Home > Star Trek: The Next Generation

The Arsenal of Freedom

Captain's Log, Stardate 41798.2.

We have been ordered by Starfleet

to proceed to the Lorenze Cluster

and investigate the disappearance

of the light cruiser U.S.S. Drake--

which was in that system

trying to unravel a mystery of its own

which began when recent long-range probes

indicated that all intelligent life on the planet Minos

had disappeared.

Number One?

No help from the communications log, sir.

The Drake reported arriving at Minos and then wasn't heard from again.

Mr. Data?

The citizens of Minos gained fame during the Esalrope Wars as arms merchants.

They manufactured sophisticated and highly-advanced weaponry.

Yeah, for which side?

Both.

We are approaching the planet Minos, sir.

Standard orbit, Mr. La Forge.

Aye, sir, standard orbit.

Whatever happened to the Drake happened quickly.

Otherwise a man like Rice would have reported again.

You know Captain Rice?

We were at the academy together.

Tell me about him.

Able, good officer.

How would he react under stress?

Paul Rice is confident to the point of arrogance but he carries it well because he's usually right.

He's a risk taker.

Really? I'll give you an example.

One of the final tests in Advanced Navigation at the Academy provides the students with three options.

Rice was given this test rejected their options, and offered one of his own.

That's taking a risk.

And it paid off.

He received the top grade and now that same test has four options.

In a difficult situation a man like that would act aggressively.

Agreed.

WORF: Commander.

Weren't you offered the Drake?

Yes.

You gave up your own command to take this assignment?

At the time I thought it would be more advantageous to do a tour on the Enterprise.

DATA: Captain readings correspond with the findings of the probe.

No signs of intelligent life-forms.

Vegetation and animal life only.

What happened to all the people?

War?

Disease?

A dissatisfied customer?

In every war, natural disaster, even the most virulent plague there are always survivors.

( beeping )

Captain, we are being hailed.

How can that be, from a planet with no people?

Your sensors indicated no intelligent life-forms?

Correct, sir.

Something has scanned our language banks and is hailing us.

On main viewer.

( beeping )

Whoever you are, wherever you're from... greetings.

Welcome to Minos-- the arsenal of freedom.

I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S....

If you need a little something... special, be it for one target or multiple targets we got it.

You'll see it, here on Minos-- where we live by the motto

"peace through superior firepower."

To whom am I speaking?

To be totally armed is to be totally secure.

Remember, the early bird that hesitates gets wormed.

It is a recorded message, sir.

Minos-- the arsenal of freedom.

Perfection in highly advanced weaponry.

Versatility, flexibility...

We must have triggered something left over from the Erselrope Wars when the arms business was booming.

...guaranteed.

So lock onto my signal, and beam on down because we don't just provide weapons.

Shut that off.

We provide complete weapons syst...

That's a heck of a sales pitch.

If an automatic message system is still functioning there could be other systems on that planet that are still operational.

Weapons systems? Possibly.

We're going to have to go down there to find it.

Number One, prepare an away team.

Lieutenant Yar, Data.

Commander, I recommend a minimum complement.

Oh? I would have thought otherwise.

We'll keep the first landing party small and mobile until I'm confident whatever killed the inhabitants of this planet isn't still down there.

Okay.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission--

to explore strange new worlds

to seek out new life and new civilizations

to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Captain's Log, supplemental.

I've ordered an away team to beam down to Minos

to investigate the disappearance of the Drake.

Although there are no signs of intelligent life

coming from this heavily forested planet

I'm far from certain that it is devoid of danger.

( beeping )

( bird chirping )

Spooky.

Riker.

This is the Bridge.

We'll start a patterned search from this point.

Keep this channel open.

Aye, sir.

Commander, our communications are being monitored.

By whom?

Since there is no intelligent life, the question is by what?

Captain?

Yes, we heard that, Number One.

We'll try and track it down from here.

YAR: Tritanium.

It's melted.

What could do that?

I don't know, but whatever it was it's beyond our technology.

Over here.

Wow.

We've never seen anything like this.

It's undamaged.

Maybe a demonstration model for some potential buyer.

Maybe.

Let's spread out a little.

Commander Riker.

This is Ensign T'su.

I am monitoring a slight energy buildup near your position.

