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Starship Mine

Captain's Log, Stardate 46682.4.

The Enterprise is docked at the Remmler Array,

where it will undergo a routine procedure

to eliminate accumulated baryon particles.

In preparation for the sweep, we are evacuating the ship.

Attention, personnel on decks 14 and 15.

Your transporter room assignment has been changed.

Report to transporter room three.

Captain, we're still behind schedule on decks seven and eight.

Shall I tell Arkaria Base there'll be a delay?

No. Open up the transporters on Cargo Bay Two and divert everyone from deck seven to there.

That should put us back on track. Right.

All beta shift engineering personnel are requested to report to main engineering...

Captain, the Arkaria Base does not have the medical storage units I requested.

I have seven living tissue samples that won't survive the baryon sweep any more than you and I would.

I've tried to reason with them.

All right, uh, have Commander La Forge transport a stasis unit from the astrophysics lab.

You should be able to convert it to store tissue samples.

Thank you, Captain.

All science personnel, please check in with your section chief for a station-side duty assignment.

Captain. I'm heading to deck seven.

I've put the auto-shutdown sequence on hold until we get back on schedule.

Oh, I think we can resume the sequence.

Counselor Troi is taking care of the situation on deck seven.

Aye, sir.

Captain.

Bridge.

It has been quite a day, has it not?

Yes, it has.

However, a change of routine is often invigorating and can be a welcome diversion after a long assignment.

Exactly.

I understand that Arkaria has some very interesting weather patterns.

Mr. Data, are you all right?

Yes, sir. I am attempting to fill a silent moment with nonrelevant conversation.

Ah. Small talk. Yes, sir.

I have found that humans often use "small talk" during awkward moments.

Therefore, I have written a new subroutine for that purpose.

How did I do?

Perhaps it was a little... too nonrelevant, but if you really are interested in small talk, then you should keep your eye on Commander Hutchinson at the reception this afternoon.

He's a master.

Hmm. Thank you, sir. I will.

LA FORGE: Captain. WORF: Captain.

( both talking )

After you, sir. No, after you.

No, sir. I believe you spoke first.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, we're running of time. Mr. Worf?

The computer needs your authorization to disable command functions during the baryon sweep.

Are we ready, Commander La Forge?

Almost. I've requested two additional field diverters, one for the computer core, one for the bridge.

They haven't been installed yet.

Additional units?

Yes, sir. We've logged, in five years, more warp hours than most ships do in ten, so our baryon particle levels are high.

I'm a little concerned that when the Remmler Array starts to sweep the ship, it'll have to use a stronger beam than normal in order to get rid of all the radiation.

And that might overload the field converters protecting our key systems.

How long until the new ones are in place?

I'd say about 20 minutes.

Very well.

Computer, disable all command functions in 30 minutes.

Authorization: Picard gamma-six-zero-seven-three.

Authorization acknowledged.

Captain. Incoming message.

It's the station administrator, Mr. Orton.

In my ready room, Mr. Worf.

And, Captain, request permission to be excused from Commander Hutchinson's reception.

Permission granted.

I wish I could excuse myself as well.

Captain, permission...

Mr. La Forge, I cannot excuse my entire senior staff.

Mr. Worf beat you to it.

Go ahead, Mr. Orton.

Captain, if you're on schedule, I'd like to confirm that we'll begin the baryon sweep at 1500 hours-- approximately one hour from now. Confirmed.

Commander Hutchinson also wanted me to make sure that you'll be able to attend his reception this afternoon.

Tell him I'm looking forward to it.

He'll be delighted to hear that.

Arkaria base out.

( sighs )

Tell Arkaria Base we're almost finished here.

MAN: We're going to need two more conduits.

WOMAN: I need to run a diagnostic on the diverter.

Get the diverter aligned so we can begin the isolation procedure.

Where's the ODN interface?

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.

( soft music playing )

RIKER: Your Remmler Array is considered...

MAN 1: Here you are.

MAN 2: That's nice to hear.

RIKER: What are these?

MAN 2: Briskian cheese pastries.

TROI: Geordi, would you get me some more fruit salad?

Beverly, lovely as ever.

How do you manage it?

It's good to see you again.

It's been far too long.

What is it, four years?

Now, I want to hear about everything that happened after you left Starfleet medical.

