Riker confronts Pressman’s cloaking experiment
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Riker voices lingering doubts about the events surrounding the Pegasus's loss, questioning whether they did the right thing. Pressman dismisses these concerns, asserting that their actions were justified for the good of the Federation, revealing his unwavering commitment to the past experiment.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Troubled and conflicted, oscillating between loyalty to Pressman and unease over the moral implications of reviving the cloaking experiment. His surface calm masks a growing sense of dread about the secrecy and institutional pressure being placed on him.
Riker’s physical and emotional state evolves from initial warmth to growing discomfort as Pressman reveals the true nature of the mission. He grimaces at the mention of his old nickname, signaling his unease with nostalgia tied to trauma. His melancholic tone deepens as he questions the morality of their past actions, and his shock is evident when Pressman discloses the revival of the cloaking experiment. Riker’s physical withdrawal—looking away, glancing around—underscores his internal conflict, culminating in a troubled expression as the scene fades.
- • To understand the true nature of Pressman’s mission and its ethical implications.
- • To reconcile his past actions with his current duty to the Federation and Picard.
- • That the *Pegasus* experiment was morally questionable, regardless of its intended outcomes.
- • That transparency and adherence to Federation principles are non-negotiable, even under institutional pressure.
Lieutenant Boylen is mentioned by Pressman as the source of Riker’s nickname, serving as a nostalgic reminder of their shared …
Lieutenant Boylen is invoked indirectly by Pressman as the source of Riker’s nickname, 'Ensign Babyface.' His mention serves as a …
Picard is not physically present but is the implicit moral and institutional counterpoint to Pressman’s actions. His authority is indirectly …
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The written orders from Admiral Raner, coded into the Enterprise’s computer, function as a critical piece of institutional leverage in this event. Pressman reveals their existence to Riker as proof of Starfleet Security’s sanctioning of the cloaking experiment’s revival, using them to pressure Riker into compliance. These orders are not physically present in Ten Forward but are invoked as an unseen force shaping the conversation, embodying the institutional weight and secrecy behind the mission. Their mention serves as a direct challenge to Riker’s ethical boundaries, tying his personal loyalty to Pressman to the broader institutional machinery of Starfleet.
The untouched drinks on the table in Ten Forward serve as a potent symbolic prop, embodying the veneer of casual familiarity between Riker and Pressman that masks their ethical and moral divide. The drinks remain largely ignored as the conversation grows tense, their presence highlighting the contrast between the surface-level warmth of their reunion and the underlying tension of their discussion. They function as a visual metaphor for the unresolved tension between nostalgia and ethical compromise, reinforcing the idea that their shared past is as much a burden as a bond.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet Security is represented indirectly through Admiral Raner’s written orders, which Pressman uses to pressure Riker into compliance. Though not physically present, Starfleet Security’s influence is palpable, as its sanctioning of the cloaking experiment’s revival frames the mission as an institutional imperative. The organization’s power dynamics are exerted through secrecy and institutional leverage, challenging Riker’s ethical boundaries and loyalty to Picard. Starfleet Security’s goals are aligned with Pressman’s, creating a unified front that Riker must navigate carefully.
The USS Pegasus crew is invoked indirectly through Pressman’s nostalgic references and Riker’s melancholic reflections, serving as a haunting backdrop to their conversation. The crew’s fate—many of whom perished during the cloaking experiment—looms over the scene, adding emotional weight to the discussion of morality and institutional secrecy. Their absence is palpable, framing the revival of the experiment as a betrayal of their sacrifice and a repetition of past mistakes. The Pegasus crew’s legacy is used by Pressman to justify the mission, while Riker’s guilt over their fate underscores his ethical conflict.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Pressman reminisces with Riker and slowly begins to bring up the lost Pegasus so begin to allay his concerns."
"Pressman reminisces with Riker and slowly begins to bring up the lost Pegasus so begin to allay his concerns."
"Pressman reminisces with Riker and slowly begins to bring up the lost Pegasus so begin to allay his concerns."
"Following Picard's orders, Pressman initiates a conversation with Riker designed to allay his concerns."
"Following Picard's orders, Pressman initiates a conversation with Riker designed to allay his concerns."
"Pressman reminisces with Riker and slowly begins to bring up the lost Pegasus so begin to allay his concerns."
"Pressman reminisces with Riker and slowly begins to bring up the lost Pegasus so begin to allay his concerns."
"Pressman reminisces with Riker and slowly begins to bring up the lost Pegasus so begin to allay his concerns."
"Following Pressman's private discussion to manipulate Riker in Ten Forward, Picard discusses Riker with Pressman in Picard's quarters."
Key Dialogue
"PRESSMAN: How long have you had the beard?"
"RIKER: About four years. I think I just got tired of hearing how 'young I looked.'"
"PRESSMAN: What was it that Lieutenant Boylen used to call you?"
"RIKER: ((grimaces)) Ensign Babyface."
"RIKER: Do you really think we'll find the Pegasus?"
"PRESSMAN: I wouldn't have come all the way out here if I didn't."
"RIKER: And what about our... experiment? Do you think we'll find that too?"
"PRESSMAN: Maybe."
"RIKER: You know... I still think about what happened... about that last day."
"PRESSMAN: So do I. It's not the kind of thing you just forget about."
"RIKER: Do you ever... wonder whether we did the right thing?"
"PRESSMAN: Never. It was a tragedy, yes. But it wasn't your fault and it wasn't mine. What we were doing was for the good of the Federation. We can't blame ourselves because the others couldn't see that."
"RIKER: I know... but maybe we went about it the wrong way."
"PRESSMAN: Well, this time we may have a chance to do it the right way. If this mission is successful... if we do find the Pegasus and our experiment... we can finish what we started twelve years ago."
"RIKER: ((shocked)) You want to try again?"
"PRESSMAN: (glances around, then sotto) It's not just me. The Chief of Starfleet Security has personally assured me of her complete support."
"RIKER: Admiral Raner...? How many other people know about this?"
"PRESSMAN: Not many. And it's up to us to make sure it stays that way. Raner gave me written orders for you... you'll find them coded in the Enterprise computer. You've been instructed not to reveal the true nature of our mission to anyone, not even Captain Picard."