Last Survivors Confirmed
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Riker points out that members of the original away team are now disappearing, and Susanna reveals that she and Geordi are the only ones left, creating a sense of immediate danger for the remaining team members.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Shocked and resigned; his denial collapses under the weight of the evidence, leaving him grappling with his own mortality
Geordi La Forge begins the event skeptical, his arms crossed and his tone dismissive as he questions Hickman's alleged desertion. His disbelief crumbles as Susanna presents evidence—Hickman's stolen shuttle, his course toward Tarchannen Three—leaving Geordi visibly shaken. He sits in stunned silence, his VISOR reflecting the monitor's images as the weight of the situation sinks in. His emotional arc from denial to resignation is palpable, his usual humor and persistence replaced by quiet dread.
- • To understand the truth behind the disappearances, despite his initial resistance
- • To find a way to combat the contagion before it claims him and Susanna
- • The disappearances are part of a larger, malevolent pattern
- • His own transformation is inevitable unless a solution is found
Solemn and urgent, masking deep resignation beneath a professional facade
Susanna Leijten stands beside the monitor, pointing to the images of Brevelle, Mendez, and Hickman as she methodically outlines the timeline of their disappearances. She sits beside Geordi, her voice steady but her body language betraying the gravity of the situation. Her admission that she and Geordi are the only two left is delivered with solemn urgency, shifting the narrative from investigation to existential threat. Susanna's role as the bearer of bad news is laced with personal stakes, her professional demeanor barely concealing her dread.
- • To ensure the crew understands the full scope of the threat
- • To prepare Geordi for the reality of their shared fate
- • The disappearances are connected to an alien contagion on Tarchannen Three
- • She and Geordi are the next targets, and time is running out
Concerned and analytical; his measured tone belies a growing sense of unease as the pattern becomes clear
Jean-Luc Picard stands near the monitor, his posture erect and his expression analytical as he probes the timeline of the disappearances. He questions Susanna about Brevelle's illness and Mendez's last known whereabouts, his voice measured but laced with concern. Picard's role as the voice of reason is tempered by the gravity of the situation, his intellectual rigor unable to fully mask his unease. He reflects on the unresolved nature of the original Tarchannen Three disappearances, his dialogue underscoring the mystery and the escalating threat.
- • To understand the full scope of the threat posed by the contagion
- • To ensure the crew is prepared to face the unknown
- • The disappearances are connected to an alien force on Tarchannen Three
- • The crew must proceed with caution to avoid further losses
Thoughtful and alarmed; his crossed arms and tense posture reflect his growing concern for the crew's safety
William T. Riker crosses his arms as he listens to Susanna's account, his expression thoughtful and alarmed. He questions her about Hickman's disappearance, his dialogue reflecting on the pattern of the original away team's vanishings. Riker's role as the bridge between Picard's analytical approach and the crew's emotional responses is evident, his presence adding a layer of tactical concern. He acknowledges the escalating danger, his body language tense as he absorbs the implications of Susanna's revelation.
- • To understand the implications of the disappearances for the crew
- • To support Picard in ensuring the Enterprise's response is measured and effective
- • The disappearances are part of a deliberate, alien-driven pattern
- • The crew must act swiftly to prevent further losses
Hauntingly absent; his recorded image carries the weight of unresolved loss and impending doom
Ensign Anthony Brevelle is referenced only through the five-year-old recording he made of the original Tarchannen Three away team. His image on the monitor serves as a silent witness to the unfolding crisis, his past illness and subsequent desertion now framed as part of a larger, ominous pattern. Though physically absent, his recorded presence looms large as evidence of the contagion's reach, his fate foreshadowing Geordi's potential transformation.
- • None (deceased/transformed); his recorded presence serves as a cautionary example of the contagion's effects
- • To implicitly underscore the urgency of the situation through his past
- • The contagion is unstoppable and transforms its victims without warning
- • His recorded footage will reveal the truth about the disappearances
Hauntingly absent; her image evokes a sense of loss and the inevitability of the contagion's spread
Ensign Emilita Mendez is referenced through the recording and Susanna's account of her disappearance from the Aries. Her image on the monitor shows her in her final moments of normalcy, unaware of her impending fate. The fact that she vanished without warning, despite appearing completely normal, adds to the eerie unpredictability of the contagion. Mendez's case is another piece of the puzzle, her disappearance reinforcing the pattern that now threatens Geordi and Susanna.
- • None (deceased/transformed); her case serves as evidence of the contagion's reach
- • To reinforce the idea that no one is safe from the transformation
- • The contagion strikes without warning, regardless of the victim's state of mind
- • Her disappearance is part of a larger, inexorable pattern
Hauntingly absent; his recorded image evokes pity and dread, a reminder of what awaits Geordi and Susanna
Ensign Paul Hickman is referenced through the recording and Susanna's account of his unauthorized shuttle flight toward Tarchannen Three. His image on the monitor is a ghostly reminder of his past self—healthy, normal, and unaware of his fate. The revelation that he stole a shuttle and deserted, despite passing a routine physical, underscores the contagion's insidious nature. Hickman's case serves as a warning, his family man persona contrasting sharply with his inexplicable actions.
