Episode Report Card Keckler: F | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Tempus fudges-it
By Keckler | Season 1 | Episode 11 | Aired on 11.27.2001
Quantum apologizes to Presuming Prah about the weather as he walks him to the docking seal. Presuming Prah tells him they're used to it, and he's glad there wasn't any serious damage. "If any of your group would like to watch the Great Plume from our mess hall, they're welcome to come back tomorrow," Quantum offers. "I'll let them know," Presuming Prah says. Quantum turns to Phlox and tells him to have a great time. "I plan to, Captain. Thank you for letting me spend the night with these people," Phlox says, fiddling with his Exposition Phaser. Quantum tells him he'll expect a full report in the morning, and bids the rest of the Heaven's Gaters farewell for the nonce. Trip comms Quantum nervously and tells him he needs to speak to him in Engineering. "On my way," Quantum says. I really hope Phlox learned from Trip's Xyrillian example and has brought along some sort of protection.
Engineering. Trip shows Quantum the panel with the unplugged do-hickey. Trip explains that the conduit (i.e. "the do-hickey") is at an anti-matter junction, and its being unplugged stopped the cascade from reaching the warp reactor. Quantum asks, "What are you getting at?" Duh -- even I know what would have happened, and I didn't study warp cores in college. Trip says, "Somebody got in here and disconnected it from the primary anti-matter feed. If they hadn't, that cascade would have continued right into the reactor core and this ship would have gone up like the Great Plume of Agosoria." You dork. Quantum suggests that it was a member of Trip's staff, but Trip says he's questioned everyone, and all deny knowledge. "Sounds to me like you've got a hero who's a little reluctant about taking credit," Quantum says. "Talk to them again. Whoever did this deserves a commendation." Sounds to me like you've got a captain who's too stupid to recognize the obvious. Nab the dude who's lugging around a Ph.D in Warp Field Theory. Just a thought. Trip continues to insist that he doesn't think it was one of his "peepol."
In his quarters, Quantum questions Fraddock about the warp conduit thingy. Hey, I thought Fraddock didn't want to leave his own ship. If Quantum wanted a favor from him, shouldn't he go over to the transport ship instead of making Fraddock board Enterprise to be interrogated? Fraddock tells Quantum he spoke with everyone aboard his ship, and they don't know from nuthin'. "What about the warp theorist?" Trip asks. "Him, too. None of them ever went near that conduit. If I told you that I did it, would there be some kind of reward?" Fraddock asks. Quantum just thanks him in a "You're now dismissed, alien" sort of way. "Well, maybe it was the Cycle of Renewal," Fraddock hazards, as he starts to take his leave. "If anyone comes forward, you'll let me know?" Quantum asks. "Oh, you'll be the first," Fraddock says and leaves. Trip and Quantum exchange their usual frathead look as Trip sees Fraddock safely out. Quantum sighs in frustration.