All language subtitles for StarTrek.TNG-s05e19.The.First.Duty

Captain's log, star date 45703.9.
We are en route to Earth,

where I will make the commencement
address at Starfleet Academy.

I look forward
to seeing Wesley Crusher again.

His flight team's demonstration
near Saturn

will be transmitted
to the graduation ceremonies.

Captain, Starfleet Academy
requests our estimated arrival.

Mr. Data?

We should arrive at Earth
in ten hours, 16 minutes.

Inform the Academy, Mr. Worf.

Send my regards
to Superintendent Brand.

- Aye, sir.
- Do you know Admiral Brand?

We've met a few times.
She's a formidable woman.

When I was at the Academy,
we had a Vulcan superintendent

who had memorized
all our personnel files.

It was like
having your parents around.

My superintendent
was a Betazoid telepath.

When you got sent to his office, he
didn't have to ask what you'd done.

You got called to his office?
I'd like to hear that story!

Sir, we're being hailed again
by the Academy. It is Admiral Brand.

On screen.

Sir, she is requesting
a private channel.

In my ready room.

- Admiral, what can I do for you?
- Hello, Captain.

I know you're a close friend
of the Crusher family.

Yes.

I wanted to inform you personally.

There's been an accident.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages
of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission,
to explore strange new worlds,...

..to seek out new life
and new civilizations,...

..to boldly go
where no one has gone before.

He had second-degree burns and
a fractured arm, but he'll be fine.

- Have they completed regeneration?
- I'm not certain.

Wesley's allergic
to metorapan treatments.

They'll have to use
a bicaridine substitute.

- I'll send his records...
- Beverly.

..to the infirmary. They probably
have them, but you can't be too sure.

Beverly, he's fine.

I know he's fine.

How did it happen?

Apparently,
his squadron was practising

on the Academy flight range
near Saturn.

They were flying a close formation.
There was a collision.

All five ships were destroyed.

Four cadets transported out.
One didn't make it.

- Do you know who it was?
- Yes. His name was Joshua Albert.

Wesley spoke of him.
They were friends.

Wesley was so excited
to make the flight team.

Of course, I was a little nervous,
but I was proud.

I always knew there was a chance
that something like this might...

Beverly, Wesley's alive
and he's well.

There was little to salvage
from the wreckage.

We recovered one data recorder,
but it was badly damaged.

We are attempting to restore the
information, but it will take time.

Standard procedure calls
for an immediate investigation

by two command-level officers.

Capt Satelk and I

will be taking depositions from
Nova Squadron at 1500 hours today.

Cmdr Albert.

I'm sure that everyone in this room

joins me in expressing
my deepest sympathies to you

on the tragic loss of your son.

There will be a memorial service
for Cadet Albert

this evening, in the west garden.

It has been suggested

that we should cancel the graduation
ceremonies because of what happened.

Cmdr Albert and I have agreed
that commencement should go forward.

The cadets should know
that even after such a tragedy,

there are still duties to perform...

..and life continues.

Thank you all for coming.

It's good to see you again, Captain.

I wish it were
under better circumstances.

This is an unhappy way
to begin commencement.

If you require any assistance,
the Enterprise is at your disposal.

I'm sure we'll be able
to conduct the investigation.

But thank you for your offer.

Wes!

- I was so worried about you.
- How are you feeling, Wesley?

Not bad. The arm's a little sore.

We were very sorry
to hear about Joshua.

Would you like to talk about it?

No. I don't think so. No, thank you.

I know you want to be helpful,

but I've talked about it for days.
I don't want to go through it again.

I understand. But I'm available
if you change your mind.

Thank you, sir.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Captain, sir.
- At ease, Cadet.

This is my squadron leader
Nicholas Locarno.

Capt Jean-Luc Picard
and my mother, Dr Crusher.

- Hello, Doctor.
- Hello.

- Capt Picard.
- Mr. Locarno.

I came by to see
if Wes had healed up alright.

- How are you feeling, Nicholas?
- I'm OK.

I just never lost anyone
under my command before.

I'm afraid that never gets easier.

Captain, Mom,...

..will you excuse us, please?

Nick and I have things
we need to talk about.

Of course.

- Let me know if you need anything.
- I will.

I'll see you at the inquiry.

- Good to meet you, Mr. Locarno.
- You too, sir.

The inquiry's scheduled
for 1500 hours. You ready?

I think so.

Don't worry about it, Wes.

Everything's gonna be alright,
as long as we stick together.

Can't you see that's a flowerbed?

- Sorry! I'm really sorry.
- Well...

