A Promelian Battle Cruiser (an ancient ship of war considered destroyed during a major destructive conflict with a race called Menthars, that ended with asteroids and wreckage as a reminder of just how devastating war can be) is discovered at Orelious IX thanks to "an ancient interplanetary code" that was sending out a distress signal the Enterprise discovered while charting the war between two alien species who battled until both were extinct.
The Enterprise experiences energy loss and technical malfunctions while holding near the Promelian ship (within the asteroid scattering), soon losing all power as radiation will infiltrate their ship if an answer isn't uncovered to escape from a "booby trap" energy field siphoning off their resources.
Picard taxes Geordi LaForge on finding a way to maintain the Enterprise's shields and the chief engineer must get a little assistance from Dr. Leah Brahms, responsible for most of the design of the ship, including the Dilithium Chamber in Engineering. Through her logs, information stored in the computer banks, and even recreating her personality and image for Geordi, they will try to figure out a way to give the Enterprise enough energy to somehow make it out of the energy field caused by the Menthars' radiating asteroids. An idea of allowing the computer itself to direct the Enterprise through asteroid field is at first contemplated, but it could come down to old fashioned experience and ingenuity, using their brains, their mind instead of depending on machine to get them out of this predicament.
The is classic Trek, really, and functions as a fine vehicle for Levar Burton who would have a fabulous third season with a heaping helping of storyline dedication given to him and he delivers. It's classic Trek in that it has an inexplicably difficult problem burdened on Picard that involves keeping his ship operational as an energy field with radiated rock surrounding it gradually deprives it of what it needs to remain active and running. Geordi earns his Chief title in this one, having to look at the Enterprise back at the beginning, to get an understanding of how to increase energy levels as to prolong their life support and hold off radiation exposure before it turns fatal to the crew of the ship. We see the ship darkened, the computer reminding them of deflector shields failing, and the crew growing concerned, yet Picard's impeccable resolve and ability to stare right into death and keep his composure is a statement in regards to his character and command. This also allows us to see Geordi dealing with "woman issues" trying to figure out how to score with a young woman named Christi (Julie Warner, of Doc Hollywood fame) who doesn't seem romantically interested in him while he finds himself falling in love with a holographic image and personality cribbed from various resources by the computer. Susan Gibney, as Leah, radiates in her role and leaves quite an impression; once we get an indication of what she really seems like, you can understand why Geordi responds so warmly to her. This episode also shows Picard in a jovial, enthusiastic state after visiting the ancient ship he read about as a child, providing amusement to his crew. This also has the "ship in the bottle" comment by Picard, befuddled that Riker, Worf, and Data are baffled by this boyhood activity. Picard has a really nice moment with Riker where he dotes on the imaginary adventures he had while building model ships; that, and their conversation on flying machines and machines now flying them also resonates. Include the discovery of a ship so fitting for study and holding possible clues as to how to right the wrongs that left the dead crew to perish, Data trying to make some of the Promelian Captain logs presentable as to learn from his mistakes, and "Booby Trap" is just another example of how The Next Generation began to excel in the third season.
The Enterprise experiences energy loss and technical malfunctions while holding near the Promelian ship (within the asteroid scattering), soon losing all power as radiation will infiltrate their ship if an answer isn't uncovered to escape from a "booby trap" energy field siphoning off their resources.
Picard taxes Geordi LaForge on finding a way to maintain the Enterprise's shields and the chief engineer must get a little assistance from Dr. Leah Brahms, responsible for most of the design of the ship, including the Dilithium Chamber in Engineering. Through her logs, information stored in the computer banks, and even recreating her personality and image for Geordi, they will try to figure out a way to give the Enterprise enough energy to somehow make it out of the energy field caused by the Menthars' radiating asteroids. An idea of allowing the computer itself to direct the Enterprise through asteroid field is at first contemplated, but it could come down to old fashioned experience and ingenuity, using their brains, their mind instead of depending on machine to get them out of this predicament.
The is classic Trek, really, and functions as a fine vehicle for Levar Burton who would have a fabulous third season with a heaping helping of storyline dedication given to him and he delivers. It's classic Trek in that it has an inexplicably difficult problem burdened on Picard that involves keeping his ship operational as an energy field with radiated rock surrounding it gradually deprives it of what it needs to remain active and running. Geordi earns his Chief title in this one, having to look at the Enterprise back at the beginning, to get an understanding of how to increase energy levels as to prolong their life support and hold off radiation exposure before it turns fatal to the crew of the ship. We see the ship darkened, the computer reminding them of deflector shields failing, and the crew growing concerned, yet Picard's impeccable resolve and ability to stare right into death and keep his composure is a statement in regards to his character and command. This also allows us to see Geordi dealing with "woman issues" trying to figure out how to score with a young woman named Christi (Julie Warner, of Doc Hollywood fame) who doesn't seem romantically interested in him while he finds himself falling in love with a holographic image and personality cribbed from various resources by the computer. Susan Gibney, as Leah, radiates in her role and leaves quite an impression; once we get an indication of what she really seems like, you can understand why Geordi responds so warmly to her. This episode also shows Picard in a jovial, enthusiastic state after visiting the ancient ship he read about as a child, providing amusement to his crew. This also has the "ship in the bottle" comment by Picard, befuddled that Riker, Worf, and Data are baffled by this boyhood activity. Picard has a really nice moment with Riker where he dotes on the imaginary adventures he had while building model ships; that, and their conversation on flying machines and machines now flying them also resonates. Include the discovery of a ship so fitting for study and holding possible clues as to how to right the wrongs that left the dead crew to perish, Data trying to make some of the Promelian Captain logs presentable as to learn from his mistakes, and "Booby Trap" is just another example of how The Next Generation began to excel in the third season.