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The Drumhead (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Drumhead" is the 95th episode of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
chamber in the engine room, Starfleet Command
dispatches retired Rear Admiral Norah Satie to head up the investigation to determine the cause. A series of interviews with crewmembers determines that a Klingon exchange officer, J'Dan, is using a hypospray to encode privileged computer information into amino acid sequences. Though he admits to being a Romulan
collaborator, he insists that he is not responsible for the explosion. Satie and Picard agree that J'Dan could not have acted alone, and that a larger conspiracy is present.
Medical technician Simon Tarses is interviewed as he had been one of the technicians responsible for giving J'Dan his injections. Tarses states his interactions with J'Dan were innocent, and in an aside notes that he is one quarter Vulcan
, but Satie's Betazoid assistant senses the young technician is hiding something. Satie recommends restricting Tarses' movements aboard, but Picard refuses to do so based on Betazoid intuition alone. An analysis of the dilithium chamber determines that the explosion was caused by a manufacturing defect
in the hatch casing, not sabotage or conspiracy. Picard considers the matter closed, but Satie argues that even if the explosion was not sabotage, J'Dan could not be acting alone and that a conspiracy must be present.
Tarses is brought back for questioning, this time in an open inquiry. Satie and her team accuse Tarses of lying about his association with J'Dan and reveal that he is in fact one quarter Romulan, though Tarses refuses to confirm this on the grounds that his answer might serve to incriminate him
. Afterward, Picard discusses the matter with Worf; Worf is adamant that Starfleet does have enemies and they must be discovered. Picard realizes that Satie is engaging in a drumhead trial
. He speaks with Tarses in private, and leaves satisfied that covering up his Romulan ancestry was his only misdeed. Picard meets with Satie to protest her unethical methods and call for an end to the hearings. She advises the captain that she reports directly to Starfleet Command on the proceedings and does not require his approval, and that the hearings will continue. Later, on the bridge, Picard receives a summons to report for questioning.
The head of Starfleet Security, Admiral Thomas Henry, arrives to observe the hearings. Satie proceeds to pick apart Picard's career aboard the Enterprise, citing numerous infractions of the Prime Directive
, his capture and assimilation by the Borg
, and finally directly questions his loyalty to Starfleet. Worf stands to defend the Captain from her baseless allegations, but Satie's assistant uses Worf's father's status as a Romulan collaborator
to further impugn Picard's judgment. Picard's response is to quote Satie's father, a respected jurist
, on the subject of the state placing limitations on a person's liberty. Satie furiously berates Picard for invoking her father's name in his own defense, stating that she has "brought down bigger men than you, Picard!" Admiral Henry leaves the room in the middle of the tirade, having recognized Satie's paranoia for what it was. The prosecution calls a recess, and leaves a disgraced Satie sitting alone in the courtroom.
Worf later finds Picard in the observation lounge to inform the captain that Admiral Henry has ended the hearings and of Satie's departure from the Enterprise. Picard remarks that the human race thinks it has come so far, with the Inquisition
and the Salem Witch Trials
all an unpleasant memory. Worf laments that he was initially eager to assist Satie in her witch-hunt
because of how she presented her case. Picard speaks of the ever-present, but subtle, danger of those who would spread fear and suspicion in the name of righteousness and reminds him that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
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...
.
Synopsis
Following an explosion in the dilithiumDilithium (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, dilithium is a fictional chemical element, although dilithium is also the scientific name for a molecule composed of two lithium atoms....
chamber in the engine room, Starfleet Command
Starfleet Command
Starfleet Command may refer to:*Starfleet Command, headquarters/command center of Starfleet in Star Trek.*Star Trek: Starfleet Command, a space battle simulation game set in the Star Trek universe....
dispatches retired Rear Admiral Norah Satie to head up the investigation to determine the cause. A series of interviews with crewmembers determines that a Klingon exchange officer, J'Dan, is using a hypospray to encode privileged computer information into amino acid sequences. Though he admits to being a Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
collaborator, he insists that he is not responsible for the explosion. Satie and Picard agree that J'Dan could not have acted alone, and that a larger conspiracy is present.
