Star Trek: The Next Generation s05e19 Episode Script
The First Duty
Captain's log, stardate 45703.
9.
|We are en route to Earth, where I will make the commencement|address at Starfleet Academy.
I look forward|to seeing Wesley Crusher again.
His flight team's demonstration|near Saturn will be transmitted|to the graduation ceremonies.
Captain, Starfleet Academy|requests our estimated arrival.
Mr Data? We should arrive at Earth|in ten hours, 16 minutes.
Inform the Academy, Mr Worf.
Send my regards|to Superintendent Brand.
- Aye, sir.
|- Do you know Admiral Brand? We've met a few times.
|She's a formidable woman.
When I was at the Academy,|we had a Vulcan superintendent who had memorised|all our personnel files.
It was like|having your parents around.
My superintendent|was a Betazoid telepath.
When you got sent to his office, he|didn't have to ask what you'd done.
You got called to his office?|I'd like to hear that story! Sir, we're being hailed again|by the Academy.
It is Admiral Brand.
On screen.
Sir, she is requesting|a private channel.
In my ready room.
- Admiral, what can I do for you?|- Hello, Captain.
I know you're a close friend|of the Crusher family.
Yes.
I wanted to inform you personally.
There's been an accident.
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 civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
He had second-degree burns and|a fractured arm, but he'll be fine.
- Have they completed regeneration?|- I'm not certain.
Wesley's allergic|to metorapan treatments.
They'll have to use|a bicaridine substitute.
- I'll send his records|- Beverly.
.
.
to the infirmary.
They probably|have them, but you can't be too sure.
Beverly, he's fine.
I know he's fine.
How did it happen? Apparently,|his squadron was practising on the Academy flight range|near Saturn.
They were flying a close formation.
|There was a collision.
All five ships were destroyed.
Four cadets transported out.
|One didn't make it.
- Do you know who it was?|- Yes.
His name was Joshua Albert.
Wesley spoke of him.
|They were friends.
Wesley was so excited|to make the flight team.
Of course, I was a little nervous,|but I was proud.
I always knew there was a chance|that something like this might Beverly, Wesley's alive|and he's well.
There was little to salvage|from the wreckage.
We recovered one data recorder,|but it was badly damaged.
We are attempting to restore the|information, but it will take time.
Standard procedure calls|for an immediate investigation by two command-level officers.
Capt Satelk and I will be taking depositions from|Nova Squadron at 1500 hours today.
Cmdr Albert.
I'm sure that everyone in this room joins me in expressing|my deepest sympathies to you on the tragic loss of your son.
There will be a memorial service|for Cadet Albert this evening, in the west garden.
It has been suggested that we should cancel the graduation|ceremonies because of what happened.
Cmdr Albert and I have agreed|that commencement should go forward.
The cadets should know|that even after such a tragedy, there are still duties to perform .
.
and life continues.
Thank you all for coming.
It's good to see you again, Captain.
I wish it were|under better circumstances.
This is an unhappy way|to begin commencement.
If you require any assistance,|the Enterprise is at your disposal.
I'm sure we'll be able|to conduct the investigation.
But thank you for your offer.
Wes! - I was so worried about you.
|- How are you feeling, Wesley? Not bad.
The arm's a little sore.
We were very sorry|to hear about Joshua.
Would you like to talk about it? No.
I don't think so.
No, thank you.
I know you want to be helpful, but I've talked about it for days.
|I don't want to go through it again.
I understand.
But I'm available|if you change your mind.
Thank you, sir.
- Hi.
|- Hi.
- Captain, sir.
|- At ease, Cadet.
This is my squadron leader|Nicholas Locarno.
Capt Jean-Luc Picard|and my mother, Dr Crusher.
- Hello, Doctor.
|- Hello.
- Capt Picard.
|- Mr Locarno.
I came by to see|if Wes had healed up alright.
- How are you feeling, Nicholas?|- I'm OK.
I just never lost anyone|under my command before.
I'm afraid that never gets easier.
Captain, Mom, .
.
will you excuse us, please? Nick and I have things|we need to talk about.
Of course.
- Let me know if you need anything.
|- I will.
I'll see you at the inquiry.
- Good to meet you, Mr Locarno.
|- You too, sir.
The inquiry's scheduled|for 1500 hours.
You ready? I think so.
Don't worry about it, Wes.
Everything's gonna be alright,|as long as we stick together.
Can't you see that's a flowerbed? - Sorry! I'm really sorry.
|- Well Boothby? Jean-Luc Picard.
Class of '27.
I know that.
|What happened to your hair? How are you? I'm pretty damn cranky, thank you! I've replanted this bed|four times this week.
Let me give you a hand.
You? I've acquired an interest|over the years.
Well, don't plant 'em too deep.
- The stems will|- Will rot.
Capt Picard.
Of the Enterprise, no less.
|And giving the commencement address! - You sound surprised.
|- Surprised? Nothing you ever did|surprised me, son.
Except when you caught that Ligonian|with a reverse body lift, and pinned him in|the first 14 seconds of the match.
Didn't think you had it in you.
Well, it was all in the legs,|all that running I did.
Boothby? I don't think that I ever|I don't think I ever told you -.
.
how much I appreciate|- There's nothing to tell.
Yes, there is.
I just wanted to,|while I was here Look, you know as well as I do, l|would never have graduated if you You made a mistake.
We've all|been young enough to make one.
Nevertheless You did what you had to.
|What you thought was best.
I just made sure|that you listened to yourself.
At the time I thought you were|a mean-spirited, vicious old man.
I was.
