Star Trek The Next Generation
S3E15
· Yesterday's Enterprise

First Eyes on the Galaxy: Arrival and Orientation

Castillo materializes aboard the Enterprise‑D and, wide‑eyed and disoriented, is immediately shepherded by Tasha through a brisk orientation. As she gestures toward the ship—its decks, troop capacity and distinguished pedigree—Castillo’s awe becomes a quiet claim of belonging. Tasha’s measured pride (a four‑year veteran straight from the Academy) and Castillo’s identification of the Enterprise as “his” humanize his dislocation and seed a tender, protective rapport. This short scene functions as setup: it establishes emotional stakes and a nascent connection that will make later sacrifices personal and tragic.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Castillo materializes on the Enterprise-D, taking in his first view of the advanced starship with awe.

neutral to awe ['Transporter Room']

Tasha leads Castillo through the Enterprise-D, providing insights into the ship's capabilities while Castillo marvels at the technology.

awe to fascination ['Corridor']

Tasha and Castillo share a brief exchange about their respective careers on the Enterprise, highlighting their pride and sense of belonging.

fascination to camaraderie ['Corridor']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Tasha Yar
Lieutenant (Chief of Security)
 primary

Measured pride with a practical, protective surface — steady confidence that masks affection and a quiet sense of responsibility for a new shipmate.

Tasha stands in the transporter room as Castillo materializes, immediately taking charge: she prompts him with a title, leads him out, supplies a brisk ship orientation, and accepts nods from passing crew—anchoring the newcomer to the Enterprise.

Goals in this moment
  • • Orient the newly materialized officer quickly so he is operationally aware and less disoriented.
  • • Establish rapport and claim some informal guardianship over Castillo to protect him in an uncertain situation.
Active beliefs
  • • The Enterprise is an institution worth defending and presenting correctly.
  • • A competent, calm orientation will steady a disoriented officer and help integrate him into the crew.
Character traits
competent matter-of-fact protective professionally proud
Follow Tasha Yar's journey
Castillo
Ensign
 primary

Awed and slightly overwhelmed on the surface; underneath, a rapid formation of belonging and pride as he aligns his identity with the ship.

Castillo materializes visibly awed and disoriented, utters a single-word reaction, follows Tasha, drinks in corridor details, asks questions, and ultimately claims the Enterprise as 'his', signaling attachment and immediate identification with the ship.

Goals in this moment
  • • Make sense of his new surroundings and reduce disorientation.
  • • Form an immediate social anchor by connecting to the Enterprise and to Tasha.
Active beliefs
  • • Being assigned to the Enterprise is an honor and central to his identity.
  • • Aligning quickly with a senior crew member (Tasha) will offer guidance and protection.
Character traits
wide-eyed curious earnest quick-to-bond
Follow Castillo's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Transporter Pad — Transporter Room Two (USS Enterprise‑C)

The transporter functions as the literal point of arrival: it materializes Castillo and Tasha, framing the transition from other ship/time into the Enterprise. Narratively it creates immediate disorientation and enables the human contact that follows, turning technology into a gateway for emotional stakes.

Before: Primed and active in the transporter room, ready …
After: Recently used to complete the materialization; remains in …
Before: Primed and active in the transporter room, ready to dematerialize and rematerialize personnel.
After: Recently used to complete the materialization; remains in the transporter room available for further transports.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

2
Transporter Room Three

The transporter room is the intimate technical throat where arrival occurs: cramped, humming, and clinical. It stages Castillo's sudden displacement and Tasha's immediate assumption of caretaker duty, converting a procedure into a brief personal exchange that establishes stakes.

Atmosphere Clinical, humming, slightly tense — a mechanical neutrality that highlights the human reactions of those …
Function Point of entry and immediate triage/orientation for newly materialized personnel.
Symbolism Represents transition — the physical moment a stranger becomes part of the ship's social body.
Access Normally restricted to authorized personnel and those transporting to/from the ship.
Low circular dematerialization pad with a cold blue corona hum. Console lights and an operating crewmember supervising the process.
Main Transit Corridor Near the Transporter Room (USS Enterprise-D)

The corridor functions as the transitional stage where Tasha shepherds Castillo past passing crew. It compresses movement and human recognition into a focused moment of social induction, allowing brief acknowledgments that mark him as part of the ship's flow.

Atmosphere Busy but composed; casual recognition from crewmates softens the newcomer's disorientation.
Function Transit artery and informal muster point for immediate social integration.
Symbolism Embodies the ship as a community — passing nods signal membership and acceptance.
Access Open to ship personnel; public to crew but movement remains structured by rank and duty.
Strip-lit passage with crew moving past and offering brief nods. Hum of ventilation and the metallic tang of a working starship corridor.

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

Part of Larger Arcs

Transient human intimacy vs. larger moral duty: the brief, tender bond between Tasha Yar and Richard Castillo (a personal, human connection) that is interrupted and ultimately subsumed by the sacrificial mission.

Key Dialogue

"CASTILLO: "Unbelievable.""
"TASHA: "She was the first Galaxy Class warship built by the Federation... forty-two decks... capable of transporting over six thousand troops...""
"CASTILLO: "Yeah, me too. I mean... my Enterprise.""