Original subtitles

Captain's Log, Stardate 45703.9.

We are en route to Earth

where it will be my pleasant duty to deliver

this year's commencement address

at Starfleet Academy.

I'm also looking forward to seeing Wesley Crusher again.

His flight team will perform a demonstration near Saturn

that will be transmitted to the graduation ceremonies.

Captain, Starfleet Academy is requesting an update

on our estimated arrival.

Mr. Data?

We should be arriving at Earth

in ten hours, 16 minutes, sir.

Please inform the academy, Mr. Worf.

And send my regards to Superintendent Brand.

Aye, sir.

TROI: Do you know Admiral Brand?

We've met a few times.

She's a formidable woman.

Sounds like my superintendent.

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

who had memorized the personnel files of every single cadet.

Knew everything about them.

It was like having your parents around all the time.

My superintendent was a Betazoid...

a full telepath.

When he sent for you to his office

he didn't have to ask what you'd done.

You got called to the superintendent's office?

That's a story I'd like to hear.

(console beeping)

Sir? We are being hailed again by the academy.

It is Admiral Brand.

On screen.

Sir, she is requesting a private channel.

In my ready room.

(com beeps)

Admiral Brand, 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.

♪♪

PICARD: He had second-degree burns on the chest

and multiple fractures of his right arm

but he's going to be fine.

Have they completed the regeneration series?

I'm not certain.

Wesley's allergic to metorapan treatments.

I think they'll have to use a bicaridine substitute.

Beverly... I should send his complete records

to the academy infirmary.

Of course, they probably already have them

but you can't be too sure.

Beverly... he's fine.

I know he's fine. I know he's fine.

How did it happen?

Apparently, his squadron was practicing

on the academy flight range near Saturn.

They were flying a close formation.

There was a collision.

All five ships were destroyed.

Four of the cadets were able to transport 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 is alive, and he's well.

There was very little to salvage from the wreckage.

We did recover one of the ship's data recorders

but it was badly damaged.

We are attempting to restore the information

but that will take some time.

Standard procedure calls for an immediate investigation

by two command-level officers.

Captain Satelk and I

will be taking depositions

from Nova Squadron at 1500 hours today.

Commander 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

in the light of what's happened.

Commander Albert and I have discussed this

and we've agreed that commencement

should go forward as planned.

The cadets should know

that even after a tragedy like this

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

then the Enterprise is at your disposal.

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

but thank you for your offer.

(knock at door)

Wes.

Oh...

(sighs)

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're just trying to be helpful, sir

but it seems like that's all I've talked about

for the last two days.

And I don't want to go through it again.

I understand. I just want you to know

that I'm available if you should change your mind.

Thank you, sir.

(knock at door)

Hi.

Hi.

Captain, sir.

At ease, Cadet.

This is my squadron leader, Nicholas Locarno.

This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise.

My mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher.

Hello, Doctor.

Hello.

Captain Picard.

Mr. Locarno.

I came by to see if Wes had healed up all right.

And how are you feeling, Nicholas?

Oh, I'm okay.

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 some things we need to talk about.

Of course.

Let me know if you need anything.

I will.

We'll see you at the inquiry.

Good to meet you, Mr. Locarno.

You, too, sir.

The inquiry is scheduled for 1500 hours.

Are you ready?

I think so.

Look, don't worry about it, Wes.

Everything is going to be all right

as long as we stick together.

MAN 1: Hey, can't you see that's a flower bed?!

MAN 2: Sorry. I'm really sorry.

Oh, come on.

(groans)

(sighs)

Boothby.

Mm-hmm?

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 already 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 them too deep.

The stems will...

Will rot.

Captain Picard.

Of the Enterprise, no less.

And giving the commencement address.

You sound surprised.

Surprised?

Uh-uh.

Nothing you ever did surprised me, son.

Except that time

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.

(chuckles)

Boothby...

Hmm?

I don't think that I ever...

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

how much I appreciate...

Mm-mm. There's nothing to tell.

Yes, there is.

I... 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.

