The Traveler’s Farewell and Wesley’s Ascension
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
In Engineering, the Traveler and Kosinski increase their tempo, triggering intense phasing; the Traveler nearly vanishes completely before finally disappearing, signaling the completion of their extraordinary journey and the crew’s release from danger.
Data and Geordi confirm the Enterprise’s warp speed and spatial position have returned to normal, grounding the crew in the reality of their miraculous return.
Riker reports the Traveler’s complete disappearance; Picard solemnly informs all decks that the Traveler has left, recognizing his role in their safe return and marking the end of his presence aboard the Enterprise.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Solemn, proud, determined with an undercurrent of affectionate respect and hope for the future.
Captain Picard commands the helm to set warp speed and a retroactive course, solemnly announces the Traveler’s departure over the shipwide comm, orchestrates Wesley Crusher’s promotion to Acting Ensign, and establishes the young ensign’s future responsibilities with measured authority and quiet pride.
- • Restore the Enterprise safely to normal space and warp capability.
- • Honor the Traveler’s sacrifice and guide crew morale toward closure.
- • Recognize and promote Wesley Crusher's potential and contributions.
- • Ensure Wesley’s integration and development within Starfleet’s hierarchy.
- • The Traveler’s guidance was critical and deserves formal acknowledgment.
- • Wesley’s talents are vital to the ship’s future and must be nurtured.
- • Command authority must be balanced with compassion and mentorship.
- • The Enterprise must proceed forward with renewed purpose and discipline.
Detached, focused solely on providing accurate information without emotional bias.
Data confirms and reports the ship’s warp speed and position after the Traveler's maneuver, providing objective, unemotional validation of the Enterprise’s successful return to normal warp parameters.
- • Verify the Enterprise’s status post-maneuver.
- • Support command decisions with factual data.
- • Objective data is essential to operational confidence.
- • Truthful reporting aids in mission success.
Measured and cooperative, balancing professional responsibility with gentle support for Wesley’s advancement.
Commander Riker arrives on the bridge, promptly informs Picard of the Traveler’s permanent disappearance, supports the promotion of Wesley Crusher by ordering him up to the bridge, and cooperates seamlessly with Picard’s command decisions.
- • Inform command of critical developments regarding the Traveler.
- • Facilitate Wesley Crusher’s transition into formal Starfleet duties.
- • Maintain bridge operations and prepare for next mission orders.
- • Clear communication is critical to command cohesion.
- • Wesley deserves recognition and a formal role aboard the Enterprise.
- • Unity and order must be preserved after the crisis.
Nervous anticipation mingled with pride and a burgeoning sense of belonging and purpose.
Wesley Crusher watches anxiously as the Traveler phases out, visibly shaken but hopeful. He responds with nervous pride to his promotion, accepts the responsibilities of Acting Ensign, and takes his place on the bridge, symbolizing his rite of passage.
- • Process the loss of the Traveler and the implications for the ship.
- • Embrace his new role and responsibilities aboard the Enterprise.
- • Gain acceptance and prove his worth to the crew.
- • The Traveler’s departure leaves a void but also opportunity.
- • His promotion is a critical step in his personal and professional growth.
- • He must prove himself worthy of Starfleet’s trust and mentorship.
Content and optimistic, sensing emotional relief and a positive shift in crew morale.
Counselor Deanna Troi observes the atmosphere on the bridge with a warm smile, sensing a profound well-being and hopeful renewal among the crew as the crisis resolves.
- • Monitor and encourage the crew’s emotional well-being after trauma.
- • Support leadership in maintaining a hopeful and cohesive environment.
- • The crew’s emotional state directly affects mission success.
- • Positive morale is vital for recovery and future challenges.
Calm and professional, with quiet satisfaction at the successful restoration of normal operations.
Geordi La Forge executes Picard’s warp commands with steady precision, monitors the ship’s position and speed, and confirms the ship’s safe return to the original coordinates, embodying focused technical expertise amid tense relief.
- • Ensure the Enterprise’s warp engines function correctly during the final maneuver.
- • Provide accurate navigational data to support command decisions.
- • Technical precision is essential to the ship’s survival.
