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[[Geordi La Forge]] falls in love with a woman named [[Aquiel Uhnari]], accused of murder in an isolated [[communication relay station]]. The Enterprise crew investigates the crime, the only other suspect is a Klingon officer who frequently visited the station.
+
Geordi La Forge falls in love with a woman accused of murder in an isolated communication relay station. The ''Enterprise'' crew investigates the crime, the only other suspect is a Klingon officer who frequently visited the station.
   
 
== Summary ==
 
== Summary ==
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The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} has sent an [[away team]] composed of [[CMO]] [[Beverly Crusher|Dr. Crusher]], [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Cmdr]] [[Geordi La Forge|La Forge]], [[Commander|Cmdr]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] and [[Lieutenant|Lt.]] [[Worf]] to the Communications [[Relay Station 47]]. Upon arriving, they find the station abandoned and the audio monitoring system in disarray. They also find a large, fluffy white [[dog]] hiding inside a service duct. The station's [[shuttlecraft]] is missing, along with both [[Starfleet]] [[officer]]s, [[Aquiel Uhnari]] and [[Keith Rocha]]. [[Doctor]] Beverly Crusher discovers [[cell (biology)|cellular]] residue which must be the remains of one of the personnel.
+
The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} has sent an [[away team]] composed of [[CMO]] [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Beverly Crusher|Crusher]], [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Geordi La Forge|La Forge]], [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[Worf]] to the Communications [[Relay Station 47]]. Upon arriving, they find the station abandoned and the audio monitoring system in disarray, with many subspace messages playing all at once. They also find a large, fluffy white [[dog]] hiding inside a service duct. The station's [[shuttlecraft]] is missing, along with both [[Starfleet]] [[officer]]s, [[Aquiel Uhnari]] and [[Keith Rocha]]. Dr. Crusher discovers {{dis|cell|biology}} residue which must be the remains of one of the personnel.
   
 
=== Act One ===
 
=== Act One ===
The [[blood]] traces match those of Uhnari, so Crusher assumes the cellular residue is Uhnari's also, but must study it further in her lab to make sure. [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Geordi La Forge]] explains that encrypted [[subspace]] messages are all sent through a particular channel, and that someone has tried to bypass the access protocols, perhaps taking or rewriting some of the messages. La Forge accesses the station's [[log]]s, but at first can see only a handful of Uhnari's official and personal entries. Returning to her [[quarters]], he peruses the logs accompanied by the dog, which he discovers was Uhnari's pet. Uhnari's personal letters reveal her to be a spirited, romantic [[Halii]] woman who was abused by her father, is intensely homesick for the rest of her family and traditions, and has difficulty getting along with "egomaniac" Rocha. At one point she confesses countermanding his orders.
+
The [[blood]] traces match those of Uhnari, so Crusher assumes the cellular residue is Uhnari's also, but must study it further in her lab to make certain. Geordi La Forge explains that encrypted [[subspace]] messages are all sent through a particular channel, and that someone has tried to bypass the access protocols, perhaps taking or rewriting some of the messages. La Forge accesses the station's [[log]]s, but at first can see only a handful of Uhnari's official and personal entries. Returning to her [[quarters]], he peruses the logs accompanied by the dog, which he discovers was Uhnari's pet. Uhnari's personal letters reveal her to be a spirited, romantic [[Haliian]] woman who was abused by her father, is intensely homesick for the rest of her family and traditions, and has difficulty getting along with "egomaniac" Rocha. At one point she confesses countermanding his orders.
  +
In [[sickbay]] Dr. Crusher tries to get a clear [[DNA]] sample from the metallic plate, she guesses a high-level [[phaser]] blast caused the death. It also could have been a Klingon [[disruptor]].
+
In [[sickbay]], Dr. Crusher tries to get a clear [[DNA]] sample from the metallic plate, she guesses a high-level [[phaser]] blast caused the death. It also could have been a Klingon [[disruptor]].
   
