Star Trek: The Next Generation

Captain's log, stardate 43989. 1

The Enterprise has arrived at Jouret IV

in response to a distress signal

from one of the Federation's outermost colonies.

Anything from the surface? - No, sir.

There have been no communications from the colony for over 12 hours.

Sensors picking up any signs of life?

None.

The surface environment is safe for transport, commander.

Mr. O'Brien.

Verify these are accurate coordinates for the New Providence colony.

Coordinates verified, sir. You're at the center of town.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds,

to seek out new life and new civilizations,

to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Captain's log, stardate 43992. 6.

Admiral Hanson and Lieutenant Commander Shelby

of Starfleet Tactical have arrived

to review the disappearance of New Providence colony.

No sign remains of the 900 inhabitants.

The truth is, hell, we are not ready.

We've known they were coming for over a year.

We've thrown every resource we have into this, but still--

Then you're convinced it is the Borg?

That's what I'm here to find out.

The initial descriptions of these surface conditions

are almost identical to your report from System J-25.

Commander Riker wrote those reports. He agrees with you.

Commander Shelby took over Borg tactical analysis six months ago.

I've learned to give her a wide latitude when I want to get things done.

That's how I intend to operate here.

My priority has been to develop some kind, any kind, of defense strategy.

Obviously, nothing we have now can stop them.

We've been designing new weapons,

but they're all still on the drawing board.

We expected much more lead time.

Your encounter with the Borg was over 7000 light-years away.

If this is the Borg, it would indicate they have a source of power

far superior to our own.

I'd like to see the colony site as soon as possible, captain.

It'll be dark there in 30 minutes.

We've scheduled an Away Team for dawn.

Number One, why don't you show the commander to her quarters?

It's our poker night, admiral.

There's always an open seat for you.

Another time, commander. Your captain and I have a lot to cover.

But rumor has it, Commander Shelby has played a hand or two.

Keep your eye on her, Jean-Luc.

She's one very impressive young lady.

You seem rather taken with her, J. P.

Just an old man's fantasies.

When Shelby came into Tactical,

every admiral's uncle had a take on this Borg business.

She cut through it. She put us on track.

- Earl Grey? - Please.

She'd make you one hell of a first officer.

Already have a hell of a first officer.

Don't tell me he's gonna pass up another commission.

- One's available? - The Melbourne.

It's his, if he wants it. Hasn't he told you?

He'll make a fine captain, J. P.

You may wanna tell him that.

We're still waiting on his decision.

This is the third time we've pulled out the captain's chair for Riker.

He just won't sit down.

Well, let me tell you something, Jean-Luc.

There are a lot of young hotshots like Shelby on the way up.

Riker could suddenly look like he's standing still next to them.

He's hurting his career by staying put.

And if I were you, I'd kick him in the rear end for his own good.

I don't know exactly what I'm looking for,

but we've tested the sections of the Enterprise's hull

that were damaged by the Borg.

There were some unusual magnetic resonance traces.

A Borg footprint?

That's my theory. I'll see if it holds up tomorrow.

I've reviewed your personnel.

I'll be assigning Mr. La Forge and Mr. Data

to accompany me on the Away Team.

I've already assigned them to the Away Team.

And I'll be with you as well, commander.

Of course. I appreciate any assistance you can offer.

Tell me, commander, is serving aboard the Enterprise

as extraordinary an experience as I've heard?

Every bit.

Good, because I intend to convince Captain Picard

that I'm the right choice for the job.

Job? Which job?

Yours, of course.

I'm sorry. I heard that you were leaving.

If I were, I'm sure you'd be the first to know.

Poker's at 1700 hours, in my quarters. Deck 8.

Got another king in the hole, eh, Data?

I am afraid I cannot answer that, Wesley.

And as you are a newcomer to the game,

may I say, it is inappropriate for you to ask.

I will buy another card, counselor.

No help there.

Ugh. Fold, again.

Three jacks looking back for the handsome young ensign.

Pair of deuces stands.

Flush, possible straight flush.

Hmm.

Your bet, Mr. Crusher.

I'm in for ten. - Call.

Well, it's time for the long pants.

There's your ten, 100.

He's got the straight flush, folks.

Not necessarily. Commander Riker may be bluffing, Wesley.

I don't think so. Fold.

With three jacks? What, are you kidding?

Wesley, you may get straight A's in school,

but there's a lot you need to learn about poker.

Well, I've only got two pair, but I've got to see your hole card.

I'll call.

You got him.

Mr. Data and our guest appear to be tardy.

Sir, Commander Shelby and Data beamed down

to the planet surface an hour ago.

- On whose authority? - On hers, sir.

Morning. Early bird gets the worm, eh?

We've had some interesting results.

Commander Shelby.

Walk with me, commander.

Early bird... ?

I believe Commander Shelby erred.

There is no evidence of avifaunal

or crawling vermicular life forms on Jouret IV.

That's not what she meant, Data. But you're right, she erred.

I'm sorry, but I woke up early

and I saw that a weather system was moving in.

It could have affected the soil readings.

So without any regard for the risk of coming down here alone--

Really, commander, if we ran into the Borg here,

two extra bodies wouldn't have made a hell of difference, now, would they?

We had three hours before the storm front hit,

less than two hours now.

Data was available. I took him, we came.

I don't see your problem.

My problem, commander, is I expect to be notified

before there's a change in my orders.

Noted for future reference.

Do you wish to hear my report, sir'?

Go ahead.

The soil contains the same magnetic resonance traces.

That's our footprint.

There's no doubt anymore. It is the Borg.

Captain's log, stardate 43993. 5.

With confirmation of the Berg's presence in Federation space,

Admiral Hanson has returned to Starbase 324

to discuss strategy with Starfleet Command.

Lieutenant Commander Shelby remains on board

to continue tactical preparations.

I've also ordered a standing yellow alert.

All Federation allied outposts have been warned.

Ops will continue to monitor long-range sensors.

I've assigned Data, La Forge and Mr. Crusher

to work with Commander Shelby.

Good. You've covered all the bases.

What's your impression of Shelby?

- She knows her stuff. - She has your full confidence?

Well, I think she needs supervision.

She takes the initiative a little too easily, sometimes with risks.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.

Sounds like a young lieutenant commander

I recruited as a first officer.

Perhaps.

Will,

what the hell are you still doing here?

- Sir? - You've been offered the Melbourne.

I've decided not to pursue that commission at this time.

She's a fine ship, Will.

Yes, but she's not the Enterprise.

With all due respect, sir, you need me, particularly now.

Indeed. Starfleet needs good captains, particularly now.

Reconsider your decision.

Are you telling me to leave, captain?

I'm asking you to look at your career objectively.

Will, you're ready to work without a net.

You're ready to take command.

And you know, the Enterprise will go along just fine without you.

What am I still doing here?

Deanna, I pushed myself hard to get this far.

I sacrificed a lot.

I always said I wanted my own command

and yet, something's holding me back.

- Is it wrong for me to want to stay? - What do you think?

Maybe I'm just afraid of the big chair.

I don't think so.

The captain says Shelby reminds him of the way that I used to be,

and he's right.

She comes in here full of drive and ambition, impatient, taking risks.

I look at her and I wonder what happened to those things in me?

I liked those things about me.

I've lost something.

You mean you're older, more experienced,

a little more seasoned.

Seasoned? That's a horrible thing to say to a man.