Star Trek - The Next Generation :: essays research papers

flair Trek - The Next GenerationStar date 41176.8 passe-partouts log.This is my ( headman Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-17O1 D)account of the events leading up to and beyond the union and Romulan war(2380-2385 AD).Star date 32851.2 The Enterprise received a stressed call from afleeing scout channelise.SOS... I am ... under ... endeavor request ... asylum ... Federation ...Space..The ship was pushing the limits of its engines as it hurtled out of theneutral zone -- the volume of space that serves as a no-ones-land separating theUnited Federation of Planets and the Romulan Empire. A powerful Romulan warbirdwas mercilessly firing waver after wave of disrupter blasts at the smalldefenseless scout ship. formerly the scout was in Federation space, the warbirdbroke off the attack and readily retreated back to Romulan space.We hailed the ship and found out from her lord that he was alone.His name was Shaq, captain of the Check Mate. He claimed to be a Romulancaptain in search of Federation asylum. I had never heard of much(prenominal) a thing inRomulan society, loyalty to the Romulan Empire is more unnameable than manner itself.In either 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 telescope to any planet and release adeadly virus throughout the planets atmosphere. The virus would then quicklyinfect all forms of life and birth fatal mutations in the DNA of its victims.Within twenty-four hours, all life would cease. Within thirty-six hours, thevirus itself would break down becoming inviolable, release the planetsresources free for plunder.At this time we did not know if we s hould trust Captain Shaq, so Idecided to send an away team to look into his ship and its computer record.As I was ordering 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