Synopsis: When the Enterprise is struck by a quantum filament, the vessel is damaged, and all the senior officers are cut off from the bridge, except for Counselor Troi, who takes command.
This episode can be seen as an illustration of what happens when the preferred functions of the psyche are unavailable, and an individual must use one’s inferior functions to survive. In this episode, several of the officers are put in this position.
In “Disaster” Captain Jean-Luc Picard is injured and stranded in a turbolift, Commander William Riker, Lt. Commander Data, and Lt. Worf are in Ten Forward when the Enterprise becomes disabled. The individual in charge on duty on the bridge is killed during this event, and Chief Miles O’Brien points out to Ensign Ro Laren that although she has little command experience, Counsel Deanna Troi holds the rank of Lt. Commander, and is therefore in command of the ship.
Like Picard, faced with the disaster that is before her, Troi immediately asks for suggestions, and takes the advice of her officers. Also, like Picard, while Troi is in command she has the final say and demands the respect she is due. She also relies on the ingenuity of her officers. Although command is not Troi’s primary function, her training prepared her to make the necessary decisions to save the ship.
Picard, for his part, while notably uncomfortable with children, is in caught in a turbolift with three of them, all of which begin to cry. And while Picard does not pride himself on being a parent, he rose to the occasion of inspiring the trust of three, which led to them all working together to escape the turbolift.
When Riker and Data depart Ten Forward to try to make their way to engineering, they leave Worf in charge of the wounded, and with O’Brien’s wife who is about to give birth. While Worf is trained warrior, he also has the capacity to care for the injured and assists Keiko with the delivery of her daughter.
All of these officers were forced into uncomfortable situations, and because of it, their abilities grew. This is what also happens to us in real life.
Original post created 28 September 2021
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