Tholian Gambit (TNG Era episode)

Tholian Gambit is the 22nd episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation The Next Generation Season 2.
==Synopsis==
The Enterprise encounters a Tholian web and is hopelessly stuck. A dying Tholian , poisoned by something unknown, comes along to see who is caught in the web. The Enterprise crew promises to find out what the poison is and how to administer an antidote in exchange for release. Dark shadows from within the Tholian Assembly maybe responsible or was it an outside force trying to upend the Tholian Hegemony? 
==Script Chapters==
===Teaser===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION-THOLIAN BORDER
Enterprise emerges from warp and engages her impulse engines and moves slowly through the sector.
CAPT. BRANSON'S [voice over]: Captain's Log Stardate 57056.1, The Enterprise has entered sector 228 along the Federation-Tholian border after several vessels have mysteriously vanished the Enterprise has been tasked to search for them
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE
Captain Branson is standing up in front of the ops and helm stations as as the transparent viewer shows a debris field of the missing vessels.
CAPT. BRANSON: Make no assumptions people full scans of the sector I wanna know what we're dealing with.
The crew gets to work on their consoles.
CAPT. BRANSON: Sito?
LT. SITO: Negative sir not even their distress beacons.
Captain Branson walks to the Captain's chair.
CAPT. BRANSON: Yellow alert, continual scans for Tholian vessels as well I don't want to be caught off guard.
Then sensors erupt in a rapidly beep.
LT. SITO: Detecting increase energy field all around us!
EXT-FEDERATION-THOLIAN BORDER
A web starts forming as the Enterprise is at station keeping.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE [YELLOW ALERT]
Transparent viewer shows the web.
CAPT. BRANSON: What the?
CMDR. KAL: It's a Tholian web.
CAPT. BRANSON: BATTLE STATIONS!
Lights change from yellow to red and klaxon start blaring.
LT. MASON: It's all around us!
LT. KAYE: We can't get out.
John is worried.
[END OF TEASER, FADE OUT]
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Theme Song:
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CAPTAIN'S OATH:
CAPT. BRANSON'S [voice over]: Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before...
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Enterprise jumps into warp.
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STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
A STAR TREK FAN FILM PRODUCTION
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Enterprise exits warp.
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BASED UPON STAR TREK CREATED BY:
GENE RODDENBERRY
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The Enterprise flies over a gas giant's rings.
JARVIS DAVIDSON 
 AS
CAPT. JOHN BRANSON
The Enterprise flies by an asteroid
FELECIA LINKOUS
 AS
CMDR. JANE KAL
The Enterprise flies by Mars 
KEVIN REGAN
 AS
LT. JACK MASON
FERNE MYERS
 AS
LTCMDR. COURTNEY JAMES
USS Enterprise is flying next to a comet
DELENA "DEE" LUSK
 AS
LT. JAMIE KAYE
JACOB ELLIOT
 AS
DR. PETER LANGFORD
The Enterprise flies under a Pioneer-Class vessel
SADIE BRICKHOUSE
 AS
LT. SITO JAXA
The Enterprise flies by a planet as the sunsets 
BECKY ELLIOT
 AS
LTCMDR. T'MIR
The Enterprise flies by Earth and her warp nacelles power up and she leaps into warp.
CREATED BY:
JARVIS DAVIDSON & JEREMY REGAN
===Act 1===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION-THOLIAN BORDER
[EPISODE NOTES: OPENING CREDTS FALL OVER OPENING SCENES]
Enterprise is trapped in a Tholian web.
CAPT. BRANSON'S [voice over]: Captain's Log supplemental, While investigating the disappearances of several Federation vessels within the last few months along the Federation-Tholian Border, the Enterprise has become trapped like a fly in amber we can only hope that this net we're in doesn't decide to shrink on us
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM [RED ALERT]
Wall monitor shows the vessel trapped in the web.
CMDR. KAL: All energy scans match the one Kirk encountered in 2268 when the Defiant went missing.
LT. MASON: So we can't get out of it?
CMDR. KAL: We could but we'd cut in a billon pieces if we attempted it.
CAPT. BRANSON: Could we disrupt it with our weapons?
LT. MASON: It's possible we could.
LTCMDR. JAMES: So, far it's not disrupting our power systems like before.
CAPT. BRANSON: That could change in the next few hours let's get started.
They leave the ready room.
EXT-FEDERATION-THOLIAN BORDER
Enterprise is trapped in the web.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE [RED ALERT]
LT. MASON: Phasers locked onto the front of the Tholian web.
Captain Branson sits in the command chair.
CAPT. BRANSON: Fire!
Lieutenant Mason presses the firing button.
EXT-SPACE
The forward section of the Enterprise phaser strip powers up and a orange energy beam lance out and struck the forward area of the web but nothing happens.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE [RED ALERT]
CAPT. BRANSON: Report?
