From: tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch)
Subject: Synopsis, "The First Duty"
Followup-To: rec.arts.startrek.current
Summary: == synopsis, as always.
Keywords: TNG, Wesley, Academy
Reply-To: tlynch@juliet.caltech.edu
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 15:56:22 GMT

WARNING:  The following article contains critical spoiler information about 
this week's TNG episode, "The First Duty".  Those not wishing to be caught 
off-guard by spoilers before seeing the show are advised to stand clear.


As the Enterprise heads to Starfleet Academy for Picard's commencement 
address, Picard receives word of an accident in which Wes was involved while 
he and his flight team, the Nova Squadron, were practicing maneuvers.  He's 
fine, but one of the team members, Josh Albert, was killed, and an 
investigation is underway, headed by Admiral Brand, the Academy 
superintendent.  Picard offers to help, but there's no need.

Picard explores the grounds before the hearing, and finds the old 
groundskeeper Boothby, who helped him through trying times when he was a 
student there.  Boothby dismisses Picard's attempts at thanks, saying that 
what Picard's done with his life since is thanks enough, and that he didn't 
do anything.  "You knew what you had to do, what was the right thing.  I just 
made sure you listened to yourself."  Meanwhile, the squadron leader, 
Nicholas Locarno, gives the squadron a pep talk before the hearing, saying 
that everything will be fine--as long as they stick together.  Nick 
testifies, saying that while in a "diamond-slot" formation, they entered a 
maneuver called a Jaeger loop, and that nine seconds later, Josh Albert's 
ship crashed into another cadet's, causing the eventual destruction of all 
five ships.

Cadet Hajar, the cadet whose ship Josh crashed into, testifies that the ships 
did not deviate from their flight plan--and when pressed, admits that they 
did, but by amounts small enough that she didn't feel it was important.  She 
also claims not to have seen Josh break formation, being unaware of a problem 
until her proximity alarm went off.  Cadet Sito, who was in the rear, also 
claimed not to have, saying she was flying only on sensor readings at the 
time--but when pressed, cannot even describe the orientation of Josh's ship.  
Nick breaks in, saying that lately, Josh had been having "difficulties" in 
formation flying, and that he must have panicked.  Admiral Brand is very 
disturbed by this news, and adjourns the hearing until the following day, 
when data from Wes's flight recorder should be ready.  "Everything's fine," 
Nick tells Wes.  "Trust me."

As Picard, citing Wes as "one of our own", asks Geordi and Data to examine 
the evidence themselves, Wes protests Nick lying at the investigation, saying 
that he said no one would have to lie.  Nick responds by saying that he 
*didn't* lie, that Josh probably did panic and "we all know it".  
Reluctantly, Sito and Hajar agree.  Nick says that the only data recoverable 
from Wes's recorder is all before the collision, so that as long as Wes 
doesn't volunteer extra information, all will be fine.  And after all, as 
Sito points out, if they said what *really* happened, they all might as well 
start packing.  Nick tells Wes that he knows what it's like to count on a 
team for his life, since he's been out in space.  

Despite qualms about this, compounded by Josh's father apologizing to Wes for 
Josh letting them all down, Wes sticks to the story when describing the 
recorder's data.  He adds nothing, and when asked whether the ships remained 
in formation just after the Jaeger loop, firmly says yes.  Data from a 
navigational satellite around Saturn is then shown, proving without a doubt 
that the ships were NOT in formation seven seconds after the loop was 
completed.  "What is your explanation, Mister Crusher?"  "I have none, sir."

Beverly attempts to comfort Wes, but her firm belief that the data was 
somehow tampered with to frame Wes only upsets him more, and he begs her not 
to try to protect him from any of this.  Picard talks to Boothby, and finds 
that the Nova Squadron is considered heroes by the entire Academy, and that 
Nick Locarno's personal charm and magnetism is what holds the team together.  
"If he asked them to do something," Boothby says, "they'd do it.  Even if it 
means going right over a cliff."  When Geordi and Data find that Wes's 
coolant interlock was open just before the crash, and that one of the reasons 
for doing that is to purge drive plasma (a dangerous move likely to ignite 
the plasma), Picard realizes that that's exactly what they were trying to 
do...

