06x11 - Chain Of Command, Part II

[bunniefuu]

Last time on "Star Trek:
The Next Generation".

"You are requested and required
to relinquish command

to Capt Edward Jellico,
Commanding Officer, USS Cairo,

as of this date."

I want this ship ready for action

and I don't have time to give
Will Riker or anyone else a chance.

And forgive me for being blunt,
but the Enterprise is mine now.

Our orders are to penetrate
the Celtris III installation.

It's a trap! Come on!

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.

Let's go!

- The Captain!
- No!

There are five more of them
heading this way.

You should prove
an interesting challenge.

Possibly the most interesting
to come through that door in years.

- What do you want?
- Why, you, of course.

And now, the conclusion.

Your place of birth?

Labarre, France.

Mother's name?

Yvette Gessard.

He's ready.
Keep the serum at that level.

What is your current assignment?

Special operations on Celtris III.

What is your mission on Celtris III?

To seek and destroy
a metagenic w*apon.

How many others
were part of this mission?

- Two.
- Name and rank?

Chief Medical Officer
Beverly Crusher. Lt Worf.

What are the Federation's
defence plans for Minos Korva?

I don't know.

Increase the level slightly to 0.31 .

Let's begin again, shall we?

Name?

Picard. Jean-Luc.

Place of birth?

Labarre, France.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages
of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission,
to explore strange new worlds,...

..to seek out new life
and new civilizations,...

..to boldly go
where no one has gone before.

Captain's log, stardate 46360.8.

Negotiations with the Cardassians
have made little progress.

I believe a m*llitary confrontation
may be unavoidable.

Gul Lemec, I assure you

that what the Federation wants
above all is peace.

Then how do you explain the
Federation's unprovoked as*ault

on Cardassian territory 14 hours ago?

I don't know what you mean.

Then let me explain.

Capt Jean-Luc Picard,
Lt Worf and Dr Beverly Crusher

landed on Celtris III, brutally
att*cked one of our outposts

and k*lled over 55 men,
women and children.

- What evidence do you have of that?
- We have all the evidence we need.

We have Capt Picard.

Is he alive?

The Cardassian Union has yet
to decide how it will respond

to this latest provocation.

But, rest assured, ...

..we will respond.

Is there any truth in this?

They were sent to investigate reports
of a metagenic w*apon on Celtris III.

It's possible
that they may have been captured.

But if they did escape,
they'll head for the Lyshan System.

The Enterprise is to meet them
there in eight hours.

Will, I want you to take a shuttle
and head for the rendezvous point.

We will have to stay here until the
endgame with Gul Lemec is played.

Aye, sir.

Capt Picard.

I demand to see
a neutral representative

as required by the
Federation-Cardassian peace treaty.

We have sent a message to Tovhun III,
the nearest neutral planet.

They assure us
they will send someone immediately.

Will you allow me
to remove your restraints?

You are a student of archaeology.
Did you know that Cardassia

boasts some of the most ancient
and splendid ruins in the galaxy?

I know that the burial vaults
of the First Hebitian civilization

are said to be magnificent.

Apparently, when they were unearthed
200 years ago, they were.

The vaults contained unimaginably
beautiful artefacts made of jevonite,

a rare, breathtaking stone.

But most of those objects are gone.

What happened to them?

What happens
to impoverished societies.

The tombs were plundered,
priceless treasures stolen.

A few were preserved in museums,

but even those were eventually sold
to pay for our w*r efforts.

That w*r cost you
hundreds of thousands of lives.

It depleted your food supplies,

left your population weakened
and miserable,

and yet you risk another w*r.

Let's not waste time arguing
about issues we cannot resolve.

Would you care to tour
the Hebitian burial vaults?

What I would like
is to be returned to my ship.

My dear Captain,
you are a criminal.

You've been apprehended invading
one of our secret facilities.

The least that will happen is for
you to stand trial and be punished.

But I'm offering you the opportunity
for that experience to be...

..civilised.

What is the price
of that opportunity?

Cooperation.

