STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS
SEASON 1, EPISODE 4
SEASON 1, EPISODE 4
Moist Vessel
Series: Star Trek: Lower Decks - (2020 - 2024)Season: 1
Episode #: 4
Original Airdate: August 27th, 2020
Writer(s): Ann Kim
Director(s): Barry J. Kelly
Guest Stars
Haley Joel Osment as Lt. O'Connor
Eric Bauza as a U.S.S. Cerritos Conn Ensign
Al Rodrigo as Captain Durango
Paul Scheer as Lieutenant Commander Andarithio "Andy" Billups
Vanessa Marshall as a U.S.S. Merced Sciences Division Officer
Jessica McKenna as Ensign Barnes
Jessica McKenna as the Voice of the U.S.S. Cerritos Computer
Jessica McKenna as the Voice of Rutherford's Implant
Eugene Cordero as Lieutenant Winger Bingston, Jr.
Fred Tatasciore as Admiral Vassery
Stardate: 57538.9
Synopsis
The Cerritos rendezvous with Captain Durango, the Tellarite captain of the U.S.S. Merced. They are investigating a generation ship that was lost in space. The ship holds terraforming materials that could change how the Federation colonizes uninhabitable planets.
During a mission briefing, Mariner becomes a complete nuisance by interrupting the Captain by yawning loudly. Durango, an old friend and colleague of Captain Freeman’s, is highly offended and Freeman is outraged by the disrespect. It’s high time Freeman put Mariner off the ship. But how do you outsmart someone as cunning as Mariner?
When Ransom catches Freeman fuming at Mariner’s insubordination, he suggests a strategy that will lead Mariner to transfer herself off the Cerritos. Give her the worst jobs on the ship, and she’ll be out of here in no time.
Freeman, delighted by this proposition, claims the idea as her own. Not put off, Ransom is willing to toe the party line if it keeps the Captain happy, and his position safe.
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Mariner finds herself with the filthiest jobs on the ship – some that even Boimler scoffs at. But somehow Mariner makes them fun. She competes with her colleagues and seems to genuinely enjoy herself.
When Ransom reports this to the Captain, she comes up with a new plan. Freeman promotes Mariner to Lieutenant and with it comes the duties and bonding exercises of a senior officer. Mariner has no time to rest – she’s in meeting after meeting, and after every shift, she’s dragged into game nights with the senior staff.
Tendi, the newest member of the crew, is excited to be invited to a colleague’s ascension. O’ Connor has set up his room for peaceful ascension to a higher plane. Interestingly, he’s made an intricate painting with colored powder, which is akin to Indian rangoli painted during some religious festivals.
Tendi’s curiosity leads her to destroy his gong and the rangoli, which effectively ends O’ Connor’s ascension plans. Tendi desperately tries to make it up to him, reading up about spirituality and offering him alternatives to ascend.
Meanwhile back on the Merced, a seemingly bored Captain Durango accidentally lets out the terraforming material from the generation ship. It quickly engulfs his ship, before attacking the Cerritos. Freeman and Mariner team up to stop the spread and save the other crew as well.
Despite her attempts to help him, O’ Connor doesn’t accept any of Tindi's ideas. As the terraforming chemicals slowly erode and transform the Cerritos, Tendi explains that she needs everyone on the ship to like her, which is why she’s obsessed with O’ Connor succeeding. He finally confesses that the whole ascension thing was made-up. He just wanted to stand out in Starfleet.
Now, the two of them are drowning, but Tendi is able to blow up a wall and free them. Unfortunately, a giant boulder comes crashing down on them. O’ Connor pushes Tendi away, becoming trapped underneath.
Once Mariner and Freeman are able to reverse the terraforming, O’ Connor ascends. Apparently, it wasn’t all a lie! Except, his ascension is horrifying and painful.
While Mariner and Freeman are both commended for saving the day, Mariner sabotages her chances of remaining a senior officer to return to the lower decks. There’s no way she’s going to spend every waking moment with her mother.
Trailer
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