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Episodes can contain a message. Star Trek, at its heart, is largely about a message of tolerance and equality. That said… you still need to tell a story. When aliens contact the Enterprise with news that warp drive can damage the fabric of space, Data saves the day by playing with his cat! Joe returns to discuss climate change brunches, killing yourself for no reason, and bad comedy. Force of Nature!
The Wikipedia plot summary for “Force of Nature”:
The Federation starship USS Enterprise is sent to the Hekaras Corridor, the only safe path through the sector, to investigate the disappearance of the medical ship USS Fleming. In the process they find a Ferengi ship, which is badly disabled. The Ferengi leader contends a Federation weapon disabled his ship.
The Enterprise crew learns that Hekaran brother and sister, Rabal and Serova, are responsible for sabotaging the ships by using ship-disabling mines disguised as signal buoys. These siblings contend that sustained warp drive is destroying the fabric of space near their homeworld, and will eventually destroy their planet. Data determines that the research has merit, but requires more study. Picard requests a more thorough investigation from the Federation Science Council.
However, Serova is not willing to wait for any more studies. In order to prove her theory, she causes a warp breach in her ship, killing herself in the process. A rift is formed, and the Fleming becomes trapped in the damaged space. The Enterprise crew manages to find a way to “surf” through the rift without using warp drive within it by initiating a short warp jump at maximum speed, then beams up the Fleming crew and escapes by “riding” the disruption waves produced by the rift.
Later, the Federation Council issues a new directive limiting all Federation vessels to a speed of warp five except in extreme emergencies. In addition, they have informed every known species capable of warp travel of the newly discovered dangers of its use. Worf asserts that the Klingon Empire will agree to the limitations, but it is uncertain whether the Romulan Star Empire, Ferengi Alliance, and Cardassian Union would also follow suit.
You can find “Force of Nature”, and every other episode of the show, at ThePenskyPodcast.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @ThatPenskyFile!