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Berlinghoff Rasmussen

deceptive manipulative condescending smug greedy
Berlinghoff Rasmussen poses as a 26th-century historian to study Captain Picard but operates as a rogue 22nd-century inventor from New Jersey who stole a time pod for profit. He targets the USS Enterprise-D crew, using flattery, evasion, and condescension to distract Picard, Data, Riker, Worf, Geordi, and Beverly Crusher while stealing PADDs, tricorders, isolinear chips, and schematics. Greed drives his thefts and scheme to dissect Data; exposure leaves him stranded, desperate, and pleading.
42 appearances
Temporal Technology Theft
Also known as: Rasmussen

Berlinghoff Rasmussen's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

42 moments
S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen materializes on the bridge

Feigned nonchalance masking deep anxiety about being exposed as a fraud.

Rasmussen materializes in a flash of light, valise in hand, his demeanor one of amused condescension. He addresses Picard directly, as if the captain’s presence is an inconvenience rather than …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen materializes on the bridge

Amused and self-assured on the surface, but with an underlying tension betraying his true motives and the risk of exposure.

Rasmussen materializes in a blinding flash, displacing Picard with unsettling precision. He stands confidently, valise in hand, his lab coat and awestruck demeanor initially suggesting a harmless academic. However, his …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen deflects Picard’s questions

Surface: Confident, almost giddy, in his role as the 'historian,' masking his true intentions with academic enthusiasm. Internal: Calculating, anxious to avoid detection, and secretly triumphant as his premeditated knowledge of the room is confirmed.

Rasmussen paces the ready room with feigned academic curiosity, handling Picard’s personal artifacts—including the Shakespeare volume and the painting—while measuring the 7-meter distance between the door and window. His dialogue …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen measures the ready room

Feigned enthusiasm masking avarice and calculation. Surface-level charm conceals a predatory focus on extracting information and assessing the room’s vulnerabilities for future exploitation. His internal state is one of smug confidence, believing his ruse is working, but with underlying tension as Picard’s skepticism grows.

Rasmussen dominates the scene with calculated movements, pacing the ready room like a predator sizing up its territory. He handles Picard’s personal belongings—picking up the Shakespeare volume, examining the painting, …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s invasive curiosity

Surface: Enthusiastic, almost giddy, as if he’s a child in a candy store. Subtext: Deeply anxious beneath the performance, desperate to maintain the illusion of his ‘historical’ mission while hiding his true motives. His laughter (‘HA! I was right!’) is a tell—it’s the sound of a man who knows he’s one step ahead but fears being caught.

Rasmussen paces the ready room like a man measuring a cage—his own or Picard’s, it’s unclear. He handles Picard’s personal artifacts with feigned academic curiosity, his fingers lingering on the …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s condescension exposes his true nature

Smugly amused, masking deep avarice and a sense of superiority over the Enterprise crew.

Rasmussen dominates the interaction with Data in the turbolift and corridor, inspecting him like a collector examining a vintage artifact. His patronizing remarks—comparing Data to a 'Model T of androids'—reveal …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Crew challenges Rasmussen’s motives

Smugly confident, masking his true intentions behind a facade of scholarly detachment and condescension.

Rasmussen deflects questions about his motives and timing with cryptic confidence, treating the crew’s interrogation as a minor inconvenience. He sits casually, smiling patronizingly as he responds to Worf and …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Worf exposes Rasmussen’s temporal lie

Gleeful → Smug → Evasive → Defensive (his confidence falters when Worf exposes his lie, but he doubles down on condescension to mask his panic).

Rasmussen, smug and evasive, distributes questionnaires to the crew while subtly probing their technological knowledge. When Worf challenges his 26th-century claim by pointing out the phaser anachronism, Rasmussen deflects with …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s veiled interrogation unsettles the crew

Not directly observable, but inferred as concerned and protective of his crew, with a growing sense that Rasmussen’s presence is a threat to the Enterprise’s mission and integrity.

