Star Trek - The Next Generation :: essays research papers

Star Trek - The Next GenerationStar date 41176.8 Captains log.This is my (Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-17O1 D)account of the events leading up to and beyond the Federation and Romulan war(2380-2385 AD).Star date 32851.2 The Enterprise received a distressed call from afleeing sc forbidden ship.SOS... I am ... under ... attack request ... asylum ... Federation ...Space..The ship was pushing the limits of its engines as it hurtled out of theneutral regularize -- the volume of space that serves as a no-ones-land separating theUnited Federation of Planets and the Romulan imperium. A powerful Romulan warbirdwas mercilessly firing wave after wave of disrupter blasts at the dispiriteddefenseless talent scout ship. Once the scout was in Federation space, the warbirdbroke off the attack and quickly retreated back to Romulan space.We hailed the ship and found out from her captain that he was alone.His name was Shaq, captain of the Check Mate. He claimed to be a Rom ulancaptain in search of Federation asylum. I had never perceive of such a thing inRomulan society, loyalty to the Romulan Empire is more sacred than life itself.In any event, I was certain that we would learn a lot more during the next fewdays.Star date 32851.5 Captain Shaq claimed that he was defecting in orderto prevent intergalactic war. He told us that the Romulan Empire has plans foran abominable new weapon for use against the Federation and any others who mightdare to resist total domination of the Romulans. The weapon, called theMetagenic Device, would be launched from orbit to any major planet and release adeadly virus throughout the planets atmosphere. The virus would then quicklyinfect all forms of life and cause fatal mutations in the desoxyribonucleic acid of its victims.Within twenty-four hours, all life would cease. Within thirty-six hours, thevirus itself would break down becoming inviolable, leaving the planetsresources free for plunder.At this time we did non kno w if we should trust Captain Shaq, so Idecided to send an away team to investigate his ship and its computer record.As I was say my number 1 officer, Commander Riker, with the away team overto the Checkmate, Shaq warned me against such action claiming that he hadinitiated a self-destruct sequence before leaving his vessel. Seconds later,the scout ship exploded. We immediately questioned Captain Shaq as to why heinitiated the self-destruct. He replied, that though he wanted to prevent thewar, he was no traitor and would not willingly give up the secrets of his