I'm not able to pinpoint the source.

Give me a direction.

East of your position, ten meters.

I will continue monitoring.

I can't see anything through here.

The underbrush is too thick.

Hello.

Commander Riker.

Rice.

Where did you come from?

I was over there.

We were worried about you.

I should have known you'd pop up.

How are you, Commander Riker?

Me? Forget about me.

What about you?

No word, no message, nothing.

How many are with you? There are two others.

Where's the Drake? Where's your crew?

PICARD: Number One, a word.

We have some information you should be aware of.

Ensign T'su?

Sensors indicate low-level energy readings but the only life signs are the away team.

Do you copy, Number One?

Understood.

You look strange, Paul.

I was injured getting here.

Do you need medical help?

No.

What's your purpose here?

Commander Data, Lieutenant Yar.

Sir, other than ourselves

I am picking up no life signs here.

I know.

Riker, you didn't answer me.

Who sent you here to look for me?

Your mother.

She's worried about you.

Tell me about your ship, Riker.

It's the Enterprise, isn't it?

No, the name of my ship is the Lollipop.

I have no knowledge of that ship.

It's just been commissioned. It's a good ship.

Refresh me, would you, Riker?

What's its size, its complement?

Who is here with you?

What's the armament on the Lollipop?

Paul, I will only answer your questions if you answer mine.

Why do you want to know so much about my ship?

We're friends, aren't we?

Old friends.

Our top speed is warp 3, what's yours?

"Is"?

Then the Drake has not been destroyed.

The Drake?

Yes, your ship.

Of course. My ship is the Drake.

Where is it?

Classified.

Classified?

Please.

It's important.

Our survival depends on knowing.

What's the armament on your ship?

Ten. Ten?

I don't understand. Ten what?

Six.

Commander Riker, your answers make no sense.

You haven't used my first name once, Paul.

You remember it, don't you?

You don't, do you?

Because you don't exist.

You're a fake.

You're an image of the original, aren't you?

Answer me!

PICARD: Report, Number One.

The image of Rice has been replaced by something which is hovering several meters away.

Number One, get your team back up here.

Prepare to beam up.

( electronic whirring )

Commander!

What's happened, Number One?

Report.

Report, report!

He can't answer you, Captain.

Commander Riker has just been encased in some kind of energy field.

Is he alive?

Unknown.

Captain's Log, supplemental.

Some kind of weapon

which, for a time, took the form of Captain Paul Rice

has enveloped Commander Riker.

Transporter Room 3.

Have you been able to lock on to the away team?

MAN: I am unable to lock on to Commander Riker, sir.

Ensign T'su, situation report.

Previous energy readings are gone.

Data, have you been able to assess

Commander Riker's condition?

DATA: He appears to be in some kind of stasis.

Theorize, Mr. Data.

What would be the purpose of such an encasement?

Typically, the purpose of such an enclosure is for storage.

PICARD: Which would suggest what?

That sooner or later someone or something will be along to collect him.

Stand by. I'm coming down.

You, sir?

Yes. Dr. Crusher, this is the Captain.

Meet me in Transporter Room 3.

Mr. La Forge, you have command of the Bridge.

Aye, sir.

And whatever happens down there your prime responsibility is to the ship.

Understood, sir.

Captain, I take exception to your decision to beam down.

Noted.

Is it just Riker?

Yes. Apparently he's been confined inside some sort of force field.

Energize.

Any changes?

Data's figured out what it is.

Are you getting any life signs?

He is alive.

What appeared in the form of Captain Rice is an intelligence- gathering device used during the Erselrope Wars.

Probably developed here.

DATA: It projects an image of someone the subject will trust.

Gets as much information as possible.

If it's found out, it encases the subject to await a more detailed interrogation later.

Clever.

Can you remove it? DATA: Possibly.

But I will need to know the exact frequency and I cannot determine the risk to Commander Riker.

( sighs )

We have little choice.

Whatever has him is interrupting the transporter beam. Remove it.

( high-pitched beeping )

This will take some time, sir.

( electronic tones )

I am picking up energy readings.

( beep )

Captain, Lieutenant La Forge here.

Sensors indicate energy readings in your area.

Doctor, over here!

( gasping ): Oh, no...

Doctor!

( both yell )

( moans softly )

( Picard coughing )

Doctor!