There isn't a man among us

who hasn't been young enough to make one.

Nevertheless...

You did what you had to do.

You did 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.

It seems you did okay.

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.

(sighs)

You nervous?

No.

Yes.

That's okay. So am I.

But we're going to be all right.

We've got some tough times ahead

but we've always come through for each other.

Whatever happens, I want you all to know

that 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.

LOCARNO: At this point, we accelerated

and executed a starboard turn of 27 degrees.

We came out of the turn on course for Titan.

And you were still in the lead position?

Yes, sir.

Continue.

As we entered Titan's gravitational sphere

I gave the signal to tighten up and move into

a diamond slot formation.

Remaining in the diamond formation

we executed a low-apogee turn around Titan

and began a z-plus 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 activate our emergency transporters

and beam to the EVAC stations at Mimas.

Everyone made it except Josh.

Thank you, Mr. Locarno.

BRAND: Cadet Hajar.

As team navigator

you filed a flight plan with the academy range officer

before the exercise, correct?

Yes, sir.

Did Nova Squadron

deviate from that flight plan

after you entered the Saturn range?

No, sir.

And how do you explain the fact

that the low-apogee turn around Titan

was at least 2,000 kilometers closer to the moon

than indicated in your plan?

We were still within flight safety parameters, sir.

That was not my question, Cadet.

(clears throat)

We had discussed changing our approach

after I filed the flight plan.

The final decision was made en route to Saturn.

I didn't consider it significant enough to mention here.

I apologize for the confusion, sir.

I should have been more precise.

(audience murmuring)

Did you see Mr. Albert's ship break formation

before it collided with your ship?

No, sir.

My first indications of trouble

were when my proximity alarm went off.

You may be seated.

Did any of you see the collision take place?

No, sir.

Cadet Sito...

you were in the tail position.

Therefore you should have seen any sign of trouble

from Cadet Albert.

And you saw nothing?

That is correct, sir.

Did your attention falter?

No, sir.

I was flying solely on sensor readings at the time.

I did not have any visual contact with Cadet Albert's ship

when he broke formation.

(quietly): Sensor readings?

(agitated murmuring)

What's wrong?

Well, it's unusual to fly on sensors alone

during this type of maneuver.

A pilot relies on visual clues from the other ships

to maintain formation.

(rings bell)

(whispering stops)

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

traveling 80,000 kph

with Cadet Albert's ship less than ten meters away

and you don't know what his orientation was?

I don't remember, sir.

Sir, may I?

BRAND: Go ahead.

Admiral...

(sighs)

Josh was a good pilot

but lately he'd been having difficulties.

He'd get nervous during close flybys

and pull away in the final seconds.

His formation flying was a little erratic.

And you didn't report this to anyone?

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.

BRAND: Then 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 teammate to fly

when you knew he was having difficulties

maintaining formation.

That demonstrates

a serious lack of judgment.

I am also disturbed by the fact

that you did not come forward

with this information immediately.

We should have the first data

from Mr. Crusher's flight recorder tonight.

We will reconvene at 1300 hours tomorrow.

Everything's fine.

Trust me.

LA FORGE: I don't know, Captain.

The academy has one of the best

reconstructive analysis labs in Starfleet.

I'm not sure there's much we could contribute

to the investigation.

Yes, that may well be...

but Wesley's one of our own.

Understood, sir. We'll get right on it.

Good. I've spoken with Admiral Brand, and she's agreed

to allow us access to all

of the physical evidence and testimony.

Thank you, gentlemen.

You shouldn't have said it, Nick.

Josh wasn't responsible for what happened.

I had to do something.

You said that we weren't going to have to lie to them.

We all agreed not to lie to them.

I didn't lie.

Everything I said was the truth.

The accident was not Josh's fault.

Look, he was my friend, too, Wes.

I worked to get him on this team

but the truth is, he panicked.

We don't know that.

Of course, we do.

None of us has wanted to say it out loud

but we've all had the same thought.

Haven't we?

He must have pulled away too soon.

I think he got scared.

Sito?