Picard is not physically present in Ten Forward during this event, but his absence looms large as the commanding officer whose crew is being interrogated. The crew’s growing suspicion of …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen drops cryptic time-traveler hint

Feigned academic detachment masking deep avarice and amusement at his own cleverness. His internal state is one of smug satisfaction, knowing he’s outsmarting the crew while they remain oblivious to his theft and true motives.

Rasmussen enters Engineering unnoticed, handing Geordi and Data a chip under the pretense of historical research. He distracts them with questions about Data’s efficiency and Geordi’s VISOR, all while subtly …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen undermines Data while stealing tech

Feigned academic detachment masking deep avarice and smug satisfaction. His internal glee at outmaneuvering the crew is barely contained, particularly as he anticipates the value of the stolen PADD and the crew’s obliviousness to his theft.

Rasmussen enters Engineering unnoticed, handing Geordi and Data data chips under the pretense of historical research. He distracts them with condescending questions about Data’s efficiency, dismissing his rapid results as …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen steals Geordi’s PADD under false pretenses

Smugly confident, masking his avarice behind a veneer of academic curiosity. His internal state is one of calculated excitement, knowing he is exploiting the crew’s trust for personal gain.

Rasmussen enters Engineering unnoticed, immediately initiating a distraction by handing Geordi and Data data chips for 'forms' while they work on thermal simulations. He engages in a series of probing …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s departure from the Enterprise

Smug satisfaction masking underlying desperation—his thefts are complete, but his future in the 22nd century remains uncertain and fraught with risk.

Rasmussen stands alone in the transporter beam, his posture relaxed but his mind likely racing with the success of his thefts. The beam’s glow casts eerie shadows, highlighting the contrast …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Picard implements CO2 solution while Rasmussen reveals foreknowledge

Triumphant and relieved, with a hint of smug satisfaction at his undetected escape

Rasmussen is the unseen passenger of the transporter beam, his departure marking the culmination of his thefts and manipulations aboard the Enterprise. Though physically absent from the scene’s text, his …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Drilling Halted by Crisis Alarm

Calculating and self-satisfied, masking potential guilt or anticipation of chaos.

Rasmussen enters the bridge unannounced, his demeanor oozing condescension as he strides directly to Riker’s command chair and sits without invitation. His question, ‘Have I missed much?’, is laced with …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen Seizes the Command Chair

Smugly triumphant; he is enjoying the crew’s discomfort, confident in his ability to disrupt and control the situation.

Rasmussen saunters onto the bridge with the ease of a man who believes he belongs there, his posture relaxed, his expression smug. He casually inquires—‘Have I missed much?’—before deliberately seating …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s cryptic praise unsettles Picard

Smugly triumphant, masking greed and desperation beneath a veneer of scholarly admiration

Rasmussen, seated in Riker’s chair with an air of entitlement, delivers a line of dialogue that is both a quote from Picard’s future and a calculated provocation. His tone is …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Troi Exposes Rasmussen’s False Camaraderie

Feigned confidence masking deep insecurity; his charm is a shield for his avaricious motives, and Troi’s rejection briefly exposes his fragility. By the end, his lingering gaze at Beverly suggests a shift from professional manipulation to personal exploitation.

Rasmussen enters Sickbay with calculated charm, immediately inserting himself into Troi and Beverly’s conversation. He deflects Troi’s distrust with syrupy comparisons of their ‘foreign senses’ (her empathy, his fabricated future …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen Tests Beverly’s Loyalty

Surface: Warm, engaging, and slightly shy (performative). Internal: Cunning, predatory, and increasingly frustrated as Beverly resists his advances. His emotional state is a mask for his true goal—exploiting her for personal gain—while his surface demeanor hides his desperation to succeed in his deception.

Rasmussen enters the scene with a syrupy charm, initially masking his true intentions behind the guise of a 26th-century historian. He begins by requesting a neural stimulator under the pretense …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Enterprise’s drilling triggers planetary collapse

Not directly observable, but inferred as smug or opportunistic (using the chaos to his advantage).

