Hey, all. I read in a guide book about the main characters of Next Gen that Counselor Troi, who became a Commander in this episode, is a command school graduate(just like Kirk, Picard, Riker, Sisko and Janeway?). She wanted to take the extra two years schooling even though she knew she wouldn't be in the chain-of-command till she reached the rank of Cmdr. by passing the bridge officer test; that's why she reached the rank of Lt.Cmdr. so quickly. I was never able to find this book again, which showed black-and-white drawings of Guinan and the main characters inside, and I was not able to confirm whether it was canon. Does anyone out there know for sure? There's evidence that could confirm either side of this question in the series. One confirmation of yes in this episode is the fact the Troi refered to the no-win scenerio even though there wasn't an indication that that was in the bridge officers test. In fact, the no-win scenerio is supposed to test how a command officer reacts to the knowledge that he/she is going to die. The engineering equivilancy is supposed to test how a bridge officer reacts to the knowledge that a friend has to die. Having them both as part of the same test seems redundant.

I also want to remark that the non-Troi parts of this ep were lackluster except for that single people shouldn't be alone on away teams. Also, to the part where Data says that the elements are not a part of human/humanoid beings I'd have to say he was wrong. Human beings are made of/contain minerals and flesh that turns to dust/dirt when we die-earth. Human beings have to maintain 98.6 degrees f or die-fire (this is very hot, touch water that is this temperature). Human beings have to drink water and breathe in order to live-water and air. I believe the correct correction was that the elements of nature as they are called are not in everything.

No, we don't have to maintain 98.6 degrees. That number is rarely right. Body temperature varies from person to person and from time to time. Your temp will be higher after a period of exercise than when you first get up in the morning, for example. And some people just have naturally low or high normal temps. I think it has something to do with our metabolism.

I have the book you're talking about; it was put out by someone other than Pocket Books which makes it non-canon, and it was written at the beginning of the sixth season and most of it is obsolete (they make mention of Riker and Troi meeting on the Potemkin after both of them were posted there—"Second Chances" proves this wrong). However, they do try to tie in strings from the novels into what was seen on the show, so the book is valuable in that aspect.

I was going over this book again a couple nights ago and also discovered that the writers attempted to make some type of reference about a Next Generation character going to DS9 for one reason or another.

I don't know if this is in the guides or not but, When Troi makes fun of Riker, he asks if she is there for what sounds like "Friker bashing." A mistake or am I hearing things... you be the judge.

Um, the books are generally not considered cannon and should not be discussed along with an episode since they will contradict each other.

Oh, and at first I did not like this ep but on a repeat viewing I appreciated it. It was kind if cool to see Data so different, and yet still Data.
Also, at this point in the series doing an episode about how different Data is being an adroid would have been hard, unless you made Data forget himself so even he would not know.

I just watched this episode again tonight, and it still irks me that Troi gets promoted to Commander before Data.

Android-bigotry anyone?

Troi makes commander before Data, LaForge, and Worf, who should all be about that rank by now. Of course, then they would all have to be transferred to other ships or something. They should've just left her at Lt Commander

The engineering part of the "Bridge Officer Test" is supposed to teach people the difficult part about command: to order subordinates to perform tasks that would almost certainly result in their death. Troi first fails because can't convince herself to even consider the idea. After several studies she realizes what she have to do and do it. Is Riker really satisfied with this? "Nice work Deanna, remember it when the situation requires it."

Wouldn't it be more correct to make a new scenario were the solution would be to order a person, other than Geordi, to his/hers death. Troi has gone through this scenario, both on the holodeck and in her mind, so many times that she don't look at the characters in the simulation as real humans/aliens anymore. They have become holograms with which she doesn't have any emotional connections and therefore she has no problems with causing their deaths. If she came in a new situation I'm pretty sure she would fail again, because she again rejects the thought of sending friends to their death. So the wise thing for Riker to do would be to create a new scenario that Troi had to pass.

Why was Troi promoted to commander anyway? She took the bridge officers test, not the commanders test! If passing the bridge officers test automatically makes you a commander then Data should be a commander shouldn't he?

Can a Starfleet officer really order somebody to their death? It seems more likely that she would ask Geordi to volunteer for a suicide mission rather than order him to do it.

At the end of the simulation where she orders Geordi to his death, the command to "end simulation" is given - but only Worf disappears!

The Bridge Officer's Test seems to be for those who wear the Blue Starfleet Uniform.

"Funny, 7 years on the bridge and you'd think it'd have come up!!"

Just poking at the name of the test Troi takes. Bridge Officer's Test. Sounds imposing. Course, I wonder what Troi has been for the past 6 1/2 years, sitting in that seat to the Captain's left. Maybe she had only attained Bridge Observer status? It might explain why she was ignored all the time!

"But the engines are 36 decks below me.."

