History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E4Relics

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Happens InUniverse. Many engineering issues that Scotty was familiar with in the 23rd century have been resolved or improved upon in a 24th century Starfleet flagship. He starts panicking over possible a containment breach because some numbers were off and Geordi has to explain that the system is more efficient now and the numbers are right on target.

* IAteWhat: Scotty orders a scotch at Ten Forward and nearly gags at what he was given. The waiter is confused until Data brings up synthehol, an alcohol substitute that emulates taste but minimizes intoxication and addiction. Being a connoisseur, Scotty easily tasted the difference and Data retrieved a private stash Guinan kept behind the counter that is more to his liking.

* [[SciFiWritersHave/NoSenseOfDistance SciFi Writers Have No Sense Of Distance]]: When the ''Enterprise'' is pulled into the sphere, it's clear that the ship is moving very slowly. Once inside, Data states that the ship is 90,000,000 kilometers from the star's chromosphere. The helmsman then states that the residual inertia from the tractor beam is causing them to drive towards the star. They treat this as being a dire emergency, but at the speed that the ship is shown to be moving, it would take days, if not weeks, to actually reach the star. Sure enough, in what is clearly a matter of no more than an hour, the ship has come within 150,000 kilometers of the star and is at risk of being destroyed.
* ScottyTime: The TropeNamer himself discusses it with Geordi.
-->'''Scotty:''' Do you mind a little advice? Starfleet captains are like children. They want everything right now and they want it their way. But the secret is to give them only what they need, not what they want.
-->'''Geordi:''' Yeah, well, I told the Captain I'd have this analysis done in an hour.
-->'''Scotty:''' How long would it really take?
-->'''Geordi:''' An hour.
-->'''Scotty:''' Oh, you didn't tell him how long it would ''really'' take, did you?
-->'''Geordi:''' Well, of course I did.
-->'''Scotty:''' Oh, laddie, you have a lot to learn if you want people to think of you as a miracle worker!

* INeedAFreakingDrink: After an argument with Geordi, he goes to the bar to get drunk. He ends up drinking the Aldebaran whiskey that Picard provided Guinan.

** Data's "it is green" line in Ten Forward is almost the same as a line that Scotty uses in the TOS episode [[Recap/StarTrekS2E22ByAnyOtherName "By Any Other Name"]].

* ContinuityPorn: Probably the heaviest episode of TNG in referencing TOS (writer Creator/RonaldDMoore was the PromotedFanboy of the writing staff and got a chance to include so many references that would otherwise be vetoed). This ranges from direct references to previous episodes to a MythologyGag or two like the green colored alcohol.
* DysonSphere: The setting for the episode (though, technically, it's a Dyson ''Shell''). Whoever built it has long since abandoned it, as the star within is no longer stable enough for humanoids to survive within. The characters are astonished by an object on such a scale, and especially to find one abandoned and undiscovered. For all that the Federation's advanced technology the SufficientlyAdvancedAliens they have learned of and encountered, such a massive undertaking is still beyond them.

* DysonSphere: The setting for the episode (though, technically, it's a Dyson ''Shell''). Whoever built it has long since abandoned it, as the star within is no longer stable enough for humanoids to survive within. The characters themselves, even with all their advanced technology and having encountered [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens far more advanced aliens]], are astonished that anybody would be capable of building such a thing. (A Dyson Sphere and its method of construction can be described and understood, if not recreated, by even twenty-first century science, to say nothing of twenty-''fourth'' century. A race like the Iconians, who had technology so advanced it could just barely be understood, to say nothing of energy beings like the Douwd or the Q, would be more difficult to relate to. Thus, the astonishment isn't so much a lack of an understanding as it is the motivation that would drive a species to undertake such a project.)

* DysonSphere: The setting for the episode (though, technically, it's a Dyson ''Shell''). Whoever built it has long since abandoned it, as the star within is no longer stable enough for humanoids to survive within. The characters themselves, even with all their advanced technology and having encountered [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens far more advanced aliens]], are astonished that anybody would be capable of building such a thing. (Though in fairness, a Dyson Sphere and its method of construction can be described and understood, if not recreated, by even twenty-first century science, to say nothing of twenty-''fourth'' century. A race like the Iconians, who had technology so advanced it could just barely be understood, to say nothing of energy beings like the Douwd or the Q, would be more difficult to relate to.)

