In the Cradle of Vexilon (episode)

Boimler leads his first away mission on an alien megastructure.
==Summary==
===Act One===
:"Captain's log, stardate 58759.1. The Cerritos is visiting the Federation world, Corazonia: an artificial megastructure in a bespoke star system designed by a long-extinct alien species. The ring has been home to the Corazonians who enjoy perfect climate and surface conditions, thanks to Vexilon, the environmental computer installed by the ring's original designers. Fortunately, Vexilon is a benevolent ally with no interest in world domination. The Corazonians share a deep bond with their caretaker."
On Corazonia, Captain Carol Freeman and Commander Jack Ransom disembark from a shuttlecraft, and are greeted by two Corazonians, who escort them through the city and brief them on some problems that have recently come up with Vexilon. As Vexilon's ancient hardware is starting to wear down, his programming accuracy is starting to diminish, and it's starting to show in the day to day life of the Corazonians, such as sudden inclement weather, or rivers reversing their flow, resulting in flooding. Freeman has them taken to Vexilon to see what the problem might be.
Entering the building which houses Vexilon, the computer warmly greets Freeman and Ransom, and replicates some iced tea for them, which Ransom accepts, only to realize the tea is extremely hot. Embarrassed by the mistake Vexilon is assured by Freeman that it's normal for a computer to need occasional maintenance, and that no one is judging them. Vexilon goes in depth about various problems they're experiencing, and Freeman offers to have a look inside their control panel. Ransom asks her if she's the best person to look at Vexilon, as their engineers would be better suited for the job, but Freeman declines, having minored in archaic technology at Starfleet Academy. Vexilon thanks her again, hoping that her repairs are not taking Freeman away from more important work. Freeman assures them that they had to stop by to retrofit Vexilon's power relay that was installed during Starfleet's first contact with Corazonia regardless, and that she has a lieutenant working on it now.
Elsewhere on Corazonia, Lieutenant jg Bradward Boimler is nervously pacing, and trying to bolster his confidence as he's about to lead his first away mission, and fellow lieutenant, T'Lyn checks on him, confirming that the team is ready for the task at hand. Boimler approaches the away team, consisting of Ensigns , Meredith, and Big Merp. He briefs them on their task of upgrading the power terminal, and to come to either him or T'Lyn if they have questions. After addressing them, Boimler seems more relaxed, hoping to avoid the mistakes of his previous superiors who weren't very good. T'Lyn responds that his caution is warranted, due to the big mortality rate that ensigns have under newly promoted commanders. This makes Boimler nervous, especially when T'Lyn tells him that the component pieces to the terminals are unstable, and could explode if procedure is not conducted in a very precise order. This makes Boimler very overprotective of the team.
Back on the Cerritos, Lieutenants Beckett Mariner, D'Vana Tendi, and Sam Rutherford are enjoying some off time, wondering how Boimler is doing on his first away mission as the superior officer, and enjoying discovering some of the new benefits they have as lieutenants, such as access to the anomaly storage room. They enter the room, recognizing various items, such as a Betazoid gift box, and the Wadi Chula game. They are suddenly summoned by Dirk, who has them report to the isolinear chip junction.
Reporting to the junction, Dirk tells them that he needs them to scan every isolinear chip in the room by hand, due to a minor deviation in the fault sensor. Rutherford asks why the scanning of the chips couldn't wait until the sensor was repaired, and Dirk responds that the sensor detected one malfunctioning chip before it went down, and that the chip needs to be found before the sensor can be brought back online. He also warns them that every hour, the room is filled with nitrogen coolant, the chips can also get incredibly hot to the touch, and that the ferret belonging to Chief Engineer Andy Billups, escaped earlier in the day. When Dirk leaves, Mariner remarks that the work feels like work they'd do while they were ensigns, and Tendi agrees, suspecting that Dirk could be hazing them. Mariner and Rutherford dismiss the idea, as hazing feels out of character for a Starfleet officer.
