Angel One (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Angel One" is the 14th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
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visits a world dominated by women to flesh out diplomatic ties and search for survivors of a downed freighter.
, with women in the dominant position of power. The Enterprise seeks to find any survivors of the Odin, a freighter they had believed crashed on the planet seven years prior. An away team consisting of Commander Riker, Lt. Commander Data, Lt. Yar, and Counselor Troi attempt to negotiate with Beata, the leader of the native inhabitants, to let them search for the survivors, while the Enterprise deals with a potential threat at a Federation outpost near the Romulan Neutral Zone.
Beata reveals that they are aware of four male survivors of the Odin who have caused disruption in their society, and are considered fugitives. While Beata requests Riker stay with her, the others are able to track down the survivors' camp, and meet with its leader Ramsey. Ramsey and his men, having taken wives and started families during the seven years, refuse to leave nor can be ordered to leave under Federation directives. They find that one of Beata's assistants, Ariel, has become romantically involved with Ramsey. Riker learns from Beata that their society structure has already been collapsing, but Ramsey and his men have served to accelerate its decline. Meanwhile, a strange virus has been spreading about the Enterprise, incapacitating much of the crew. Dr. Crusher, ultimately left in charge of the ship as the highest-ranking senior crewmember, finds that the virus is a result of an airborne chemical that becomes viral when inside the human body, and races to find a cure for it while returning the ship to Angel One.
The away team returns to Beata and explain Ramsey's refusal to leave. Beata and her council reject his reasoning, and capture the men and their families, threatening to execute them. The Enterprise arrives while Riker attempts to convince Ramsey to leave. Dr. Crusher refuses to allow anyone to beam aboard for fear of being infected, but allows Data, as an android, to return. Riker orders Data to deal with the Neutral Zone situation as quickly as possible. Data affirms that there is a 48 minute window for which Dr. Crusher to find a cure and for Riker to defuse the situation on the planet before the ship must leave to the Neutral Zone.
On the planet, Ramsey and his men are prepared to be executed by disintegration despite Ariel's pleas, while Dr. Crusher discovers an inoculate for the virus. Riker is prepared to have the away team and the Odin survivors beamed to the Enterprise but Beata announces that she will stay the execution and banish Ramsey, his men, their families, and any others that support them to the far side of the planet; their banishment will not stop the fall of the oligarchy, but will slow it down enough that Beata will not be around to see its end. The away team return to the ship and Picard, already recovering from the virus, orders the ship to the Neutral Zone at high warp.
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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Overview
The EnterpriseUSS 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...
visits a world dominated by women to flesh out diplomatic ties and search for survivors of a downed freighter.
Plot
The Enterprise arrives at the planet Angel One, where its native population is run as an oligarchyOligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
, with women in the dominant position of power. The Enterprise seeks to find any survivors of the Odin, a freighter they had believed crashed on the planet seven years prior. An away team consisting of Commander Riker, Lt. Commander Data, Lt. Yar, and Counselor Troi attempt to negotiate with Beata, the leader of the native inhabitants, to let them search for the survivors, while the Enterprise deals with a potential threat at a Federation outpost near the Romulan Neutral Zone.
Beata reveals that they are aware of four male survivors of the Odin who have caused disruption in their society, and are considered fugitives. While Beata requests Riker stay with her, the others are able to track down the survivors' camp, and meet with its leader Ramsey. Ramsey and his men, having taken wives and started families during the seven years, refuse to leave nor can be ordered to leave under Federation directives. They find that one of Beata's assistants, Ariel, has become romantically involved with Ramsey. Riker learns from Beata that their society structure has already been collapsing, but Ramsey and his men have served to accelerate its decline. Meanwhile, a strange virus has been spreading about the Enterprise, incapacitating much of the crew. Dr. Crusher, ultimately left in charge of the ship as the highest-ranking senior crewmember, finds that the virus is a result of an airborne chemical that becomes viral when inside the human body, and races to find a cure for it while returning the ship to Angel One.
The away team returns to Beata and explain Ramsey's refusal to leave. Beata and her council reject his reasoning, and capture the men and their families, threatening to execute them. The Enterprise arrives while Riker attempts to convince Ramsey to leave. Dr. Crusher refuses to allow anyone to beam aboard for fear of being infected, but allows Data, as an android, to return. Riker orders Data to deal with the Neutral Zone situation as quickly as possible. Data affirms that there is a 48 minute window for which Dr. Crusher to find a cure and for Riker to defuse the situation on the planet before the ship must leave to the Neutral Zone.
On the planet, Ramsey and his men are prepared to be executed by disintegration despite Ariel's pleas, while Dr. Crusher discovers an inoculate for the virus. Riker is prepared to have the away team and the Odin survivors beamed to the Enterprise but Beata announces that she will stay the execution and banish Ramsey, his men, their families, and any others that support them to the far side of the planet; their banishment will not stop the fall of the oligarchy, but will slow it down enough that Beata will not be around to see its end. The away team return to the ship and Picard, already recovering from the virus, orders the ship to the Neutral Zone at high warp.
External links
- Review by Wil WheatonWil WheatonRichard William "Wil" Wheaton III is an American actor and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me and Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers...
- Angel One rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido