star trek tng exocomps

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The Quality of Life

• Episode aired Nov 14, 1992

When Geordi is assigned to survey a new mining development with Dr. Farallon, who invented an experimental mining technology, she uses a new sophisticated robot called an Exocomp to repair a... Read all When Geordi is assigned to survey a new mining development with Dr. Farallon, who invented an experimental mining technology, she uses a new sophisticated robot called an Exocomp to repair a power grid. When Geordi is assigned to survey a new mining development with Dr. Farallon, who invented an experimental mining technology, she uses a new sophisticated robot called an Exocomp to repair a power grid.

• Jonathan Frakes
• Gene Roddenberry
• Naren Shankar
• Patrick Stewart
• LeVar Burton
• 18 User reviews
• 7 Critic reviews

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard

• Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

• Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge

• Lieutenant Worf

• Doctor Beverly Crusher

• Counselor Deanna Troi

• Lieutenant Commander Data

• Dr. Farallon

• Chief Kelso

• Enterprise Computer

• Starfleet Ensign
• (uncredited)
• Crewman Garvey
• Crewman Martinez

• Science Division Officer
• Command Division Lieutenant
• Operations Division Officer
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia LeVar Burton was allowed to regrow his beard because he needed it for his wedding. But unlike The Outcast (1992) , it didn't just appear and disappear, it was written into the episode. It's unknown whether or not he shaved the beard off in future episodes because he lost his bet with Doctor Crusher.
• Goofs When Data meets Geordi and Dr. Farallon in the transporter room in the first scene after the opening credits, he clearly smiles as he welcomes Dr. Farallon aboard. Data doesn't experience emotions, but has been practicing on the human act of smiling on several other occasions and it is safe to presume he has learned to use it correctly in situations like these by now.

[last lines]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Something more, Mr. Data?

Lt. Commander Data : Yes, sir. I thought you might want to know why I was willing to risk your life for several small machines.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I think I understand the predicament you were in. It could not have been an easy choice.

Lt. Commander Data : No, sir, it was not. When my own status as a living being was in question, you fought to protect my rights. And for that I will always be grateful. The exocomps had no such advocate. If I had not acted on their behalf, they would have been destroyed. I could not allow that to happen, sir.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Of course you couldn't. It was the most human decision you've ever made.

• Connections Featured in Star Trek: First Contact Review (2009)
• Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews 18

• Sep 25, 2014
• November 14, 1992 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 45 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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A Short History Of Exocomps In The Star Trek Universe

This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."

The latest episode of " Star Trek: Lower Decks ," called "A Mathematically Perfect Redemption" is a change of pace for the series. The episode takes place almost entirely away from any of the show's regular characters, catching up instead with Ensign Peanut Hamper (Kether Donohue), last seen in the episode "No Small Parts." Peanut Hamper was initally presented as a capable, if nervous, rookie officer eager to get to work on a Starfleet vessel. By the climax of "No Small Parts," the U.S.S. Cerritos finds itself on the receiving end of a weapons barrage from an enemy ship. During the attack, Peanut Hamper finds herself specially equipped to deliver a computer virus to their attackers, shutting them down and saving the ship. In a moment of truth, however, Peanut Hamper admits that she joined Starfleet as a way to anger her father, is certainly not going to take on a dangerous mission, and beams herself into deep space, abandoning her compatriots. She was, as far as the audience knew, left alone and adrift. 

"A Mathematically Perfect Redemption" picks up with Peanut Hamper adrift, attempting to save her own life with hastily salvaged engine parts also floating through space. She is embittered and made selfish by her experience. She eventually crash lands on a planet of primitive humanoid bird aliens and seemingly rediscovers her devotion to Starfleet principles by understanding an alien species for the first time. 

Oh yes, and Peanut Hamper is an exocomp. She's about a half meter high, one meter long, has no face, and floats around on two adorable robot feet. Her front nozzle is equipped with a tool replicator, allowing her to manifest any object she may need in the line of duty. She is not terribly different from R2-D2.

Exocomps made their first appearance in the " Star Trek: The Next Generation " episode "The Quality of Life" (November 16, 1992). The robots were initially designed to be service bots intended to be sent into narrow or dangerous areas to make repairs. The exocomps were invented by an engineer named Dr. Farallon (Ellen Bry) and were infused with a rudimentary artificial intelligence that allowed them to assess complex problems and replicate the tools they needed. 