We need to know the Federation's
defence strategy for Minos Korva.

You've injected me with dr*gs.

Surely you must realize I've answered
truthfully every question put to me.

Captain, ...

..we have gone to great lengths
to lure you here

because we know that
in the event of an invasion,

the Enterprise
will be the Command ship

for the sector
encompassing Minos Korva.

Then it seems you have more
knowledge of the situation than I.

Wasted energy, Captain.

You might wish you hadn't expended it
in such a futile effort.

t*rture is forbidden
by the Seldonis IV Convention

governing the treatment
of prisoners of w*r!

Are you in good health?

Do you have any physical ailments
I should know about?

Beautiful, isn't it?
The stone is jevonite.

And now you know
why it is so highly prized.

From this point on,
you will enjoy no privilege of rank,

no privileges of person.

From now on...

..I will refer to you only as human.

You have no other identity!

First Officer's log, supplemental.

I have returned from the rendezvous
point with Dr Crusher and Lt Worf.

Capt Picard's fate
is still unknown.

We couldn't go back for the Captain.

We barely made it
to the Ferengi cargo ship ourselves.

- You were smart not to try.
- I don't feel so smart.

Get some rest, Doctor. Will.

I want Geordi to analyze the
readings from Beverly's tricorder.

Tell him to scrutinize every detail
of those caverns on Celtris III.

Aye, sir. Request permission to
begin planning a rescue operation.

I know you were close to him, Will,
but we don't even know if he's alive.

Under the circumstances,
a rescue mission would be foolhardy.

Shouldn't we assume he's alive
until proved dead?

We can't just abandon him.

He's gone! I'm sorry, Will, but
you're gonna have to accept that.

I want those tricorder readings
analyzed by 1400 hours.

Yes, sir.

Good morning. I trust you slept well.

Thirsty?

I would imagine so.

Well, it's time to move on.

- I've told you all that I know.
- Yes, I'm sure you have.

How many lights do you see there?

- I see four lights.
- No, there are five.

Are you quite sure?

There are four lights.

Perhaps you are aware
of the incision in your chest.

While you were under our dr*gs, you
were implanted with a small device.

It's a remarkable invention!

By entering commands in this pad,

I can produce pain
in any part of your body,

various levels of severity.

Forgive me. I don't enjoy this,
but I must demonstrate.

It will make everything clearer.

Surprising, isn't it?

People feel they can
steel themselves against it,

but they're unprepared for
the intensity of the pain.

That was the lowest possible setting.

I know nothing about Minos Korva.

But I've told you, I believe you.
I didn't ask you about Minos Korva.

I asked how many lights you see.

There are four lights.

I don't understand
how you can be so mistaken.

- What is your current assignment?
- Special operations on Celtris III.

Do you have anything to say?

Capt Picard was not acting
under my orders.

And if we wish to execute him?

Under the Seldonis Convention...

The Seldonis Convention
applies to prisoners of w*r.

Which means you admit he was on
a mission authorized by Federation.

Are you willing to
make such an admission?

No.

Then he will be treated
as a t*rror1st.

It's not my concern.

There is, of course, an alternative.

I'm listening.

If the Federation agreed to a
complete withdrawal from this sector,

then we would be disposed
to release Capt Picard

and forget about this incident.

I'll have to discuss this
with my superiors.

Of course.

You have seven hours.

What will you do?

Send a message to Admiral Necheyev.

I recommend
that she reject Lemec's proposal

and deploy additional ships
along the border.

What about Capt Picard?

I don't suggest you trade
a star system for one man's life,

but these were Federation orders
and he is a prisoner of w*r.

No!

He will be protected
by the Convention.

That would play into Lemec's hand.
He's waiting for a sign of weakness.

I can't believe you'd sacrifice
Capt Picard as a negotiation tactic!

Will! Captain, we're all concerned...

Are you questioning my judgement?

It is my responsibility to point out
any actions that may be mistakes

by a commanding officer, sir.

Then maybe it's time you found other
responsibilities. You're relieved.