* BreakOutTheMuseumePiece: Aboard the ''Jenolan'', Scott grouses that the ship is just so much ''"old, useless garbage."'' Geordi rejoins that most of the basic systems haven't changed, and the ship might still be in service in the 24th century if it hadn't crashed. Sure enough, they manage to get the ship spaceborne again, and it allows them to open the Dyson Sphere's hatch and wedge it open long enough for the ''Enterprise'' to escape.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Happens InUniverse. Many engineering issues that Scotty was proud to have handled during the 23rd century have been long resolved when he's found again.
** Though also inverted — Geordi mentions that some designs and theories aren't all that different than they were in Scotty's day, and had it not been for the structural damage, the ''Jenolan'' would probably still be in Starfleet service.

* DysonSphere: The setting for the episode (though, technically, it's a Dyson ''Shell''). Whoever built it has long since abandoned it, as the star within is no longer stable enough for humanoids to survive within. The characters themselves, even with all their advanced technology and having encountered [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens far more advanced aliens]], are astonished that anybody would be capable of building such a thing.

--->'''Scotty''': Shunt the deuterium from the main cryo-pump to the auxiliary tank. \\

Scott wanders into Ten-Forward, where he samples some synthehol and nearly spits it out. Data serves a real alcoholic drink to Scott, which Scott likes, though he mutters to himself about the future being full of "synthetic alcohol and synthetic people." After getting drunk, he stumbles to the holodeck and recreates the bridge of the original ''Enterprise''. Scott wistfully recalls his glory days while [[ToAbsentFriends drinking a toast to his absent comrades]]. But his pity party is interrupted by Picard, who downs shots of Scott's whiskey and commiserates with him. Scott says that the original ''Enterprise'' is the only ship he misses, and Picard admits that he misses his first command, the ''Stargazer'', even though it is completely outclassed by the current ''Enterprise''. He offers to let Scott peruse the modern tech manuals, but Scott refuses, saying that the time comes when every man has to know when to quit. He shuts off the simulation and leaves.

The engineers wedge the ''Jenolan'' between the doors, the shields hold and La Forge manages to open a communications channel to the ''Enterprise''. The starship receives the hail and sets a course for the hatch. The ''Jenolan'' suffers heavy damage while the craft is wedged in the hatch and La Forge tells Picard that the ''Enterprise'' will have to destroy the ship to escape. When the ''Enterprise'' is in transporter range of the ''Jenolan'', Picard gives the order to beam La Forge and Scott back on board (with the ''Jenolan''[='=]s shields still raised) and fire photon torpedoes, destroying the ''Jenolan''. The doors continue to close, but the ''Enterprise'' manages to exit the sphere. As La Forge and Scott walk off the transporter pad, Scott is cheerfully relieved to be returned to safety.

** Data's "it is green" line in Ten Forward is almost the same as a line Scotty uses in the TOS episode [[Recap/StarTrekS2E22ByAnyOtherName "By Any Other Name"]].

** Geordi returns the favor by relating the events of [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E16GalaxysChild "Galaxy's Child"]]. Scotty notes, "You soured the milk!" which was exactly the line Geordi and Brahms used to describe their ploy.
** A very minor one from [[Recap/StarTrekS1E16TheGalileoSeven "The Galileo Seven"]]—Spock and Scott had a similar discussion about using a backup deuterium tank, which Scotty said was too delicate to take the pressure.
** Scotty is surprised that a Klingon (Worf) is serving in Starfleet. The last time we saw Scotty ([[Film/StarTrekGenerations at this point in the franchise]]) was ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'', when the Federation had ''just'' made peace with the Klingon Empire. Even better, the Klingon who acted as Kirk and [=McCoy=]'s defender was actually [[YouLookFamiliar Worf's grandfather]].
* ColdSleepColdFuture: After a while, Scotty starts to feel he has no place in the 24th century.

