STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS
SEASON 2, EPISODE 2
SEASON 2, EPISODE 2
The Trouble with Edward
Series: Star Trek: Short Treks - (2018 - current)Season: 2
Episode #: 2
Original Airdate: October 10th, 2019
Writer(s): Graham Wagner
Director(s): Daniel Gray Longino
Starring
Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike
H. Jon Benjamin as Edward Larkin
Rosa Salazar as Captain Lynne Lucero
Co-Starring
Lisa Michelle Cornelius as Sarah
Matthew Gouveia as Noel
Krista Jang as Rob
John Jarvis as Admiral Quinn
Loretta Shenosky as Cabot Computer
Stardate: Unknown
Synopsis
As Captain Christopher Pike of the U.S.S. Enterprise escorts Lynne Lucero to the starship’s transporter room, he laments about losing a good officer to promotion. However lament turns to pride as he wishes the newly minted Captain Lucero luck in her new command aboard the U.S.S. Cabot. Lucero’s first assignment won’t be an easy one, as she and the crew of the U.S.S. Cabot will be offering aid to Pragine 63 – a planet on the edge of Klingon space which is facing a starvation crisis. With some sage advice coming from her former commanding officer, Lucero beams aboard her new ship.
Aboard the Cabot, Lucero holds a briefing with the sciences division department heads, asking for status updates on the various projects currently being worked on. When Lieutenant Edward Larkin is asked for his report, he struggles to reply citing trouble accessing his PADD. Finally after receiving some assistance from a fellow crewmember, Larkin reports on his work with the species Tribleustes ventricosus, or "tribbles." Upon sharing images of the tribbles with the department heads, the others are clearly drawn to the furry little creatures. Larkin however is enthusiastic only because of the potential food source the tribbles present, suggesting that they are “all meat” once their fur is removed. Indicating that he has eaten one or two during his research, Larkin suggests the only current problem with the tribbles is the fact that the species breeds very slowly; something he plans to address via genetic manipulation.
Clearly uncomfortable with Larkin's plan, Captain Lucero asks the scientist if tribbles are intelligent, citing moral concerns at Larkin’s food-source plan. He promptly suggests that he could also manipulate them to be brain-damaged. With that statement, the fresh new Captain orders him to suspend his project and join the climatology team instead. Annoyed with his new commanding officer, Larkin begins to vent about her to other members of the Cabot crew. Unfortunately for him, everyone else seems to like her. Despite direct orders to the contrary, Larkin continues working on genetically manipulating the tribbles at his research station before being called to the captain's office.![]()
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Captain Lucero confronts Larkin about "anonymous" complaints that her superiors at Starfleet Command have received about her and her work. After checking with several other crewmembers, Lucero suggests that, based on Larkin’s history aboard the Cabot, this is the sort of thing he would do. As Larkin deflects responsibility, the Captain informs him that he is going to be transferred off the ship. Despite dismissing him, Larkin argues with Lucero while refusing to leave. Finally he exits the Captain’s ready room.
Later that evening, Larkin slowly emerges from his quarters dressed only in pajama tops and underpants. The disheveled Lieutenant finds the crew rushing around in an attempt to address a lab breach. Ultimately, the breach is traced to Larkin’s work with the tribbles, which highlights his violation of a direct order from Captain Lucero. Rather than accept responsibility, Larkin simply says, "But it worked." The crew attempt to clear the ship of tribbles, but the exponentially multiplying population is making the task virtually impossible. The crew learn that the tribbles apparently are born pregnant as a direct result of Larkin infusing them with Human DNA – his own.
As the tribbles continue to multiply, threatening the Cabot’s oxygen supply as well as the starship’s structural integrity, Captain Lucero orders the crew to abandon ship. Larkin however argues with her, saying that he is "not dumb" as he applauds his work as a triumph. As the crew of the Cabot board an escape craft, Larkin stubbornly remains behind - and is promptly engulfed in a wave of tribbles.
At a board of inquiry at Starfleet Headquarters, Admiral Quinn inquires how Captain Lucero’s command could have gone so badly in so short a period of time, citing a destroyed ship, the tragic loss of a crewmember, and the release of a genetically modified species onto Pragine 63. Asking how she can blame the entire series of events on the sole actions of one crewmember, Lucero simply replies, "He was an idiot."
Trailer
Poster courtesy of J.J. Lendl
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