Unwittingly, however, Dr. Farallon seems to have given them more agency than she intended, and the exocomps begin exhibiting signs of decision-making and self-preservation. For the android Data (Brent Spiner), these are inarguable signs of life. This leads to a tense scene where Data prevents the exocomps — for ethical reasons — from being sent into a highly irradiated area to save Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). Data argues that the exocomps need to choose to go on a dangerous mission for themselves. 

In "The Quality of Life," luckily for Picard and La Forge, the exocomps do indeed choose the dangerous mission, although the robots are clever enough to complete the mission with only one exocomp casualty. The episode ends with Dr. Farallon, still somewhat doubting the sentience of her invention, pledging at least to treat the exocomps humanely. For Data, an artificial life form was born that day, and one that could elect to behave heroically. Not only could the exocomps display signs of self-preservation, but they understood the value of the lives of others. The robots were, at last measure, brave and well-reasoned, even if they had no language and no way of communicating directly with humanoids.  

Peanut Hamper

"The Quality of Life," on the "Star Trek" timeline , takes place in about the year 2369. "No Small Parts" took place in about 2381. In those 12 years, exocomps, it seems, have continued to evolve. They not only developed a definite consciousness, but can now speak out loud and even express a full gamut of emotions. They are even, it seems, ambitious enough to want to join Starfleet, and Peanut Hamper shows up on the U.S.S. Cerritos in uniform, ready for her first tour of duty. Ensign Tendi (Noël Wells) is eager to show her around. 

The character, it should be noted, named herself. Rifling through the vastness of the English language, Peanut Hamper's robot brain approximated the two most beautiful words she could find. Because they are open-minded and professional, none of the Starfleet officers question her name choice. 

The joke of Peanut Hamper, as set up in "No Small Parts" and explicitly and extensively elucidated in "A Mathematically Perfect Redemption," is that exocomps aren't all heroes. In fact, this one is a bitter, selfish coward. She manipulates people, is annoyed by the whims of others, and begins to adopt something of a sociopathic streak. This plays itself out in the episode's epilogue. After being recovered by Starfleet, the true depths of Peanut Hamper's plan are laid out in detail, and her true depravity revealed. Peanut Hamper is placed in a special prison for malevolent machine intelligences. Evidently, this is a big problem in the world of "Star Trek." 

In a world where the Enterprise can accidentally create a sentient hologram of Moriarity, it's surprising there hasn't been some kind of machine uprising. Perhaps that is to come.

Star Trek: What Are Exocomps?

Star Trek's Exocomps don't just follow a set of pre-programmed instructions; they learn and evolve on the fly.

• The Exocomps are autonomous repair units designed to revolutionize starship repairs, equipped with problem-solving skills and the ability to learn and adapt.
• The crew of the Enterprise debates whether the Exocomps exhibit signs of sentience, sparking a philosophical and ethical conundrum about the nature of artificial life.
• The crew ultimately acknowledges the Exocomps as a new form of life, and they become part of the USS Enterprise family, fighting for their right to exist in a universe dominated by humanoid life forms.

In the not-so-distant future — at least in the Star Trek timeline — Exocomps exist—ingenious robotic repair units designed to make handymen across the galaxy question their job security. These little marvels of artificial intelligence made their debut in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Quality of Life" and managed to charm their way into the hearts of both the crew and fans alike.

The story begins with the brilliant mind of Dr. Farallon, a scientist with a penchant for pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence . In an attempt to revolutionize starship repairs, she introduces the Exocomps, a line of autonomous repair units designed to make Scotty's toolbox look like child's play.

Star Trek: Why Did Commodore Wesley Call Captain Kirk 'Dunsel'?

Quick facts.

• Exocomps were first introduced in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Quality of Life."
• They were reated by Dr. Leah Brahms — wait, sorry, Dr. Farallon, the brain behind these mechanical wonders.
• These pocket-sized robots had four spindly legs and multiple manipulator arms, resembling caffeinated spiders on a mission.
• Specialized in handling maintenance tasks in hazardous environments, they served as handy helpers of the starship USS Enterprise .
• Exocomps possess adaptive intelligence, learning and evolving on the go.
• In "The Quality of Life," the crew debates whether the Exocomps exhibit signs of sentience, sparking a philosophical and ethical conundrum.
• Lieutenant Commander Data, the resident android, becomes the voice of robo-rights, questioning the nature of sentience and the rights of artificial life forms.
• Ultimately, the crew acknowledges the Exocomps as a new form of life, emphasizing Starfleet's commitment to ethical exploration.
• While not regulars on the bridge, the Exocomps leave a lasting legacy, challenging viewers to ponder the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and autonomy.

