Object
Direct Sensor Beam (Sensor Request System)
A software-invoked, tightly collimated sensor probe projected from the Enterprise bridge sensor emitters. The beam appears as an intangible, fingertip-width column of photonic/subspace interrogation energy that maps micro-signatures onto the science station display. Activated by Ensign Mendon, it produces a faint red smear on the console—flagged as a possible 'subatomic' microbiotic colony—and draws immediate, physical reactions from the bridge crew as Worf tightens and command shifts into crisis posture. Functionally this entry consolidates shorter, request-style sensor interrogations used for point diagnostics and tagging of ambiguous micro-signatures.
2 appearances
Purpose
To perform targeted, high-resolution sensor interrogations of a precise external locus, producing localized telemetry that can reveal micro-scale or anomalous signatures (e.g., potential microbiotic colonies) for rapid tactical and diagnostic assessment.
Significance
Functions as the narrative turning point: its ambiguous detection converts routine diplomacy into an urgent threat, forcing Picard to weigh honor against crew safety and prompting the transport/containment response. The beam's readout becomes the key clue that escalates the scene's stakes.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used