Rant of Valakut: Star Trek: The Next Generation #In5Cards

NARRATOR: Last time on Rants of Valakut:
Christmas, Sci-Fi Movies, Superhero Movies & Animated Shows #In5Cards.
And now, the conclusion….

Exterior. The Enterprise is approaching a star system with five planets and a single sun. The planets are each a different colour: a sandy yellow, an ocean blue, a dark purple, a deep scarlet and a forest green.

PICARD: (Voiceover) Captain’s log, stardate 47995. Starbase 23 has received a cryptic transmission originating from the Valakut sector. The Enterprise has been sent to investigate its source. I am meeting with my senior staff to discuss the situation.

Conference room. All senior staff are present. Data is giving a presentation.

DATA: The transmission appears to be a collection of puzzles.

RIKER: Puzzles?

DATA: Yes sir. One hundred and sixty-eight of them to be exact. Each one is comprised of five distinct trading cards that were used as part of Magic: the Gathering, a game popularized in the late twentieth century. The names of the five cards are arranged so as to create a narrative. For instance, if I were to say:

Midnight Haunting
Crown of Suspicion
Decision Paralysis
Telemin Performance
Compelled Duel

The answer would be “Hamlet.”

RIKER: So Midnight Haunting is the ghost at the beginning of the play, and Crown of Suspicion is Hamlet thinking that Claudius killed his father?

DATA: Yes.

TROI: That would make Decision Paralysis Hamlet’s general uncertainty about what to do, and the “to be or not to be” soliloquy.

CRUSHER: And Telemin Performance must be the play used to trick Claudius, while Compelled Duel is the fight between Hamlet and Laertes.

DATA: Precisely.

PICARD: Do we know what sort of narrative the puzzles in the transmission tell?

GEORDI: According to our analysis, they look like they’re describing our own ship’s logs. Each one’s a different mission, going all the way back to our encounter at Farpoint Station, seven years ago.

RIKER: Why would someone send us our own logs? What’s the point?

WORF: The transmission could be meant as a diversion. To distract us and weaken our defenses.

TROI: Or it could just as easily be an attempt to communicate. There’s no way to know for sure.

PICARD: Mm. I’m inclined to agree with the counselor; I’m not convinced this is an attack. Nevertheless, we should be prepared for that eventuality. Mr. Worf, keep monitoring the anomaly and inform us of any changes.

WORF: Aye, sir.

PICARD: And until we hear otherwise, I suggest we have a little fun with these puzzles. Mr. Data, I would like you to share the complete transmission with the rest of the crew. See if anyone can provide insight into why our ship’s logs would be sent back to us in this manner. If we can figure that out, perhaps we can get some answers.

DATA: Aye sir.

PICARD: Very well. That will be all. Dismissed.

Star Trek: The Next Generation #In5Cards

(List of episodes)

Instill Energy
Swell of Growth
Planar Birth
Cycle of Life
Cradle to Grave