* NostalgiaFilter: Invoked by Picard and Scotty. Picard in particular muses that his first command, the ''USS Stargazer'' was an "overworked, underpowered vessel, always on the verge of flying apart at the seams" and that the ''Enterprise''-D is in every way superior, but that there's times where he'd give anything to be commanding ''Stargazer'' again.

* RedShirt: The guy who went into transport suspension with Scotty. Died without appearing onscreen. Scotty is found with his injured arm wrapped in an improvised sling...a sling consisting of a strip of torn red fabric.

* [[SciFiWritersHave/NoSenseOfDistance SciFi Writers Have No Sense Of Distance]]: When the ''Enterprise'' is pulled into the sphere, it's clear that the speed at which the ship is moving is very slow. Once inside, Data states that the ship is 90,000,000 kilometers from the star's chromosphere. The helmsman then states that the residual inertia from the tractor beam is causing them to drive towards the star. They treat this as being a dire emergency, but at the speed the ship is shown to be moving, it would take days, if not weeks, to actually reach the star. Sure enough, in what is clearly a matter of no more than an hour, the ship has come within 150,000 kilometers of the star and is at risk of being destroyed.

-->'''Geordi:''' Well of course I did.

** Later, when Geordi suggests they repair the ''Jenolan'' to look for the ''Enterprise'', Scotty says it'll take a week just to get started. But, they don't have a week, so better get to work!
* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: Scotty tells Geordi to shunt some pressure to a reserve tank. Geordi replies that the regulations state the tank can't withstand that much pressure. Scotty points out that ''he'' wrote the regulations in question (Regulation 42/15, "Pressure Variances on IRC Tank Storage"), and "A good engineer is always a wee bit conservative, at least on paper." [[note]]Definitely TruthInTelevision, hence the entire concept of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factor_of_safety Factor of Safety]][[/note]] Thus explaining every single piece of technology based PlotArmor and NeverTellMeTheOdds in Star Trek franchise with one easy to miss line.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Happens InUniverse. Many engineering issues Scotty was proud to have handled during the 23rd century have been long resolved when he's found again.
** Though also inverted — Geordi mentions that some designs and theories aren't all that different than they were in Scotty's day, and had it not been for the structural damage the ''Jenolan'' would probably still be in Starfleet service.

--->'''Scotty:''' Ah, it's like the first time you fall in love. You never love a woman quite like that again. To the ''Enterprise'' and the ''Stargazer'' -- old girlfriends we'll never meet again.
* {{Understatement}}: Scotty mentions that [[Recap/StarTrekS2E14WolfInTheFold the first time]] he visited Argelius, he got into "a wee bit of trouble". (He was framed for murder.)
* UnwantedAssistance: Anytime Scotty tries to help Geordi in Engineering. Makes you feel bad for Scotty. The poor guy is really out of touch with the 24th century technology and he wants to do what he can to help the ''Enterprise''.

* YouAreInCommandNow: Scotty tells Geordi to take the ''Jenolan''[='=]s conn. When Geordi points out that Scotty's the senior officer present, he brushes it aside saying that he may be a captain by rank but he's happier being just an engineer.

* ToAbsentFriends: During the holodeck scene, Scotty raises a glass on the the original ''Enterprise'' bridge.

* ContinuityDrift: Scotty believes Kirk sent the ''Enterprise'' to find him despite ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'' later revealing that Scotty had ''been there'' when Kirk had been lost during the ''Enterprise''-B's encounter with the Nexus. This is mostly due to the fact that the first draft of the ''Generations'' script wouldn't be written for another six months when the episode aired, and that Scotty was not even meant to be in ''Generations'' at all and was only brought in because Leonard Nimoy wasn't available. [=StarTrek.com=] attempted to handwave this by saying Scotty was disoriented while an ExpandedUniverse novel claimed that [[NeverFoundTheBody Scotty secretly hoped Kirk had made it out alive (which he did)]].

--->'''Scotty:''' Ah, it's like the first time you fall in love. You never love a woman quite like that again. To the ''Enterprise'' and the ''Stargazer''–-old girlfriends we'll never meet again.

* YouAreInCommandNow: Scotty tells Geordi to take the ''Jenolan''[='=]s conn. When Geordi points out that Scotty's the senior officer present, he brushes it aside saying that he may be a captain by rank but he's happier being just an engineer.

