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Darmok

Captain's Log, Stardate 45047.2.

The Enterprise is en route

to the uninhabited El-Adrel system.

Its location is near the territory

occupied by an enigmatic race known as the Children of Tama.

Apparently, the Tamarians arrived at El-Adrel IV nearly three weeks ago.

They have been transmitting a subspace signal towards Federation space ever since.

The signal is a standard mathematical progression.

It does not carry a specific message.

But they wanted us to know they were there.

Apparently so, Number One.

Starfleet believes their presence is an attempt at communication.

Commander.

Federation vessels have encountered Tamarian ships seven times over the past 100 years.

Each meeting went without incident.

However, formal relations were not established because communication was not possible.

Why?

The Children of Tama were called "incomprehensible" by Captain Silvestri of the Shiku Maru.

Other accounts were comparable.

WORF: A cause for concern.

For all we know they could be threatening our border.

Everything in the previous accounts suggest a peaceable race.

We have to start from there.

Agreed. I appreciate your prudence, Mr. Worf.

Starfleet believes that the Tamarians have extended a hand.

We must do the same.

Children of Tama.

I've heard rumors about them for years.

Indeed, but are they truly incomprehensible.

In my experience communication is a matter of patience, imagination.

I would like to believe that these are qualities that we have in sufficient measure.

Rai and Jiri at Lungha.

Rai of Lowani.

Lowani under two moons.

Jiri of Ubaya.

Ubaya of crossed roads at Lungha.

Lungha. Her sky gray.

Rai and Jiri at Lungha.

Counselor?

I sense nothing but good intentions from them, captain.

Mr. Data? The Tamarian seems to be stating the proper names of individuals and locations.

Yes, but what does it all mean?

DATA: I'm at a loss, sir.

Captain.

Would you be prepared to consider the creation of a mutual non-aggression pact between our two peoples, possibly leading to a trade agreement and cultural interchange.

Does this sound like a reasonable course of action to you?

( laughing )

Kadir beneath Mo Moteh.

The River Temarc.

In winter.

Impressions, Number One.

It appears they're trying their best.

As are we, for what it's worth.

Shaka.

When the walls fell...

Darmok.

Darmok?

Rai and Jiri at Lungha.

Shaka.

When the walls fell...

Zima at Anzo.

Zima and Bakor.

Darmok at Tanagra.

Mirab. His sails unfurled.

Darmok.

Mirab.

Temarc.

The river Temarc.

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

Block their transporter with the shields.

Extend to maximum range.

Not enough time.

Where is he?

The Tamarians have transported Captain Picard to the planet's surface along with their own captain.

Riker to O'Brien.

It will not be possible to transport, sir.

The Tamarian ship has created a particle scattering field on the planet's ionosphere.

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.

Riker to Captain Picard.

Do you read me, Captain?

Can we compensate?

No, sir.

The Tamarians are projecting a particle sustaining beam into the upper atmosphere.

The result is a hyper-ionization that virtually disrupts all EM and subspace carriers.

Then they can't communicate with their man, either.

They won't be able to beam anyone through the field.

That is correct.

However, they have left sensor frequencies clear.

Then they'll be able to tell what's going on.

Analysis, Mr. Worf.

What the hell is going on?

A contest, perhaps, between champions.

Our captain against theirs.

Theirs was armed.

Darmok and Jalad.

You want to fight with me?

Is that it?

A challenge?

Darmok and Jalad.

I don't know who or what Darmok or Jalad are but I certainly didn't come here to start a war.

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

Sorry, Captain.

( sighs )

Shaka.

When the walls fell.

Sensors show that Captain Picard and the Tamarian are in apparent good health approximately 20 meters from each other.

Hail the Tamarian ship.

On screen.

You're holding our captain.

I want him released.

Darmok at Tanagra.

Your action could be interpreted as an act of war.

Kiteo. His eyes closed.

Chenza at court.

The court of silence.

Chenza!

Is there anyway to get through to them?

Not without further study.