A "bridge officer" would need to be able to know some engineering, but why would a bridge officer have to go through a test like Troi does? If this were real life, wouldn't Geordi give the bridge officer all the options, and then the officer have to decide? One example is in Booby Trap, Picard tells Gerodi to get some options perpared, he does, and then Picard evaluates them. In this test, it seems Troi is doing the chief engineer's job.

"Computer, load up the bridge officer's test, I want to prac ... uhh 'take' it"

Why is Troi able to load up the test herself? Don't you think something like the bridge officer / commandancy test should be limited to only ... oh I don't know ... Commanders and above? Which brings up the point, why didn't Troi practice in the Holodeck more often? (Maybe Riker had a stakeout going?)

"He can't be serious! I come in here in my spare time and shoot up holographic images of him all day long to relax. This'll be a piece of cake!"

Troi is supposed to pass this "engineering part" of the test by ultimately ordering an officer to his death, thereby showing that the ship comes first. OK, but how hard is it to tell a hologram to go off and die? It seems like this test could easily be passed simply by keeping in mind these are all illusional people. Then ordering somebody to their death is simple! Nice touch, but impossible to accomplish when the testee knows everyone is just an illusion.

"Ugh, this ugly hollow pip keeps clashing with my outfits!"

Anyone else find it odd that Troi can waltz in and take the bridge officer's tests anytime she wants? And apparently, passing means that you move up in rank to Commander. So my question: why are there so many Lt. Commanders? Why don't they study up, request the tests, pass them, and become Commanders? If the ship's counseller can waltz in and take them (repedtedly too, I might add), why would anyone bother staying a Lt. Commander for any length of time?

"Hrmmm ... he's brought a plague to us, lifted a 300 pound stone off a guy's leg, and when we hit him with our pick-axe, he's unhurt. I know, let's go mug him boys!"

I guess these primitive people's minds & common sense haven't developed yet. The town bands together to try and hunt down Data, even after he performs amazing feats of strength and intelligence in front of them. They're awfully lucky Data is benevolent ... I hope a wounded Romulan never winds up in their village! They wouldn't last very long!

Why is Dr. Crusher the one who repaired Data at the end of this episode? She's a doctor. It should have been Geordi.

Well, she says in the teaser she likes to command the bridge every once in a while. Maybe now she wants to try being an engineer?