And I have so much to tell you.

Oh, that must be Commander Riker.

Excuse me.

Of course.

Pardon me.

You must be Will Riker.

I must be.

Calvin Hutchinson. Call me Hutch.

Calvin-- awful name. I've never forgiven my parents.

Soon as I saw you, I knew you had to be the Enterprise's first officer.

Oh? Oh, of course.

Your reputation precedes you-- flashing blue eyes, square jaw-- quite the ladies' man, I hear.

Now, don't be modest, Will.

Oh, may I call you "Will"?

Uh, sure.

I also hear that you're a musician.

I certainly hope you'll play something for us.

It's not often we get to entertain the command crew of the flagship.

Oh, and speaking of command.

Hello, Captain Picard.

Commander.

I was just telling your first officer what a real pleasure it is to have all of you here.

So how are you, anyway?

Very well. Thank you.

What have you been up to?

It is very good to see you both again.

Beverly... may I call you "Beverly"?

Beverly, have you noticed that the mean temperature here on Arkaria is slightly higher than normal for human comfort levels?

I have found that humans prefer a body temperature of 21 degrees Celsius in order to operate most efficiently.

However, there are several cultures who actually prefer that their body temperature is identical to the temperature of the room in which they are standing.

( chuckling )

The Sheliak, for example...

I am telling you, you have never seen anything like this.

There were thousands of these creatures.

The whole northern sky turned dark.

Oh, uh, Geordi... Deanna.

I don't think you have met our host.

This is Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge.

Hello. Hi.

Counselor Deanna Troi.

This is Commander Hutchinson.

Oh, please, call me Hutch. Hello.

I was just telling your captain here about some of the more fascinating sights here in Arkaria.

Either of you interested in ornithology?

Uh, well... The mating habits of the Arkarian horn fowl are quite interesting.

If the weather were better, we could take horses to the southern promontory and visit the nesting grounds.

Horses? Yes.

We have a network of trails through the plains.

Unfortunately, it's not very pleasant right now-- cold, muddy.

Not a soul for kilometers.

Sounds perfect.

Mr. La Forge, how long before the baryon sweep begins on the Enterprise? About 25 minutes, sir.

Then I have enough time to go back to the ship and get my saddle.

TROI: Your saddle?

Yes. A saddle is a very personal thing.

It has to be, uh, broken in, used, cared for.

You keep a saddle onboard the Enterprise?

Oh, yes, yes.

I never know when I will have the opportunity to ride.

I see. It's perfectly normal.

You know, most serious riders do have their own saddles.

Of course. Absolutely.

Well, if you will excuse me.

Amazing man.

You know, he reminds me of another officer

I knew years ago-- a Captain Edwell.

Now, he was fascinating. Born on Gaspar VII, but you wouldn't know it from the way he looked.

COMPUTER: Auto-shutdown sequence in progress.

Defensive systems off-line.

Baryon sweep begins in eight minutes.

MAN: What are you doing?

Someone left this ODN junction box open.

I thought your crew was supposed to be off the ship once the field diverters were in place.

The diverters have to be synchronized.

I was laser bonding a backup link.

I see.

Well, I better let you finish up so that you can get off the ship.

Excuse me a minute.

Auto-shutdown sequence in progress.

Primary power off-line in one minute.

WOMAN: We still need to bypass the magnetic containment conduit.

MAN: That should be down on deck 30.

Well, then get Pomet started on it right away.

Primary power off-line in 30 seconds.

Final warning.

Primary power off-line in ten seconds.

Hmm... yes. I find it fascinating that your family chose to drop the prefix "Pel" from your surname.

It was my understanding that "Pel Orton" is a more noble appellation than simply "Orton."

Yes. Hmm.

Perhaps the recent Arkarian trend toward a more egalitarian society is partly responsible, huh?

Perhaps.

The crew of the Magellan actually put on a talent show here.

Captain Conklin did a poetry reading, if you can imagine that.

I'm trying to. Did I ever tell you how I happened to be stationed here?

It's a fascinating story.

I was serving on Admiral Mitchell's staff on Starbase 97-- awful place, by the way.

Have you met our Commander Data? Hmm?

...as a matter of fact, I find it oddly amusing.

( laughs loudly )

No, I don't think so.

Come on, I'll introduce you.

