Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 1, Episode 20 - The Arsenal of Freedom - full transcript

Captain's log, stardate 41798.2.

We have been ordered by Starfleet
to the Lorenze Cluster

to investigate the disappearance
of a light cruiser, USS Drake,

which was there trying to unravel
a mystery of its own.

This began
when recent long-range probes

indicated that all intelligent life
on the planet Minos had disappeared.

Number One?

Nothing. The Drake arrived at
Minos, then wasn't heard of again.

Mr. Data?

Citizens of Minos gained fame during
the Erselrope Wars as arms merchants.

They manufactured
highly advanced weaponry.



- Yeah? For which side?
- Both.

We are approaching
the planet Minos, sir.

- Standard orbit, Mr. La Forge.
- Aye, sir, standard orbit.

What happened to the Drake
happened quickly,

or Rice would've reported again.

- You know him?
- From the Academy.

- Tell me more.
- Able. Good officer.

How would he react under stress?

Rice is confident to the point of
arrogance, but he's usually right.

- A risk taker.
- Really.

Here's an example. A final test
in Advanced Navigation at the Academy

provides the students
with three options.

Rice rejected their options
and offered one of his own.

That's taking a risk.



He got the top grade,
and now that test has four options.

In a difficulty,
such a man would act aggressively.

Agreed.

Commander,
weren't you offered the Drake?

Yes.

You gave up your own command
for this assignment?

I thought it would be more
advantageous to do a tour here.

Captain, readings correspond
with the probe's findings.

No signs of intelligent life forms.
Vegetation and animal life only.

What happened to all the people?

- War?
- Disease?

A dissatisfied customer?

In every war, natural disaster,
even the most virulent plague,

there are always survivors.

We are being hailed.

How can that be
from an uninhabited planet?

Sensors indicated
no intelligent life forms?

Correct, sir. Something has scanned
our language banks and is hailing us.

On main viewer.

Whoever you are,
wherever you're from, greetings.

Welcome to Minos,
the arsenal of freedom.

I'm Capt Jean-Luc Picard of...

If you need
a little something special,

be it for one target
or multiple targets,

we got it.
You'll see it here on Minos,

where we live by the motto
"Peace through superior firepower."

Who are you?

To be totally armed
is to be totally secure.

Remember, the early bird
that hesitates gets wormed.

A recorded message, sir.

Minos, the arsenal of freedom.
Perfection in advanced weaponry.

Versatility...

We've triggered something
left from the Erselrope Wars

when the arms business was booming.

So lock on to my signal
and beam on down,

because
we don?t just provide weapons.

- Shut that off.
- We provide complete weapons sys...

It's a heck of a sales pitch.

If an automatic message system
is functioning,

other systems
could be still operational.

- Weapons?
- Possibly.

- We must go down.
- Prepare an away team.

Lt Yar. Data.

- I recommend a minimum complement.
- I would've thought otherwise.

We keep the first party
small and mobile

until I'm confident whatever killed
the inhabitants isn't still there.

OK.

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

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, supplemental.

An away team is on Minos

to investigate the disappearance
of the Drake.

Although there are no signs of
intelligent life from this planet,

I'm far from certain
that it is devoid of danger.

Spooky.

- Riker.
- This is the bridge.

We'll start a pattern search
from this point.

Keep this channel open.

Aye, sir.

Commander, our communications
are being monitored.

By whom?

Since there is no intelligent
life... the question is by what?

- Captain.
- We heard, Number One.

We'll try and track it down
from here.

- Tritanium. It's melted.
- What could do that?

I don't know,
but it's beyond our technology.

Over here.

Wow.

- Never seen anything like this.
- It's undamaged.

Maybe a demonstration model
for some potential buyer.

Maybe... Let's spread out a little.

Commander Riker,
this is Ensign T'Su.

I'm monitoring a slight energy
build-up near your position.

- I can't pinpoint the source.
- Give me a direction.

East of your position, ten meters.
I will continue monitoring.

I can't see anything through here.
The underbrush is too thick.

Hello.

Commander Riker.

Rice! Where did you come from?

I was over there.

We were worried.
I should've known you'd pop up.

- How are you, Cmdr Riker?
- What about you? No word, nothing.

- How many are with you?
- Two others. Where's the Drake?

Number One, a word.

We have some information
you should be aware of.

Ensign T'Su?

Sensors indicate
low-level energy readings,

but the only life signs
are your team's.

You copy, Number One?

Understood.

You look strange, Paul.

I was injured getting here.

- Do you need medical help?
- No.