Picard calls Wes into his ready room and shows him a simulation of a maneuver 
known as the Kolvord Starburst--a very flashy, very spectacular, and very 
dangerous flight stunt.  It's been banned at the Academy for over a hundred 
years, ever since a group of cadets tried it and failed, all five losing 
their lives in the process.  Picard reasons that Nick Locarno wanted his 
Academy career to go out with a blaze of glory, and that he talked the rest 
of them into learning the stunt, and then covering up the truth when disaster 
ensued.  When he asks Wesley if that is correct, Wes first remains silent, 
then chooses not to answer.

Picard is livid, for Wes has already *given* an answer to the inquiry, and 
that answer was a lie.  Wes protests that it was not a lie, but Picard 
angrily points out that "a lie of omission is still a lie!"  He reminds Wes 
of his first day on board, when even annoyed at Wes's apparent presumption on 
the bridge, Picard was impressed at the depth of his knowledge.  He goes on 
to say that ever since he made Wes an acting ensign, he'd always been 
convinced that Wes would be a superb officer--until now.  "The first duty of 
a Starfleet officer is to the truth--be it scientific truth, historical 
truth, PERSONAL truth.  It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet was 
founded!"  And, he continues, if Wes cannot face up to the truth, then he 
doesn't *deserve* to wear a Starfleet uniform.  Picard presents Wes with a 
simple choice:  either Wes tells Admiral Brand what really happened, or 
Picard will.  Period.  End of discussion--and Picard shouts Wes out of the 
room.

Wes, panicked, tells Nick that Picard knows everything.  Nick, upon hearing 
Picard has no evidence, says there's no problem, that all they need to do is 
deny Picard's theory.  Wes balks at this, unable to call Picard a liar--but 
Nick lambastes Wes for having the arrogance to decide the fates of all four 
of them by his own single actions.  He says that the team, Nova Squadron, is 
bigger than any one of them.  He says that without hesitation, if he were in 
Wes's position he'd resign his commission rather than turn the team in, and 
he urges Wes to do the same.

The hearing comes to a close.  Brand says she is very disappointed and 
disturbed by the inconsistencies between the data and the squadron's 
statements, and says it suggests that they have been lying.  However, since 
they have no proof, they close the investigation by only giving them each a 
formal reprimand and terminating their flight privileges.  "This hearing is 
concluded."

"Sir."  Wesley rises.  "I would like to add something to my testimony..."

Wes confesses all, and tells Josh's father outright that Josh didn't let them 
down.  Nick, when asked if he has anything to add, simply says no.

Later, Picard talks to Wesley on the grounds.  Nick has been expelled, and 
the rest of them nearly were--except that Nick pleaded to take full 
responsibility, saying that he pressured them all into it.  As he said he 
would, Nick went down for the team.  Wes feels awful, but Picard isn't 
finished.  In addition to the reprimand, Wes's credits for the year have been 
revoked, and he will not advance with his class--he will pay for his actions. 
And what's more, he'll remain on campus, with everyone knowing what he did.  
"You have difficult times ahead."

Wes stares at the ground, downcast.

"You knew what you had to do.  I just made sure that you listened to 
yourself.  Goodbye, Cadet."

"Goodbye, Captain."  The two part company.

NEXT WEEK:  A rerun, so we all get a breather...phew.  :-)

Tim Lynch (Cornell's first Astronomy B.A.; one of many Caltech grad students)
BITNET:  tlynch@citjuliet
INTERNET:  tlynch@juliet.caltech.edu
UUCP:  ...!ucbvax!tlynch%juliet.caltech.edu@hamlet.caltech.edu
"We thought we could do it.  We thought we could do ANYTHING..."
			--W. Crusher
--
Copyright 1992, Timothy W. Lynch.  All rights reserved, but feel free to ask...
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.science