CAPTAIN'S LOG, STARDATE 45703.9.
WE ARE EN ROUTE TO EARTH
WHERE IT WILL BE MY PLEASANT DUTY TO DELIVER
THIS YEAR'S COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
AT STARFLEET ACADEMY.
I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WESLEY CRUSHER AGAIN.
HIS FLIGHT TEAM WILL PERFORM A DEMONSTRATION NEAR SATURN
THAT WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES.
CAPTAIN, STARFLEET ACADEMY IS REQUESTING AN UPDATE
ON OUR ESTIMATED ARRIVAL.
MR. DATA?
WE SHOULD BE ARRIVING AT EARTH
IN TEN HOURS, 16 MINUTES, SIR.
PLEASE INFORM THE ACADEMY, MR. WORF.
AND SEND MY REGARDS TO SUPERINTENDENT BRAND.
AYE, SIR.
DO YOU KNOW ADMIRAL BRAND?
WE'VE MET A FEW TIMES.
SHE'S A FORMIDABLE WOMAN.
SOUNDS LIKE MY SUPERINTENDENT.
WHEN I WAS AT THE ACADEMY, WE HAD A VULCAN SUPERINTENDENT
WHO HAD MEMORIZED THE PERSONNEL FILES OF EVERY SINGLE CADET.
KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM.
IT WAS LIKE HAVING YOUR PARENTS AROUND
ALL THE TIME.
MY SUPERINTENDENT WAS A BETAZOID--
A FULL TELEPATH.
WHEN HE SENT FOR YOU TO HIS OFFICE
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK WHAT YOU'D DONE.
YOU GOT CALLED
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE?
THAT'S A STORY I'D LIKE TO HEAR.
WORF: SIR?
WE ARE BEING HAILED AGAIN BY THE ACADEMY.
IT IS ADMIRAL BRAND.
ON SCREEN.
SIR, SHE IS REQUESTING A PRIVATE CHANNEL.
IN MY READY ROOM.
ADMIRAL BRAND, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
Admiral Brand: Hello, captain.
I know you're a close friend of the crusher family.
YES.
I wanted to inform you personally.
There's been an accident.
SPACE, THE FINAL FRONTIER.
THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE.
ITS CONTINUING MISSION--
TO EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS
TO SEEK OUT NEW LIFE AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS
TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE.
Picard: He had second-degree burns on the chest
AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES OF HIS RIGHT ARM
BUT HE'S GOING TO BE FINE.
HAVE THEY COMPLETED THE REGENERATION SERIES?
I'M NOT CERTAIN.
WESLEY'S ALLERGIC TO METORAPAN TREATMENTS.
I THINK THEY'LL HAVE TO USE A BICARIDINE SUBSTITUTE.
BEVERLY...
I SHOULD SEND HIS COMPLETE RECORDS
TO THE ACADEMY INFIRMARY.
OF COURSE, THEY PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE THEM
BUT YOU CAN'T BE TOO SURE.
BEVERLY... HE'S FINE.
I KNOW HE'S FINE.
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
APPARENTLY, HIS SQUADRON WAS PRACTICING
ON THE ACADEMY FLIGHT RANGE NEAR SATURN.
THEY WERE FLYING A CLOSE FORMATION.
THERE WAS A COLLISION.
ALL FIVE SHIPS WERE DESTROYED.
FOUR OF THE CADETS WERE ABLE TO TRANSPORT OUT.
ONE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
DO YOU KNOW WHO IT WAS?
YES, HIS NAME WAS JOSHUA ALBERT.
WESLEY SPOKE OF HIM.
THEY WERE FRIENDS.
WESLEY WAS SO EXCITED TO MAKE THE FLIGHT TEAM.
OF COURSE, I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS
BUT I WAS PROUD.
I ALWAYS KNEW THERE WAS A CHANCE
THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS MIGHT...
BEVERLY?
WESLEY IS ALIVE, AND HE'S WELL.
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TO SALVAGE FROM THE WRECKAGE.
WE DID RECOVER ONE OF THE SHIP'S DATA RECORDERS
BUT IT WAS BADLY DAMAGED.
WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE THE INFORMATION
BUT THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME.
STANDARD PROCEDURE CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION
BY TWO COMMAND-LEVEL OFFICERS.
CAPTAIN SATELK AND I
WILL BE TAKING DEPOSITIONS
FROM NOVA SQUADRON AT 1500 HOURS TODAY.
COMMANDER ALBERT...
I'M SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM JOINS ME
IN EXPRESSING MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO YOU
ON THE TRAGIC LOSS OF YOUR SON.
THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR CADET ALBERT
THIS EVENING IN THE WEST GARDEN.
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED
THAT WE SHOULD CANCEL THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES
IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED.
COMMANDER ALBERT AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS
AND WE'VE AGREED THAT COMMENCEMENT
SHOULD GO FORWARD AS PLANNED.
THE CADETS SHOULD KNOW
THAT EVEN AFTER A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS
THERE ARE STILL DUTIES TO PERFORM...