Maybe. Ya think he has a thing for cybernetic blondes with big boobs too?
Data doesn’t have his comm badge when he arrives at the village in the beginning of the episode. It’s torn in the spot where is usually located. So how does he communicate with the townspeople? Does Data have a universal translator built into himself? Or did he study the local language prior to his mission in case he crashed and lost his comm badge? Since the unitran is such a vital instrument in interstellar affairs, and since it’s so small (The 37s(VOY) established that it is incorporated in the comm badge), it would actually make a lot of sense that Dr. Soong built this function into Data, though it would’ve been clearer if they had established this somehow in dialogue. Gravity(VOY) later etablishes that the holographic Doctor has an EMH as part of his program, so perhaps Data does as well?
And you thought cubic zirkonia sucked
When Skoran first looks at the metal Data sells to him, he says it can be shaped into jewelery, but the pendant Gia has looks just like a twisted piece of the metal that Skoran simply threaded some string through.
Talur: "And next week, students, I’ll teach you the benefits of snake oil, perpetual motion and cold fusion…"
Teaching science to a group of students, Talur states that all things are composed of rock, air, fire and water. This is an ancient outdated Earth theory, advanced by Empedocles in the 5th century B.C. (though it was actually earth, air, fire and water.). How did the Barkonians become exposed to it? Or do the creators theorize that this is a common theory that all scientifically primitive peoples would come up with?
Got wood?
Data tells Talur during her school class that wood, like any complex organic form, is composed of thousands of chemical compounds. Thousands? I wasn’t aware that any material was composed of thousands of compounds. Wood, in fact, is composed of two compounds: cellulose (C6H10O5), which is a carbohydrate, and lingnin, a complex polymer.
This stuff is dangerous! Don’t believe me? Here, try handling some!
This is just priceless: When Data realizes the true nature of the radioactive metal and explains the radioactivity to Talur, she asks him what they should do. He tells her to gather up all the metal fragments! Doesn’t he care that Talur may fall victim to the radiation before he is able to make the cure, and Skoran finds him?
From the "Gotta Use Those Regulars Dept.":
Why is Worf in Engineering in during Troi’s examination simulation?
I hope Talur teaches an Economics class too
Data and Garvin sell the metal fragments to Skoran in Act 2. But for some reason, Garvin is arguing with Skoran about the amount they agreed upon in Act 3, after Talur’s science class. Why didn’t Garvin and Data get paid when they gave Skoran the metal? Then, Garvin becomes ill, and Data helps him home, again without getting paid. After Talur examines Garvin, Data tells him he’d like to pursue his own investigation, and he and Gia leave to buy some supplies. How did they pay for them if he has no money?
So let me get this straight: Electricity is a no-no, but radiation? No problem!
Troi is able to pass the bridge officer’s test only when she is able to order Geordi to do something that would kill him. I admit I’m not an expert on military operations, but while I know a leader may have to order an officer into a dangerous situation, one where he might die, does he really have the authority to order the officer to do something when he knows he will die? When Data proposed to Riker in Disaster that they use his body to safely make it past an electrical arc of over a million amps, Riker told him he would never ask any officer to take that risk, android or not, even though Data believed he would survive. Does this mean that Riker is unfit for command?
Troi: "I’m sensing…perfect timing, commander."
And while we’re on the subject, how did Worf, Troi and Geordi know he could repair the ODN before dying from radiation exposure?
Looks like someone didn’t see The Day After
Also, since radiation is an ever-present danger in many areas of the ship, including Engineering, why aren’t there radiation suits in the area? For that matter, why aren’t radiation suits standard part of the uniform for engineers, who are the most likely crew members to encounter radiation? The costumers seemed to flirt with this idea in the original movies. Why not consistently?
Troi got a copy of Bridge Officer Operations for Dummies
How much time passed in this episode? I’m wondering, because I’m curious as to how long it takes to take this bridge officer’s test. Troi sure seems to fly right through it! Riker tells Troi that she passed all the "other" parts of the test, including diplomatic procedures, first contact, etc., meaning this test is fairly extensive, and composed of many different areas of knowledge. It would’ve made more sense to have this storyline over a period of several episodes, and have it conclude in this one. It would be more realistic and add a sense of continuity, much like Nog’s application into Starfleet, which we saw in a couple of DS9 third-season episodes.
So they can prop him up by the mantle every Christmas
Data’s face gets partially ripped off in this episode. As one person noted when they saw the movie Star Trek First Contact, why does he have so many colorful blinking lights under his skin where no one can see them?
So engineers don’t wear radiation suits, and Data takes off his hood prematurely, man, can’t the people on this show keep their clothes on?
Why does Data remove his hood before putting the radiation illness serum in the well? Shouldn’t he keep it on to prolong his disguise? Of course, if he did, Skoran and the others might not have spotted him so easily.
Yeah, really. You’d think a Hollywood actor would be used to that sort of thing.
When Skoran shish kebabs Data at the end of the episode, Data collapses, unconscious. Since his cognitive and verbal abilities are entirely contained in his head, and can still function after his body has been electrocuted, or even after his head has been removed, as established in Disaster, why did stabbing him in the back cause him to be deactivated?
Someone on the Florida Elections Committee?
Does it really make sense to make Troi a full commander? Wouldn’t Lt. Commander be more appropriate? Data and Worf are third and fourth in line of command respectively, and Data even took command of the Sutherland during the brief Klingon Civil War in Redemption part II. Both of them are competent officers, able to lead, whereas Troi is presumably a graduate of Starfleet Medical, and was totally lost with the technical aspects of the ship in the episode Disaster, but now, after taking a course that lasts mere weeks, or even days, she has now leapfrogged over Data and Worf? Whose decision was it to promote her so high?

Wasn't she already a Lt. Commander?

Was she? Whatever. Whatever her rank, I think becoming a bridge officer after you pass the bridge officer's test and being promoted in authority over Worf and Data shouldn't be the same thing.

She was already a Lt Commander but she was not a command officer. Data & Geordi are both Lt Commanders and command officers. She didn't have to be promoted to a rank equel to Riker to be a command officer.

What I have a problem with is Deanna telling Data to call her sir.

If the "Gambit" two parter had occurred after this episode, I sincerely doubt Troi would have been in command instead of Data.

Depending on the regulations, she might not have been. She has the higher rank, but Data has more seniority as a bridge officer. It would also depend on the decision of who was commanding the ship at the time. (Riker, as acting Captain, could easily have left the bridge to Worf or Geordi if he'd wanted.)

Data's the Second Officer. He'd be in command period.

Oh, and as for telling Data to call her "sir", if you're in the big chair, you get called that.

I don't remember if Deanna's in the big chair when she tells him that.

She tells him after he's reactivated in sickbay, and notices her promotion.

Luigi: "the holographic Doctor has an EMH as part of his program"

One would certainly hope so.

"why did stabbing him in the back cause him to be deactivated?"

Probably for the same reason his off-switch (in his back) causes him to be deactivated. Maybe it was hit (or shorted, or unshorted, etc.) in the process? Or maybe it was just a power surge which unlike in Disaster he did not prepare for?

Darn. I don't know how I missed that. It should've read "the holographic Doctor has a unitran as part of his program."

As for his deactivation, the location of his off switch has flipflopped back and forth over the years, but it was first established in Act 2 of Datalore to be on the small of his back. Then, the schematic image of Data Riker saw when preparing his case in The Measure of a Man indicated that his off switch was on his upper back, just a bit above the halfway point between the top of his back and the bottom, and this is where Riker reached for when shutting Data off during his case in chief in that episode. And of course, yes, Skoran hits this upper area when stabbing him. But when Crusher reactivates Data at the end of the episode, she again reaches for the small of his back.