What's your purpose here?

Cmdr Data. Lt Yar.

Sir, other than ourselves I am
picking up no life signs here.

I know.

Riker, you didn't answer me.
Who sent you to look for me?

Your mother.
She's worried about you.

Tell me about your ship, Riker.
It's the Enterprise, isn't it?

No. The name of my ship
is the Lollipop.

I don't know that ship.

It's newly commissioned.
It's a good ship.

Refresh me, would you, Riker?
What's its size, its complement?

- Who is here with you?
- What arms are on the Lollipop?

Paul, I will only answer your
questions if you answer mine.

Why do you want to know
about my ship?

- We're friends, aren't we?
- Old friends.

Our top speed is warp three.
What's yours?

Is? Then the Drake
has not been destroyed.

- The Drake?
- Yes, your ship.

- Of course, the Drake.
- Where is it?

- Classified.
- Classified?

Please. It's important.
Our survival depends on knowing.

- What's the armament on your ship?
- Ten.

Ten? I don't understand. Ten what?

Six.

Cmdr Riker,
your answers make no sense.

You haven't used my first name once,
Paul. You remember it, don't you?

You don't, do you? Because
you don't exist. You're a fake.

You're an image of the original,
aren't you? Answer me!

- Report, Number One.
- The image of Rice has been replaced

by something hovering
several meters away.

Number One,
get your team back up here.

Prepare to beam up.

Commander!

What's happened, Number One? Report.

He can't answer, Captain.

Cmdr Riker has just been encased
in some kind of energy field.

Is he alive?

Unknown.

Captain's log, supplemental.

A kind of weapon, which for a time
took the form of Capt Paul Rice,

has enveloped Cmdr Riker.

Transporter room,
have you locked on to the away team?

I am unable
to lock on to Cmdr Riker.

- Ensign T'Su, situation report.
- Previous energy readings are gone.

Data, have you managed to assess
Cmdr Riker's condition?

He appears to be
in some kind of stasis.

Theorize, Mr. Data. What would be
the purpose of such an encasement?

Typically, the purpose
of such an enclosure is for storage.

Which would suggest what?

That someone or something
will soon be along to collect him.

I'm coming down. Dr Crusher,
meet me in transporter room three.

- Mr. La Forge, you have command.
- Aye, sir.

Whatever happens,
your responsibility is to the ship.

Understood, sir.

Captain,
I take exception to you beaming down.

Noted.

Is it just Riker?

Yes. Apparently he's been confined
inside some sort of force field.

Energize.

- Any changes?
- We know what it is.

- Any life signs?
- He is alive.

What appeared as Capt Rice
is an intelligence-gathering device

used during the Erselrope Wars.

Probably developed here.

It projects an image of someone the
subject trusts, and gets information.

If it's found out,
it encases the subject

for more detailed interrogation
later.

- Clever.
- Can you remove it?

Possibly,
but I need the exact frequency,

and I don't know the risk
to Cmdr Riker.

We have no choice. It's interrupting
the transporter beam. Remove it.

This will take some time, sir.

I am picking up energy readings.

Captain, La Forge here. Sensors show
energy readings in your area.

Doctor, over here!

- Oh, no!
- Doctor!

This one is different.

It's anticipating. Data, I need you.

Set your phaser on kill.
I'll lead left, you get it.

Captain?

Dr Crusher?

Captain Picard?

- I have a malfunction.
- Enterprise, this is Yar.

Mine's out too.

The weapons must have disrupted
our communicators.

Keep working. I'll look for
the Captain and Dr Crusher.

My arm!

How bad is it?

It's bad.

Come on.

Alright. Don't worry,
we'll get you out of here.

Enterprise, this is the Captain.
Two to beam up.

Enterprise?

Enterprise, come in.

Data? Lt Yar?

Why aren't they working?

I don't know. But don't worry.

As soon as they realize
our communicators are not working

the sensors will find us
and Geordi will beam us up.

Now, just you hold on.

I'm sorry about this.

Hold on. It won't be long.

I must keep conscious.

Data... I can't find them.

Step back, please.
I believe I have found it.

Data.

- All vitals returning to normal.
- Good.

Now Geordi can get us out of here.
C'mon.

The Captain and Dr Crusher
can't be far away.

Sir,
I'm reading life forms on the planet.

All five members of the away team.

Good.
They must have freed Cmdr Riker.

Transporter room, get a lock
on the away team, beam them up.

Shields just came on.
Deflectors also up.

I'm picking up an object
off the port bow. It's firing.