** The Enterprise-D's Junior Officers' Quarters set (usually Worf's quarters) was in fact Kirk's Quarters set from ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'' and ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan''. Presumably an honoured guest would get bigger quarters than a junior officer, so Scotty's statement is correct.

Scott wanders into Ten-Forward, where he samples some synthehol and nearly spits it out. Data locals a real alcoholic drink for Scott, which Scott likes, though he mutters to himself about the future being full of "synthetic alcohol and synthetic people." After getting drunk, he stumbles to the holodeck and recreates the bridge of the original ''Enterprise''. Scott wistfully recalls his glory days while [[ToAbsentFriends drinking a toast to his absent comrades]]. But his pity party is interrupted by Picard, who downs shots of Scott's whiskey and commiserates with him. Scott says that the original ''Enterprise'' is the only ship he misses, and Picard admits that he misses his first command, the ''Stargazer'', even though it is completely outclassed by the current ''Enterprise''. He offers to let Scott peruse the modern tech manuals, but Scott refuses, saying that the time comes when every man has to know when to quit. He shuts off the simulation and leaves.

The following day, Picard suggests to La Forge that Scott could help recover the logs from the damaged ''Jenolan''. He also makes a personal request that La Forge personally accompany him to make Scott feel useful again. Geordi agrees. After they pair beam over, the ''Enterprise'' moves to investigate a communications array on the Dyson sphere and gets pulled inside by automated tractor beams. The ship's systems get overloaded in the process, causing the ship to start hurtling toward the central sun with minimal power.

The ''Enterprise'' manages to use their remaining impulse power to enter an orbit around the star, but its violent solar flares will destroy them in three hours if they don't find a way to escape. On the

La Forge and Scott work on repairing the ''Jenolan''[='=]s engines. Geordi is cautious about exceeding Starfleet regulations on deuterium, but Scott reveals that he ''wrote'' those regulations and knows exactly how far he can push them. They get the ship running, and Scott offers Geordi the command in spite of technically being the senior officer. He explains that even though he's a captain, he only ever thought of himself as an engineer. With Geordi in command, they track the ''Enterprise'' trail into the sphere. Scott proposes entering the sphere and hold the doors open with their shields to let the ''Enterprise'' out. Geordi is leery of such a cockamamie idea, but Scott assures him that it will work, so Geordi agrees.

After Scott thanks La Forge for re-materializing him, he runs over to the transporter console and attempts to retrieve a second pattern, that of Ensign Matt Franklin, but unfortunately, one of the phase inducers has failed and the transporters cannot compensate – Franklin's pattern has degraded too much for him to be rematerialized. Riker offers his condolences and introduces La Forge and himself to Scott. When Riker explains that they came from the starship ''Enterprise'', Scott reacts understandably, believing he was saved by a crew led by Jim Kirk, and asks how long he was in the pattern buffers. Worf interrupts the conversation and Riker introduces the security officer to Scott. Learning that there is a Klingon serving in Starfleet, Scott realizes that he has been in the buffer for an extremely long time. When asked why he used the transporters to place himself and Franklin in such a state, Scott explains that although only he and Franklin survived the crash, there were too few supplies to survive long enough to be rescued.

After transporting back to the ''Enterprise'', La Forge escorts Scott to sickbay while discussing some of the advances in technology over the past seventy-five years and the events leading to the ''Jenolan''[='=]s crash. La Forge tells Scott that he is very impressed with his use of the transporter to survive, but Scott acts modestly, due to the fact that he lost his friend. In sickbay, Scott is diagnosed with only minor injuries. Captain Picard greets Scott in sickbay and is surprised that he was on board the ''Jenolan'', as the engineer wasn't listed in the crew manifest. However, Scott explains that he was traveling aboard the ''Jenolan'' as a passenger to the Norpin colony on Norpin V to enjoy his retirement. When La Forge is ordered to study the Dyson sphere, Scott is eager to help, but Dr. Crusher advises him to rest. When Scott is escorted to his quarters by Ensign Kane, he is awestruck at the luxury that he is entitled to, compared with starships of his time period. Scott, with much enthusiasm, reminisces to Kane about his years in Starfleet, but Kane has little interest in Scott's nostalgia and returns to duty, leaving Scott alone, feeling much less enthusiastic and somewhat pensive about life in the 24th century.