AND LIFE CONTINUES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, CAPTAIN.
I WISH IT WERE UNDER BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS IS AN UNHAPPY WAY TO BEGIN COMMENCEMENT.
IF YOU REQUIRE ANY ASSISTANCE
THEN THE ENTERPRISE IS AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
I'M SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFER.
( KNOCK AT DOOR )
WES.
OH...
( SIGHS )
I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING, WESLEY?
NOT BAD.
THE ARM'S A LITTLE SORE.
WE WERE VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT JOSHUA.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT?
NO. I DON'T THINK SO.
NO, THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO BE HELPFUL, SIR
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S ALL I'VE TALKED ABOUT
FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS.
AND I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.
I UNDERSTAND. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR MIND.
THANK YOU, SIR.
( KNOCK AT DOOR )
HI.
CAPTAIN, SIR.
AT EASE, CADET.
THIS IS MY SQUADRON LEADER, NICHOLAS LOCARNO.
THIS IS CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD OF THE ENTERPRISE.
MY MOTHER, DR. BEVERLY CRUSHER.
HELLO, DOCTOR.
HELLO.
CAPTAIN PICARD.
MR. LOCARNO.
I CAME BY TO SEE IF WES HAD HEALED UP ALL RIGHT.
AND HOW ARE YOU FEELING, NICHOLAS?
OH, I'M OKAY.
I JUST NEVER LOST ANYONE UNDER MY COMMAND BEFORE.
I'M AFRAID THAT NEVER GETS EASIER.
CAPTAIN, MOM...
WILL YOU EXCUSE US, PLEASE?
NICK AND I HAVE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.
OF COURSE.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
I WILL.
WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE INQUIRY.
GOOD TO MEET YOU, MR. LOCARNO.
YOU, TOO, SIR.
THE INQUIRY IS SCHEDULED FOR 1500 HOURS.
ARE YOU READY?
I THINK SO.
LOOK, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, WES.
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT
AS LONG AS WE STICK TOGETHER.
MAN 1: HEY, CAN'T YOU SEE THAT'S A FLOWER BED?!
MAN 2: SORRY. I'M REALLY SORRY.
OH, COME ON.
( SIGHS )
BOOTHBY.
MM-HMM?
JEAN-LUC PICARD, CLASS OF '27.
I KNOW THAT.
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR HAIR?
HOW ARE YOU?
I'M PRETTY DAMN CRANKY, THANK YOU.
I'VE ALREADY REPLANTED THIS BED FOUR TIMES THIS WEEK.
LET ME GIVE YOU A HAND.
YOU?
I'VE ACQUIRED AN INTEREST OVER THE YEARS.
WELL...
DON'T PLANT THEM TOO DEEP.
THE STEMS WILL...
WILL ROT.
CAPTAIN PICARD.
OF THE ENTERPRISE, NO LESS.
AND GIVING THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS.
YOU SOUND SURPRISED.
SURPRISED?
UH-UH.
NOTHING YOU EVER DID SURPRISED ME, SON.
EXCEPT THAT TIME
YOU CAUGHT THAT LIGONIAN WITH A REVERSE BODY LIFT
AND PINNED HIM IN THE FIRST 14 SECONDS OF THE MATCH.
DIDN'T THINK YOU HAD IT IN YOU.
WELL, IT WAS ALL IN THE LEGS.
ALL THAT RUNNING I DID.
( CHUCKLES )
BOOTHBY...
HMM?
I DON'T THINK THAT I EVER...
I DON'T THINK I EVER TOLD YOU...
HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE...
HMM-MM. THERE'S NOTHING TO TELL.
YES, THERE IS.
I... I JUST WANTED TO...
WHILE I WAS HERE...
LOOK, YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO
I WOULD NEVER HAVE GRADUATED, IF YOU...
YOU MADE A MISTAKE.
THERE ISN'T A MAN AMONG US
WHO HASN'T BEEN YOUNG ENOUGH TO MAKE ONE.
NEVERTHELESS...
YOU DID WHAT YOU HAD TO DO.
YOU DID WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS BEST.
I JUST MADE SURE THAT YOU LISTENED TO YOURSELF.
AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT
YOU WERE A MEAN-SPIRITED, VICIOUS OLD MAN.
I WAS.
AND BY THE WAY
I WAS ABOUT THE SAME AGE YOU ARE NOW.
I DIDN'T SPEAK TO YOU FOR MONTHS.
YOU NEEDED TO GET YOUR BEARINGS.
I KNEW THAT.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS
WHAT YOU DID WITH YOUR LIFE AFTERWARDS.
IT SEEMS YOU DID OKAY.
THAT'S THANKS ENOUGH FOR ME.
DID YOU KNOW THE BOY
FROM NOVA SQUADRON WHO WAS KILLED?
JOSH ALBERT?
YEAH.
CRUSHER, HAJAR, SITO, LOCARNO--
I KNOW THEM ALL.
( SIGHS )
YOU NERVOUS?
NO.
YES.
THAT'S OKAY.
SO AM I.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.
