Crossing the Line: Nelvana Three Ordered
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Data logs the Enterprise's readiness to violate the Treaty of Algeron, noting the crew's positions and the imminent threat of cloaked Romulan warships.
Riker confirms the course to Nelvana Three is set, signaling the Enterprise's commitment to the risky mission.
Data announces all decks are at condition red, heightening the sense of impending confrontation.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Resolved and solemn — outwardly calm but carrying the weight of possible political and moral consequences.
Implied as commanding officer who authorizes the transit into the Neutral Zone; his decision is the hinge of the scene, converting intelligence into action and weighing legal risk against perceived threat.
- • Investigate the threat on Nelvana Three to protect the Federation and crew
- • Act on intelligence before Romulan maneuvers can conceal or destroy evidence
- • The Romulan intelligence (as presented) is serious enough to warrant risk
- • His duty to protect lives and avert greater harm can supersede strict treaty compliance
Clinically neutral and factual; communicates gravity without affect, serving institutional memory rather than moral judgment.
Recording the supplemental second officer's log from Ops as a formal, objective chronicle; narrates imminent treaty violation, warns of cloaked Romulan warships, and reports ship condition as red.
- • Accurately document the Enterprise's actions for official record
- • Provide clear, unemotional situational awareness to command and later review
- • Objective record-keeping is essential for accountability and future adjudication
- • Data's role is to supply facts, not to interpret moral consequence
Restrained alertness — expects deception and prepares for immediate violent response if required.
Manning Tactical silently; his presence is explicitly cited in Data's log. He is positioned to detect and respond to cloaked Romulan ships and to bring the ship to combat readiness as needed.
- • Monitor sensor arrays for cloaked contacts and ready weapons systems
- • Protect the ship and crew from sudden Romulan aggression
- • Romulans are likely to use deceit and cloaking to ambush the Enterprise
- • Preparatory militarization (Condition Red) is necessary given the risk
Professional focus; outwardly composed with underlying readiness for conflict should hostilities arise.
At Conn, confers with a supernumerary and executes the ordered transit: confirms 'Course plotted and laid in,' implementing Picard's decision and preparing ship systems for the maneuver.
- • Carry out the captain's course orders accurately and efficiently
- • Ensure navigation parameters minimize risk and prepare for defensive maneuvering
- • Following lawful command is the correct immediate course of action
- • Operational readiness and precision reduce the likelihood of catastrophic error
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Conn is the operational execution point: Riker confers with a junior officer and physically inputs and lays in the plotted course required to transit the Neutral Zone.
The Neutral Zone is the contested juridical seam the Enterprise is about to cross; it functions as the legal border whose breach transforms a tactical move into a diplomatic provocation.
All decks are placed on Condition Red as announced by sensors/ops, signaling shipwide militarization and alert status that affects every crew member and systems across the Enterprise.
Nelvana Three is the stated destination and suspected locus of Romulan activity; it is the narrative target that converts intelligence into action and potential provocation.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Enterprise's condition red status leads directly to Worf's report on defensive readiness."
Key Dialogue
"DATA ((V.O.)): Second officer's log, supplemental. We are prepared to enter the Neutral Zone in direct violation of the Treaty of Algeron."
"DATA ((V.O.)): We must presume Romulan warships are cloaked and monitoring us. We expect swift and heavy resistance as we approach Nelvana Three."
"RIKER: Course plotted and laid in."
"DATA: All decks showing condition red."