Conundrum (TNG episode)

"Conundrum" is the title of a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, from the fifth season. Its episode number is 214, and it first aired on 17 February, 1992.

A partial summary of the episode

This is a summary of the beginning portion of the episode.

The episode opens with a shot of the Enterprise. In the audio track, Picard states in his Captain's Log that the crew is "investigating a series of subspace signals" that may indicate intelligent life in the Epsilon solar system.

In the next scene, Data is playing 3-D chess with Counselor Troi in Ten Forward. Data's dialogue mainly surrounds his strategy, but Troi doesn't seem interested. Data puts Troi in check, but in Troi's next move, she enters a situation in which she can checkmate Data in only seven more moves. Troi remarks: "Chess isn't just a game of ploys and gambits; it's a game of intuition." Immediately, Data compliments Troi's chess skills. Next, Troi reminds Data of a "bet" regarding a Sumerian Sunset.

The following scene is Dr. Crusher treating a female patient in Sickbay. The patient is apparently an athlete who tore a ligament, and Crusher assures her that it's "nothing we can't take care of."

The next scene consists of Ensign Ro and Commander Riker walking in a corridor. As they walk into a turbolift, Riker is speaking to Ro about the ship's navigation, and he is obviously agitated. After Riker indicates to the computer the bridge as their destination, he earnestly asks Ro to always gain permission before making "changes in procedure." Ro begins to say something that can be inferred to mean that doing so would be too inefficient. Riker complains that he never was even given the opportunity to approve one of Ro's proposed procedural changes (though the audience doesn't know exactly what the change is). Ro retorts by saying: "You are trying to turn me into your idea of the model officer." Her frustration is evident.

Their unfriendly exchange is interrupted by their arrival at the command bridge. There, Worf alerts Picard that they are detecting a subspace signal, as well as a small spacecraft ahead. Geordi adds that the configuration of the vessel is unfamiliar to them; their database does not contain information on anything similar. Picard orders the spacecraft to be displayed on screen. Worf reports that there is "no discernible armament" and that there is one life form aboard. There is no response to a hail. Geordi then reports that the Enterprise is being scanned, but Picard thoughtfully declines to raise shields. It is apparent that that alien vessel is adequately familiar with the Enterprise's "optical data network" to match its scan frequency with the network. Worf suspects it is an attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Enterprise's computer system. Geordi reports that the amplitude of the scan has increased by 1,500 percent. Nonplussed, Picard finally orders shields to be raised.

In the next scene, Data serves a Sumerian Sunset to Troi in Ten Forward. When Data taps on the glass with his fingernail, the drink begins to glow. Data says rather monotonously: "I hope you enjoy it." Then, a green light passes through the room and over Data's face. Immediately, he repeats with an insidious facial expression, in the same tone: "I hope you enjoy it." Troi is understandably petrified.

Back on the bridge, Worf reports that "the scanning signal has penetrated our shields". In reaction to a failure of the ship's computers, Picard orders evasive action. When Ro reports that the helm is not responding, a blinding green light floods the bridge. It passes quickly, and Picard appears and sounds confused and slightly panicked; the rest of the bridge crew is equally uneasy. Accompanied by eerie-sounding violin music in the soundtrack, Riker and Picard state that they have forgotten the identity of any of the people around them, and Picard has even forgotten his own identity. Then, the opening title sequence occurs.

After the title sequence, the episode returns to a shot of a bewildered bridge crew. Geordi says: "It looks like we're on the same boat." Riker replies: "Make that the same starship." Ro uses the helm to determine that the ship is not in motion, and Picard remarks that she is still sufficiently familiar with the controls to operate them. Back at the tactical station, Worf and Riker study the ship's defense systems—which appear inoperable—as if they've never seen them before. Riker notices the greater number of pips on Picard's uniform, compared to anyone else's on the bridge. Worf emphasizes his large "decoration" in response to Riker's claim of Picard's superiority, as if the decoration represents authority. Picard downplays the importance of ascertaining the leader. Geordi interjects the existence of metallic debris before the ship. Riker theorizes that the debris may be the remains of another ship. There is a consensus among the crew that the Enterprise destroyed the other ship after being stunned with a "bio-electric field" that erased their memories. Picard realizes that they may have sustained damage in battle and orders a status report, but the voice interface is apparently nonfunctional. Geordi manages to access the "basic system directories", and finds that life support is active, but navigation, propulsion, and communications are offline. Worf uses the on-board communications system to ask all "groups" to select “representatives” to report their situation to the bridge and suggests they stay calm.

The scene changes to sickbay where Dr. Crusher and the unnamed patient contemplate whether their condition (presumably memory loss) is common. Crusher uses a hand-held medical device to ease the patient's pain. Crusher then spends time understanding what her "role" is.

Back on the bridge, an anonymous male officer assumes a position at the tactical station (which also serves as a communications outlet) and states that the entire crew has reported and that there are over 1,000 people aboard, all of whom have lost their memories. Worf is now in the captain's chair; it is implied that Worf now feels it appropriate to take command of the Enterprise. He informs the officer that the Enterprise has ten phaser banks, 250 photon torpedoes, and a "high-capacity shield grid". They conclude that the Enterprise must be a battleship.

Meanwhile, Riker and Ro are studying a computer display and learn that they can navigate the ship through the turbolift system. Riker suggests visiting the "most crucial areas first". Ro wants to rush off to Main Engineering, but Riker stops her and argues that they should coordinate their efforts first. This leads to a brief discussion of their hesitations regarding the psychology of "being out of control", in Ro's words. Riker reports to acting-Captain Worf that he and Ro will "explore the ship". Geordi wants to access the computer core in an attempt to re-establish control, which apparently is not possible from the bridge.

In the next scene, Riker, Ro, and Geordi are in Engineering. Using the computer core's optical data network, Geordi announces that it's possible for one to monitor every system routed through there. (It is not exactly clear, however, what he specifically means by that word.) Geordi remarks that their current problem is not functionality of main systems, but rather the crew's ability to control those systems.

Ro Laren says the shields, weapons, and propulsion are the most important systems to get online because the ship and crew might currently be in a hostile situation. Riker adds that he wants to see the personnel files, so the crew can know their names.

In the Captain's Ready Room, Worf occupies Picard's chair. Picard and MacDuff enter the room, and Picard reports there are no deaths or injuries among the crew and shuttlecrafts and transporters are operational, but MacDuff reports that no one is aware of their identity. Worf explains that he desires the ship to be "combat-ready". Picard argues they ought to find out, from the ship's logs, why they are where they are, before they engage in battle. Worf ignores Picard's suggestion and reasserts his own opinion. Geordi telecommunicates with Worf and tells him he has control of navigation, propulsion, weapons, and communications. "Now", says Worf, "we are ready." Picard replies: "The question is, For what?"

In the next scene, with Worf in the captain's chair and MacDuff at the tactical station, the crew tests the ship's weapons. The audience sees the Enterprise' fire its phaser into empty space. A subsequent camera shot reveals Picard at the conn, at which point he begins a debate with Worf over whether they should run a full diagnostic on the ship's systems. MacDuff joins the conversation, sides with Picard, and effects the final persuasion of Worf to allow the diagnostic.

Immediately, Dr. Crusher enters the bridge, and informs Worf and his "subordinates" that she suspects the crew has indeed retained its long-term memories, but that they might be somehow "blocked". The conversation turns to how one might revive the memories, if they truly exist.

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References

• Episode information from STARTREK.COM (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/episode/68534.html)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Conundrum"