Rasmussen is notably absent from this event, but his earlier distractions (theft of PADDs, tricorders, and schematics) are implied as a secondary layer of crisis. His presence aboard the Enterprise …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s deception and planetary crisis collide

Not directly observable, but inferred as calculating and opportunistic, with a secondary layer of urgency to avoid exposure.

Rasmussen is indirectly referenced as the subject of Picard and Riker's interrogation about his suspicious line of questioning regarding past starships and Soong's work. Though physically absent from the bridge …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Enterprise’s Drilling Causes Catastrophe

Neutral but with a subtle undercurrent of concern for the crew's predicament

Data stands at his operations console, his golden eyes scanning sensor readings as he provides a clinical assessment of the geologic instability. His voice is calm and measured, delivering technical …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen steals a tricorder during analysis

Amused and confident, masking deep opportunism and a sense of superiority. His surface charm belies his true intentions.

Rasmussen orchestrates a calculated deception in Data’s quarters, feigning scholarly curiosity while masking his true intent: theft and manipulation. He critiques Data’s multitasking as a distraction, using sarcasm to deflect …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen manipulates Data for schematics

Feigned patience masking impatience and greed; internally, he is calculating and opportunistic, relishing the moment of theft as a step toward his ultimate goal.

Rasmussen orchestrates a multi-layered manipulation of Data, beginning with feigned discomfort at the overlapping music. He systematically reduces the volume of each composition, testing Data’s compliance, before shifting to flattery …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen steals Data’s tricorder

Amused surface calm masking deep predatory satisfaction at the successful theft.

Rasmussen seizes the moment of distraction with predatory precision, his scholarly demeanor slipping just long enough to pocket Data's tricorder. His movements are casual, almost inadvertent, but his eyes betray …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Picard challenges Rasmussen’s temporal ethics

Defensively patronizing at first, but momentarily unsettled by Picard’s impassioned plea. His emotional state is a facade—surface-level confidence crumbles into fleeting remorse before reverting to cold detachment. The theft of the isolinear chips suggests a deeper anxiety about his true motives and the ethical consequences of his actions.

Rasmussen enters the ready room with feigned intellectual superiority, deflecting Picard’s moral arguments with patronizing temporal logic. His dialogue reveals a man clinging to dogma to mask his true motives—stealing …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Picard challenges Rasmussen’s fatalism

Feigned detachment masking deep moral cowardice, with a flicker of remorse before reverting to self-serving calculation.

Berlinghoff Rasmussen engages in a philosophical debate with Picard, defending his adherence to the 'temporal Prime Directive' with detached condescension. His demeanor shifts from patronizing assurance to a fleeting moment …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s vulnerability cracks under pressure

Remorseful and vulnerable, masking deep guilt beneath a facade of scholarly detachment.

Rasmussen’s facade of scholarly detachment shatters for a fleeting moment when Picard presses him for help. His remorseful plea—'Please don’t ask me, Captain. I can’t help you. I’m sorry'—reveals his …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Picard asserts command over Rasmussen

Smugly satisfied, masking underlying desperation

Rasmussen follows Picard onto the bridge and challenges his decision to proceed without his assistance. His tone is condescending and probing, framing his refusal to help as a power play. …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Data executes high-risk atmospheric rescue

Barely contained exhilaration, masking deeper greed and calculation—his true motives lurking beneath the surface.

Rasmussen sits in Troi’s chair, his body language barely containing his excitement as the crew prepares to activate the deflector beam. His voice carries an unsettling tone of foreknowledge when …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen predicts Geordi’s fate

Eager and unsettling, with a mix of excitement at his own foreknowledge and condescension toward the crew’s ignorance of the timeline’s unfolding.

Rasmussen sits in Troi’s chair, his body language tense with barely contained excitement. He interrupts the technical briefing with the declarative statement ‘La Forge remained below,’ delivered with eerie certainty. …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Picard grants Geordi's high-risk request

Smug and self-satisfied, masking deeper motives and temporal knowledge that set him apart from the crew.