Back on Corazonia, Freeman can't seem to find anything wrong with Vexilon's hardware, and proceeds to inspect their terminal. Upon inspection, Freeman realizes that Vexilon's operating system is merely outdated. Vexilon agrees, saying that after their designers evolved into fifth-dimensional energy beings, Vexilon was left alone for over six million years. Freeman begins to update the operating system, and the Corazonians thank her for her help. Vexilon shows relief as well, but starts to suddenly glitch, brining the update to a halt, and forcing Vexilon to shut down. Moments later, clouds begin to freeze in the air and come crashing down to the surface, causing the inhabitants to run for cover.
===Act Two===
While the weather shifts into a snowstorm, Boimler tries to emphasize safety and speed to the away team. But before they can get started, Boimler gets incredibly nervous with how the ensigns seem to be approaching their work, and decides to demonstrate how to properly remove the cylinders by himself—despite the work requiring multiple people. Boimler successfully removes a canister, but is incredibly poor in communicating his directions, leaving the ensigns utterly confused. Yet instead of allowing the ensigns to try themselves, Boimler decides to show them how to remove the cylinders by himself again.
On the Cerritos, as Mariner, Tendi, and Rutherford continue scanning the chips, Rutherford is startled by the sudden appearance of Lancelot, who makes a mess of the chips while Mariner and Tendi finish up their batch. Rutherford scans the final chip needed, believing it to be the malfunctioning chip, but upon scanning, realizes that the chip is in working condition. Dirk checks on them, and they tell him that the chips are not malfunctioning as suspected, and Dirk asks if they also scanned the second layer of chips, pressing a button and revealing even more chips. He warns them that the second layer is even hotter than the first layer, and that they'll need to be handled with tongs. Lancelot then runs out of the room, with Dirk in pursuit. When Dirk leaves, Tendi is convinced by his tone that they're getting hazed, and Mariner and Rutherford agree. Eager to get back at him, Mariner leads them out of the room for an idea she has.
Meanwhile on Corazonia, the weather is rapidly changing from day to night, and Freeman is reading from Vexilon's manual to try and fix the problem. Unable to make any progress, she has Billups beam down to help her. He does so, and recognizes some of the older technology of Vexilon, but when his tinkering does nothing to improve the situation, Freeman takes back over, remembering that older computers had a "safe mode" for debugging. She opens a panel hoping to activate it, and while she manages to bypass the stalled update, she accidentally triggers a full reboot of the system, which in turn causes Corazonia to begin drastically transforming.
As Corazonia continues to change in violent fashion, Boimler has managed to remove all but one of the power cylinders by himself. The ensigns all ask to help, but Boimler declines. T'Lyn intervenes, saying his method of leading isn't working, though Boimler is convinced that doing it his way will be the best way to ensure the safety of the away team. At that moment, Freeman hails Boimler, telling him that the power cylinders need to be put back immediately as they were. She notes that according to a scroll they found in an ancient junk drawer, Vexilon can force a restart if primary power is rerouted to his station. Despite the station being outdated, they have to get out done before anaerobic bacteria is dispersed into the world. Boimler gets ready to start undoing his work, when a huge volcano emerges before them, and begins erupting.
===Act Three===
In Dirk's quarters, Mariner, Tendi, and Rutherford are setting up a prank to get back at him for his hazing. They've set up an elaborate trap which will result in him getting trapped in the Chula game with the Betazoid gift box, but upon leaving his quarters, they quickly run into him in the corridor. He asks if they finished, and they lie, saying they found the chip. Dirk is relieved at this, since the chips they scanned run some of the most important systems on the ship, and if one were to fail, it could be catastrophic. Tendi expresses skepticism, saying that if it were really important, he would have helped them with the task. Dirk agrees, saying that he was supposed to. He asks them how familiar they are with the Chula game, and tells them that as a child, he was trapped in the game for an entire month, because he was not smart enough to figure out the game's challenges. The experience traumatized him growing up so much, that he couldn't even go near the anomaly storage room without suffering a panic attack since one was onboard. He further states that since the glowing chips remind him of the game, he was unable to help them. Getting distressed as he tells them of this experience, Mariner calms him down and distracts him, asking him to tell her about his love for Tellarite slop jazz while she has Tendi and Rutherford run off to take down the trap they set up for him, and find the malfunctioning chip.