 
=== Act Two ===
 
=== Act Two ===
Uhnari also mentions that [[Commander]] [[Morag]], an aggressive Klingon, has been harassing and threatening the station. Klingon [[DNA]] traces are found aboard the station, and [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]] asks the Klingon [[governor]] [[Torak (Governor)|Torak]] to investigate. At first, the governor is hesitant to help but Picard uses his influence as [[Gowron]]'s [[Arbiter of Succession]] to convince him to help. Eventually, the governor turns up on the ''Enterprise'' along with Uhnari, very much alive.
+
Uhnari also mentions in her log that [[Commander]] [[Morag]], an aggressive Klingon, has been harassing and threatening the station. Klingon [[DNA]] traces are found aboard the station, and [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]] asks the Klingon [[governor]] {{dis|Torak|Governor}} to investigate. At first, the governor is hesitant to help but Picard uses his influence as [[Gowron]]'s [[Arbiter of Succession]] to convince him to help.
  +
  +
La Forge watches more of Lieutenant Uhnari's personal logs in his [[quarters]]. In the log, she states that she misses her mother's own [[muskan seed punch]] and how the replicators on the station cannot quite make it the same when a loud bang is heard. Uhnari asks if its Rocha. The log suddenly goes to static. Back on the station, Worf, Riker and La Forge continue the investigation. La Forge cannot find Rocha's logs, telling Riker that whatever happened to the station's encrypted messages had a cascade effect on the communications storage system.
  +
  +
Eventually, the governor arrives at the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s position on the {{IKS|Qu'Vat}}. Worf escorts Torak to the [[observation lounge]] and the governor has Uhnari brought in, very much alive.
   
 
=== Act Three ===
 
=== Act Three ===
Uhnari claims that Rocha suddenly and irrationally attacked her; she first tried to access the [[weapons locker]], but next remembers escaping in the shuttle; she was picked up by the Klingons. Possibly owing to a head injury, Uhnari's memory for exactly what happened is spotty, and while she tries to remember and the captain waits for Cmdr. Morag to arrive, she and La Forge become friends. La Forge confesses he has read her logs. Dr. Crusher now assumes that the cellular residue is Rocha, but continues to analyze it.
+
Uhnari claims that Rocha suddenly and irrationally attacked her; she first tried to access the [[weapons locker]], but next remembers escaping in the shuttle; she was picked up by the Klingons. Possibly owing to a head injury, Uhnari's memory for exactly what happened is spotty, and while she tries to remember and the captain waits for Commander Morag to arrive, Dr. Crusher now assumes that the cellular residue on the station's deck plate is Rocha, but continues to analyze it. La Forge escorts Uhnari out of the lounge, telling her he has a friend of hers that is probably eager to see her.
   
  +
La Forge brings Uhnari to his quarters, where he reunites her with her dog [[Maura]], named after a character in ''[[Cold Moon Over Blackwater]]'', a gothic [[novel]]. He tells her she probably wants to be alone in assigned quarters after her recent ordeal. However, she tells him that she would like to go to a place that has a lot of activity since she has spent nine months on the station with only Rocha to talk to. They go to [[Ten Forward]], where La Forge seems to know quite a bit about Uhnari, such as getting her muskan seed punch to drink and that she lived on a house on a hill growing up, which surprises the lieutenant. La Forge then confesses that he has reviewed her logs, as well as her personal correspondance. He explains that they thought she had been [[murder]]ed and needed to investigate. She eventually understands. La Forge brings up her contemptous relationship with her superior officer, Keith Rocha. She considered him hostile and obnoxious and felt she had to battle him to hold her own. But, she insists, she did not want to see him dead. La Forge asks why Rocha attacked her but Uhnari does not know.
Rocha's log files turn up, showing that he was not as nasty as Uhnari's experience of him; in fact, he seems to have been a bright and promising officer. Uhnari's [[duty record]]s, on the other hand, show her to be difficult and argumentative. Circumstantial evidence points to her as possibly having killed Rocha, but she hotly denies this, even after she is found to have established a subspace link with a console on the relay station and deleted a number of Rocha's [[personal log]]s, including a letter he was planning to send to Starfleet. Citing her as "belligerent and insubordinate", Rocha had planned to ask for a formal hearing. Knowing her pattern of running away in panic when she is afraid, La Forge advises her to stay and face what has happened, and she agrees.
 