Rasmussen sits in Troi's chair, observing the proceedings with an unsettling air of certainty. He reacts to Geordi's decision to remain on the surface with the statement 'La Forge remained …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Enterprise Deflects Energy Surge

Smugly triumphant, masking underlying urgency or guilt—his demeanor suggests he’s one step ahead, but the ring-handling hints at nervousness or a need to verify his own timeline.

Rasmussen stands near Picard on the bridge, observing the resolution of the crisis with a smug, detached demeanor. He opens a small ring on his finger, peering inside with a …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s cryptic departure triggers Picard’s suspicion

Smug and self-assured, masking his desperation to leave before his deception is uncovered. His arrogance is a defense mechanism, but it also betrays his guilt.

Rasmussen stands near Picard, his posture relaxed but his demeanor smug as he delivers his farewell. He opens a ring on his finger—a ‘timekeeping device’—and glances inside with a self-satisfied …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Picard forces Rasmussen’s vessel inspection

Feigned confidence masking deep anxiety and desperation to avoid exposure.

Rasmussen begins the exchange with condescending wit, attempting to deflect Picard’s suspicion with feigned amusement. As Worf and Riker escalate the confrontation, his demeanor shifts from defiance to panic, though …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen concedes to Data’s inspection

Feigned confidence masking deep anxiety; his panic is swiftly suppressed by a calculated charm designed to regain control.

Rasmussen begins the event with defiant mockery, dismissing Picard’s suspicions as 'curiosity' and feigning indifference to the missing objects. His demeanor shifts to panic when Worf threatens explosives, a momentary …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s phaser fails exposing his desperation

A volatile mix of panicked defiance (clinging to his phaser as a last resort) and crushing desperation (as his lies unravel and his escape plan fails). His initial bravado masks deep insecurity, and the phaser’s malfunctions trigger a visceral fear of exposure and failure. By the end, his emotional state is one of humiliated vulnerability, stripped of his invented persona and left with nothing but his avarice.

Rasmussen stands in the cramped time-pod, his back nearly pressed against the multifaceted panels as Data examines the stolen Enterprise technology. His demeanor shifts from smug condescension to panicked desperation …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Data discovers Rasmussen’s stolen technology

A volatile mix of panicked desperation (as his theft is exposed) and avaricious greed (clinging to his plan to dissect Data). His emotional state oscillates between feigned confidence (when threatening Data) and unraveling terror (when the phaser fails), revealing his true nature as a fraud and a predator.

Rasmussen is caught off-guard as Data enters his time-pod and immediately identifies the stolen Enterprise technology. His initial panic escalates into desperation as he raises a phaser at Data, abandoning …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s True Intentions Exposed

A volatile mix of panicked desperation (phaser failures, unraveling plan) and smug entitlement (initial threats, boasting about dissecting Data), masking deep shame and fear of exposure. His emotional state oscillates between defensive aggression (phaser drawn) and pleading vulnerability (admitting failure as an inventor).

Rasmussen stands in the cramped, high-tech time-pod, his back nearly pressed against the exposed trays of stolen Enterprise technology. He raises a malfunctioning phaser at Data, his hand trembling slightly …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s exile begins

Neutral curiosity—Data is fascinated by the implications of Rasmussen’s actions but doesn’t judge him personally.

Data hands Picard the phaser with clinical precision, confirming Rasmussen’s theft. His voice is devoid of judgment as he reveals Rasmussen’s true identity, but his actions speak volumes: he’s the …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s fraud exposed and arrested

Panicked, horrified, and remorseful—though his remorse is short-lived, replaced by sheer desperation as his ship vanishes.

Rasmussen’s desperation peaks as he pleads with Beverly and Picard, his earlier confidence shattered. He attempts to flee toward his vessel but is restrained by Worf. His panicked realization that …

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S5E9 · A Matter of Time
Rasmussen’s lies collapse under scrutiny

Desperate and unraveling, oscillating between remorse, panic, and defiance

Rasmussen’s transformation from a charming historian to a panicked, desperate thief is the emotional core of this event. He cycles through denial (‘This was all a misunderstanding’), remorse (‘Not all …

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