Back on Corazonia, Boimler is struggling to unload the power cylinders alone, as the eruption intensifies. The away team asks to help, but Boimler continues to disregard them, until T'Lyn intervenes, telling him that while his concern for the team is admirable, danger is just part of the risk of Starfleet duty. Boimler clarifies that he is uncomfortable putting them in danger when just a week ago, he was an ensign alongside them, and due to a random promotion, he doesn't feel right in putting their lives in jeopardy. T'Lyn tells him that she's studied his records, and his promotion was not random, but that his exemplary work earned him a rightful promotion. She further states that as Ransom trusted him with his work, he needs to trust his team with theirs, as they could have potential he's holding back. No longer afraid of the danger, he immediately orders his way team to help him set up the power relay, having Taylor and Meredith get the power cylinders in place while he and Big Merp finish unloading the rest.
On the Cerritos, Tendi takes on scanning the isolinear chips rapidly on her own, while Rutherford rushes to disable the trap they set up, accidentally triggering it in the process, and getting stuck in the game. While Tendi continues to scan, and Rutherford rushes to complete the game's challenges, Mariner continues to have Dirk talk about jazz as they walk together. Tendi manages to find the malfunctioning chip and has it replaced, as Dirk excuses himself as he has a therapy session with Dr. Migleemo. Rutherford manages to escape the game and take down the trap, while Mariner continues to stall Dirk outside his quarters, abs Dirk very nearly catches Rutherford in his quarters, before realizing he's actually meeting Migleemo in his office.
Back on Corazonia, Boimler and his team finish setting up the power relay station with little problems, and power it up. Getting word from Boimler, Freeman hacks into Vexilon up, who realizes they shut down and apologize for the trouble. Freeman tells Vexilon to stop the planetary re-genesis, and Vexilon immediately complies. Boimler is about to get his team to the shuttlecraft, before the turbine of the power relay station begins to overheat. Boimler reports this to Freeman, who orders him to buy her some time. Boimler orders the away team to the shuttle, and stays behind to prepare for an emergency shut down of the power relay station. As Freeman confirms the deactivation of the re-genesis, she orders Boimler to shut down the relay station, and he immediately does so, but immediately afterward, the relay station explodes with him inside. The ensigns look on in horror as Boimler's burnt and lifeless body is thrown in front of them. As the ensigns react in shock, T'Lyn comments that the lieutenant junior grade first mission mortality rate appears to be accurate.
Boimler awakens in a strange black and white room. He stands up and approaches a window, seeing a black mountain in the distance. Turning back, he sees a speaking to him, scaring him.
He awakens again outside the shuttlecraft, as Dr. T'Ana is successful in reviving him. T'Lyn confirms that the mission was a success with him being the only fatality. With the upgraded operating system of Vexilon able to protect the Corazonians for another thousand years, Ransom commends Boimler for his success telling him his missions will only get more dangerous in the future. Boimler thanks him, before passing out once again, much to T'Ana's annoyance.
In the mess hall aboard the Cerritos, Mariner, Tendi, Rutherford, and T'Lyn are having drinks together. Tendi is relieved they were able to prevent Dirk from getting trapped in the Chula game when he was working on overcoming that trauma, and Mariner expresses annoyance that he won't stop sending her jazz albums that she strangely enjoys. They all feel silly thinking that Dirk would haze them and promise that moving forward, they will always assume the best in others.
Across the bar, Dirk is sharing a drink with Ransom, revealing to him that he truly was hazing them, and that his story with the Chula game was fabricated. He then picks up Lancelot, and tells him to go get Rutherford. Lancelot runs over to Rutherford, who is taken by surprise, while Ransom and Dirk laugh at the prank.
==Memorable quotes==
"That went pretty well I'd say."