Deanna asks Riker, "Do you remember when the Enterprise hit the Quantum Filament?" Did she honestly think he had forgotten?
("You remember, Will. Data got zapped with a kazillion volts, you took off his head, and went to engineering to save the ship."
"Doesn't ring a bell."
"You were supposed to meet that three-breasted woman for dinner."
"Oh, that Quantum Filament disaster.")

NNANJAO. After lifting the anvil Data turns his head to look behind him. There seems to be a light patch of hair on the back of his head. Has this always been there or was it the start of graying hair for Brent Spiner?

Why does it take Deanna so long to figure out that ordering someone to their death is the answer? Presumably this is necessary to determine if someone has what it takes to lead so it would be in every test. Normally people talk about the tests they take and the harder the answer the more they focus on it. Even if the conditions are changed every time so people won't know when they will be forced to make this decision, wouldn't this answer be known? Also as Ship's Counselor it's Deanna's job to listen to the thoughts, fears, hopes, concerns, etc., of the crew. Did no one on the ship before her try to take this test?

Why does the village doctor find invisible energy particles from the metal so hard to believe? Earlier she said fire was one of the four elements found in every object. If you tried to explain radiation to a primitive person, wouldn't they think it was a form of fire

In Encounter At Farpoint it was revealed that Data's eyes were better than humans, but not as good as Geordi's VISOR. Still I don't think his eyesight is so bad that he would really need to carry that lantern when he's just going to dump the antidote into the well.

Was I the only one bothered when at the end of the episode, Dr. Crusher and Riker ask the little girl about Data? Now maybe by the 24th century the idea of children talking to complete strangers might not be that big a deal, however since the writer was living in the 20th century when the script was written I think the writer should have known better.

Also isn't it amazing that the first person they ask just happens to be Data's closest friend on the planet? The writer should have had Crusher and Riker ask an adult and have the girl overhear them, then speak up.

Is the only reason why Data isn't a full Commander, because he couldn't order someone to their death?

Duh! The person in the test that has to be ordered to their death is Geordi. Obviously, Data would never be able to pass that test!

People often ask "do you remember this" as a way of bringing up a topic even if they know for certain that the person remembers the event.

Deanna asks Riker, "Do you remember when the Enterprise hit the Quantum Filament?" Did she honestly think he had forgotten? - KAM

I think Merat is right.

Troi used a memorable moment to trigger a reminder of a less memorable one. Had she said, "Will. Do you remember when I was in command of the ship," Riker may not have recalled without prompting. After all, he wasn't even on the Bridge when she was in command. So she reminded him of it using an event she knew he'd remember.


Why does it take Deanna so long to figure out that ordering someone to their death is the answer... Also as Ship's Counselor it's Deanna's job to listen to the thoughts, fears, hopes, concerns, etc., of the crew. Did no one on the ship before her try to take this test? - KAM

More importantly, as a Starfleet Counselor, how can she not know about a test that determines whether a candidate is psychologically capable of handling the stresses of command?


In Encounter At Farpoint it was revealed that Data's eyes were better than humans, but not as good as Geordi's VISOR. Still I don't think his eyesight is so bad that he would really need to carry that lantern when he's just going to dump the antidote into the well.

As I see it, there are five possibilities:

1. Data wasn't carrying the lantern because he needed it. All of us do unnecessary things all the time. People run in a torrential downpour, even though no matter how fast you go, you're going to be soaked from head to toe. People use umbrellas even when the rain that falls is so little that it makes no difference. So perhaps Data was carrying the lantern because he felt that he should... it was night.

2. Data's sight was damaged, too.

3. Data, in an effort to become more human, adjusted his optic center so that it was less perfect.

4. Do you remember when Enterprise hit the quantum filament and Data's body was subjected to a kazillion volts of electricity?

5. Data's head is over five hundred years old. It's bound to show some wear and tear.


Also isn't it amazing that the first person they ask just happens to be Data's closest friend on the planet?

Well, you're assuming that Gia was the first person they spoke with. They could have easily spoken to a number of people beforehand who either didn't know or didn't want to say that they had killed him.


Is the only reason why Data isn't a full Commander, because he couldn't order someone to their death?

I don't know if Data can't order someone to their death. We know Data can kill and (more importantly) can will to kill. In The Most Toys he was willing to kill Fajo. He's not an Asimov robot who follows the 3 Laws of Robotics to the letter. Kirk wouldn't be able to prompt him to self-destruct. Data is a free-thinking individual. He won't kill if he doesn't have to, but he can and will if he does.

Besides, Data would know they were simply holograms and wouldn't have an issue, anyway.

There are times when a writer wants to reference a past episode in dialogue. Sometimes it sounds unnatural, and sometimes it sounds natural. In my opinion, Deanna's line sounded like a natural thing someone in that situation would say.

An example of an annatural exposition would be Q asking Janeway in The Q and the Grey(VOY) "You remember our friend Quinn?", and Janeway responded, "The Q who committed suicide aboard Voyager." THAT was extraneous exposition. Necessary, mind you, for viewers who hadn't seen Death Wish, but it sounded unnatural nonetheless.

