Fabula
S1E21 · The Arsenal of Freedom

Picard Takes Command to Rescue Riker from Stasis

On the Enterprise bridge, Captain Picard confronts the alarming disappearance of Commander Riker’s transporter signal, signaling a mysterious stasis-like entrapment. Lieutenant Solis confirms loss of prior energy readings, while Data analyzes that Riker is encased within a containment system designed for storage. Amid mounting tension, Picard decisively assumes personal responsibility, ordering Doctor Crusher to join him and entrusting Geordi La Forge with command of the ship. Despite Counselor Troi’s urgent objections, Picard’s resolve to beam down underscores both his leadership resolve and the escalating peril faced by the away team and Enterprise crew alike.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

Picard urgently queries Transporter Room Three about locking on to the away team but learns they cannot lock on to Commander Riker.

concern to alarm

Picard demands a situation report from Lieutenant Solis, who confirms the previous energy readings have disappeared, deepening the mystery of Riker's status.

uncertainty to foreboding

Picard solicits Data's assessment, who states Riker appears to be in stasis, prompting Picard to theorize about the purpose of the encasement.

puzzlement to analytic concern

Data explains the enclosure likely serves storage, implying Riker will be collected later; Tasha's comm voice confirms the threat of an imminent retrieval.

curiosity to looming danger

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

10

Cautiously alarmed, vigilant against unseen threats.

Lieutenant Natasha Yar communicates a warning over comms, alerting command to the peril that Riker is likely to be collected by an unknown entity, emphasizing the urgency and threat level of the situation.

Goals in this moment
  • Warn command of imminent danger to Riker
  • Ensure team is prepared for hostile intervention
Active beliefs
  • The away team is at serious risk
  • External forces are actively involved in the containment
Character traits
cautious alert warning
Follow Tasha Yar's journey

Concerned and focused on technical challenges impeding rescue.

The Transporter Chief reports the inability to lock onto Commander Riker for transport, signaling a mysterious obstruction and adding to the urgency of the rescue operation.

Goals in this moment
  • Attempt to establish transporter lock on Riker
  • Inform command of technical status and limitations
Active beliefs
  • Transporter lock failure indicates external interference or containment
  • Clear communication of technical status aids command decisions
Character traits
technical concerned precise
Follow Miles O'Brien's journey

Resolute determination tempered by concern for crew safety; calm command under pressure masking underlying urgency.

Captain Picard stands resolute on the bridge, swiftly issuing direct orders to the transporter team and senior officers. He decisively commands Doctor Crusher to prepare for a rescue mission and entrusts Geordi La Forge with ship command, displaying authoritative leadership amidst escalating danger.

Goals in this moment
  • Rescue Commander Riker from unknown stasis containment
  • Ensure the Enterprise remains secure and operational
  • Protect the away team by personally intervening
  • Delegate bridge command to trusted officer
Active beliefs
  • Immediate action is necessary to save Riker
  • Personal leadership inspires crew confidence and mission success
  • The threat is escalating and demands direct engagement
  • The ship’s safety depends on clear chain of command
Character traits
decisive resolute authoritative steadfast
Follow Jean-Luc Picard's journey

Detached and logical, focused entirely on objective analysis.

Data assesses the situation with logical precision, concluding that Riker is in a stasis-like state within an enclosure designed for storage, providing critical insight into the nature and possible consequences of the containment.

Goals in this moment
  • Determine the nature of Riker's containment
  • Inform command of the implications for rescue efforts
Active beliefs
  • Scientific assessment guides effective response
  • Stasis containment suggests external intervention
Character traits
analytical methodical calm
Follow Data's journey

Incapacitated, vulnerable, and isolated within the containment.

Commander Riker is the unseen subject of concern, his transporter signal lost and revealed encased in a stasis-like containment. Although incapacitated and unable to act, his predicament drives the urgent rescue efforts on the bridge.

Goals in this moment
  • Survive the unknown containment
  • Await rescue from the Enterprise crew
Active beliefs
  • The away team situation is dire
  • Help from the Enterprise is imminent
Character traits
command-oriented observant instrumental (treated as object rather than person) replicative non-autonomous inert narratively influential introspective businesslike formative decisive concise narratively instrumental cautious procedural visually Riker-like mediating improvisational unformed tactical authoritative undeveloped memorialized steadfast nascent operationally focused convivial pragmatic steadfast under pressure physically vulnerable non-sentient absent resolute assertive vulnerable
Follow William Riker's journey

Concerned for crew welfare and ready to respond to medical emergencies.