Medical technician Simon Tarses is interviewed as he had been one of the technicians responsible for giving J'Dan his injections. Tarses states his interactions with J'Dan were innocent, and in an aside notes that he is one quarter Vulcan
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
, but Satie's Betazoid assistant senses the young technician is hiding something. Satie recommends restricting Tarses' movements aboard, but Picard refuses to do so based on Betazoid intuition alone. An analysis of the dilithium chamber determines that the explosion was caused by a manufacturing defect
Fatigue (material)
'In materials science, fatigue is the progressive and localized structural damage that occurs when a material is subjected to cyclic loading. The nominal maximum stress values are less than the ultimate tensile stress limit, and may be below the yield stress limit of the material.Fatigue occurs...
in the hatch casing, not sabotage or conspiracy. Picard considers the matter closed, but Satie argues that even if the explosion was not sabotage, J'Dan could not be acting alone and that a conspiracy must be present.
Tarses is brought back for questioning, this time in an open inquiry. Satie and her team accuse Tarses of lying about his association with J'Dan and reveal that he is in fact one quarter Romulan, though Tarses refuses to confirm this on the grounds that his answer might serve to incriminate him
Right to silence
The right to remain silent is a legal right of any person. This right is recognized, explicitly or by convention, in many of the world's legal systems....
. Afterward, Picard discusses the matter with Worf; Worf is adamant that Starfleet does have enemies and they must be discovered. Picard realizes that Satie is engaging in a drumhead trial
Drumhead court-martial
A drumhead court-martial is a court-martial held in the field to hear urgent charges of offences committed in action. The term is said to originate from the use of a drumhead as an improvised writing table, altar for religious services, and a traditional gathering point for a regiment for orders...
. He speaks with Tarses in private, and leaves satisfied that covering up his Romulan ancestry was his only misdeed. Picard meets with Satie to protest her unethical methods and call for an end to the hearings. She advises the captain that she reports directly to Starfleet Command on the proceedings and does not require his approval, and that the hearings will continue. Later, on the bridge, Picard receives a summons to report for questioning.
The head of Starfleet Security, Admiral Thomas Henry, arrives to observe the hearings. Satie proceeds to pick apart Picard's career aboard the Enterprise, citing numerous infractions of the Prime Directive
Prime Directive
In the universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive, Starfleet's General Order #1, is the most prominent guiding principle of the United Federation of Planets...
, his capture and assimilation by the Borg
Borg (Star Trek)
The Borg are a fictional pseudo-race of cybernetic organisms depicted in the Star Trek universe associated with Star Trek.Whereas cybernetics are used by other races in the science fiction world to repair bodily damage and birth defects, the Borg use enforced cybernetic enhancement as a means of...
, and finally directly questions his loyalty to Starfleet. Worf stands to defend the Captain from her baseless allegations, but Satie's assistant uses Worf's father's status as a Romulan collaborator
Sins of the Father (TNG episode)
"Sins of the Father" is the 65th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.-Overview:In this episode, the Federation Starfleet Starship USS Enterprise-D's Klingon Chief of Security, Lt...
to further impugn Picard's judgment. Picard's response is to quote Satie's father, a respected jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, on the subject of the state placing limitations on a person's liberty. Satie furiously berates Picard for invoking her father's name in his own defense, stating that she has "brought down bigger men than you, Picard!" Admiral Henry leaves the room in the middle of the tirade, having recognized Satie's paranoia for what it was. The prosecution calls a recess, and leaves a disgraced Satie sitting alone in the courtroom.
Worf later finds Picard in the observation lounge to inform the captain that Admiral Henry has ended the hearings and of Satie's departure from the Enterprise. Picard remarks that the human race thinks it has come so far, with the Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
and the Salem Witch Trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
all an unpleasant memory. Worf laments that he was initially eager to assist Satie in her witch-hunt
Witch-hunt
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials...
because of how she presented her case. Picard speaks of the ever-present, but subtle, danger of those who would spread fear and suspicion in the name of righteousness and reminds him that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.