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Force of Nature (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Force of Nature" is the 161st episode of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
propulsion is harming the very fabric of space. A sub-plot involves Data attempting to train his pet cat, Spot.
Starship
USS Enterprise
is sent to the Hekaras Corridor, the only safe path through the sector, to investigate the disappearance of the medical ship U.S.S. Fleming. In the process they find a Ferengi
ship, which is badly disabled. The Ferengi daimon contends a Federation buoy disabled his ship.
The Enterprise crew learns a Hekaran brother and sister, Rabal and Serova, are responsible for disabling the ships by using disguised ship-disabling mines. These siblings contend that sustained warp drive is destroying the fabric of space near their homeworld, and will eventually destroy their planet. Data
determines that the research has merit, but requires more study. Picard requests a more thorough investigation from the Federation's Science Council.
However, Serova is not willing to wait for any more studies. In order to prove her theory she causes a warp breach in her ship, killing herself in the process. A rift is formed, and the Fleming becomes trapped in the damaged space. The Enterprise crew manages to find a way to "surf" through the rift without using warp drive, beam up the Fleming crew, and escape the rift.
Later, the Federation Council
issues a new directive limiting all Federation
vessels to a speed of warp five except in extreme emergency. The Klingon Empire also agrees to the limitations, but there is uncertainty as to whether or not the Romulan Star Empire, Ferengi Alliance and Cardassian Union will, as well.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Overview
In this episode, a pair of sibling scientists show that warp driveWarp drive (Star Trek)
Warp drive is a faster-than-light propulsion system in the setting of many science fiction works, most notably Star Trek. A spacecraft equipped with a warp drive may travel at velocities greater than that of light by many orders of magnitude, while circumventing the relativistic problem of time...
propulsion is harming the very fabric of space. A sub-plot involves Data attempting to train his pet cat, Spot.
Plot
The Federation StarfleetStarfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
Starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
USS Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
is sent to the Hekaras Corridor, the only safe path through the sector, to investigate the disappearance of the medical ship U.S.S. Fleming. In the process they find a Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
ship, which is badly disabled. The Ferengi daimon contends a Federation buoy disabled his ship.
The Enterprise crew learns a Hekaran brother and sister, Rabal and Serova, are responsible for disabling the ships by using disguised ship-disabling mines. These siblings contend that sustained warp drive is destroying the fabric of space near their homeworld, and will eventually destroy their planet. Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
determines that the research has merit, but requires more study. Picard requests a more thorough investigation from the Federation's Science Council.
However, Serova is not willing to wait for any more studies. In order to prove her theory she causes a warp breach in her ship, killing herself in the process. A rift is formed, and the Fleming becomes trapped in the damaged space. The Enterprise crew manages to find a way to "surf" through the rift without using warp drive, beam up the Fleming crew, and escape the rift.
Later, the Federation Council
Federation Council (Star Trek)
The Federation Council is an organization in the fictional Star Trek universe. It is the legislature of the United Federation of Planets and will be located in what is now the Presidio of San Francisco, United States on Earth...
issues a new directive limiting all Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
vessels to a speed of warp five except in extreme emergency. The Klingon Empire also agrees to the limitations, but there is uncertainty as to whether or not the Romulan Star Empire, Ferengi Alliance and Cardassian Union will, as well.