Boothby?

Jean-Luc Picard. Class of '27.

I know that.
What happened to your hair?

How are you?

I'm pretty damn cranky, thank you!

I've replanted this bed
four times this week.

Let me give you a hand.

You?

I've acquired an interest
over the years.

Well, don't plant 'em too deep.

- The stems will...
- Will rot.

Capt Picard.

Of the Enterprise, no less.
And giving the commencement address!

- You sound surprised.
- Surprised?

Nothing you ever did
surprised me, son.

Except when you caught that Ligonian
with a reverse body lift,

and pinned him in
the first 14 seconds of the match.

Didn't think you had it in you.

Well, it was all in the legs,
all that running I did.

Boothby?

I don't think that I ever...
I don't think I ever told you...

- ..how much I appreciate...
- There's nothing to tell.

Yes, there is.

I just wanted to,
while I was here...

Look, you know as well as I do, I
would never have graduated if you...

You made a mistake. We've all
been young enough to make one.

Nevertheless...

You did what you had to.
What you thought was best.

I just made sure
that you listened to yourself.

At the time I thought you were
a mean-spirited, vicious old man.

I was.

And, by the way, I was
about the same age you are now.

I didn't speak to you for months.

You needed to get your bearings.
I knew that.

The important thing is, what
you did with your life afterwards.

Seems you did OK.

That's thanks enough for me.

Did you know the boy
from Nova Squadron who was killed?

Josh Albert? Yeah.

Crusher, Hajar, Sito, Locarno...

I know them all.

- You nervous?
- No.

Yes.

That's OK. So am l.
But we're gonna be alright.

It'll be tough, but we always
come through for each other.

Whatever happens,
leading this team

has been the high point
of my years at the Academy.

No one could have asked
for a better team.

Or better friends.

Let's go.

Here, we accelerated and executed
a starboard turn of 27 degrees.

We came out of the turn
on course for Titan.

You were still in the lead position?

- Yes, sir.
- Continue.

As we approached Titan,

I gave the signal to tighten
into a diamond-slot formation.

Remaining in formation, we executed
a low-apogee turn around Titan

and began a Z+25 degree climb
in preparation for a Yeager Loop.

Approximately nine seconds later,

Cadet Albert's ship
collided with Cadet Hajar's.

We had less than two seconds to
beam to the evac stations at Mimas.

Everyone made it except Josh.

Thank you, Mr. Locarno.

Cadet Hajar.

As team navigator, you filed
a flight plan with the range officer

before the exercise. Correct?

Yes, sir.

Did Nova Squadron
deviate from that flight plan

after you entered the Saturn range?

No, sir.

Then how do you explain that
the low-apogee turn around Titan

was 2,000 kilometres closer to
the moon than indicated in your plan.

We were within
flight-safety parameters, sir.

That was not my question, Cadet.

We had discussed changing
our approach after I filed the plan.

The final decision
was made en route.

I didn't consider it
significant enough to mention.

I apologize for the confusion, sir.
I should have been more precise.

Did you see Mr. Albert's ship break
formation before colliding with you?

No, sir. My first indication was when
my proximity alarm went off.

You may be seated.

Did any of you see the collision?

No, sir.

Cadet Sito,
you were in the tail position.

You should have seen any sign
of trouble from Cadet Albert.

- Yet you saw nothing?
- That is correct, sir.

- Did your attention falter?
- No, sir.

I was flying
solely on sensor readings.

I had no visual contact with Cadet
Albert when he broke formation.

Sensor readings?

What's wrong?

It's unusual to fly on sensors alone
during this type of manoeuvre.

A pilot relies on visual clues from
the others to maintain formation.

If you were flying on sensors alone,

perhaps you could tell us
the orientation of his ship

- before the collision.
- I don't know, sir.

You were flying a ship,
travelling 80,000 kph,

with Cadet Albert's ship
less than ten metres away,

and you don't know
what his orientation was?

I don't remember, sir.

- Sir, may l?
- Go ahead.

Admiral,...

..Josh was a good pilot,

but lately
he'd been having difficulties.

He'd get nervous in close fly-bys
and pull away in the final seconds.

His formation flying was erratic.

And you didn't report this?

No, sir, I didn't.
We'd flown together a long time.

I thought he could handle it
if I gave him a chance.

I was wrong.

You are saying that the accident
was Cadet Albert's fault?

I think Josh got frightened and tried
to pull out of the turn prematurely,

and then crashed into Cadet Hajar.

Josh was our friend.

We didn't want him to be remembered
as someone who panicked.

Please be seated.

I am very disturbed
by what I have heard here today.

By your own admission,
you allowed your team-mate to fly

when you knew he had difficulties
maintaining formation.

That demonstrates
a serious lack of judgement.

I am also disturbed

that you did not come forward
with this information immediately.

We will have data from Mr. Crusher's
flight recorder tonight.

We will reconvene
at 1300 hours tomorrow.

Everything's fine. Trust me.

The Academy has one of the best
reconstructive-analysis labs.

There's not much we could contribute.

Yes. That may well be.

But Wesley's one of our own.

- Understood, sir. We'll get on it.
- Good. I spoke to Admiral Brand.

She's giving us access to all
the physical evidence and testimony.

Thank you, gentlemen.

You shouldn't have said it, Nick.
Josh wasn't to blame.

- I had to do something.
- You said we wouldn't have to lie.

We all agreed not to lie to them.

I didn't lie.
Everything I said was the truth.

The accident was not his fault!

He was my friend, too, Wes.

I worked to get him on the team.
But he panicked.

- We don't know that!
- We do!

None of us wanted to say it,
but we've all had the same thought.

Haven't we?

He must've pulled away too soon.
I think he got scared.

Sito?

Wes, you want to protect his memory.
We all do.

But we have to look out
for ourselves now.

You want us to tell them everything?

We might as well
start packing our bags.

Are we ready for that?

We'll take this one step at a time.

This is the report
from your flight recorder.

It was damaged so badly,

the lab could only retrieve
a third of the telemetry.

And all of it
is before the collision.

There's no problem here.

I don't know if I can do this, Nick.

You don't have to lie. Just don't
volunteer any new information.

The first night I met you, Wes,
I knew I wanted you on this squad.

You understand what it means
to be able to count on someone,

because you've been out there,
putting yourself on the line.

You know you have to be able
to count on your team,

because your life is in their hands,
and their lives are in yours.

We promised each other in the
beginning that we'd stick together.

We were Nova Squadron.
Nobody else could say that.

Even after we graduated, we tried
to get posted on the same duty.

We were gonna be a team
for a long time.

Josh can't be a part of those plans
any more.

But I think he would still want us
to be a team.

What do you think?

Mr. Crusher?

Sir!

At ease.

- Am I interrupting?
- No.

I was just going over
my deposition for tomorrow.

They told me you'd be here.

I found this in Josh's room.
I think it belongs to you.

Our ski trip.

Josh and I went to Calgary.

He forgot his sweater,
so he borrowed mine.

He told me
you helped him with his classes.

A little. He only needed help
in statistical mechanics.

Josh's weakness was mathematics.

No. He could do it.
He just didn't like to.

His mother and I thought
he'd never get out of calculus.

Then he found out what the Academy
entrance requirements were like.

That turned him around.

He studied after class, got a tutor.

He really worked hard.

Never gave up on anything.

And he had a lot of respect for you,

and everybody on the team.

I realize it was his fault.

That everybody
could have been killed.

And I want to say that...

I want to say I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that he let you down.

Are you ready, Mr. Crusher?

Yes, sir.

At the beginning of our run
to Titan, I'm on the right wing.

Where is Mr. Albert at this point?

On my port quarter,
approximately 50 metres away.

We receive the signal
to begin the diamond formation.

Cadet Locarno is coming into view.

We're in a 20-degree turn
around Titan.

We come out of
Titan's gravity about now.

That is all the data we were able
to recover from the flight recorder.

Mr. Crusher,

would you describe what happened
after you left your orbit of Titan?

Once we cleared the moon,

Mr. Locarno
led us into a Yeager Loop.

Approximately nine seconds later,
my proximity alarm went off.

I tried to veer away
but it was too late and I was hit.

I lost control of my ship. The power
coupling exploded in my cockpit.

I don't know how, but I managed
to activate my escape transporter.

The next thing I remember is finding
myself on the evac station on Mimas

with the rest of the squadron,
except Josh.

Do you have anything to add
to your testimony?

No, sir.

Mr. Crusher,

will you describe a Yeager Loop?

The ships begin
in a diamond-slot formation,

and climb and loop backwards
at a steep angle,

and at the peak of the loop,

turn over and accelerate
in a new direction.

Mr. Crusher, did your team remain
in formation throughout the loop?

Yes, sir.

I want you to be absolutely clear
on this point.

Before the collision, was Nova
Squadron in a diamond-slot formation?

Yes, sir.

Computer, display
Saturn NavCon file 6-379.

These images are from
a navigational-control satellite

in orbit around Saturn
during a sensor sweep.