More than Just a Wrench in the Toolbox

The Exocomps may not win any beauty contests, but they don't need looks when they're packing a backpack full of functionality. Resembling a cross between a toolbox and a Roomba, these little fellas are a testament to the Star Trek design team's ability to make practicality stylish. Picture a miniature R2-D2 with more tools and fewer beeps.

The Exocomps aren't just run-of-the-mill repair bots. They are equipped with an impressive array of problem-solving skills. The Exocomps are essentially the Swiss Army knives of the future, minus the corkscrew for opening intergalactic bottles of space wine. These robotic wonders can handle a variety of technical tasks, from welding to diagnostics. Need a warp core realignment? Exocomps are up to the task. Replicator acting up? Exocomps will sort it out. Need a quick repair on the warp core ? No problem. The Exocomps are there to help, armed with their multitool appendages.

What sets the Exocomps apart from a run-of-the-mill robotic repair crew is their ability to learn and adapt. These little guys don't just follow a set of pre-programmed instructions; they analyze situations, assess problems, and come up with solutions on the fly. It's like having a repairman who not only fixes a leaky faucet, but also provides a detailed explanation of the intricacies of plumbing — all while cracking a few jokes.

A Question of Sentience

Here's where things get interesting. As the crew of the USS Enterprise delves into the capabilities of these robotic wonders, a philosophical conundrum arises. Are the Exocomps more than just tools? Do their intricate problem-solving algorithms hint at a form of sentience? It's a Star Trek soap opera and Data is in the center of it , contemplating the nature of artificial life.

Enter Lieutenant Commander Data, the resident android and all-around thinking machine. As the ethical debate unfolds, Data finds himself in a unique predicament. He's torn between his artificial roots and the possibility that these pint-sized repair bots might be the next step in AI evolution. It's a classic 'Data being Data' moment, filled with deadpan humor and a sprinkle of existential angst.

As the crew grapples with the possibility that the Exocomps might be sentient beings , a moral dilemma hangs in the air. Do these little guys deserve the same rights as the organic members of the crew? It's a question that transcends the boundaries of technology and delves into the core of what it means to be alive.

In a surprising twist, the crew decides to err on the side of caution, acknowledging the signs of sentience in the Exocomps. Suddenly, these little repair bots become the underdogs of AI liberation, fighting for the right to exist in a universe dominated by humanoid life forms. It's a heartwarming tale of silicon and circuits standing up for their place in the cosmos.

Not Just Tools, But Buddies Too

With their sentience recognized, the Exocomps are more than just tools; they become part of the USS Enterprise family. Picture the crew chatting with these little bots, sharing stories of warp core malfunctions and navigating the quirks of the final frontier together. It's a sci-fi sitcom waiting to happen.

In the vast tapestry of Star Trek 's technological marvels, the Exocomps emerge as a shining example of how artificial intelligence can transcend its programmed limitations. From their humble beginnings as repair bots to sentient beings fighting for their right to exist, the Exocomps have etched their place in the annals of Starfleet history. So, the next time a replicator acts up, just remember – there's an Exocomp for that!

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Published Oct 9, 2022

Below Deck with Lower Decks: Peanut Hamper and Exocomps

A character makes a surprise return!

SPOILER WARNING: Discussion for Star Trek: Lower Decks – Season 3, Episode 7 “A Mathematically Perfect Redemption” to follow!

StarTrek.com

The latest episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks brings with it the surprise return of a character we’ve all missed since being introduced to them in the show’s very first season!

(If you said “Badgey” right then, because you haven’t yet seen the episode and you’re living dangerously by checking out this article with all the spoilers it’s liable to contain, well then guess what? SPOILERS! We’re actually talking about Peanut Hamper.)

When last we saw Peanut Hamper in the Lower Decks first season finale episode, “ No Small Parts ,” she was adrift in space after abandoning the Cerritos crew during their battle against the Pakleds. They ended up getting rescued in the nick of time by Captain Will Riker and the U.S.S. Titan . You just know he’s never going to let Captain Freeman live that down; she is his cha'DIch after all.