  +
  +
Riker has Rocha's Starfleet ID file brought up to Picard on his [[desktop monitor]], showing that he was not as nasty as Uhnari's experience of him; in fact, he seems to have been a bright and promising officer. Uhnari's [[duty record]]s, on the other hand, show her to be difficult and argumentative from her previous posting on [[Deriben V]]. Picard orders Riker to examine her shuttle to shed more light on her story. While taking Uhnari to her quarters, she asks La Forge, since he knows her the best from anyone on the ''Enterprise'', if she seems like a person who would murder someone. La Forge admits she doesn't. She wishes him a good night in Haliian. Later, Worf finds a missing phaser from the station in Uhnari's shuttlecraft: it is set to kill.
   
 
=== Act Four ===
 
=== Act Four ===
 
:"''Captain's log, supplemental. The [[IKS Qu'Vat|Qu'Vat]] has arrived with Commander Morag. We are preparing to question him regarding his involvement in the murder of Lieutenant Rocha.''"
 
:"''Captain's log, supplemental. The [[IKS Qu'Vat|Qu'Vat]] has arrived with Commander Morag. We are preparing to question him regarding his involvement in the murder of Lieutenant Rocha.''"
   
  +
Circumstantial evidence now points to her as possibly having killed Rocha, but she hotly denies this to Riker and Worf. Riker informs her that the phaser was found on level ten and all phasers in weapons lockers are set on level one. Uhnari still cannot recall what happened after her struggle with Rocha but admits she may have used the phaser in self-defense. Riker tells her that to inflict the cellular damage found in Rocha's remains, it would take a sustained phaser blast on level ten of thirty to fourty seconds. At this point, La Forge defends her, saying that the phaser found hasn't even been established to be the murder weapon. La Forge tells Riker he is heading back to the station to try to retrieve Rocha's logs. Riker stops him and asks that he not get involved more with Uhnari, so his relationship doesn't cloud his judgment. La Forge responds back that he's "''not the one making judgments.''"
Cmdr. Morag arrives shortly thereafter. He describes how he investigated the station when they did not answer his hails. He confesses that he was the one who tried to bypass the access protocols and filched a number of priority Starfleet messages, but that while he saw blood and signs of a struggle, he did not kill anyone. Lt. Worf finds a missing phaser from the station in Uhnari's shuttlecraft: it is set on ten instead of one. It becomes more likely Uhnari was the murderer. Dr. Crusher continues to examine the cellular residue, which suddenly, upon contact with her skin, takes the form of her hand.
 
  +
 
Commander Morag arrives shortly thereafter. He describes how he investigated the station when they did not answer his hails. He confesses that he was the one who tried to bypass the access protocols and filched a number of priority Starfleet messages, but that while he saw blood and signs of a struggle, he did not kill anyone. Torak has Morag remain on the ''Enterprise'' under Starfleet custody at Picard's request, as he does not want to cause a diplomatic incident with the [[Federation]].
  +
 
On the station, La Forge discovers that Uhnari had established a subspace link with a console on the relay station and deleted a number of Rocha's [[personal log]]s, including a letter he was planning to send to Starfleet. Citing her as "belligerent and insubordinate", Rocha had planned to ask for a formal hearing. She explains that she did so because she was afraid that if Starfleet found the letter, they would blame her for the murder. Knowing her pattern of running away in panic when she is afraid, La Forge advises her to stay and face what has happened, and she agrees. They [[kiss]] passionately.
  +
  +
On the ''Enterprise'', Dr. Crusher continues to examine the cellular residue in sickbay, which suddenly, upon contact with her skin, takes the form of her hand.
   