- • None (deceased/transformed); his case serves as a cautionary tale
- • To highlight the contagion's ability to target anyone, regardless of their stability
- • The contagion is irresistible and transforms its victims without warning
- • His actions, though inexplicable, are part of a larger pattern
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The chairs in the Observation Lounge serve as neutral props, framing the characters' physical and emotional states during the briefing. Susanna Leijten sits beside Geordi La Forge after confirming Hickman's shuttle course, their proximity underscoring their shared vulnerability as the last survivors. Picard, Riker, and the others occupy nearby seats, their postures reflecting the tension in the room. The chairs position the characters in a way that highlights their roles—Picard and Riker as leaders, Susanna and Geordi as the focal points of the crisis—while the circular arrangement suggests a sense of unity amid the looming threat.
The five-year-old recording of the Tarchannen Three away team is activated by Susanna Leijten to demonstrate the normalcy of Brevelle, Mendez, and Hickman before their disappearances. The recording shows the team beaming down healthy and alert, with no signs of illness or distress, directly contradicting Geordi's skepticism. Picard and Riker question the timeline, but the recording's authenticity underscores the inexplicable nature of the vanishings. Its role is to create a sense of dread, as the crew realizes that the same force is now targeting Geordi and Susanna, with no prior warning.
Hickman's stolen shuttle is referenced through Susanna's account of his unauthorized flight toward Tarchannen Three. The shuttle's trajectory, tracked by a Federation supply ship, serves as damning proof of the pattern of vanishings. Its mention in the dialogue forces Geordi to confront the reality of Hickman's desertion, reinforcing the idea that the contagion compels its victims to return to the planet. The shuttle symbolizes the contagion's pull, a tangible manifestation of the alien force's influence over its victims.
The Observation Lounge Monitor serves as the focal point of the event, projecting sharp images of Ensigns Brevelle, Mendez, and Hickman from the original Tarchannen Three mission. Susanna Leijten uses it to point out key details—Brevelle's illness, Mendez's normalcy before vanishing, and Hickman's unauthorized shuttle flight—anchoring the briefing in visual evidence. The monitor's display cuts through doubt, revealing the pattern of disappearances and linking it to Geordi's own symptoms. Its role is both functional (providing evidence) and symbolic (a window into the past that foreshadows the future).
The recording of Hickman, Mendez, and Brevelle is the narrative linchpin of the event, serving as irrefutable evidence of the disappearances' pattern. Susanna Leijten activates it to demonstrate that the original team members appeared normal before vanishing, with no prior signs of distress. The recording's static or video images from five years ago create a sense of inevitability, as the crew realizes that the same force is now targeting Geordi and Susanna. Its role is to shatter skepticism and elevate the stakes, transforming the investigation into a race against time.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Observation Lounge serves as the tense meeting point where the crew gathers to confront the mystery of the Tarchannen Three disappearances. Susanna Leijten plays monitor recordings of the vanished crew—Brevelle, Mendez, and Hickman—revealing their desertions and the shuttle thefts toward the planet. Picard, Riker, and Geordi debate timelines and patterns, with Susanna declaring herself and Geordi the last survivors. The lounge's steady engine pulse and curved windows framing starfields amplify the crisis's personal stakes, creating an atmosphere of urgency and dread. The location's role is to facilitate the revelation of the pattern, shifting the narrative from investigation to existential threat.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet is represented through its institutional protocols, mission records, and the crew's adherence to its values. Susanna Leijten accesses Starfleet logs to retrieve the recording of the original Tarchannen Three away team, while Picard and Riker rely on Starfleet's investigative frameworks to probe the timeline of the disappearances. The organization's role is to provide the crew with the tools and records necessary to understand the threat, even as it underscores the limitations of their knowledge. Starfleet's presence is felt in the mission logs, sensor data, and the crew's professional demeanor, all of which frame the event as both a personal and institutional crisis.
The United Federation of Planets is invoked through its oversight of Starfleet operations and its broader mandate to protect member worlds from external threats. Picard's authority as captain of the Enterprise is derived from the Federation's charter, and the crew's actions are framed within the Federation's principles of exploration and safety. The organization's role in this event is indirect but critical, as it provides the legal and ethical framework within which the crew operates. The Federation's influence is felt in the crew's commitment to uncovering the truth and their determination to prevent the contagion from spreading to other worlds.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Hickman's actions, driven by the alien influence, lead to his death and the discovery of more shuttles on the planet, escalating the situation and prompting the away team's mission."
"Hickman's actions, driven by the alien influence, lead to his death and the discovery of more shuttles on the planet, escalating the situation and prompting the away team's mission."
"Hickman's actions, driven by the alien influence, lead to his death and the discovery of more shuttles on the planet, escalating the situation and prompting the away team's mission."
"Susanna and Geordi are noted as the sole remaining members of the original away team. Susanna's subsequent transformation underlines the danger they BOTH face."
"Susanna and Geordi are noted as the sole remaining members of the original away team. Susanna's subsequent transformation underlines the danger they BOTH face."
Key Dialogue
"SUSANNA: That's Hickman on the right... that's Mendez on the left... and as already noted, the recording was made by Ensign Brevelle... five years ago..."
"GEORDI: ((skeptical)) I know Paul Hickman. He's a family man... two kids. I can't believe he'd steal a shuttle and desert..."
"SUSANNA: Believe it, Geordi. He was spotted by a Federation supply ship yesterday... on a course toward Tarchannen Three."
"SUSANNA: Geordi and I are the only two left."