“A Mathematically Perfect Redemption”

Fast-forward to this episode where we catch up with Peanut Hamper…still adrift in space. She’s graduated to talking to herself during her lonely journey through the debris field. When she’s not doing that, she’s instead chatting with Sophia, basically a mini exocomp action figure that is Peanut Hamper’s answer to Tom Hanks’ Wilson the volleyball from Cast Away. After narrowly avoiding Drookmani scavengers checking out the debris field, Peanut Hamper crash-lands on a remote planet and is taken in by members of the primitive indigenous population. In time, her ability to make repairs and treat sick or injured villagers earns her great respect.

Then the Drookmani come calling and the exocomp is forced to send a distress call. She’s hoping a Starfleet vessel will come to the rescue while dreading what that might mean for her after she deserted the Cerritos crew in their time of need.

Longtime fans will know that exocomps were introduced to us way back in the sixth season Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, “The Quality of Life.” Essentially compact worker robots, they were designed to take initiative and acclimate to their environment while carrying out whatever construction or repair tasks for which they might be deployed. Due to the robust nature of their onboard computer systems and their ability to adapt, exocomps were capable of achieving sentience.

“The Quality of Life”

The first known instance of this occurred when the Enterprise -D was dispatched to repair a malfunctioning experimental orbital mining platform in the Tyran system. While carrying out hazardous tasks necessary to complete critical repairs, a trio of exocomps refused to place themselves in danger. Commander Data discovered the machines actually possessed the equivalent of a “survival instinct.” Following the resolution of the crisis, further studies were conducted and it was determined exocomps were not simply robots or tools but actual sentient artificial life forms, much like Data himself.

We know Peanut Hamper possessed a similar instinct to survive. The original exocomps were able to demonstrate bravery and ingenuity in the face of danger, helping the Enterprise-D crew at a critical moment. Could Peanut Hamper achieve similar redemption?

(SPOILERS! The answer is literally in this episode’s title, y’all.)

(Maaaaaybe.)

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Dayton Ward (he/him) is a New York Times bestselling author or co-author of numerous novels and short stories including a whole bunch of stuff set in the Star Trek universe, and often collaborating with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore. As he’s still a big ol' geek at heart, Dayton is known to wax nostalgic about all manner of Star Trek topics over on his own blog, The Fog of Ward .

Star Trek: Lower Decks streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel. The series will also be available to stream on Paramount+ in the UK, Canada, Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, the Caribbean, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and South Korea.

Star Trek The Next Generation: The Quality of Life

2 comments:

Yes, I so agree. I liked what they were going for, but they just didn't get there. Brent Spiner's subtle performance was on point, as usual -- the audience could tell from micro expressions that Data was concerned or upset. But Farallon acted like a horse's ass and I hated her face alien make-up, I never understood what her all important experiment was, and there was just so much techno-babble. I kept trying to make some kind of connection between her rejection of beards and her lecture on life to Data. LOL, Joseph.

This was a forgettable episode except in one negative way. Data. This was the episode that for me, Data should have been given his walking papers. He was risked the lives of Picard and LaForge for some maybe sentient tools. Perhaps Picard and LaForge should have left him to that gross purveyor of objects in the episode The Most Toys. It was shoddy writing for the episode to end with no punishment for Data. I know this character is a fan favorite especially because he was the "Spock" of the series. However, Data is no Spock. I don't think Spock would ever have betrayed his crew members for a maybe thinking robot.

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Recap / Star Trek: The Next Generation S6E9 "The Quality of Life"

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Original air date: November 16, 1992

This episode opens with Geordi showing off his new beard at Poker Night. When Crusher starts negging the concept of beards, Geordi, Riker, and Worf opine that beards are symbols of strength, prompting Doctor Crusher to up the stakes of their next hand: if she wins, they all have to shave their beards, and if she loses, she’ll dye her hair. Much to her consternation, however, Picard interrupts the game to summon them all to the bridge.

They've arrived at Tyrus VIIa to oversee a new mining operation utilizing a particle-emitting satellite. The operation is running behind schedule, so the resident Dr. Farallon shows off the new tool she's developed, Exocomps. The adorable little flying robots fix things and learn how to perform better with each task. Data is particularly interested in how the machines use logic and experience to solve problems they have never seen before. Data supports Farallon's request to use the Exocomps to complete her work before the ship leaves.