And, by the way, I was|about the same age you are now.
I didn't speak to you for months.
You needed to get your bearings.
|I knew that.
The important thing is, what|you did with your life afterwards.
Seems you did OK.
That's thanks enough for me.
Did you know the boy|from Nova Squadron who was killed? Josh Albert? Yeah.
Crusher, Hajar, Sito, Locarno I know them all.
- You nervous?|- No.
Yes.
That's OK.
So am I.
|But we're gonna be alright.
It'll be tough, but we always|come through for each other.
Whatever happens,|leading this team has been the high point|of my years at the Academy.
No one could have asked|for a better team.
Or better friends.
Let's go.
Here, we accelerated and executed|a starboard turn of 27 degrees.
We came out of the turn|on course for Titan.
You were still in the lead position? - Yes, sir.
|- Continue.
As we approached Titan, I gave the signal to tighten|into a diamond-slot formation.
Remaining in formation, we executed|a low-apogee turn around Titan and began a Z+25 degree climb|in preparation for a Yeager Loop.
Approximately nine seconds later, Cadet Albert's ship|collided with Cadet Hajar's.
We had less than two seconds to|beam to the evac stations at Mimas.
Everyone made it except Josh.
Thank you, Mr Locarno.
Cadet Hajar.
As team navigator, you filed|a flight plan with the range officer before the exercise.
Correct? Yes, sir.
Did Nova Squadron|deviate from that flight plan after you entered the Saturn range? No, sir.
Then how do you explain that|the low-apogee turn around Titan was 2,000 kilometres closer to|the moon than indicated in your plan.
We were within|flight-safety parameters, sir.
That was not my question, Cadet.
We had discussed changing|our approach after I filed the plan.
The final decision|was made en route.
I didn't consider it|significant enough to mention.
I apologise for the confusion, sir.
|I should have been more precise.
Did you see Mr Albert's ship break|formation before colliding with you? No, sir.
My first indication was when|my proximity alarm went off.
You may be seated.
Did any of you see the collision? No, sir.
Cadet Sito,|you were in the tail position.
You should have seen any sign|of trouble from Cadet Albert.
- Yet you saw nothing?|- That is correct, sir.
- Did your attention falter?|- No, sir.
I was flying|solely on sensor readings.
I had no visual contact with Cadet|Albert when he broke formation.
Sensor readings? What's wrong? It's unusual to fly on sensors alone|during this type of manoeuvre.
A pilot relies on visual clues from|the others to maintain formation.
If you were flying on sensors alone, perhaps you could tell us|the orientation of his ship - before the collision.
|- I don't know, sir.
You were flying a ship,|travelling 80,000kph, with Cadet Albert's ship|less than ten metres away, and you don't know|what his orientation was? I don't remember, sir.
- Sir, may l?|- Go ahead.
Admiral, .
.
Josh was a good pilot, but lately|he'd been having difficulties.
He'd get nervous in close fly-bys|and pull away in the final seconds.
His formation flying was erratic.
And you didn't report this? No, sir, I didn't.
|We'd flown together a long time.
I thought he could handle it|if I gave him a chance.
I was wrong.
You are saying that the accident|was Cadet Albert's fault? I think Josh got frightened and tried|to pull out of the turn prematurely, and then crashed into Cadet Hajar.
Josh was our friend.
We didn't want him to be remembered|as someone who panicked.
Please be seated.
I am very disturbed|by what I have heard here today.
By your own admission,|you allowed your team-mate to fly when you knew he had difficulties|maintaining formation.
That demonstrates|a serious lack of judgement.
I am also disturbed that you did not come forward|with this information immediately.
We will have data from Mr Crusher's|flight recorder tonight.
We will reconvene|at 1300 hours tomorrow.
Everything's fine.
Trust me.
The Academy has one of the best|reconstructive-analysis labs.
There's not much we could contribute.
Yes.
That may well be.
But Wesley's one of our own.
- Understood, sir.
We'll get on it.
|- Good.
I spoke to Admiral Brand.
She's giving us access to all|the physical evidence and testimony.
Thank you, gentlemen.
You shouldn't have said it, Nick.
|Josh wasn't to blame.
- I had to do something.
|- You said we wouldn't have to lie.
We all agreed not to lie to them.
I didn't lie.
|Everything I said was the truth.
The accident was not his fault! He was my friend, too, Wes.
I worked to get him on the team.
|But he panicked.
- We don't know that!|- We do! None of us wanted to say it,|but we've all had the same thought.
Haven't we? He must've pulled away too soon.
|I think he got scared.
Sito? Wes, you want to protect his memory.
|We all do.
But we have to look out|for ourselves now.
You want us to tell them everything? We might as well|start packing our bags.
Are we ready for that? We'll take this one step at a time.
This is the report|from your flight recorder.
It was damaged so badly, the lab could only retrieve|a third of the telemetry.
And all of it|is before the collision.
There's no problem here.
I don't know if I can do this, Nick.
You don't have to lie.
Just don't|volunteer any new information.
The first night I met you, Wes,|I knew I wanted you on this squad.
You understand what it means|to be able to count on someone, because you've been out there,|putting yourself on the line.
You know you have to be able|to count on your team, because your life is in their hands,|and their lives are in yours.
We promised each other in the|beginning that we'd stick together.
We were Nova Squadron.
|Nobody else could say that.
Even after we graduated, we tried|to get posted on the same duty.
We were gonna be a team|for a long time.
Josh can't be a part of those plans|any more.
But I think he would still want us|to be a team.
What do you think? Mr Crusher? Sir! At ease.