Maybe I should have put 'Grungy Nitpicking Time' in front of, or stuck a winky face behind, that comment?
A better way for Troi to have phrased it would have been, "When I was in charge after the Enterprise struck those quantum filaments..."

Darth Sarcasm, Data may not be an Asimov robot, but in Datalore it was mentioned that Soong had been pursuing Asimov's dreams of a positronic brain. (And after the trouble with Lore he might have considered adding the 3 laws to Data's programming. ;-)

Except for the Asimov-invented word "positronic" was reference to Asimov even made in that episode?

It doesn't matter anyway... while it's clear that Data is guided by elements of the 3 Laws, we know that Data is not restricted by them: In Time's Arrow he discovers that he can be destroyed, yet he does nothing to prevent that occurence. In fact, he likes the fact that he is mortal. In Clues he violates a direct order, as he does in Redemption II. In The Most Toys he tries to kill Fajo.

Yar mentioned Asimov in that episode.

It seems to me (and it seems to the ST:TNG Companion as well, so I'm not shooting completely blind) that it's not a straight bridge officer test=commander rank thing for everybody. Troi's passing of the test would (to put it stupidly) give her enough 'brownie points' for a promotion. Others may have different circumstances, especially considering that Dr Crusher and Troi are both medical personnel. Maybe it's only if you stretch outside your field or something. (So maybe Data would get a promotion if he became a ship's surgeon somewhere else - Riker's sure not going to get out of his way anytime soon.)

Fire at Will.

Luigi says wood is just one substance, cellulose; but maybe Data meant any chunk of wood is likely to have many impurities? I don't remember the scene, but, there are many different kinds of trees, with different kinds of wood, so it follows that there would be many variations--just compare balsa with ironwood, elm wood, oak wood, etc.

GREAT SCENE: Troi's test...the difficult decision she had to make.

Didn't Riker & Crusher violate the Prime Directive by telling Gia Data's real name?

How? The fact that he has a name wouldn't come as much of a culture shock to her, and his name itself isn't indicative of any unknown cultural concept...

As for the test...I'm sorry, John A., but I just don't see how it can be considered a great scene. If Troi was forced to order the real Geordi to his death, yeah, that would be hugely powerful...but as has been pointed out above, all she has to do here is remind herself that he's only a hologram - the test is the equivalent of 'killing' somebody in a video game - and bye-bye any serious emotional angst!

Points well taken.

OK...This episode marks the last time we see Riker USE his trombone. (He doesn't actually play a song, he's just sorta goofing off) The last time he PLAYED his trombone was in "Second Chances"

Get it right!

BWA WAA WAA

Sorry, Ma'am.

I know the whole "Why was Troi promoted before Data/Geordi/Worf/etc.?" seems to have dropped off, but I wanted to add my two cents. From watching this ep very recently, I got the feeling that the only thing left keeping Troi from being promoted to Commander was the Bridge Officer's Test. Rather than "leapfrogging" ahead of the others, maybe she was simply lagging behind (when considering her service record from before the show began) and was overdue for that promotion. Maybe the BOT was the last "piece of the puzzle" she needed to complete before being eligible for promotion?

That, and learning what a warp core breach is. (See Disaster)

I really enjoyed this episode. Dunno why. But I thought it was sorta anticlimactic ordering a fake Geordi to his death. It's just like shooting your ally in a Video Game. It's not like She is really killing Geordi.

And why do they call Starfleet women "sir?"

Because the title "sir" has become non-gender specific by the 24th century, as established in epsiodes like The First Duty and Caretaker(VOY).

Here's one you have to listen to closely when watching the episode....

When D. Troi comes into Riker's quarters, she says that she understands Riker's "trombone language" better than his spoken words. Riker then sets down his trombone & accuses D. Troi of..."FRIKER BASHING" Who in the hey is "Friker"?

I do believe Frakes nearly blew his line in this scene...he MEANT to say "Riker" but his REAL LAST NAME..."Frakes" was on his mind...hence the blurb: "Friker bashing"

Isn't this a hoot?

>>Can a Starfleet officer really order somebody to their death? It seems more likely that she would ask Geordi to volunteer for a suicide mission rather than order him to do it.

Uh, yes! She had to weigh the imminent death of over 1,000 people (including La Forge anyway) against the death of La Forge.

When Riker made the comment that he wouldn't have ordered Data to block the electrical arc, he might have meant that, given the situation, he wouldn't. As Data pointed out, their options were limited, and at that Riker agreed. If there had been a more imminent threat, Riker very well might have felt differently.

>>(And after the trouble with Lore he might have considered adding the 3 laws to Data's programming.

I find it hard to believe that Data could, in any way, perform his duties as a Starfleet officer while observing the three laws of robotics. The simple fact that he outranks humans and occasionally has to issue orders to insubordinate subordinates (how's that for irony?) would require his ability to ignore a human subordinate's "order" (as in, an order to a robot) to "bug off."

