In the Star Trek pilot episode The Cage, Captain Christopher Pike has been captured by the Talosians. The landing party beam back up to the Enterprise, where Number One, Pike’s second-in-command, calls a conference in the briefing room.
The Talosians looked into their minds, and thus created the perfect illusions: crash survivors eking out a meager existence in a rudimentary camp. After further study, the Enterprise crew realize that without more vegetation and animal life, the planet would have been too barren to support the lives of the aging scientists for eighteen years.
While one crewman insists that Pike is in danger and they must rescue him immediately, Dr. Phil, the ship’s chief medical officer, feels caution is warranted. The Talosians are capable of generating more illusions. If another landing party beams down, how can they be certain of anything they see or do? Mr. Spock, as science officer, is even more hesitant. He reminds them that a Talosian brain is three times as large as a human’s. He warns that if they start buzzing about down there, the Talosians might not just attack the landing party, but could swat the Enterprise as if it were a fly.
The first crewman’s assertions, that Pike is in danger and in need of rescue, cannot be verified. As Mr. Spock says, the Talosians may only wish to study him. On the other hand, Dr. Phil and Mr. Spock offer evidence to support their positions: the Talosians lured the Enterprise here, and generated illusions that the landing party could not only see, but believed they could touch and feel. No doubt both men would feel comfortable spending more time in deliberation, before any decision is made that will place the crew or the ship in danger.
The deaths and injuries suffered on Rigel 7 are still fresh in everyone’s mind. Should Number One place in jeopardy not only another landing party, but the lives of all aboard the Enterprise? Or might further study of the planet yield other, safer options? Ultimately, Number One decides to beam down another landing party. They will use the ship’s power to blast through the door leading to the Talosians’ underground city.
It’s never easy to select a course of action, and sifting through all available facts is always wise. But history is not written by those who merely sit back and analyze, nor are dreams realized by those who merely contemplate desired achievements. There is a difference between waiting a reasonable amount of time to gather necessary facts, and merely procrastinating. What dilemma are you currently facing? Are you waiting to gather all the pertinent facts, or merely putting off making a painful choice?
The Talosians looked into their minds, and thus created the perfect illusions: crash survivors eking out a meager existence in a rudimentary camp. After further study, the Enterprise crew realize that without more vegetation and animal life, the planet would have been too barren to support the lives of the aging scientists for eighteen years.
While one crewman insists that Pike is in danger and they must rescue him immediately, Dr. Phil, the ship’s chief medical officer, feels caution is warranted. The Talosians are capable of generating more illusions. If another landing party beams down, how can they be certain of anything they see or do? Mr. Spock, as science officer, is even more hesitant. He reminds them that a Talosian brain is three times as large as a human’s. He warns that if they start buzzing about down there, the Talosians might not just attack the landing party, but could swat the Enterprise as if it were a fly.
The first crewman’s assertions, that Pike is in danger and in need of rescue, cannot be verified. As Mr. Spock says, the Talosians may only wish to study him. On the other hand, Dr. Phil and Mr. Spock offer evidence to support their positions: the Talosians lured the Enterprise here, and generated illusions that the landing party could not only see, but believed they could touch and feel. No doubt both men would feel comfortable spending more time in deliberation, before any decision is made that will place the crew or the ship in danger.
The deaths and injuries suffered on Rigel 7 are still fresh in everyone’s mind. Should Number One place in jeopardy not only another landing party, but the lives of all aboard the Enterprise? Or might further study of the planet yield other, safer options? Ultimately, Number One decides to beam down another landing party. They will use the ship’s power to blast through the door leading to the Talosians’ underground city.
It’s never easy to select a course of action, and sifting through all available facts is always wise. But history is not written by those who merely sit back and analyze, nor are dreams realized by those who merely contemplate desired achievements. There is a difference between waiting a reasonable amount of time to gather necessary facts, and merely procrastinating. What dilemma are you currently facing? Are you waiting to gather all the pertinent facts, or merely putting off making a painful choice?
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