DATA: There are several cultures in this sector with extremely similar etymological histories. For example...

Mr. Data, I don't know if you've had a chance meet our host, Commander Hutchinson.

"Call me Hutch." "Call me Hutch."

Lieutenant Commander Data, our second officer.

A pleasure.

The pleasure is mine... Hutch.

I've been meaning to compliment you on your choice of colors here.

Oh, you really think so, hmm?

Well, it wasn't easy making a final decision, let me tell you.

I can well imagine. The light in this room would make color selection exceptionally problematic.

Precisely.

( both laughing )

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I'm not sure which one to feel sorry for.

Mr. Orton?

You'll excuse me, Commander?

Geordi, what happened to the captain?

Oh, he went back to the ship to get his saddle.

His saddle?

Any serious rider would have his own saddle.

Oh.

He probably went straight to the stables.

I bet he's ten kilometers from here already.

Lucky him.

Thank you.

Kelsey to Devor.

Kelsey to Devor.

Devor, this is Kelsey. Reply.

Devor, do you read me?

Kelsey to Kiros. This is Kiros.

KELSEY: Devor isn't responding.

There must be too much interference from the baryon sweep.

Go find him and see if he finished bypassing the regulator on deck seven.

Then meet us in main engineering.

Understood.

Hey.

Hey.

Who are you?

What are you doing on my ship?

The baryon sweep uses a high-frequency plasma field.

Your phaser won't work.

You're probably right, but I'd like to bet this will.

A laser welder can be deadly.

Now, what's going on in main engineering?

I suggest that you cooperate.

You're Starfleet. You won't kill me.

You sure?

( hissing ) ( groans )

It seems you're right.

( laughter )

Yes, but Tyrellian laser-art is very similar in both form and composition.

Well, of course.

You know, funny you should mention that.

I used to be stationed on Tyrellia.

Really? Yes.

Did you know there are currently five Tyrellians serving aboard the Enterprise?

That's fascinating. Not too many people know this, but Tyrellia is only one of three known inhabited planets without a magnetic pole.

I was aware of that, but are you aware that Tyrellia is one of seven known planets with no atmosphere whatsoever?

Really? Mm.

They're still at it.

Nonstop. I have to admit, it has a sort of strange fascination.

How long can two people talk about nothing?

Is something wrong?

Uh, I don't know. I was just getting some very strange energy readings from your table here.

Well, I'm sure it's nothing serious.

Perhaps the heating element underneath the table is malfunctioning.

Maybe I should take a look at it for you.

I'm sure we can handle this, whatever it is, Commander.

There's no need to concern yourself.

LA FORGE: Well, maybe I should look at the element.

I mean, in case...

It's all right. Please, don't worry.

What's that all about?

ORTON: I assure you, Commander La Forge, it's all right.

We'll look into it.

You don't have to concern yourself.

Orton, now!

( grunts )

What is going on?!

( groans, Troi gasps )

Stay right where you are.

Reduce the plasma pressure to 0.6 percent nominal.

Zero point six.

How does the conduit look?

It's clear.

All right. The main plasma flow has been shunted to the aft conduit.

We're ready here.

Okay, that should do it, I think.

Be sure, Neil.

Uh, yes.

Yeah, that does it.

Um, all right.

Transfer 500 milligrams from the reserve system to the engine core.

Perfect.

Adequate. Disable the containment overrides and get the interlocks off the magnetic seal.

Pomet, prepare the transport assembly.

Keep watching that power flow.

It might...

Keep working.

Where'd he come from?

Found him on deck seven.

Who are you?

My name is Mot.

I'm, uh, I'm the barber.

Barber? What the hell are you doing here?

Everyone was supposed to be evacuated to the surface.

Yes, I know, um... but I wanted to go riding, but I didn't have my saddle.

So, I went back... Your saddle?

Yes, that's right. It's on deck seven.

I left it in the corridor.

And then the power went out, and I got lost, and...

All right, all right, shut up. I didn't know...

Just shut up!

Any sign of Devor?

No.

( sighs )

Satler.

Get down here, and, uh... keep an eye on our barber.

All right, go see if you can find Devor.

Make sure nothing's wrong.

Sit down.

All right.

Look, just don't point that thing at me.

Just do what I tell you, and you won't have to worry.