 
=== Act Five ===
 
=== Act Five ===
 
[[File:Coalescent organism.jpg|thumb|A coalescent organism]]
 
[[File:Coalescent organism.jpg|thumb|A coalescent organism]]
Crusher explains to Picard that these are not Rocha's remains, but a [[coalescent organism]] that feeds off other [[lifeform]]s, then assumes their shape. Rocha never worked at the station; it was the [[shapeshifter]] who killed him at his last post of duty in the remote [[Triona system]] and took his place. Crusher warns that what appears to be Uhnari may actually be the creature, the same applies for Morag. Meanwhile, Uhnari introduces La Forge to a [[Haliian]] custom in which their minds can telepathically connect, amplified by a large crystal ornament called a [[Canar]]. Riker breaks in and disrupts their session.
+
Crusher explains to Picard that these are not Rocha's remains, but a [[coalescent organism]] that feeds off other [[lifeform]]s, then assumes their shape. Rocha never worked at the station; it was the [[shapeshifter]] who killed him at his last post of duty in the remote [[Triona system]] and took his place. Crusher warns that what appears to be Uhnari may actually be the creature, the same applies for Morag. Meanwhile, Uhnari introduces La Forge to a Haliian custom in which their minds can telepathically connect, amplified by a large crystal ornament called a [[Canar]]. Riker breaks in and disrupts their session.
   
While Uhnari is examined, La Forge returns to his quarters, where he's been keeping Uhnari's dog Maura. The dog attacks him; the creature had been the canine, not Uhnari. When it starts morphing again, Geordi shoots at him with his phaser, this has virtually no effect until he ups his phaser and so kills the creature.
+
While Uhnari and Morag are examined, La Forge returns to his quarters, where he's been keeping Uhnari's dog Maura. The dog attacks him; the coalescent organism had been the dog, not Uhnari. When it starts morphing again, La Forge shoots at it with his phaser, this has virtually no effect until he ups his phaser settings and so kills the creature.
   
In Ten Forward, La Forge tells his theory, that Uhnari's [[memory loss]] after the Rocha-like creature attacked her was caused by the beginning coalescing process; which explains her feeling of having her memory drained out. Unhari realizes she may indeed have taken the phaser and shot.
+
In Ten Forward, La Forge tells his theory, that Uhnari's [[memory loss]] after the Rocha-like creature attacked her was caused by the beginning coalescing process; which explains her feeling of having her memory drained out. Uhnari realizes she may indeed have taken the phaser and shot. She is grateful to La Forge for his advice and friendship but refuses his offer to recommend her for a post. She knows she is not an ideal Starfleet officer, but tells him she is considering staying in Starfleet and perhaps one day serving aboard the ''Enterprise''.
She is grateful to La Forge for his advice and friendship but refuses his offer to recommend her for a post. She knows she is not an ideal Starfleet officer, but tells him she is considering staying in Starfleet and perhaps one day serving aboard the ''Enterprise''.
 
{{pna-episode}}
 
   
== Memorable Quotes ==
+
== Memorable quotes ==
 
"''We found traces of Klingon DNA on the station.''"<br />
 
"''We found traces of Klingon DNA on the station.''"<br />
 
"''You still try to blame us!''"<br />
 
"''You still try to blame us!''"<br />
Line 110: Line 121:
 
: - '''Counselor Troi''' - her only line of dialogue
 
: - '''Counselor Troi''' - her only line of dialogue
   
== Background Information ==
+
== Background information ==
 
=== Story and production ===
 
=== Story and production ===
 
[[File:Filming Aquiel.jpg|thumb|Filming the episode]]
 
[[File:Filming Aquiel.jpg|thumb|Filming the episode]]
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* [[Unknown performers]] as
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Command division lieutenant (2369)|Command division lieutenant]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Command division lieutenant (2369)|Command division lieutenant]]
  +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Female command division officer (2369-2370)|Female command division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Female science officer at memorial service|Female science division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Female science officer at memorial service|Female science division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Nurse in sickbay (2369)|Female science division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Nurse in sickbay (2369)|Female science division officer]]
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=== References ===
 