Don't make me confine you
to quarters as well.

Sir.

They worked hard to lure a
Federation team to that planet. Why?

They may have been specifically
interested in capturing Capt Picard.

Why?

The metagenic w*apon
they were supposedly developing

used a theta-band delivery system.

Capt Picard is one
of only three Starfleet captains

with experience
in theta-band devices.

The other two
are no longer in Starfleet.

So they tailored a fake w*apon
to lure Picard. But why?

They must know we'd change his
access codes and security protocols.

Maybe they were interested

in something he did in the past
while he was Captain.

Or in something he was going to do
in the future.

If the Cardassians att*ck,

the Enterprise will be assigned
as Command ship for this sector.

If they got wind of that...

They might assume Capt Picard
knew those defence plans.

If your theory is correct,

they may be planning an att*ck
in this sector.

The question is where?

Geordi, run a discreet scan
of Gul Lemec's ship.

Look for anything unusual that might
indicate where they've been lately.

Aye, sir.

I want you to be very careful with
your wompat from now on, Jil Orra.

Now she's left her mother,
she depends on you.

I will, Father.

- Do humans have mothers and fathers?
- Yes.

But human mothers and fathers
don't love their children as we do.

They're not the same as we are.

- Will you read to me tonight?
- Of course I will!

I'll see you later.

Your daughter is lovely.

Yes, I think so.
And unusually bright.

It's amazing, isn't it,

the way they're able
to sneak into your heart?

I must admit I was unprepared
for the power she had over me,

from the moment she was born.

I am surprised that
you let her come in here.

Why?

To expose a child to...

..this.

To someone who is suffering.

To see that it is you
that inflict that suffering.

From the time Jil Orra could crawl,

she's been taught about our enemies
and that they deserve their fate.

When children learn to devalue
others, they can devalue anyone,

including their parents.

What a blind, narrow view you have.

What an arrogant man you are!

What do you know
of Cardassian history?

I know that once, you were a peaceful
people with a rich spiritual life.

What did
peace and spirituality get us?

Millions starved.
Bodies went unburied.

Disease was rampant.
Suffering was unimaginable.

Since the m*llitary took over,
hundreds of thousands more have d*ed.

But we are feeding the people.

We acquired territory during
the wars. We developed new resources.

We initiated a rebuilding programme.

We have mandated
agricultural programmes.

That is what the m*llitary
has done for Cardassia.

And, because of that, my daughter
will never worry about going hungry.

Her belly may be full,
but her spirit will be empty.

Shall we begin again?

How many lights are there?

What lights?

It looks like some minor hull
degradation on their warp nacelles,

The pattern indicates recent exposure
to a molecular-dispersion field.

Where could they have run into one?

The McAllister C-5 nebula,

seven light years
from Federation space.

Could there be Cardassian ships
inside the nebula?

Maybe, but they
couldn't stay in there long.

The nebula's particle flux would
break down a hull after 72 hours.

Is there a Federation system
near the nebula

that might interest the Cardassians?

Minos Korva is just
11 light years from the nebula.

And the Cardassians tried
to annex it during the w*r.

Data, I want to be at Minos Korva
in one hour.

Aye, sir. Set course 350, mark 215
and engage at warp 8.5.

Wake up.

Where were you?

At home.

Sunday dinner.

We would all sing afterwards.

What a charming picture.

The Picard family,
voices raised in song.

Is that what's keeping you
from breaking?

Memories of home and hearth,
images of happier times?

I congratulate you.
You're remarkably strong-willed.

I see no point holding you further.
You may go.

Someone will give you clean clothing
before we return you to your ship.

We will get what we need
from the human female.

What female are you referring to?

The one who was part of your abortive
as*ault team. Dr Beverly Crusher.

What have you done to her?

Not a thing.

She's quite safe.

I wanted to finish interviewing
you before interrogating her.

I had hoped
it might not be necessary.

Lt Worf?

He left us few options.
We had to k*ll him.

I'm optimistic we can get
what we need from the woman.

Dr Crusher has no knowledge
of any Starfleet operations.