How long until you're ready?

40, maybe 50 minutes.

The baryon sweep hits this compartment in 30 minutes.

The field diverter will protect us.

It is not us I'm worried about-- it's that storage unit.

I want the trilithium resin in there and secured before the sweep gets here.

I don't want to take any chances.

Understood.

( sighs )

They haven't tried to communicate with the outside.

No demands, no political statements... no theft. They must want something.

Orton is not as calm as he looks.

He's very agitated and nervous, as if something's gone wrong.

It is possible that Geordi upset their timetable when he saw the hidden weapons.

Orton may be improvising.

Maybe he didn't plan to take us hostage so early and now he doesn't know what to do.

If they do not have a plan for this contingency, we may have the initiative.

Maybe, but we need to figure out how to use it.

How is he?

There's no permanent damage.

I've adjusted the optical transducer in his visor to block out some of the pain receptors in his brain.

It's only partially effective.

I need to get him to a medical facility.

I doubt if they'll agree to that.

But maybe if we tell them Geordi's dying, they would give us access to a medical kit.

We might be able to use some of the tools to make a weapon.

Perhaps we can use the visor as a weapon.

If the optical transducer were modified, we might be able to generate a hypersonic pulse.

A hypersonic pulse would overload the audio receptors of everyone in this room.

It would cause immediate unconsciousness.

Can you make the adjustment on the visor yourself?

It will look suspicious if you're both working on it.

CRUSHER: I'll try.

I might need Geordi to help me through some of it.

RIKER: All right.

Be as casual as you can.

Let me know when you're ready.

Ready.

All right, begin draining the trilithium at 100 milligrams per minute.

( alarm wailing )

Neil, what's going on?! Neil, get over here!

Put that down! Protect it.

NEIL: Don't worry, I've got it. I'll be right there.

( Satler screaming )

The primary inducer is completely fused.

There's no way to fix it. Without the diverter, we don't have any protection from the baryon sweep.

I know that. How long before the baryon sweep gets here?

About 12 minutes.

We should go to Ten-Forward.

That's the last place on the ship that'll be swept by the baryon field.

All right. We're leaving.

But we're taking the trilithium with us.

What?!

Do you know how volatile trilithium is?

We can't just start hauling it through the ship.

I'll... I'll try to make some modifications.

Satler's dead.

He ran into the baryon sweep.

What about Mot?

I don't know, but I don't think he's a barber.

I found this in the Jefferies tube.

( communicator beeps )

Kelsey to Kiros.

This is Kiros.

We have a problem.

There's a Starfleet officer still aboard.

He's killed Satler and he may have killed Devor.

He also destroyed the diverter in engineering, so we have to leave here before the baryon sweep enters this section.

What about the trilithium resin?

We're taking it with us to Ten-Forward.

There should be enough time before...

Kelsey, don't be a fool.

You know better than to try to move trilithium resin.

Mr. Mot, or should I call you "Lieutenant"?

"Lieutenant Commander," perhaps?

You can call me whatever you wish, but moving trilithium resin requires very specific equipment.

You can't just improvise something.

I wouldn't need to improvise if you hadn't damaged our field diverter.

But if you're so concerned about the trilithium,

I suggest you stop interfering with us before you set off an explosion that would destroy the Enterprise and you.

I would rather destroy the ship than allow that resin to fall into the hands of terrorists.

What makes you think I'm a terrorist?

Trilithium resin is a highly toxic waste product produced by our engines.

It's only possible use could be as a weapon.

You might be right, Mr. Mot, but we've been planning for this for a long time, and I doubt you'll really be able to stop us...

( no audio )

...or even slow us down.

There.

300 milligrams of trilithium.

I'm, uh, using a dynamic stabilizer to act as a control rod.

There.

That should keep the resin stable enough for transport.

Come on! ( gasps )

Don't be so tense, Neil.

Listen, if something goes wrong, you won't have time to worry about it.

Let's go.

Three more decks.

Then we take corridor 15-B all the way to Ten-Forward.

What's wrong?

We have to find another way up.

The rungs are cut.

KELSEY: That wasn't very clever, Mr. Mot.

If you knew where we were, you should have attacked us.

Now we'll just take another route-- one you might not be able to predict.

There are only so many ways to Ten-Forward.