- Am I interrupting?|- No.
I was just going over|my deposition for tomorrow.
They told me you'd be here.
I found this in Josh's room.
|I think it belongs to you.
Our ski trip.
Josh and I went to Calgary.
He forgot his sweater,|so he borrowed mine.
He told me|you helped him with his classes.
A little.
He only needed help|in statistical mechanics.
Josh's weakness was mathematics.
No.
He could do it.
|He just didn't like to.
His mother and I thought|he'd never get out of calculus.
Then he found out what the Academy|entrance requirements were like.
That turned him around.
He studied after class, got a tutor.
He really worked hard.
Never gave up on anything.
And he had a lot of respect for you, and everybody on the team.
I realise it was his fault.
That everybody|could have been killed.
And I want to say that I want to say I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that he let you down.
Are you ready, Mr Crusher? Yes, sir.
At the beginning of our run|to Titan, I'm on the right wing.
Where is Mr Albert at this point? On my port quarter,|approximately 50 metres away.
We receive the signal|to begin the diamond formation.
Cadet Locarno is coming into view.
We're in a 20-degree turn|around Titan.
We come out of|Titan's gravity about now.
That is all the data we were able|to recover from the flight recorder.
Mr Crusher, would you describe what happened|after you left your orbit of Titan? Once we cleared the moon, Mr Locarno|led us into a Yeager Loop.
Approximately nine seconds later,|my proximity alarm went off.
I tried to veer away|but it was too late and I was hit.
I lost control of my ship.
The power|coupling exploded in my cockpit.
I don't know how, but I managed|to activate my escape transporter.
The next thing I remember is finding|myself on the evac station on Mimas with the rest of the squadron,|except Josh.
Do you have anything to add|to your testimony? No, sir.
Mr Crusher, will you describe a Yeager Loop? The ships begin|in a diamond-slot formation, and climb and loop backwards|at a steep angle, and at the peak of the loop, turn over and accelerate|in a new direction.
Mr Crusher, did your team remain|in formation throughout the loop? Yes, sir.
I want you to be absolutely clear|on this point.
Before the collision, was Nova|Squadron in a diamond-slot formation? Yes, sir.
Computer, display|Saturn NavCon file 6-379.
These images are from|a navigational-control satellite in orbit around Saturn|during a sensor sweep.
Computer, freeze image.
Magnify sector|Gamma three and enhance.
This image was recorded when your ships moved|into the satellite's range.
According to the time index, what you|see on the monitor took place seven seconds after Nova Squadron|completed the Yeager Loop.
Mr Crusher, are these ships|in a diamond-slot formation? No, sir.
What is your explanation,|Mr Crusher? I have none, sir.
Everything's going to be OK, Wesley.
There must be an explanation.
Data and Geordi are analysing the|recorder and satellite transmission.
Why? There must be something wrong|with the data.
- Maybe it was tampered with.
|- Mom! There must be some explanation.
|I know you're telling the truth, but the data|made it look like you were lying.
I've spoken with the other parents.
I'm going to ask Admiral Brand|to delay the inquiry Mom! Don't.
You can't do that.
I'm going to let them|ruin your career.
You haven't done anything wrong.
Mom, don't try to protect me.
Please stay out of this.
The weeds keep popping up|in the pittosporum.
Poor plants|don't have a chance to grow.
You should use a herbicide instead of pulling the weeds|with your bare hands.
And you could explore space|on a holodeck instead of a starship.
Boothby, tell me some more|about Nova Squadron.
- Not going well, is it?|- No, it isn't.
Do you remember the parrises squares|tournament of '24? The final game against Minsk.
It took me three weeks to repair|the grounds after the celebration.
We had a lot to celebrate.
Our team wasn't supposed to win.
|We were proud of them.
Well, the cadets today|are just as proud of Nova Squadron.
Their celebration|when Nova won the Rigel Cup made '24 look like a dinner party.
To the other cadets,|the members of that team are gods, and that's a hard image|to live up to.
But Nick Locarno watches out|for them, keeps them together.
Nick is what makes that team special.
He's their coach, surrogate father|and best friend.
A natural leader.
The members of that team love him.
If he asks them to do something,|they do it, even if it means|going right over a cliff.
Report.
Nothing conclusive.
|The collision occurred four seconds after|the satellite images were recorded.
We don't know how they got into the|new formation or why they crashed.
We unsuccessfully tried|53 computational models in an effort to simulate|their movements prior to the crash.
There are just too many variables.
|Speed, attitude, course.
Did Wesley's flight recorder indicate|anything unusual about the ship? Starboard power flow was fluctuating.
But well within operational limits.
Fluidic pressure|in the landing struts was low, but that shouldn't matter.
Wesley opened his coolant interlock|before the manoeuvre around Titan.
That is unusual.
The interlock is closed unless|you're checking coolant levels.
There's no evidence of Wesley|doing that sort of check.
Filling the coolant tanks|requires an open interlock.
That needs a maintenance bay.
|Why else might you open the valve? Well, to purge the plasma exhaust.
That would be hazardous|while the ship was in flight.
Yeah.
The engine|would ignite the plasma.
Ignite the plasma! That's exactly|what they were trying to do.
Come.
Captain.
Can you tell me|what this manoeuvre is? It's a Kolvoord Starburst, sir.
Five ships crossing|within ten metres of each other and igniting their plasma trails.
It's one of the most spectacular and difficult demonstrations|in precision flying.
And it hasn't been performed at|the Academy for a hundred years.
Why? It was banned|following a training accident, sir.
An accident in which all five cadets|lost their lives.
