Fire In The Heart
From Hidden Frontier
| Star Trek: Hidden Frontier episode | |
| "Fire In The Heart" | |
| |
| Episode no. | 2.07 |
|---|---|
| Season | Season 2 |
| Release Date | 2002 |
| Writer(s) | Dan Crout |
| Story Elements by | Rob Caves and Dan Crout |
| Director | Dave Mason |
| Year | 2378 |
| Stardate | 55xxx |
| Episode chronology | |
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Contents |
Episode Summary
Synopsis
Luko rescues Traya, a young girl who happens to be Captain Knapp's daughter, from an Orion Syndicate slave planet, but come under attack from a squadron of Grey attack fighter. Excelsior manages to fend of an attack, but suffers damage that makes them unable to jump to warp. Soon, they are easy pickings for another Grey attack, which leaves the ship disabled and the crew, scattered throughout, attempting to avert a series of calamities long enough to restore power before a Grey battleship can move in for the kill.
Grey Rescues
Onboard a small civilian craft, Luko comforts his passenger, a young girl he has rescued from an Orion Syndicate planet. She apologises if she seems ungrateful, but he understands what she has been through, as they approach Grey space. But their sojourn proves anything but uneventful as a squadron of Grey fighters close in on them. Luko manages to make a fight of it, taking out at least one fighter, before power begins to falter on the small transport. Luckily, the Excelsior swoops in for the rescue, forcing the squadron away temporarily.
As Ensign McFarland reports that the squadron is regrouping, Barrett, manning Tactical, picks up the life-signs on the civilian vessel. Knapp immediately orders the shields lowered long enough to beam Luko and Traya directly to sickbay. But the time taken to perform the transport allows a Grey fighter to perform a suicide run into one of Excelsior’s nacelles, leaving the ship without warp drive. Lefler reports that compensating for the nacelle would take ten minutes. Knapp sends Barrett and Ro down to assist the harried Chief Engineer. As they limp away at impulse, Knapp heads for sickbay with Counselor Elbrey, disregarding Shelby’s reminder that they are still to inform Admiral Nechayev that their rescue mission has been successful.
As Ro and Lefler work on diagnostics to figure out just how seriously one of the plasma conduits is damaged, Knapp meets with Luko outside Sickbay as Elbrey heads in. Luko reminds Knapp to take things slowly - the girl has been a slave to the Syndicate for nine years, so the last thing she needs is to be interrogated. Knapp thanks him, before heading in. As soon as the girl sees him, she smiles, “Hi, Dad.”
Reunions
Back on the bridge, Shelby is not happy with the way things are going, especially when Barrett returns from Engineering. Barrett wonders aloud to McFarland why Knapp did not call for help. McFarland shares his concern that the fighters could return, possibly with reinforcements. Shelby reminds them that “Captains are privy to things that the rest of us are not.” Her comment is punctuated when Luko, now in uniform, arrives and takes his station. Shelby immediately pelts him with questions regarding his week-long absence and the timing of his arrival with their unscheduled detour from their patrol zone. Luko gives Shelby only the basics - that he rescued a Federation citizen being held by the Orion Syndicate, rendezvousing at their present location to avoid Orion reprisals. Shelby is hardly satisfied with his answers. McFarland then reports the return of the Grey fighters. Shelby realizes they are running out of time - the warp drive won't be repaired for at least another six minutes.
In sickbay, Elbrey is slowly finding out what she can from Traya. Knapp instantly realizes who her mother was, Mariana, a woman he had a brief relationship with years ago, while trying to assist a Federation effort to free women from slavery to the Orion Syndicate. When Traya reveals that her mother has been dead for years and she never really knew her, Knapp, uncomfortable with the memory of his past love, decides to regroup on the bridge. Shelby soon calls for him over the comm. He tells Elbrey to head for Ten Forward with Traya. The Counselor is unhappy with having to keep Traya busy when what she really needs is to be with her father. Duty, however, calls to Knapp first.
Kamikaze Runs
On the bridge, Luko reports the imminent arrival of the fighters. Shelby orders evasive maneuvers and for Luko to open fire. Several ships are quickly taken out by Excelsior’s phasers, but McFarland realises that the fighters are forming up to ram them. One fighter crashes into the main deflector dish, as another rams into the front of the saucer section, creating an explosion near Ten Forward. One final fighter explodes directly above the bridge. As the ship rocks from the explosions, Ro reports to Lefler that diagnostics throughout the ship are acting up. Barrett, having been sent down to Engineering by Shelby moments before the attack, informs Lefler of problems with the internal sensors. Lefler, the more experienced officer, keeps the Ensigns calm as she works on the various problems. When they realize internal communications are down, they understand that their problems have just begun.
Knapp, stuck on Deck 18, tries to contact the bridge with no avail, although he does reach Engineering, who report what they know about sensors, communications and the possible conduit problem on the saucer. Knapp orders them to continue in their efforts, as well as contact other areas of the ship, as he himself heads to the bridge.
Assessing the Damage
On the bridge, McFarland, Luko and most of the other bridge officers slowly come to, each sporting various injuries. As they try to gauge what state the ship is in, Luko suddenly spots Shelby’s prone form on the deck through the smoke. He scans her, as McFarland inquires about her condition. Luko tells them that she is severely hurt, and needs surgery. Chief Enan Kiril, an Ops specialist, offers to take her to sickbay. Despite his place being the bridge during a time of crisis, Luko decides to take Shelby there himself, since his greater strength will allow him to get the job done faster. When McFarland questions the decision, he gives the her command of the bridge, telling her to make any command decisions she feels she has to.
