“Pen Pals” is episode fifteen of season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise is in the Selcundi Drema sector where many planets have been turned to rubble. Data says that the asteroid belt they are currently looking at used to be a planet. Worf asks if it could be the action of an unknown intelligence. Commander Riker says no; it’s just geology. The question is why.
Captain Picard is dressed in a riding outfit and is heading to a holodeck with Counsellor Troi. She didn’t think he was an animal person. Small animals, no. Horses are different. The captain talks about the bond between horses and people; Troi thinks he wants a companion, not a pet. Picard replies that some creatures have the capacity to fill spaces we never knew were empty. Troi doesn’t want to ride something that has a mind of its own. The captain thought that Betazoids would make outstanding animal trainers. Apparently, they tend to lose their way inside the animal’s mind. The captain is mounting when Riker calls him; he may want to come to the bridge. It’s interesting, and a little terrifying. The last unmanned probe that scanned the planet they are currently looking at reported a thriving ecosystem. Now, the planet looks molten.
The captain calls a meeting with Dr Pulaski, Troi and Geordi, but says the meeting is actually Commander Riker’s. Riker is overseeing Wesley’s education, and wants to discuss the idea of putting him in charge of a planetary mineral; survey. He’ll need a team for this. Pulaski wonders if they are teaching a young officer or a young man; she’s concerned they may be pushing him too hard. Riker calls Wesley to the observation lounge; when Wesley arrives, a chunk of the senior staff is staring at him. A worrying tableau, until Riker tells him he’s been assigned a command. He’ll need a team. Picard tells Wesley that he should be prepared to admit his ignorance and ask questions if needed. Meanwhile, Data is working on a personal project detecting transmissions. It will detect artificial ones as well.
Wesley does ask for help from Riker and Troi. He needs advice about a team, there are so many factors he’s considering. He lists who he has. They are also much older than him. And what about personality conflicts? Riker tells him that it’s his charge; in such situations, Wesley settles it. The first person Wesley sees is Ensign Davies, who offers to help and take over if needed. Not a great start. Data’s personal project has now received an artificial signal. He boosts and translates it, to hear someone asking if there is anyone out there. Data replies ‘Yes.’ That’s an oops.
Six weeks into the sector and each system shows the same disturbing geological upheavals. Wesley wants his team to perform another test, but gets talked out of it, primarily by Davies. Which knocks his confidence a bit. Data is looking at the recent volcanic data for Drema IV. What he sees makes him head to see the captain. He explains to Picard that, eight weeks ago, he received a transmission. And answered it. And still continues to speak to the person. Picard asks if their society is aware of interstellar life. They are not. Picard’s response is ‘Oops.’ Data has kept it vague where he is calling from, but now her planet is on the verge of destruction too. If they can figure it the cause, they can stop it. Violate the Prime Directive? Data hopes there was another option. Picard calls a conference of the senior staff.
Wesley heads to find Riker in Ten Forward and asks advice about Ensign Davies. How does he order around someone older and more experienced? Riker thinks that age isn’t the issue. Is it ego? No; the opposite. What makes Wesley’s judgement superior? Riker stells him that this command was given to Wesley to build a pattern of self-confidence. If Wesley doesn’t trust his judgement, he doesn’t belong in the command chair. Wesley asks, what if he’s wrong? Then he’s wrong. It would be arrogant to expect never to make a mistake. What if someone dies? Wesley should ask one question. What would Picard do? He listens, then he makes a decision. Why doesn’t anyone question it? Wesley doesn’t know. Riker is summoned to the captain’s quarters. Wesley has made his decision. He goes and finds Davies and tells him to do the survey. Davies agrees, no questions. Perhaps suspiciously easy. Maybe he had been told to challenge Wesley, to see if he was up to the task.
The question the senior staff have to face is what to do about the planet. The Prime Directive tells them not to. Pulaski thinks a case where millions will die in a natural disaster is different. The captain asks her what about disease? Yes. War? She’s a little less certain. And continues going down through a list. Where do they stop? The Prime Directive is there for a reason.