Close the channel, Mr. Worf.

Gladly, sir.

Worf, I want you to assemble a security team take a shuttle down to the planet.

Bring back the captain.

Aye, commander.

Sir, the Tamarians are fully capable of stopping a shuttle.

I'm aware of that.

But disrupting our transporter beam and firing on a shuttle are two entirely different things.

I'm betting they're not going to push it that far.

Shaka.

When the walls fell.

PICARD: Shaka, indeed.

What now, Captain?

Will you attack me in my sleep?

If I don't freeze to death first.

Darmok of Kanza.

Jalad at the Kiteo.

Picard of the Federation.

Of the starship Enterprise... of the planet Earth.

Kadir beneath Mo Moteh.

Temba.

Temba?

What does that mean?

Fire?

Does Temba mean fire?

Temba. His arms wide.

Temba is a person?

His arms wide.

Because he's... he's holding them apart in.... in... generosity?

In giving?

In taking?

Temba. His arms wide.

Thank you.

Thank you.

First Officer's Log, supplemental.

I am sending a shuttlecraft to find Captain Picard

gambling that the Tamarians will sit tight

rather than risk an exchange of phaser fire.

The positron density is .013.

WORF: Electron concentration 7.95.

Particle gradient 4/7.

We are 250 kilometers from the planet's surface.

Commander, the shuttle has reached the E region of the planet's ionosphere.

How long can we maintain communication?

The scattering layer induced by the Tamarians is concentrated in the upper D region.

The shuttle will reach that area in approximately two minutes.

The Tamarian ship?

DATA: Unchanged, sir.

They appear to be making no attempt to stop us.

Maybe we called their bluff.

Status, Mr. Worf.

WORF: Navigational, life-support, propulsion normal.

Onboard systems do not appear to be disrupted by the field but I can barely read you, Commander.

RIKER: Acknowledged.

Maintain communication as long as conditions permit.

Commander, I am reading a power surge in the Tamarian plasma reactor.

Lieutenant Worf, evasive maneuver sequence delta.

RIKER: Maneuver sequence delta...

Commander, the shuttle has been hit.

Damage?

The starboard nacelle has been rendered inoperable.

That's all?

Riker to Worf.

Report.

Starboard thrusters destroyed.

I may be able to land but I will not be able to take off.

RIKER: Understood.

Return to the Enterprise, Mr. Worf.

Aye, sir.

Enough to turn them back but not enough to hurt them.

DATA: Yes, sir.

The phaser pulse appears to have been carefully attenuated for just that effect.

Nice shooting.

LA FORGE: I'm pretty sure I can punch up the annular confinement beam enough to transport the captain through the field but it's going to take me at least a full day to do it.

Captain Picard could be dead by then.

WORF: I do not believe so.

I have confidence in his ability as a warrior.

He will be victorious.

You're still assuming this is some kind of challenge ritual.

We can't be certain of that.

Agreed.

We're only making educated guesses about their motivations no more than that.

Then why do we wait?

If we attack the ship now they will not be able to maintain their scattering field.

Which might start a shooting match and for all we know a war.

And we might still not be able to save the captain.

It would end this stalemate.

It's too much of a risk.

I'll take that course when it's the last one left.

Who the hell are these people?

There's got to be some way to get through to them.

As I have said, with further study, it may be possible to...

Then do it. Deanna, help him.

I want something by 0900 hours.

Now where have you gone to, my friend?

Forgive the intrusion, Captain but I need some answers.

Darmok at Tanagra. Shaka! Mirab.

His sails unfurled.

Darmok. Mirab.

DATA: Freeze.

"Darmok."

( sighs )

"Darmok."

Well, it seems to be a point of contention between them.

Perhaps something the Tamarian captain proposed that the first officer didn't like.

The apparent emotional dynamic does seem to support that assumption.

As with the other terms used by the Tamarian this appears to be a proper noun.

The name clearly carries a meaning for them.

Computer, search for the term "Darmok" in all linguistic data bases for this sector.

