Barclay’s Revelation: The Invidium Gambit
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Geordi and Barclay examine the open canister, finding nothing with the tricorder, but Barclay detects the presence of Invidium on his glove using a special flashlight. Barclay identifies Duffy and O'Brien as likely carriers of the substance.
Barclay proposes to neutralize the Invidium by cooling it to minus two hundred degrees Celsius. Geordi reports their findings and the plan to flood the injector pathway with liquid nitrogen to the bridge.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Tense and fearful, but with a surge of determination—Barclay is stepping into a leadership role he rarely occupies, driven by the stakes of the situation and the need to prove his worth to the crew.
Reginald Barclay, his hands visibly trembling, uses a detection tool to expose the Invidium residue on his glove, confirming the contamination. His voice is tight with urgency as he proposes flooding the injector pathway with liquid nitrogen at -200°C, a high-risk solution born of desperation. Barclay’s demeanor shifts from fearful to determined, revealing a glimmer of the confidence he lacks in social settings but possesses in technical crises. His proposal is met with cautious approval, marking a turning point in both the crisis and his self-assurance.
- • Confirm the Invidium contamination and propose a solution to neutralize it.
- • Demonstrate his technical competence to earn the crew’s respect and trust.
- • His holodeck escapades have distracted him from his duties, but this crisis is his chance to redeem himself.
- • The crew’s survival depends on his ability to think outside the box, even if it means taking extreme risks.
Calm and resolute, but with an undercurrent of burden—Picard knows the weight of his decision could mean the difference between survival and destruction.
Jean-Luc Picard, standing on the Main Bridge, listens intently to Geordi’s report via combadge. His expression is calm but grave as he weighs the risks of Barclay’s proposed solution. After a moment of consideration, he approves the plan with a decisive ‘Make it so,’ trusting his crew’s judgment despite the high stakes. Picard’s leadership is tested as he balances the need for action with the potential for catastrophic failure.
- • Assess the feasibility of Barclay’s high-risk solution.
- • Make a decisive call to save the *Enterprise-D* and its crew.
- • His crew’s expertise and instincts are reliable, even in extreme circumstances.
- • Leadership requires trusting subordinates and making tough calls under pressure.
Urgent and resigned—Riker recognizes that the crew has no better option, and he trusts Picard’s judgment, even if the outcome is uncertain.
William Riker, standing beside Picard on the Main Bridge, listens to Geordi’s report with a mix of urgency and resignation. He acknowledges the lack of alternatives, implicitly supporting Picard’s decision to approve the risky plan. Riker’s demeanor reflects his role as Picard’s right hand—loyal, pragmatic, and ready to act on his captain’s orders, even when the path forward is uncertain.
- • Support Picard’s decision-making process.
- • Ensure the crew is prepared to execute the plan swiftly and effectively.
- • Picard’s leadership is sound, even in high-stakes situations.
- • The crew must adapt and act decisively, regardless of the risks involved.
Focused and concerned, with an undercurrent of urgency—Geordi is fully invested in solving the crisis but acutely aware of the potential consequences of Barclay’s plan.
Geordi La Forge, wearing protective gloves and holding a tricorder, methodically scans the nitrogen canister for traces of Invidium. When the tricorder yields no results, he switches to a flashlight-like detection device, adjusting its settings multiple times to reveal the glowing residue on Barclay’s glove. His voice is steady but laced with concern as he relays the findings to the bridge via combadge, acknowledging the high stakes of Barclay’s proposed solution. Geordi’s pragmatic demeanor masks his underlying tension, as he knows the ship’s survival hinges on this risky maneuver.
- • Confirm the presence of Invidium contamination using diagnostic tools.
- • Relay accurate and urgent information to the bridge to enable a timely decision.
- • Barclay’s technical expertise is critical to resolving the crisis, despite his social anxieties.
- • The crew must act decisively, even if the solution carries significant risks.