Red alert. Battle stations.

We can't beam anyone up
with our shields in place.

Phasers ready. Photon torpedoes
standing by. Locking on target.

Correction. Target has disappeared.

- Give me a full scan.
- Scanning... Nothing yet.

Wait. Something dead astern.

- Power to shields.
- Object firing.

Return fire!

No use. It's gone again.

Aft shields weakened. Our shields
can't hold stand up much longer.

This is Chief Engineer
Logan. Are we breaking orbit?

I need to know now.

Ship's log, supplemental.
Lt La Forge in command.

I cannot beam up our team
due to an attack on the ship.

Even worse, Chief Engineer Logan
is coming up,

and he's not paying
a courtesy call.

- Why are we still in orbit?
- We have to hold out.

If we can disable our attacker,
even briefly,

we can beam the away team up.

If we follow that plan,
we'll lose the Enterprise.

In view of the present crisis,
you should relinquish command to me.

- No.
- I outrank you.

Mr. Logan, I'm in command.

The Captain did not anticipate
the Enterprise would be attacked.

If he had,
would he have left command to you?

If he had,
he wouldn't have left the ship!

An object to starboard, sir,
heading toward us.

Lock phasers.
Fire once it's in range.

Locking in...
The object has vanished.

Phaser lock lost.

- Starboard shields weakened.
- It's cloaked itself.

You can't beat this thing.
We must break orbit now.

Worf, analyze its firing pattern.

Maybe we can anticipate
its location.

Aye. Solis, correlate the trajectory
of energy bolts with attack path.

I'll compute the optimum spread
to hit it.

- Right.
- Lt La Forge... Geordi...

I know you want what's best for the
Enterprise. So do I. The best...

The best thing, Mr. Logan, is
for you to return to your duties.

I'm in charge until relieved
by Cmdr Riker or Capt Picard.

You're ignoring my greater rank
and experience.

Not at all. In fact, the opposite.
I'm counting on it.

I need you back in Engineering to get
me all the emergency power you can.

The more power we get to the shields,
the longer we'll be able to hold out.

Now, Mr. Logan.

Worf, have you got a lock on it yet?

It's impossible to be sure.

Maybe you should wait here
while Data and I search.

- I'm groggy, but I'll be alright.
- I'm getting energy readings...

Look out!

We'll do it just like before.

It has a deflector shield.

The product
continues to upgrade and improve.

Concentrate fire
to collapse its shield.

Commander, we'll need you too.

Now!

You're right.
They keep getting better.

The weapons are appearing
at intervals of precisely 12 minutes.

I don't know
how we handle the next one.

We're not going to wait around.
Let's find the rest of our team.

We seem to be in...
some kind of underground structure.

But I don't see any...

No, don't sleep.

- I'm tired.
- Come on. Stay with me.

C'mon, now, stay awake.
That's an order.

I must've lost a lot of blood.

I've stopped the bleeding.

No. There's another wound. My leg.

Not to worry.
Everything is going to be fine.

Now, this is going to hurt a bit.

I've heard that before.

Doctor, stay awake. Come on.

There's a lot of blood.
What do I do next?

The wound needs a clotting agent.

I couldn't find your medical kit.

Those roots. What are they?

Roots...? What, these?

Break off a piece and taste it.
Don't swallow it.

- Very bitter.
- Apply some to your hand.

- Is there a color change?
- It's turning yellowish.

Good. Now, spread as much of it
as you can onto the wound.

Now stay awake.
You've got to help me.

I need your help.

Alright, now, listen,

your patient has lost a great deal
of blood from multiple lacerations.

The patient's going into shock.

So, what do I do?

Elevate the legs
and try to keep her warm.

Good. Alright.

Stay with me.

Keep talking.

You didn't happen to bring a blanket,
did you?

No.

I'm going to look for a way out.

Now, you keep up your end.

Stay awake.

Alright, it's risky, but a shot
in the dark is better than nothing.

Let's see if we can get lucky.

I can't seem
to pin down the pattern.

- There.
- Sorry, sir, I should've seen that.

No, you're doing fine.

Program laid in.
Phasers and photon torpedoes ready.

OK. Mr. Solis,
bring her about to 23, mark 185.

Aye, sir.

- Fire! Now!
- Phasers and photons firing.

We missed!

Number four shield buckling.

Number three shield near failure.

This is Engineering. I can't
hold power level much longer.

- Do something.
- Backup systems overloaded.

Backup systems failing.

La Forge, this is Logan.
Tell me something.

Mr. Logan, report to the bridge.

