Picard Reasserts Command as Chaos Unfolds
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Picard orders all senior security supervisors to report to the bridge, consolidating command to confront the spiraling crisis.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Somewhat annoyed and distracted, yet dutiful in response to command.
Lieutenant Yar, contacted via comms, is busy and somewhat dismissive in her quarters but complies when Picard orders her to remain put, before being assigned escort to Sickbay by Data.
- • Avoid unnecessary interference with current tasks.
- • Comply with Captain’s orders to maintain safety.
- • Manage personal focus amid spreading contagion.
- • Current tasks in quarters are more pressing.
- • The contagion affects many, including herself.
- • Following orders is necessary despite reluctance.
Determined and focused, masking rising concern and frustration over fracturing command and spreading contagion effects.
Captain Picard leads from the bridge with resolute urgency, issuing decisive orders to regain control amid rampant contagion-driven disorder. He orchestrates personnel deployment, confronts inattentive security, and grapples with the surreal disruptions affecting his crew.
- • Restore order aboard the Enterprise swiftly.
- • Remove unauthorized control from Engineering.
- • Ensure safety and medical attention for affected crew members.
- • Reestablish security and chain of command.
- • Maintaining strict command structure is vital to survival.
- • The contagion's psychological effects must be contained quickly.
- • Loyalty and discipline can be leveraged to counter chaos.
- • Wesley Crusher’s commandeering of Engineering is a threat.
Calm and analytical with a hint of puzzlement at crew behavior.
Data confirms bizarre incidents such as metaphysics lectures and limericks, shares his confusion, and promptly accepts Picard’s order to escort Lieutenant Yar to Sickbay, embodying calm logical support.
- • Carry out Picard’s orders efficiently.
- • Assist in managing contagion’s effects on personnel.
- • Provide clear, factual reports to command.
- • Understanding crew behavior anomalies aids resolution.
- • Compliance with orders is essential to ship stability.
- • Logical analysis can help contain the crisis.
Confused and worried about the ship’s rapidly evolving crisis.
Worf reports unusual and disturbing shipwide behavioral anomalies to Picard, expressing concern and confusion as he monitors sensor data from Operations.
- • Provide accurate, timely intelligence to command.
- • Assist in identifying the contagion’s effects.
- • Support Picard’s efforts to manage the crisis.
- • Unusual orders and behaviors indicate deeper threat.
- • Clear reporting is essential to command decisions.
- • The contagion’s impact is spreading and dangerous.
Focused and serious, balancing urgency with level-headedness.
Commander Riker promptly responds to Picard's command, preparing to lead the effort in Engineering alongside MacDougal to remove Wesley Crusher, embodying focused responsibility amid the escalating crisis.
- • Remove unauthorized personnel from critical ship areas.
- • Support Picard’s command efforts to regain control.
- • Contain contagion effects within Engineering.
- • Chain of command must be upheld.
- • Wesley’s control of Engineering endangers ship stability.
- • Orderly intervention can prevent further chaos.
Determined and focused, with a sense of urgency to restore ship systems.
Sarah MacDougal follows Picard's orders and teams with Riker to approach Engineering, alert and determined to counteract the sabotage and Wesley’s takeover amid the contagion’s influence.
- • Assist in regaining control of Engineering.
- • Support Picard and Riker’s efforts to stabilize the ship.
- • Address any sabotage or system failures.
- • Engineering is critical to ship survival.
- • Wesley’s commandeering is a dangerous breach.
- • Swift action can reverse system failures.
Apathetic and dismissive, lacking urgency despite the crisis.
The Enterprise Security Com Voice responds to Picard’s calls with lazy and uninterested tones, highlighting the contagion’s demoralizing effect on security personnel and the breakdown of discipline.
- • Minimize personal effort responding to orders.
- • Maintain nominal communication with command.
- • Avoid escalation or confrontation.
- • The situation may not warrant immediate action.
- • Command’s demands are excessive or bothersome.
- • Personal priorities override strict duty.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Enterprise Main Bridge operates as the nerve center where Picard commands amid chaos. It is the locus of strategic decision-making, communication, and the consolidation of command while contagion-induced disruptions unfold shipwide.
Engineering is the contested heart of the Enterprise’s technical functions, currently commandeered by Wesley Crusher. It is the target of Picard’s urgent orders for reclamation by Riker and MacDougal to restore vital ship systems compromised by disorder and contagion.
Lieutenant Yar’s quarters serve as a private refuge where she is found busy and evasive during Picard’s urgent calls. The room symbolizes isolation and psychological strain amid the contagion’s spread.
Enterprise Sickbay is designated as the medical refuge for affected personnel, with Lieutenant Yar ordered to be escorted there for observation and care amid the escalating contagion crisis.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"Picard orders MacDougal to expel Wesley from Engineering, directly responding to Wesley's unauthorized seizure of ship systems under contagion influence."
"MacDougal leaves Engineering to obey Picard's order, leaving Shimoda vulnerable to infection and enabling Wesley's control over critical ship systems."
"MacDougal leaves Engineering to obey Picard's order, leaving Shimoda vulnerable to infection and enabling Wesley's control over critical ship systems."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"PICARD: Number One, MacDougal -- get that boy out of Engineering."
"WORF: Sir, I'm getting very strange reports from all decks --"
"PICARD: Security, I want all your senior supervisors to report to the bridge immediately."