STAR TREK: PRODIGY
SEASON 2, EPISODE 13
SEASON 2, EPISODE 13
A Tribble Called Quest
Series: Star Trek: Prodigy - (2021 - current)Season: 2
Episode #: 13
Original Airdate: July 1st, 2024 (March 22nd, 2024 in France)
Writer(s): Keith Sweet II
Director(s): Sean Bishop
Guest Stars
Robert Beltran as Captain Chakotay
Michaela Dietz as Maj'El
Jorge Gutierrez as Dr. K'Ruvang
Bonnie Gordon as the Voice of the U.S.S. Voyager Computer
Stardate: Unknown
Synopsis
Rok-Tahk explains how a star is formed: hydrogen is compressed by gravity until it achieves ignition. But to create the star they need to power the USS Protostar’s drive, they need a specific matter: Bosonite. Fortunately, they’ve located a M-Class planet that is a viable source. Rok is on the bridge of the Protostar. Also present are Dal R’El, Gwyn, Jankom Pog, Zero, Murf, Maj’el, Chakotay and Hologram Janeway. Soon everyone but Janeway has beamed down to the planetary surface. Chakotay says nature is out of balance.
Maj’el’s scan finds only trace Bosonite in the soil. They’ll need much more than that. But Dal finds a large deposit by boosting his sensor range. Chakotay compliments his work. But then they’re approached by a Tribble. Rok and Zero are charmed. When Rok picks it up, it begins to multiply. Rok says they’re an invasive species that can ravage planets. Chakotay cites the problems the Klingon Empire has had with them. But Rok drops them when one bites her. She questions the event, as Tribble don’t have teeth. However, these ones do. And also, there’s a giant one. Dal grabs the transporter poles. They follow Murf as they flee. While they find a hiding spot and almost everyone makes it. Zero gets run over by the big Tribble. Honor and Problem-tunity
While Zero survived, they were injured. Chakotay says Zero must be sent to medical aboard Protostar. Jankom volunteers to accompany them. But those remaining behind are soon being menaced by a disrupter-wielding Klingon: Dr. K’Ruvang. Chakotay hopes he can help shed some light on whatever transpired on the planet. Later, K’Ruvang states he cannot leave the planet. He decloaks his Bird of Prey, which has been turned into a lab. Rok picks up some of his notes and realizes K’Ruvang is a scientist. He’s been genetically manipulating Tribbles, hence the weird variations. K’Ruvang explains he was sent to the planet by Chancellor Martok to find a way for the Empire to triumph over Tribbles. However, the solution eludes K’Ruvang, and he questions his own honor. But Rok has some ideas. She informs K’Ruvang that Starfleet has made technological advances since K’Ruvang was sent to this planet.
Rok proposes a possibility that could ensure the Tribbles become smaller and lose the ability to reproduce. But Maj’el emphasizes their primary mission: to receive the Bosonite deposit. K’Ruvang laughs, because this deposit is located in the largest Tribble nest. Rok identifies this as a “problem-tunity.” By releasing the retrovirus into the large Tribble sample inside the nest, this will cause it to switfly spread throughout the local population. This would restore K’Ruvang’s honor. Chakotay pulls Dal and Gwyn aside. He says Rok seems smart. But before he puts everyone in danger, he must know how smart. Dal recounts the events of “Time Amok.” Chakotay is sufficiently impressed. Gwyn notes they’ll have to get through the Tribbles anyway, and if a Tribble that large escaped, it could be disastrous. Chakotay urges Rok to have the retrovirus ready tomorrow. Rok begins to work in K’Ruvang’s messy lab. But after she sneezes, she drops the used tissue beside a petri dish.
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In Protostar’s sick bay, Janeway is perplexed. The usual techniques don’t seem to be healing Zero. Zero expected this: they already knew the body is inextricable from the planet of its origin. But they had thought they had more time. Janeway advises them to stay off the leg as long as possible. Jankom tried to comfort Zero, but cites the Tellurites’ lack of bedside matter. Jankom explains his strategy: when something stops working, he builds something better. He uses his prosthetic hand to demonstrate. Zero agrees.
On the planet’s surface, Gwyn sits atop the Bird of Prey. She’s joined by Maj’el. Neither could sleep: K’Ruvang snores. Gwyn says that broken worlds like this never get easier to see. Maj’el asserts that Gwyn worries a similar fate will befall Solum. While Maj’el doesn’t worry about being liked by others, she wonders about her purpose with the group. Maj’el wonders if the line of reasoning used by Wes followed logic. Gwyn says hope sometimes isn’t logical.
Inside the ship, the peace is broken by an enigmatic intruder in the lab. A Tribble got in. But K’Ruvang states the doors were sealed. The intruder is trapped beneath a bowl. Eventually, Dal captures it. But under the bowl isn’t a Tribble. Rok realizes she’s created a Tribble-Brikar hybrid. Grain containing Rok’s shrinking retrovirus is prepared. But citing the creation of the hybrid, K’Ruvang questions her abilities. However, several cadets are enamored with the hybrid. Rok worries about other possible mistakes. Dal and Maj’el reassure her. Then Dal bonds with the creature over also being a hybridized genetic augment. Dal names it a “Bribble.”
At the Tribble nest, Rok tells the Bribble the grain isn’t for them. But it is pretty cute. The Tribbles begin emerging from their places in the nest. Dal and Gwyn repel down to the Bosonite deposit. Unfortunately, it seems as though they didn’t replicate enough grain to keep the Tribbles distracted. Dal and Gwyn have finally established the transporter alignment around the Bosonite. Janeway secures it in the Protocore. She instructs Dal and Gwyn to calibrate and get into position for beam-up. But before they can be beamed, a huge Tribble smashes their makeshift transporter pad. On the Bird of Prey, Chakotay is unable to get a lock on Dal and Gwyn. The rest of the crew will have to go in and rescue them. K’Ruvang protests that if they die, his mission will be a failure. Rok says her crew come first. Meanwhile, Dal and Gwyn attempt to climb to safety. The rest of the crew arrive and use phaser and disruptor fire to repel the Tribbles. But it’s only a temporary solution. Soon our heroes are being menaced by more Tribbles than ever.
K’Ruvang considers disrupting some Bosonite and destroying the whole region. Rok insists there’s always another way. K’Ruvang asks, what if her retrovirus fails? The cadets wrestle K’Ruvang’s disruptor away. But soon they’re being surrounded by Tribbles once again. Fortunately, Bribble climbs on Rok’s shoulder and communicates directly with the Tribbles. This causes the Tribbles to leave. Chakotay says Rok’s mistake saved them all. K’Ruvang begins to sing the Klingon Victory Song. The cadets join him.
Later, the Protostar leaves orbit. Rok records a supplemental science log. She admits that it didn’t go perfectly, but says the experience was “special.” Rok’s retrovirus was a success. This allowed K’Ruvang to return home, “with his reputation mostly intact.” Rok concludes: “You have to expect the unexpected in my field. Because before the right answer, we often find the wrong one. But the wrong one can lead us to entirely new discoveries.” For this reason, Rok says we should wear our mistakes as badges of honor, not hang our heads in shame. Meanwhile, the Protostar Drive is successfully reactivated.
Janeway charts a course for Voyager. Chakotay confirms he’s ready to see the real Janeway. He orders the crew to set course for home.-geekgirlauthority.com
