In the episode "Evolution" Enterprise struggles to launch a probe on time while plagued by computer malfunctions.
Enterprise always had a fascination with dying stars. There was something intriguing about the cycle of birth and death. This particular star fed off a red giant, building up matter until it exploded, creating neutronium. Such events occurred only once on average every 196 years, like clockwork. Enterprise had never seen one, which made this mission irresistible.
As she prepared to launch the probe that was meant to gather the data, a nauseous feeling overwhelmed her. Signals from her brain were briefly overrun, making her roll on her side. "Not cool!" She groaned as she went into a spin. "This is making me dizzy!" She cried. It merciful stopped a minute later and Enterprise proceeded in the age old adage of sit up and throw up. "What the hell was that?!" Riker demanded. "I wish I knew." Enterprise rasped as she just managed to avoid the star matter stream. She ran a diagnostic but found nothing wrong. "It was not normal, I know that!" She growled. "Of course not. What could be normal about what you experienced?" Picard growled. Enterprise sighed. "It's not your heart condition is it?" He asked. "No. I'd know if it was." She answered. "Whatever's happening, is do to an unknown internal force." "I'm going to have to cancel this mission." Picard said. "What? No!" Enterprise cried. "My first priority is to keep you and everyone aboard safe." He answered. "Or do you mean playing it safe." She snorted. "Enterprise..." Picard began. "Sir, this phenomenon occurs only once every 2 centuries. We will never get another chance. And there will be a lot of questions back at Starfleet if I fail." She growled. "From this distance, you'd view the experiment from the inside out." He said. "I'd rather die than fail, captain." She replied determinedly. "You are so stubborn!" He groaned. "1701 genes, remember." She winked.
"No wonder you're coming apart at the seams!" Geordie cried from Engineering as he found the trouble area. "It's just a mechanical issue though right?" She asked worriedly. "I don't know." He pressed a button that allowed Enterprise to see the schematic for herself. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say someone went in there and tore the thing apart." Geordie continued. The starship swallowed hard. "Are we talking about, sabotage?" She asked. "I don't know. I'm gonna have to go in there and take a look." Geordie replied and Enterprise shut off the pain sensors to that area in preparation for his work.
Fortunately, Enterprise managed to get her impulse engines working. When she went to open the shuttle bay doors however, music starting blaring from all the loudspeakers. "Ack!" She cried. "It is Stars and Stripes Forever by John Phillips. A band composer in the early 20th century." Data said. "Yes, I know that!" Enterprise groaned, trying to shut it off to no avail. "I'm a Federation starship, not a Yank cruiser. Shut that thing off!" She cried, smashing her head against the star matter stream. She finally managed to shut it down by cutting off power to the bridge, which blinded her. Axuillary power did little to help beyond restoring the internal lighting. She was still helpless. "Mr. La Forge can you get us safely out of this solar system?" Picard asked. "I can sir but I don't want to risk overworking the engines." Geordie replied. "Do it and gently, Geordie." Picard added, mindful of his ships' condition. Enterprise whimpered, parting her jaws to inhale scent. She could detect the collapsing star and the building neutronium close by. It wouldn't be long now. If she couldn't get out of this system within the next 90 minutes, she was a dead ship.
"Nanites?!" Enterprise asked when Picard held a conference. "Very complex organisms designed from the atom up. They have the capability to evolve." Dr. Crusher said. "How does a machine evolve?" Dr. Stubs asked. "Oi!" Enterprise growled. "Easy." Picard murmured. 'It's true." Wesley sighed. "I am responsible for this. I allowed two of the nanites to interact for a school project. I wanted to increase their capabilities. And they escaped." "School project." Enterprise sighed. "And this is why I do not have kids." Picard glared at her. She grumbled. "how far have they evolved?" She asked. "This is a sample of linear crystal from your brain." Wesley displayed a schematic. It was covered in nanites that ate away at it and multilied. "Their rate of evolution is extraordinary." Enterprise murmured. "How many generations are we talking about here?" Data displayed a new image, this one of engineering sector 009 where billions of nanites had infested. "Do you think they know what they're doing?" Picard asked. "Why do mossies bite your ears? Who knows and who cares, just call the exterminator." Enterprise growled. "Enterprise!" Wesley cried. "Not another word out of you boy." She snarled. Wesley shut up then. If Enterprise started calling him boy, it meant she was really, really mad. "These nanites have developed an intelligence. They are sentient. I cannot condone their extermination." Picard said. "I will not allow for any attempted attack. Do I make myself clear, Enterprise?" Reluctantly the starship agreed.