Ten-forward is the logical place to be if you want to stay ahead of the baryon sweep.

That sweep is just as big a threat to you as it is to us.

In fact, if I were you, Mr. Mot,

I'd be trying to find another way off this ship.

I plan on leaving the same way you do-- on your ship.

What ship? Come on, Kelsey.

If you've been planning this so long, you must have a way of getting off the Enterprise and leaving this system.

I think you have a ship coming for you.

I plan to be on it.

It's a small ship, Mot.

I don't think there's going to be room for both of us.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I'll send your regrets.

How is he, Doctor?

He's in a lot of pain, but I think he should be fine.

He needs some water. Is that all right?

( speaking softly ): We're almost ready.

When we set the visor to emit the hypersonic pulse, there'll be a short burst of light.

We need a distraction.

They need a distraction.

How long?

Just a few seconds.

I think I can distract Orton for a few seconds.

I don't think Orton's in a talking mood, Will.

You just have to know how to talk to him.

Orton, I think we need to discuss this situation.

There is nothing to discuss.

Sit down.

There is a lot to discuss.

Can't we be reasonable?

I am not interested in hearing your hostage negotiation tactics, Commander.

Well, it can't hurt you to listen, can it?

All right. Thank you.

Now, the first thing I think we need to discuss is this.

( grunts )

( grunts )

( grunts in pain )

KIROS: Hold it.

Put your weapon down.

Kelsey, this is Kiros.

I'm on deck ten. I have Mot.

Is he alive? Yes.

Good. Meet us at intersection 41.

Understood.

This way.

( panting )

Give me the trilithium.

How much farther do we have to go?

Not far.

With all the modifications you've made to this unit, are we going to have any problems removing the trilithium?

No. Just remove the control rod.

Drain the unit.

There shouldn't be any problem.

That's all I wanted to know.

Well, not as clever as you thought.

Where's Pomet?

He shot him with some kind of an arrow.

He's not dead. Well, he will be soon.

The sweep's nearly here, and we don't have time to go back for him.

What about Neil?

The sweep got him.

Let's go.

I thought you were just going to talk to him.

I did. He just didn't like what I had to say.

( beeping ) Mm.

That was a perimeter warning from the Remmler Array.

A small ship is approaching.

I believe Mr. Orton has dropped his defense shields.

This must be the sign they were waiting for.

Mr. Data, you will be the only one unaffected by the hypersonic burst.

As soon as everyone else is unconscious,

I need you to get to that computer panel and stop that ship somehow.

I will try, sir.

Now.

( high-pitched humming )

Kelsey, perhaps we can work out a deal.

You're the only one who needs a deal, Mot.

My name isn't Mot. It's Jean-Luc Picard.

Captain Picard. This is all beginning to make sense.

Leave the trilithium here and take me with you.

You can use me as a hostage instead of threatening...

I am not a terrorist, Captain, nor do I have a political agenda, although I know some people who do have agendas, and they are very interested in this little container.

Profit. This is all about profit.

I prefer to think of it as commerce.

Open the door.

Now go through... slowly.

( yelling )

( both grunting )

( beeping )

Well, Picard, I guess

I'll be the one to send your regrets.

Picard to Arkaria Base.

Deactivate the baryon sweep.

Arkaria Base, this is Captain Picard onboard the Enterprise.

Deactivate the baryon sweep.

Arkaria Base, this is Captain Picard.

Deactivate the baryon sweep immediately!

Data to Captain Picard. Do you read me, sir?

Picard here.

Are you all right, Captain?

Yes, Mr. Data.

Sir, an unidentified scout ship has just beamed someone off the Enterprise.

Do you know anything about it?

I know they won't get very far.

Hold still. You have a nasty little cut here.

Any luck?

I'm sorry, Captain.

I don't know what could have happened to it.

Hold still. I can't heal this cleanly if you don't stop fidgeting.

I've had three security teams search deck seven.

They couldn't find anything.

There.

I found it.

Someone put it in a maintenance locker.

Thank you.

Captain, you keep a saddle on board?

RIKER: Mr. Worf, I'm surprised at you.

Anyone who is an experienced rider naturally has his own saddle.

TROI: It's perfectly normal.

Actually, it came in handy.

I only wish I had had the opportunity to use it on a horse.

Of course.