History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E9FinalMission

* PlotDevice: The fountain in the cave, which serves both as a DeusExMachina (because it's a source of fresh water to keep the party alive until rescue arrives), and a DiabolusExMachina (because he had a security system which kills anyone who tries to drink from it). The fountain is incomprehensible because it's a working machine in the middle of a cave in the middle of a desert planet that has no signs of civilization on it. An underground lake or stream would be far more plausible, but a working fountain complete with a burbling water spout and a lethal security system is there to act as an utterly contrived final obstacle for Wesley to fight with Dirgo over.

* AssholeVictim: Dirgo is dismissive of both Crusher and Picard, is abrasive and rude, doesn't pack proper emergency supplies, drinks alcohol that could be better used for medicinal purposes, and ultimately gets himself killed, endangering the others in the process. Nobody, including the audience, is sad to see the back of him.

* MacGuffin: The fountain in the cave, which serves both as a DeusExMachina (because it's a source of fresh water to keep the party alive until rescue arrives), and a DiabolusExMachina (because it has a security system which kills anyone who tries to drink from it). The fountain is incomprehensible because it's a working machine in the middle of a cave in the middle of a desert planet that has no signs of civilization on it. An underground lake or stream would be far more plausible, but a working fountain complete with a burbling water spout and a lethal security system is there to act as an utterly contrived final obstacle for Wesley to fight with Dirgo over.

* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale:
** The episode works on a premise that the ''Enterprise'' has to tow the garbage scow away from the planet to avoid casualties, even at great risk to themselves, when they could have conceivably simply flung the ship away with their tractor beam in any direction without inhabited planets within the same star system, and then arranged for an unmanned ship to tow it to its final destination within the next several thousand years, before it could conceivably endanger anyone else, even by chance.
** Likewise, Picard, Wesley and Dirgo manage to crash their shuttle on an uninhabited desert moon in a spot that is conveniently within walking distance of mountains with a cave that contains a working technological water fountain that has absolutely no reason to be there except to drive the plot along.

* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: The episode works on a premise that the ''Enterprise'' has to tow the garbage scow away from the planet to avoid casualties, even at great risk to themselves, when they could have conceivably simply flung the ship away with their tractor beam in any direction without inhabited planets within the same star system, and then arranged for an unmanned ship to tow it to its final destination within the next several thousand years, before it could conceivably endanger anyone else, even by chance.

* MacGuffin: The fountain in the cave, which serves both as a DeusExMachina (because it's a source of fresh water to keep the party alive until rescue arrives), and a DiabolusExMachina (because he had a security system which kills anyone who tries to drink from it). The fountain is incomprehensible because it's a working machine in the middle of a cave in the middle of a desert planet that has no signs of civilization on it. An underground lake or stream would be far more plausible, but a working fountain complete with a burbling water spout and a lethal security system is there to act as an utterly contrived final obstacle for Wesley to fight with Dirgo over.

* TheUnReveal: So what the hell ''was'' that sentry-thing, and why was it guarding the water and killing anyone who tried to breach the force field?

* ActorAllusion: Creator/NickTate is best known among sci-fi fans for his role as Alan Carter in ''Creator/Space1999'', who [[CaptainCrash crashed his spacecraft more than a few times]].

Wesley is called to the bridge to be informed by Captain Picard that a slot has opened in this year's Starfleet Academy class, so Wesley has been accepted and is scheduled to report in two weeks. In the meantime, Picard has one final assignment for him--accompany him to Pentarus V to observe as Picard mediates a mining dispute. They are to be transported aboard a mining shuttle captained by a man named Dirgo. As they prepare to depart, the ''Enterprise'' gets a distress call from planet Gamelan V--a mysterious ship leaking massive amounts of radiation has drifted into orbit, threatening to crash into the planet and create an environmental disaster. The shuttle disembarks, and the ''Enterprise'' departs to Gamelan with Riker in command.

