Nhan and the Seed Vault

[Dryson]

Isn't it odd that Captain Saru simply let Nhan, leave the crew of the Discovery given the fact that she is the Security Chief of the Discovery?

Nhan also playedplayed coy with her intelligence hologram which makes her more valuable that Captain Saru, given the fact that she might know of ways to get through the Sphere's firewall.

Something tells me that leaving Nhan in the Seed Vault really wasn't the brightest and smartest thing to do. Definitely something that Mariner would do without even thinking twice about it, but Burnham?

Did Michael Burnham make another drastic mistake that could cost lives in the future?

 

[Lord Garth]

I don't know what to make of it. I figure that Vance will give the Discovery additional crew. But I also feel like since Nhan wasn't killed off, she'll eventually find her way back to Discovery. The actress doesn't strike me as someone who wanted off the show.

 

[plynch]

We needed a big crying scene. Hadn't had one yet. Even though MB hardly knew Nhan. And was better at talking to her species somehow.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Isn't it odd that Captain Saru simply let Nhan, leave the crew of the Discovery given the fact that she is the Security Chief of the Discovery?

Not really.

Did Michael Burnham make another drastic mistake that could cost lives in the future?

Probably not.

We needed a big crying scene. Hadn't had one yet. Even though MB hardly knew Nhan. And was better at talking to her species somehow.

You've never bonded with a person or group of people in a short time? Especially under harsh conditions? Happens in war, as I understand it.
Not being a member of the species was the point. Nhan couldn't be objective.

 

[fireproof78]

You've never bonded a person or group of people in a short time? Especially under harsh conditions? Happens in war, as I understand it.

It's happened to me doing residencies with other counseling students. Training to deal with trauma is not kind to people. I have experienced deeper moments in 6 days with people I just met then some of my friends.

No, it's not war, so I can only imagine the intensity for Discovery's crew.

I get that emotions are not for everyone but there are reasons why people react the way that they do and not just for drama.

 

[Cyrus]

Isn't it odd that Captain Saru simply let Nhan, leave the crew of the Discovery given the fact that she is the Security Chief of the Discovery?

Captain Saru wasn't there.

 

[Blue Squadron]

There were a few factors leading to Nhan’s decision to stay:

The Federation clearly needs someone to look after the seed vault ship, the Tikhov.

(Why the precious seed vault is randomly out in space and why there is only one of them is another of those Trek plot-device things that we’ll just have to gloss over...)

Dr Attis, the assigned botanist clearly wasn’t up to the task after such a profound personal tragedy.

Naha is there and already present on the ship; Saru wasn’t there and Burnham has a tight timescale to get back to SF HQ.

Nhan would like to honour her culture and do the right thing by Dr Attis’ family. She would also like to go home again, something she never thought she would be able to do.

Therefore, she chooses to stay and Burnham is happy to let her do so.

From a production point of view, it made for a strong, emotional episode. They certainly haven’t killed-off the character so I’m sure that Rachel Ancheril and Commander Nhan will be back later in the season. She’s only really a stop-gap on the Tikhov until someone more appropriate can be assigned to the role (and is able to rendezvous with the ship).

It made for a good episode with some nice character moments. Was it perfect? Were there some potential plot holes? Yes, of course! It’s Trek for goodness sake...!

All told, however, I thought it was pretty well done and I’m certainly not going to read too much else into it at this point.

 

[Blue Squadron]

There’s one other thing about Commander Nhan that really ought to be important within Trek lore, even to the 32nd Century version of Starfleet:

She was one of Christopher Pike’s senior officers aboard Enterprise, NCC-1701...!

That ought to be somewhere close to finding something like one of the Argonauts that sailed with Jason or a senior officer from Columbus’ Santa Maria aboard an old wooden ship that mysteriously sailed out of the West and docked in Spain!

 

[Timo]

The Federation clearly needs someone to look after the seed vault ship, the Tikhov.

...And is in the habit of sending folks already, by "conventional" means. The Discovery makes that easier, but she would need to make another round trip if she didn't donate one of her own crew here.

(Why the precious seed vault is randomly out in space and why there is only one of them is another of those Trek plot-device things that we’ll just have to gloss over...)

All we learn is that the ship is the most convenient source for the seeds. Other vaults may well exist on planets that are too far away or refuse to speak with Starfleet.

From a production point of view, it made for a strong, emotional episode. They certainly haven’t killed-off the character so I’m sure that Rachel Ancheril and Commander Nhan will be back later in the season. She’s only really a stop-gap on the Tikhov until someone more appropriate can be assigned to the role (and is able to rendezvous with the ship).

Possibly the ship will also need to return to base for repairs after the radiation damage, at her own sedate pace which may amount to more than the five months a regular starship would need to access the seeds.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

The Federation clearly needs someone to look after the seed vault ship, the Tikhov.

Ya that's how I saw it. That scientist had cracked so he couldn't be trusted

 

[Timo]

OTOH, Starfleet would already know who the successor should be - the switchover was only four months in the future, after all.