WE'VE GOT SOME TOUGH TIMES AHEAD
BUT WE'VE ALWAYS COME THROUGH FOR EACH OTHER.
WHATEVER HAPPENS, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW
THAT LEADING THIS TEAM HAS BEEN THE HIGH POINT
OF MY YEARS AT THE ACADEMY.
NO ONE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER TEAM.
OR BETTER FRIENDS.
LET'S GO.
Locarno: At this point, we accelerated
and executed a starboard turn of 27 degrees.
WE CAME OUT OF THE TURN ON COURSE FOR TITAN.
AND YOU WERE STILL IN THE LEAD POSITION?
YES, SIR.
CONTINUE.
AS WE ENTERED TITAN'S GRAVITATIONAL SPHERE
I GAVE THE SIGNAL TO TIGHTEN UP AND MOVE INTO
A DIAMOND SLOT FORMATION.
REMAINING IN THE DIAMOND FORMATION
WE EXECUTED A LOW-APOGEE TURN
AROUND TITAN AND BEGAN A Z-PLUS 25 DEGREE CLIMB
IN PREPARATION FOR A YEAGER LOOP.
APPROXIMATELY NINE SECONDS LATER
CADET ALBERT'S SHIP COLLIDED WITH CADET HAJAR'S.
WE HAD LESS THAN TWO SECONDS
TO ACTIVATE OUR EMERGENCY TRANSPORTERS
AND BEAM TO THE EVAC STATIONS AT MIMAS.
EVERYONE MADE IT EXCEPT JOSH.
THANK YOU
MR. LOCARNO.
CADET HAJAR.
AS TEAM NAVIGATOR
YOU FILED A FLIGHT PLAN WITH THE ACADEMY RANGE OFFICER
BEFORE THE EXERCISE, CORRECT?
YES, SIR.
DID NOVA SQUADRON DEVIATE
FROM THAT FLIGHT PLAN
AFTER YOU ENTERED THE SATURN RANGE?
NO, SIR.
AND HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE FACT
THAT THE LOW-APOGEE TURN AROUND TITAN
WAS AT LEAST 2,000 KILOMETERS CLOSER TO THE MOON
THAN INDICATED IN YOUR PLAN?
WE WERE STILL WITHIN FLIGHT SAFETY PARAMETERS, SIR.
THAT WAS NOT MY QUESTION, CADET.
( CLEARS THROAT )
WE HAD DISCUSSED CHANGING OUR APPROACH
AFTER I FILED THE FLIGHT PLAN.
THE FINAL DECISION WAS MADE EN ROUTE TO SATURN.
I DIDN'T CONSIDER IT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO MENTION HERE.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION, SIR.
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRECISE.
( AUDIENCE MURMURING )
DID YOU SEE MR. ALBERT'S SHIP BREAK FORMATION
BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH YOUR SHIP?
NO, SIR.
MY FIRST INDICATIONS OF TROUBLE
WERE WHEN MY PROXIMITY ALARM WENT OFF.
YOU MAY BE SEATED.
DID ANY OF YOU SEE THE COLLISION TAKE PLACE?
NO, SIR.
CADET SITO...
YOU WERE IN THE TAIL POSITION.
THEREFORE YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN ANY SIGN OF TROUBLE
FROM CADET ALBERT.
AND YOU SAW NOTHING?
THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.
DID YOUR ATTENTION FALTER?
NO, SIR.
I WAS FLYING SOLELY ON SENSOR READINGS AT THE TIME.
I DID NOT HAVE ANY VISUAL CONTACT WITH CADET ALBERT'S SHIP
WHEN HE BROKE FORMATION.
( QUIETLY ): SENSOR READINGS?
( AGITATED MURMURING )
WHAT'S WRONG?
WELL, IT'S UNUSUAL TO FLY ON SENSORS ALONE
DURING THIS TYPE OF MANEUVER.
A PILOT RELIES ON VISUAL CLUES FROM THE OTHER SHIPS
TO MAINTAIN FORMATION.
( RINGS BELL )
( WHISPERING STOPS )
IF YOU WERE FLYING ON SENSORS ALONE
PERHAPS YOU COULD TELL US THE ORIENTATION OF HIS SHIP
BEFORE THE COLLISION.
I DON'T KNOW, SIR.
YOU WERE FLYING A SHIP
TRAVELING 80,000 KPH
WITH CADET ALBERT'S SHIP LESS THAN TEN METERS AWAY
AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS ORIENTATION WAS?
I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.
SIR, MAY I?
GO AHEAD.
ADMIRAL...
( SIGHS )
JOSH WAS A GOOD PILOT
BUT LATELY HE'D BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTIES.
HE'D GET NERVOUS DURING CLOSE FLYBYS
AND PULL AWAY IN THE FINAL SECONDS.
HIS FORMATION FLYING WAS A LITTLE ERRATIC.
AND YOU DIDN'T REPORT THIS TO ANYONE?
NO, SIR, I DIDN'T.
WE'D FLOWN TOGETHER A LONG TIME.