Hey, and who said Asimov had anything to do with programming Data?

In Datalore it was established that Dr. Soong was obsessed with creating an Asimovlike positronic robot.

Oh, all right, I forgot that one. But did anybody mention the programming? I thought it was only a reference to his hardware.

No one mentioned programming, but given the way Lore turned out one might assume that Soong might consider the 3 laws for later androids since he was familiar with Asimov's writing.

Isn't there now a 4th law? Couldn't say what it was, though.

Three basic laws:
1) A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2) A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3)A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The fourth one, AFAIR, goes like this:
A robot may not injure humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.

That was the "Zero-th Law".

So called because it takes priority over the First.

In "Disaster", Data tells Riker that his positronic brain is protected by layers of shielding....and it protects him when he enters the multi-volt electric field. Yet, at the end of this episode, Data says there was a circuit overload in the Shuttle that effected his positronic brain.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SHIELDING?

Was I the only one bothered when at the end of the episode, Dr. Crusher and Riker ask the little girl about Data? Now maybe by the 24th century the idea of children talking to complete strangers might not be that big a deal, however since the writer was living in the 20th century when the script was written I think the writer should have known better.

Remember that the planet they are on is more like 10th century Earth than 20th century. that was a time when most people lived in small villages before all of the "stranger danger" hysteria of the late 20th century.

Maybe he doubles as a refrigerator
Data’s face gets partially ripped off in this episode. As one person noted when they saw the movie Star Trek First Contact, why does he have so many colorful blinking lights under his skin where no one can see them?<\i>
Maybe the lights don't turn on until his face is opened up.

When Skoran shish kebabs Data at the end of the episode, Data collapses, unconscious. Since his cognitive and verbal abilities are entirely contained in his head, and can still function after his body has been electrocuted, or even after his head has been removed, as established in Disaster, why did stabbing him in the back cause him to be deactivated?

Maybe it activated the off switch. But that was a pretty bad place to put an off switch.

I can see how Data could be affected as he was. Say Skoran pierces Data's power supply/batteries, and without prior warning, Data's systems have no time to isolate the links in his head to those in his body, and activate the alternate power source to keep his head conscious. That was a pretty big energy burst that zapped Skoran; imagine what it did to Data.

And it's pretty easy to imagine the blinking lights are there for diagnostic reasons; the only people seeing them would be the ones performing repairs on Data, and to get to certain components they'd naturally have to remove the skin. I know Data has built-in hatches and things to access his systems, but perhaps the lights helped Soong during Data's construction.

Funny explanation:

They're Soong's Christmas lights.

He didn't have a garage, so he put them in Data's head.

Imagine for a minute that you’re one of Skoran’s band of angry villagers. You’re out protecting your community, hunting down a dangerous, indeed criminal, individual who has already (or so you believe) infected many with a painful, probably lethal disease. You find said individual dumping a bucket of something into the village well and your fearless leader promptly attacks, "killing" the intruder. The next day you go to the well as usual, filling your buckets and jugs with the water you need, including your drinking water. Does this seem believable?

The creators do expect us to believe it, though. When Riker and Crusher visit the village, Gia tells them that “everyone” was cured via the “compound” Data put into the water. This implies that “everyone” drank from the well. I realise that Gia also stated (to Data) that “the nearest river is two days away”, suggesting that the villagers would have had no choice but to drink the well water. However, I have trouble believing that they couldn’t come up with another way of obtaining water – digging a new well, for instance. Sure, some might have taken their chances with the well water, but the whole village?

The whole village might've slowly drank from the well after seeing those few that those few who tried it suffered no ill effects, and as desperatio and thirst set in.

Son of Skoran - You’re out protecting your community, hunting down a dangerous, indeed criminal, individual who has already (or so you believe) infected many with a painful, probably lethal disease. You find said individual dumping a bucket of something into the village well and your fearless leader promptly attacks, "killing" the intruder. The next day you go to the well as usual, filling your buckets and jugs with the water you need, including your drinking water.
*Snicker*

I'm now envisioning all the villagers celebrating killing Data by drinking from the well... and all immediatly dying like in the last ep of The Black Adder.

Ah, Luigi, I guess it could indeed have happened like that. Trying to dig a new well would also likely make them quite thirsty.

The off topic posts have been moved to the appropriate thread.

Regarding the Sending someone to their death test:
Deanna had to sentence Gordie to his death and Others here asked if Data could past this test if he had to sentence Gordie to his death. I think the real question is:

Did Gordie ever take this test? and how would he feel about sentencing himself to a suicide mission? that just has to be creepy.

The tests are no doubt tailored for the person taking them - or in other words if Geordi took the test there would not be another Geordi for him to order around. More likely Geordi's test would have Data as the crewman needing to be sacrificed.

