Object
Auto-Destruct Countdown Display
A bridge- and console-mounted auto‑destruct indicator and countdown display integrated with the Enterprise emergency destruct computer. When an authenticated self‑destruct sequence is initiated the module flashes a harsh red numeric countdown across bridge consoles (with terse computerized annunciation), converting command space into a visually urgent deadline that triggers immediate, ship‑wide responses. Appears when Picard authenticates and Riker concurs, and is involved in multiple bridge/engineering sequences across episodes.
6 appearances
Purpose
To initiate and present a timed, ship‑wide self‑destruct procedure via the Enterprise's emergency destruct computer, providing a visible and authoritative countdown toward irreversible demolition of the vessel.
Significance
The countdown display embodies the imminent crisis faced by Picard and Riker, driving the narrative urgency and forcing them into desperate tactical decisions to reclaim the ship before obliteration. It symbolizes the razor-thin margin between survival and annihilation.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used