I think that Nicholas Locarno|wanted to end his Academy career in a blaze of glory.
That he convinced the four of you|to learn the Kolvoord Starburst for the commencement demonstration.
If it worked,|it would thrill the assembled guests, and Locarno would graduate|as a living legend.
Only it didn't work.
And Joshua Albert paid the price.
Am I correct? Cadet, I asked you a question!|Am I correct? - I choose not to answer, sir.
|- You choose not to answer? But you've already given an answer|to the inquiry.
That answer was a lie.
I said the accident occurred|after the loop.
It did.
You neglected to mention|that following the loop, your team attempted a manoeuvre that was the direct cause|of the crash.
You told the truth up to a point.
But a lie of omission is still a lie.
Do you remember the first day|you came aboard this ship? Your mother|brought you on the bridge.
Yes, sir.
You even sat in my chair.
|I was annoyed.
Presumptuous child|playing on my ship.
But I never forgot how you knew|every control, every display.
You behaved as though|you belonged on the bridge.
Later, when I decided|to make you an acting ensign, I believed|you'd be an outstanding officer.
I've never|questioned that conviction .
.
until now.
The first duty of every|Starfleet officer is to the truth.
Whether scientific, historical|or personal truth! It is the guiding principle|of Starfleet.
If you can't find it within yourself|to tell the truth, you don't deserve|to wear that uniform.
I'll make this simple for you,|Mr Crusher.
Either you tell Admiral Brand|what really took place, or I will.
- Captain|- Dismissed! - Your message said it was urgent.
|- They know what we did.
Calm down! Tell me exactly what happened.
Capt Picard|called me to the Enterprise.
He told me he knows.
The Kolvoord|manoeuvre, the cover-up, everything.
He said that|if I didn't tell the truth, he would.
- Does he have any evidence?|- No, but he knew how it happened! Capt Picard doesn't know anything.
|He has a theory.
Let him tell them what he thinks.
They'll ask, "ls it true?"|We'll say, "No.
" There's no evidence.
|We'll get off with a reprimand.
I can't call Capt Picard a liar.
Wesley! We have to hang on just a little|bit longer, then this will be over.
- It's wrong, Nick.
|- Wesley No! I'll tell them what happened.
You're gonna tell them|what happened? You? Alone? You're gonna decide|what happens to me? To Sito? To Jean?|You're gonna decide that? I'm not gonna lie to them again,|Nick! I can't live with it.
You can't lie to them.
|You can't live with this.
You have to tell them.
Who the hell|are you? You're gonna turn us in! - Wait a minute.
|- You wait a minute! He got to you, didn't he? Picard told you some big story|about duty and honour.
Must've been a good speech to make|you turn your back on your friends.
We're Starfleet cadets.
|We have a duty to the truth.
What about your duty|to your friends? I got you on this team.
I gave you a chance when|upperclassmen were waiting in line.
I said, "He won't let us down.
|He was on the Enterprise.
" "He knows what it's like|to trust somebody with his life.
" I guess I was wrong.
If we all come forward together|and tell Admiral Brand We don't wanna come forward! Sito, Jean and me,|we don't have a problem with this.
If you do, resign your appointment|to the Academy and walk away.
Don't make us pay|for your guilty conscience.
You'd let me do that? You'd let me throw away my career|just to save your neck? To save the team! That's more important than you,|and more important than me.
And if I were in your place,|I'd do it without hesitation.
But that's me.
Capt Satelk and l|have gone over your testimony and evidence from the crash.
Your statements cannot be reconciled with the data|from the NavCon satellite.
Your unwillingness to offer any|explanation for this contradiction is disappointing,|and raises suspicion.
We cannot escape the conclusion .
.
that either the data is faulty|in some way, .
.
or you have lied to us.
However, suspicion is not proof, and I have no proof|that you have lied to this inquiry.
Therefore,|if no further evidence is presented, I have no choice|but to close this investigation.
For filing|an inaccurate flight plan, and for allowing Cadet Albert to fly|when you knew he had difficulties, I'm ordering a formal reprimand placed|on each of your permanent records.
I'm also revoking|your flight privileges.
This inquiry is closed.
Sir? I wish to add to my testimony.
Proceed, Mr Crusher.
Yesterday I testified that the crash|occurred following a Yeager Loop.
That is not entirely true.
We performed the loop, and afterwards broke formation|and attempted a Kolvoord Starburst.
We knew it was prohibited.
|We knew it was dangerous.
But we wanted to do something|spectacular for the demonstration.
We pushed Josh into it,|and he wasn't ready.
We thought we could do it.
|We thought we could do anything.
We were wrong.
And Josh died.
Josh didn't let us down, sir.
|It wasn't his fault.
Mr Locarno, .
.
you are the leader|of Nova Squadron.
Do you have anything to say? Mr Locarno? No, sir.
Mr Locarno has been expelled.
- They should've expelled all of us.
|- They very nearly did.
Mr Locarno made an impassioned|plea for the rest of you.
He said he'd used his influence to|convince you to attempt the manoeuvre and to cover up the truth.
He asked to take full responsibility.
He did exactly|what he said he would.
He protected the team.
I feel awful.
I've let down everyone.
|My mother, my friends, you.
You should feel bad.
And you will pay|for what you've done.
Admiral Brand decided that,|in addition to a formal reprimand, your credits for the year|are cancelled and you will not advance|with your class.
I understand.
It's not going to be easy, staying here on campus,|everyone knowing what you did.
You have difficult times ahead.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, Captain.
You knew what you had to do.
I just made sure|that you listened to yourself.