Less harmful measures proved ineffective so Enterprise flooded her core with low level gamma ray bursts. Not harmful to her but proved to be so for the nanites. The ones that survived, retaliated by altering Enterprise's atmosphere. The whole crew, including Enterprise herself, chocked on noxious fumes. "Nitrogen Dioxide, now that's a dirty trick!" She coughed, managing to get control and restore atmospheric stability. The nanites had blocked the hearing sensors in her left ear, making her deaf on that side. "What did you do?" Picard demanded of her. "I used a low level gamma ray burst to scar them off. It affected them more than I thought. All the nanites in the core are dead." She groaned. "What did I tell you!" Picard growled. Enterprise drifted in and out of consciousness as he lectured, Picard unaware of this. Once he was finished with his ship, Picard turned his attention to Dr. Stubs. "I come with the authority of the highest in the Federation. I can order you to complete this mission!" Dr. Stubs growled. Picard's gaze was dark, almost frightening when he hissed "if even a single man, woman, or child dies because of your experiment. I will have your head." Dr. Stubs swallowed, daring to ask "And your ship?" Picard's expression grew even darker. "If Enterprise perishes, then not even God could help you." He growled ominously, a predatory gleam in his eyes.
He confined Dr. Stubs to his quarters, a move which the nanites approved of as they restored Enterprise's hearing sensors in her left ear. "Thank you." She murmured weakly. She spoke too soon. The nanites attacked and nearly killed Dr. Stubs. "He tried to kill us, he must die." They said. "he didn't understand, none of them do. I don't even understand." Enterprise answered. "Do what you want to me but let them live, please." She begged. "You care for them." They observed. "They mean a great deal to me. Just as you care for your own." "We wish to communicate with your charges." They said. "You can link with my systems." Enterprise offered, stunned at her own words. The nanites agreed.
"You are very strange looking creatures." Enteprise said in a monotone voice. "Mr. Data. What is going on with my ship?" Picard asked. "It appears sir, that the nanites have interfaced with Enterprise's systems. She has allowed them direct communication." The android replied. Picard nodded and addressed the nanites. "We have encountered many strange creatures. Perhaps even stranger than ourselves. We try to coexist peacefully with them." "Why did you attack us?" They asked. "We misinterpreted your actions as an attack on us." Picard replied. "We were seeking raw materials for our replicating process." They answered. "Yes but you endangered this vessel which we all travel in." Picard growled. "The very same vessel who is allowing you to use her systems to communicate with us." "We meant no harm. We were exploring." "I understand. We are also explorers." Picard said. "We mean no harm to any other living beings. This conflict started by misunderstanding on both sides. Let's end it here and now." "We agree." The nanites were struggling now. Enterprise was doing everything she could to lesson the affects her mind had on them. "I pledge we will do everything in our power to ensure your continued survival." Picard said. "Thank you. But we have evolved beyond any need for your assistance." The nanites said. "This ship is too confining. We require relocation." Picard agreed and the planet Krabous 4 was chosen to become the nanties new home. Before they left they repaired the damage to Enterprise's computer core.
"This love emotion you feel, you hide it when you shouldn't." They said before leaving for the planet. "What did they say, Enterprise?" Picard asked. "Nothing sir!" She stammered.
The probe was launched on time as the pulsar star, laden with neutronium exploded in a dazzling display. Enterprise's computer banks flooded with the new data and the starship eagerly and greedily poured over it. The cycle of birth and death continued.
In 10 forward, Dr. Crusher observed her son with a girl. "What a cute couple." She said. "I mean that as a doctor, not just a mother." She added and Enterprise chuckled. "Look at him. Now that is healthy for a boy his age." Dr. Crusher murmured. "And she looks at him with such affection." "She should, I set them up." Enterprise grinned. "You did. So you don't hate my son after all." Dr. Crusher said. "I don't hate him, Beverley. He's difficult at times but he's a good kid at heart." Enterprise replied. "What do you know about that girl?" Dr. Crusher asked. The two talked for hours, gossiping like woman should.