On my way.

Deflectors are breaking down. We have
less than one minute of reserve.

We're getting out of here.

Lt Solis, set course 315, mark 007.

Course set.

- You're leaving them.
- Speed warp five.

Warp five. Aye.

Engage.

Hold course and speed for 28 seconds,
then come to a full stop.

Mr. Logan, had we stayed
we would have been destroyed.

We're carrying over 1,000 people.
I have a responsibility to them.

What about your responsibility
to the away team?

I have a responsibility to them
as well.

Mr. Logan,
you are going to take command...

of the saucer section.

- Backup crew to the main bridge.
- You're separating.

Yes. I want you to take
the saucer section to Starbase 103.

You can't fight what you can't see.
You can't see that thing.

- Maybe we won't have to.
- Risky.

Yes.
That's why we're going to separate.

Worf, Solis, T'Su, to the battle
bridge. I'll join you in a moment.

- Secure connector levels.
- Aye, sir.

Come in.

Lieutenant, I need to speak to you.

We're about to separate.
I don't have much time.

I know,

but as Counselor, I must evaluate
the emotional fitness of the crew.

And you sense I'm nervous.

Well, you're right.
Counselor, deep down I'm shaking.

We're going into battle,

and there's a good chance
we'll be blasted to pieces.

I'm taking a huge risk,
and many lives are at stake.

So, yeah, I'm nervous.
Did you expect otherwise?

Not at all.
You're under tremendous pressure,

- more than you've ever experienced.
- You think I'll crack?

On the contrary. You should be proud
of the way you're handling command.

You've kept cool, taken charge, and
made some very difficult decisions.

- Then what did you want?
- Battle bridge is ready.

However, deflectors are not yet
at full efficiency.

- Let's get them there, Mr. Solis.
- Aye, sir.

I'll join you shortly. La Forge out.

Did you hear the uneasiness
in his voice?

Solis is doing well.

Yes, but he isn't
handling the stress well.

- Both he and Ensign T'Su are young.
- They're good.

But they lack battle experience.

They're worried about making
mistakes, and need encouragement.

What do I do?

Just remember
it's you they draw strength from.

They look to you
for guidance and for leadership.

Help them.

Show confidence in them.

Like Captain Picard
showed confidence in me.

Right.

I understand. Thanks, Counselor.

Prepare to initiate
separation sequence.

- All decks report ready.
- On my mark.

Now.

Main latch bags to zero.

Main latch retraction 1- 18,
initiate.

Static charge. Compensate.

Separation complete.

Lt Solis, lay in a reciprocal course
for Minos warp five.

Course set.

On my mark. Engage.

We seem to be well sealed in, Doctor.

- No exits?
- None that I can see.

If you find one, go.

Tired of my company already?

Beverly.

I'm tired... I need to sleep.
Woke up too early.

Talk to me. Stay awake.
Tell me something.

Tell me about...

...those roots. How did
you know their medicinal value?

- My grandmother.
- Your grandmother was a doctor?

No.

She was a botanist, then?

No.
She helped to colonize Arvada III.

Arvada III?

That's such a tragedy.
Did she survive?

Yes.

Once the medical supplies had run
out, she had to use what was at hand.

So she learned all about roots
and herbs, and then taught it to me.

You were part of that colony.
I didn't know that.

But there must be a lot of things
about you I don't know.

Quite a few.

What? Now, just a minute,
here's something odd.

It's glowing.

- What is it?
- I don't know. It's...

It's covered up.
I'm just clearing away the dirt.

It's a viewscreen.

It seems to still be operative.

It's a tracking device of some kind.

Tracking what?

There are three moving indicators.
Possibly the away team.

Beautiful, isn't it? It's the
centerpiece of the whole unit.

Who's that?

A projection.

It's the automated salesman
who greeted us on the Enterprise.

- What unit?
- The Echo Papa 607.

Our proudest achievement,

the ultimate
in weapons system technology.

That's behind the attack
on my people?

Impressive demonstration, isn't it?

Demonstration? It tried to kill us.

Versatile, powerful, and easy
to use. The 607 does it all.

Its modules can gather information,
neutralize ground personnel,

even destroy enemy space vessels.

The Enterprise. Is one of those
things after my ship? Tell me.

Of course.

I am programmed to answer
all questions about the unit.

I can talk terms, arrange for
delivery, whatever you need.

It doesn't understand anything
other than what it's peddling.

The 607 represents the state of
the art in dynamic, adaptive design.

It learns from each encounter,
and improves itself.