"I do not know to what you are referring. We have not started the repair."
"I mean talking to my team. I've had good bosses and bad ones, I just don't want to repeat their mistakes."
"Your caution is warranted. Statistically, ensigns serving under recently promoted commanders are more likely to experience death, and/or dismemberment."
"DEATH?!"
"Yes. And/or dismemberment."
:-Boimler and T'Lyn
"How's it going in here, lieutenants? Wow, you all look beat. Didn't know scanning could be so taxing."
"Ugh!"
"Uh, sir, look, we've scanned every chip. They're all fine."
"Hmm, every chip? Even the second layer?"
"Why didn't you tell us about all these?!"
"I don't know, the hidden button seemed obvious."
:- Dirk, Tendi, and Mariner
"Are you sure we shouldn't just ask him to stop hazing us?"
"No, Mariner's right. Hazers only respect hazing."
"That's why we trap him in the Wadi game and let him marinate in there for a bit while the Betazoid gift box screams at him."
"Ha! I guess he'll have to respect us after this. I know I would, and I already did!"
:-Rutherford, Tendi and Mariner
"I am Vexilon! Welcome to your new world. I will now re-genesis installation to default settings. Initiating fjords. Distributing miasma. Stirring primordial ooze."
:-Vexilon
"It is admirable that you care for the safety of your team, but danger is an accepted risk of Starfleet duty."
"No, I know, it's not that."
"If you have not been acting in their defense, then what has caused your unpredictable behavior?"
"Last week, I was an ensign with them, and now, randomly, I'm supposed to tell them what to do? What gives me the right to put my peers in a position where they could die?"
"Your promotion was not random. I studied your records and mission logs before our departure. The commander was correct to promote you. Your work is exemplary. Look at your team. They deserve your trust, just as Commander Ransom trusted you."
"They could all have greatness in them."
"That remains to be seen, but if you do not order them to aid in the unloading of these power cylinders, we will all perish."
:- T'Lyn and Boimler
"Well done, Mr. Boimler. You never forget your first death. Only more and more dangerous missions from here on out."
:- Ransom
"I am so glad we didn't get Dirk sucked into the game. The guy seems traumatized."
"He's working on it though. Under that grouchy exterior is a guy just trying to find some peace."
"I wish he could find it without sending me all these jazz albums. I like them, and it's bugging me! I am not a jazz person!"
:- Tendi, Rutherford, and Mariner
==Background information==
===Teaser reduction===
*This is the first episode in the fifth season of to not include a teaser.
===Cultural references===
*Boimler's near-death experience depicts a room with a black and white zigzag-patterned floor and a diminutive guide that speaks in reverse, which is reminiscent of the "Red Room" from Twin Peaks.
===Production===
*In what appears to be a nod to the frequent repurposing of props in live-action entries in the franchise, the power terminals with which Boimler's team is working each strongly resemble the warp core.
*This episode was Brandon Williams' directorial debut. 
===Continuity===
*, Dirk, and Big Merp are identified in dialogue for the first time.
*An earlier playthrough of the Chula game was depicted in .
*Betazoid gift boxes were previously seen in and .
*Ransom tells Boimler "you never forget your first death", referencing how frequently characters come back from the dead in Star Trek; this phenomenon was more deeply discussed in .
