Who Watches the Watchers Line-by-Line

[Hopeful Romantic]

NURIA: I am unwilling to hurt her needlessly. We will wait for Hali to return.

 

[Orac]

Oji: And if they don't find Palmer?

 

[May 20]

NURIA: Then we may have to do as Liko suggests.

 

[Orac]

[Meanwhile in the Enterprise Observation lounge]

Picard: Doctor, you believe the Mintakans are capable of harming Counsellor Troi?

 

[May 20]

BARRON: They are not normally a violent people but these are extraordinary circumstances. They're trying to comprehend what they believe to be a god.

 

[Orac]

Picard: Recommendations?

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

(Well, Captain, you asked for it.)

BARRON: The Mintakans wish to please the Overseer, but they can only guess what he wants. They need a sign.

 

[May 20]

PICARD: Are you suggesting?

(This is nuts.)

 

[Kertrats47]

BARRON: You must go down to Mintaka III.

 

[Orac]

Number 1: Masquerading as a god?

 

[May 20]

PICARD: Absolutely out of the question. The Prime Directive...

 

[Orac]

Barron: Has already been violated. The damage is done. All we can do now is minimise it.

 

[May 20]

PICARD: By sanctioning their false beliefs?

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

BARRON: By giving them guidelines. Letting them know what the Overseer expects of them.

(Picard silently curses Kirk for setting that damn precedent on the Chigaco mobsters planet)

 

[Orac]

Picard: Doctor Barron, I cannot, I will not, impose a set of commandments on these people. To do so violates the very essence of the Prime Directive.

 

[May 20]

Like it or not, we have rekindled the Mintakans' belief in the Overseer.

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

RIKER: And are you saying that this belief will eventually become a religion?

 

[May 20]

BARRON: It's inevitable. And without guidance, that religion could degenerate into inquisitions, holy wars, chaos.

 

[Athena28]

PICARD: Horrifying. Doctor Barron, your report describes how rational these people are. Millennia ago, they abandoned their belief in the supernatural. Now you are asking me to sabotage that achievement, to send them back into the Dark Ages of superstition and ignorance and fear? No! We will find some way to undo the damage we've caused. Number One, tell me about this group's leader.

 

[May 20]

RIKER: Nuria. Exceptionally clear-minded, sensible. The Mintakans trust her judgment. If we can convince her that you are not a god...