Susanna reveals Tarchannen Three’s vanished crew
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Susanna identifies Hickman, Mendez, and Brevelle from an old recording of the Tarchannen Three investigation, setting the stage for the unfolding mystery and establishing the key players involved in the original mission.
Picard questions Susanna about Brevelle and Mendez's disappearances, revealing that Brevelle was ill before he disappeared, while Mendez appeared normal, raising the stakes and deepening the mystery surrounding their fates.
Picard notes the unsolved nature of the original Tarchannen disappearances, and Susanna confirms that forty-nine people vanished without a trace, raising the stakes and emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Skeptical → Resigned; his initial disbelief crumbles under the weight of the evidence, leaving him grappling with fear and a sense of inevitability about his fate.
Geordi La Forge sits beside Susanna in the Observation Lounge, initially skeptical of the idea that Paul Hickman—a family man—would steal a shuttle and desert. As Susanna presents the evidence, his skepticism gives way to a resigned acceptance, his VISOR reflecting the monitor’s images of the vanished crew. He listens intently as Picard and Riker question the inconsistencies, his body language shifting from defensive to contemplative. The revelation that only he and Susanna remain from the original team hits him hard, forcing him to confront the reality of his own transformation.
- • To understand the pattern of disappearances and its connection to his current condition
- • To find a way to break the cycle before it claims him
- • The contagion is targeting the original away team members in a specific order
- • His transformation is linked to the same force that took Brevelle, Mendez, and Hickman
Determined yet somber; she carries the burden of being the last survivor to retain her humanity, and her resolve is tinged with a quiet urgency to prevent Geordi from sharing the same fate.
Susanna Leijten stands beside the monitor in the Observation Lounge, pointing to the images of Brevelle, Mendez, and Hickman as she methodically presents the evidence of their disappearances. She confirms Brevelle’s illness, Mendez’s normalcy before vanishing, and Hickman’s stolen shuttle course toward Tarchannen Three. Sitting beside Geordi, she delivers the ominous revelation that only the two of them remain from the original away team, her voice steady but her posture betraying the weight of the moment. Her actions drive the scene, forcing the group to confront the pattern of vanishings and its implications for Geordi’s fate.
- • To compel the senior staff to recognize the urgency of the situation
- • To ensure Geordi understands the gravity of his condition and the need for immediate action
- • The Tarchannen Three contagion is still active and targeting the original away team
- • Geordi’s transformation is part of a larger, predestined pattern
Thoughtful and concerned; he carries the weight of command, recognizing the urgency of the situation while remaining composed to guide the discussion toward a solution.
Jean-Luc Picard stands near the monitor in the Observation Lounge, listening intently as Susanna presents the evidence of the disappearances. He probes the inconsistencies—Brevelle’s illness versus the normalcy of Mendez and Hickman—reflecting on the unresolved nature of the original Tarchannen Three vanishings. His measured questions and thoughtful demeanor underscore the gravity of the situation, as he connects the past disappearances to the current crisis. Picard’s presence lends authority to the discussion, ensuring that the implications of the pattern are not overlooked.
- • To uncover the pattern behind the disappearances and their connection to the current crisis
- • To ensure that the crew understands the stakes and acts decisively to prevent further losses
- • The original Tarchannen Three disappearances and the current vanishings are linked
- • The contagion is a deliberate, targeted force with a specific pattern
Contemplative and focused; he processes the information with a mix of concern and determination, recognizing the need for swift action to address the threat.
William T. Riker crosses his arms as he listens to Susanna’s presentation, his expression contemplative. He questions the details of Mendez’s and Hickman’s disappearances, piecing together the pattern of the original away team’s vanishings. Riker’s role is that of a strategic thinker, absorbing the information and considering its implications for the current crisis. His presence adds a layer of tactical insight to the discussion, ensuring that the crew’s response is both informed and decisive.
- • To understand the full scope of the disappearances and their connection to the current situation
- • To ensure that the crew’s response is both effective and aligned with Starfleet protocol
- • The pattern of disappearances is deliberate and targeted
- • The contagion poses an immediate threat to the Enterprise and its crew
Absent but haunting; his recorded image conveys a sense of foreboding and inevitability, reinforcing the contagion's irreversible pull.