Wes, I know you want to protect his memory...

we all do...

but we have to look out for ourselves now.

What do you want us to do?

Walk in there and tell them everything that happened?

We might as well turn in our uniforms

and start packing our bags.

Are we ready for that?

We'll take this one step at a time.

This is the preliminary report from your flight recorder.

It was damaged so badly in the crash

that the lab could only retrieve

a third of the total telemetry from the recorder.

And all of it is before the collision.

There's no problem here.

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

SITO: 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, more than any of the rest would understand

what it means to be able to count on someone

'cause you've been out there,

putting yourself on the line.

You know you've got to be able to count

on the people on your team

because your life is in their hands

and their lives are in yours.

We made a promise to each other,

right in the beginning

that we'd stick together.

We were Nova Squadron.

Nobody else could say that.

And even after we graduated

we'd try to get posted on the same duty.

We were going to be a team for a long time.

Josh can't be a part of those plans anymore

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 last month.

He forgot his sweater, so he borrowed one of mine.

He told me you helped him with his classes.

A little.

He only needed help in statistical mechanics.

If Josh had a weakness, it 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 and...

that turned him around.

He stayed after class

got a tutor.

He really worked hard.

He 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...

and everybody could have been killed.

And I want to say that, uh...

I want to say I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that he let you down.

BRAND: Are you ready, Mr. Crusher?

Yes, sir.

This is the beginning of our run toward Titan.

I'm on the right wing.

Where is Mr. Albert at this point?

He was on my port quarter

approximately 50 meters away.

We've just received the signal

to begin the diamond slot formation.

That's Cadet Locarno coming into view now.

We're in a 20-degree turn

around Titan.

We should be coming out of Titan's gravity well about now.

LOCARNO (over com): Okay, people, follow me in.

BRAND: That is the extent of the data

we were able to recover from the flight recorder.

Mr. Crusher,

would you describe what happened

after you left 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.

A power coupling exploded in my cockpit.

I don't know how

but I managed to activate my escape transporter.

And the next thing I remember is finding myself

on the emergency 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, Mr. Crusher.

Before the collision, was Nova Squadron

in a diamond slot formation?

Yes, sir.

Computer, display Saturn NAVCON file

6-379.

These images were obtained

from a navigational control satellite

in orbit around Saturn during a standard sensor sweep.

Computer, freeze image.

Magnify sector Gamma Three

and enhance.

This image was recorded

when your ships moved briefly

into the satellite's sensor 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 okay, Wesley.

There must be an explanation for all of this.

Data and Geordi are already analyzing

the flight recorder and the satellite transmission.

Why?

Well, there must be something wrong with the satellite data.

It might have been tampered with.

Mom...

Well, there must be some explanation for this.

I know you're telling the truth

but the satellite data made it look as if you were lying.

I've spoken with the other parents.

I am going to talk to Admiral Brand

and ask her to delay the inquiry...

Mom.

Don't.

You can't do that.

I'm not going to let them

ruin your career, Wesley.

You haven't done anything wrong.

Mom...

don't try to protect me.

Please stay out of this.

Ah...

the weeds keep popping up

in the pittosporum.

Poor plants don't have a chance to grow.

You could use a good herbicide

instead of pulling the weeds with your bare hands.

Mm-hmm, 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.

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 very proud of them.

Well, the cadets today

are just as proud of the Nova Squadron.

The celebration they held after 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... he watches out for them.

He keeps them together.

Nick is what makes that team special.

He's their coach, surrogate father

and best friend, all in one.

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.

We do know that the collision occurred about four seconds

after the satellite images were recorded.

But we still don't know how the ships got

into the new formation or why the crash occurred.

We unsuccessfully tried

53 different computational models

in an effort to simulate the movements

of the Nova Squadron just prior to the crash.

There are just too many variables to take

into consideration... speed, attitude, course...

Did Wesley's flight recorder indicate

that there was anything unusual

about the ship, or the way it was operating?

Well, the starboard power flow was fluctuating.

However, it was well within operational limits.