I THOUGHT HE COULD HANDLE IT IF I GAVE HIM A CHANCE.
I WAS WRONG.
THEN YOU ARE SAYING
THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CADET ALBERT'S FAULT.
I THINK JOSH GOT FRIGHTENED
AND TRIED TO PULL OUT OF THE TURN PREMATURELY
AND THEN CRASHED INTO CADET HAJAR.
JOSH WAS OUR FRIEND.
WE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO BE REMEMBERED
AS SOMEONE WHO PANICKED.
PLEASE BE SEATED.
I AM VERY DISTURBED
BY WHAT I HAVE HEARD HERE TODAY.
BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION
YOU ALLOWED YOUR TEAMMATE TO FLY
WHEN YOU KNEW HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTIES
MAINTAINING FORMATION.
THAT DEMONSTRATES
A SERIOUS LACK OF JUDGMENT.
I AM ALSO DISTURBED BY THE FACT
THAT YOU DID NOT COME FORWARD
WITH THIS INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY.
WE SHOULD HAVE THE FIRST DATA
FROM MR. CRUSHER'S FLIGHT RECORDER TONIGHT.
WE WILL RECONVENE AT 1300 HOURS TOMORROW.
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
TRUST ME.
LA FORGE: I DON'T KNOW, CAPTAIN.
THE ACADEMY HAS ONE OF THE BEST
RECONSTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS LABS IN STARFLEET.
I'M NOT SURE THERE'S MUCH
WE COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE INVESTIGATION.
YES, THAT MAY WELL BE...
BUT WESLEY'S ONE OF OUR OWN.
UNDERSTOOD, SIR. WE'LL GET RIGHT ON IT.
GOOD. I'VE SPOKEN WITH ADMIRAL BRAND, AND SHE'S AGREED
TO ALLOW US ACCESS TO ALL
OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID IT, NICK.
JOSH WASN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED.
I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
YOU SAID THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE TO LIE TO THEM.
WE ALL AGREED NOT TO LIE TO THEM.
I DIDN'T LIE.
EVERYTHING I SAID WAS THE TRUTH.
THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT JOSH'S FAULT.
LOOK, HE WAS MY FRIEND, TOO, WES.
I WORKED TO GET HIM ON THIS TEAM
BUT THE TRUTH IS, HE PANICKED.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
OF COURSE, WE DO.
NONE OF US HAS WANTED TO SAY IT OUT LOUD
BUT WE'VE ALL HAD THE SAME THOUGHT.
HAVEN'T WE?
HE MUST HAVE PULLED AWAY TOO SOON.
I THINK HE GOT SCARED.
SITO?
WES, I KNOW YOU WANT TO PROTECT HIS MEMORY--
WE ALL DO-- BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT
FOR OURSELVES NOW.
WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO?
WALK IN THERE AND TELL THEM EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED?
WE MIGHT AS WELL TURN IN OUR UNIFORMS
AND START PACKING OUR BAGS.
ARE WE READY FOR THAT?
WE'LL TAKE THIS ONE STEP AT A TIME.
THIS IS THE PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM YOUR FLIGHT RECORDER.
IT WAS DAMAGED SO BADLY IN THE CRASH
THAT THE LAB COULD ONLY RETRIEVE
A THIRD OF THE TOTAL TELEMETRY FROM THE RECORDER.
AND ALL OF IT IS BEFORE THE COLLISION.
THERE'S NO PROBLEM HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS, NICK.
SITO: YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIE.
JUST DON'T VOLUNTEER ANY NEW INFORMATION.
THE FIRST NIGHT I MET YOU, WES
I KNEW I WANTED YOU ON THIS SQUAD.
YOU, MORE THAN ANY OF THE REST
WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON SOMEONE
'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE, PUTTING YOURSELF ON THE LINE.
YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO COUNT
ON THE PEOPLE ON YOUR TEAM
BECAUSE YOUR LIFE IS IN THEIR HANDS
AND THEIR LIVES ARE IN YOURS.
WE MADE A PROMISE TO EACH OTHER, RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
THAT WE'D STICK TOGETHER.
WE WERE NOVA SQUADRON.
NOBODY ELSE COULD SAY THAT.
AND EVEN AFTER WE GRADUATED
WE'D TRY TO GET POSTED ON THE SAME DUTY.
WE WERE GOING TO BE A TEAM FOR A LONG TIME.
JOSH CAN'T BE A PART OF THOSE PLANS ANYMORE
BUT I THINK HE WOULD STILL WANT US TO BE A TEAM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
MR. CRUSHER.
SIR.
AT EASE.
AM I INTERRUPTING?
NO. I WAS JUST GOING OVER
MY DEPOSITION FOR TOMORROW.
THEY TOLD ME YOU'D BE HERE.
I FOUND THIS IN JOSH'S ROOM.
I THINK IT BELONGS TO YOU.
OUR SKI TRIP.
JOSH AND I WENT TO CALGARY LAST MONTH.
HE FORGOT HIS SWEATER, SO HE BORROWED ONE OF MINE.
