Star Trek: Enterprise

Work Title: Star Trek: Enterprise
Medium: TV Episode
Episode Title: These are the voyages…
Year: 2005
Writer(s): Rick Berman
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Brannon Braga
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

"IIn the future, long after the era of Captain Archer and his crew, Commander Riker watches a holodeck re-creation of a key moment in Federation history. Riker is hoping the events of this time will help him make some important decisions of his own. It's ten years after the Enterprise NX-01 embarked on its mission and the crew is heading back to Earth for the decommission of Enterprise and the signing of the Federation charter. Archer is hard at work on a speech for this special moment, but he is interrupted by a hail from his old friend Shran. Shran, who is no longer with the Andorian Imperial Guard, tells Archer he needs Enterprise's help — his daughter has been kidnapped by some shady former associates. T'Pol doesn't trust the Andorian and thinks aiding him will make Enterprise late for the signing of the charter. Archer, however, is determined to help Shran. Enterprise's crew mounts a daring rescue mission, and manages to escape from Shran's alien enemies with his daughter in tow. During the mission, Trip nearly dies, but Archer saves him at the last minute. As they continue on their way to Earth, the crew takes a moment to reflect on the last 10 years. Everyone's a little emotional — even T'Pol, who tells Trip that she will miss him once they go their separate ways. The peaceful journey is shattered, however, when Shran's former associates track down Enterprise and board the ship. They demand that Archer take them to Shran, but the captain refuses. The aliens are about to kill Archer, so Trip, thinking fast, tells them that he will take them to Shran. When Archer protests, the aliens knock him out. Trip leads the aliens into what appears to be a harmless utility closet — he tells them it's simply a com station and he's going to get Shran to come to them. Trip tells them he just needs to connect a couple of things, but when he brings a pair of conduits together, a massive explosion erupts, taking out both Trip and the aliens. Trip is critically wounded — despite Phlox's best efforts, he dies. Later, T'Pol and Archer reflect on Trip's death as they pack away his things. Archer notes that when he took command 10 years ago, he saw himself as an explorer, excited about new discoveries and convinced that the risks of space travel were worth it. Now, his friend is dead and he has to write a speech about how worthwhile their mission has been. T'Pol gently points out that Trip would be the first to say it's been worthwhile. On Earth, Archer prepares to give his speech to an auditorium packed with dignitaries from other worlds. As he gets ready to go out and address the crowd, T'Pol tells him that he looks quite heroic. Overcome with emotion, Archer envelops her in a tight embrace before heading out to make his speech. With that, Riker ends his holodeck program, feeling that his time spent with the crew of the NX-01 has been more than worthwhile." from: http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/ENT/episode/9655.html

Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_future
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

The plot of the story involves the viewing of a Holodeck recreation of events concerning the Enterprise from c.2161 by Will Riker of ST:TNG c. Stardate 47457.1 (c.2370). (conversion from http://www.faqs.org/faqs/star-trek/stardates/)

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Holodeck
  • Description of the technology: The Holodeck is a stationary room in which reality can be recreated using a combination of holograms and matter creation. The typical use of the Holodeck is for participant interaction in historical or fictional encounters, for entertainment or training purposes, using either pre-written or original programs created by the user. The Holodeck has a safety feature that disallows actual harm to come to users, but this safety mechanism can be de-activated, making the Holodeck experience an exact simulation of reality complete with dangerous side effects.
  • Nature of task or activity: When using the Holodeck, Riker selects a re-enactment of the events leading up to the decommisioning of the 1st starship named Enterprise. In various scenes during this re-enactment he was either participant (as a bridge office and as the Chef) and as observer, outside of the re-enactment text in "objective mode."
  • Performance of the Technology: The Holodeck works flawlessly in this episode.
  • Description of creator(s): not stated.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): not stated, but the Holodeck is used for training/education and entertainment.
  • Description of users of technology: Riker is male, supposedly in his thirties, 2nd in command of the starship Enterprise NC1701-D. Troi is his friend and ship's Counsellor; she is a female, also supposedly in her thirties, and visits the Holodeck program while Riker is there to observe the events with him.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: both
  • Description of presence experience: Riker experiences the historical scene(s) he enacts as if he were encountering the real personages. Whge in "objective mode," he stands voyeur-like at the edge of the scene watching events unfold in front of him.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: Riker knows he is using the Holodeck; he initiated the program.
  • Valence of experience: Riker enjoyed his use of the Holodeck, and watching the historical events helped him make an important decision.
  • Specific responses: Riker mentions he had always imagined some of the historical figures he was observing as "taller." He felt closer to the people he had been watching and was grateful that their past has helped him make a decision regarding his present circumstances.
Long-term consequences:

The story, for Riker, ends on a hopeful note because he has decided to trust his superior officer based on his experience on the Holodeck.

Other:

As far as I can recall, this was the first time in the Star Trek universe when there was a name applied to the use of the Holodeck in a non-participatory context: "objective mode." In nearly every other use of the Holodeck in the various series, it was always used consistently for its participatory appeal.

Coder name: Tom Polcari
Coder email: tpolcari@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA