The Arsenal of Freedom (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Arsenal of Freedom" is the 21st episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
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Captain Picard sends an away team, consisting of Commander Riker, Lt. Commander Data, and Security Chief Yar, to explore the surface. They encounter a holographic project of the Drakes captain who asks Riker what ship he is from. Riker realizes the captain should have known this information, and lies to it, saying "The Lollipop, its a good ship." The hologram reveals it is part of the Arsenal's program by continuing to question "What is the armament of the Lollipop?" Exposed by Riker, the hologram disappears revealing a floating sentry probe that fires a statis beam around him before Data and Yar can destroy it. The field prevents the Enterprise from beaming up the away team. Picard opts to go to the surface himself along with Dr. Crusher to try to revive Riker, leaving La Forge in charge. As the two met up with Data and Yar, another sentry appears and begins firing on them, reacting better to the crew's counterattack. The group disperses to draw its fire, but Picard and Dr. Crusher fall into a deep hole in a clearing, and Dr. Crusher is severely injured. Unable to communicate with the away team or the Enterprise, Picard attempts to tend to Dr. Crusher's wounds using the limited materials from the planet. Meanwhile, Data and Yar work together to destroy the sentry, and from observing the sentry, Data is able to find a means to free Riker from the stasis field.
The away team searches for Picard and Dr. Crusher, and are able to dispatch another sentry, this one heavily shielded. Data postulates that whatever is creating them is able to upgrade them in response to the away team's tactics, and they may not be able to defeat the next one that appears. In orbit, the crew find another sentry, this one cloaked, has approached the Enterprise and starts firing upon the ship, severely weakening the shields. La Forge takes a small team to control the Battle Bridge, separating the Enterprise to allow the saucer section to escape while they take on the sentry.
Picard, while finding materials to aid Dr. Crusher, discovers a computer terminal. When he actives it, the hologram reappears, and explains that they are witnessing a demonstration of a system of intelligent weapons, able to upgrade in response to any enemy threat. Picard surmises the Minoans must have been killed by their own system when they activated it for the first time, and that the Drake was also destroyed by it. He attempts to coerce the hologram to end the demonstration with no luck. Data is able to find an air shaft leading to Picard's location, and jumps down to try to manipulate the computer, realizing that while he could set the sentries to target the power source driving them, it would likely take out the whole solar system. Picard attempts to argue again with the hologram, eventually agreeing to buy the weapons systems. With the promised sale, the hologram disappears, and the computer system shuts down. La Forge is able to lure the last sentry in order to destroy itself by entering the Minos' atmosphere too fast. The away teams safely return to the Battle Bridge before it rendezvous with the saucer section and leaves the system.
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...
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Plot
The Enterprise is searching the Lorenze Cluster for the USS Drake which had mysteriously vanished while surveying the planet Minos, the long-abandoned home of the arms merchants Minoans that were known for their highly advanced weaponry. When the Enterprise reaches Minos, they are greeted by a pre-recorded holographic figure advertising "The Arsenal of Freedom", inviting the ship's crew to the surface.Captain Picard sends an away team, consisting of Commander Riker, Lt. Commander Data, and Security Chief Yar, to explore the surface. They encounter a holographic project of the Drakes captain who asks Riker what ship he is from. Riker realizes the captain should have known this information, and lies to it, saying "The Lollipop, its a good ship." The hologram reveals it is part of the Arsenal's program by continuing to question "What is the armament of the Lollipop?" Exposed by Riker, the hologram disappears revealing a floating sentry probe that fires a statis beam around him before Data and Yar can destroy it. The field prevents the Enterprise from beaming up the away team. Picard opts to go to the surface himself along with Dr. Crusher to try to revive Riker, leaving La Forge in charge. As the two met up with Data and Yar, another sentry appears and begins firing on them, reacting better to the crew's counterattack. The group disperses to draw its fire, but Picard and Dr. Crusher fall into a deep hole in a clearing, and Dr. Crusher is severely injured. Unable to communicate with the away team or the Enterprise, Picard attempts to tend to Dr. Crusher's wounds using the limited materials from the planet. Meanwhile, Data and Yar work together to destroy the sentry, and from observing the sentry, Data is able to find a means to free Riker from the stasis field.
The away team searches for Picard and Dr. Crusher, and are able to dispatch another sentry, this one heavily shielded. Data postulates that whatever is creating them is able to upgrade them in response to the away team's tactics, and they may not be able to defeat the next one that appears. In orbit, the crew find another sentry, this one cloaked, has approached the Enterprise and starts firing upon the ship, severely weakening the shields. La Forge takes a small team to control the Battle Bridge, separating the Enterprise to allow the saucer section to escape while they take on the sentry.
Picard, while finding materials to aid Dr. Crusher, discovers a computer terminal. When he actives it, the hologram reappears, and explains that they are witnessing a demonstration of a system of intelligent weapons, able to upgrade in response to any enemy threat. Picard surmises the Minoans must have been killed by their own system when they activated it for the first time, and that the Drake was also destroyed by it. He attempts to coerce the hologram to end the demonstration with no luck. Data is able to find an air shaft leading to Picard's location, and jumps down to try to manipulate the computer, realizing that while he could set the sentries to target the power source driving them, it would likely take out the whole solar system. Picard attempts to argue again with the hologram, eventually agreeing to buy the weapons systems. With the promised sale, the hologram disappears, and the computer system shuts down. La Forge is able to lure the last sentry in order to destroy itself by entering the Minos' atmosphere too fast. The away teams safely return to the Battle Bridge before it rendezvous with the saucer section and leaves the system.
External links
- The Arsenal of Freedom rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido