Object

Ferengi Holding Tank Forcefield (Krayton’s Security Barrier)

A static energy barrier integrated into the *Krayton*’s holding tank architecture, designed to **restrain prisoners** and **separate secure areas**. Deactivated manually by guards (e.g., Nibor) to allow temporary passage, but otherwise functions as an **immovable containment field** with jolt-based repulsion.

4 appearances

Purpose

Restrains prisoners by repelling physical contact and preventing passage between the holding tank and adjacent areas.

Significance

Traps Riker alone after the abduction, heightening his vulnerability and driving escape efforts against Ferengi captivity; underscores Tog's control and the kidnapping's stakes.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

4 moments

S3E24 · Menage a Troi

The Picnic Ambush: From Intimacy to Captivity

The Ferengi holding tank's lighted arch forcefield is the physical barrier separating Riker from Nibor and the Krayton's controls. It repels Riker with a sharp jolt when he tests it, reinforcing his captivity and the Ferengi's security measures. The forcefield symbolizes the captives' helplessness, as it blocks Riker's attempts to communicate or escape, leaving him stranded until he can exploit Nibor's phaser.

Before: Active, humming with energy, blocking Riker's access to the companel station.

After: Disabled by Riker using Nibor's phaser, allowing him to proceed with his escape plan.

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S3E24 · Menage a Troi

From Intimacy to Captivity: The Ferengi Ambush and Riker’s Isolation

The lighted arch forcefield separates Riker from Nibor in the holding tank, repelling him with a sharp jolt when he tests it. Its glowing barrier symbolizes the Ferengi’s control and Riker’s helplessness, reinforcing the narrative’s theme of confinement. The forcefield’s rigidity contrasts with the pastoral freedom of the Betazed clearing, highlighting the abrupt shift in power dynamics. Riker’s failed attempt to breach it underscores his isolation and the Ferengi’s technological advantage.

Before: Active, separating the holding tank from Nibor’s station.

After: Remains active, trapping Riker in the tank.

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S3E24 · Menage a Troi

Riker’s Psychological Masterstroke: The Chess Gambit That Breaks Nibor’s Guard

The Ferengi holding tank forcefield is the physical and symbolic barrier that Riker must overcome to escape. Its glowing arch pulses with energy, repelling Riker when he reaches for it earlier in the scene (implied by the text). Here, it becomes the prize in Riker’s psychological duel with Nibor. Nibor’s decision to lower the forcefield—'Come out here'—is the culmination of Riker’s manipulation, a moment where the barrier’s function shifts from imprisonment to temporary freedom (for Riker, at least). The forcefield’s restoration after Riker’s exit traps Deanna, reinforcing its role as a tool of control and leverage. Its energy hums with the tension of the moment, a visual metaphor for the precarious balance of power in the scene.

Before: Active and fully charged, dividing Riker’s cell from Nibor’s station. Its energy barrier is impenetrable without Nibor’s authorization.

After: Lowered briefly to allow Riker’s exit, then restored to trap Deanna. The forcefield’s cyclic activation underscores the temporary nature of Riker’s victory and the continued threat to Deanna’s safety.

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S3E24 · Menage a Troi

The Relaxed Ferengi: Riker and Troi Exploit Tog’s Vulnerability for Escape

The Ferengi Holding Tank Forcefield (Lighted Arch) serves as both a physical barrier and a symbolic representation of the captives’ confinement. In this event, its role is dynamic: it begins as an active obstacle, shimmering with energy to prevent Riker and Troi from leaving the holding tank. However, Riker’s manipulation of the console disables the forcefield, transforming it from a barrier into a temporary opening—a critical step in their escape plan. The forcefield’s disappearance is a visual and narrative cue, signaling the shift from reactive survival to proactive strategy. Its earlier jolt (when Riker touched it) is a reminder of the Ferengi’s technological prowess, but its disablement here underscores the captives’ agency and the fragility of their captors’ systems when exploited correctly.

Before: Active and energized, pulsing with a shimmering light that repels physical contact (as demonstrated by Riker’s earlier jolt). It fully encloses the holding tank, preventing escape or outside interference.

After: Deactivated and inert, the archway is now an open passage, allowing Riker and Troi to move freely within the ship. Its disablement is temporary but pivotal, creating a window of opportunity for their next moves.

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