Object

Old-Style Disk Drive

A compact, late‑twentieth‑century removable disk drive lodged in a tarnished metal bay, pitted with dust and age. Mechanical handle, exposed analog connectors and a narrow slot invite tactile engagement; delicate switches and brittle casing betray fragile internals. It sits within a cramped derelict control area under low power. DATA slides the handle with careful technique to preserve a removable disk while WORF tenses, highlighting the unit's artifact‑like vulnerability and evidentiary value.

2 appearances

Purpose

To read and write removable magnetic disk media, providing local storage and retrieval of the ship's onboard data.

Significance

Acts as a crucial low‑technology clue and source of recoverable data that reframes the away team's tactical assessment, enabling manual data recovery when shipboard computers are dead and forcing improvised, time‑sensitive solutions.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S1E26 · The Neutral Zone

Analog Recovery: Data Counters Worf's Force

An old‑style disk drive is identified by Data as a potential source of archival data; although not physically removed in this beat, it becomes the stated objective for transfer to the Enterprise for forensic downloading.

Before: Tarnished, housed in a metal bay within the control console and presumably containing removable media.

After: Marked for recovery and possible transport to the Enterprise; its retrieval is planned but not yet executed within this event.

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S1E26 · The Neutral Zone

Low‑Tech Discovery and Twelve‑Minute Countdown

The old‑style disk drive is identified verbally by Data as a potential source of recoverable data; it functions narratively as the promise of actionable information if the team applies careful, non‑destructive retrieval techniques.

Before: Mounted in a tarnished bay, intact but aged and non‑operational without proper interface.

After: Tagged mentally by Data for later downloading to the Enterprise; physically left in place pending safe retrieval.

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