LA FORGE: Fluidic pressure in the landing struts was low,

but I don't know what difference that would make.

We did find that Wesley opened his coolant interlock

just before beginning the maneuver around Titan.

That is a bit unusual.

Normally, the interlock is closed

unless you're performing a check on the engine coolant levels.

But there's no evidence that Wesley was performing

that sort of a check.

Filling the primary coolant tanks

requires an open interlock

but that can only be performed at a maintenance bay.

Is there any other reason for opening the valve?

Well, it's the first step in purging the plasma exhaust.

That procedure would be extremely hazardous

while the ship was in flight.

Yeah, the engine would probably ignite the plasma.

Ignite the plasma...

That's exactly what they were trying to do.

(door chimes)

Come.

Captain.

Can you tell me what this maneuver is?

It's a Kolvoord Starburst, sir.

Five ships crossing within ten meters 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 over 100 years.

Do you know why?

It was banned by the academy

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

and 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.

What you neglected to mention was that following the loop

your team attempted a maneuver

that was the direct cause of the crash.

Oh, 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.

A presumptuous child playing on my ship?

But I never forgot how you already knew

every control, every display.

You behaved as though you belonged on the bridge.

And then later, when I decided to make you an acting ensign

I was convinced you could be an outstanding officer.

And I never questioned that conviction...

until now.

The first duty of every Starfleet officer

is to the truth... whether it's scientific truth

or historical truth or personal truth.

It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based.

Now, if you can't find it within yourself

to stand up and tell the truth about what happened

you don't deserve to wear that uniform.

I'm going to make this simple for you, Mr. Crusher.

Either you come forward and tell Admiral Brand

what really took place, or I will.

(whispers): Captain... Dismissed!

(knock on door)

Your message said it was urgent.

They know, Nick.

They know what we did.

Calm down. Calm down.

Now, tell me exactly what happened.

Captain Picard called me onto the Enterprise.

When I got there, he told me that he knows.

The Kolvoord Maneuver, the cover-up, everything.

He said that if I didn't come forward

and tell the truth now, he would.

You said he figured it out. Does he have any evidence?

No, but he knew exactly how it happened.

Captain Picard doesn't know anything.

He has a theory.

So, let him tell the inquiry what he thinks happened.

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

There's no evidence, so there's no case.

We'll get off with a reprimand.

I can't call Captain Picard a liar.

Wesley...

We have to hang on just a little bit longer.

Then this will all be over.

It's wrong, Nick.

Wesley...

No.

I'm going to tell them what happened.

You're going to tell them what happened?

You...

Alone...

Are going to decide what happens to me

to Sito, to Jean?

You're going to decide that?

I'm not going to 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 what happened.

Who the hell are you?

Nick!

You're going to turn us in!

Now, wait a minute...

No, you wait a minute!

He got to you, didn't he?

Picard told you some big story about duty and honor.

Well, it must have been a pretty 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 there were upperclassmen

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."

Well, I guess I was wrong.

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

We don't want to come forward.

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

But, if you do, then 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 it's more important than me.

And if I were in your place

I'd do it, without hesitation.

But that's me.

BRAND: Captain Satelk and I

have gone over your testimony

and the physical evidence from the crash.

Your statements cannot be reconciled

with the data collected 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 was having 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.

(bell rings)

Sir?

I would like to add something to my testimony.

Proceed, Mr. Crusher.

Yesterday, I testified

that the crash occurred following a Yeager Loop.

That is not entirely true.

We performed a loop,

and afterwards broke formation

and attempted a Kolvoord Starburst.

(audience murmuring)

We knew it was prohibited.

We knew it was dangerous

but we wanted to do something spectacular

for the commencement 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 have expelled all of us.

They very nearly did.

Mr. Locarno made an impassioned plea

for the rest of you.

He said that he'd used his influence as squadron leader

to convince you to attempt the Kolvoord Maneuver

and then 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 has decided

that in addition to a formal reprimand

your academic credits for the past year

will be canceled

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.

Good-bye, Cadet.

Good-bye, Captain.

♪♪