Narrative Web
S3E6
· Booby Trap

Counter-Reaction Diagnosed & Brahms' Voice Unearthed

In Engineering, Geordi's methodical diagnostics finally name the problem: the ancient Promellian trap produces a proportional counter-reaction that scales with Enterprise power output, preventing formation of a subspace field. This technical revelation reframes the crisis from mysterious failure to engineered sabotage and provides a tactical explanation for why conventional repairs fail. As he digs deeper into Galaxy-class design files, Geordi discovers archived voice logs from Dr. Leah Brahms — a simultaneous plot pivot that gives him a concrete engineering lead and an emotional, human contact to anchor his desperate ingenuity.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Geordi monitors circuits but remains baffled despite all tests showing normal conditions, intensifying his frustration as the Enterprise remains powerless.

frustration to determination ['Engineering']

Geordi interrogates the computer and discovers the trap's proportional counter-reaction, confirming the dire mechanics sabotaging the warp drive.

curiosity to grim realization

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2

Recorded neutrality — professional, detached — which paradoxically creates an emotional tether for Geordi; the voice is informative rather than intimate.

Although not live, Dr. Leah Brahms participates through her archived dictation: a neutral, clinical voice that labels and frames subspace propulsion logs. Her recording provides authoritative metadata and the technical language Geordi needs to proceed.

Goals in this moment
  • Preserve accurate theoretical propulsion knowledge for future engineers.
  • Document subspace system behavior and configurations to standardize Galaxy‑class troubleshooting.
Active beliefs
  • Comprehensive documentation and voice logs are essential for operational integrity of Galaxy‑class vessels.
  • Subspace propulsion phenomena can and should be categorized systematically so that later engineers can reproduce and fix issues.
Character traits
clinical precise authoritative institutionally minded
Follow Leah Brahms's journey

Concentration edged with puzzled determination; quietly relieved to have an actionable lead, and faintly awkward/alone when addressing recorded voice logs as if speaking to a colleague.

Geordi runs sequential diagnostics on engineering monitors, inputs targeted queries via the engineering keypad, interprets the computer's report that an opposing force scales with power output, scrolls the Subspace Field Menu, and elects to play archived voice entries by L. Brahms.

Goals in this moment
  • Diagnose why the Enterprise cannot form a subspace field and isolate the mechanism preventing warp.
  • Find authoritative technical material or a design lead that explains or offers a workaround for the counter‑reaction.
  • Anchor himself emotionally by connecting with a human author of the archived files to combat isolation under stress.
Active beliefs
  • The warp failure is a solvable engineering problem if he can find the right data or theory.
  • Archived Galaxy‑class design logs and voice recordings contain actionable diagnostics and commands.
  • An institutional author (Leah Brahms) will have designed or documented the subspace systems in sufficient detail to offer a solution.
Character traits
methodical focused technically adept curious dryly self‑aware
Follow Geordi La …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

3
Dr. Leah Brahms' Starfleet Identification Card (facsimile)

The Starfleet identification card for Dr. Leah Brahms is displayed on the computer screen to identify the author of the files. Narratively it converts a faceless technical entry into a person, supplying an emotional tether and legitimacy to the archived logs Geordi accesses.

Before: Stored as part of the archived file metadata …
After: Projected on the engineering display to confirm authorship …
Before: Stored as part of the archived file metadata in the databank.
After: Projected on the engineering display to confirm authorship and humanize the archived entries for Geordi.
Main Engineering Computer Keypad

The Main Engineering Computer Keypad is Geordi's tactile interface for running diagnostics, entering queries about counter‑reactions, and navigating the databank. It functions as the practical tool that converts Geordi's hypotheses into searchable queries, enabling the discovery of Brahms' files and the playback command for voice entries.

Before: Installed at the engineering console, functional and lightly …
After: Still operational and in Geordi's possession at the …
Before: Installed at the engineering console, functional and lightly worn at frequently used keys; ready for input.
After: Still operational and in Geordi's possession at the console after commands successfully retrieve the Subspace Field Menu and voice logs.
Subspace Field Menu

The Subspace Field Menu is the UI overlay that returns a dense list of Galaxy‑class subspace design files. It surfaces repeated authorship (L. Brahms), turning a technical search into a narrative clue and channel for the archived voice recording Geordi elects to play. Functionally, it reframes the problem by revealing provenance and possible solutions.

Before: Populated with indexed subspace field design files and …
After: Selected and browsed by Geordi; entries labeled 'L. …
Before: Populated with indexed subspace field design files and metadata in the ship's databank.
After: Selected and browsed by Geordi; entries labeled 'L. Brahms' highlighted and used to cue the voice entry playback.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 1
Character Continuity medium

"Geordi's romantic failure with Christy leads him to seek connection elsewhere, eventually finding it with the holographic Leah Brahms."

Holodeck Rebuff — Geordi's Lonely Misfire
S3E6 · Booby Trap

Key Dialogue

"GEORDI: "So why can't we move?""
"COMPUTER VOICE: "Affirmative. The opposing force grew in direct proportion to the power output of the Enterprise.""
"LEAH: "Theoretical propulsion logs, Federation Starship Enterprise, Galaxy class. Heading: Subspace. Author: Leah Brahms.""