- Goodbye, Cadet.
|- Goodbye, Captain.
9.
|We are en route to Earth, where I will make the commencement|address at Starfleet Academy.
I look forward|to seeing Wesley Crusher again.
His flight team's demonstration|near Saturn will be transmitted|to the graduation ceremonies.
Captain, Starfleet Academy|requests our estimated arrival.
Mr Data? We should arrive at Earth|in ten hours, 16 minutes.
Inform the Academy, Mr Worf.
Send my regards|to Superintendent Brand.
- Aye, sir.
|- Do you know Admiral Brand? We've met a few times.
|She's a formidable woman.
When I was at the Academy,|we had a Vulcan superintendent who had memorised|all our personnel files.
It was like|having your parents around.
My superintendent|was a Betazoid telepath.
When you got sent to his office, he|didn't have to ask what you'd done.
You got called to his office?|I'd like to hear that story! Sir, we're being hailed again|by the Academy.
It is Admiral Brand.
On screen.
Sir, she is requesting|a private channel.
In my ready room.
- Admiral, what can I do for you?|- Hello, Captain.
I know you're a close friend|of the Crusher family.
Yes.
I wanted to inform you personally.
There's been an accident.
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 civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
He had second-degree burns and|a fractured arm, but he'll be fine.
- Have they completed regeneration?|- I'm not certain.
Wesley's allergic|to metorapan treatments.
They'll have to use|a bicaridine substitute.
- I'll send his records|- Beverly.
.
.
to the infirmary.
They probably|have them, but you can't be too sure.
Beverly, he's fine.
I know he's fine.
How did it happen? Apparently,|his squadron was practising on the Academy flight range|near Saturn.
They were flying a close formation.
|There was a collision.
All five ships were destroyed.
Four cadets transported out.
|One didn't make it.
- Do you know who it was?|- Yes.
His name was Joshua Albert.
Wesley spoke of him.
|They were friends.
Wesley was so excited|to make the flight team.
Of course, I was a little nervous,|but I was proud.
I always knew there was a chance|that something like this might Beverly, Wesley's alive|and he's well.
There was little to salvage|from the wreckage.
We recovered one data recorder,|but it was badly damaged.
We are attempting to restore the|information, but it will take time.
Standard procedure calls|for an immediate investigation by two command-level officers.
Capt Satelk and I will be taking depositions from|Nova Squadron at 1500 hours today.
Cmdr Albert.
I'm sure that everyone in this room joins me in expressing|my deepest sympathies to you on the tragic loss of your son.
There will be a memorial service|for Cadet Albert this evening, in the west garden.
It has been suggested that we should cancel the graduation|ceremonies because of what happened.
Cmdr Albert and I have agreed|that commencement should go forward.
The cadets should know|that even after such a tragedy, there are still duties to perform .
.
and life continues.
Thank you all for coming.
It's good to see you again, Captain.
I wish it were|under better circumstances.
This is an unhappy way|to begin commencement.
If you require any assistance,|the Enterprise is at your disposal.
I'm sure we'll be able|to conduct the investigation.
But thank you for your offer.
Wes! - I was so worried about you.
|- How are you feeling, Wesley? Not bad.
The arm's a little sore.
We were very sorry|to hear about Joshua.
Would you like to talk about it? No.
I don't think so.
No, thank you.
I know you want to be helpful, but I've talked about it for days.
|I don't want to go through it again.
I understand.
But I'm available|if you change your mind.
Thank you, sir.
- Hi.
|- Hi.
- Captain, sir.
|- At ease, Cadet.
This is my squadron leader|Nicholas Locarno.
Capt Jean-Luc Picard|and my mother, Dr Crusher.
- Hello, Doctor.
|- Hello.
- Capt Picard.
|- Mr Locarno.
I came by to see|if Wes had healed up alright.
- How are you feeling, Nicholas?|- I'm OK.
I just never lost anyone|under my command before.
I'm afraid that never gets easier.
Captain, Mom, .
.
will you excuse us, please? Nick and I have things|we need to talk about.
Of course.
- Let me know if you need anything.
|- I will.
I'll see you at the inquiry.
- Good to meet you, Mr Locarno.
|- You too, sir.
The inquiry's scheduled|for 1500 hours.
You ready? I think so.
Don't worry about it, Wes.
Everything's gonna be alright,|as long as we stick together.
Can't you see that's a flowerbed? - Sorry! I'm really sorry.
|- Well Boothby? Jean-Luc Picard.
Class of '27.
I know that.
|What happened to your hair? How are you? I'm pretty damn cranky, thank you! I've replanted this bed|four times this week.
Let me give you a hand.
You? I've acquired an interest|over the years.
Well, don't plant 'em too deep.
- The stems will|- Will rot.
Capt Picard.
Of the Enterprise, no less.
|And giving the commencement address! - You sound surprised.
|- Surprised? Nothing you ever did|surprised me, son.
Except when you caught that Ligonian|with a reverse body lift, and pinned him in|the first 14 seconds of the match.
Didn't think you had it in you.
Well, it was all in the legs,|all that running I did.
Boothby? I don't think that I ever|I don't think I ever told you -.
.
how much I appreciate|- There's nothing to tell.
Yes, there is.
I just wanted to,|while I was here Look, you know as well as I do, l|would never have graduated if you You made a mistake.
We've all|been young enough to make one.
Nevertheless You did what you had to.
|What you thought was best.
I just made sure|that you listened to yourself.
At the time I thought you were|a mean-spirited, vicious old man.
I was.
And, by the way, I was|about the same age you are now.
I didn't speak to you for months.
