This episode features the 'blinking rows of florescent lights with no apparent purpose' that have been the source of countless parady.

So what ever happened to these exocomps? Looks like technology we'll never hear from again. (Although it might be neat to have 'ensign exocomp' somewhere down the road.)

I must admit the final line from the scientist who invented the exocomps reminded me of a Scooby Doo line (the line is similar to "You can be sure I won't be using exocomps against their will") Just the inflection of her voice you could almost hear her say "I've learnt my lesson, I'll NEVER use those things again. Thanks Scooby".

Does it strike anybody else as odd that Starfleet, investigating a new mining technique, would send the Enterpise to evaluate it? Wouldn't it make more sense to send mining engineers and mining experts to do that? I know Geordi is a hotshot engineer, but still........ And Starfleet is going to do whatever Captain Picard, whose subspecialty is archeology not mining, suggests? It didn't make much sense to me. Is this "boldly going where no one has gone before"? It seems more like a bureaucratic mission to me, especially since they didn't even know the Exocomps existed when they first went.

No one has been here in awhile... but I have to make this point. I don't know if it has ever been addressed. I had a few beers, and caught this episode on my Tivo... I remembered it of course... cool episode. BUT, when Data is examining the ExoComp in his quarters, the computer says the thing "burnt linkage" at 11:50 and "repaired itself" at 13:40... Data then says "2 hours yada yada"... 2 hours!?!? How does 110 minutes become 2 hours to the android who has been scolded for rounding time to the SECOND! I just had to vent somewhere. THANKS!

I guess it was from years of serving with Data, but the Enterprise crew sure seems to accept that the exocomps are lifeforms, even without firsthand experience of observation, as the meeting shows. That female scientist must have thought she was in a room of crazy people.

It's appropriate, then, that the scientist was played by Ellen Bry, who was Nurse Shirley Daniels on "St. Elsewhere," a hospital filled with crazy people. Shirley took care of the craziest person herself, though. Oooohhh. I still get chills thinking of her confronting Terrence Knox.

That Doctor has a real problem focusing her attention on one project at a time. Geordi tells that they should fix the problem instead of rebuilding, then it is revealed that she has been wasting her time with these exocomps. Starfleet should refuse to do business with her until she gets her act together.

I fail to see why mining from space is a better alternative to ground mining. Why not just use the transporter to beam up the ore, then materialize only the pure substance, sending the rest back? Heck, why don't they just use the Replicators, isn't that what the things are for?

So were the designers of this station just arrogant or ignorant? Didn't they even consider the possibility that they may need to repair that power conduit, before they decided to surround it with four bulkheads?

If the exocomp is so smart then why did it set down on the floor underneath the tube, instead of off to the side where nothing might land on it?

The computer is analyzing the exocomp's records and tells Data that the exocomp intentionally burned out the interface, then triggered a self-repair, but then tells Data that it doesn't know why the exocomp burned out the interface. However, the exocomp had to, one, analyze the situation (The microfissure in the plasma tube is about to explode), two, decide on a course of action (Get the hell out of there!), and three, take an action which would prevent it being placed back into the dangerous situation (Burn out the interface so it can't be commanded to go back into the tube). All of which should have been in the exocomp's memory that the ship's computer could have, and should have, read.

Data tells Dr. Crusher that he is alone, and earlier Crusher had said Data was unique, but what about Lore?

The bubble projections in the station look a little like the bubble projections that you see on Ferengi ships.

In the first TGN nitpicker's guide, Phil identifies the woman in charge of a mining station as Dr. Faralon. This is not a typo; he consistently refers to her by this name. Then, in the second TGN guide, he repeatedly refers to her as Dr. Farallon, emphasis on the double-Ls. So, which is it?

Also, Phil relates Picard and Data's discussion near the end of the episode, where Picard tells Data that his actions were "the most human decision" he has seen the android make. Phil then goes on to say that when such a comparison of humanity was made with Spock, the latter objected to the comparison, calling it insulting. This implies that he expects Data's reaction to consider it insulting as well. But wait a minute: Data wants to be human. He spends his life analyzing humans, and striving to attain more humanity. This would indeed be considered a compliment, in his eyes. Just because Spock chooses to embrace his more Vulcan leanings does not mean that all non-human characters should consider such a comparison insulting!

Yeah, Phil makes the same leap in logic in his nits for ST Generations, when Geordi tells Data that when he experienced fear on the Amargosa Observatory, he was acting like a human.

BEST LINE: "That was the most human decision you have ever made" (or something like that) Picard to Data at the end of the episode with the cutaway to Data.

NANJAO: Yet another grrrreat episode directed by Jonathan Frakes.

"Also, Phil relates Picard and Data's discussion near the end of the episode, where Picard tells Data that his actions were "the most human decision" he has seen the android make. Phil then goes on to say that when such a comparison of humanity was made with Spock, the latter objected to the comparison, calling it insulting. This implies that he expects Data's reaction to consider it insulting as well."

I seem to remember Phil saying NextGen need a character like Spock to say that.

KAM: That Doctor has a real problem focusing her attention on one project at a time. Geordi tells that they should fix the problem instead of rebuilding, then it is revealed that she has been wasting her time with these exocomps. Starfleet should refuse to do business with her until she gets her act together.