As La Forge and his team are working on their spectrographic analysis of the sphere, Scott interrupts, insisting on offering La Forge his assistance. La Forge skeptically accepts Scott's offer and the team begin their duties. Meanwhile, on the bridge, Data reports to Captain Picard that the sphere was built around a G-type star and that its interior surface provides an environment much like that of an M-Class planet, but there are no apparent signs of inhabitants. Picard orders for probes to be launched to speed up the scans of the sphere. Back in engineering, Scott finds further advances and changes in technology that in his era were dangerous. La Forge is quietly becoming irritated until Scott offers advice on how to deal with Starfleet captains. When La Forge finally voices his frustration and tells Scott that he is in the way, the older officer leaves engineering in a disgruntled state.

Later, Scott arrives in Ten Forward and orders a drink of Scotch whisky. He is repulsed when he tastes the drink, realizing that it is not "real" Scotch. Data approaches and tells Scott about the use of synthehol instead of alcohol and offers him a "real" alcoholic drink of Aldebaran whiskey from Guinan's personal supply. The engineer's reaction to this drink is much more pleasant.

In a slightly drunken state, Scott arrives outside one of the holodecks and requests a simulation of the bridge of his ship. The computer states that his request is insufficient, so Scott angrily says he wants to see the bridge of the ''Enterprise''. The computer then tells Scott that there have been five Federation starships with that name and asks Scott to specify by registry number. Scott then states in annoyance...
->''"NCC one-seven-oh-one. No bloody A, B, C, or D."''
The computer accepts his instructions and creates an authentic replica of the bridge of the ship he served on for the longest duration. [[TearJerker Scott fondly remembers his time aboard his former ship,]] [[ToAbsentFriends even drinking a toast to his absent comrades.]] He sits down at his old engineering station and gives a deep, dejected sigh just as Captain Picard walks in after coming off duty and excuses himself for interrupting. Scott perks up and welcomes him into the simulation, offering Picard a drink, which he happily accepts. Just as Scott is about to warn Picard of the drinks' strength, Picard downs a glassful, which he instantly recognizes as Aldebaran whiskey and tells Scott he gave it to Guinan. Picard recognizes the bridge as that of a ''Constitution''-class starship, and explains that there's one in the fleet museum. Picard then recognizes the bridge as that of Scott's ''Enterprise''. Scott then says he served on two, but this is the first one and the first ship he ever served on as chief engineer. Scott mentions that he served on eleven ships of varying class, but that ''Enterprise'' is the only one he misses or thinks about. Picard then recalls his first command on the USS ''Stargazer''. Picard describes the ''Stargazer'' as overworked, underpowered and always on the verge of flying apart at the seams. Picard says that while his ''Enterprise'' is far superior, there are days when he'd give almost anything to command the ''Stargazer'' again. Scott compares their feelings as to the first time a man falls in love and that he never loves a woman quite the same way. They then share a toast to the original ''Enterprise'' and to the ''Stargazer'', Scott calling them "old girlfriends we'll never meet again." Picard then asks Scott what he thinks of the ''Enterprise''-D. Scotty calls her a beauty, but laments that when he was on his ''Enterprise'', he could tell the speed of the ship by the feel of the deck plates. He then begins to feel gloomy and opines that he is in the way and obsolete in the 24th century. When Picard offers to let Scott peruse the updated technical manuals, Scotty refuses, saying that he can't start out again like a raw cadet. He says there is a time when a man knows it's time to quit and time to stop living in the past. He then shuts off the bridge simulation and leaves the holodeck feeling dejected but determined to start acting his age. Picard can only look on sadly as the legendary engineer exits, clearly feeling for the man.

