Welcome to the second blog in the series. Today, we will take a look at two more episodes in the top 10 countdown of Star Trek: The Next Generation. If you have not yet seen the first in the series, you can do so here.
Number 8: Home Soil (1.17)
The Enterprise crew pays a visit to a terraforming station, when one of the workers is killed in a mishap with a laser drill. The ensuing investigation leads to the discovery of a strange blinking light in one of the drill holes. Geordi La Forge and Data beam a sample of the substance aboard the Enterprise for study. To the crew's surprise, this substance turns out being a microscopic silicon-based lifeform. The colony of creatures thrives on light energy and rapidly grows into what the crew call a "microbrain". After initiating contact with the crew and having a short stand-off with its ability to interface the ship's computer, the creatures are beamed back to the planet, and the terraforming station is abandoned.
As a race, we have long pondered whether or not we are alone in the universe. We envision other forms of life that may be foreign to us but have familiar traits like eyes, mouths, bipedal locomotion, and so on. Scientists search for life as we know it. Yet, how do we know that life beyond this planet would actually be close enough to what we consider life to even be recognizable? Just look at our own planet: There are lifeforms that thrive on sulfur in the superheated water at the bottom of the ocean. Recently discovered life even thrives on arsenic! There is so much variation on our small planet that the possibilities could be endless across the stars.
Number 7: Force of Nature (7.09)
The Enterprise crew go in search of the USS Fleming, which has gone missing. After after a scuffle with suspected Ferengis, the Enterprise comes across a debris field where a small object fires a pulse that disables all subspace systems. Two intruders board the Enterprise to explain their actions: Their area of space is sensitive to warp fields. Little by little the fabric of space near their planet is being destroyed, and the only way to get the Federation's attention is by committing the violent acts against the ships. When Captain Picard's message to the Federation on the matter takes too long, one of the individuals takes a ship into the area of space and sets off a warp core breach, creating a large rift. After a daring rescue attempt by Geordi La Forge, an Enterprise report of the collected data results in the Federation banning travel beyond Warp 5 unless there is an emergency.
Radical environmental groups like Earth Liberation Front, Animal Liberation Front, and others, are known for committing violent acts against those they see as destructive to the environment and to nature. The motives for some include attempts at pushing authority figures to notice their viewpoints to stop any more perceived damaged from being caused. This episode touches on the debate as to whether or not such acts lead to change in government policies or societal perceptions on matters, perhaps not only related to environmentalism but to any politically-charged topic.
By @HullBreach