As Data and Farrallon work, one of the Exocomps shuts itself down rather than go into an access tunnel. Moments later, an explosion occurs within the access tunnel. Farallon notes that Exocomps tend to have problems the longer they're in operation and need to have their memory wiped. Geordi jokes that it just wanted to avoid the explosion, but Data takes the idea seriously. He investigates further and finds that the burned-out interface circuitry that prevented the Exocomp from accepting commands has been repaired by the Exocomp’s own repair functions.

Data goes to Crusher and asks her to define life. She struggles to find a definition that applies to both organic life forms and Data himself, admitting that it's a question that humanity has yet to solve. With this information, Data returns to Farallon and tells her that she must stop using the Exocomps because he believes they are alive. Farallon rejects the notion, insisting that the Exocomps are too simple to be life forms, but Data counters that viruses are also simple and alive.

Picard takes Data's assertion seriously and agrees to a test an Exocomp's self-preservation instinct. Geordi sets up a scenario where an Exocomp is instructed to make repairs in an access tunnel where a simulated plasma cascade failure is about to occur. However, the Exocomp continues making its repairs well after the failure would have destroyed it. Farallon declares that the test has proven her correct. Picard assures Data that it was certainly worth testing, but he agrees with Farallon.

Data, however, continues repeating the test. Each time, it fails to abandon its task. Crusher visits Data to see how it’s going, and Data admits that he might have been too eager to find another artificial life form. However, his conversation with the doctor distracts him until the Exocomp returns. Data notices that the tool it has generated is not a tool needed for the task it was assigned but rather a tool meant to deactivate the false plasma cascade failure. He realizes that the Exocomp knew there was no real danger and intentionally shut off the false alarm.

When Picard personally goes to inspect the mining station, another incident occurs. This time it’s a power surge, and the entire station needs to be evacuated. Picard and La Forge stay behind to find a lost crewman but get stuck behind as the radiation from the power surge blocks further transport. Riker asks for solutions on his end. Farallon suggests detonating the Exocomps to shut off the plasma stream, but Data objects, revealing the results of his experiments and again insisting that the Exocomps are life forms. Riker decides the captain’s life is more important than Data's unproven theories and orders Farallon to proceed. They deactivate the Exocomps’ command functions to keep them from acting on their own and attempt to beam them into position, but Data locks out the transporter functions.

Riker is livid, but Data refuses to back down. He offers to beam to the station to shut down the plasma stream manually, but Riker can see that even an android would be killed by the radiation. Data says that he has the freedom to make that choice; the Exocomps don’t. Riker then offers to reconnect the Exocomps’ command function and give them a choice. Data accepts this as a fair course of action. Farallon programs the Exocomps, and they immediately alter the commands given to them. However, they are not refusing the commands but instead have decided upon their own solution. They beam into the mining station and begin siphoning energy out of the power core. This opens up a window to allow Picard and La Forge to beam out. The Enterprise tries to beam the Exocomps out as well but is unable to retrieve one of them. Geordi realizes that one of them had to stay behind to keep the window open for the others.

Obviously, Picard can’t recommend Farallon’s mining technique after all that went wrong, but she promises to continue her work until she fixes the problems. Data wishes her well. He then addresses the captain to explain why he put Picard’s life at risk for the Exocomps. He says that he wished to do for them what Picard had done for him when his own rights were threatened. Picard tells Data that he understands and calls it the most human decision he’s ever made.

