Relics (TNG episode)

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Star Trek: TNG episode
"Relics"
Visitor Mongomery Scott feels he is a man out of his time in "Relics"
Episode no.	130
Prod. code	230
Airdate	October 12, 1992
Writer(s)	Ronald D. Moore
Director	Alexander Singer
Guest star(s)	James Doohan Erick Weiss Stacie Foster Ernie Mirich Lanei Chapman Majel Barrett
Year	2369
Stardate	46125.3
Episode chronology
Previous	"Man of the People"
Next	"Schisms"

"Relics" was the 130th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the fourth episode of the sixth season. It was first broadcast on October 12, 1992.

In this episode, while investigating the 75 year old wreck of a Federation transport vessel, the Starfleet starship USS Enterprise-D crew discovers the former Chief Engineer of the Constitution class USS Enterprise NCC-1701, Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), alive in a transporter buffer.

This episode marks the third and final time that an Original Series cast member appeared during The Next Generation's series run; the other two being "Encounter at Farpoint" (DeForest Kelley), and "Unification I & II" (Leonard Nimoy).

1 Plot
2 Production
3 Continuity
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Responding to a distress call, the USS Enterprise drops out of warp and is severely shaken by an unexpected gravity well. Sensors locate the source of the gravimetric anomaly, a massive spherical structure nearby which is over 200 million kilometers in size. Captain Jean-Luc Picard immediately asks Operations Officer Lt. Commander Data if it is possible that this might be a Dyson sphere. Picard explains to a puzzled First Officer Commander William Riker that the existence of such a sphere, an artificial structure built by a civilization to surround their planet’s entire orbit and star, thus capturing the star’s entire energy output, was theorized back in the early 20th century by physicist Freeman Dyson. Data agrees that the huge construction, two-thirds the size of the Earth’s orbit around the sun, would be consistent with Dyson’s conjectures, adding that the intense distortion generated by the gravity field prevented the sphere's detection while the Enterprise was at warp.

Homing in on the automated distress call, the Enterprise locates a Federation transport ship missing for over 75 years, the USS Jenolan, crashed on the surface of the sphere. Beaming over to the Jenolan , Enterprise Chief of Security Lt. Worf, Chief Engineer Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge, and Riker are surprised to discover that the transport’s power and life support systems are still operating. At first the ship appears to be abandoned, but Geordi discovers that someone has jury-rigged the transporter system in an unusual way, creating a feedback loop in the transporter buffer, and that a viable transporter pattern is still inside. In disbelief that someone could still be alive after being suspended in mid-transport for 75 years Geordi triggers the re-materialization sequence and the two men are astounded as USS Enterprise NCC-1701 ex-Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott appears on the transporter pad.

Scotty’s first act is one of concern as he attempts to materialize a second crewman, Ensign Matt Franklin, who was also trapped in the transporter buffer with him, but unfortunately finds that Franklin’s signal has degraded too badly over the 75 years that it has been stored there to be re-integrated. He explains to the Enterprise-D officers that using the transporter as he did was the only hope as the Jenolan was disabled, the sphere’s influence prevented calling for help via sub-space communication, and they did not have enough supplies to last very long while waiting for rescue.

Beaming back to the Enterprise, Geordi takes Captain Scott to Sick bay, always the rabid Engineer, Scotty revels in Geordi’s description of the technological advances which have been made during his hiatus. Ship's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Beverly Crusher examines Scott and finds him to be in good shape for a man of his ‘age’, with only a few minor injuries. A curious Picard arrives in Sick bay to welcome him aboard, wondering why Scotty wasn’t listed on the crew manifest. Scott explains that he was aboard as a mere passenger to the Norpin colony to enjoy his retirement. Picard orders Geordi to begin studying the Dyson sphere and Mr. Scott volunteers to assist, but Dr. Crusher advises him to rest. Escorted to guest quarters, Scotty is taken aback at the relative level of luxury which the 24th century crew of the Enterprise enjoys, but feels unneeded and out of place as a mere guest.

As La Forge works to analyze the sphere Captain Scott makes an appearance in Main Engineering and tries to help. Geordi asks him to return later, telling him that his is very busy currently and doesn’t have time to give Scotty a tour, as he has promised the Captain that he will have most of the Dyson sphere survey completed in a few hours. Scotty is taken aback by this, asking Geordi if he told Picard how long the job would actually take and has not inflated the figure somewhat. He tries to offer La Forge some advice, telling him that if the Captain is told the true and actual time the survey will take, Geordi will never be successful in convincing the Captain and others that he is a “miracle worker”. La Forge is not impressed with the advice, and angered by Geordi’s attitude, Scott says that he is there “to work” and adds that he was driving starships when Geordi’s great grandfather was in diapers. While Scotty means well, he only succeeds in getting in the way, distracting and irritating Geordi, who finally asks him to leave.