Neutral but urgent—the Computer’s tone is devoid of emotion, yet its warning carries an undeniable sense of impending doom, amplifying the tension in the scene.
The USS Enterprise-D Ship’s Computer issues a dire warning: ‘Danger. Exceeding safety limits of engine containment field. At current acceleration, structural failure will occur in three minutes, thirty seconds.’ Its voice cuts through the tension in the cargo bay, underscoring the urgency of Barclay and Geordi’s actions. The Computer’s warning serves as a ticking clock, heightening the stakes and pressuring the crew to act swiftly.
- • Alert the crew to the immediate threat of structural failure.
- • Provide critical timing information to inform their decision-making.
- • The crew must prioritize the ship’s structural integrity above all else.
- • Accurate and timely warnings are essential for crisis management.
Miles O’Brien is mentioned but not physically present in this event. Like Duffy, he is referenced as an unwitting carrier …
Duffy is mentioned but not physically present in this event. His role is referenced indirectly as one of the unwitting …
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The **Enterprise-D injector pathway** is the critical system targeted by Barclay’s liquid nitrogen proposal. Laced with Invidium contamination, it threatens to fail catastrophically unless neutralized. The pathway’s condition is uncertain—Geordi warns that it has sustained considerable damage, and Picard questions whether it will function after the treatment. The crew’s decision to proceed with the plan hinges on whether this conduit can withstand the extreme cold of the nitrogen while still allowing the ship to regain control. Its fate is inextricably linked to the *Enterprise-D*’s survival.
Geordi La Forge’s **tricorder** is used to initially scan the nitrogen canister for traces of Invidium, but it fails to detect the elusive substance. This forces Geordi to switch to a more specialized **flashlight-like detection device**, which ultimately reveals the glowing residue on Barclay’s glove. The tricorder’s limitation underscores the insidious nature of the Invidium contamination, setting the stage for Barclay’s desperate proposal.
Geordi’s **combadge** is the lifeline connecting the cargo bay to the **Main Bridge**. He uses it to relay the critical discovery of Invidium and Barclay’s proposed solution to Picard and Riker. The combadge’s clear transmission ensures that the bridge crew is fully informed, allowing them to make a timely and decisive approval. Its role is purely functional but essential—without it, the cargo bay’s findings might not reach the bridge in time to avert disaster.
The **Invidium residue** on Barclay’s glove is the **smoking gun** of the crisis. Its discovery confirms the contamination theory, implicates Duffy and O’Brien as unwitting carriers, and escalates the stakes from abstract danger to immediate threat. The residue’s glowing, otherworldly appearance under the detection device underscores its alien and insidious nature, making Barclay’s proposed solution—flooding the injector pathway with liquid nitrogen—seem both desperate and necessary. This object is the linchpin of the event, driving the crew’s urgent decision-making.
**Liquid nitrogen** is the high-risk solution proposed by Barclay to neutralize the Invidium. He suggests flooding the injector pathway with it at **-200°C**, a temperature extreme enough to render the Invidium inert. The plan is fraught with danger—Picard questions whether the injectors will survive the process, and Geordi admits he cannot guarantee control will be regained. Despite the risks, the crew approves the proposal, as it is their only viable option. The liquid nitrogen thus becomes a **double-edged sword**: a potential savior or a final nail in the *Enterprise-D*’s coffin.
Barclay’s **protective gloves** play a dual role in this event: they protect him from the nitrogen canister’s extreme cold while also serving as a diagnostic tool. When Barclay withdraws his gloved hand from the canister, Geordi shines the detection device on it, revealing the Invidium residue clinging to the fingers. This visual confirmation is the turning point that validates Barclay’s contamination theory and spurs his proposal to flood the injector pathway with liquid nitrogen. The gloves thus become both a safety measure and a crucial piece of evidence.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The **Main Bridge** is the **nerve center of command** during this event. Picard and Riker listen intently to Geordi’s report via combadge, weighing the risks of Barclay’s proposal. The bridge’s **red alert** lighting, glowing consoles, and the deep hum of the ship create an atmosphere of controlled urgency. This location functions as the **decision-making hub**, where the fate of the *Enterprise-D* is determined. Symbolically, it embodies **institutional authority and leadership**—the place where Picard’s judgment is tested and where the crew’s loyalty is put to the ultimate test.
