Contagion (TNG episode)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Star Trek: TNG episode
"Contagion"
U.S.S. Enterprise (left) and a Romulan Warbird (right) face off in "Contagion".
Episode no.	37
Prod. code	137
Airdate	March 20, 1989
Writer(s)	Steve Gerber Beth Woods
Director	Joseph L. Scanlan
Guest star(s)	Thalmus Rasulala, Carolyn Seymour
Year	2365
Stardate	42609.1
Episode chronology
Previous	"The Dauphin"
Next	"The Royale"

"Contagion" is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation first broadcast on March 20, 1989. It is the first mention of Iconian technology which would later make a key appearance in the DS9 episode "To The Death".

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Captain Picard receives a hail from the Enterprise's sister ship, the USS Yamato. It has been badly damaged after an illegal trip into the neutral zone. The Yamato 's captain, Donald Varley, an archaeology buff like Picard; believes he has discovered the fabled planet of Iconia. The Iconians were credited with advanced technology and he fears that the Romulans may use that technology against the Federation. The transmission begins to fade and alarms are heard on board the Yamato. The transmission is lost as the Yamato explodes due to a warp core breach, with all hands on board.

With the logs from the Yamato Picard seeks out Iconia, which does indeed lie within the neutral zone. They go there to discover what destroyed the Yamato, and to keep Iconia's technology from the Romulans. En route La Forge analyses the logs for any clue as to how the disaster occurred. When the Enterprise arrives at Iconia they detect a probe launched automatically from the surface. La Forge is informed, but has discovered that the Yamato also detected such a probe. He races to the bridge yelling to destroy the probe, which Picard does. La Forge has discovered that the probe re-writes the computer systems of another ship if they are incompatible and this causes problems; in the Yamato's case a warp breach. A copy of the 'virus' has already infected the Enterprise, downloaded from corrupted logs, although its spread is slower.

Detecting an energy source on the surface (which has been a victim of stellar bombardment) Data, Picard and Worf beam down to the facility. They discover a 'gate' which seems to allow instantaneous interstellar travel and a facility for launching probes. Data is infected by the virus (as he is an android) but is able to tell Picard how to destroy the base. Picard also vaporises his tricorder so that no knowledge of the Iconian technology is passed on.

With the Enterprise's systems down, Picard is trapped in the crumbling base. He is forced to use the Iconian gate to escape. He appears on the Romulan warbird, which is also infected by the virus. It is in auto destruct mode due to computer error.

The Enterprise develops a way to repair its systems and beams Picard back off the Romulan ship before they can kill him. They inform the warbird on how to fix their computer and leave at high warp in case the Romulans fail to fix their warp core.

[edit] Trivia

The Iconian gateway shifts between several supposedly far away locations. Among them, is Toronto City Hall which is located in Ontario, Canada as well as Acropolis in Athens. It appears just after the Enterprise bridge fades out.