LTCMDR. T'MIR: No change.
LT. SITO: Confirmed.
CMDR. KAL: I was hoping that would work.
Captain Branson leans back in the Captain's chair disappointed.
CAPT. BRANSON: Damn it, Jack get a hold of Starfleet emergency code 12 we're currently trapped in a Tholian web all plans to escape have been considered and deemed failure, we're in need of assistance from any vessels in range.
LT. MASON: Aye, sir.
Lieutenant Mason works at his console when Sito reports.
LT. SITO: Sensors are detecting a vessel approaching the area.
Transparent viewer shows a Tholian vessel emerge from warp.
CAPT. BRANSON: Jack?
Lieutenant Mason reviews his console and reports.
LT. MASON: It's a Tholian Web spinner vessel.
CMDR. KAL: It doesn't appear to be attacking.
LT. SITO: Why would it we're trapped in its web.
CAPT. BRANSON: Let's not make it angry.
Then Lieutenant Mason reports.
LT. MASON: We're being hailed.
CAPT. BRANSON: On screen.
Transparent viewer shows the bridge of the Tholian vessel.
CAPT. BRANSON: I'm John Branson Captain of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise representing the United Federation of Planets, we mean you no harm we're simply looking for our missing vessels.
THOLIAN COMMANDER [viewer]: I am Commander Tal'Kar of the Tholian Assembly you have trespassed in our space, and have been captured for your transgression
CAPT. BRANSON: We're well on our side of your border Commander there's no need to keep my ship locked in your web.
CMDR. TAL'KAR [viewer]: The Enterprise has once trespassed in our space and was spared destruction, we have encountered a deadly plague that has infested my people we require and demand your medical help in exchange we'll release you from your prison
CAPT. BRANSON: Mute.
LT. MASON: Mute.
Captain Branson walks over to the three chairs.
CAPT. BRANSON: Jane?
CMDR. KAL: We don't chose we die we try to escape we die.
CAPT. BRANSON: So we got no choice?
LT. SITO: Sir, we shouldn't trust the Tholians they caused the death of 430 men and women on the Defiant in the 23rd century.
LT. KAYE: What can we do we're trapped in their web our weapons are useless.
CAPT. BRANSON: We've got no choice then we'll work on this plague resume.
Lieutenant Mason resumes audio.
CMDR. TAL'KAR [viewer]: What is your decision?
CAPT. BRANSON: We'll do it send your medical information to our chief medical officer.
Tal'kar nods and transmission ends as John is still worried.
[END OF ACT 1, FADE OUT]
===Act 2===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION-THOLIAN BORDER
The Enterprise is trapped in the web.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE SICKBAY [RED ALERT]
Wall monitor shows the Tholian medical information.
DR. LANGFORD: I don't know if I can make a antigen out of this information John.
CAPT. BRANSON: Steven you have to or otherwise we're going to be crushed by their web.
DR. LANGFORD: If I had a dead body that's already been infected with the virus I could work up an antigen.
NURSE TAKAHASHI: H-How are we going to get a dead Tholian?
CAPT. BRANSON: Commander Tal'kar wasn't forth coming but he did send some samples of dead Tholians that have shattered into crystals.
A box opens and contains samples of Tholian DNA.
CAPT. BRANSON: I trust you both to do the work.
Captain Branson leaves.
NURSE TAKAHASHI: Where do we start?
DR. LANGFORD: Well, let's start with how the virus is transmitted.
They get to work on creating the antigen.
EXT-FEDERATION-THOLIAN BORDER
Enterprise is at station keeping in the web of the Tholians.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE SICKBAY [RED ALERT]
The medical staff is hard at work on the antigen to cure the Tholians, as Doctor Langford is looking over the data on the PADD.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE [RED ALERT]
The bridge crew are figuring out how to get out of the web before the Tholians decide to crush the ship and crew.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN ENGINEERING [RED ALERT]
Lieutenant Payne is repairing a damaged console that overloaded due to the power feed back as Commander James is at the main console facing the warp reactor ready to shut down the matter/anti-matter containment fields if the Tholians don't keep their end of the bargain.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM [RED ALERT]
Wall monitor shows the mission report of James T. Kirk from 2268 on stardate 5693.2 as it shows the schematics of the Tholian vessels as Captain Branson is sitting at the briefing table reviewing the information then the doors chimed.
CAPT. BRANSON: Come.
Doors opened and Commander Kal enters.
CAPT. BRANSON: Jane what can I do for you?
CMDR. KAL: It's a status report from Commander James on our power systems.
She hands John the PADD.
CAPT. BRANSON [re: PADD]: Well, at least we're not experience a power drain.
She looks at the wall monitor.
CMDR. KAL: Looking at the mission reports of the Enterprise under Kirk?