Also, it takes five months to get to the seeds by the means available to Vance. So presumably the change of guard was going to be conducted through a procedure that is already underway! Perhaps there's a ship sailing there that carries the next family. Perhaps the seed ship was supposed to sail to a specific port to get the new family. Either way, things are already in motion to oust Nhan from the seat she usurped, unless the heroes somehow convinced Vance to halt those.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Blue Squadron]

Timo, as ever, very sensible thoughts.

I guess the main idea here is that Nhan is really only there for dramatic purposes; in practice, she’s essentially just a stop-gap until properly qualified replacements can be assigned (or arrive, if already assigned). After all, she’s a security officer, not a botanist or an engineer. Equally, her staying to see to the final journey of Dr Attis’ family (and to make a trip home) is also just a nice bit of emotional drama. The timescales involved in her separation from Discovery are all just a result of their problems with access to FTL travel, it’s not like she’s going on some doomed pre-destined quest, never to be seen again (although it is played a little like that...!).

There is, of course, nothing to say that Disco couldn’t (a) pick up her replacements and take them there or (b) go and collect her once she’s done what she wanted and taken Attis’ family home. The flip side, of course, is that would likely be seen as a fairly frivolous set of journeys for a ship that might just be a precious ace-in-the-hole for Admiral Vance. Nhan could undoubtedly make it back without Discovery’s help, it would just take a heck of a lot longer...!

 

[eschaton]

The scene made no sense in any way.

I mean, consider the following:

• The Tikov was tiny, and Discovery could easily tow it. Couldn't they just spore-jump it back to Starfleet HQ?
• Even if for some reason they could not carry it, why not just tow it to a safe spot and come back like a few hours later?
• Wouldn't Nhan want to go back to the ship and pay her respects first? Or at least pick up her stuff from her quarters?

To me, it seems like there was probably a more elaborate setup for the scenario which was either cut from the script or cut after filming.

 

[plynch]

I get that emotions are not for everyone but there are reasons why people react the way that they do and not just for drama.

I always enjoy your thoughtful posts, though we have often differing views. I simply perceive that the writers or showrunners have a desire/need to insert heartfelt weeping a lot. I was really liking Burnham more and not disliking DSC until the past two eps. Truly. It is bad for my soul to keep carping.

My post was unnecessarily snarky, though others smarter than I have pointed out the illogic in Nhan as choice.

Peace and love to all. And hopefully little that provokes weeping today, though I do admit it is good for the soul occasionally!

 

[Timo]

The Tikov was tiny, and Discovery could easily tow it. Couldn't they just spore-jump it back to Starfleet HQ?

Now that's interesting - can the ship co-jump things that aren't inside the hull? And if not, why not?

But it's impossible to stow anything larger than a suitcase aboard the Discovery nowadays. Have you taken a look inside the supposed shuttlebay? The one shuttle is buried in a pile of containers, the turntable-elevator won't turn or elevate, and Book had to crush his ship before managing to squeeze it inside, nevertheless making one of those container piles disappear in the process.

However, deep down, why would they want to have the seed ship at SF HQ? They only want the specific seeds: the very mission of the ship is to Be Somewhere Else, to keep the seeds out of harm's way.

Even if for some reason they could not carry it, why not just tow it to a safe spot and come back like a few hours later?

...It presumably is in a safe spot already. But coming back is something they can't bet on: Admiral Vance might decide to have them beheaded or something.

Wouldn't Nhan want to go back to the ship and pay her respects first? Or at least pick up her stuff from her quarters?

She's used to poverty. Imagine no possessions. I don't doubt she can.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Phily B]

For some reason, Saru wasn't there and Burnham was in command. Don't worry, I'm sure she'll get another dressing down that she'll completely ignore though.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

Wouldn't Nhan want to go back to the ship and pay her respects first? Or at least pick up her stuff from her quarters?

She said goodbye to the only one that matters

 

[eschaton]

The worst part about how it ended, is it could have all been fixed by one inclusion. Culber could have indicated that whatever damage was done to the father, it was easily treatable - he was just refusing to leave the ship. Then Nhan staying behind would make sense, because someone needed to tend to him and the ship. But the way they ended it, it made it sound like he'd just die in a few hours due to lack of medical attention and that's it.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The Tikov was tiny, and Discovery could easily tow it. Couldn't they just spore-jump it back to Starfleet HQ

That wasn't the mission.

Even if for some reason they could not carry it, why not just tow it to a safe spot and come back like a few hours later

That wasnt the mission either.

Wouldn't Nhan want to go back to the ship and pay her respects first? Or at least pick up her stuff from her quarters

What would be the point of showing that? The same beat is shown in the scene between Michael and Nhan.

 

[eschaton]

That wasn't the mission.

That wasnt the mission either.

I doubt the Federation wants a nearly 1,000 year-old seed bank lost when actions could be taken to save it. Though I'm really not clear on why it would have been a goner if they left it there for someone else to pick up in five months or whatever.

What would be the point of showing that? The same beat is shown in the scene between Michael and Nhan.

I'm not sure it needs to be shown or not. Nhan has had some level of weird rapport with Georgiou, and if she beamed back to the ship to get her shit, they could have one final interaction together.

Though, honestly, I don't know if Georgiou stayed behind at Starfleet HQ for the whole adventure or not. Clearly Michael didn't see her until the end of the episode.