She's a Medical officer.

You might be right.
I'll determine that for myself.

Are you choosing to stay with me?

Excellent. I can't tell you
how pleased that makes me.

Starfleet now believes the
Cardassians will inv*de Minos Korva.

I'm convinced their invasion fleet
is hiding in the McAllister Nebula.

- We'll hit it before they leave it.
- Captain, what if you're wrong?

What if the Cardassians
are there to conduct research?

You'd need good evidence
to convince me of that.

You're still gambling
hundreds of lives.

This discussion is moot.

The plan has been approved.
We are going ahead.

Mr. Data, how long could
the Cardassians stay in the nebula?

In 17 hours, their hull degradation
will become dangerous.

- They must leave before that.
- Alright.

Worf, prepare 500 antimatter mines
with magnetic targeting capability.

Aye, sir.

Geordi, we'll need a shuttle,

specially outfitted for the nebula,
by 1400.

Beverly, you'll need to...

..have sickbay ready
for the casualties you'll send me.

That's right.

Dismissed.

You're awake.

Have something to eat.

I insist.

Boiled taspar egg.

It's a delicacy
I'm happy to share with you.

Wonderful!

Wonderful! I like you, human.

Most people become ill
at the sight of live taspar.

I remember the first time
I ate a live taspar.

I was six years old
and living on the streets of Lakat.

There was a band of children,
four, five, six years old,

some even smaller,
desperately trying to survive.

We were thin, scrawny little animals,

constantly hungry, always cold.

We slept in doorways, like
packs of wild gettles, for warmth.

Once, I found a nest.

Taspars had built a nest in
the eave of a burnt-out building

and I found three eggs in it.

It was like finding treasure.

I cracked one open on the spot and
ate it, very much as you just did.

I planned to save the other two.

That would keep me alive
for another week.

But, of course, an older boy
saw them and wanted them.

And he got them.

But he had to break my arm to do it.

Must be rewarding to you

to repay others
for all those years of misery.

What do you mean?

t*rture has never been a reliable
means of extracting information.

It is ultimately self-defeating
as a means of control.

One wonders
that it's still practiced.

I fail to see
where this analysis is leading.

Whenever I look at you now, ...

..I won't see
a powerful Cardassian warrior.

I will see a six-year-old boy
who is powerless to protect himself.

Be quiet!

In spite of all you've done to me,
I find you a pitiable man.

Picard, stop it.

Or I will turn this on
and leave you in agony all night.

You called me "Picard"!

What are the Federation's
defence plans for Minos Korva?

There are four lights!

There are five lights!

How many do you see now?

You are six years old!

Weak and helpless.

You cannot hurt me!

How many?

How are we doing?

Almost done, sir.
I've shielded the nacelles

and the transporter system against
particle-flux from the nebula.

Good.

Been a while
since I flew one of these.

- You're a pilot, aren't you, Geordi?
- Yes, sir.

I began my career as a shuttle pilot,
on the Jovian run,

from Jupiter to Saturn and back,
once a day, every day.

Is that right? I was
on that run myself for a while.

Then you must have done Titan's Turn.

Yeah,

You set a course directly for Titan,

hold it till you're
just brushing the atmosphere,

throw the helm hard over
and whip round the moon at 0.7C.

And pray like hell nobody saw you.

This trip into the nebula

will need someone who can do
Titan's Turn in their sleep.

The mines must be laid within two
kilometers of the Cardassian ships.

But the flux will blind all sensors
except this proximity detector.

You need one heck of a pilot
to pull that off.

Is that you?

I could do it. But, truthfully,
the man you want is Cmdr Riker.

He's the best there is.

Come in.

Am I disturbing you?

Not at all.

- A musician.
- Yes.

Classical? Contemporary?

Jazz.

Is there something
I can do for you, Captain?

Are you aware of our plans
to att*ck the Cardassian fleet?

Yes, sir.

I understand you've been talking
to every shuttle pilot on board.

Let's drop ranks for a moment.
I don't like you.