CAPT. BRANSON: Yeah, to see what we could do.
Commander Kal crosses her arms.
CMDR. IVANOVA: It says here the crew went crazy briefly before they escaped the interspace effects.
CAPT. BRANSON: They used a control overload of the warp engines to escape the interspace and the Tholian Web and rescued Kirk.
Then lights start flickering.
CAPT. BRANSON: What now?
They leave the ready room.
CUT TO:
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE [RED ALERT]
The ready room doors opened and both Captain Branson and Commander Kal walks onto the bridge.
CAPT. BRANSON: Report?
Lieutenant Mason vacates the Command chair.
LT. MASON: We're experiencing some sort of dampening field effect.
LTCMDR. T'MIR: We're losing main power!
LT. KAYE: All engines are off-line!
LT. SITO: We're running on emergency power.
LT. MASON: Tactical systems are down!
[END OF ACT TWO, FADE OUT]
===Act 3===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION-THOLIAN BORDER
Enterprise is trapped in a Tholian web.
CAPT. BRANSON'S [voice over]: Captain's Log Stardate 57054.1, The Enterprise remains trapped in the Tholian web unless we can come up with a cure for this unknown virus they're stricken with my ship will be destroyed by the web
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE SICKBAY [RED ALERT]
Doors opened and Captain Branson enters.
CAPT. BRANSON: Pete please tell me you've got some good news?
DR. LANGFORD: We're making progress.
CAPT. BRANSON: How much progress?
Takahashi walks over to him and hands him the PADD with the information.
CAPT. BRANSON [re: PADD]: Impressive.
DR. CARLSON: We're just figuring out how to administer it but we should be ready as soon as we're finished.
CAPT. BRANSON: We have less then a few more days then we're crushed like eggs.
Captain Branson leaves.
CUT TO:
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE TURBO-LIFT CART
John enters it.
CAPT. BRANSON [to com]: Deck 1, main bridge.
Lift starts moving as John stands there thinking about what happened that day wondering if he could of done something different to prevent the death of 14 crewmen.
CUT TO:
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE [RED ALERT]
Turbo-lift doors opened and Captain Branson walks out of it.
CAPT. BRANSON: Report?
LTCMDR. JAMES: Me and my team were able to restore partial power.
main power but other systems are still down.
LT. MASON: Including our tactical systems.
CAPT. BRANSON: We may not need them Jack what's the ETA of the U.S.S. Excelsior?
Lieutenant Mason works at his console and reports.
LT. MASON: Their original ETA was a few hours out but that was before we lost main power.
CMDR. KAL: Is everything alright John?
CAPT. BRANSON: I'm fine Jane we've got to find away to break ourselves free.
CMDR. IVANOVA: I know.
Captain Branson sits in the Captain's chair tensed and worried about his ship and crew as the Tholians aren't known for their patience side.
[END OF ACT 3, FADE OUT]
===Act 4===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION-THOLIAN BORDER
The U.S.S. Excelsior a Galaxy-Class III Dreadnought emerges from warp.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE [RED ALERT]
Transparent viewer shows the U.S.S. Excelsior.
LT. MASON: We're being hailed it's Captain Shelby.
CAPT. BRANSON: On screen.
Transparent viewer shows the bridge of the Excelsior.
CAPT. SHELBY [viewer]: John, we've responded to your distress call it seems that you've got a Tholian issue
CAPT. BRANSON: Yes Elizabeth we're alright we seem to have stumbled upon a Tholian trap they've been doing this for the past few weeks to passing vessels.
CAPT. SHELBY [viewer]: What for?
CAPT. BRANSON: They've come in contact with some sort of virus that's killing them so they've been seeking out medical help by capture ships, and if they refuse the ship and crew are destroyed.
CAPT. SHELBY [viewer]: John please tell me you didn't?
CAPT. BRANSON: I wasn't going to risk my ship and crew if I refused.
===Act 5===
==Cast==
===Starring===
*Jarvis Davidson as Captain John Branson
*Felecia Linkous as Commander Jane Kal
===Also Starring===
*Kevin Regan as Lieutenant Jack Mason
*Ferne Myers as Lieutenant Commander Courtney James
*Jacob Elliot as Doctor Peter Langford
*Sadie Brickhouse as Lieutenant Sito Jaxa
*Delena "Dee" Lusk as Lieutenant Jamie Kaye
*Becky Elliot as Lieutenant Commander T'Mir
===Guest Stars===
*TBA as Transporter Chief Kayla Mackenzie 
*TBA as Lieutenant Junior Grade Harris Payne
*TBA as Nurse Laurel Takahashi
*TBA as Ensign Elias Sheridan
*TBA as Lieutenant Angela Martine
===Special Guest Stars===
*TBA as Tholian Commander
*TBA as Captain Elizabeth Shelby
==Trivia Notes==
===Background Information===