History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E20TheArsenalOfFreedom

* OffTheShelfFX: The model of the Echo Papa 607 drone was created by Dan Curry, from a L'eggs pantyhose container and a shampoo bottle.

Trapped on the surface of an abandoned planet, an away team becomes unwitting participants in the demonstration of an advanced weapons system. In orbit, the ''Enterprise'' falls victim to the same system. Also known as the one where Geordi has his moment being in command.

* RealityEnsues:
** When Logan tries to pull rank in assuming command, Geordi reminds him that since Captain Picard himself put him in command, only Picard or another commanding officer (another Captain or Admiral) can remove him from that post.
** Also, how Picard is able to overcome the weapon system on the planet which is about to be "demonstrated" to them by a particularly pushy automated salesman: agree to buy it. It immediately shuts down.

* FrictionlessReentry: Averted. Geordi specifically has ''Enterprise'' scrape the planet's atmosphere, betting that the probe will follow and trigger an InvisibilityFlicker from the reentry.
--> '''Tsu:''' Scanners locked!\\
'''Worf:''' Weapons locked!\\
'''Geordi:''' ''Fire!''

* BrokenAesop: For all of Gene's tirades against capitalism, here capitalism (or at least feigning it) literally saves the day. Then again, it also caused the problem in the first place. ZigZaggingTrope then?

* BluffTheImpostor: The holographic Captain Paul Rice unquestioningly accepts Riker's answer to which ship he's serving on, [[Creator/ShirleyTemple "The Lollipop, it's a good ship,"]] which tips Riker off. Although given that Riker probably knew that there was no way Rice could have appeared out of nowhere on the planet in the first place, he was [[{{Troll}} probably just having a laugh anyway]].
* BrokenAesop: For all of Gene's tirades against capitalism, here capitalism (or at least feigning it) literally saves the day. Then again, it also caused the problem in the first place.

* BluffTheImpostor: The holographic Captain Paul Rice unquestioningly accepts Riker's answer to which ship he's serving on, [[Creator/ShirleyTemple "The Lollipop, it's a good ship,"]] which tips Riker off.

* BrokenAesop: For all of Gene's tirades against capitalism, here capitalism literally saves the day. Then again, it also caused the problem in the first place.

* AdaptiveAbility: Each time the weapons are defeated, the system analyzes its defeat and produces an upgraded version capable of defending itself against what last destroyed it. The planetside weapon gains shields and gets better at dodging, while the orbiting weapon gains cloaking.

* BrokenAesop: For all of Gene's tirades against capitalism, here capitalism literally saves the day.
** Unless one considers the fact capitalism created the problem in the first place.

* RealityEnsues: When Logan tries to pull rank in assuming command, Geordi reminds him that since Captain Picard himself put him in command, only Picard or another commanding officer (another Captain or Admiral) can remove him from that post.

--->'''Picard:''' Mr. La Forge, when I left this ship, it was in one piece. I would appreciate your returning it to me in the same condition. Do you concur, Number One?\\

Trapped on the surface of an abandoned planet, an away team becomes unwitting participants in the demonstration of an advanced weapons system. In orbit, the ''Enterprise'' falls victim to the same system. Also known as the one where Geordi has his SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome being in command.

Trapped on the surface of an abandoned planet, an away team becomes unwitting participants in the demonstration of an advanced weapons system. In orbit, the ''Enterprise'' falls victim to the same system. Also known as the one where Geordi has his MomentOfAwesome being in command.

** According to Riker, when he was at Starfleet Academy Captain Rice took an exam that offered three choices. He rejected all of them and offered his own, ''fourth'', option. Now the same test is given with four choices.

--->'''Picard:''' Mr. La Forge, when I left this ship, it was in one piece. I would appreciate your returning it to me in the same condition. Don't you agree, Number One?\\
'''Riker:''' Yes, sir.

* StatingTheSimpleSolution: When Riker and Tasha are wondering how to safely get down the hole to reach Picard and Crusher when they can't climb. {{Justified}} in that Data is sturdy enough to withstand a fall that could kill a human, as he then demonstrates.
--> '''Data:''' I can do it, Commander.\\

Trapped on the surface of an abandoned planet, an away team becomes unwitting participants in the demonstration of an advanced weapons system. In orbit, the ''Enterprise'' falls victim to the same system.

* MildlyMilitary: What is a naval officer like Picard doing without ''some'' basic training in first aid? It's supposed to be an indication that Starfleet so relies on its medical technology that most of its officers are helpless without it, but comes across as rather far-fetched.

* {{Jerkass}}: Chief Engineer Logan (in his only appearance) is more concerned with trying to pull rank on Geordi than the fact that they are under attack and out of contact with the away team, opposing Geordi's plans no matter what he does.

* FrictionlessReentry: Geordi plays with this in an odd way by invoking the aversion to trigger an InvisibilityFlicker in the drone.

--> '''Tsu:''' Scanners locked!
--> '''Worf:''' Weapons locked!
--> '''Geordi:''' ''Fire!''
* FromBadToWorse: How the weapons are designed to work.