- • Clear and reliable data underpin successful command execution.
Concerned and resigned, accepting his role in restoring the ship but saddened by the necessity of his permanent departure.
The Traveler, weak yet focused, executes the complex phasing maneuver to restore the Enterprise to normal space, gradually phases out of physical existence until completely disappearing, marking his final sacrifice and departure from the crew’s reality.
- • Complete the phasing process to return the Enterprise safely.
- • Ensure the crew’s survival and return to their galaxy.
- • Leave the crew with a lasting legacy and hope.
- • His unique abilities are critical but come at a personal cost.
- • The Enterprise’s safe return justifies his sacrifice.
- • The future depends on the crew’s resilience without his presence.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Bridge Bench Beside Troi serves as the symbolic seat of Wesley Crusher’s new role as Acting Ensign, marking his initiation into formal command and the acceptance of new responsibilities.
The Captain’s Log functions as the medium through which Picard officially records Wesley Crusher’s promotion and outstanding performance, lending institutional weight and permanence to the moment.
The Enterprise Warp Engines respond to Picard’s commands and the Traveler’s phasing manipulations to stabilize warp travel, enabling the ship’s critical return from unknown space to standard Federation warp parameters.
The Main Bridge Command Viewer displays real-time mission data that the senior staff scrutinize during the final warp commands and status confirmations, serving as a visual anchor for operational decisions.
The USS Enterprise is the central setting where the climactic phasing maneuver unfolds, undergoing restoration from erratic mixed warp travel back to normal warp speed and position, symbolizing the ship’s return from cosmic displacement to stability.
The USS Enterprise-D Forward Turbolift facilitates critical movement onto the bridge, enabling Riker and Wesley Crusher’s timely arrivals to participate in the event’s key moments of announcement and promotion.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Engineering is the site where the Traveler and Kosinski perform the final phasing maneuver, with Wesley close by, marking the technical and emotional crucible for the ship’s restoration and the Traveler’s disappearance.
The Enterprise Main Bridge is the nerve center where the final warp maneuvers are ordered, the Traveler’s disappearance is announced, and Wesley Crusher’s promotion ceremony occurs, encapsulating the transition from crisis to hopeful renewal.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Traveler and Kosinski's intensified phasing leads directly to the completion of the warp jump and the crew’s miraculous return to normal space."
"The Traveler and Kosinski's intensified phasing leads directly to the completion of the warp jump and the crew’s miraculous return to normal space."
"Picard’s recognition and promotion of Wesley to acting ensign caps Wesley’s growth arc from observant youth to officially acknowledged Starfleet member."
"Picard’s recognition and promotion of Wesley to acting ensign caps Wesley’s growth arc from observant youth to officially acknowledged Starfleet member."
"The Enterprise's return to normal position is immediately followed by the report of the Traveler’s disappearance, marking closure of his narrative role."
"The Enterprise's return to normal position is immediately followed by the report of the Traveler’s disappearance, marking closure of his narrative role."
"The Traveler and Kosinski's intensified phasing leads directly to the completion of the warp jump and the crew’s miraculous return to normal space."
"The Traveler and Kosinski's intensified phasing leads directly to the completion of the warp jump and the crew’s miraculous return to normal space."
"Picard’s recognition and promotion of Wesley to acting ensign caps Wesley’s growth arc from observant youth to officially acknowledged Starfleet member."
"Picard’s recognition and promotion of Wesley to acting ensign caps Wesley’s growth arc from observant youth to officially acknowledged Starfleet member."
"The Enterprise's return to normal position is immediately followed by the report of the Traveler’s disappearance, marking closure of his narrative role."
"The Enterprise's return to normal position is immediately followed by the report of the Traveler’s disappearance, marking closure of his narrative role."
Key Dialogue
"RIKER: The Traveler's gone, sir."
"PICARD: Attention all decks. This is to inform you that the Traveler has left us. With your support, he has returned us to our galaxy. Wherever he has gone, we wish him well."
"PICARD: Captain's log Stardate 41263.4. For outstanding performance in the best of Starfleet tradition -- Wesley Crusher is made acting ensign. With all the duties and privileges of that rank."