Reassert his authority over crew assignments and away team composition to maintain command hierarchy.
- • Deflect Shelby’s probing about his career intentions without revealing personal or professional vulnerabilities.
- • Shelby’s ambition is a direct challenge to his leadership, and he must neutralize it without escalating conflict.
- • Maintaining control of the away team assignments is critical to preserving his role and the crew’s cohesion.
Not applicable (off-screen, referenced only).
Data is mentioned in passing as part of Shelby’s proposed away team assignment. Riker quickly reasserts that Data is already assigned to the team, subtly reinforcing his authority over crew assignments. Data’s actual presence or dialogue is absent in this event, but his inclusion in the conversation highlights his value as a key resource in the mission against the Borg.
- • N/A (Data is not physically present in this event).
- • N/A (Data is not physically present in this event).
Not applicable (off-screen, referenced only).
La Forge is also mentioned in passing as part of Shelby’s proposed away team assignment. Like Data, Riker clarifies that La Forge is already assigned to the team, reinforcing his control over the mission’s personnel. La Forge’s role in this event is purely referential, emphasizing his importance to the away team’s technical capabilities.
- • N/A (La Forge is not physically present in this event).
- • N/A (La Forge is not physically present in this event).
Picard is referenced indirectly by Shelby, who mentions her intention to convince him that she is the right choice for …
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The 'Borg footprint' theory, embodied by the magnetic-resonance traces Shelby discusses, serves as the catalyst for the power struggle between Shelby and Riker. Shelby presents these traces as evidence of the Borg’s presence, using them to justify her scientific approach and her desire to lead the away team. The traces symbolize both a potential tactical advantage and a tool for Shelby to assert her authority. Riker’s response—reasserting his control over the away team assignments—highlights the traces’ role as a contested resource in their professional rivalry.
Riker’s poker game invitation functions as a strategic deflection, allowing him to redirect the conversation away from Shelby’s probing about his career. The invitation serves as both a social olive branch and a subtle power move, reinforcing Riker’s control over the interaction. It also sets up a future dynamic where Shelby and Riker will continue their rivalry in a more informal setting, where tensions may resurface.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Riker’s quarters on Deck Eight are referenced as the future setting for the poker game, which Riker uses to deflect Shelby’s probing. While not physically present in this event, the quarters symbolize Riker’s established authority and control over the crew’s social dynamics. The invitation to poker serves as a reminder of Riker’s long-standing role aboard the *Enterprise* and his ability to redirect tensions into more controlled, informal settings. The quarters represent a space where Riker can maintain his influence, even in the face of Shelby’s ambition.
The corridor outside Shelby’s quarters serves as a neutral yet charged meeting ground for Shelby and Riker’s power struggle. Its sterile, humming environment contrasts with the intensity of their verbal sparring, amplifying the tension between them. The corridor’s confined space forces them into close proximity, making their exchange feel more intimate and confrontational. As they transition into Shelby’s quarters, the shift in setting mirrors the escalation of their rivalry, from professional curiosity to personal ambition.
Shelby’s quarters function as an intimate setting where the power dynamics between Shelby and Riker shift from professional to personal. The enclosed space amplifies the tension of their exchange, particularly when Shelby reveals her ambition to replace Riker. The quarters symbolize Shelby’s temporary but strategic foothold aboard the *Enterprise*, a space where she can assert her presence and challenge Riker’s authority. The transition from the corridor to Shelby’s quarters marks the escalation of their rivalry, as Shelby’s confidence grows in the privacy of her domain.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet’s institutional presence looms over the interaction between Shelby and Riker, shaping their professional dynamics and ambitions. Shelby’s ambition to replace Riker as first officer is framed within the context of Starfleet’s hierarchical structure, where promotions and assignments are governed by merit and institutional needs. Riker’s reassertion of his authority over the away team assignments reflects his adherence to Starfleet’s chain of command, even as he navigates Shelby’s challenge. The organization’s values—discipline, cooperation, and self-sacrifice—are subtly tested as Shelby and Riker maneuver for influence in the face of the Borg threat.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Shelby continues demonstrating her ambition, first by taking action (reassigning Data/LaForge) and then by directly probing Riker about his intentions, furthering her agenda."
"Shelby continues demonstrating her ambition, first by taking action (reassigning Data/LaForge) and then by directly probing Riker about his intentions, furthering her agenda."
Key Dialogue
"SHELBY: *Tell me, something, Commander... is serving aboard the Enterprise as extraordinary an experience as I've heard?* RIKER: *Every bit of it.* SHELBY: *Good. Because I intend to convince Captain Picard that I'm the right choice for the job.* RIKER: *Job? Which job... ?* SHELBY: *Yours, of course.*"
"SHELBY: *I've reviewed your personnel... I'll be assigning Mister La Forge and Mister Data to accompany me on the away team...* RIKER: *I've... already assigned them to the away team, Commander. And I'll be with you as well.*"
"SHELBY: *I'm sorry... I heard you were leaving.* RIKER: *If I am... I'm sure you'll be the first to know, Commander.*"