Where Silence Has Lease (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Where Silence Has Lease" is the 28th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
becomes enveloped by a void in space where the crew are tested by a powerful alien presence.
A Romulan Warbird suddenly decloaks
in front of the Enterprise, and Picard
orders the crew to attack it; their photon torpedoes destroy the Warbird, but Picard suspects that it was destroyed too easily. The crew then finds a ship that appears to be the USS Yamato approaching but does not respond to hails. Picard orders Commander Riker
and Lt. Worf
to beam over and search the ship. They find the ship empty, and like the blackness, seeming impossible with physical loops. As they are exploring the ship, the Enterprise crew spot an opening out of the darkness, but cannot lock onto Riker or Worf to transport them off the ship in time before the opening disappears. Riker and Worf are beamed back aboard as the Yamato fades away. Several similar openings appear in the blackness, each closing as soon as the Enterprise approaches them. Picard realizes that these events are tests of their responses, and orders a full stop.
Suddenly, an entity appears in the blackness, calling itself Nagilum. It is curious about the humans and their "limited existence", and would like to test the limits of the human body, demonstrated by killing Ensign Haskell who has violent convulsions, and falls to the floor dead. Nagilum then tells he wants to know everything about deaths and all kinds of different ways of people dying. He asserts it would only take less than half of the Enterprises crew. Picard decides to activate the Enterprises self-destruction sequence rather than to allow Nagilum to harm anyone else. As the crew prepares for their end, Picard is tested again by Nagilum through doppelganger
s of Counselor Troi
and Lt. Commander Data
that question the self-destruct order. As the countdown nears zero, the void suddenly vanishes, leaving the Enterprise in normal space. Picard orders the ship to move away at top speed and cancels the self-destruct sequence. As the Enterprise continues on its mission, Picard is met by an image of Nagilum on his ready room computer. Nagilum offers his evaluation of humanity, criticizing the race for its faults and having no common ground with Nagilum's kind. Picard begs to disagree, pointing out that both races are curious as shown by their recent encounter, which Nagilum agrees to before disappearing.
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...
.
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...
becomes enveloped by a void in space where the crew are tested by a powerful alien presence.
Plot
While on a charting mission, the Enterprise discovers a patch of pure blackness in space; probes launched into the area simply disappear. As they study it further, the patch expands and soon envelops the Enterprise, leaving them in a black void with sensors reporting nothing outside. Picard orders the ship to return on the course it entered the patch, but they find that they cannot escape; even using a stationary beacon to track their position, they find themselves brought back to the beacon.A Romulan Warbird suddenly decloaks
Cloaking device
Cloaking devices are advanced stealth technologies still in development that will cause objects, such as spaceships or individuals, to be partially or wholly invisible to parts of the electromagnetic spectrum...
in front of the Enterprise, and Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
orders the crew to attack it; their photon torpedoes destroy the Warbird, but Picard suspects that it was destroyed too easily. The crew then finds a ship that appears to be the USS Yamato approaching but does not respond to hails. Picard orders Commander Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
and Lt. Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
to beam over and search the ship. They find the ship empty, and like the blackness, seeming impossible with physical loops. As they are exploring the ship, the Enterprise crew spot an opening out of the darkness, but cannot lock onto Riker or Worf to transport them off the ship in time before the opening disappears. Riker and Worf are beamed back aboard as the Yamato fades away. Several similar openings appear in the blackness, each closing as soon as the Enterprise approaches them. Picard realizes that these events are tests of their responses, and orders a full stop.
Suddenly, an entity appears in the blackness, calling itself Nagilum. It is curious about the humans and their "limited existence", and would like to test the limits of the human body, demonstrated by killing Ensign Haskell who has violent convulsions, and falls to the floor dead. Nagilum then tells he wants to know everything about deaths and all kinds of different ways of people dying. He asserts it would only take less than half of the Enterprises crew. Picard decides to activate the Enterprises self-destruction sequence rather than to allow Nagilum to harm anyone else. As the crew prepares for their end, Picard is tested again by Nagilum through doppelganger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
s of Counselor Troi
Deanna Troi
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
and Lt. Commander Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
that question the self-destruct order. As the countdown nears zero, the void suddenly vanishes, leaving the Enterprise in normal space. Picard orders the ship to move away at top speed and cancels the self-destruct sequence. As the Enterprise continues on its mission, Picard is met by an image of Nagilum on his ready room computer. Nagilum offers his evaluation of humanity, criticizing the race for its faults and having no common ground with Nagilum's kind. Picard begs to disagree, pointing out that both races are curious as shown by their recent encounter, which Nagilum agrees to before disappearing.
External links
- Where Silence Has Lease rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido