From: wixer!cactus.org!wixer!pro-smof.cts.com!waden@cactus.org (Wade Nelson)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Trek script - writers/reviewers wanted
Date: 28 Jan 1993 21:50:35 -0600
Organization: The SMOF-BBS: Science Fiction Online Since 1985 [512-467-7317]
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

165 lines 1400 Words
ST-TNG Script Idea  RNo Greater LoveS
Copyright 1993 Wade H. Nelson


Attached you will find my ST-TNG script idea, RNo Greater LoveS.  I would
appreciate comments/feedback on it, particularly

Agreement:  Yes, this is how various TNG characters, act, react
                        yes, this is an interesting new twist, ...

Feedback with suggestion:  No, the Enterprise crew would never ...
                        More interesting would be ...

Remember, the more positive you are in your feedback the more likely I am
to be
ableto RhearS your ideas for improving the script.  I donUt want to try and
make a script which pleases everybody, but I do want to draw on as many of
your
ideas and suggestions for improvement as possible without losing MY concept
for
the or 


As well, for those who dare write as well as criticize, I challenge you to
write
a RsceneS based on this outline to go into the actual script.  You write
the
dialog, such as:

Sample Scene Description: Preparing to test the device, bridge
-------------------------------------------------------

Picard: RHow long until we reach the test site, DataS

Data: RAt current speed of Warp 5, two hours twenty two minutes SirS 

Picard: RPicard to Leforge.  How are those power coupling connections
coming
alongS

LeforgeS  Should just be another hour, Captain.  WeUll ...


You wonUt get paid or any formal recognition, should I be incredibly lucky
and
somehow get this script accepted by Paramount, but you can watch this
episode
the rest of your life knowing you wrote that line!  

********************************************************************
ST-TNG Script Idea: 

RNo Greater LoveS  rev3   1/16/93  Copyright  Wade H. Nelson

        Federation scientists discover a powerful device in the remains of
an outpost
abandoned by some future civilization.  The Enterprise is sent on a mission
to
make a preliminary test of this device, which malfunctions, accidentally
destroyimg virtually an entire sector of Romulan territory. This results in
the
loss of several tens of thousands of Romulan lives. Picard and the
Enterprises
crew ar left to grapple with how to handle taking responsibility for the
accident and attempting to avert war.  

        The EnterpriseUs role in causing the destruction has not yet been
discovered by
the Romulans (or so the crew believes)  but the EnterpriseUs presence near
the
NZ will eventually be discovered by the Romulans.  An ion trail leads from
the
destroyed sector across the NZ to where the Enterprise is located, its warp
drives tmporarily crippled by side effects from the devices malfunction. 

        Picard and the Senior officers struggle to decide on an appropriate
course of
action.  Choices include repairing the device for an attempt to again use
it a
second time should the now-gathering Romulan war fleet cross the NZ,
(Warf),
admitting, and taking responsiblity for the mistake, including crossing the
NZ
and offering to render assistance to the surviving Romulans in that sector,
(Picard) or returning to Starfleet to re-group, allowing other Federation
vesselsdiplomats to attempt to resolve the crisis,[Crusher].  Starfleet has
advised RTake whatever action you deem as having the highest likelihood of
preventing the outbreak of war.S  

        Normally rock-hard Picard suffers a mild breakdown as a result of
the
responsibility he feels, and his recognition of there truly being little or
no
possibility of his negotiating a political solution which will prevent the
outbreak of war.  His entire Senior Staff is united in their belief that a
decision o cross the NZ, approach the Romulans, acknowledge their having
caused
the destruction and offering to render aid would be a suicide mission. 
RRevenge
is all they knowS quotes Warf 

         Picard is forced to seek council from Counselor Troi, who argues
he should
allow the Senior Staff and the EnterprisesU crew itself make the difficult
decision.  The Senior Staff itself is nearly torn apart, with Warf arguing
strenously to concentrate efforts on repairing the device to be able
destroy the
Romlan war fleet, war being unavoidable in his mind, and Dr. Crusher,
arguing
that the Enterprise is too personally involved in this tragedy and must not
be
the ones to approach the Romulans to offer apologies, explanations or
assistance, agreeing with Worf they will most certainly seek Ran eye for an
eyeS. Both she and Picard see repairs to the warp drives as most critical
at
this juncture, she, so they can high-tail it out of their presently
vulnerable
position.  Another alternative of having the Federation claim the
Enterprise was
actingon its own accord and disavowing prior knowledge of its actions to
allow
it become a scapegoat in the hopes of preventing war is quickly rejected. 

