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Character
Captain
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Rice

deceptive convincing uncanny instrumental
Rice functions here as a convincing, artificial simulacrum of a Starfleet captain deployed as a tactical lure. The projection mimics a real officer, registers brief, humanlike reactions (a twitch, confused response) and then peels away to reveal a hovering weapon that ensnares Commander Riker. This fabricated presence operates as a narrative Trojan horse—designed to disarm interpersonal trust, trigger close-range engagement, and convert a social encounter into a lethal assault—forcing the crew into immediate medical and tactical triage.
2 appearances
Automated weapons systems / tactical deception
Also known as: Rice (simulacrum), Projected Rice, Captain Rice

Rice's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

2 moments
S2E22 · Shades of Gray
Mask Falls — Weapon Revealed; Riker Immobilized

Illusory confusion (a programmed reaction) that serves to deflect suspicion before collapsing into lethal function; no authentic emotion but mimics it convincingly.

Functions as a convincing holographic persona, answers Riker then twitches; the projection collapses and is revealed to be or conceal a compact hovering weapon which moves away, initiating the attack.

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S2E22 · Shades of Gray
Deception Becomes Assault — Riker Ensnared

Not a true emotional subject—appears confused as a programmed façade, serving an agenda rather than genuine feeling.

The Rice persona speaks and reacts faintly, then the image abruptly disappears, revealing that the 'captain' was a projected simulacrum used as a lure before peeling away to expose a …

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Across the Seasons

How this character reads at season scale

Season 2 · asteroid

Rice functions here as a convincing, artificial simulacrum of a Starfleet captain deployed as a tactical lure. The projection mimics a real officer, registers brief, humanlike reactions (a twitch, confused response) and then peels away to reveal a hovering weapon that ensnares Commander Riker. This fabricated presence operates as a narrative Trojan horse—designed to disarm interpersonal trust, trigger close-range engagement, and convert a social encounter into a lethal assault—forcing the crew into immediate medical and tactical triage.