Ensign Anthony Brevelle is referenced indirectly through the monitor recording displayed by Susanna Leijten. His image, captured five years prior, shows him recording the away team on Tarchannen Three. The recording reveals his deteriorating health—ill for several days before deserting—serving as a critical piece of evidence in the unfolding mystery. Though physically absent, his fate looms large as a warning of what may await Geordi and Susanna.
- • To serve as a cautionary example of the contagion's progression
- • To highlight the mission's failure to uncover the truth five years prior
- • The Tarchannen Three mission was doomed from the start
- • His illness and desertion were symptoms of a larger, unseen force
Absent but implied to be peaceful; her normalcy before disappearance contrasts sharply with the horror of her fate, reinforcing the contagion’s unpredictability.
Emilita Mendez is referenced through the monitor recording, where her image shows her aboard the Aries appearing completely normal before her sudden disappearance. Susanna confirms that witnesses reported no signs of distress or illness, making her vanishing all the more unsettling. Mendez’s case, like Hickman’s, underscores the contagion’s ability to strike without warning, leaving no trace or explanation. Her absence looms as a silent testament to the mission’s failure to uncover the truth.
- • To illustrate the contagion’s ability to target individuals without prior signs of illness
- • To emphasize the mission’s inability to detect or prevent the vanishings
- • Her disappearance was sudden and inexplicable
- • The contagion operates beyond Starfleet’s ability to detect or counter
Absent but implied to be conflicted; his desertion suggests an internal struggle between his personal identity and the contagion’s influence, leaving a sense of betrayal and loss among his colleagues.
Paul Hickman is referenced through the monitor recording and Susanna’s testimony. His image shows him as a healthy, seemingly normal officer before his disappearance. Susanna reveals that he passed a routine physical with flying colors just before stealing a shuttle and setting a course for Tarchannen Three. His actions—uncharacteristic for a family man—serve as a chilling example of how the contagion overrides personal identity and loyalty, leaving the crew to grapple with the implications of his desertion.
- • To serve as a warning of the contagion’s ability to override free will
- • To highlight the contagion’s indiscriminate nature, targeting even the most stable individuals
- • His disappearance was not a choice but a compulsion
- • The contagion respects no boundaries of personal or professional loyalty
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Observation Lounge Chairs play a subtle but significant role in this event, positioning the characters physically and emotionally. Susanna sits beside Geordi after confirming Hickman’s shuttle course, creating a sense of solidarity between the last two survivors. Picard, Riker, and the others occupy nearby seats, forming a semi-circle around the monitor. The chairs’ arrangement fosters a sense of intimacy and urgency, as the crew grapples with the revelations. Their placement also symbolizes the dwindling numbers of the original away team, with only Susanna and Geordi remaining at the table’s heart.
The Five-Year-Old Recording of the Tarchannen Three Away Team is activated by Susanna to show Ensigns Brevelle, Mendez, and Hickman in their final moments of normalcy. This recording contrasts sharply with their later vanishings, highlighting the contagion’s ability to strike without warning. Picard and Riker question the timeline, while Geordi watches skeptically at first, his doubt crumbling as Susanna confirms the pattern. The recording serves as a visual anchor for the briefing, solidifying the connection between the past disappearances and the current crisis. Its replay forces the crew to confront the horror of the contagion’s pattern.
Hickman’s Stolen Shuttle is referenced indirectly through Susanna’s testimony, where she reveals that he was spotted by a Federation supply ship on a course toward Tarchannen Three. This clue is critical in establishing the pattern of disappearances, as it links Hickman’s desertion to the original 49-person vanishing. The shuttle’s unauthorized flight underscores the contagion’s ability to override personal loyalty and duty, leaving the crew to grapple with the implications of his actions. Its mention serves as a stark reminder of the contagion’s irresistible pull.