HE TOLD ME YOU HELPED HIM WITH HIS CLASSES.
A LITTLE.
HE ONLY NEEDED HELP IN STATISTICAL MECHANICS.
IF JOSH HAD A WEAKNESS, IT WAS MATHEMATICS.
NO, HE COULD DO IT.
HE JUST DIDN'T LIKE TO.
HIS MOTHER AND I THOUGHT
HE'D NEVER GET OUT OF CALCULUS.
THEN HE FOUND OUT
WHAT THE ACADEMY ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS WERE LIKE
AND... THAT TURNED HIM AROUND.
HE STAYED AFTER CLASS
GOT A TUTOR.
HE REALLY WORKED HARD.
HE NEVER GAVE UP ON ANYTHING.
AND HE HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU
AND EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM.
I REALIZE IT WAS HIS FAULT...
AND EVERYBODY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT, UH...
I WANT TO SAY I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY THAT HE LET YOU DOWN.
BRAND: ARE YOU READY, MR. CRUSHER?
YES, SIR.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF OUR RUN TOWARD TITAN.
I'M ON THE RIGHT WING.
WHERE IS MR. ALBERT AT THIS POINT?
HE WAS ON MY PORT QUARTER
APPROXIMATELY 50 METERS AWAY.
WE'VE JUST RECEIVED THE SIGNAL
TO BEGIN THE DIAMOND SLOT FORMATION.
THAT'S CADET LOCARNO COMING INTO VIEW NOW.
WE'RE IN A 20-DEGREE TURN
AROUND TITAN.
WE SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF TITAN'S GRAVITY WELL ABOUT NOW.
LOCARNO ( OVER COM ): OKAY, PEOPLE, FOLLOW ME IN.
BRAND: THAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE DATA
WE WERE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE FLIGHT RECORDER.
MR. CRUSHER
WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED
AFTER YOU LEFT ORBIT OF TITAN?
ONCE WE CLEARED THE MOON
MR. LOCARNO LED US INTO A YEAGER LOOP.
APPROXIMATELY NINE SECONDS LATER
MY PROXIMITY ALARM WENT OFF.
I TRIED TO VEER AWAY, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, AND I WAS HIT.
I LOST CONTROL OF MY SHIP.
A POWER COUPLING EXPLODED IN MY COCKPIT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW
BUT I MANAGED TO ACTIVATE MY ESCAPE TRANSPORTER.
AND THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER IS FINDING MYSELF
ON THE EMERGENCY EVAC STATION ON MIMAS
WITH THE REST OF THE SQUADRON--
EXCEPT JOSH.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO YOUR TESTIMONY?
NO, SIR.
MR. CRUSHER, WILL YOU DESCRIBE A YEAGER LOOP.
THE SHIPS BEGIN IN A DIAMOND SLOT FORMATION
AND CLIMB AND LOOP BACKWARDS AT A STEEP ANGLE
AND AT THE PEAK OF THE LOOP
TURN OVER AND ACCELERATE IN A NEW DIRECTION.
MR. CRUSHER, DID YOUR TEAM REMAIN IN FORMATION
THROUGHOUT THE LOOP?
YES, SIR.
I WANT YOU TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR
ON THIS POINT, MR. CRUSHER.
BEFORE THE COLLISION, WAS NOVA SQUADRON
IN A DIAMOND SLOT FORMATION?
YES, SIR.
COMPUTER, DISPLAY SATURN NAVCON FILE 6-379.
THESE IMAGES WERE OBTAINED
FROM A NAVIGATIONAL CONTROL SATELLITE
IN ORBIT AROUND SATURN DURING A STANDARD SENSOR SWEEP.
COMPUTER, FREEZE IMAGE.
MAGNIFY SECTOR GAMMA THREE
AND ENHANCE.
THIS IMAGE WAS RECORDED
WHEN YOUR SHIPS MOVED BRIEFLY
INTO THE SATELLITE'S SENSOR RANGE.
ACCORDING TO THE TIME INDEX, WHAT YOU SEE
ON THE MONITOR TOOK PLACE SEVEN SECONDS
AFTER NOVA SQUADRON COMPLETED THE YEAGER LOOP.
MR. CRUSHER, ARE THESE SHIPS IN A DIAMOND SLOT FORMATION?
NO, SIR.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPLANATION, MR. CRUSHER?
I HAVE NONE, SIR.
EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE OKAY, WESLEY.
THERE MUST BE AN EXPLANATION FOR ALL OF THIS.
DATA AND GEORDI ARE ALREADY ANALYZING
THE FLIGHT RECORDER AND THE SATELLITE TRANSMISSION.
WHY?
WELL, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SATELLITE DATA.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
TAMPERED WITH.
MOM...
WELL, THERE MUST BE SOME EXPLANATION FOR THIS.
I KNOW YOU'RE TELLING THE TRUTH
BUT THE SATELLITE DATA MADE IT LOOK AS IF YOU WERE LYING.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE OTHER PARENTS.
I AM GOING TO TALK TO ADMIRAL BRAND
AND ASK HER TO DELAY THE INQUIRY...
