Star Trek The Next Generation
S2E21
· Peak Performance

Engineering Triage — Geordi's Assessment, Riker's Reassurance

Over the shipwide com Geordi delivers a terse engineering appraisal: the Hathaway is badly gutted but the crew will begin emergency repairs immediately. His voice carries equal parts exhaustion and resolve. On the bridge Riker answers with easy confidence — a public vote of faith in La Forge's ingenuity that steadies morale and reframes the crisis as a problem to be solved. This exchange pivots the scene from bleak diagnosis to determined improvisation and sets up engineering as the story's crucial gambit.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Geordi reports over comm that the situation is a mess but commits to start work; Riker answers with steady confidence, affirming faith in Geordi’s ability to pull off another "miracle."

strained resolve to reassured determination

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
William Riker
Commander
 primary

Confident and steadying — uses lightness and trust to mask pressure and keep the crew focused.

Riker, on the Hathaway bridge, responds aloud with calm confidence, publicly endorsing Geordi's ability ('your usual miracle'). His brief reassurance reframes the technical bad news as a challenge the crew can solve, bolstering morale and signaling trust in his subordinates.

Goals in this moment
  • • Reassure the crew and engineering that command trusts their competence.
  • • Shift the tone from crisis to problem‑solving to preserve morale and operational focus.
Active beliefs
  • • Public confidence from command improves team performance under stress.
  • • Skilled officers like Geordi can improvise solutions when given responsibility.
Character traits
confident encouraging decisive charismatic leader
Follow William Riker's journey
Geordi La Forge
Chief Engineer
 primary

Weary determination — outwardly exhausted but resolutely committed; professional urgency steadies his tone despite the bad news.

Geordi speaks over the shipwide communications from engineering: he gives a terse, candid appraisal of the damage ('a real mess') and immediately commits the crew to emergency repairs. His line communicates practical acceptance of the situation while signaling hands‑on resolve and leadership belowdecks.

Goals in this moment
  • • Convey an honest technical assessment so command understands the severity.
  • • Commit his crew to immediate action to begin repairs and buy time.
Active beliefs
  • • Engineering can and should attempt improvised repairs under pressure.
  • • Clear, candid communication reduces uncertainty and focuses resources.
Character traits
pragmatic technically precise weary diligence steadfast responsibility
Follow Geordi La …'s journey

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"GEORDI'S COM VOICE: It's a real mess down here, but we'll get to work on it."
"RIKER: I'm sure you'll perform your usual miracle."