=== References ===
[[47]]; ''[[Batarael]]''; ''[[Canar]]''; [[coalescent organism]]; ''[[Cold Moon Over Blackwater]]''; [[Delta Vega sector]]; [[Deriben V]]; [[disruptor]]s; [[Epsilon IX station]]; [[Federation]]; ''[[The Fatal Revenge|Fatal Revenge, The]]''; [[governor]]; [[Halii]]; [[Haliian]]; [[Haliian language]]; [[hearing]]; ''[[Horath (song)|Horath]]''; [[iced coffee]]; [[Klingon]]s; [[Klingon Empire]]; [[level 2 diagnostic]]; [[level 3 diagnostic]]; [[memory module]]; [[message delay buffer]]; [[micro-vaporize]]; [[Muskan seed punch]]; [[Pendleton]]; [[Personal log, Aquiel Uhnari]]; [[Personal log, Keith Rocha]]; ''[[petaQ]]''; [[phase inducer]]; [[type 2 phaser|phaser, type 2]]; [[IKS Qu'Vat|''Qu'Vat'', IKS]]; [[Relay Station 47]]; [[Relay Station 194]]; {{dis|Ryan|Saratoga officer}}; [[USS Saratoga (NCC-31911)|''Saratoga'', USS]]; [[Sector 2520]]; [[Shianna]]; [[shuttlecraft]]; [[Starbase 12]]; [[Starbase 212]]; [[Starbase 237]]; [[Starfleet Command]]; [[subspace relay station]]; [[Triona system]]; [[type 2 phaser]]; ''[[Verne]]''; [[wig]]
+
[[47]]; ''[[Batarael]]''; [[Beta'Elan Minor]]; ''[[Canar]]''; [[CCN Caroline|''Caroline'', CCN]]; [[USS Charleston|''Charleston'', USS]]; [[coalescent organism]]; ''[[Cold Moon Over Blackwater]]''; [[Delta Vega sector]]; [[Deriben V]]; [[disruptor]]s; [[Doug Drexler (Starfleet)|Drexler, Douglas]]; [[Epsilon IX station]]; [[Federation]]; ''[[The Fatal Revenge|Fatal Revenge, The]]''; [[governor]]; [[Haliian]]; [[Haliian language]]; [[hearing]]; [[USS Hood (Excelsior class)|''Hood'', USS]]; ''[[Horath (song)|Horath]]''; [[iced coffee]]; [[Klingon]]s; [[Klingon Empire]]; [[USS K'Marco|''K'Marco'', USS]]; [[level 2 diagnostic]]; [[level 3 diagnostic]]; [[USS Mare Tranquillitatis|''Mare Tranquillitatis'', USS]]; [[Mark VI warp drive]]; [[memory module]]; [[message delay buffer]]; [[USS Merrimac (NCC-61827)|''Merrimac'', USS]]; [[micro-vaporize]]; [[Milky Way Galaxy]]; [[Muskan seed punch]]; [[network relay tech]]; [[New Lagos]]; [[nightstand]]; [[USS Odele|''Odele'', USS]]; [[Operations officer|Ops]]; [[Pendleton]]; [[Personal log, Aquiel Uhnari]]; [[Personal log, Keith Rocha]]; ''[[petaQ]]''; [[phase inducer]]; [[dog|pooch]]; [[type 2 phaser|phaser, type 2]]; [[IKS Qu'Vat|''Qu'Vat'', IKS]]; [[Relay Station 47]]; [[Relay Station 182-A]]; [[Relay Station 194]]; [[Relay Station 452]]; [[Bradley T. Rocha|Rocha, Bradley T.]]; [[Wendy D. Rocha|Rocha, Wendy D.]]; [[Sector 001]]; [[Sector 1540]]; [[Sector 5501]]; [[Sector 9012]]; [[Sector 2520]]; [[Sector 22855]]; [[Sector 25712]]; [[Sector 32834]]; [[Sector Ipai]]; [[Sector Ipai Relay Log]]; [[Shianna]]; [[shuttlecraft]]; [[Starbase 11]]; [[Starbase 12]]; [[Starbase 56]]; [[Starbase 78]]; [[Starbase 212]]; [[Starbase 237]]; [[Starbase 515]]; [[Starbase 4112]]; [[Starbase Meta]]; [[Starfleet Command]]; [[subspace relay station]]; [[Taylor (Admiral)|Taylor]]; [[Triona system]]; [[type 2 phaser]]; ''[[Verne]]''; [[GCA Wetlark|''Wetlark'', GCA]]; [[wig]]; [[USS Zhukov|''Zhukov'', USS]]
   