MOM...
DON'T.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM
RUIN YOUR CAREER, WESLEY.
YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG.
MOM...
DON'T TRY TO PROTECT ME.
PLEASE STAY OUT OF THIS.
AH...
THE WEEDS KEEP POPPING UP
IN THE PITTOSPORUM.
POOR PLANTS DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GROW.
YOU COULD USE A GOOD HERBICIDE
INSTEAD OF PULLING THE WEEDS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS.
MM-HMM, AND YOU COULD EXPLORE SPACE
ON A HOLODECK INSTEAD OF A STARSHIP.
BOOTHBY, TELL ME SOME MORE ABOUT NOVA SQUADRON.
NOT GOING WELL, IS IT?
NO, IT ISN'T.
YOU REMEMBER THE PARRISES SQUARES TOURNAMENT OF '24?
THE FINAL GAME AGAINST MINSK...
IT TOOK ME THREE WEEKS TO REPAIR THE GROUNDS
AFTER THE CELEBRATION.
WE HAD A LOT TO CELEBRATE.
OUR TEAM WASN'T SUPPOSED TO WIN.
WE WERE VERY PROUD OF THEM.
WELL, THE CADETS TODAY
ARE JUST AS PROUD OF THE NOVA SQUADRON.
THE CELEBRATION THEY HELD AFTER NOVA WON THE RIGEL CUP
MADE '24 LOOK LIKE A DINNER PARTY.
TO THE OTHER CADETS
THE MEMBERS OF THAT TEAM ARE GODS
AND THAT'S A HARD IMAGE TO LIVE UP TO.
BUT NICK LOCARNO-- HE WATCHES OUT FOR THEM.
HE KEEPS THEM TOGETHER.
NICK IS WHAT MAKES THAT TEAM SPECIAL.
HE'S THEIR COACH, SURROGATE FATHER
AND BEST FRIEND, ALL IN ONE.
A NATURAL LEADER.
THE MEMBERS OF THAT TEAM LOVE HIM.
IF HE ASKS THEM TO DO SOMETHING, THEY DO IT
EVEN IF IT MEANS GOING RIGHT OVER A CLIFF.
REPORT.
NOTHING CONCLUSIVE.
WE DO KNOW THAT THE COLLISION OCCURRED
ABOUT FOUR SECONDS AFTER THE SATELLITE IMAGES WERE RECORDED.
BUT WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW THE SHIPS GOT
INTO THE NEW FORMATION OR WHY THE CRASH OCCURRED.
WE UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED
53 DIFFERENT COMPUTATIONAL MODELS
IN AN EFFORT TO SIMULATE THE MOVEMENTS
OF THE NOVA SQUADRON JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH.
THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY VARIABLES TO TAKE
INTO CONSIDERATION-- SPEED, ATTITUDE, COURSE...
DID WESLEY'S FLIGHT RECORDER INDICATE
THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING UNUSUAL
ABOUT THE SHIP, OR THE WAY IT WAS OPERATING?
WELL, THE STARBOARD POWER FLOW WAS FLUCTUATING.
HOWEVER, IT WAS WELL WITHIN OPERATIONAL LIMITS.
LA FORGE: FLUIDIC PRESSURE
IN THE LANDING STRUTS WAS LOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW
WHAT DIFFERENCE THAT WOULD MAKE.
WE DID FIND THAT WESLEY OPENED HIS COOLANT INTERLOCK
JUST BEFORE BEGINNING THE MANEUVER AROUND TITAN.
THAT IS A BIT UNUSUAL.
NORMALLY, THE INTERLOCK IS CLOSED
UNLESS YOU'RE PERFORMING A CHECK ON THE ENGINE COOLANT LEVELS.
BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT WESLEY WAS PERFORMING
THAT SORT OF A CHECK.
FILLING THE PRIMARY COOLANT TANKS
REQUIRES AN OPEN INTERLOCK
BUT THAT CAN ONLY BE PERFORMED AT A MAINTENANCE BAY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER REASON FOR OPENING THE VALVE?
WELL, IT'S THE FIRST STEP IN PURGING THE PLASMA EXHAUST.
THAT PROCEDURE WOULD BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS
WHILE THE SHIP WAS IN FLIGHT.
YEAH, THE ENGINE WOULD PROBABLY IGNITE THE PLASMA.
IGNITE THE PLASMA...
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO.
( DOOR CHIMES )
COME.
CAPTAIN.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THIS MANEUVER IS?
IT'S A KOLVOORD STARBURST, SIR.
FIVE SHIPS CROSSING WITHIN TEN METERS OF EACH OTHER
AND IGNITING THEIR PLASMA TRAILS.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR
AND DIFFICULT DEMONSTRATIONS IN PRECISION FLYING.
AND IT HASN'T BEEN PERFORMED AT THE ACADEMY FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
DO YOU KNOW WHY?
IT WAS BANNED BY THE ACADEMY
FOLLOWING A TRAINING ACCIDENT, SIR.
AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH ALL FIVE CADETS LOST THEIR LIVES.
I THINK THAT NICHOLAS LOCARNO
WANTED TO END HIS ACADEMY CAREER IN A BLAZE OF GLORY
AND THAT HE CONVINCED THE FOUR OF YOU TO LEARN
THE KOLVOORD STARBURST
FOR THE COMMENCEMENT DEMONSTRATION.
IF IT WORKED, IT WOULD THRILL THE ASSEMBLED GUESTS
AND LOCARNO WOULD GRADUATE AS A LIVING LEGEND.
ONLY IT DIDN'T WORK.
AND JOSHUA ALBERT PAID THE PRICE.
AM I CORRECT?
CADET, I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.
AM I CORRECT?
I CHOOSE NOT TO ANSWER, SIR.
YOU CHOOSE NOT TO ANSWER?
BUT YOU'VE ALREADY GIVEN AN ANSWER TO THE INQUIRY.
THAT ANSWER WAS A LIE.
I SAID THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER THE LOOP. IT DID.
WHAT YOU NEGLECTED TO MENTION WAS THAT FOLLOWING THE LOOP
YOUR TEAM ATTEMPTED A MANEUVER
THAT WAS THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE CRASH.
OH, YOU TOLD THE TRUTH, UP TO A POINT
BUT A LIE OF OMISSION IS STILL A LIE.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY YOU CAME ABOARD THIS SHIP?
YOUR MOTHER BROUGHT YOU ON THE BRIDGE.
YES, SIR.
YOU EVEN SAT IN MY CHAIR.
I WAS ANNOYED.
A PRESUMPTUOUS CHILD PLAYING ON MY SHIP?
BUT I NEVER FORGOT HOW YOU ALREADY KNEW
EVERY CONTROL, EVERY DISPLAY.
YOU BEHAVED AS THOUGH YOU BELONGED ON THE BRIDGE.
AND THEN LATER, WHEN I DECIDED TO MAKE YOU AN ACTING ENSIGN
I WAS CONVINCED YOU COULD BE AN OUTSTANDING OFFICER.
AND I NEVER QUESTIONED THAT CONVICTION...
UNTIL NOW.
THE FIRST DUTY OF EVERY STARFLEET OFFICER
IS TO THE TRUTH--
WHETHER IT'S SCIENTIFIC TRUTH OR HISTORICAL TRUTH
OR PERSONAL TRUTH.
IT IS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE ON WHICH STARFLEET IS BASED.
NOW, IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT WITHIN YOURSELF
TO STAND UP AND TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
YOU DON'T DESERVE TO WEAR THAT UNIFORM.
I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS SIMPLE FOR YOU, MR. CRUSHER.
EITHER YOU COME FORWARD AND TELL ADMIRAL BRAND
WHAT REALLY TOOK PLACE, OR I WILL.
( WHISPERS ): CAPTAIN...
DISMISSED!
( KNOCK ON DOOR )
YOUR MESSAGE SAID IT WAS URGENT.
THEY KNOW, NICK.
THEY KNOW WHAT WE DID.
CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN.
NOW, TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
CAPTAIN PICARD CALLED ME ONTO THE ENTERPRISE.
WHEN I GOT THERE, HE TOLD ME THAT HE KNOWS.
THE KOLVOORD MANEUVER, THE COVER-UP, EVERYTHING.
HE SAID THAT IF I DIDN'T COME FORWARD
AND TELL THE TRUTH NOW, HE WOULD.
YOU SAID HE FIGURED IT OUT.
DOES HE HAVE ANY EVIDENCE?
NO, BUT HE KNEW EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENED.
CAPTAIN PICARD DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
HE HAS A THEORY.
SO, LET HIM TELL THE INQUIRY WHAT HE THINKS HAPPENED.
THEY'LL ASK US, "IS IT TRUE?" WE'LL SAY, "NO, SIR."
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE, SO THERE'S NO CASE.
WE'LL GET OFF WITH A REPRIMAND.
I CAN'T CALL CAPTAIN PICARD A LIAR.
WESLEY...
WE HAVE TO HANG ON JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
THEN THIS WILL ALL BE OVER.
IT'S WRONG, NICK.
WESLEY...
NO.
I'M GOING TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED.
YOU'RE GOING TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU...
ALONE...
ARE GOING TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME
TO SITO, TO JEAN?
YOU'RE GOING TO DECIDE THAT?
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO THEM AGAIN, NICK.
I CAN'T LIVE WITH IT.
YOU CAN'T LIE TO THEM.
YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH THIS.
YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED.
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
NICK!
YOU'RE GOING TO TURN US IN!
NOW, WAIT A MINUTE...
NO, YOU WAIT A MINUTE!
HE GOT TO YOU, DIDN'T HE?
PICARD TOLD YOU SOME BIG STORY ABOUT DUTY AND HONOR.
WELL, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A PRETTY GOOD SPEECH
TO MAKE YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR FRIENDS.
WE'RE STARFLEET CADETS.
WE HAVE A DUTY TO THE TRUTH.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR DUTY TO YOUR FRIENDS?