This test is stated to be a test for those wanting to progress to the rank of Commander. Therefore as of this episode only Picard, Riker and Crusher would have taken the test as the latter two hold the rank of Commander - Picard may not have had to take this test, given that he was promoted to command after taking command of the Stargazer in a battle. (If I remember correctly).
Both Geordi and Data hold the rank of Lt Commander, and therefore would not have taken it.

That is a fine logic, the only flaw I find with it though is the fact that Data and Geordie have both commanded the ship, Gordie in fact did it when he was still a Lt. So I would assume you can take the test without becoming a commander.

That test is specifically to obtain the rank of commander, not to command a vessil. Anybody can be given command of a ship, who is actually in SF mind you, if they are designated by the captain, or whomever is in charge. Those were the cases with Geordie and Data; they were offered and accepted command temporarily until they were properly relieved by a senior officer, or unless all the other senior officers died while away.

My references to Geordie and Data were not to illustrate starship command alone, The fact that the test is called the "Bridge Officer's" test implies that in order to serve in a command function on the bridge you have to take the test. I do not believe the test exists solely to give one the rank of commander, Pulaski for example was a commander and by her own admission she was not a bridge officer, this was clearly expressed when she wished to give an order on the bridge (where Silence has lease) so that implies to be that the bridge officer test gives one a command level position on the bridge. Diana's leap in rank may have been an over due promotion for 7 years of service.

Being a doctor, neither Crusher or Pulaski had to take the bridge officer's test to become a commander, Bev did because she probably just wanted the status or a break from routine, which she may have stated in this ep. Geordie isn't in a command division, since he's an engineer, but when he became Chief Engineer he may have had to take that test being a department head. The ep Disaster with the quantum filiment, which Dianna mentions, she was in command for a time because she was the highest-ranking person on the bridge, over two others more qualified for the task. Perhaps it was an overdue advancement or maybe, since a starship doesn't really need a counselor with a commander's rank, she already met the other qualifications aside from the bridge officers test.

Being a doctor, neither Crusher or Pulaski had to take the bridge officer's test to become a commander, Bev did because she probably just wanted the status or a break from routine, which she may have stated in this ep.

I think Crusher stated that she took the test because she wanted to challenge herself. We were never told if Pulaski took the test or not (The real world explanation was of course that no one had invented it when she was on the show).

It may not be surprising if the Chief Medical officer, at least on a ship like Enterprise, was required to take the test. Presumably the test is there for individuals who may be required to assume command for extended periods of time, or who may be in a position to relieve a Captain from duty in the case of the CMO.
Clearly it isn't required for CMO's to take the test before assuming their positions elsewhere, since Bashir on DS9 was only a lieutenant. Nor was it required to have taken the test to assume command of a ship for short-periods or in a crisis situation. (Data commanded the Rutledge as a Lt Commander, but that was a temporary command).
Likewise Worf was the commander of the Defiant on several occasions as a Lt Commander, however he stated clearly at least once that he was only the commanding officer when Sisko was not available - much as Riker commanded the Enterprise when Picard was not there.

From what we've seen it would appear that the Command test is not intended to show who is capable of simply commanding a ship. Rather it appears to be a way of telling if an individual is capable of commanding a ship full-time. This is, presumably, to Starfleets benefit since it would mean that if a ship looses its Captain they could keep the ship in service under a commander. Rather than having to bring the ship back to a base to assign a new commanding officer.

The idea of having a test before reaching a command rank is nothing new - it dates to the 1600's and the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy (or rather English Navy prior to 1707) was the first organisation to require personal to take tests to prove they were qualified to hold higher positions. In this case Midshipmen had to take and pass a test before they were eligible for promotion to lieutenant. But this didn't mean that Midshipmen never commanded ships, or were incapable of doing so. Many a prize-ship was sailed back to a port under the command of a Midshipmen - or even senior NCO's - and several Midshipmen even commanded ships in battle.
No doubt Starfleet is in a similar position, in that smaller ships or short periods of command don't require officers of high rank. ('Captain' is both a rank and a position).

One last thing to consider is that we don't know exactly what the test involves. We only get to see the last part of Troi's test, with the indication that she's been doing this for some period prior to the episode. While the part of the test we see involved commanding the Enterprise, I'd assume that other parts of the test were just involved in general command situations - which for Starfleet probably also includes first contact and diplomatic situations.
Certainly this test is tailored for Troi - we saw when W.Crusher tried to enter the Academy that Starfleet likes to tailor tests that are specific for the person taking it. Here the part about having to sacrifice a crewmember may be specific to Troi. She is, after all, the ships councillor and it would be harder for her to order someone to their death as she is likely to be closer to that person than most officers.
If Data took the test presumably the test would include a scenario that involved a leap of faith or something that could not be worked out logically. Likewise if Worf took the test it would probably include a situation where the correct thing to do was to surrender. In both cases these would be situations and solutions the individuals in question would have difficulty with.

Cyber: I think Crusher stated that she took the test because she wanted to challenge herself.
That sounds about right, thanks.