 
{{TNG nav|season=6|last={{e|Ship in a Bottle}}|next={{e|Face of the Enemy}}}}
 
{{TNG nav|season=6|last={{e|Ship in a Bottle}}|next={{e|Face of the Enemy}}}}
  +
   
 
[[de:Aquiel]]
 
[[de:Aquiel]]
 
[[es:Aquiel]]
 
[[es:Aquiel]]
[[fr:Aquiel]]
+
[[fr:Aquiel (épisode)]]
[[ja:TNG:謎の蒸発事件]]
+
[[ja:謎の蒸発事件(エピソード)]]
 
[[nl:Aquiel]]
 
[[nl:Aquiel]]
 
[[pl:Aquiel]]
 
[[pl:Aquiel]]

Revision as of 23:53, 20 October 2015

Template:Realworld

Geordi La Forge falls in love with a woman accused of murder in an isolated communication relay station. The Enterprise crew investigates the crime, the only other suspect is a Klingon officer who frequently visited the station.

Summary

Teaser

Relay Station 47

Relay station 47

"Captain's log, stardate 46461.3. We have arrived at a communication relay station near the Klingon border, where we are scheduled to deliver supplies. However, the station has not responded to repeated hails."


The USS Enterprise-D has sent an away team composed of CMO Dr. Crusher, Lieutenant Commander La Forge, Commander Riker and Lieutenant Worf to the Communications Relay Station 47. Upon arriving, they find the station abandoned and the audio monitoring system in disarray, with many subspace messages playing all at once. They also find a large, fluffy white dog hiding inside a service duct. The station's shuttlecraft is missing, along with both Starfleet officers, Aquiel Uhnari and Keith Rocha. Dr. Crusher discovers cell residue which must be the remains of one of the personnel.

Act One

The blood traces match those of Uhnari, so Crusher assumes the cellular residue is Uhnari's also, but must study it further in her lab to make certain. Geordi La Forge explains that encrypted subspace messages are all sent through a particular channel, and that someone has tried to bypass the access protocols, perhaps taking or rewriting some of the messages. La Forge accesses the station's logs, but at first can see only a handful of Uhnari's official and personal entries. Returning to her quarters, he peruses the logs accompanied by the dog, which he discovers was Uhnari's pet. Uhnari's personal letters reveal her to be a spirited, romantic Haliian woman who was abused by her father, is intensely homesick for the rest of her family and traditions, and has difficulty getting along with "egomaniac" Rocha. At one point she confesses countermanding his orders.

In sickbay, Dr. Crusher tries to get a clear DNA sample from the metallic plate, she guesses a high-level phaser blast caused the death. It also could have been a Klingon disruptor.

Act Two

Uhnari also mentions in her log that Commander Morag, an aggressive Klingon, has been harassing and threatening the station. Klingon DNA traces are found aboard the station, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard asks the Klingon governor Torak to investigate. At first, the governor is hesitant to help but Picard uses his influence as Gowron's Arbiter of Succession to convince him to help.

La Forge watches more of Lieutenant Uhnari's personal logs in his quarters. In the log, she states that she misses her mother's own muskan seed punch and how the replicators on the station cannot quite make it the same when a loud bang is heard. Uhnari asks if its Rocha. The log suddenly goes to static. Back on the station, Worf, Riker and La Forge continue the investigation. La Forge cannot find Rocha's logs, telling Riker that whatever happened to the station's encrypted messages had a cascade effect on the communications storage system.

Eventually, the governor arrives at the Enterprise's position on the IKS Qu'Vat. Worf escorts Torak to the observation lounge and the governor has Uhnari brought in, very much alive.

Act Three

Uhnari claims that Rocha suddenly and irrationally attacked her; she first tried to access the weapons locker, but next remembers escaping in the shuttle; she was picked up by the Klingons. Possibly owing to a head injury, Uhnari's memory for exactly what happened is spotty, and while she tries to remember and the captain waits for Commander Morag to arrive, Dr. Crusher now assumes that the cellular residue on the station's deck plate is Rocha, but continues to analyze it. La Forge escorts Uhnari out of the lounge, telling her he has a friend of hers that is probably eager to see her.

