History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E15PowerPlay

The ''Enterprise'' has been drawn to an uninhabited moon around the planet Mab-Bu VI by a weak distress signal. Data identifies it as an old Starfleet signal unused for nearly two centuries. Some quick checking confirms that it matches the ''Essex'', a ''Daedalus''-class ship commanded by Captain Bryce Shumar that went missing during that time period. Unsurprisingly, sensors read negative for life signs, and the hostile conditions on the surface discourage any further investigation. That is, until Troi takes a good hard sense and reports that, somehow, something is alive down there.

Apart from a broken arm for Riker, the away team's injuries were minimal. However, some of them are displaying odd behavior. Troi tells Picard that she felt a presence summoning her to the moon's southern polar region. Data is also uncharacteristically insistent on searching that area, and quietly sets a course even after being refused by Riker. This doesn't go unnoticed for long, which prompts Data, Troi, and O'Brien to attempt to take over the bridge by force.

->'''Shumar:''' Since our demands are not excessive, Captain, I hope you will see that it will be simpler to accede than to risk further injuries.

Having reached the moon's south pole, sensors find no sign of the ''Essex'' or her crew's remains. The abductors each take a hostage--Picard, Worf, and Keiko--and arrange safe passage to a cargo bay. "Captain Shumar" reveals that they are indeed not human, but aliens who were deliberately imprisoned on the moon as a form of criminal punishment. They tried to hijack the ''Essex'' two centuries ago, and having failed that, now plan the same aboard the ''Enterprise''. They use the cargo bay transporter to bring up hundreds more of their fellow prisoners.

However, the bridge crew is prepared for them. They trap the new arrivals on the pad with a neutrino field and Picard threatens to eject everyone into space if the three leaders do not surrender. Worf and Keiko assent, making it clear that they are ready to give their lives to save the ship. Realizing they no longer have control of the situation, the aliens release their hold on their victims, and they are all returned to their exile on the moon.

* PetTheDog: During the climax, "O'Brien" takes Keiko as his personal hostage, but he allows Molly to remain behind.

* TheWorfEffect: Worf is overcome by the being possessing Troi's body. Justified, though, as he shot "her" with a phaser, but "she" was completely immune to its effects. He, however, was not.

-->'''Keiko:''' I would die to save the life of my child.\\

There is too much interference for transporters, so O'Brien, Riker, Data, and Troi take a shuttle down to the moon. The ScreenShake proves too much for the shuttle's engines, forcing them to crash-land. The rocky, storm-ravaged surface lends little credence to the thought of finding human survivors, but Troi is certain something is there. Something from within a strange storm front that is rapidly approaching their position...

There is too much interference for transporters, so Riker, Data, and Troi take a shuttle down to the moon. The ScreenShake proves too much for the shuttle's engines, forcing them to crash-land. The rocky, storm-ravaged surface lends little credence to the thought of finding human survivors, but Troi is certain something is there. Something from within a strange storm front that is rapidly approaching their position...

The ''Enterprise'' has been drawn to an uninhabited moon around the planet Mab-Bu VI by a weak distress signal. Data identifies it as an old Starfleet signal unused for nearly two centuries. Some quick checking confirms that it matches the ''Essex'', a Daedalus-class ship commanded by Captain Bryce Shumar that went missing during that time period. Unsurprisingly, sensors read negative for life signs, and the hostile conditions on the surface discourage any further investigation. That is, until Troi takes a good hard sense and reports that, somehow, something is alive down there.

There is too much interference for transporters, so Riker, Data, and Troi take a shuttle down to the moon. The ScreenShake proves too much for the shuttle's engines, forcing them to crash land. The rocky, storm-ravaged surface lends little credence to the thought of finding human survivors, but Troi is certain something is there. Something from within a strange storm front that is rapidly approaching their position...

O'Brien works his engineer magic to beam down to the surface with some pattern enhancers, but just before they can finish setting them up, a shock knocks the four of them to the ground. Some sort of energy enters their bodies, except for Riker, who manages to pull himself up and activate the last enhancer.

