[Bridge] Our destination is
the Beta Stromgren system, following the path of the Vega Nine probe.
That's twenty three parsecs beyond our furthest manned explorations.
That is correct, Commander. Apparently the probe has discovered.
Astonishing. [Observation lounge]
(Tam is suffering in the presence of so many minds)
(The presentation is now up on the main screen) Our orders are to proceed to this star,
Beta Stromgren. Scientists have discovered that it is in the final stages of an alternating cycle
of expansion and collapse, and will soon result in a supernova. However, the unmanned long range
space probe sent by Starfleet to observe the process has discovered something much more.
Oh, Data don't waste time. They call it Tin Man. The Vega probe found it orbiting Stromgren.
Looks like some kind of ship. Its energy source is unknown.
The people who've studied the transmissions think it's a starship. And they're sure it's alive.
Alive? How? A cybernetic organism like the Borg?
No, no, no. Here. Starfleet believes it's an organic creature, born in space,
living its life in the wastes between stars. No one knows where it came from, or why it's here.
But we're going to meet it. We're going to talk to it. I'm going to talk to it.
Have attempts been made To communicate with it by subspace.
Of course. Linguacode, universal translation, all that. It won't work. Tin Man is too different.
Direct mind to mind contact is our only hope. TROI:
The opportunity for discovery is extraordinary but I don't understand Starfleet's urgency.
Romulans. Hell, I forgot. The Romulans.
They claim that sector of space where Beta Stromgren is located.
The Romulans claim all that is in their field of vision.
They routinely monitor the telemetry of our deep space probes.
Then they will certainly be sending a ship of their own to investigate this Tin Man.
No. Actually, they're sending two. Data? That is correct. Starbase one two three has
detected two D'daridex class cruisers on an intercept course. The top speed of
this class cruiser is known to be less than ours. Therefore we do have some advantage.
Then, it's a race? An alien intelligence, a new life form,
representing a technology far beyond that of either the Romulans or ourselves.
The Romulans will certainly take whatever measures are required to secure this creature for study.
Study as in dissecting, I'd bet. Mister Data, you are our resident
honour student in exobiology. I'm assigning you to head up the Life Sciences on this mission.
Aye, sir. Excellent.
Meeting adjourned, then. (As everyone but Picard,
Riker, Tam and Data leave)
So, Data, I guess you're the brains of this outfit, huh?
Mister Elbrun, one of the reasons I'm asking you to work closely with a member of my
staff is to avoid any further omissions. The possibility of an encounter with Romulans on
this mission is hardly trivial. And yet All right, all right. I should have
brought up the Romulans earlier, but I was distracted.
And no, Billy boy, I wasn't distracted on Ghorusda. If Darson had listened to me,
no one would have died. (Music) No? Well I don't care whether you believe that or not.