You needed to get your bearings.
|I knew that.
The important thing is, what|you did with your life afterwards.
Seems you did OK.
That's thanks enough for me.
Did you know the boy|from Nova Squadron who was killed? Josh Albert? Yeah.
Crusher, Hajar, Sito, Locarno I know them all.
- You nervous?|- No.
Yes.
That's OK.
So am I.
|But we're gonna be alright.
It'll be tough, but we always|come through for each other.
Whatever happens,|leading this team has been the high point|of my years at the Academy.
No one could have asked|for a better team.
Or better friends.
Let's go.
Here, we accelerated and executed|a starboard turn of 27 degrees.
We came out of the turn|on course for Titan.
You were still in the lead position? - Yes, sir.
|- Continue.
As we approached Titan, I gave the signal to tighten|into a diamond-slot formation.
Remaining in formation, we executed|a low-apogee turn around Titan and began a Z+25 degree climb|in preparation for a Yeager Loop.
Approximately nine seconds later, Cadet Albert's ship|collided with Cadet Hajar's.
We had less than two seconds to|beam to the evac stations at Mimas.
Everyone made it except Josh.
Thank you, Mr Locarno.
Cadet Hajar.
As team navigator, you filed|a flight plan with the range officer before the exercise.
Correct? Yes, sir.
Did Nova Squadron|deviate from that flight plan after you entered the Saturn range? No, sir.
Then how do you explain that|the low-apogee turn around Titan was 2,000 kilometres closer to|the moon than indicated in your plan.
We were within|flight-safety parameters, sir.
That was not my question, Cadet.
We had discussed changing|our approach after I filed the plan.
The final decision|was made en route.
I didn't consider it|significant enough to mention.
I apologise for the confusion, sir.
|I should have been more precise.
Did you see Mr Albert's ship break|formation before colliding with you? No, sir.
My first indication was when|my proximity alarm went off.
You may be seated.
Did any of you see the collision? No, sir.
Cadet Sito,|you were in the tail position.
You should have seen any sign|of trouble from Cadet Albert.
- Yet you saw nothing?|- That is correct, sir.
- Did your attention falter?|- No, sir.
I was flying|solely on sensor readings.
I had no visual contact with Cadet|Albert when he broke formation.
Sensor readings? What's wrong? It's unusual to fly on sensors alone|during this type of manoeuvre.
A pilot relies on visual clues from|the others to maintain formation.
If you were flying on sensors alone, perhaps you could tell us|the orientation of his ship - before the collision.
|- I don't know, sir.
You were flying a ship,|travelling 80,000kph, with Cadet Albert's ship|less than ten metres away, and you don't know|what his orientation was? I don't remember, sir.
- Sir, may l?|- Go ahead.
Admiral, .
.
Josh was a good pilot, but lately|he'd been having difficulties.
He'd get nervous in close fly-bys|and pull away in the final seconds.
His formation flying was erratic.
And you didn't report this? No, sir, I didn't.
|We'd flown together a long time.
I thought he could handle it|if I gave him a chance.
I was wrong.
You are saying that the accident|was Cadet Albert's fault? I think Josh got frightened and tried|to pull out of the turn prematurely, and then crashed into Cadet Hajar.
Josh was our friend.
We didn't want him to be remembered|as someone who panicked.
Please be seated.
I am very disturbed|by what I have heard here today.
By your own admission,|you allowed your team-mate to fly when you knew he had difficulties|maintaining formation.
That demonstrates|a serious lack of judgement.
I am also disturbed that you did not come forward|with this information immediately.
We will have data from Mr Crusher's|flight recorder tonight.
We will reconvene|at 1300 hours tomorrow.
Everything's fine.
Trust me.
The Academy has one of the best|reconstructive-analysis labs.
There's not much we could contribute.
Yes.
That may well be.
But Wesley's one of our own.
- Understood, sir.
We'll get on it.
|- Good.
I spoke to Admiral Brand.
She's giving us access to all|the physical evidence and testimony.
Thank you, gentlemen.
You shouldn't have said it, Nick.
|Josh wasn't to blame.
- I had to do something.
|- You said we wouldn't have to lie.
We all agreed not to lie to them.
I didn't lie.
|Everything I said was the truth.
The accident was not his fault! He was my friend, too, Wes.
I worked to get him on the team.
|But he panicked.
- We don't know that!|- We do! None of us wanted to say it,|but we've all had the same thought.
Haven't we? He must've pulled away too soon.
|I think he got scared.
Sito? Wes, you want to protect his memory.
|We all do.
But we have to look out|for ourselves now.
You want us to tell them everything? We might as well|start packing our bags.
Are we ready for that? We'll take this one step at a time.
This is the report|from your flight recorder.
It was damaged so badly, the lab could only retrieve|a third of the telemetry.
And all of it|is before the collision.
There's no problem here.
I don't know if I can do this, Nick.
You don't have to lie.
Just don't|volunteer any new information.
The first night I met you, Wes,|I knew I wanted you on this squad.
You understand what it means|to be able to count on someone, because you've been out there,|putting yourself on the line.
You know you have to be able|to count on your team, because your life is in their hands,|and their lives are in yours.
We promised each other in the|beginning that we'd stick together.
We were Nova Squadron.
|Nobody else could say that.
Even after we graduated, we tried|to get posted on the same duty.
We were gonna be a team|for a long time.
Josh can't be a part of those plans|any more.
But I think he would still want us|to be a team.
What do you think? Mr Crusher? Sir! At ease.
- Am I interrupting?|- No.
I was just going over|my deposition for tomorrow.
