Stardate 58256.2: The Cerritos arrives at Jengus IV to resolve a conflict between a civilian Federation research team and the indigenous rock creatures, the Scrubble. A team from the Cerritos, consisting of Boimler, Mariner and Rutherford, is to clear the planet of psychic mines that bring a person's dreams to life and that may turn that person into stone if not handled with care. Three ensigns from the sister ship Carlsbad are tasked with dismantling the Federation outpost that needs to be moved. They let the Cerritos ensigns know that their reputation proceeds them, upon which our trio speed up their work in order not to appear like losers. Lieutenant Commander Stevens notices how Mariner dunks the mines like basketballs. He tells her to be more careful, upon which she says she is just trying to beat the Carlsbad crew, thereby defending Commander Ransom's honor. Stevens's own efforts to help them leads to mines getting smashed, upon which they create nightmares and he himself gets petrified. Meanwhile on the Cerritos, Tendi begins her advanced science training. Her mentor turns out to be Dr. Migleemo, who tells her to join a meeting of Captain Freeman with the aliens and the scientists. But Tendi gets ignored. When the Scrubble presents a piece of rock as a gift to Freeman, the captain insists on passing it on to Captain Maier of the Carlsbad, who refuses. They keep arguing over the trinket to everyone else's chagrin. On the planet, the six ensigns find shelter in a cave. It turns out that the crew of the Carlsbad actually admire the Cerritos ensigns because of their cool adventures. Soon they notice inconsistencies in the creations of the mines that are neither dreams nor nightmares but must be based on other data. They trace a huge data stream to a chamber full of Federation technology. On the ship, Tendi seeks T'Ana's advice, who tells her that she should not be afraid of screwing up if she wants to achieve her goals. Back in the meeting, Freeman and Maier are still arguing. Tendi takes the rock and smashes it, revealing a listening device inside. The scientists and the Scrubble were actually working together, with the goal to collect sensitive data on Starfleet and sell it on the black market.

• E02 Previous
• E04 Next