Synopsis: When Ensign Marriot disrespects Captain Freeman, Freeman tries different ways to deal with the situation.
This episode can be seen an illustration of Carl (C. G.) Jung called inflation, which is when the conscious ego identified too closely or too long with the god-like power of an archetype.
“Moist Vessel” begins with Captain Carol Freeman recording an entry into her Captain’s Log, detailing the next assignment of the U.S.S. Cerritos as being a joint mission with the U.S.S. Merced, to safely tow a generation ship containing a terraforming liquid to where it can be safely examined. During the staff briefing, Ensign Beckett Mariner yawns repeatedly, which Freeman feels is disrespectful. Commander Jack Ransom suggest to Freeman that if she assigns Mariner the worst assignments on the vessel, then Mariner will ask for a transfer. But when Freeman follows his suggestion, Mariner is able to find joy in her lowly tasks. Freeman then tries the opposite tact, she promotes Mariner to the rank of lieutenant. Meanwhile, aboard the Merced, her commander, Captain Durango decides to show up the Cerritos, and when the Merced gets too close to the generation ship, the generation ship’s hull ruptures and terraforming liquid spurts out, transforms the Merced, and nearly destroys Cerritos as well. However, some quick thinking on Mariner’s part saves the ship. When Admiral Vassery boards Cerritos to congratulate Mariner and Freeman, Mariner manages to disrespect Vassery and is reduced in rank back to ensign.
In this episode, when Durango decides that his vessel needs to get closer to the generational ship to show the Cerritos crew who is in charge, this can be compared to when the conscious ego believes it is strong enough to run the psyche by itself and dismisses the existence of the unconscious. Carl (C. G.) Jung called this inflation. And while the ego does need to identify with archetypal power to some degree in order for movement or change to occur, when the identification is too great or lasts for too long a period of time, then just as here for the crew of the Merced, there can be disastrous results.
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