Picard retreats to the back cabin to study up on the relevant mining laws, leaving Wes to serve as Dirgo's co-pilot. Dirgo suspects the miners will be too much for Picard to handle, but Wes, not exactly impressed with Dirgo, defends his captain. Not long after their departure, Dirgo's rather ancient shuttle malfunctions, forcing them to crash-land on a desert moon orbiting Pentarus III. They manage to land safely enough to avoid injuries, but the ship is left inoperable. As Dirgo traveled light, all they have for supplies is a basic medical kit. Picard uses pieces of the wreckage to form an arrow on the ground in the direction of some distant mountains, toward which they set out. Dirgo objects, but Picard reminds him that they don't have any other options. Picard takes point, while Dirgo struggles to keep up behind Wesley, who reminds him of how he didn't think Picard was tough enough. As Wes moves forward, however, Dirgo stops to take a swig from a hidden flask.

The ''Enterprise'' arrives at Gamelan V, and discovers that the mystery ship is basically an abandoned garbage scow, carrying some forgotten race's nuclear waste, which has drifted into this system. The crew determines that the best way to get rid of it is to send the barge into the local sun, but there are complications: there's an asteroid belt between them and the sun, and using the tractor beam puts the crew at risk of being fatally irradiated. La Forge and Data come up with a plan to use construction drones to attach thrusters to the barge to control it remotely, but the hull plate one of the thrusters is attached to breaks off, forcing Riker to use the tractor beam after all.

Picard, Wesley, and Dirgo reach a cave in the mountains, at which time Wes catches Dirgo drinking from his flask. Dirgo explains that it's not water, but "dresci," an alcoholic drink from his homeworld. Picard confiscates it for the medical kit, citing it would be better used as a coolant or disinfectant. Meanwhile, Wes has been tracking some elevated energy readings, which lead them to what appears to be a natural water fountain. The fountain is protected by SomeKindOfForceField, however, and when Dirgo fires his phaser in an attempt to disrupt the field, it unleashes a burst of energy that knocks the weapon out of his hand and encases the phaser in some sort of hardened compound. Before anyone can react, a landslide starts, and Picard [[DivingSave knocks Wesley out of the way of the falling rocks]], sustaining severe injuries in the process.

Dirgo makes another attempt to disrupt the field, but gets himself encased by the energy "sentry" for his troubles, which kills him. Wesley is left alone to try to figure out how to disable the field to get to the much-needed water, while keeping Picard awake and alert. Picard tells Wes that he envies him for the adventures he's about to have with so much of his life before him, and advises Wes to seek out a man named Boothby at the Academy--a man Picard considers the wisest on campus, even though he's the groundskeeper. Wes confesses that his hard work on the ''Enterprise'' was all so that Picard would be proud of him; the captain replies that he's always been proud of Wesley.

When they are found, Wes has fallen asleep and is woken up by his mother. Picard is being carried out on a stretcher, but is expected to recover. The captain and the ensign exchange barbs about their dirty uniforms, before Picard grabs Wesley's hand and tells him, "You will be missed."

* TooDumbToLive:
** Dirgo kills himself in the same way he almost killed Picard earlier, and gets Wesley and Picard into further trouble as a result.
** He also refused to pack water and emergency rations onto his shuttle, relying entirely on the onboard replicator and some alcohol despite having enough cargo space.

* WrongGenreSavvy: Dirgo carries four hand phasers in his shuttle. He does not carry any emergency rations in case of a crash.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: So...about the PeaceConference that Picard was supposed to mediate?

* UnderestimatingBadassery: Durgo doesn't think Picard looks very tough, yet Picard is better at handling the desert. Wesley, of course, reminds him of this:

* ChewOutFakeOut: Picard yells at Wesley for showing up on the bridge late before telling him that he's been accepted into Starfleet Academy.

Picard, Wesley, and Dirgo reach a cave in the mountains, at which time Wes catches Dirgo drinking from his flask. Dirgo explains that it's not water, but "dresci," an alcoholic drink from his homeworld. Picard confiscates it for the medical kit, citing it would be better used as a coolant or disinfectant. Meanwhile, Wes has been tracking some elevated energy readings, which lead them to what appears to be a natural water fountain. The fountain is protected by a force field, however, and when Dirgo fires his phaser in an attempt to disrupt the field, it unleashes a burst of energy that knocks the weapon out of his hand and encases the phaser in some sort of hardened compound. Before anyone can react, a landslide starts, and Picard [[DivingSave knocks Wesley out of the way of the falling rocks]], sustaining severe injuries in the process.