With the return of the discussion threads comes a change of format. Instead of an extensive recap (which be left for the new 'Previously on...' thread), these threads will be for immediate reaction - with shorter reminders of what took place in each episode.
"Wright-Hampton, 2393."
President James Wright and Vice President Renee Hampton? Is it truly a possibility? Taylor may have stated she was not endorsing a successor, but behind the scenes, her Chief of Staff is attempting to set the stage for preserving her legacy despite Accobar being under threat. Will Wright accept? Will Hampton take on the challenge? Can the 'Human' problem be overcome. The race for the Presidency will continue in snippets throughout the season - building to an episode down the line focused entirely on the election and Taylor's successor. Asteroid Field all but began out of Taylor's appointment - it will end with her departure.
"Lets have a good day..."
Off the back the last minisode, it all seemed to be starting so well - right up until it wasn't. Contacted by an outside force (intentionally reminiscent of 'Where There is Discord' from Season One - which we learnt in Season Five was also the work of the Cabal), Doctor Rogan was made aware that the life of his former friend and original ACMO from Asteroid Base: Alpha, Nicole Williams, was under threat. A single image and a fleeting sign of her voice was enough to put Rogan to work in following a series of instructions.
Throughout the morning, he compiled and transmitted Pioneer's Accobi Research Archive (work produced over the years by Rush, Thrace, Harper, Etis and others) as well as his own research in to the Halkonian nanovirus. Upon being asked to access Mason's private terminal and retrieve the supposed coordinates to The Gateway, Rogan stopped short. It was just as well, as Costello and McClintock had already traced his actions back to him. Rogan confessed his actions to the staff - and the consequences of his doing so were soon made apparent.
The anticipated arrival of a transport brought with it Nicole Williams herself - checking in to the Travel Center under the belief that she had been invited by Rogan. As Rogan watched from the Brig, Riker made contact with Williams just as the case she was processing detonated, tearing the Travel Center apart and sending debris flying across the Promenade. With Williams and Riker is close proximity - their lives would be well and truly in the balance, if not already suddenly extinguished.
"Financial activities?"
Elsewhere, Doctor Tobin (left at the end of the episode taking on Rogan's duties) balanced the health scare of his mother with the exposing of the pool in to the expected lifespan of Pioneer's next ACMO - with an run in with the Klingon Bistro staff along the way. Mason also checked in on McClintock's recovery and reported that slipstream experiments have been halted until further notice. Costello also continued her investigation in to the luggage thief, with the arrival on the transport due to be the trap which lured out the culprit. Seems this will be on hold for now.
Thank you for attending. Feel free to discuss this episode below. Extra thanks to Crim for playing out the opening scene and Andzzy for being left to make his own decisions throughout the episode. Had he gone ahead and attempted to transmit the coordinates of The Gateway - the episode would have ended differently, which will be detailed after next week's installment.