They told me you'd be here.
I found this in Josh's room.
|I think it belongs to you.
Our ski trip.
Josh and I went to Calgary.
He forgot his sweater,|so he borrowed mine.
He told me|you helped him with his classes.
A little.
He only needed help|in statistical mechanics.
Josh's weakness was mathematics.
No.
He could do it.
|He just didn't like to.
His mother and I thought|he'd never get out of calculus.
Then he found out what the Academy|entrance requirements were like.
That turned him around.
He studied after class, got a tutor.
He really worked hard.
Never gave up on anything.
And he had a lot of respect for you, and everybody on the team.
I realise it was his fault.
That everybody|could have been killed.
And I want to say that I want to say I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that he let you down.
Are you ready, Mr Crusher? Yes, sir.
At the beginning of our run|to Titan, I'm on the right wing.
Where is Mr Albert at this point? On my port quarter,|approximately 50 metres away.
We receive the signal|to begin the diamond formation.
Cadet Locarno is coming into view.
We're in a 20-degree turn|around Titan.
We come out of|Titan's gravity about now.
That is all the data we were able|to recover from the flight recorder.
Mr Crusher, would you describe what happened|after you left your orbit of Titan? Once we cleared the moon, Mr Locarno|led us into a Yeager Loop.
Approximately nine seconds later,|my proximity alarm went off.
I tried to veer away|but it was too late and I was hit.
I lost control of my ship.
The power|coupling exploded in my cockpit.
I don't know how, but I managed|to activate my escape transporter.
The next thing I remember is finding|myself on the evac station on Mimas with the rest of the squadron,|except Josh.
Do you have anything to add|to your testimony? No, sir.
Mr Crusher, will you describe a Yeager Loop? The ships begin|in a diamond-slot formation, and climb and loop backwards|at a steep angle, and at the peak of the loop, turn over and accelerate|in a new direction.
Mr Crusher, did your team remain|in formation throughout the loop? Yes, sir.
I want you to be absolutely clear|on this point.
Before the collision, was Nova|Squadron in a diamond-slot formation? Yes, sir.
Computer, display|Saturn NavCon file 6-379.
These images are from|a navigational-control satellite in orbit around Saturn|during a sensor sweep.
Computer, freeze image.
Magnify sector|Gamma three and enhance.
This image was recorded when your ships moved|into the satellite's range.
According to the time index, what you|see on the monitor took place seven seconds after Nova Squadron|completed the Yeager Loop.
Mr Crusher, are these ships|in a diamond-slot formation? No, sir.
What is your explanation,|Mr Crusher? I have none, sir.
Everything's going to be OK, Wesley.
There must be an explanation.
Data and Geordi are analysing the|recorder and satellite transmission.
Why? There must be something wrong|with the data.
- Maybe it was tampered with.
|- Mom! There must be some explanation.
|I know you're telling the truth, but the data|made it look like you were lying.
I've spoken with the other parents.
I'm going to ask Admiral Brand|to delay the inquiry Mom! Don't.
You can't do that.
I'm going to let them|ruin your career.
You haven't done anything wrong.
Mom, don't try to protect me.
Please stay out of this.
The weeds keep popping up|in the pittosporum.
Poor plants|don't have a chance to grow.
You should use a herbicide instead of pulling the weeds|with your bare hands.
And you could explore space|on a holodeck instead of a starship.
Boothby, tell me some more|about Nova Squadron.
- Not going well, is it?|- No, it isn't.
Do you remember the parrises squares|tournament of '24? The final game against Minsk.
It took me three weeks to repair|the grounds after the celebration.
We had a lot to celebrate.
Our team wasn't supposed to win.
|We were proud of them.
Well, the cadets today|are just as proud of Nova Squadron.
Their celebration|when Nova won the Rigel Cup made '24 look like a dinner party.
To the other cadets,|the members of that team are gods, and that's a hard image|to live up to.
But Nick Locarno watches out|for them, keeps them together.
Nick is what makes that team special.
He's their coach, surrogate father|and best friend.
A natural leader.
The members of that team love him.
If he asks them to do something,|they do it, even if it means|going right over a cliff.
Report.
Nothing conclusive.
|The collision occurred four seconds after|the satellite images were recorded.
We don't know how they got into the|new formation or why they crashed.
We unsuccessfully tried|53 computational models in an effort to simulate|their movements prior to the crash.
There are just too many variables.
|Speed, attitude, course.
Did Wesley's flight recorder indicate|anything unusual about the ship? Starboard power flow was fluctuating.
But well within operational limits.
Fluidic pressure|in the landing struts was low, but that shouldn't matter.
Wesley opened his coolant interlock|before the manoeuvre around Titan.
That is unusual.
The interlock is closed unless|you're checking coolant levels.
There's no evidence of Wesley|doing that sort of check.
Filling the coolant tanks|requires an open interlock.
That needs a maintenance bay.
|Why else might you open the valve? Well, to purge the plasma exhaust.
That would be hazardous|while the ship was in flight.
Yeah.
The engine|would ignite the plasma.
Ignite the plasma! That's exactly|what they were trying to do.
Come.
Captain.
Can you tell me|what this manoeuvre is? It's a Kolvoord Starburst, sir.
Five ships crossing|within ten metres of each other and igniting their plasma trails.
It's one of the most spectacular and difficult demonstrations|in precision flying.
And it hasn't been performed at|the Academy for a hundred years.
Why? It was banned|following a training accident, sir.
An accident in which all five cadets|lost their lives.
I think that Nicholas Locarno|wanted to end his Academy career in a blaze of glory.