COMPUTER: Searching.

Darmok is the name of the seventh dynasty emperor on Kanda IV a mythohistorical hunter on Shantil III a colony on Malindi VII a frozen dessert on Razna V, a...

Stop search.

Computer, how many entries are there for "Darmok"?

COMPUTER: Forty-seven.

( sighs )

All our technology and experience our universal translator, our years in space contact with more alien cultures than I can even remember.

I have encountered 1,754 non-human races during my tenure in Starfleet.

And we still can't even say hello to these people.

Correct.

A single word can lead to tragedy one word misspoken or misunderstood and that could happen here, Data, if we fail.

Replay at time index 144.

Darmok at Tanagra.

Freeze.

Computer, search for the term "Tanagra." all data bases.

COMPUTER: Searching.

Tanagra, ruling family on Gallos II a ceremonial drink on Lerishi IV an island continent on Shantil III.

Stop.

Shantil III.

Computer, cross-reference the last entry with the previous search index.

COMPUTER: Darmok is the name of a mythohistorical hunter on Shantil III.

I think we've got something.

A captain's log?

( shouting ) Darmok!

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

I was curious. I meant no harm.

Shaka! Temba.

His arms wide. Temba.

No. Enough! I'm not going to fight you.

You will just have... ( roaring sound )

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

( roaring )

Temba! His arms wide!

I'll go along with that.

( roaring )

Commander, sensors are picking up an electromagnetic disturbance approaching the captain's position.

Analysis?

A variable induction field-- possibly a life-form.

How close is it to the captain?

The field is erratic-- appearing and disappearing-- but it appears to be moving toward him.

Attacking?

Riker to La Forge.

La Forge here.

How close are we on that transporter?

Two hours, maybe three.

I want the captain out of there now!

That's not very likely, sir.

I don't want to hear that, Commander.

Lefler, what's the resonance frequency?

.34 over standard.

I want a resolution of .53 at the very least.

Commander, I'll need about two more minutes.

But there's a good chance this isn't going to work.

If it fails...

I know.

We will have tipped our hand to the Tamarians.

But that's a chance we have to take.

Agreed.

La Forge, proceed.

We're on it. La Forge out.

Riker to Transporter Room One.

O'Brien here, Commander.

RIKER: Stand by, Mr. O'Brien.

( electrical crackling )

( electrical crackling )

Mirab. His sails unfurled?

Come.

Shaka. When the walls fell.

( electrical crackling )

( sighs )

Shaka. When the walls fell.

Shaka... you said that before when I was trying to build a fire.

Is that a failure?

An inability to do something?

Darmok and Jalad... At Tanagra.

I remember the words but I don't understand.

( loud crackling )

Matrix levels?

Annular convergence 439.205.

Confinement resolution .527.

That isn't going to do it.

Increase thermal input coefficient to 150%.

Increasing now.

RIKER: Status, La Forge.

We're almost there, Commander.

Lefler, shunt the overload to the phase transition sequencers in Transporter One.

Yes, sir. La Forge to O'Brien.

Go ahead, Commander.

LA FORGE: Confirm phase sequencer linkage.

Link confirmed.

Ready whenever you are, sir.

( roaring )

Uzani. His army at Lashmir.

At Lashmir.

Was it like this at Lashmir?

A similar situation to the one we're facing here?

( loud crackling )

( crackling stops )

Uzani... his army with fist open.

A strategy? With fist open?

With fist open.

His army with fists closed.

With fists closed?

An army with fists opened... to lure the enemy... with fists closed... to attack?

That's how you communicate, isn't it-- by citing example.

By metaphor!

Uzani's army with... with fist open.

Sokath!

His eyes uncovered!

( violent crackling roar )

( creature shrieks angrily )

( shrieks )

( groans )

No! No!

I've got a piece of him, Commander, but that's all.

Boost the confinement beam!

157 over standard.

It's as solid as it'll go, Commander.