She said that she created the exocomps to speed work on her project, not as a side project unrelated to the particle fountain. Many scientific projects require other, smaller projects in order to be successful.

KAM: I fail to see why mining from space is a better alternative to ground mining. Why not just use the transporter to beam up the ore, then materialize only the pure substance, sending the rest back?

I agree, the only thing I wonder is if there are special circumstances which neccessitate this type of technology.

Heck, why don't they just use the Replicators, isn't that what the things are for?

Replicators would require energy, but assuming you have that, not every substance can be replicated with the exact precision of the real thing.

This episode was directed by the actor that played Commander William T Riker on Star Trek The Next Generation.

By John A. Lang on Wednesday, December 04, 2002 - 11:07 pm:

NANJAO: Yet another grrrreat episode directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Again I ask you to point out where it says in the Nitcentral rules that something can't be pointed out twice. Link please?

And I've already said, it isn't prohibited, but you can expect it to be pointed out. If you don't like it being pointed out, don't do it.

Where did I say I didn't like it pointed out? Im just asking those who are doing the pointing to show me where it says you can't do it.

Nobody said you can't post something that's already been posted nor is such a rule listed to my knowledge.

Asking if there is a rule against something in response to something that's happened to you suggests that you don't like what happened.

Repeat posting of the same issue is quite common, as is commenting on it. There is no rule against it.

It doesn't "suggest" anything of the kind. Its a request to point me to the rule that says that I can't do it, that way I won't do it again.

I realize that you did not intend to suggest that you did not like it, but was not unreasonable to think so. Butch appeared to think so, as did I.

There is no rule, as in "literally it is forbidden." For example, the site Television Without Pity actually has a literal rule about this and will occasionally delete or ban posters who continually do this. Nitcentral does not do this.

And certainly it happens. I've done it before. I would recommend doing a cursory scan of the thread to see if it has been posted, but it's not really a big deal, in my opinion.

I only pointed it out because one could see John A. Lang's post and Mr. Crusher's post at the same time due to the small amount of replies in between.

Am I suggesting that one should always read the entire thread(s) before making a post, no I am not. This is not reasonable for topics that have several boards such as the Star Trek Movies.

I knew that John A Lang had already pointed it out but I pointed it out again anyway, in my own style. Sue me.

I don't want to sue you, I have nothing against your post.

Im glad to hear it!

Okay, I guess that's your perogative.

What does that mean?

It means:

A) Mike C isn't glad to hear it.

B) Mike C does have something against your post, but will yield to the accepted norm of Nitcentral.

C) Mike C wanted to post something that comes out of an 80's pop song.

Actually, I don't think A or B apply to MikeC's post.
Also, it's spelled 'prerogative' and going by my dictionary's definition, it doesn't apply. It would be more accurate to say it is your choice.

Let's get back to nitpicking the episode everyone.

Yes Q...

(PS. I was just joking with MikeC on a and b... well c too...)

Why would Mike C have something against my post?

WHICH post are we talking about anyways?

Sorry for being unclear--I have nothing against your post Mr. Crusher and I was just saying it is your choice to post what you want to post, provided it doesn't break any rules (which it didn't).

ok

I believe the writers chose the wrong word to use in this ep. Data is arguing that the exocomps are alive, but I think a more accurate term is sentient, as the synopsis states. These two words do not mean the same thing, and as per Crusher's definition of being alive the exocomps do not qualify. Data doesn't either, but he is 'considered' alive, although that doesn't mean he actually is.

I forget who said it but while discussing the exocomps' sentience, somebody said it left the access tunnel a few seconds before the conduit exploded. Actually, Geordi and the Dr. watched it come out, decided to send it back in, and then disscussed what to do after it shorted out its own command interface, which took closer to a minute than just a few seconds.

Since someone died (I mean a biologic, not the Malcom Reed Regenerator), you'd think there would be an investigation, and possibly some charges brought against Dr. Farallon. As director of the facility, she is responsible for the safety of her workers. And that death could have been avoided if she had stuck to more conventional means to get things done. Even if the Exocomps weren't "alive," they are experimental tools and shouldn't be used casually to stop serious situations when tried and true methods (like shuttings down) would have been better.

In the end, it'll still be a year or two before the Federation reviews her work so she still has the delay, plus one dead worker (not counting the Malcom Reed Regenerator).

Just what is the "Malcolm Reed Regenerator"? I know who *he* is, but what about the rest of it?

Once again, like in "The Masterpiece Society", Geordi works with an attractive female scientist (Dr. Farralon) and the relationship is once again professional. The crisis aboard the station is a more pressing concern, anyway.

I think it was noble of the Exocomps to accept the challenge of repairing the station core. And the fact that one of them gave up it's life so the other two could live was almost human, in a way!

iirc, In Dead Stop, the prop used they used as the thing that repairs Malcolm's leg was one of the exocomps cut in half.

Oh, I see. Did they use it again after that?

Not that I'm aware of.

I'm fairly certain the exocomp, or at least part of it, has made at least a couple more appearences in either ENT or VGR or both but I can't recall which ep(s).

"The same modified exocomp prop can be seen in the launch bay in Star Trek: Enterprise's "Future Tense"."
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Exocomp