The Foreseeable Future
| The Foreseeable Future | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1 |
| Episode | 2 |
| Production Number | 102 |
Summary
The Foreseeable Future is the second episode of Star Trek: Timequake. It takes place in the year 2271 and introduces the USS Amphitrite and its crew near the start of their five year mission. On their way to observe a scientific phenomena, the ship receives a distress call from the nearby planet Cassandra, a Federation-affiliated world. They find a man with the ability to see the future, who alerts Captain Amelia Scoville that she will die if she leaves the planet.
Act I
Aboard the Amphitrite, the crew is on their way to observe a red giant expanding to the point of breaking apart a planet - a rare occurrence which the captain, Amelia Scoville, is very interested in. Unfortunately, they receive a level five general distress call from the nearby Cassandra, in the Beta Cassiopeiae system. With no chioce but to investigate, Captain Scoville turns the ship away to assist.
Upon reaching the planet, however, the planet's government pleads ignorance as to who sent the signal, and there is no visible emergency to investigate. Captain Scoville beams down along with Commander Dina Saurait, Lieutenant Commander Liamed Duzan, and Lieutenant Karla Nava Razo. Coordinating with the ship, they triangulate the signal's source and find a man who introduces himself and Visol. Explaining that he has the ability to see the future, he tells Captain Scoville that if she leaves the planet, she will die.
Act II
Skeptical of Visol's story, Captain Scoville becomes more curious about Visol's situation than anything. According to the ship's records, Visol is a "Prophet", a subspecies of the Cassandrian peoples with some degree of precognitive abilities. Only about 1 in every 100,000,000 Cassandrians have this power, and the society limits their ability to work and spread the word of their prophecies. The Federation is concerned by this, and have been trying to ascertain more information.
On the ship, Lieutenant Commander Zerath Sh'shrarhos, who has been left in command, is dealing with the increasingly demanding questions of the Cassandrian government and inquiries from Starfleet Command. The Cassandrians are evasive when asked about the Prophets, and demand the identity of the man who sent the distress signal. Sh'shrarhos refuses to name the name, pleading ignorance as best she can in order to vie for time.
Meanwhile, Saurait and Duzan head to the library and gather information which they send to the ship. They discover that throughout the history of Cassandra, Prophets have caused upheavals, wars, and religious conflicts due to their abilities. Countries have fought wars over getting a Prophet of their own, and some Prophets have even used their powers to intentionally cause these kinds of disputes in order to feed their egos. Upon leaving the library, the pair of officers spot a man following and watching them. As they notice, he takes off running. The pair give chase, and follow him into an alleyway where he draws a weapon, placing them under arrest.
Act III
The man was a government investigator, sent to find out why the Federation was called, who sent the signal, and what the officers were up to. As the ship has been refusing to provide a name, they've decided to escalate the situation by placing the officers under arrest. After discovering the name of Visol from the pair, they go to arrest him, Lieutenant Razo, and Captain Scoville.
Commander Saurait is able to break them out of the cell and grabs their equipment. After using a ruse to break out with Captain Scoville when she arrives, they manage to escape.
Meanwhile, in space, the ship has been ordered to retreat as the security forces have launched ships to blockade the planet, and are threatening military action. While the Amphitrite could easily overpower them, a diplomatic incident is brewing and Captain Scoville's away team is stranded on the planet.
Act IV
On the ship, Doctor T'Koss provides information on how to determine the veracity of Visol's predictions and the Prophets' abilities in general. T'Koss believes this may be a way to provide the Cassandrians with some assurance on how to treat these predictions, and more certainty for the Prophets as well.
Devising a plan, the Amphitrite launches a shuttlecraft and navigates through the blockade. Displaying impressive piloting skills, Lieutenant Junior Grade Shika uses sensor ghosts and other trickery to mask their presence from the security vessels. They meet with Captain Scoville on the surface, and discover that Visol is about to go on trial. They have to act quickly to interrupt the trial and rescue him.
Act V
Using surgery to disguise themselves as Cassandrians, the crew heads to the trial to interrupt. Captain Scoville reveals that Visol proved to be unstable, pleading with her that he loved her and she would have to stay with him. She was forced to strike him, and is less than enthusiastic about saving him. She determines it is the right thing to do, though.
They address the court, using research from the Gliese IV science station that has been researching the temporal anomaly encountered by the USS Erebus almost 100 years ago to determine the Prophet's true nature. T'Koss determines that Visol sees only potential futures, not the certain path of time.
Based on this information, the Cassandrian government agrees that they will reexamine their treatment of the Prophets. Deciding to rework their regulations, Visol will remain in jail under a reduced sentence and the Prophets will begin to be offered positions as advisers.
Aboard the Amphitrite, Captain Scoville gives a speech about pre-destination, determination, collectivism and individualism, and power and responsibility. They head back to observe the planet's destruction as planned.
