Changes: The Drumhead (episode)

Revision as of 18:47, 2 February 2007

A Starfleet admiral zealously searches for a traitor on the Enterprise.

Summary

On stardate 44769.2, the dilithium chamber hatch exploded aboard the Enterprise-D and sabotage was suspected.

The retired Admiral Norah Satie was brought in to investigate. She was able to uncover one spy, a Klingon exchange officer named J'Dan, who was quickly hustled away.

However, Satie was still unsatisfied. She believed there was a vast conspiracy afoot with the dilithium chamber accident and no one was above suspicion.

Thus began her inquiry into the activities of nearly every officer aboard the Enterprise. She publicly questioned the loyalty of the entire command staff and would not stop.

Finally, she called up Captain Picard before her inquiry board, with Admiral Thomas Henry observing. Captain Picard cajoled her into revealing that she was not entirely sane. At that point, Admiral Henry ended the inquiry by leaving abruptly.

The crew, especially Worf, learned a valuable lesson about the importance of the need of vigilant protection of freedom and justice. It turned out in the end that a subtle manufacturing flaw in the dilithium chamber hatch was to blame for the explosion.

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Log Entries

Captain’s log, stardate 44769.2. For some weeks we have had a Klingon exobiologist on board as part of a scientific exchange program. Unfortunately, we suspect that he was involved in a security breach and in the possible sabotage of our warp drive.

Captain’s log, supplemental. Retired Admiral Norah Satie whose investigation exposed the alien conspiracy against Starfleet Command three years ago is arriving to assist in our inquiry.

Captain’s log, supplemental. Admiral Thomas Henry, who has worked closely with Norah Satie in the past, has arrived to observe the hearings.

Memorable Quotes

"Sir, the Federation does have enemies! We must seek them out!"
"Oh, yes. That's how it starts! But the road from legitimate suspicion to rampant paranoia is very much shorter than we think. Something is wrong here, Mr. Worf. I don't like what we have become!"

- Worf and Picard

" ' With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.' Those words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie as wisdom and warning… The first time any man's freedom is trodden on we’re all damaged."

- Picard quoting Judge Aaron Satie

"We think we've come so far. Torture of heretics, burning of witches, it's all ancient history. Then! Before you can blink an eye, suddenly it threatens to start all over again."

- Picard, to Worf

"Mr. Worf, villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged."

- Picard

"[...] she, or someone like her will always be with us - waiting for the right climate in which to flourish. Spreading fear in the name of righteousness. Vigilance, Mr. Worf: That is the price we have to continually pay. "

- Picard, to Worf

Background

The events of "Conspiracy", "Sins of the Father", "The Best of Both Worlds" + "II", "Family" and "Data's Day" are referenced in this episode.
This is one of Michael Dorn's two favorite TNG episodes, the other being "The Offspring". [1]
This is the second appearance of the interrogation room set after "The Defector". It is a modification of the bridge of the USS Enterprise as seen in the first three movies.
This is the only time in the run of the series that the inner isolation door in main engineering is seen, normally the outer door is seen after a warp core breach.
A long time extra, Ensign Kellogg, played by Cameron is finally named in this episode during Worf's briefing with his security officers.
Both the unnamed Excelsior-class starship and Oberth-class starships seen in this episode are not named in the episode or the script. The identification of the Oberth class as USS Cochrane is derived from the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion.
This epsiode is remeniscent of Senator Joseph McCarthy's witch hunt hearings.

Links and References

Guest Stars

Previous episode:
QPid

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 4

Next episode:
Half a Life

@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 *A long time extra, [[Ensign]] [[Kellogg]], played by [[Cameron]] is finally named in this episode during [[Worf]]'s briefing with his [[security officer]]s.
 *Both the [[unnamed Excelsior class starships#Henry's transport|unnamed ''Excelsior''-class starship]] and [[Oberth class|''Oberth''-class]] [[starship]]s seen in this episode are not named in the episode or the script. The identification of the Oberth class as [[USS Cochrane|USS ''Cochrane'']] is derived from the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]''.
+*This epsiode is remeniscent of Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]]'s witch hunt hearings.
 ==Links and References==