Apart from a broken arm for Riker, the away team's injuries were minimal. However, some of them are displaying odd behavior. Troi tells Picard that she felt a presense summoning her to the moon's southern polar region. Data is also uncharacteristically insistent on searching that area and quietly sets a course even after being refused by Riker. This doesn't go unnoticed for long, which prompts Data, Troi, and O'Brien to attempt to take over the bridge by force.

Picard doesn't believe them, not that it matters, since both sides are well past the point of establishing any sort of trust. By now, La Forge and Ro are ready to put their rescue plan into action. They line up the plasma emitter, but Data moves at the last second, barely missing the burst. He [[NeckLift Neck Lifts]] Picard until he orders the crew to stand down.

Having reached the moon's south pole, sensors find no sign of the ''Essex'' or her crew's remains. The abductors each take a hostage -- Picard, Worf, and Keiko -- and arrange safe passage to a cargo bay. "Captain Shumar" reveals that they are indeed not human, but aliens who were deliberately imprisoned on the moon as a form of criminal punishment. They tried to hijack the ''Essex'' two centuries ago, and having failed that, now plan the same aboard ''Enterprise''. They use the cargo bay transporter to bring up hundreds more of their fellow prisoners.

Dr. Crusher confirms that the three are healthy and free of the aliens' influence, and the episode closes with a round of apologies -- gladly accepted, of course -- between all those involved.

** Subverted with the aliens. Worf considers the possibility that, if they really were the disembodied crew of the ''Essex'', their long isolation could explain their violent nature, but Troi's account at the end indicates that they were of sound mind -- for criminals, anyway.
* BottleEpisode: This episode was supposed to be one, as it mostly takes place on the ''Enterprise''. However, the producers didn't account for the many complicated special effects required, which made it one of the most expensive episodes of the season. This also happened to "The Next Phase" later this season.
* BloodKnight: The entity possessing Data is hotheaded and even goads Worf into trying to fight him.

-->'''Keiko:''' I would die to save the life of my child.
-->'''Worf:''' To die defending one's ship is the hope of every Klingon.
-->'''Picard:''' If you each know the officers you inhabit then you know they are equally ready to give their lives for this ship.

** A fourth noncorporeal being appeared ready to go into Riker, but it flew off because he suddenly woke up.

* TheWorfEffect: Worf gets overcome by the being possessing Troi's body. Justified, though, as he shot "her" with a phaser, but "she" was completely immune to its effects. He, however, was not.

[[caption-width-right:350:"[[Film/ANewHope If this is a consular ship, where is the ambassador?]] Whoops, wrong franchise."]]

Alien entities claiming to be the spirits of crew members of the USS ''Essex'' (NCC-173) possess the bodies of Troi, O'Brien, and Data.

* AndIMustScream: After it's all over, Troi describes the possession as her mind being pushed aside but still fully aware of what was going on.

[[caption-width-right:350:"[[Film/ANewHope If this is a consular ship, where is the ambassador?]] Whoops, wrong franchise.]]

* SpannerInTheWorks: A fourth noncorporeal being appeared ready to go into Riker, but it flew off because he suddenly woke up.

Alien entities claiming to be the spirits of crew members of the ''Essex'' possess the bodies of Troi, O'Brien, and Data.

* GenreSavvy:
** The being possessing Data observes Picard and Worf talking. He immediately separates them to keep them from coming up with a plan.
** Picard had his doubts about the FalseInnocenceTrick. He calls "Troi" on it while in the cargo bay.
** Riker knows why Picard got the group to the cargo bay. He orders Ro to prepare to decompress it if need be.

* HeroicSacrifice: The aliens point out that if Picard goes through with his plan for dealing with them, it will kill himself, Worf, Keiko, and the officers the aliens are possessing, along with getting rid of the aliens. They are utterly unfazed.

Alien entities claiming to be the spirits of crew members of the ''Essex'' possess the bodies of Troi, O'Brien, and Data.

A ship