( gasping )

This one is different.

It's anticipating.

Data, I need you.

Set your phaser on kill.

I'll lead left, you get it.

Captain!

Dr. Crusher?

Captain Picard.

I have a malfunction.

Enterprise, this is Yar.

Mine's out, too.

The close pass by the weapons must have disrupted our communicators.

Keep on working.

I'll look for the Captain and Dr. Crusher.

Ow, my arm!

How bad is it?

( groans )

It's bad.

( panting )

Hey, come on.

Come on.

All right, d-don't worry.

We'll get you out of here.

Enterprise, this is the Captain.

Two to beam up.

Oh... Enterprise!

Enterprise, come in.

Data, Lieutenant Yar.

What's wrong?

Why aren't they working?

I don't know.

But don't worry.

As soon as they realize that our communicators are not working th-their sensors will find us, and Geordi will beam us up.

Now, just you hold on.

Uh...

I'm, uh, sorry about this.

( cloth ripping )

Hold on.

It won't be long.

I must keep conscious.

YAR: Data?

I can't find them.

Step back, please.

I believe I have found it.

Data.

All vital signs returning to normal.

Good.

Now Geordi can get us out of here.

Come on.

The Captain and Dr. Crusher can't be far away.

( beeping )

Sir, I'm reading life-forms on the planet.

All five members of the away team.

Good. They must have freed Commander Riker.

Transporter Room get a lock on the away team, and beam them up.

Shields just came on.

Deflectors also up.

I'm picking up an object off the port bow.

It's firing.

Red alert. Battle stations.

( alarm blaring )

We can't beam the away team up with our shields in place.

WORF: Phasers ready.

Photon torpedoes standing by.

Locking on target.

Correction... target has disappeared.

Give me a full scan.

Scanning.

No readings yet.

Wait. Something dead astern.

Emergency power to shields.

Object is firing.

Return fire.

No use. It's gone again.

Aft shields weakened.

Whatever they're using our shields can't stand up to it much longer.

This is Chief Engineer Logan.

Are we breaking orbit? I need to know, now!

LA FORGE: Ship's Log, supplemental.

Lieutenant La Forge in command.

I am unable to beam up the away team

due to an unseen assailant attacking the ship.

To make matters worse

Chief Engineer Logan is on his way to the Bridge

and he's not paying a courtesy call.

Why are we still in orbit?

We're taking a beating.

We've got to hold out as long as we can.

Now, if can disable our attacker if only for a few seconds, we can drop our shields and beam the away team back aboard.

If we follow that plan, we'll lose the Enterprise.

In view of the present crisis

I believe you should relinquish command to me.

No.

I outrank you.

Mr. Logan, I'm in command.

The Captain did not anticipate the Enterprise would come under attack.

If he had, would he have left the Bridge to you?

If he had, he wouldn't have left the ship!

Picking up an object to starboard, sir heading toward us.

Lock phasers on that thing and fire the moment it's in range.

Locking in.

The object has vanished.

Phaser lock lost.

Starboard shields weakened.

It's cloaked itself.

You can't fight this thing and win.

We've got to break orbit, now!

Worf... analyze its firing pattern.

Maybe we can anticipate its location.

Aye.

Solis... correlate the trajectory of the energy bolts with the attack path.

I'll compute the optimum spread of phaser and photon torpedoes to hit it.

Right!

Lieutenant La Forge...

Geordi...

I know you want to do what's best for the Enterprise.

So do I. Now, the best thing...

The best thing, Mr. Logan, is for this discussion to end and for you to return to your duties.

Now, I'm in charge until relieved by Commander Riker or Captain Picard.

You're ignoring my greater rank and experience.

Not at all.

In fact, just the opposite.

I'm counting on it.

Now, I need you to get back down to Engineering and get me every available scrap of emergency power you can.

The more power we can channel to the shields the longer we'll be able to hold out.

Now, Mr. Logan.

( sighs )

Worf, have you got a lock on it yet?

It's impossible to be sure.

Maybe you should wait here while Data and I search for the Captain and Dr. Crusher.

Nah, I'm a little groggy but I'll be all right.

I am getting energy readings...

Look out!

We'll do it just like before.

It's got a deflector shield.

The product continues to upgrade and improve.

