Object
Black Hole (Hypothesized)
A compact, extreme-gravity astrophysical object invoked as a possible external cause of the ship's anomalous perturbations. Described conversationally rather than directly observed, it functions as an off-screen mass—immense, invisible, and implied by orbital disturbance—prompting tense debate among Geordi, Data, Beverly, and Q.
1 appearances
Purpose
Act as the proposed source of the moon/ship gravitational disturbance and therefore the focal target for diagnostic hypotheses and mitigation planning.
Significance
Drives the technical pivot in Engineering: its invocation forces the crew to reframe the crisis, contrast metaphysical taunt with engineering reality, and motivates the low-level warp field solution that makes the rescue attempt feasible. Serves as a narrative catalyst rather than a physically explored object.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used