Computer, freeze image.

Magnify sector
Gamma three and enhance.

This image was recorded

when your ships moved
into the satellite's range.

According to the time index, what you
see on the monitor took place

seven seconds after Nova Squadron
completed the Yeager Loop.

Mr. Crusher, are these ships
in a diamond-slot formation?

No, sir.

What is your explanation,
Mr. Crusher?

I have none, sir.

Everything's going to be OK, Wesley.

There must be an explanation.

Data and Geordi are analyzing the
recorder and satellite transmission.

Why?

There must be something wrong
with the data.

- Maybe it was tampered with.
- Mom!

There must be some explanation.
I know you're telling the truth,

but the data
made it look like you were lying.

I've spoken with the other parents.

I'm going to ask Admiral Brand
to delay the inquiry...

Mom!

Don't. You can't do that.

I'm going to let them
ruin your career.

You haven't done anything wrong.

Mom,

don't try to protect me.

Please stay out of this.

The weeds keep popping up
in the pittosporum.

Poor plants
don't have a chance to grow.

You should use a herbicide

instead of pulling the weeds
with your bare hands.

And you could explore space
on a holodeck instead of a starship.

Boothby, tell me some more
about Nova Squadron.

- Not going well, is it?
- No, it isn't.

Do you remember the parrises squares
tournament of '24?

The final game against Minsk.

It took me three weeks to repair
the grounds after the celebration.

We had a lot to celebrate.

Our team wasn't supposed to win.
We were proud of them.

Well, the cadets today
are just as proud of Nova Squadron.

Their celebration
when Nova won the Rigel Cup

made '24 look like a dinner party.

To the other cadets,
the members of that team are gods,

and that's a hard image
to live up to.

But Nick Locarno watches out
for them, keeps them together.

Nick is what makes that team special.

He's their coach, surrogate father
and best friend. A natural leader.

The members of that team love him.

If he asks them to do something,
they do it,

even if it means
going right over a cliff.

Report.

Nothing conclusive.
The collision occurred

four seconds after
the satellite images were recorded.

We don't know how they got into the
new formation or why they crashed.

We unsuccessfully tried
53 computational models

in an effort to simulate
their movements prior to the crash.

There are just too many variables.
Speed, attitude, course.

Did Wesley's flight recorder indicate
anything unusual about the ship?

Starboard power flow was fluctuating.

But well within operational limits.

Fluidic pressure
in the landing struts was low,

but that shouldn't matter.

Wesley opened his coolant interlock
before the manoeuvre around Titan.

That is unusual.

The interlock is closed unless
you're checking coolant levels.

There's no evidence of Wesley
doing that sort of check.

Filling the coolant tanks
requires an open interlock.

That needs a maintenance bay.
Why else might you open the valve?

Well, to purge the plasma exhaust.

That would be hazardous
while the ship was in flight.

Yeah. The engine
would ignite the plasma.

Ignite the plasma!

That's exactly
what they were trying to do.

Come.

Captain.

Can you tell me
what this manoeuvre is?

It's a Kolvoord Starburst, sir.

Five ships crossing
within ten metres of each other

and igniting their plasma trails.

It's one of the most spectacular

and difficult demonstrations
in precision flying.

And it hasn't been performed at
the Academy for a hundred years. Why?

It was banned
following a training accident, sir.

An accident in which all five cadets
lost their lives.

I think that Nicholas Locarno
wanted to end his Academy career

in a blaze of glory.

That he convinced the four of you
to learn the Kolvoord Starburst

for the commencement demonstration.

If it worked,
it would thrill the assembled guests,

and Locarno would graduate
as a living legend.

Only it didn't work.

And Joshua Albert paid the price.

Am I correct?

Cadet, I asked you a question!
Am I correct?

- I choose not to answer, sir.
- You choose not to answer?

But you've already given an answer
to the inquiry.

That answer was a lie.

I said the accident occurred
after the loop. It did.

You neglected to mention
that following the loop,

your team attempted a manoeuvre

that was the direct cause
of the crash.

You told the truth up to a point.

But a lie of omission is still a lie.

Do you remember the first day
you came aboard this ship?

Your mother
brought you on the bridge.

Yes, sir.

You even sat in my chair.
I was annoyed.

Presumptuous child
playing on my ship.

But I never forgot how you knew
every control, every display.

You behaved as though
you belonged on the bridge.

Later, when I decided
to make you an acting ensign,

I believed
you'd be an outstanding officer.

I've never
questioned that conviction...

..until now.