As disgruntled Scotty goes to Ten-Forward and attempts to enjoy a drink, but is disgusted to find that 24th century Starships only routinely serve synthehol, a substitute alcoholic beverage with no inebriating qualities. Mr Data, realizing Captain Scott’s dilemma offers him a drink actually containing alcohol from Guinan’s private stock which he can only describe as being “Green”. Scotty finds this drink much more to his liking.

A slightly tipsy and maudlin Captain Scott finds his way to the Holodeck and uses it to recreate the Bridge of the Enterprise NCC-1701 on which he served with Captain Kirk during the events of Star Trek: TOS. His sentimental reveries are interrupted by Captain Picard who comes by to see how Scott is doing. Scotty reminisces at length about the old days aboard the Enterprise 1701, which he tells Picard he liked the best of all the ships he served on. Offering Picard a drink, Scotty is gratified at the way Jean-Luc slugs away a shot of the powerful green substance, which Picard identifies as Aldebaran whisky, adding that he gave it to Guinan in the first place. Picard asks Scott how he likes the Enterprise-D, to which Scott replies that it is a wonderful ship, but says he feels it’s a bit impersonal and disconnecting, adding that on “his" Enterprise he could tell how fast the ship was traveling by “the feel of the deck plates”. Picard replies that he can relate to Captain Scott’s observations as even though his current ship is a vast improvement in every way over his first command, the USS Stargazer, he says that “sometimes he would give anything to be on the Bridge of the Stargazer again”. A depressed Scott finally opines that he feels unneeded and obsolete in the 24th century, and realizes he’s hiding in his memories. He rudely shuts off the program and stalks out of the Holodeck.

The next morning, Picard calls Geordi to his Ready room and inquires as to the progress being made in the study of the Dyson sphere. Aware that the Jenolan also ran a full survey scan of the sphere, he also asks La Forge if his teams have made any progress in recovering the data from the transport’s computer core, saying that it might prove useful. When Geordi admits that his people have been unable to recover any of the data due to damage suffered during the crash and unfamiliarity with the older equipment, Jean-Luc suggests that Captain Scott might be able to help. Observing that Captain Scott actually has more knowledge and experience with the older systems than any of his people do, Geordi replies that he will have one of his technicians accompany Scott to the Jenolan in an attempt to get the recalcitrant computer online. Picard requests, not orders, La Forge to personally accompany Mr. Scott on the mission to recover the data, explaining that Scott is still a Starfleet officer and Jean-Luc would like him to feel “useful” again. Geordi understands and sympathetically agrees to accompany Mr. Scott.

Shortly after La Forge and a hung-over but unrepentant Scotty beam over to the Jenolan, Data informs Riker that a communications relay of some kind has been found on the nearby surface of the Dyson Sphere. Riker orders their position changed to place them in synchronous orbit above the array, once there they discover a huge hatch close by which they theorize might be the “front door” to the sphere’s interior. Following standard Federation procedure, Riker orders a communication channel to the device to be opened, which causes the sudden activation of huge tractor beams which seize the ship and pull it inside the sphere through the quickly opening hatch, easily overpowering the full reverse thrust of the impulse drive engines. The Enterprise’ energy systems turn out to be incompatible with the technology of the tractor beams, causing both primary and secondary power relays to overload and shut down. With both its impulse and warp systems offline, the Federation starship finds itself hurtling directly into the sun in the center of the sphere, with no way to alter or stop it’s trajectory.

On the Jenolan, Scott loses his patience and says that the older systems are now simply “obsolete garbage”. Geordi quickly wins points with Captain Scott by observing that many of the systems aboard the transport have changed very little in the last 75 years, adding that the Jenolan could probably “fly rings around the Enterprise on impulse”. He also tells Scott that “just because something is old doesn’t mean you just throw it away”. Scott begins to warm up to La Forge and asks if a 24th century equivalent exists to a dynamic mode converter, saying that such a device might aid with their recovery efforts. Geordi agrees and tries to call the Enterprise to have the modern day counterpart beamed over, but gets no response.

On the Enterprise, the stricken systems begin to come back on line and with only three minutes left until impact with the sun’s corona, Riker is able to use the navigation thrusters to alter the ship’s trajectory enough to get it into a stable orbit around the star. This victory is short lived however, as giant solar flares and radiation now begin to threaten them. Data informs Riker and Picard that the sphere’s sun has entered a phase of instability, which is probably the reason that the original builders abandoned it in the first place. Picard orders the shields raised to protect the crew from the radiation, but in its crippled state the Enterprise can only maintain the necessary level of shield strength for three hours. The crew’s options for escape from the sphere seem limited, as Worf tells Picard that the sphere’s carbon/neutronium hull renders their weapons useless. Picard tells Data to begin scanning for another opening they can exit through, but Data replies that the time involved in scanning the huge area of the sphere’s interior - as much as the surface area of hundreds of class M planets - makes this almost impractical in the time they have remaining. However, he adds that he will attempt to speed up the process.