The Observation Lounge Monitor serves as the central piece of evidence in this event, displaying sharp images of Ensigns Brevelle, Mendez, and Hickman from the original Tarchannen Three mission. Susanna Leijten uses it to point out key details—Brevelle’s illness, Mendez’s normalcy before vanishing, and Hickman’s stolen shuttle course—while Picard, Riker, and Geordi absorb the implications. The monitor’s images cut through doubt, anchoring the urgent briefing and revealing the horrifying pattern of disappearances. Its role is both functional, as a tool for presenting evidence, and narrative, as a visual manifestation of the mission’s unresolved horror.
The Recording of Hickman, Mendez, and Brevelle is the cornerstone of this event, providing visual and contextual evidence of the disappearances. Susanna activates the five-year-old Starfleet recording, showing the three ensigns in their final moments of normalcy before their vanishings. Brevelle’s illness, Mendez’s apparent normalcy, and Hickman’s subsequent desertion are all captured in the recording, which Picard and Riker scrutinize for inconsistencies. The recording serves as a haunting reminder of the mission’s failure to uncover the truth, and its replay forces Geordi to confront the reality of his own transformation.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Observation Lounge serves as the neutral ground for this critical briefing, where Susanna Leijten presents the evidence of the Tarchannen Three disappearances. The curved windows frame starfields, creating a sense of isolation and urgency as the crew grapples with the revelations. The steady hum of the ship’s engines amplifies the tension, while the monitor’s images of the vanished crew members cast a pall over the discussion. The lounge’s intimate setting fosters a sense of collaboration, as Picard, Riker, and Geordi absorb the implications of the pattern. Its role is both practical, as a space for strategic planning, and symbolic, representing the last survivors’ desperate search for answers.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet is represented in this event through the mission records, sensor logs, and the institutional framework that Susanna Leijten uses to present the evidence of the disappearances. The organization’s protocols—such as routine physicals, shuttle tracking, and away team investigations—are called into question as the crew grapples with the contagion’s ability to override them. Starfleet’s role is both as a provider of data and as an institution that has failed to uncover the truth behind the vanishings. The organization’s involvement underscores the urgency of the situation, as the crew must now act outside of standard protocols to address the threat.
The United Federation of Planets is invoked indirectly through Starfleet’s role in tracking the stolen shuttle and maintaining the quarantine around Tarchannen Three. The Federation’s oversight ensures that the contagion does not spread to other worlds, prioritizing collective safety over individual rescues. This involvement is reflected in Picard’s decision-making, as he must balance the need to protect Federation citizens with the urgency of saving the remaining away team members. The organization’s influence is felt in the broader context of the crisis, as the crew’s actions must align with Federation principles of restraint and discovery.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Hickman's actions, driven by the alien influence, lead to his death and the discovery of more shuttles on the planet, escalating the situation and prompting the away team's mission."
"Hickman's actions, driven by the alien influence, lead to his death and the discovery of more shuttles on the planet, escalating the situation and prompting the away team's mission."
"Hickman's actions, driven by the alien influence, lead to his death and the discovery of more shuttles on the planet, escalating the situation and prompting the away team's mission."
"Susanna and Geordi are noted as the sole remaining members of the original away team. Susanna's subsequent transformation underlines the danger they BOTH face."
"Susanna and Geordi are noted as the sole remaining members of the original away team. Susanna's subsequent transformation underlines the danger they BOTH face."
Key Dialogue
"SUSANNA: That's Hickman on the right... that's Mendez on the left... and as already noted, the recording was made by Ensign Brevelle... five years ago..."
"PICARD: Commander Leijten, you said Brevelle was ill last week for several days before he... deserted. What about Mendez?"
"SUSANNA: Mendez was last seen aboard the Aries an hour before she disappeared. According to witnesses, she seemed completely normal."
"GEORDI: ((skeptical)) I know Paul Hickman. He's a family man... two kids. I can't believe he'd steal a shuttle and desert..."
"SUSANNA: Believe it, Geordi. He was spotted by a Federation supply ship yesterday... on a course toward Tarchannen Three."
"RIKER: And now, five years later, members of the away team that investigated the disappearances... have started disappearing themselves."
"SUSANNA: Geordi and I are the only two left."