The first duty of every
Starfleet officer is to the truth.

Whether scientific, historical
or personal truth!

It is the guiding principle
of Starfleet.

If you can't find it within yourself
to tell the truth,

you don't deserve
to wear that uniform.

I'll make this simple for you,
Mr. Crusher.

Either you tell Admiral Brand
what really took place, or I will.

- Captain...
- Dismissed!

- Your message said it was urgent.
- They know what we did.

Calm down!

Tell me exactly what happened.

Capt Picard
called me to the Enterprise.

He told me he knows. The Kolvoord
manoeuvre, the cover-up, everything.

He said that
if I didn't tell the truth, he would.

- Does he have any evidence?
- No, but he knew how it happened!

Capt Picard doesn't know anything.
He has a theory.

Let him tell them what he thinks.

They'll ask, "Is it true?"
We'll say, "No."

There's no evidence.
We'll get off with a reprimand.

I can't call Capt Picard a liar.

Wesley!

We have to hang on just a little
bit longer, then this will be over.

- It's wrong, Nick.
- Wesley...

No!

I'll tell them what happened.

You're gonna tell them
what happened?

You? Alone? You're gonna decide
what happens to me?

To Sito? To Jean?
You're gonna decide that?

I'm not gonna lie to them again,
Nick! I can't live with it.

You can't lie to them.
You can't live with this.

You have to tell them. Who the hell
are you? You're gonna turn us in!

- Wait a minute.
- You wait a minute!

He got to you, didn't he?

Picard told you some big story
about duty and honour.

Must've been a good speech to make
you turn your back on your friends.

We're Starfleet cadets.
We have a duty to the truth.

What about your duty
to your friends?

I got you on this team.

I gave you a chance when
upperclassmen were waiting in line.

I said, "He won't let us down.
He was on the Enterprise."

"He knows what it's like
to trust somebody with his life."

I guess I was wrong.

If we all come forward together
and tell Admiral Brand...

We don't wanna come forward!

Sito, Jean and me,
we don't have a problem with this.

If you do, resign your appointment
to the Academy and walk away.

Don't make us pay
for your guilty conscience.

You'd let me do that?

You'd let me throw away my career
just to save your neck?

To save the team!

That's more important than you,
and more important than me.

And if I were in your place,
I'd do it without hesitation.

But that's me.

Capt Satelk and I
have gone over your testimony

and evidence from the crash.

Your statements cannot be reconciled

with the data
from the NavCon satellite.

Your unwillingness to offer any
explanation for this contradiction

is disappointing,
and raises suspicion.

We cannot escape the conclusion...

..that either the data is faulty
in some way,...

..or you have lied to us.

However, suspicion is not proof,

and I have no proof
that you have lied to this inquiry.

Therefore,
if no further evidence is presented,

I have no choice
but to close this investigation.

For filing
an inaccurate flight plan,

and for allowing Cadet Albert to fly
when you knew he had difficulties,

I'm ordering a formal reprimand

placed
on each of your permanent records.

I'm also revoking
your flight privileges.

This inquiry is closed.

Sir?

I wish to add to my testimony.

Proceed, Mr. Crusher.

Yesterday I testified that the crash
occurred following a Yeager Loop.

That is not entirely true.

We performed the loop,

and afterwards broke formation
and attempted a Kolvoord Starburst.

We knew it was prohibited.
We knew it was dangerous.

But we wanted to do something
spectacular for the demonstration.

We pushed Josh into it,
and he wasn't ready.

We thought we could do it.
We thought we could do anything.

We were wrong.

And Josh died.

Josh didn't let us down, sir.
It wasn't his fault.

Mr. Locarno,...

..you are the leader
of Nova Squadron.

Do you have anything to say?

Mr. Locarno?

No, sir.

Mr. Locarno has been expelled.

- They should've expelled all of us.
- They very nearly did.

Mr. Locarno made an impassioned
plea for the rest of you.

He said he'd used his influence to
convince you to attempt the manoeuvre

and to cover up the truth.

He asked to take full responsibility.

He did exactly
what he said he would.

He protected the team.

I feel awful. I've let down everyone.
My mother, my friends, you.

You should feel bad.

And you will pay
for what you've done.

Admiral Brand decided that,
in addition to a formal reprimand,

your credits for the year
are cancelled

and you will not advance
with your class.

I understand.

It's not going to be easy,

staying here on campus,
everyone knowing what you did.

You have difficult times ahead.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Captain.

You knew what you had to do.

I just made sure
that you listened to yourself.

- Goodbye, Cadet.
- Goodbye, Captain.