Back on the Jenolan, discovering that the Enterprise is gone, the alarmed and worried pair of engineers theorize that it might have entered the sphere or perhaps was destroyed. Using Scotty’s knowledge of the antiquated systems, the two men are able to rig up the ship’s deuterium supply enough to get the impulse drive working. Geordi offers Scott who as a Captain is the senior officer the Command chair, but Scott generously declines, saying that he never wanted to be anything other than a Chief Engineer. After achieving orbit, the two men track the ion trail of the Enterprise, which reveals that the Galaxy class vessel was drawn under duress into the sphere’s interior. Realizing that the Enterprise crew probably hailed the communications array causing them to be pulled inside, Scott suggests the absurd-sounding plan of triggering the huge hatch open once more and using the Jenolan’s shields as a wedge to prop it open, allowing the Enterprise to escape. At first Geordi rejects this idea, but Scott assures him as one Chief Engineer to another that after many years of experience with rigging systems up in unusual ways he is sure his plan will work. Geordi is dubious but cannot come up with a better idea.

Back on the Enterprise, the situation is looking grim, but to the crew’s relief, La Forge contacts them, telling Picard that they are holding open the huge hatch so the Enterprise can escape. La Forge adds that the Enterprise is going to have to destroy the Jenolan to get past it and through the hatch. As the Jenolan’s shields begin to buckle, the Galaxy class ship sets course for the hatch, and Picard orders the two engineers beamed aboard as the older ship gives way. Firing photon torpedoes, the Enterprise destroys the Jenolan and barely squeezes through the closing hatch.

Some time later the Enterprise has undergone some vital repairs and is almost back to normal operation. Geordi invites Scott to accompany him for a drink, and on the way tells the older engineer how he and Leah Brahms were able to change the frequency of the ship’s power emanations in a past encounter with a huge baby alien life form which was suckling power directly from the ship’s impulse engines, causing it to release its hold on the ship. (TNG: ”Galaxy’s Child"). Quickly catching on, Scotty proclaims that by doing so they “spoiled the milk” for the immature alien. Captain Scott’s laughter tails off though, as they pass through a large hatch into what he finds is one of the ship’s Shuttle bays, not Ten-Forward as expected.

In the bay the entire senior staff of the Enterprise crew is waiting, and Picard tells Scott that they have decided to give him one of the ship’s shuttles, the Goddard, on extended loan since Scott’s ship was destroyed. Offered the option of continuing on toward the Norpin colony, Mr. Scott decides that he is perhaps not quite ready to retire. With the exception of Worf, who Mr. Scott is not quite comfortable with as of yet, the Enterprise officers see Scotty off and wish him well.

As he leaves Scotty tells Geordi that he should always enjoy the times he is having as the Chief Engineer of a starship, adding that the Enterprise is a mighty fine ship, but that a ship is only as good as its Chief Engineer. He continues by saying that from what he can see the Enterprise is in good hands with Geordi La Forge.

[edit] Production

A fan of the original series, script-writer Moore added a number of lines to the script that reference original series episodes. Data's line "It is green" to describe the contents of a bottle's alcoholic contents in Ten Forward, was used by Scotty (with the usual contraction "it's") in the original series episode, By Any Other Name, to get the Kelvan male Tomar drunk. Since Data is incapable of using English language contractions, his statement differs from Scotty's. When Scotty states that it will take thirty minutes to restart a cold warp engine he is referencing the original series episode The Naked Time; he refers to the planet Argelius and getting into trouble there (the episode "Wolf in the Fold"), and when he mentions the Dohlman of Elias he is referencing the original series episode Elaan of Troyius.^[1]

The original bridge set had been destroyed decades before this episode, so the production staff re-created the bridge by building a single station from the bridge and the turbolift alcove, and combining it with a fan-made center console and captain's chair. Some shots also made use of footage from the original series episode This Side of Paradise that was cleaned up and looped.^[1]

James Doohan's missing middle finger (shot off during the Normandy campaign in World War Two) is clearly visible during the scene between him and Patrick Stewart on the recreated Enterprise bridge on the Holodeck.

[edit] Continuity

The shuttlecraft that the crew of the Enterprise-D give Scotty is the Goddard. The is the same shuttle that ferried Data and Worf to a disabled Romulan warbird after Ro Laren and La Forge were thought to be killed in a transporter accident. The shuttle is not to be confused with the USS Goddard, which also appeared or was referenced in 3 episodes. Both are named after Robert Goddard, a scientist who helped pioneer rocketry and is the namesake of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Another Continuity error in this episode is that when the Enterprise is escaping from the Dyson Sphere, Picard orders for La Forge and Scotty to be beamed aboard, though their ship still has shields up. This should be impossible.

After Commander Riker identifies himself as being from the "Enterprise" Captain Scott says he bet Jim Kirk dug the Enterprise out of the mothballs and headed the rescue mission himself. However, in the movie "Star Trek Generations" Scotty witnesses what he thinks is the death of Captain Kirk on the "Enterprise-B". This makes the events of the film and this line of dialogue conflict with each other story-wise. If he were trapped in the transporter after he saw Kirk killed, he would have never said Kirk would have headed the rescue mission. If he was trapped in the transporter before, he would have never been on the Bridge of the Enterprise-B to begin with.