Data’s Ambivalent Homecoming and Orbit Insertion
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Enterprise settles into close parking orbit as Picard solemnly welcomes Data home; Data’s puzzled expression reveals a complex mix of belonging and alienation before he exits with the away team, signaling the transition to the next phase of the mission.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Puzzled yet professional, maintaining focus on sensor data interpretation.
Lieutenant Natasha Yar monitors the sensor readings closely, puzzled by the absence of life and vegetation on the planet, and engages in technical and analytical dialogue with Data and the bridge crew.
- • To confirm the environmental status of the planet accurately.
- • To assist the crew in understanding the mystery of the vanished colony.
- • Sensor data is reliable evidence of planetary conditions.
- • The lack of life signals something deeply wrong or catastrophic.
Solemn and contemplative, with a quiet empathy toward Data's complex feelings about home and identity.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard solemnly observes the barren planet, noting the sensor anomalies, directs the Enterprise into close parking orbit, and offers a poignant welcome to Data, underscoring the emotional weight of returning home to an empty world.
- • To maintain command and navigate the ship safely into orbit.
- • To provide emotional support to Data during this difficult return.
- • The concept of 'home' carries deep emotional resonance beyond physical facts.
- • Data's journey is as much about identity and belonging as about physical investigation.
Ambivalent and puzzled, struggling to reconcile the concept of home without emotional context.
Data declines the helm position, preferring to contemplate the home planet as it dominates the Main Viewer, expressing ambivalence about the concept of home and showing a puzzled demeanor as he processes memories that are informational rather than emotional.
- • To understand the meaning of 'home' beyond mere data.
- • To prepare himself mentally for the upcoming investigation of his origins.
- • Memories are the foundation of human emotional attachment to place.
- • His own memories are incomplete and lack emotional depth.
Alert and concerned about potential dangers tied to the missing colony.
Lieutenant Worf questions Data about his memories of the colony, showing concern and protective vigilance as the team prepares for the away mission.
- • To ascertain any information Data might have about the colony’s fate.
- • To prepare for secure operations on the planet surface.
- • Knowledge of the colony’s fate is critical for security planning.
- • Data’s recollections, though incomplete, may hold vital clues.
Concerned and dutiful, focused on fulfilling Starfleet's mission while supporting Data.
Commander Riker offers the helm position to Data, showing concern for his emotional state, and takes command of assembling the away team to investigate the vanished colony, demonstrating responsible leadership.
- • To ensure the Enterprise is properly navigated into orbit.
- • To organize an effective away team for planetary investigation.
- • The disappearance of the colony is a serious matter requiring investigation.
- • Supporting Data emotionally is important for mission success.
Focused and curious, eager to contribute and observe the mission's developments.
Wesley Crusher emerges from the turbolift and temporarily assumes the helm position that Data declines, demonstrating readiness and technical competence while observing the unfolding situation.
- • To competently manage helm duties in Data's absence.
- • To learn from the senior crew's handling of the unfolding mystery.
- • The mission to Data's homeworld is critical and requires precise execution.
- • His technical skills are valuable to the bridge crew.
Professional and attentive, ensuring smooth ship operations.
Geordi La Forge reports the ship’s approach into close parking orbit, demonstrating technical command and providing essential navigational updates for the mission.
- • To safely navigate the Enterprise into orbit.
- • To support the mission with accurate engineering and sensor feedback.
- • Precise orbit is necessary for mission success.
- • Technical accuracy prevents operational risks.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Enterprise Long-Range Surveillance Sensors provide critical data confirming the planet's Class M classification but reveal no life or vegetation, deepening the mystery and informing the crew's somber discourse.
The Enterprise Bridge Main Viewer enlarges the approaching brownish planet, serving as the focal visual element for the crew's observation and emotional confrontation with Data's homeworld's desolation.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Main Bridge of the USS Enterprise functions as the nerve center where senior officers analyze sensor data, observe the desolate planet, engage in dialogue about Data’s origins, and make crucial decisions to proceed into orbit and deploy an away team.
The Close Parking Orbit around Data's homeworld serves as the strategic staging area for the Enterprise to observe and prepare an away team deployment, marking the transition from spaceborne investigation to planetary exploration.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Worf's questioning of Data about the colony's fate and Data’s response deepen the mystery and set the tone for Data's internal conflict and identity exploration throughout the episode."
"Worf's questioning of Data about the colony's fate and Data’s response deepen the mystery and set the tone for Data's internal conflict and identity exploration throughout the episode."
"Worf's questioning of Data about the colony's fate and Data’s response deepen the mystery and set the tone for Data's internal conflict and identity exploration throughout the episode."
"Picard’s decision to visit Omicron Theta connects emotionally to Data’s complex feelings of belonging and alienation upon arrival, underscoring themes of homecoming and identity."
"Picard’s decision to visit Omicron Theta connects emotionally to Data’s complex feelings of belonging and alienation upon arrival, underscoring themes of homecoming and identity."
"Data's awkward attempt to emulate human sneezing parallels his fragmented memories about the colony's destruction, both highlighting his ongoing struggle with human identity."
"Data’s fragmented memory of a sudden danger connects directly to the discovery of children’s drawings depicting a massive crystal, foreshadowing the colony's destruction by the crystalline entity."
"Data’s fragmented memory of a sudden danger connects directly to the discovery of children’s drawings depicting a massive crystal, foreshadowing the colony's destruction by the crystalline entity."
"Data’s fragmented memory of a sudden danger connects directly to the discovery of children’s drawings depicting a massive crystal, foreshadowing the colony's destruction by the crystalline entity."
"Data’s fragmented memory of a sudden danger connects directly to the discovery of children’s drawings depicting a massive crystal, foreshadowing the colony's destruction by the crystalline entity."
"Worf's questioning of Data about the colony's fate and Data’s response deepen the mystery and set the tone for Data's internal conflict and identity exploration throughout the episode."
"Worf's questioning of Data about the colony's fate and Data’s response deepen the mystery and set the tone for Data's internal conflict and identity exploration throughout the episode."
"Worf's questioning of Data about the colony's fate and Data’s response deepen the mystery and set the tone for Data's internal conflict and identity exploration throughout the episode."
"The command to assemble the away team leads directly to their materialization on the barren planet, marking a clear narrative progression from shipboard to surface investigation."
"The command to assemble the away team leads directly to their materialization on the barren planet, marking a clear narrative progression from shipboard to surface investigation."
"The command to assemble the away team leads directly to their materialization on the barren planet, marking a clear narrative progression from shipboard to surface investigation."
Key Dialogue
"DATA: I could say "home, sweet home, sir... if I understood how the word sweet applies.""
"PICARD: It usually refers to the memories."
"RIKER: But usually one's own memories, Captain. Do the memories you were given include "farms?""
"DATA: Affirmative, sir. Turning soil, seeding, harvesting... but the colony's principal interest was science."
"PICARD: Welcome home, Mister Data."