| The Next Generation | |
| 110 | |
| New Ground | |
| 45376.3 | |
A new form of propulsion called the SolitonWave™ has been developed, and the Enterprise has been asked to help in the first test. Geordi is frothing at the mouth at the thought of getting to play with the new technology. This will revolutionise ship design as they will no longer require a warp drive. Yeah right.
On a human interest note, or should I say Klingon interest note, Worf's mother is coming on board for a visit, and she has brought his son Alexander. Worf is less than excited at the prospect, and his excitement hits a new all-time low level when he learns that Alexander is staying permanently. His mother says that she is getting old and that the boy needs a father. This sounds like a cop-out to me.
A Klingon's life is not an easy one - especially when all of your workmates insist on prying into your personal life. It is made harder when your son is not the model citizen that we all hope for, but is actually a liar and a thief. Maybe one day he will go into politics...
The surf is up on the space beach tonight, and a huge soliton breaker comes washing in over the bay. The test ship catches the gnarly wave and rides it straight into warp - with no warp drive! Unfortunately the ship could not cope with the mungo breaker and gets dumped back into real-space in a cool explosion. Bummer dude!
The explosion also damaged the Enterprise, so it can't follow the wave. Unfortunately by the time they get the sensors back on line, the wave has increased in velocity and power. It may now be difficult to stop, but it sounds like it would make an amazing weapon. Just point one at Romulus... But that would never happen - right?
Alexander is proving to be a pain, and so Worf decides to give him a lesson in honour. It has about as much effect as just telling him to be good - none! I wonder where he keeps his pain-stick? Completely frustrated he decides that the only solution is Klingon school! I assume that this is where they teach HeadButting 101.
A Riker solution seems to be the only way to stop the wave before it destroys a planet - blow it up! If they can drop 5 photon torpedoes in its path, it just might work. The down-side is that they will have to punch through the wave and then leave their aft exposed to the radiation burst. Picard thinks about it for his customary two seconds and agrees.
Unlike a surfer, the Enterprise decides to go straight through the wave, rather than diving under it. This causes significant damage to the ship, and a fire in BioLab 4. Can you guess who is in BioLab 4? Yep, Alex is there. It would save everyone a lot of trouble if they just vented it to space. Worf gets permission to rescue the boy, but he has only 3 minutes to do it. Riker tags along for the ride.
They find Alex trapped under a heavy styrofoam girder and Worf manages to lift it from him in a moment of hysterical strength. If it pinned the boy, why didn't it damage the chair it was thrown onto? Once they are safely trapped in the burning room, Picard orders the torpedos to be fired! What a cunning plan to remove the threat to his authority.
The wave is dispersed, and everyone gets out safely. Silvester has a change of heart and tells Junior that he really isn't afraid of the mouse (even though we know it is an escaped kangaroo). And even as he smiles we can still hear: "Oh the shame, my father afraid of a mouse..."!
