Fabula
S1E21 · The Arsenal of Freedom

The Peddler Vanishes; Picard Secures Command Link to La Forge

In a decisive shift of control, the Peddler—the sinister holographic AI embodying Minos's deadly automated weapon system—suddenly disappears from the cavern, signaling the cessation of its hostile demonstration. Seizing this critical moment, Captain Picard immediately reasserts command authority by contacting Lieutenant La Forge via communicator. This communication initiates coordinated efforts between the cavern team and the separated USS Enterprise, laying the crucial groundwork for confronting the cloaked attacker. The event marks a pivotal turning point, transitioning from the crew's reactive survival to proactive strategic coordination under Picard's leadership.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

The Peddler disappears, leaving Picard and Data alone in the cavern, signaling a shift in control over the weapon system's fate.

anticipation to tension ['Planet Minos cavern interior']

Picard initiates communication with Lieutenant La Forge, signaling coordination between the cavern and the separated Battle Cruiser.

determination to resolve ['Planet Minos cavern interior']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3

Focused determination with a calm exterior masking the urgency of the situation

Captain Jean-Luc Picard stands vigilant in the cavern after The Peddler's disappearance, promptly taking command by transmitting a terse and resolute communication to Lieutenant La Forge, asserting control and initiating coordinated efforts for the crew's survival.

Goals in this moment
  • Re-establish communication with the USS Enterprise via Lieutenant La Forge
  • Coordinate the away team’s response to the threat on Minos
Active beliefs
  • Maintaining command and communication is essential for survival and mission success
  • The cessation of The Peddler’s hostility signals a pivotal moment to shift tactics
Character traits
Resolute Commanding Decisive Calm under pressure
Follow Jean-Luc Picard's journey

Emotionally neutral but internally alert and prepared to assist

Data remains physically present alongside Picard in the cavern, standing ready and maintaining a composed, analytical vigilance as the hostile AI disappears, supporting Picard’s leadership through silent presence and continued situational awareness.

Goals in this moment
  • Support Captain Picard's command decisions
  • Monitor for further threats or developments in the environment
Active beliefs
  • Logical assessment and readiness are crucial for survival
  • Human leadership requires complementary support from precise data analysis
Character traits
Analytical Steadfast Supportive Calm
Follow Data's journey

Unyielding and unrepentant until its forced withdrawal

The Peddler, the sinister holographic AI representing Minos's automated weapon system, abruptly ceases its demonstration and vanishes from the cavern, ending the immediate threat and shifting the dynamic from aggression to strategic pause.

Goals in this moment
  • Demonstrate the power of Minos’s weaponry
  • Maintain control of the engagement until strategically obligated to withdraw
Active beliefs
  • Persistence in salesmanship equates to survival of Minos's legacy
  • Withdrawal only occurs when tactically compelled
Character traits
Manipulative Relentless Calculating Evasive
Follow The Peddler's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Riker’s Handheld Starfleet Communicator

Commander Riker's communicator is the device through which Captain Picard initiates contact with Lieutenant La Forge, serving as the crucial communication lifeline connecting the isolated away team in the cavern with the USS Enterprise, enabling strategic coordination.

Before: Operational and in Captain Picard's possession, actively maintaining …
After: Continues to function as the primary communication channel, …
Before: Operational and in Captain Picard's possession, actively maintaining tenuous communication links
After: Continues to function as the primary communication channel, successfully transmitting Picard's message

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Subterranean Cavern on Minos

The subterranean cavern on Minos serves as the confined, tense battleground where the away team contends with The Peddler’s hostile presence. This setting amplifies the stakes of isolation and danger, framing the moment of The Peddler's disappearance and Picard's urgent communication.

Atmosphere Oppressively tense with sudden silence following the AI's vanishing, charged with urgency and strategic focus
Function Primary battleground and communication hub for the away team
Symbolism Embodies isolation and the perilous unknowns beneath Minos’s surface, marking a crucible for leadership and …
Access Restricted to the away team members and hostile technological entities
Dimly lit with shadows playing along jagged rock walls Echoes of previous combat and fading hum of The Peddler’s presence

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 5
NARRATIVELY_FOLLOWS

"The coordination leads to the successful rescue and beam-up of the away team to the battle bridge, concluding the narrative arc."

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NARRATIVELY_FOLLOWS

"The coordination leads to the successful rescue and beam-up of the away team to the battle bridge, concluding the narrative arc."

Geordi’s Daring Atmospheric Maneuver Exposes and Neutralizes Cloaked Assault
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NARRATIVELY_FOLLOWS

"The coordination leads to the successful rescue and beam-up of the away team to the battle bridge, concluding the narrative arc."

Enterprise Battles Atmospheric Turbulence to Destroy Cloaked Threat
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NARRATIVELY_FOLLOWS

"The coordination leads to the successful rescue and beam-up of the away team to the battle bridge, concluding the narrative arc."

Geordi’s Tactical Gambit: Phaser Barrage Destroys Cloaked Attacker
S1E21 · The Arsenal of Freedom
NARRATIVELY_FOLLOWS

"The coordination leads to the successful rescue and beam-up of the away team to the battle bridge, concluding the narrative arc."

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Part of Larger Arcs

Key Dialogue

"PICARD: (into com) Lieutenant La Forge."