We'll concentrate our fire and try to collapse its shield.

Commander, we'll need you, too.

Now!

You're right. They keep on getting better.

The weapons are appearing at intervals of precisely 12 minutes.

Well, this one took everything we had.

I don't know how we'll handle the next one.

We're not going to wait around.

Let's find the rest of our team.

( water dripping )

We seem to be in some kind of underground structure. but I don't see any...

Hey.

No, you don't.

No time to sleep.

I'm tired.

Come on, stay with me.

Come on, now, stay awake.

That's an order.

I must have lost a lot of blood.

I stopped the bleeding.

No, there's another wound.

My leg.

( cry of pain )

Ah, not to worry.

Everything's going to be fine.

Now... this is going to hurt a bit.

I've heard that before.

( moaning )

Hey, hey, Doctor, stay awake, come on.

There's a lot of blood.

What do I do next?

Doctor.

Uh... the wound needs a clotting agent.

I couldn't find your medical kit.

Those roots... what are they?

Roots?

What, these?

Break off a piece and taste it.

Don't swallow it.

Very bitter.

Apply some to your hand.

Is there a color change?

It's-It's turning yellowish.

Good. Now, spread as much of it as you can onto the wound.

Hey, hey, Doctor!

Now, stay awake.

( pounding root )

You've got to help me.

I need your help.

All right, now listen.

Your patient has lost a great deal of blood from multiple lacerations.

The patient's going into shock.

So what do I do?

Elevate the legs, and try to keep her warm.

Good.

All right?

( groans in pain )

Stay with me, Doctor.

Keep talking.

Well... you didn't happen to bring a blanket with you, did you?

No.

I'm going to look for a way out.

Now, you keep up your end.

Stay awake.

LA FORGE: All right

I know it's risky but a shot in the dark is better than nothing.

Let's see if we can get lucky.

I can't seem to pin down the pattern.

( beeping )

There.

Sorry, sir.

I should have seen that.

No, that's all right.

You're doing fine.

WORF: Program laid in.

Phasers and photon torpedoes ready.

Okay.

Mr. Solis, bring her about to 23, mark 185.

Aye, sir.

Fire!

Now!

Phasers and photons firing.

We missed!

Number 4 shield buckling.

Number 3 shield nearing failure.

LOGAN: Bridge, this is Engineering.

I can't hold this power level much longer.

You've got to do something!

Backup systems are overloaded.

Backup systems failing!

LOGAN: La Forge!

This is Logan.

Tell me something.

Mr. Logan, report to the Bridge.

On my way.

Deflectors are breaking down.

We have less than one minute of reserve.

We're getting out of here.

Lieutenant Solis, set course 315, mark 007.

Course set.

You are leaving them on the planet.

Speed, warp 5.

Warp 5. Aye.

Engage.

Hold course and speed for 28 seconds then come to a full stop.

Mr. Logan... had we stayed, we would have been destroyed and there are over a thousand people on this ship.

I have a responsibility to them.

What about your responsibility to Captain Picard and the members of the away team?

I have a responsibility to them, as well.

Mr. Logan, you are going to take command...

...of the Saucer Section.

Back up crew, report to the Main Bridge.

We're going to separate?

Yes, and I want you to take the Saucer Section and proceed immediately to Starbase 103.

You can't fight what you can't see.

And you still won't be able to see that thing.

Maybe we won't have to.

Risky.

Yes. That's why we're going to separate.

Worf, Solis, T'su... report to the Battle Bridge.

I'll join you in a moment.

WORF: Ensign, secure connector levels.

MAN: Aye, sir.

( door chimes )

Come in.

Lieutenant, I need to speak to you.

Counselor, we're a few minutes away from separating the battle section.

I don't have a lot of time.

I know, but as counselor

I have a duty to evaluate the emotional fitness of the crew.

And you sense I'm nervous?

Well, you're right.

Counselor, deep down, I'm shaking.

I'm about to take this ship into battle and-and there's a good chance she'll be blasted out of the sky.

I'm taking a huge risk here and there are a lot of lives at stake.

So, yeah, I'm nervous.

Did you expect otherwise?

Not at all.

You're under tremendous pressure more than you've ever experienced.

And you think I'm about to crack?

On the contrary, you should be proud of the way you're handling command.

