Object
AUTO‑DESTRUCT Indicator (Alarm System Control Panel)
A panel‑mounted auto‑destruct indicator: a compact, backlit warning module integrated into the Enterprise alarm/control console that ignites into a harsh red display when the emergency destruct sequence begins. The indicator emits an urgent visual signal—numeric countdown and warning illumination—anchored to the ship's emergency destruct computer. Officers react instantly: Picard authenticates the sequence, Riker gives terse concurrence, the indicator bursts alive and the bridge and engineering crews launch into a coordinated, high‑pressure response.
25 appearances
Purpose
To initiate and present a timed, ship‑wide self‑destruct procedure via the Enterprise's emergency destruct computer, providing a visible and authoritative countdown toward irreversible demolition of the vessel.
Significance
The activated countdown functions as an immediate existential deadline and leadership crucible: it forces rapid sacrifice, demands command concurrence, and pivots the plot from a focused rescue into a race against annihilation that tests trust between Picard and Riker.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used