What went wrong? Where are
its creators, the people of Minos?

Once unleashed
the unit is invincible,

the perfect killing system.

Too perfect. You poor fools,
your own creation destroyed you.

What was that noise?

The unit has analyzed
its last attack

and constructed a new,
stronger, deadlier weapon.

In a moment, it will launch that
against the targets on the surface.

Abort it!

Why would I do that?

It can't demonstrate its abilities
unless we let it leave the nest.

- They are down there, sir.
- Let's clear that away.

If Data's correct, the next one
should show itself in two minutes.

Captain, can you hear me?

Yes, we're here!

Are you alright?

Dr Crusher is seriously hurt.

We can't contact the Enterprise.
The communicators are out.

Yes, ours are out too.

Those devices are part of a system
located down here.

Another is being released. Watch it.

We know, Captain.

There's nothing to hold on to.
We can't climb down.

- I'm surprised they survived.
- I can go.

- How?
- Jump.

- Data, it's over ten meters.
- 11.75, sir.

Data, you may be sturdy,
but you're not indestructible.

I can safely traverse the distance.

Captain, Data's going
to join you down there.

Be my guest.

- Data.
- At your service, Captain.

Let's find a defensive position.
If Data's right...

He usually is.

...we'll have company any minute,

and this time, I don't know
how we're going to stop it.

Ship's log, supplemental.

Lt La Forge in command
of the star-drive section.

After separating from the saucer,
we have returned for the away team.

Unfortunately, I have only one
option left and it's a long shot.

Shields and deflectors are up.

Ensign, when I order the shields down
you have one responsibility,

locate the away team and grab them.

- You may only have a few seconds.
- Approaching the planet, sir.

Things are gonna happen fast.

Just keep alert, stay calm.
Let's focus on what we're doing.

You know your jobs. You've been
trained, you've been tested.

You've earned the right
to sit in those chairs.

That sound again.

- Another weapon.
- We must stop the system.

- I need the program schematic.
- You've got it.

Is it possible to readjust
the targeting sequence?

Absolutely.
It wouldn't be much good without it.

- Give it a new target.
- It must be specific.

Itself or its own power source.

That explosion would destroy
this cavern and everyone above.

Watch now. This is the fourth
and final projectile.

The Echo Papa Series 607 is about to
complete this phase of its mission.

- We could split up.
- Why?

- Confuse it, delay it.
- It would still get us.

- One of us might get out of range.
- Out of range?

Forget it. These devices wiped out
the planet. It doesn't have a range.

What does that leave us?

Right. That's what I thought.

We could look for deeper cover.

- You got any ideas?
- None.

- Give me some options, Data.
- Why don't you just shut it off?

- Is that possible?
- Why not? It's a machine, isn't it?

Shut it off.

Why? You haven't seen
half of what it can do.

We've seen enough.

- So you'll buy it?
- Yes, you've made a sale.

- You won't be sorry.
- Good. End the demonstration.

Done.

- Number One.
- Right here.

That was close.

La Forge, everything's alright.
We've neutralized it.

Great to hear you, Captain.
I'll get back to you.

- Phasers at readiness.
- Shields at full power.

Heading 25, mark 300.

We'll be heading
deeper into the planet's atmosphere.

Yup, and losing maneuverability,
so hold on tight.

- Aye, sir.
- You hope our attacker will follow?

I'm counting on it. Scan for
any air disruption or vortex.

It can't cloak its turbulence.
How fast can you get a phaser lock?

Fast.

Hull temperature
1,000 degrees and rising.

Power to deflectors.
Steady as she goes.

- Hull temperature, 2,500 degrees.
- Deflectors nearing overload.

Sir, helm going unresponsive.

- Can you compensate?
- Yes.

- Hull 3,000.
- Maintain heading.

We're about to lose
number four deflector.

- 3,300 degrees.
- Deflector four is now inoperative.

Turbulence to starboard.

- There he is!
- Scanners locked.

- Weapons locked.
- Fire!

Got him!

Shields down.

Locked on to away team.
Beaming them home now.

Come to 40 mark 65, ahead one third,
and assume a standard orbit.

Standard orbit. Aye, sir.

- Relinquishing command, Captain.
- As you were.

Sir?

When I left,
this ship was in one piece.

I would appreciate it being returned
in the same condition.

- Do you concur, Number One?
- Absolutely, sir.

Lt Solis, plot a course to rendezvous
with the saucer section.

Sickbay reports
Dr Crusher's going to be fine.

Course plotted, and laid in.

Engage.

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