La Forge brings Uhnari to his quarters, where he reunites her with her dog Maura, named after a character in Cold Moon Over Blackwater, a gothic novel. He tells her she probably wants to be alone in assigned quarters after her recent ordeal. However, she tells him that she would like to go to a place that has a lot of activity since she has spent nine months on the station with only Rocha to talk to. They go to Ten Forward, where La Forge seems to know quite a bit about Uhnari, such as getting her muskan seed punch to drink and that she lived on a house on a hill growing up, which surprises the lieutenant. La Forge then confesses that he has reviewed her logs, as well as her personal correspondance. He explains that they thought she had been murdered and needed to investigate. She eventually understands. La Forge brings up her contemptous relationship with her superior officer, Keith Rocha. She considered him hostile and obnoxious and felt she had to battle him to hold her own. But, she insists, she did not want to see him dead. La Forge asks why Rocha attacked her but Uhnari does not know.

Riker has Rocha's Starfleet ID file brought up to Picard on his desktop monitor, showing that he was not as nasty as Uhnari's experience of him; in fact, he seems to have been a bright and promising officer. Uhnari's duty records, on the other hand, show her to be difficult and argumentative from her previous posting on Deriben V. Picard orders Riker to examine her shuttle to shed more light on her story. While taking Uhnari to her quarters, she asks La Forge, since he knows her the best from anyone on the Enterprise, if she seems like a person who would murder someone. La Forge admits she doesn't. She wishes him a good night in Haliian. Later, Worf finds a missing phaser from the station in Uhnari's shuttlecraft: it is set to kill.

Act Four

"Captain's log, supplemental. The Qu'Vat has arrived with Commander Morag. We are preparing to question him regarding his involvement in the murder of Lieutenant Rocha."

Circumstantial evidence now points to her as possibly having killed Rocha, but she hotly denies this to Riker and Worf. Riker informs her that the phaser was found on level ten and all phasers in weapons lockers are set on level one. Uhnari still cannot recall what happened after her struggle with Rocha but admits she may have used the phaser in self-defense. Riker tells her that to inflict the cellular damage found in Rocha's remains, it would take a sustained phaser blast on level ten of thirty to fourty seconds. At this point, La Forge defends her, saying that the phaser found hasn't even been established to be the murder weapon. La Forge tells Riker he is heading back to the station to try to retrieve Rocha's logs. Riker stops him and asks that he not get involved more with Uhnari, so his relationship doesn't cloud his judgment. La Forge responds back that he's "not the one making judgments."

Commander Morag arrives shortly thereafter. He describes how he investigated the station when they did not answer his hails. He confesses that he was the one who tried to bypass the access protocols and filched a number of priority Starfleet messages, but that while he saw blood and signs of a struggle, he did not kill anyone. Torak has Morag remain on the Enterprise under Starfleet custody at Picard's request, as he does not want to cause a diplomatic incident with the Federation.

On the station, La Forge discovers that Uhnari had established a subspace link with a console on the relay station and deleted a number of Rocha's personal logs, including a letter he was planning to send to Starfleet. Citing her as "belligerent and insubordinate", Rocha had planned to ask for a formal hearing. She explains that she did so because she was afraid that if Starfleet found the letter, they would blame her for the murder. Knowing her pattern of running away in panic when she is afraid, La Forge advises her to stay and face what has happened, and she agrees. They kiss passionately.

On the Enterprise, Dr. Crusher continues to examine the cellular residue in sickbay, which suddenly, upon contact with her skin, takes the form of her hand.

Act Five

Coalescent organism

A coalescent organism

Crusher explains to Picard that these are not Rocha's remains, but a coalescent organism that feeds off other lifeforms, then assumes their shape. Rocha never worked at the station; it was the shapeshifter who killed him at his last post of duty in the remote Triona system and took his place. Crusher warns that what appears to be Uhnari may actually be the creature, the same applies for Morag. Meanwhile, Uhnari introduces La Forge to a Haliian custom in which their minds can telepathically connect, amplified by a large crystal ornament called a Canar. Riker breaks in and disrupts their session.

