Star Trek The Next Generation
S2E17
· Samaritan Snare

Giving Them Teeth

Under duress, Geordi finishes the coerced ‘‘upgrade’’ in the Mondor’s armament bay and coldly confirms the result: the crude Pakled rig now functions as photon torpedoes. The Pakleds erupt in simple, ecstatic triumph—treating technical power as immediate leverage—while Geordi’s patient, weary tone carries a warning beneath it. Dramatically this is a turning point: the threat to the Enterprise materially escalates, pressure mounts on Riker’s choices, and the moment seeds the imminent reversal (Geordi’s sabotage and the rescue bluff) that will undo the Pakleds’ victory.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Geordi hauls himself out of the weapons bay as meters flare to life; Grebnedlog and Reginod thrill at the surge, declaring themselves strong.

strain to Pakled triumph ['Armament bay (Mondor)']

Geordi bluntly defines the upgrade—photon torpedoes, armed to the teeth—pushing past Grebnedlog’s literalism to make the threat unmistakable.

confusion to clarity ['Armament bay (Mondor)']

Grebnedlog claims power and, alongside Reginod, savors how to wield it, turning Geordi’s coerced work into immediate leverage.

exultation to menace ['Armament bay (Mondor)']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Reginod
Ship's Engineer
 primary

Ecstatic, almost childlike delight at the sensation of newfound power; proud and eager to demonstrate strength.

Watches the weapons-force meters and overhead lights surge with obvious delight, vocalizing the new power by repeating 'We are strong' as proof and celebration of the retrofit's success.

Goals in this moment
  • • Validate and celebrate the success of the upgrade to secure status within the Pakled pair.
  • • Translate the technical upgrade into immediate leverage over the Enterprise.
  • • Support Grebnedlog's leadership by echoing triumph and reinforcing the power dynamic.
Active beliefs
  • • Power is tangible and immediately useful; possession of weapons equals dominance.
  • • Visible indicators (meters, lights) confirm status and confer legitimacy.
  • • Following Grebnedlog's cues will keep him safe and rewarded.
Character traits
credulous triumphant simple-minded easily impressed
Follow Reginod's journey
Geordi La Forge
Chief Engineer
 primary

Weary restraint: outwardly calm and matter-of-fact while containing frustration and concern; using composure as a tactical shield.

Crawls out of the weapons bay, dusts himself off, and delivers a clipped technical confirmation that the Pakled rig now functions as photon torpedoes; his tone is patient and weary, calibrated to avoid provoking an immediate violent reaction.

Goals in this moment
  • • Confirm the functional status of the weapon system so he and any rescuers can assess the threat.
  • • Avoid provoking the Pakleds into immediate violence by remaining cooperative in appearance.
  • • Buy time and keep the Pakleds confident so he can sabotage later or be rescued.
Active beliefs
  • • The Pakleds will exploit any demonstrated power; telling them they are armed increases their confidence and may make them careless.
  • • Compliance now is the safest short-term tactic; real mitigation (sabotage/rescue) will come later.
  • • Visible diagnostic readouts (meters, lights) will be persuasive to simple, power-focused adversaries.
Character traits
patient technically precise restrained wryly authoritative
Follow Geordi La …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

3
Mondor Armament Bay / Pakled Interior Overhead Lights

The Mondor's overhead lights surge to life and reflect off consoles and Geordi's hands, providing a sudden, hard-lit confirmation of system activation while contributing to the scene's clinical, mechanical mood and the Pakleds' sensory thrill.

Before: Utilitarian and dim under reserve power—functional but subdued.
After: Brightened, humming on reserve circuits and throwing harsh …
Before: Utilitarian and dim under reserve power—functional but subdued.
After: Brightened, humming on reserve circuits and throwing harsh reflections that heighten the sense of mechanical activation and triumph.
Pakled / Mondor Weapon‑Force Meters and Indicator Lights

The weapons-force meters serve as the audible/visual proof that the retrofitted torpedo system now carries significant energy; their needles and LED bars spike, humming under load and convincing the Pakleds—and Geordi—that the conversion is functionally complete.

Before: Functional but previously uncharged and indicating only partial …
After: Spiking readouts and active indicators showing torpedo-level energy; …
Before: Functional but previously uncharged and indicating only partial or unreliable readings; cracked faces and patched wiring suggested an improvised state.
After: Spiking readouts and active indicators showing torpedo-level energy; now read as credible, real-time proof the weapons are armed and ready.
Pakled Mondor's Jury‑Rigged Photon Torpedoes

The improvised photon torpedo rig is the narrative MacGuffin: previously a cobbled, dormant threat, it is now confirmed by diagnostics to be operational, converting crude components into an immediate, ship‑level danger that the Pakleds interpret as leverage.

Before: Retrofit, mismatched, patched and unconfirmed—appeared dangerous but not …
After: Charged and functionally armed; in the Pakleds' possession …
Before: Retrofit, mismatched, patched and unconfirmed—appeared dangerous but not validated as functioning.
After: Charged and functionally armed; in the Pakleds' possession and read as a legitimate offensive capability against other ships.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"REGINOD: "We are strong.""
"GEORDI: "You're now armed to the teeth.""
"GEORDI: "You have photon torpedoes. You are strong.""