Object

Gosheven's Rifles

A group of four shoulder‑fired, service‑issue rifles carried by armed men in the colony square: long‑barreled firearms with metal barrels and stocks, gripped at ready and aimed outward. They stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder in front of the plant and aqueduct as visible instruments of coercion. After Data incapacitates the men, one rifle is briefly handled, showing the weapons' tangible, transferable presence in the confrontation.

2 appearances

Purpose

Serve as shoulder‑fired firearms used to apply lethal force or intimidation; practical tools for armed men to control, defend, or coerce the colonists.

Significance

Function as the immediate instruments of Gosheven's authority and the physical focus of the standoff; their neutralization and temporary seizure by Data mark the turning point that converts diffuse fear into a clear choice, precipitating a leadership shift and moral reckoning for the colony.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S3E2 · The Ensigns of Command

Data's Calculated Ultimatum

The rifles are the visible, local instruments of Gosheven's enforcement; Data stuns the rifle-bearing defenders and then picks up one rifle to hold it out to the colonists, turning an instrument of coercion into a prop that literalizes the community's choice.

Before: Held shoulder-to-shoulder by four armed defenders guarding the plant and aqueduct.

After: At least one rifle is in Data's hand briefly as a demonstration; the remaining rifles are rendered harmless by their stunned owners and left on the ground or with incapacitated defenders.

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S3E2 · The Ensigns of Command

Aqueduct Ultimatum — Data Forces the Choice

Gosheven's Rifles are the visible instruments of local coercion: four rifles are held in a defensive line, then instantly rendered useless when Data stuns their bearers. One rifle is picked up by Data and presented to the colonists as a tangible representation of choice and consequence.

Before: Held shoulder-to-shoulder by armed men guarding the pumping station, ready to fire.

After: Bearers stunned and rifles momentarily inoperative; one rifle retrieved and offered into the public space by Data.

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