The **Cargo Bay** serves as the **epicenter of the crisis** in this event. It is here that Barclay and Geordi confirm the Invidium contamination, propose the liquid nitrogen solution, and relay the findings to the bridge. The bay’s utilitarian design—stacked canisters, flickering anti-grav units, and echoing bulkheads—creates a tense, high-stakes atmosphere. The location’s practical role is to function as a diagnostic hub, where the crew can examine evidence and devise solutions. Symbolically, it represents the **raw, unfiltered reality** of the *Enterprise-D*’s predicament: a place where theory meets action, and where the ship’s survival hinges on quick thinking and technical skill.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
**Starfleet** is the **institutional backbone** of this event, providing the **framework of protocols, values, and expectations** that guide the crew’s actions. The organization’s emphasis on **loyalty, technical excellence, and moral responsibility** is evident in Picard’s leadership, Geordi’s methodical approach, and Barclay’s desperate but calculated proposal. Starfleet’s **chain of command** is tested as Picard makes the decisive call to approve the liquid nitrogen injection, trusting his crew’s expertise despite the risks. The organization’s values are also reflected in the **crew’s cohesion**—despite their differences, they unite to save the ship.
The **USS *Enterprise-D*** is the **embodiment of the crisis** in this event. Its systems are failing, its crew is scrambling to survive, and its very structure is at risk of collapse. The ship’s **injector pathway** is the focal point of the contamination, and its **warp core** is the ultimate prize in the race against time. The *Enterprise-D*’s survival hinges on Barclay and Geordi’s ability to neutralize the Invidium, and Picard’s decision to approve the liquid nitrogen injection. The ship thus becomes a **living, breathing character** in this moment—vulnerable, yet resilient, and dependent on the actions of its crew.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Barclay suggests the crew is the connection, so Barclay proposes to neutralize the Invidium by cooling it to minus two hundred degrees Celsius."
"Barclay suggests the crew is the connection, so Barclay proposes to neutralize the Invidium by cooling it to minus two hundred degrees Celsius."
"Barclay suggests the crew is the connection, so Barclay proposes to neutralize the Invidium by cooling it to minus two hundred degrees Celsius."
"As a result of the plan, Geordi reports their findings and the plan to flood the injector pathway with liquid nitrogen to the bridge. Picard then considers the plan."
"The plan is activated. As Wesley and Duffy work to route the engine core injection, the computer warns that structural failure will occur in forty-five seconds, emphasizing the dwindling time to avert disaster."
"The plan is activated. As Wesley and Duffy work to route the engine core injection, the computer warns that structural failure will occur in forty-five seconds, emphasizing the dwindling time to avert disaster."
"The plan is activated. As Wesley and Duffy work to route the engine core injection, the computer warns that structural failure will occur in forty-five seconds, emphasizing the dwindling time to avert disaster."
"As a result of the plan, Geordi reports their findings and the plan to flood the injector pathway with liquid nitrogen to the bridge. Picard then considers the plan."
Key Dialogue
"BARCLAY: *There it is...*"
"GEORDI: *Duffy and O’Brien picked up the broken canister and became contaminated.*"
"BARCLAY: *If we can get it... the invidium... down to minus two hundred degrees Celsius, it’ll become inert.*"
"PICARD: *The question is, will the injectors come back on-line?*"
"GEORDI: *The injectors have sustained considerable damage, sir. I can’t guarantee we’ll be able to regain control...*"
"RIKER: *We don’t have much choice, do we?*"
"GEORDI: *Nossir.*"
"PICARD: *Make it so.*"