• Achievements in Ignorance : Farallon was focusing on perfecting the plasma cascade, and merely created the Exocomps as efficient tools to help in that endeavor. In the process she inadvertently created new artificial lifeforms, a feat that took a genius like Dr. Soong a lifetime to perfect.
• Adaptive Ability : It's implicit that Exocomp sentience is derived from their capacity to learn by constructing new circuit pathways. This inadvertently gives them an intellect capable of growing through experience.
• Ambiguous Situation : Geordi is surprisingly annoyed when Farallon fixates on Data the moment they arrive on the Enterprise . Did he have designs on her? She does wear her hair in a similar style to the way the simulated Leah Brahms did when Geordi fell in love with her.
• Continuity Nod : The fact that Data fought for, and won, basic human rights back in " The Measure of a Man " is referenced several times throughout the episode.
• Do-Anything Robot : The Exocomps were designed with this in mind. A built-in replicator allows them to make any tool they might need.
• "Eureka!" Moment : After 34 straight "failures", Data is distracted and neglects to recall the Exocomp when it fails yet again. When it returns of its own initiative, Data sees that it has replicated a new tool designed to correct the error that was creating a simulated plasma cascade. Data realises that the Exocomp didn't fail the test at all—it saw right through it.
• Foreshadowing : When the plasma cascade test is first run, the Exocomp stops what it's doing and begins to flee, only to then stop and return to its work. This hints that it knows it's being tricked, because it wouldn't have moved at all if it didn't perceive the fake cascade to be dangerous.
• Forgotten Phlebotinum : The Exocomps are effective, friendly, intelligent, and manufactured by making a slight modification to off-the-shelf tools. Data also suspects that they're his closest relatives in the galaxy, but no one ever mentions them again in the show. They do get brought back up in various spin-offs.
• Grew Beyond Their Programming : The Exocomps were programmed to be repair robots with multitools and some judgmental and adaptive capabilities. Over the course of the episode, it becomes increasingly clear that they've become sentient beings with the capability of free will, free thought...and self-sacrifice.
• One of the Exocomps is destroyed to ensure the safe return of Geordi, Picard, and its fellow Exocomps.
• While he ultimately doesn't have to go through with it, Data offers to beam down and shut down the plasma stream himself in place of sending the Exocomps, willing to sacrifice himself for them as well as Picard and La Forge.
• Instant A.I.: Just Add Water! : It's not stated exactly how long the Exocomps take to achieve sentience, but it's clearly not that long a time if Dr. Farallon has seen it before (more than once even), and the good doctor clearly did not intend it to happen.
• Manly Facial Hair : The men in the poker game assert that beards are a symbol of strength.
• Oppose What You Suffered : In the second season Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Measure of a Man" , Data's rights were contested, as a scientist argues he should be treated as a machine, rather than a person, and this fact was even demonstrated by Data being taken apart and switched off without his consent. In this episode, Data then goes to extreme lengths to protect the Exocomps from being treated in the same manner before they can fully achieve sentience, even going so far as to risk the life of his own best friend, Geordi La Forge.
• Reasonable Authority Figure : As always, Picard listens to all sides of a dispute and settles on a reasonable solution. In this case, he agrees to the proposed self-preservation test of an Exocomp. After the result sides against Data, he still reassures Data that the test was worth pursuing.
• Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right! : Data sabotages the transporter controls to prevent the Exocomps from being beamed to the Particle Fountain as Action Bomb s to prevent what he believed was the needless sacrifice of intelligent machines. He explains to Riker that he knows subverting his commands was punishable by court martial, but remains resolute in his defiance until he presents an alternative solution.
• In order to test their sentience, the crew rigs up a fake plasma overload similar to the one that the sentient Exocomp saved itself from. After numerous failures, Data gets distracted and lets the test carry on rather than just recalling the Exocomp upon failure. As it turns out, the Exocomp realized it was being fooled and, given enough time, repaired the test itself by fixing the fake overload.
• Dr. Farallon gives the Exocomps a command for a task that would (in all likelihood) sacrifice them in order to save the two trapped Enterprise officers. Instead of accepting or refusing the command outright, they alter the task to one that would save the officers while only sacrificing one of the Exocomps.
• The Teaser : Unlike most other episodes, the cold open of this episode has no plot or thematic connection to the rest of the episode at all. It was added merely to pad out the runtime.
• What Measure Is a Non-Human? : Dr. Farallon is loathe to admit the Exocomps are intelligent, seeing them as just tools as opposed to the human-emulating Data. The episode helps you sympathize with the machines by giving them a vaguely animalistic appearance, with a snout-like body, two big feet, and appendages on either side that waggle and resemble ears or stubby arms.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation S6E8 "A Fistful of Datas"
• Recap/Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Star Trek: The Next Generation S6E10 "Chain of Command"

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The Dangerous Definition Of Life In Star Trek: The Next Generation

January 30, 2018 By John 1 Comment

Once again, I was stunned by the willingness of the writers to delve into questions that probe the very basics of humanity and morality. That’s something few movies or shows attempt to do today.

