Jaradan Reject Riker, Demand Captain’s Direct Greeting
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Jaradan voice, a disturbing fusion of three distinct tones, demands the Enterprise honor them and awaits the captain’s greeting, escalating diplomatic pressure.
Riker identifies himself as first officer, prompting an angry Jaradan interruption rejecting him for the absent captain and refusing to show themselves to a subordinate.
Riker fumes quietly as the Jaradan end communication with growing unrest, his frustration mirrored by the faint buzzing underscoring their anger.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Controlled frustration with undertones of isolation and urgency
Commander Riker attempts to assert command and engage diplomatically with the Jaradan despite their clear rejection of his authority. He remains composed but visibly frustrated, leading the interaction from the bridge and making a decisive command to retrieve Captain Picard from the Holodeck following the communication breakdown.
- • Establish formal, respectful diplomatic communication with the Jaradan
- • Maintain command authority and control over the crisis
- • Secure Captain Picard’s immediate retrieval to resolve the impasse
- • Prevent escalation of tensions with the alien delegation
- • Only direct communication from Captain Picard will satisfy the Jaradan
- • Diplomatic protocol and hierarchy must be respected to preserve peace
- • Delays in resolving the Holodeck malfunction endanger the mission
- • The Jaradan are deeply mistrustful and quick to perceive affront
Focused professionalism with underlying concern for mission jeopardy
Geordi La Forge receives the hostile Jaradan subspace message and promptly relays it to Riker. After Riker’s command, he physically exits the bridge to locate and retrieve Captain Picard from the malfunctioning Holodeck, acting as a vital link between the bridge command and the Holodeck.
- • Ensure the bridge is informed of all incoming communications
- • Locate Captain Picard swiftly to assist in resolving the diplomatic deadlock
- • Maintain technical control amidst increasing external and internal pressures
- • Support Commander Riker’s command decisions effectively
- • Picard’s presence is crucial to calming the Jaradan crisis
- • Timely technical and logistical coordination underpins mission success
- • The Jaradan’s rejection signals serious risk to Federation diplomacy
- • Holodeck malfunction presents an urgent operational threat requiring immediate action
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Jaradan Subspace Message acts as the medium through which the alien delegation communicates their rejection of Commander Riker and demands the captain's direct involvement. It is the catalyst for the diplomatic impasse and heightens the tension aboard the Enterprise bridge.
The Enterprise Bridge Viewer Screen displays the Jaradan subspace communication in real-time, serving as the visual and auditory interface through which Riker and the crew perceive the alien voices. It embodies the fragile, tense atmosphere of the diplomatic crisis and the challenge Riker faces in commanding respect.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Main Bridge of the USS Enterprise serves as the nerve center for command decisions and diplomatic engagement during the crisis. It frames the tense confrontation with the Jaradan, amplifying the emotional and procedural stakes through its high-tech environment and concentration of senior officers.
The Holodeck Dixon Hill San Francisco Simulation is the off-stage location referenced as the place where Captain Picard is trapped due to malfunction. It represents both a mental escape and an operational bottleneck, underscoring the urgency to recover Picard to restore effective command and satisfy the Jaradan’s demands.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Riker's increasing frustration with the hostile Jaradan communications leads to the order to fetch Picard from the Holodeck, accelerating the crisis response."
"Riker's increasing frustration with the hostile Jaradan communications leads to the order to fetch Picard from the Holodeck, accelerating the crisis response."
"Jaradan refusal to negotiate with Riker as subordinate parallels their distrust and hostility, thematically underscoring the diplomatic difficulties Picard faces and the tension aboard Enterprise."
"Jaradan refusal to negotiate with Riker as subordinate parallels their distrust and hostility, thematically underscoring the diplomatic difficulties Picard faces and the tension aboard Enterprise."
"Riker's increasing frustration with the hostile Jaradan communications leads to the order to fetch Picard from the Holodeck, accelerating the crisis response."
"Riker's increasing frustration with the hostile Jaradan communications leads to the order to fetch Picard from the Holodeck, accelerating the crisis response."
"Jaradan refusal to negotiate with Riker as subordinate parallels their distrust and hostility, thematically underscoring the diplomatic difficulties Picard faces and the tension aboard Enterprise."
"Jaradan refusal to negotiate with Riker as subordinate parallels their distrust and hostility, thematically underscoring the diplomatic difficulties Picard faces and the tension aboard Enterprise."
Key Dialogue
"RIKER: One could get the feeling they don't exactly trust us."
"JARADAN'S COM VOICE: En-ter-prise. The time has come to honor us. We await your greeting."
"JARADAN'S COM VOICE: -- You are not captain?!"
"JARADAN'S COM VOICE: -- You offend us! We will not show ourselves to a mere subordinate. We await your captain's greeting with growing unrest. End of communication!"
"RIKER: (sighing) Terrific. Get the captain. You'll find him in the Holodeck."