You've kept a cool head, taken charge and made some very difficult decisions.

Then what did you want to see me about?

SOLIS: Lieutenant La Forge

Battle Bridge is manned and ready.

However, deflectors have not yet returned to full efficiency.

Let's get them there, Mr. Solis.

Aye, sir.

I'll join you shortly.

La Forge out.

Did you hear the uneasiness in his voice?

Solis is doing a fine job.

Yes, but he isn't handling the stress as well as you are.

Both he and Ensign T'su are very young.

No, wait. They're good officers.

Yes, but they lack battle experience.

They're worried about making mistakes and they need some encouragement.

What do I do?

Just remember, it's you they draw strength from.

They look to you for guidance and for leadership.

Help them.

Show confidence in them.

Like Captain Picard showed confidence in me.

Right.

( sighing )

I understand.

Thanks, Counselor.

Prepare to initiate separation sequence.

All decks report ready.

On my mark.

Now.

COMPUTER: Main-latch mags to zero.

Main-latch retraction, 1 to 18.

Initiate.

Static charge, compensated.

Separation complete.

Lieutenant Solis lay in a reciprocal course for Minos, warp 5.

Course set.

On my mark.

Engage.

We seem to be pretty well sealed in, Doctor.

No exits?

None that I can see.

If you find one, go.

Uh-huh, tired of my company already?

Beverly?

Beverly?!

I'm tired. I need to sleep.

Woke up too early.

Talk to me. Stay awake.

Tell me something.

Tell me about, uh... about those roots.

How did you know their medicinal values?

My grandmother.

Your grandmother was a doctor?

No.

Oh, she was a botanist then?

Uh... no.

She helped to colonize Arvada III.

Arvada III?

That's such a tragedy. Did she survive?

Yes.

Once the medical supplies had run out she had to use what was at hand.

So she learned all about roots and herbs and then taught it to me.

You were part of that colony. I didn't know that.

But then there must be a lot of things about you that I don't know.

Quite a few.

What?

Now, just a minute, here's something odd.

It's glowing.

What is it?

I don't know.

It's... it's covered up.

Just... just clearing away the dirt.

It's a viewscreen.

It seems to still be operative.

( buzzing, beeps )

( startup whirring )

( electronic humming )

It's a tracking device of some kind.

Tracking what?

There are three moving indicators.

Possibly the away team.

Beautiful, isn't it?

It's the centerpiece of the whole unit.

Who's that?

A projection.

It's the automated salesman who greeted us on the Enterprise.

What unit?

Why, the Echo Papa 607-- our proudest achievement.

The ultimate in weapons system technology.

Is that what's behind the attack on my people?

Impressive demonstration, isn't it?

Demonstration? It tried to kill us.

Versatile, powerful, and easy to use.

The 607 does it all.

Its various modules can gather information, neutralize ground personnel even destroy enemy space vessels.

The Enterprise.

Is one of those things after my ship?

Tell me.

Of course I can tell you.

I am programmed to answer any and all questions about the unit.

I can talk terms, arrange for delivery-- whatever you need.

It doesn't understand anything other than what it's peddling.

The 607 represents the state of the art in dynamic adaptive design.

It learns from each encounter and improves itself.

So what went wrong? Where are its creators?

Where are the people of Minos?

Once unleashed, the unit is invincible.

The perfect killing system.

Too perfect.

You poor fools, your own creation destroyed you.

( electronic whooshing )

What was that noise?

The unit has analyzed its last attack and constructed a new, stronger... deadlier weapon.

In a moment, it will launch that weapon against the targets on the surface.

Abort it!

Why would I want to do that?

It can't demonstrate its abilities unless we let it leave the nest.

They are down there, sir.

Let's clear some of that away.

If Data's calculations are correct the next one should show itself in two minutes.

Captain!

Can you hear me?

Yes, we're here!

Are you all right?

Dr. Crusher is seriously hurt.

We can't contact the Enterprise.

The communicators are out.

Yes, our communicators are out, too.

Those devices are part of a system located down here.

Another one is about to be released. Watch yourself!

We know, Captain.

It's too far down there.

There's nothing to hold on to.

There's no way to climb down.

I'm surprised either of them survived.

I can do it, Commander.

How?

Jump.