( groans )

( groaning )

The Tamarian and the entity are in close proximity.

The Tamarian's life signs are fluctuating.

The scattering field is still in full force.

What the hell is wrong with them?

Their sensors can read what's going on as well as ours can.

Riker to O'Brien. Report.

The field's still deflecting the signal.

There just isn't enough of him, sir.

Open a channel to the Tamarian ship.

Aye, sir.

RIKER: Your captain is under attack.

Drop your particle field.

Kailash... when it rises.

They have closed the channel.

O'Brien to Bridge.

I can't hold him, Commander.

( electronic crackling )

( gasping )

Shaka...

When the walls fell.

First Officer's Log, Stardate 45048.8.

Our attempt to transport

Captain Picard back to the ship has failed.

My options are narrowing,

and my patience is all but gone.

Here's the situation on El-Adrel.

The entity has moved off several hundred meters.

CRUSHER: Captain Picard's bioscan readings are stable.

The Tamarian's are not.

He may be injured.

RIKER: if the entity decides to attack again the captain may be facing it alone.

Well, the transporter's out of the question.

The Tamarians have deepened the scattering field to the D region of the ionosphere.

There's no getting through.

Unless we attack the ship itself.

Are you able to pinpoint the source of their particle beam?

They're using a polarity coil generator located after their warp drive.

It's pretty heavily shielded.

Could we get through with our phasers?

( sighs )

Not with the first spread. It take a couple of hits.

RIKER: That's not good enough.

I need to knock out their scattering field with one shot.

Get the captain back onto the Enterprise before they know what happened.

LA FORGE: If we selectively target the amplification pathways around the generator it should be just as effective.

And we could do it in one burst.

How long will that take to set up?

Worf and I would have to adjust the pre-fire chamber.

That would give us the focus we need.

A few hours?

Make it so.

I would prefer to find a peaceful solution.

If we could talk our way out of this one that much the better.

Unfortunately, it may not be that simple.

What did you find out?

The Tamarian ego structure does not seem to allow what we normally think of as self-identity.

Their ability to abstract is highly unusual.

They seem to communicate through narrative imagery-- a reference to the individuals and places which appear in their mythohistorical accounts.

It's as if I were to say to you, "Juliet on her balcony."

An image of romance.

Exactly.

Imagery is everything to the Tamarians.

It embodies their emotional states their very thought processes.

It's how they communicate and it's how they think.

If we know how they think shouldn't we be able to get something across to them?

No, sir.

The situation is analogous to understanding the grammar of a language but none of the vocabulary.

If I didn't know who Juliet was, or what she was doing on that balcony the image alone wouldn't have any meaning.

TROI: That's correct.

For instance, we know the Darmok was a great hero, a hunter, and that Tanagra was an island, but that's it.

Without the details, there's no understanding.

It is necessary for us to learn the narrative from which the Tamarians draw their imagery.

Given our current relations, that does not appear likely.

Darmok and Jalad... at Tanagra.

Our situation is similar to theirs.

I understand that.

But I need to know more.

You must tell me more about Darmok and Jalad.

Tell me...

You used the words "Temba, his arms wide" when you gave me the knife and the fire.

Could that mean give?

Temba? His arms wide.

Darmok.

Give me more about Darmok.

Darmok on the ocean.

Darmok.

Darmok.

The ocean.

Darmok on the ocean.

A metaphor for being alone?

Isolated?

Darmok on the ocean.

( groans )

You all right?

Kiazi's children. Their faces wet.

Temba. His arms open.

Give me more about Darmok on the ocean.

Tanagra on the ocean.

Darmok at Tanagra.

At Tanagra? A country?

Tanagra on the ocean? An island?

Temba, his arms wide.

Jalad on the ocean.

Jalad at Tanagra.

Jalad at Tanagra.

He went to the same island as Darmok.

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

The beast at Tanagra.

The beast?

There was a creature at Tanagra?

Darmok and Jalad, the beast of Tanagra.

They arrive separately.

They... they struggle together against a common foe.