Doctor Beverly Crusher is summoned by Captain Picard to Transporter Room Three, preparing to join the rescue mission, highlighting her pivotal medical role and concern for Riker's condition.

Goals in this moment
  • Provide medical support for rescue operation
  • Assist Captain Picard in the away mission
Active beliefs
  • Riker’s condition may require urgent medical attention
  • Medical readiness is essential for mission success
Character traits
dedicated concerned professional
Follow Beverly Crusher's journey

Urgently worried, protective, pleading for caution.

Counselor Deanna Troi vocally protests Captain Picard's decision to beam down, expressing urgent concern and emotional apprehension about the escalating danger and Picard's personal risk.

Goals in this moment
  • Prevent Picard from risking personal harm
  • Advocate for crew safety through prudent command decisions
Active beliefs
  • The situation is too dangerous for the captain to personally intervene
  • Emotional considerations are critical in command choices
Character traits
empathetic concerned assertive
Follow Deanna Troi's journey

Calm, alert, and prepared to manage bridge operations under stress.

Lieutenant Geordi La Forge accepts command of the bridge from Captain Picard, assuming responsibility for ship operations during the rescue mission with dutiful professionalism.

Goals in this moment
  • Maintain ship safety during Picard’s absence
  • Coordinate bridge operations effectively under pressure
Active beliefs
  • Chain of command must be maintained
  • Ship’s security is paramount during crisis
Character traits
dutiful focused responsible
Follow Geordi La …'s journey

Concerned and focused on providing accurate situational awareness.

Lieutenant Solis provides a critical technical update, reporting the disappearance of energy readings associated with Riker’s transporter lock, raising alarm among command about the away team’s status.

Goals in this moment
  • Accurately report energy readings and transporter status
  • Support command decision-making with timely data
Active beliefs
  • Loss of energy readings indicates a serious problem
  • Clear communication is vital during crisis
Character traits
vigilant concise alert
Follow Solis's journey

Alert and professional, committed to her assigned duties.

Ensign Lian T'su promptly replaces Geordi La Forge at her bridge station, demonstrating focus and readiness to support ship operations amid crisis.

Goals in this moment
  • Ensure smooth transition of bridge duties
  • Support Geordi in command responsibilities
Active beliefs
  • Effective teamwork is crucial during emergencies
  • Maintaining operational continuity is vital
Character traits
focused attentive reliable
Follow T'su's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Stasis Containment Encasement

The Stasis Containment Encasement is the mysterious device holding Commander Riker immobile in a state of suspended animation. It prevents transporter lock-on and is analyzed by Data as a storage enclosure, representing the critical obstacle the crew must overcome to rescue Riker.

Before: Sealed around Commander Riker on Minos’ surface, fully …
After: Remains sealed and intact, continuing to immobilize Riker …
Before: Sealed around Commander Riker on Minos’ surface, fully intact and actively maintaining stasis.
After: Remains sealed and intact, continuing to immobilize Riker as rescue plans unfold.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Main Bridge

The Main Bridge of the USS Enterprise serves as the nerve center where critical decisions are made. During this event, it is the setting for mounting tension as the crew grapples with the failure to retrieve Riker and Picard prepares to personally lead the rescue mission.

Atmosphere Tense and focused, charged with urgency and the weight of command responsibility.
Function Command center coordinating the rescue attempt and maintaining ship operations.
Symbolism Represents the institutional authority and leadership pressure borne by Picard.
Access Restricted to senior officers and essential crew during crisis.
Soft glow of tactical consoles Urgent communication through com channels Presence of senior command staff Ambient hum of starship systems

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


Key Dialogue

"PICARD: Transporter Room Three - have you locked on to the away team?"
"DATA: He appears to be in a kind of stasis."
"TASHA'S COM VOICE: That sooner or later someone or something will be along to collect him."
"PICARD: Yes."
"TROI: Captain! I must take exception to your decision to beam down."
"PICARD: Noted."