Age of Unreason Age of Unreason Summary . Description . On the planet Vrinda , Lord Farhan Tanek discusses the future of the Vardan religion and its people with his advisor , Enzo Clyvans . Tanek plans to use a new weapon to annihilate the Nasnan , a rival religious sect and Tanek ' s political enemy . Clyvans decides that the ensuing civil war would be too catastrophic for the planet and attempts to get to a communications tower located within a Vardan temple . He is able to transmit a signal to Starfleet Headquarters just before a security guard kills him . Cultural Specialist Carol Abramowitz planned to spend her shore leave at a conference on Caliph IX . However , she considers changing those plans when she meets Ian – a " quality inspector " for a company – during her trip aboard a cargo freighter . She and Ian flirt until one of the freighter ' s crewmembers informs her of a message from Captain Scott . Abramowitz is asked to meet with Soloman and language specialist Bart Faulwell on Vrinda . The planet ' s government has asked for Federation intervention as the two disputing sects want to avoid civil war . Although Vrinda could be described as " uncivilized " and " barbaric " , they nonetheless possessed technology comparable to other major powers , given to them by an alien race with nothing along the lines of a Prime Directive . Lord Tanek asks Abramowitz to host the ceremony that will begin a truce between the two warring powers . Meanwhile , Faulwell and Soloman investigate a new device created by one of Abramowitz ' s old rivals , Martin Masur . Masur ' s device can instantly duplicate a body and allow the one person to control both bodies , similar to " astral projection . " However , the device also grants a person the ability to instantly appear anywhere and to gain or lose tangibility at will . For this reason , those in power on Vrinda are concerned about assassination attempts and the loss of all privacy . While Faulwell and Soloman work with Masur on completing a device that would inhibit Masur ' s inventions world - wide , Abramowitz investigates the possibility that Masur is guilty of the crimes of which the Vrindans have accused him – including murder . At the same time , she has to prepare for the ceremony . Thinking it would be easier if there were two of her , she decides to try Masur ' s device . Afterward , she begins to feel power hungry and paranoid , further proving the device ' s negative side - effects . At the ceremony , Abramowitz finally realizes Masur ' s big scheme . He didn ' t come to the planet to design a machine to inhibit the devices , but to empower them . The machine Faulwell and Soloman had been working on would in fact let the whole planet " astral project " when ever they like , plaguing the world with more chaos and violence then it already had . The three of them leave the planet aboard the USS " Sugihara " and return to their shore leave . Peace on Vrinda was not reached but civil war was averted . The planet would begin the road towards Federation membership when its leaders decided that peace was better then the possibility of mutual annihilation . Abramowitz follows Ian and goes to Pacifica . Soloman decided to return to McKinley Station to oversee the refit of the " da Vinci " s new computer . And Faulwell opts to return to Starbase 92 . Memorable quotes . " " Tanek knew that as spiritual leader of the Varden faith , he had certain traditions to uphold , and cold - blooded murder performed without a ceremonial blade and before the first hour of dawn would be a break with ceremony , and thus looked upon unfavorably by his people . " " " " Even you can ’ t think things are that simple and straightforward . Not after being around these people for any length of time . " " " " They must have a library here . I ' ll need to see it . " " " " I doubt they ' ll allow that . They ' ve been bringing items to me , and to Soloman , on a need - to - know basis . " " " " Then I ' ll tell them , what I need to know is all of it . " "