I GOT YOU ON THIS TEAM.
I GAVE YOU A CHANCE
WHEN THERE WERE UPPERCLASSMEN WAITING IN LINE.
I SAID, "HE WON'T LET US DOWN.
"HE WAS ON THE ENTERPRISE.
HE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TRUST SOMEBODY WITH HIS LIFE."
WELL, I GUESS I WAS WRONG.
IF WE ALL COME FORWARD TOGETHER AND TELL ADMIRAL BRAND...
WE DON'T WANT TO COME FORWARD.
SITO, JEAN AND ME-- WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.
BUT, IF YOU DO, THEN RESIGN YOUR APPOINTMENT TO THE ACADEMY
AND WALK AWAY.
DON'T MAKE US PAY FOR YOUR GUILTY CONSCIENCE.
YOU'D LET ME DO THAT?
YOU'D LET ME THROW AWAY MY CAREER JUST TO SAVE YOUR NECK?
TO SAVE THE TEAM.
THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU, AND IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME.
AND IF I WERE IN YOUR PLACE
I'D DO IT, WITHOUT HESITATION.
BUT THAT'S ME.
BRAND: CAPTAIN SATELK AND I
HAVE GONE OVER YOUR TESTIMONY
AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FROM THE CRASH.
YOUR STATEMENTS CANNOT BE RECONCILED
WITH THE DATA COLLECTED FROM THE NAVCON SATELLITE.
YOUR UNWILLINGNESS TO OFFER ANY EXPLANATION
FOR THIS CONTRADICTION
IS DISAPPOINTING AND RAISES SUSPICION.
WE CANNOT ESCAPE THE CONCLUSION
THAT EITHER THE DATA IS FAULTY IN SOME WAY...
OR YOU HAVE LIED TO US.
HOWEVER, SUSPICION IS NOT PROOF
AND I HAVE NO PROOF
THAT YOU HAVE LIED TO THIS INQUIRY.
THEREFORE, IF NO FURTHER EVIDENCE
IS PRESENTED, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CLOSE THIS INVESTIGATION.
FOR FILING AN INACCURATE FLIGHT PLAN
AND FOR ALLOWING CADET ALBERT TO FLY
WHEN YOU KNEW HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTIES
I'M ORDERING A FORMAL REPRIMAND
PLACED ON EACH OF YOUR PERMANENT RECORDS.
I'M ALSO REVOKING YOUR FLIGHT PRIVILEGES.
THIS INQUIRY IS CLOSED.
( BELL RINGS )
SIR?
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING TO MY TESTIMONY.
PROCEED, MR. CRUSHER.
YESTERDAY, I TESTIFIED
THAT THE CRASH OCCURRED FOLLOWING A YEAGER LOOP.
THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE.
WE PERFORMED A LOOP, AND AFTERWARDS BROKE FORMATION
AND ATTEMPTED A KOLVOORD STARBURST.
WE KNEW IT WAS PROHIBITED.
WE KNEW IT WAS DANGEROUS
BUT WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECTACULAR
FOR THE COMMENCEMENT DEMONSTRATION.
WE PUSHED JOSH INTO IT, AND HE WASN'T READY.
WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO IT.
WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO ANYTHING.
WE WERE WRONG...
AND JOSH DIED.
JOSH DIDN'T LET US DOWN, SIR.
IT WASN'T HIS FAULT.
MR. LOCARNO...
YOU ARE THE LEADER OF NOVA SQUADRON.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?
MR. LOCARNO?
NO, SIR.
MR. LOCARNO HAS BEEN EXPELLED.
THEY SHOULD HAVE EXPELLED ALL OF US.
THEY VERY NEARLY DID.
MR. LOCARNO MADE AN IMPASSIONED PLEA
FOR THE REST OF YOU.
HE SAID THAT HE'D USED HIS INFLUENCE AS SQUADRON LEADER
TO CONVINCE YOU TO ATTEMPT THE KOLVOORD MANEUVER
AND THEN TO COVER UP THE TRUTH.
HE ASKED TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.
HE DID EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD.
HE PROTECTED THE TEAM.
I FEEL AWFUL.
I'VE LET DOWN EVERYONE--
MY MOTHER, MY FRIENDS, YOU.
YOU SHOULD FEEL BAD.
AND YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
ADMIRAL BRAND HAS DECIDED
THAT IN ADDITION TO A FORMAL REPRIMAND
YOUR ACADEMIC CREDITS FOR THE PAST YEAR
WILL BE CANCELED
AND YOU WILL NOT ADVANCE WITH YOUR CLASS.
I UNDERSTAND.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY STAYING HERE ON CAMPUS...
EVERYONE KNOWING WHAT YOU DID.
YOU HAVE DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD.
YES, SIR.
THANK YOU, CAPTAIN.
YOU KNEW WHAT YOU HAD TO DO.
I JUST MADE SURE THAT YOU LISTENED TO YOURSELF.
GOOD-BYE, CADET.
GOOD-BYE, CAPTAIN.