==Links and references==
===Starring===
*Tawny Newsome as Beckett Mariner
*Jack Quaid as Brad Boimler
*Noël Wells as D'Vana Tendi
*Eugene Cordero as Sam Rutherford
*Dawnn Lewis as Carol Freeman
*Jerry O'Connell as Jack Ransom
*Fred Tatasciore as 
*Gillian Vigman as T'Ana
===Guest cast===
*Phil LaMarr as
**Big Merp
**Dirk
**Wadi male 1
*Oscar Montoya as Vexilon
*Charlotte Nicdao as Meredith
*Nolan North
*Gabrielle Ruiz as T'Lyn
*Paul Scheer as Andy Billups
;Characters with unidentified voice actors
*
*Betazoid gift box
*Corazonian female representative
*Corazonian male representative
*
===Background characters===
*Corazonian civilians
;USS Cerritos
*Kayshon
*
*Alien waitress
*Human cmd ens 7
*Human cmd lt 1
*Human cmd lt cmdr 1
*Human cmd lt cmdr 3
*Human ops lt 4
*Human ops lt 6
*Human ops lt 10
*Human ops ofc 1
*Human sci lt jg 3
*Vulcan cmd ens 1
;Chula dimension
*Wadi females 1 and 2
*Wadi males 2 and 3
===References===
2380; acceptance; afternoon; albums; alien; ally; anaerobic bacteria; angle; anomaly storage room (aka anomaly room); apocalyptic; artist; artwork; away mission; away team; back; bag; bar; bar staff uniform; beaming; Betazoid gift box's "wife"; bin; black mountain; blast zone; blizzards; blue; "Boims"; bomb; booby trap; Borg; boss; breather; brizzles flarps; ; ; cadet; Caitian; ; captain (aka "cap'n"); captain's log; ccs; ; challenges; chip (isolinear chip); church tower; circuits; ; cleaning; climate; cloud; combadge; commander (rank); commander (title); comms; computer; control panel; coolant; Corazonia; Corazonia's builders; Corazonia's system; Corazonian; Corazonian city(s); Corazonian flora; Corazonian hovering platter; Corazonian language; Corazonian shuttle (unnamed); Corazonian train; corner; crying; danger; day; death; s; s; dimension; dismemberment; doctor; door panels; drawing; Dyson ring; easel; eating; engineer; engineering; ensign; entity; environmental computer; errand; evolution; extinct; fatality; Federation; ferret; fifth-dimensional energy beings; first contact; fjords; flizz bop; flooding; fool; ; ; game; geographic processes; gibberish; girl; guy; hardware; hazers; hazing; head; healing; hopscotch; host; hour; hypospray; iced tea; Inspiration Peak; ion generator; isolinear chip junction; jazz; jobs; journey; junk drawer; ketracel-white; Kings Canyon; knees; Kzinti; latch; lava; layer; lecture; lemon meringue; lesson; lieutenant; lieutenant commander; lieutenant junior grade; lifting; love; magenta; meat; medical tricorder; megastructure; Merp's species; message; miasma; ; millennia; minute; mission; mission logs; modal skuzz; monsoon seasons; month; mortality rate; er; mountain; music; night; nitrogen; nozzle; office; operating system; order; (planet); Orion (species); overdosed; PADD; pain; pastel; peace; peer; people; percent; personnel file; pirates; poet; ; power cylinder; prank; primordial ooze; progress bar; promotion; provisional officer; quarters; rambling; reboot; regenesis; respect; restart; retrofit; river; road; room; "Ruthy"; saber; safety; scanning; screaming; scroll; senior officer; sentient; ; shortcomings; shutdown; shuttle; sir; sizzle horn; skies; skuzz blues; slops; snuggle tower; species; speed; spit; star (Corazonia's system stars); star system (bespoke star system); stardate; Starfleet; Starfleet Academy; Starfleet delta; ; statue; story; s; stuff; subsponder; supplies; T88; Tamarian; tasks (aka work); taupe; team-building; Tellarite slop jazz (aka slop jazz); terminal; thing; tongs; tongues; torture; triangles; trust; turbine; type 2 phaser; Type 6A shuttlecraft; Unotronic; update; visor; volcano; vomiting; Vulcan; Wadi; weasel; weather; ; weekend; wife; world; world domination; year; Yosemite II
====Anomaly storage room references====
bat'leth; chula; cloaking device; hat (church tower transformation hat); Kataan probe; lirpa; Nomad; small tree; yellow arachnid creature
====Chula references====
Allamaraine (aka "allamalay"); counting; door; falling; shap; thialo
====Meta references====
bleep
===External links===
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de:In der Wiege Vexilons
pl:In the Cradle of Vexilon