The following day, Picard asks La Forge about recovering the logs of the ''Jenolan'', but the engineer says that all efforts so far have yielded very little as the ship's computer core was heavily damaged when it crashed. Picard suggests having Scott assist in trying to recover the ship's logs; La Forge agrees that Scott would be of great help as he knows the ''Jenolan''[='=]s systems better than anybody on the ''Enterprise'' and says that he'll send Lt. Bartel with Scott over to the Jenolan. At this point, the captain asks that La Forge personally accompany Scott back to the ''Jenolan'' to recover the ship's logs, hoping to make Scott feel useful again. While Picard makes it clear that this is a request, not an order, La Forge understands the captain's motive and gladly accepts.

In the morning, La Forge waits in the transporter room for Scott, who is late. He finally arrives and apologizes as they immediately enter the transporter, mentioning that he has a bit of a hangover. As La Forge and Scott transport over to the ''Jenolan'', Data discovers a communications array in close proximity to the ''Enterprise''[='=]s current location, and the crew set a course for it. As the ''Enterprise'' arrives at the array, the crew discovers a large hatch in the Dyson sphere, which they presume is a front door. As they open hailing frequencies, the hatch opens and a series of powerful tractor beams pull the ''Enterprise'' inside the sphere, easily overpowering it.

Due to the fact that the resonance frequency of the tractor beams used to pull the ''Enterprise'' inside is incompatible with the starship's power systems, the relays for the warp and impulse drive overload and are rendered inoperable. The ''Enterprise'' has now lost primary and auxiliary systems and the ship is soon released from the tractor beams. However, because the ''Enterprise'' is still moving under the momentum of being towed in, it is heading directly for the star at the center of the sphere.

Back on board the ''Jenolan'', Scott is having trouble with recovering the ship's log, calling it "garbage." La Forge realizes that Scott is referring to both himself and the ship, and tries to console him by saying that the basics of technology haven't changed a great deal in seventy-five years, the transporters of the ''Jenolan'' are virtually identical to those of the ''Enterprise'', subspace radio and sensors work on the same basic principles, and that impulse engine design has changed little in two centuries — long before Scott's time. La Forge adds that the ''Jenolan'' would probably still be in service had the vessel's structural damage not been so extensive. Scott is dismissive and retorts that nobody would want something as old as the ''Jenolan'' (and again hints at himself as well) but La Forge disagrees, saying that if the ship were in service, it could still run circles around the ''Enterprise'' at impulse speeds: "Just because something's old, doesn't mean you throw it away." Scott feels much more welcome and a bond begins to form between him and La Forge. However, the moment breaks as Scott moves back to the console he was working on. He asks La Forge to retrieve a dynamic mode converter from the ''Enterprise'', a tool which may help to recover the ''Jenolan''[='=]s log entries. La Forge suggests using something similar but his call to the ''Enterprise'' goes unanswered.

Back on board the ''Enterprise'', the ship is three minutes from being destroyed by the star. However, Commander Riker has managed to restore thirty percent power to the maneuvering thrusters, although they will still not be enough to save the ship from destruction. It is not until power is diverted from the auxiliary relay systems to the thrusters that the starship manages to achieve a stable orbit in the photosphere of the star. Picard demands to know why the ''Enterprise'' was towed in, and orders a scan of the sphere's interior for lifeforms. When La Forge and Scotty fail to locate the ''Enterprise'', they realize that the starship must be inside the sphere. Although it seems impossible to repair the ''Jenolan''[='=]s flight capability, the two engineers still try restoring power to the ship's engines.

On board the ''Enterprise'', Data reports to Picard that the star is highly unstable, expelling matter and severe bursts of radiation. This explains why the inhabitants of the sphere abandoned it. The android postulates that the ''Enterprise'' may have unintentionally triggered an automated series of tractor beams which would guide a starship inside the sphere — this would explain why the ''Enterprise'' was pulled inside without anyone occupying the sphere. When the star emits a solar flare, the ''Enterprise'' raises her shields accordingly, but the vessel's shields are only operating at 23%. To worsen matters, the solar flares are becoming larger and within three hours, the ''Enterprise''[='=]s shields will no longer protect the starship.