While Uhnari and Morag are examined, La Forge returns to his quarters, where he's been keeping Uhnari's dog Maura. The dog attacks him; the coalescent organism had been the dog, not Uhnari. When it starts morphing again, La Forge shoots at it with his phaser, this has virtually no effect until he ups his phaser settings and so kills the creature.

In Ten Forward, La Forge tells his theory, that Uhnari's memory loss after the Rocha-like creature attacked her was caused by the beginning coalescing process; which explains her feeling of having her memory drained out. Uhnari realizes she may indeed have taken the phaser and shot. She is grateful to La Forge for his advice and friendship but refuses his offer to recommend her for a post. She knows she is not an ideal Starfleet officer, but tells him she is considering staying in Starfleet and perhaps one day serving aboard the Enterprise.

Memorable quotes

"We found traces of Klingon DNA on the station."
"You still try to blame us!"
"Have the courage to admit your mistakes. Or are you a lo'Be Vos?"
"At least I do not wear the uniform of the petaQ!"

- Worf and Governor Torak butting heads


"The Klingon Empire will not stand for these kinds of lies!"
"Governor Torak... I apologize. I can see that you honestly didn't know what happened aboard the station. I will just have to take this matter up with Gowron. I'm really sorry that we bothered you."

- Torak speaks with Picard after Aquiel Uhnari stated in a log she was harassed by Morag, a Klingon


"Lieutenant Uhnari's logs reported that Commander Morag had been harassing the station."
"He was doing his job."

- Captain Picard and Governor Torak


"You know me better than anyone here. Do I seem like the kind of person who would murder someone?"
"No, you don't."

- Aquiel Uhnari and La Forge


"I think you've let your personal feelings cloud your judgment."
"I'm not the one making judgments."

- Riker and La Forge


"Geordi?"
"I can see you. Oh, and I can feel you."

- Aquiel Uhnari and La Forge while they both use the canar to create a bond between them


"What are you doing, commander?"
"That may not be Lieutenant Uhnari."

- La Forge to Riker while he has a phaser pointed at Aquiel


"Concerned?"

- Counselor Troi - her only line of dialogue

Background information

Story and production

Filming Aquiel

Filming the episode

Continuity

Reception

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins

References

47; Batarael; Beta'Elan Minor; Canar; Caroline, CCN; Charleston, USS; coalescent organism; Cold Moon Over Blackwater; Delta Vega sector; Deriben V; disruptors; Drexler, Douglas; Epsilon IX station; Federation; Fatal Revenge, The; governor; Haliian; Haliian language; hearing; Hood, USS; Horath; iced coffee; Klingons; Klingon Empire; K'Marco, USS; level 2 diagnostic; level 3 diagnostic; Mare Tranquillitatis, USS; Mark VI warp drive; memory module; message delay buffer; Merrimac, USS; micro-vaporize; Milky Way Galaxy; Muskan seed punch; network relay tech; New Lagos; nightstand; Odele, USS; Ops; Pendleton; Personal log, Aquiel Uhnari; Personal log, Keith Rocha; petaQ; phase inducer; pooch; phaser, type 2; Qu'Vat, IKS; Relay Station 47; Relay Station 182-A; Relay Station 194; Relay Station 452; Rocha, Bradley T.; Rocha, Wendy D.; Sector 001; Sector 1540; Sector 5501; Sector 9012; Sector 2520; Sector 22855; Sector 25712; Sector 32834; Sector Ipai; Sector Ipai Relay Log; Shianna; shuttlecraft; Starbase 11; Starbase 12; Starbase 56; Starbase 78; Starbase 212; Starbase 237; Starbase 515; Starbase 4112; Starbase Meta; Starfleet Command; subspace relay station; Taylor; Triona system; type 2 phaser; Verne; Wetlark, GCA; wig; Zhukov, USS

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Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 6
Next episode:
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