Data, it's over ten meters.

11.75, sir.

Data... you may be sturdy, but you're not indestructible.

I believe I can safely traverse the distance.

Captain, Data is going to join you down there.

Be my guest.

Data.

At your service, Captain.

We'd better find a defensive position.

If Data's right...

He usually is.

We're going to have company any minute now and this time, I don't know how we're going to stop it.

LA FORGE: Ship's Log, supplemental.

Lieutenant La Forge in command of the stardrive section.

After separating from the saucer

we have returned to Minos to rescue the away team.

Unfortunately, I have only one option left

and it's a long shot.

Shields and deflectors are up.

Ensign T'su, when I order the shields down you have one responsibility: locate the away team, and get them up here.

You may only have a few seconds.

Approaching the planet, sir.

Ride's going to get a little bumpy.

Things are going to happen fast.

Just keep alert, stay calm.

Let's focus on what we're doing.

You know your jobs.

You've been trained, you've been tested... and you've earned the right to sit in those chairs.

( rhythmic beeping )

( electronic whooshing )

That sound again.

Another weapon has been launched, sir.

We've got to find some way to stop the system.

I would need to see the program's schematic.

You've got it.

( beeping whine )

Is it possible to readjust the targeting sequence?

Absolutely.

It wouldn't be much good without it.

Data, assign it a neutral target.

Target must be specific, sir.

Itself, then. Itself or its own power source.

The force of that explosion would destroy this cavern and everyone on the surface.

Watch now.

This is the fourth and final projectile.

The Echo Papa Series 607 is about to complete this phase of its mission.

We could split up.

What good would that do?

Confuse it, delay it, something.

It would still get us.

It would just take a little longer.

It might give one of us time to get out of range.

Out of range?

( sighs )

Forget I said it.

These devices wiped out an entire planet.

I don't think it has a range.

Then what does that leave us?

( sighs )

Right. That's what I thought.

On the other hand, we could look for different cover!

( electronic whirring )

You got any ideas?

None.

Give me some options, Data, quickly.

Why don't you just shut it off?

Is that possible?

Why not?

It's a machine, isn't it?

Shut it off.

Why? You haven't seen half of what this beauty can do.

We've seen enough.

Does that mean you're going to buy it?

Yes, yes! We've seen enough! You made a sale!

You won't be sorry.

Good! Now end the demonstration!

Done.

PICARD: Number One?

Right here.

( sighs )

That was close.

La Forge, everything's all right.

We've neutralized it.

( crash )

It's great to hear your voice, Captain but we're a little busy right now.

I'll get right back to you.

Phasers at full readiness.

Keep those shields at full power.

Ahead one-quarter.

Heading 25 mark 300.

Sir, that heading will take us further into the planet's atmosphere.

That's correct. We're going to lose some maneuverability so keep a firm hand on the helm.

Aye, sir.

You hope our attacker will follow us into the atmosphere.

I'm counting on it.

Lian, scan for any air disruption or vortex.

Cloak or no cloak we'll spot it by its turbulence.

Worf, how fast can you get a phaser lock?

Fast.

Hull temperature 1,000 degrees and rising.

Emergency power to deflectors.

Velocity increasing.

Steady as she goes.

Hull temperature 2,500 degrees.

Deflectors nearing overload.

( fast beeping )

Sir, helm's going unresponsive.

Can you compensate? Yes, sir, I can.

Hull 3,000 degrees.

Maintain heading.

WORF: We're about to lose number four deflector.

3,300 degrees.

Deflector four is now inoperative.

Turbulence to starboard!

There he is!

Scanners locked.

Weapons locked.

Fire!

Got him!

( sighs )

Shields down.

( beeping )

Locked onto away team.

Beaming them home now.

Come to 40, mark 65.

Ahead one-third, and assume a standard orbit.

Standard orbit.

Aye, sir.

( sighs )

Relinquishing command, Captain.

As you were, Lieutenant.

Sir?

Mr. La Forge, when I left this ship, it was in one piece.

I would appreciate your returning it to me in the same condition.

You concur, Number One?

Absolutely, sir.

Lieutenant Solis plot a course to rendezvous with the Saucer Section.

Sick Bay reports

Dr. Crusher's going to be fine.

Course plotted and laid in.

Engage.