I think you're insubordinate,
arrogant, wilful.

And I don't think you're
a particularly good first officer.

But you are also the best pilot
on the ship.

Well, now that the ranks are dropped,
Captain, I don't like you, either.

You are arrogant and closed-minded.

You need to control everything
and everyone.

You don't provide an atmosphere
of trust. You don't inspire people.

You've got everyone wound up
so tight, there's no joy in anything.

I don't think
you're a particularly good captain.

I won't order you
to fly this mission.

Then ask me.

Will you pilot the shuttle,
Commander?

Yes.

You're welcome.

We've lost primary navigation.
Switching to secondary.

- Inertial dampers compensating.
- Sensors inoperative.

Right on schedule.

The proximity detector is working.

We should read their ships
at a distance of 500 meters.

Don't make this too easy.

Hang on.

- Do I wanna know how close that was?
- No. Get ready to deploy the mines.

Captain, the shuttle
is emerging from the nebula.

Enterprise to shuttle.
Were you successful, Commander?

Aye, sir. The mines are laid.

Very well. Red alert.

Stand by to detonate the mines
on my command.

Standing by.

Open a channel to the Reklar.

This is Cardassian territory! Your
presence is deliberate provocation...

I won't argue, Gul Lemec.

Every one of your ships is mined,
my finger is on the button,

and you're in a very bad position.

You can't intimidate us.

- Mr. Worf, set off Alpha 42.
- Aye, sir.

That was just a baby.

The big boys are on your hull,
just waiting for the word.

What are your terms?

Your ships will leave the nebula
one by one.

Each ship will eject
its primary phaser coil

before setting course
for the nearest Cardassian base.

- But that will leave us defenceless!
- Mr. Worf, prepare to detonate...

- I will agree to your terms.
- Excellent.

And one more thing.

I understand you're holding
a Starfleet officer, Jean-Luc Picard.

I expect him returned immediately.

That won't help. I have many more.

Still, it felt good.

Enjoy your good feelings
while you can.

There may not be many more of them.

I've just received word.

There's been a battle.

The Enterprise is burning in space.

The invasion of Minos Korva
has been successful.

I don't believe you.

I no longer
need information from you.

Our troops were successful,
despite your refusal to help me.

You might have saved yourself
much torment by yielding.

I want to see
a neutral representative.

There is no such person.

The word will be that you perished
with your crew.

No one will ever know
that you are here with us,

as you will be for a long, long time.

You do, however, have a choice.

You can live out your life in misery,
held here, subject to my whims,

or you can live in comfort
with good food and warm clothing,

women as you desire them,

free to pursue your studies
of philosophy and history.

I would enjoy debating with you.
You have a keen mind.

It's up to you.

A life of ease and reflection
and intellectual challenge, ...

..or this.

What must I do?

Nothing, really.

Tell me

how many lights you see.

How many?

How many lights?
This is your last chance.

The guards are coming,
don't be a stubborn fool. How many?

You told me he would be ready to go.

We had some unfinished business.

Get him cleaned up.

A ship is waiting to take him back
to the Enterprise.

Capt Picard.

If you'll go with the guards,
they'll take care of you.

There are four lights!

Captain on the bridge.

- Welcome home, Jean-Luc.
- Thank you.

Just the way you left it,
maybe a little better.

Computer,

transfer all command codes
to Capt Jean-Luc Picard.

Voice authorization,
Jellico, Alpha three one.

Transfer complete. USS Enterprise
now under command of Capt Picard.

- I relieve you, sir.
- I stand relieved.

It's been an honour
serving with you.

- You have the bridge, Number One.
- Aye, sir.

I...

I don't know where to begin.

It was...

I read your report.

What I didn't put in the report
was that at the end,

he gave me a choice between
a life of comfort or more t*rture.

All I had to do was to say
that I could see five lights

when, in fact, there were only four.

- You didn't say it?
- No.

But I was going to.
I would have told him anything.

Anything at all.

But, more than that, ...

..I believed that I could see...

..five lights.

(ENGLISH)