I was just going to say my logic about one department head being required to take the test, Geordie, and the other not, Bev, didn't make much sense, but neither does making the CMO qualify for bridge duty doesn't either because her place is in sick bay, especially in Trek since we rarely see NCOs do anything, which is not how it should be.

Some good points in your last two paragraphs cyber. Those sound like they would indeed be situations tailored to Data and Worf

Indeed. Very nicely put.

Thank you.

I'm more astonished at how logical the 'test' is, and how it doesn't really conflict with anything else seen on screen.

As to Crusher having to take the test (assuming that the CMO on a ship like the Enterprise is required to do so). This could be explained by the possibility of the CMO on one of Starfleets major ships being expected for required to take command of a large number of personal in medical emergencies*. It may also be the case that since the CMO can remove a Captain from duty it was felt that they needed a better understanding of the pressures of command in order to make the correct call in those situations.

(*Picards 'girlfriend' in another episode had to take command of a large number of the crew on a mission that was related to her position. She also, as I recall, held the rank of Commander but wasn't talked about as being a bridge officer or as a potential commander of the ship. Clearly an individuals rank in Starfleet is secondary in most cases to their position. There has never been any question that Crusher, as a full commander, outranks Data as a Lt Commander. However Crusher was never in a position to give Data orders outside of her medical duties).

We can probably also assume that individuals have to spend either some time at a lower rank before they can take this test, or have to have proved themselves on duty. Geordi, as Chief engineer, only reached the rank of Lt Commander during the second series but was never made as a Commander. Presumably this was because he hadn't spent enough time at the lower rank. Likewise, Picard seems to have jumped from Lt Commander to Commander or Captain. But it seems that this was due to him taking command in a crisis situation and hence proving that he was suited for command. (It could in fact be the case that Picard was promoted to Commander, then given the Brevet rank of Captain to command the Stargazer. Followed by the acting rank being made permanent).

Cyber - Geordi, as Chief engineer, only reached the rank of Lt Commander during the second series but was never made as a Commander. Presumably this was because he hadn't spent enough time at the lower rank.
So when Harry Kim finally gets his promotion it'll be straight to Admiral? ;-)

Are you kidding me? that man will never get promoted. Some day he will protest to Star Fleet Human Resources and some bureaucrat will tell him:

"Ensign Kim, we can appreciate your long service record and 50 years of service as an ensign is commendable, but unfortunately our records show that officially you are dead. 12 times in fact. It would be against Star Fleet regulations to promote a Deceased Officer. You are still an asset to Star Fleet however and we do not want to loose you. Perhaps you could talk to Chief O'brien, his 95 years of service as a non commissioned officer will provide you with some valuable insights on how to take it in the teeth and still show up for work every day and call even a snot nosed 15 year old brat "sir".

oh yes and your request for vacation has been denied."

Just to Nit-pick you Don; O'Brien was promoted to Ensign in the last episode of DS9. Hence he's now a commissioned officer ;)

AUGH! now Ensign Kim has no one to share his pain with!!!

hey Donf, mind me askn what was yr first Trek, how old and where you at?, and what got you hooked on it?

( See what was yr first Trek, top of the board,
for my answer.

I really cant recall. I know it was TOS during reruns, I used to watch it at 5pm while I had dinner. I must have been about 9 or 10. I do remember watching the pilot episode for TNG with my Dad and mom, we were all big trekies and it was very exciting to see the next chapter of the legacy. I remember thinking Picard was so cool but my mom and dad didn't care for him, too stuffy. they were hoping he would get written out in a season or two and Riker would be promoted

Wesley took a rather realistic test in "Coming of Age" - he didn't even know it was the test, and assumed it was a real accident that took place while he was waiting for his psych test to begin.

So, did Deanna get that kind of a test before entering the academy or while there? Or is it only for command-division cadet applicants?

It could be just for command track people; as Deanna had to take a similar one in order to get command clearance. Her's was a simulation on the holodeck but both involved being able to make a who lives/dies decision under pressure.

I'd say that the only reason Wes' test seemed realistic was because it's a TV show where life & death emergencies happen every week. In a real situation it would be painfully obvious that it was all a setup. Epically because of things like the internet and how people talk to others. If they really did give everyone that kind of test, designed to look like an accident, most students would know about it going in because they would have heard about it from previous students & upperclassmen.

"So, did Deanna get that kind of a test before entering the academy or while there? Or is it only for command-division cadet applicants?" - Gcapp

Now there's a thought... she'd have quite the edge in the web-hand and fake-disaster tests as she'd be able to sense something was up and the disaster subjects didn't feel any real danger. :-)

So Troi now outranks Data and Worf. Troi!?

On the one hand, we have Data and Worf, both who have had experience in numerous emergency situations.

On the other hand, we have Troi, who didn't even know what a containment breach was!

To which would I trust my life with?? Hmmmmm, it ain't gonna be the lady who sense my feelings.


Michael G. Hagerty (Skoran) would go on to play Treager, the super at the building where Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey lived in, on Friends.