        Ryker alternately takes WarfUs side, then Crushers, with tempers
flaring first
between he and Crusher, then Warf. Throughout the ordeal Data, almost
neurotically, continually re-calculates and informs everyone of the %
likelihood
(to three decimal places) of the Romulan war fleet entering the NZ, and
utilizing long range sensors to discover the Enterprise.  This furthers the
tension.The normal friendships so strong onboard the Enterprise threaten to
come apart. Irritated Picard finally orders Data to discontinue informing
the
crew of the ever incresing likelihood. Copyright 1993  Wade H. Nelson

        Ultimately, Picard overrules the Senior Staff, rejecting the other
alternatives. He believes full disclosure as being the right and honorable
thing
to do, regardless of the consequences, and directs the again warp-capable
E-prize cross the NZ deep into the ravaged Romulan territory.  The Romulans
react in a semi-unexpected way; rejecting the EnterpriseUs offer of
providing
humanitarian aid and in supporting evacuations, not declaring war, but
instead
declaring a death sentence for the crew of Eprise and demanding Picard to
turn
over of all information about the weapon and surrender the Enterprise.  By
this
point, Picard has already had Jordy destroy the device & all computer
records of
it.  When informed of this the Romulans are greatly angered & threaten to
call
off the RdealS, fearing a major loss of balance of power in the known
universe.
The Enterpise by now is surrounded by Romulan war birds. 

        The Romulans re-state their RdealS, this time giving the Enterprise
an
opportunity to self-destruct for their role in the RmassacreS in exchange
for
not declaring war on the Federation. They have been convinced  (by
inspection?)
the device causing the destruction was the only of its kind and poses no
further
threat to the Romulan empire or the balance of power) (Picard and crew
having
refusethe earlier Romulan demand to unconditionally surrender the
Enterprise)
Warf, still skeptical, thinks they may declare war anyway, with the
Federation
left with one less starship to defend itself with.  Picard declares this to
be a
risk they must accept to give peace the best possible chance. RSomeone must
be
the first to lay down their weaponsS  Worf argues unsuccessfully, one last
time,
to maneuver the Enterpirse closer the Romulan vessels encircling it before
SDUing, again, a proposal which Picard rejects, heatedly explaining to Warf
that
war is what he is trying at all costs to avoid and has no plan to take any
offensive actions whatsoever.   

        The Staff and crew are unable to find any alternatives to the
Romulan
ultimatum. Many of the crew are seen recording last messages to their
families
which they expect will never be viewed.  The bridge crew is solemn as the
crew
is reminded by Picard over the comm system that their sacrifice will
hopefully
prevent the outbreak of war between the Federation and the Romulan empire
and
ultimately save millions of lives.   Pickard and Ryker engage the
self-destruct
sequence.  However, at T=0, the expected explosion does not occur.  

  Instead, a luminous Rhigher beingS appears on the bridge, where all of
the
officers except Warf are seen crying.

        RNo Greater Love is there than to lay down ones life for othersS  

quotes the being.  Having said this, he holds out nail-pierced hands, and
dissapears.   Data reports the present location of the Enterprise as being
where
it was prior to engaging the device, which Jordy reports as having
mysteriously
dissapeared, apparently having removed from the Enterprise by the higher
beings
that accidentally left it behind previously.  Warf reports that the
destroyed
Romulan sector has re-appeared on sensors, and the assembling Romulan war
vessels are no longer present. All evidence of damage to the Enterprise has
vanished, and an incoming  transmission from the Romulans warning the
Enterprise
against violating the treaty by making any incursions into the NZ would
make it
appear that to the Romulans, it was as if nothing had ever happened. 
Copyright
1993 Wade H.Nelson




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