In Ten Forward, Elbrey is assisting the medical team that has arrived, before noticing that Traya is handling the situation well. “I’ve seen worse,” she replies. She then begins quizzing Elbrey about her role on the Excelsior. She explains her duties and Traya asks if she has ever helped Knapp, pushing for more information about him. Elbrey admits that Knapp is a very private man, despite having known him for several years. Traya is shocked that he never spoke about her mother. Elbrey explains that after hearing of Traya’s mother, she realized that their relationship and how it ended, might be a pain she has always sensed within Knapp, pushing him to this very day. Traya does not understand why he would have her rescued, but then not stay with her, rather having Elbrey do it. Elbrey admits that while Knapp is a close friend, she feels that his sense of duty is what drives him. Perhaps Traya can remind him that there is more to life.
Averting Disaster
A massive explosion rocks the ship again as the conduit ruptures, creating a power surge that is heading towards the ship's massive phaser cannon. Lefler and her team have no way to stop it.
Running into each other, Luko explains Shelby's condition to Knapp. He then reports on what else has been going on with the ship with his tricorder. As Knapp decides to head for Engineering to coordinate efforts, Luko reminds him that Traya is in Ten Forward. Apparently, Traya has set up a crude communication system which has revealed the lounge is now threatened by growing plasma fires. Knapp angrily reminds his Security Chief that he is responsible for the safety of the whole ship, not just one little girl. Luko reminds Knapp of what he has been willing to do thus far for her. With that realization finally hitting the Knapp, he asks Luko to personally see to Traya’s safety. He then heads for Engineering, since it has power.
As the fire rages outside of Ten Forward, Traya complains that the Orion Syndicate’s equipment was easier to use then the Starfleet tricorder she is working with. Elbrey compliments her "hidden talents." She also points out that calling for help is still a useful ability, even if Traya cannot put out the fire directly. The young girl then asks how long they can hold out. Elbrey pulls her into a comforting embrace, telling her that they still have time. They are both surprised as a loud noise is heard, before the doors to Ten Forward open, revealing a concerned Luko, who grins when he sees them. The fires have been put out. Elbrey and Traya give each other a hug of gratitude.
Knapp arrives in Engineering, and is given a run down of the situation. They cannot eject the phaser cannon, due to secondary damage from the battle disrupting control linkages. If they can restore internal sensors, then the bridge and the main computer would be able to do what is needed. Knapp surveys who is available and asks who the fastest runner available is. Barrett then notices that everyone is looking at him.
Back on the bridge, McFarland and Kiril worry about the possible return of the Grey. Barrett then successfully restores power to their systems. As he prepares to fix the last power junction, he needs their sensors to determine if it is working. McFarland reports that the sensors are still sketchy. Barrett reminds her that guessing is better then nothing. Kiril admits that his sensors are contradicting each other, but McFarland notices the phaser cannon overload and makes a command decision. Once he finishes, she tells Barrett to head for safety. Kiril reroutes the power through the repaired junction. After a few tense seconds, Knapp signals from Engineering that the ejection system worked, and that they are out of danger for the moment. McFarland quickly calls Barrett, making sure he is okay. She then thanks him and Kiril for their work.
Recovery
Escorted by two other Starfleet ships, an Intrepid-class and a Prometheus-class, the Excelsior heads for Deep Space 12 as the crew continue effecting repairs. On his way to sickbay, Knapp again thanks Luko for bringing Traya to him and finally welcomes him aboard. Luko admits his is glad to be there, before heading off, leaving Knapp to visit a fully-recovered Shelby. After Doctor Anderson leaves them alone, Shelby gently points the facts out to Knapp, who does not dispute them as she speaks. Shelby, for once, understands what Knapp did, even though it may seem dubious to anyone reading the record. All she asks, is for Knapp to take her into his confidence next time, for which Knapp apologizes for not doing this time. Shelby spots Traya and Elbrey on the other side of Sickbay, and gently pushes Knapp to stop putting off the inevitable. He heads over to reacquaint himself with his daughter.
Background Information
- Background performers in this episode include:
- Jennifer Cole - White Fluffy Wig Woman
- Michael Johns - Andorian Antennae Guy
- Jason Munoz - Planet Of the Apes Mask Man
Memorable Quotes
- Elbrey: "I respect your father - I consider him a close friend... but there's a fire in his heart, Traya. Maybe you can help him?"
- Knapp: "Who's the fatest runner?"
- Barrett: (realizing everyone is looking at him) "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
- Shelby: "So, you sent our new Security Chief AWOL to go find your daughter, and risked the ship to rescue them, in known Grey space? Good thing we were just responding to a distress call - it is our job to save people. That it was your daughter we were saving could look a little fishy, but I have no problems with the motive, sir. I just would appreciate the opportunity to voice my opinion before, not after."
- Knapp: "Message received, Commander. Next time, you're in from the start. I'm sorry it wasn't this time."
Production Information
- This episode introduces the character of Traya, Captain Knapp's daughter, who he has only recently discovered.
- This episode also features the return of Ensign Andrew Barrett, who has been absent for most of the season.
- Dr. Henglaar does not appear at all in this episode.
Cast
Regular Cast
| Actor | Role |
| David W. Dial | Captain Ian Quincy Knapp |
| Risha Denney | Commander Elizabeth Shelby |
| Barbara Clifford | Counselor Myra Elbrey |
| John Whiting | Doctor Henglaar |
| Joanne Busch | Lieutenant Commander Robin Lefler |
| Terence Schoshinski | Lieutenant Luko |
| Arthur Bosserman | Ensign Ro Nevin |
| Tristan Clark | Ensign Brad Rawlins |
| Adrianne Lange | Ensign Jenna McFarland |
Guest Stars
| Actor | Role |
| Crystal Huerta | Traya |
| Tyler Bosserman | Ensign Andrew Barrett |
| Rob Caves | Chief Enan Kiril |
| Suzy Kaplan | Doctor Anderson |