La Forge and Scott work on repairing the ''Jenolan''[='=]s engines by jury-rigging the ship's supply of deuterium — La Forge initially insists that Scott's suggestion to send it through the auxiliary tank can't be done, but when he cites impulse engine specifications, Scott laughs, claims authorship of the regulation in question, and assures him that, while he knew the tank could handle the pressure, on paper a good engineer should be more cautious than in the field. Eventually, they are successful as power is restored. When Scott offers La Forge the command chair, La Forge is surprised as Scott is the senior officer. However, Scott tells La Forge that, while he holds the rank of captain, all he ever wanted to be was an engineer, and insists that La Forge take command of the ''Jenolan''. La Forge finally accepts and Scott moves to the engineering console. Meanwhile, the ''Enterprise'' is heavily damaged by the star's solar flares, but Riker reports that partial impulse power has been restored. Picard asks Worf if the ship's phasers could be used to cut a hole through the shell of the sphere, allowing the ''Enterprise'' to escape, but the sphere is composed of [[AppliedPhlebotinum carbon neutronium]] and phasers (or any other of the ship's weapons) would be completely ineffective.

As the ''Jenolan'' slowly orbits the sphere, La Forge and Scott trace the impulse ion trail from the ''Enterprise'' to the hatch that the starship was pulled into. The ion trail's momentum distribution around the hatch suggests that the ''Enterprise''[='=]s impulse engines were at full reverse and that the starship was dragged into the sphere unwillingly. La Forge and Scott realize that the hatches are access terminals (and not communications arrays), which are triggered by certain subspace frequencies, such as hailing frequencies. When the ''Jenolan'' opened hailing frequencies seventy-five years ago, the tractor beams locked on to the ship, severely damaging it and causing the vessel to crash on the surface of the sphere. Scott suggests positioning the ''Jenolan'' 500,000 kilometers, far enough away from the hatch, then opening hailing frequencies so that the hatch will open but the tractor beams will miss the ship. As the hatch would begin to close, the ''Jenolan'' would enter a gap between the doors and use the vessel's shields to hold the doors open for the ''Enterprise'' to exit the sphere. La Forge dismisses the idea as suicidal, but Scott pleads to him that the theory will work. Eventually, La Forge makes the decision to go ahead with Scott's plan.

* CallBack: Data's "it is green" line in Ten Forward is almost the same as a line Scotty uses in the TOS episode [[Recap/StarTrekS2E22ByAnyOtherName "By Any Other Name"]].

** Geordi returns the favor by relating the events of [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E16GalaxysChild "Galaxy's Child"]].
--->'''Scotty:''' [[MemeticMutation You soured the milk!]][[invoked]]

* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: Scotty tells Geordi to shunt some pressure to a reserve tank. Geordi replies that the regulations state the tank can't withstand that much pressure. Scotty points out that ''he'' wrote the regulations in question (Regulation 42/15, "Pressure Variances on IRC Tank Storage"), and "A good engineer is always a wee bit conservative, at least on paper." Thus explaining every single piece of technology based PlotArmor and NeverTellMeTheOdds in Star Trek franchise with one easy to miss line.

* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: Scotty tells Geordi to shunt some pressure to a reserve tank. Geordi replies that the regulations state the tank can't withstand that much pressure. Scotty points out that ''he'' wrote the regulations in question, and "A good engineer is always a wee bit conservative, at least on paper." Thus explaining every single piece of technology based PlotArmor and NeverTellMeTheOdds in Star Trek franchise with one easy to miss line.
* StarshipLuxurious: Scotty is completely astonished by the size of the ''Enterprise''-D. When he comments that even an admiral in his day wouldn't have quarters the size of the guest room he's given, the ensign attending him is confused and offers him something even ''bigger''.

* INeedAFreakingDrink: After an argument with Geordi, he goes to the bar to get drunk. He ends up drinking a special liquor that Picard provided Guinan.
* LikeADuckTakesToWater: Scotty tries to show that his engineering expertise is still useful in the 24th century.

-->'''Scotty:''' [[MemeticMutation You soured the milk!]][[invoked]]

* DysonSphere: The setting for the episode. Whoever built it has long since abandoned it, as the star within is no longer stable enough for humanoids to survive within. The characters themselves, even with all their advanced technology and having encountered [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens far more advanced aliens]], are astonished that anybody would be capable of building such a thing.

'''Scotty''': Shunt the deuterium from the main cryo-pump to the auxiliary tank. \\