The beast at Tanagra.

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

Darmok and Jalad on the ocean.

They left together.

Darmok and Jalad on the ocean.

The ocean...

Zinda!

His face black.

His eyes red.

( groaning )

Callimas at Bahar.

You hoped that something like this would happen, didn't you?

You knew there was a dangerous creature on this planet and you knew from the tale of Darmok that a danger shared might sometimes bring two people together.

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

You and me here... at El-Adrel.

Kira at Bashi.

Temba, his arms wide.

My turn?

No, I'm not much of a storyteller.

Besides, you wouldn't understand.

Shaka. When the walls fell.

( sighs )

Perhaps that doesn't matter.

You want to hear it anyway.

There is a story-- a very ancient one from Earth.

I'll try and remember it.

Gilgamesh, a king.

Gilgamesh, a king.

At Uruk.

He tormented his subjects.

He made them angry.

They cried out aloud

"Send us a companion for our king.

Spare us from his madness."

Enkidu, a wild man from the forest entered the city.

They fought in the temple.

They fought in the streets.

Gilgamesh defeated Enkidu.

They became great friends.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu at Uruk.

At Uruk.

The new friends went out into the desert together where the great bull of heaven was killing men by the hundreds.

Enkidu caught the bull by the tail.

Gilgamesh struck him with his sword.

Gilgamesh.

They were victorious.

But Enkidu fell to the ground, struck down by the gods and Gilgamesh wept bitter tears saying,

"He who was my companion

"through adventure and hardship is gone forever."

First Officer's Log, supplemental.

Despite the risk of war

I have no choice but to break the stalemate.

Phasers nearly ready, sir.

Stand by to fire, Mr. Worf.

Commander, the Tamarian's bioscan is becoming unreadable.

He may be dead, sir.

If we know that, so do the Tamarians.

Riker to La Forge.

La Forge here.

I need those phasers.

Sir, sensors are tracking the entity.

It is approaching Captain Picard's position.

( roaring )

I understand your sacrifice, Captain.

( roaring )

Unfortunately, if our friend out there has its way no one will ever know what you tried to do.

( roaring )

DATA: Nine meters and closing.

The energy output of the entity has doubled, Commander.

Six meters.

La Forge to Bridge. You have phasers.

Fire!

Their particle beam emitters are inoperative, sir.

Scattering field is down, sir.

O'Brien, energize.

We got him, Commander.

Maximum shields.

Aye, sir.

Red alert!

Starboard shields holding at 52%.

Forward shields are gone.

Let's get out of here.

DATA: That may not be possible, sir.

The starboard nacelle has sustained a direct hit.

Warp engines are off-line.

Go to impulse. Back us off.

They are matching our maneuver, sir, and firing.

Return fire, Mr. Worf.

Full phasers.

Firing, sir.

Their shields are holding.

They are firing again.

Our shields have failed.

Commander, we cannot survive another hit.

( door opening )

Hail the Tamarian vessel.

Aye, Captain.

Zinda!

His face black, his eyes red.

Temarc. The river Temarc!

In winter.

Darmok...

And Jalad at Tanagra.

Darmok... and Jalad... on the ocean.

Sokath! His eyes open.

The beast of Tanagra?

Uzani. His army.

Shaka. When the walls fell.

Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel.

Mirab, with sails unfurled.

Temba... his arms open.

Temba... at rest.

Thank you.

DATA: Power has been restored, sir.

New friends, Captain?

I can't say, Number One.

But at least they're not new enemies.

I hope I'm not intruding.

No, of course not, Number One. Please.

The damage report's ready for your review.

Thank you.

Greek, sir.

Oh... the Homeric Hymns-- one of the root metaphors of our own culture.

For the next time we encounter the Tamarians?

More familiarity with our own mythology might help us to relate to theirs.

The Tamarian was willing to risk all of us just for the hope of communication... connection.

Now the door is open between our peoples.

That commitment meant more to him than his own life.

Thank you, Number One.