That he convinced the four of you|to learn the Kolvoord Starburst for the commencement demonstration.
If it worked,|it would thrill the assembled guests, and Locarno would graduate|as a living legend.
Only it didn't work.
And Joshua Albert paid the price.
Am I correct? Cadet, I asked you a question!|Am I correct? - I choose not to answer, sir.
|- You choose not to answer? But you've already given an answer|to the inquiry.
That answer was a lie.
I said the accident occurred|after the loop.
It did.
You neglected to mention|that following the loop, your team attempted a manoeuvre that was the direct cause|of the crash.
You told the truth up to a point.
But a lie of omission is still a lie.
Do you remember the first day|you came aboard this ship? Your mother|brought you on the bridge.
Yes, sir.
You even sat in my chair.
|I was annoyed.
Presumptuous child|playing on my ship.
But I never forgot how you knew|every control, every display.
You behaved as though|you belonged on the bridge.
Later, when I decided|to make you an acting ensign, I believed|you'd be an outstanding officer.
I've never|questioned that conviction .
.
until now.
The first duty of every|Starfleet officer is to the truth.
Whether scientific, historical|or personal truth! It is the guiding principle|of Starfleet.
If you can't find it within yourself|to tell the truth, you don't deserve|to wear that uniform.
I'll make this simple for you,|Mr Crusher.
Either you tell Admiral Brand|what really took place, or I will.
- Captain|- Dismissed! - Your message said it was urgent.
|- They know what we did.
Calm down! Tell me exactly what happened.
Capt Picard|called me to the Enterprise.
He told me he knows.
The Kolvoord|manoeuvre, the cover-up, everything.
He said that|if I didn't tell the truth, he would.
- Does he have any evidence?|- No, but he knew how it happened! Capt Picard doesn't know anything.
|He has a theory.
Let him tell them what he thinks.
They'll ask, "ls it true?"|We'll say, "No.
" There's no evidence.
|We'll get off with a reprimand.
I can't call Capt Picard a liar.
Wesley! We have to hang on just a little|bit longer, then this will be over.
- It's wrong, Nick.
|- Wesley No! I'll tell them what happened.
You're gonna tell them|what happened? You? Alone? You're gonna decide|what happens to me? To Sito? To Jean?|You're gonna decide that? I'm not gonna lie to them again,|Nick! I can't live with it.
You can't lie to them.
|You can't live with this.
You have to tell them.
Who the hell|are you? You're gonna turn us in! - Wait a minute.
|- You wait a minute! He got to you, didn't he? Picard told you some big story|about duty and honour.
Must've been a good speech to make|you turn your back on your friends.
We're Starfleet cadets.
|We have a duty to the truth.
What about your duty|to your friends? I got you on this team.
I gave you a chance when|upperclassmen were waiting in line.
I said, "He won't let us down.
|He was on the Enterprise.
" "He knows what it's like|to trust somebody with his life.
" I guess I was wrong.
If we all come forward together|and tell Admiral Brand We don't wanna come forward! Sito, Jean and me,|we don't have a problem with this.
If you do, resign your appointment|to the Academy and walk away.
Don't make us pay|for your guilty conscience.
You'd let me do that? You'd let me throw away my career|just to save your neck? To save the team! That's more important than you,|and more important than me.
And if I were in your place,|I'd do it without hesitation.
But that's me.
Capt Satelk and l|have gone over your testimony and evidence from the crash.
Your statements cannot be reconciled with the data|from the NavCon satellite.
Your unwillingness to offer any|explanation for this contradiction is disappointing,|and raises suspicion.
We cannot escape the conclusion .
.
that either the data is faulty|in some way, .
.
or you have lied to us.
However, suspicion is not proof, and I have no proof|that you have lied to this inquiry.
Therefore,|if no further evidence is presented, I have no choice|but to close this investigation.
For filing|an inaccurate flight plan, and for allowing Cadet Albert to fly|when you knew he had difficulties, I'm ordering a formal reprimand placed|on each of your permanent records.
I'm also revoking|your flight privileges.
This inquiry is closed.
Sir? I wish to add to my testimony.
Proceed, Mr Crusher.
Yesterday I testified that the crash|occurred following a Yeager Loop.
That is not entirely true.
We performed the loop, and afterwards broke formation|and attempted a Kolvoord Starburst.
We knew it was prohibited.
|We knew it was dangerous.
But we wanted to do something|spectacular for the demonstration.
We pushed Josh into it,|and he wasn't ready.
We thought we could do it.
|We thought we could do anything.
We were wrong.
And Josh died.
Josh didn't let us down, sir.
|It wasn't his fault.
Mr Locarno, .
.
you are the leader|of Nova Squadron.
Do you have anything to say? Mr Locarno? No, sir.
Mr Locarno has been expelled.
- They should've expelled all of us.
|- They very nearly did.
Mr Locarno made an impassioned|plea for the rest of you.
He said he'd used his influence to|convince you to attempt the manoeuvre and to cover up the truth.
He asked to take full responsibility.
He did exactly|what he said he would.
He protected the team.
I feel awful.
I've let down everyone.
|My mother, my friends, you.
You should feel bad.
And you will pay|for what you've done.
Admiral Brand decided that,|in addition to a formal reprimand, your credits for the year|are cancelled and you will not advance|with your class.
I understand.
It's not going to be easy, staying here on campus,|everyone knowing what you did.
You have difficult times ahead.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, Captain.
You knew what you had to do.
I just made sure|that you listened to yourself.
- Goodbye, Cadet.
|- Goodbye, Captain.