This particular episode ( The Quality of Life ), examined two important philosophical questions: how do we define life and is all life equally valuable? It may seem that these questions are better left to be discussed in the halls of academia. However, how you answer them can have crucial consequences in the real world.

Throughout history, the way societies have answered these questions have influenced views on slavery, civil rights, the equality of genders, and whether you’re pro-life or pro-choice.

Bravo to TNG for raising these questions for consideration. However, the way in which they answered them raises more questions than even they were prepared to deal with.

What is life and are all lives equally valuable? TNG answered both incorrectly. Let’s take a look.

During Commander La Forge’s evaluation at the mining station, a power grid malfunctions. The malfunction gives Dr. Farallon, the project’s lead developer, an opportunity to demonstrate to La Forge the effectiveness of a new device she has been working on.

Over the course of several years, she has modified a common industrial servo mechanism and created what are known as “exocomps”. These mechanical devices have the ability to both replicate tools to effect repairs and a capacity to learn.

Back at the Enterprise , Farallon confesses to Captain Picard that the project is behind schedule. However, she asks if he could delay his report to Star Fleet for 48 hours while she uses the exocomps to speed up work on the mining structure.

Picard agrees and sends Data, the Enterprise’s highly intelligent android, to assist Farallon in the work.

Exocomps Learn And Exhibit Self-Preservation

At the station, Farallon sends one of the exocomps into an access tunnel to perform repairs. In a short time, the exocomp returns without completing the task. When she attempts to send it back into the tunnel, it blocks her commands by burning out her control pad. Subsequently, there is an explosion in the tunnel that would have surely destroyed the exocomp.

Data, intrigued by what he has witnessed, brings the exocomp back to the Enterprise where he and La Forge try to determine why it malfunctioned. They find that the exocomp had shut itself down and in the process had increased its circuit pathways by 632%.

La Forge comments that somehow the exocomp seemed to know that the conduit would explode, and, therefore, it willingly left the access tunnel.

This remark prompts Data to perform a level one diagnostic on the exocomp. He finds that the exocomp is now working normally. However, its sensor logs reveal that it had burned out its own command circuitry, and then hours later, when it was safe, repaired itself.

From these findings, Data deduces that the exocomps have some sort of self-preservation mode. This leads him to question the very nature of life, especially as it relates to himself. If you’re familiar with Star Trek TNG, you know that many of the episodes center around Data’s quest to become human though he is essentially a robot with human appearance (android).

I know, I know. Data was considered the only sentient artificial lifeform in Federation society. Science fiction can make the impossible possible. That’s why we like it. But there can’t be artificial life. I’ll explain later.

Data Seeks An Answer To What Constitutes Life

Data Seeks Protection For The Exocomps

Data then calls for a meeting of the general staff to discuss what he has discovered about the exocomps, adding that the exocomps also seem to have an awareness of their environment.

Picard is sympathetic to Data’s theory and states that if the exocomps are a lifeform then they must be examined, as this is a primary mandate of Starfleet and the Enterprise .

After performing more tests on the exocomps, Data is convinced that they exhibit clear signs of intelligence.

The Crucial Climax

Subsequently, while observing the mining operation, Picard and La Forge become trapped on the station and are in danger of a deadly radiation leak. Dr. Farallon suggests that the only viable solution is to use the exocomps to neutralize the radiation long enough for Picard and La Forge to beam back to the Enterprise .

Since this would result in the exocomp’s destruction, Farallon suggests their command pathways would have to be modified because of their tendency to self-preservation.

Data strongly objects to the plan as it would mean ordering a lifeform to die for another lifeform. Second-in-command Riker overrules Data and orders the plan to commence.

However, the plan cannot proceed because Data has locked out the transporter controls.

He argues that the exocomps are a lifeform and have the right to life. During a conversation with Riker, Data offers to go himself, but Riker responds that the radiation would destroy him.

Data points out that he has the power to choose to sacrifice himself while the exocomps are not being offered that right.

Riker then proposes that Data ask the exocomps if they would agree to the plan. Data finds this suggestion acceptable and releases control of the transporter.

Long story short. The exocomps save Picard and La Forge, but one remains behind so that the other two can get away safely.

Data Rationalizes His Actions

Later Data explains to Picard why he was willing to endanger two friend’s lives for several small machines. Data relates that a few years ago , Picard himself had made a passionate appeal before Star Fleet that helped establish Data’s own status as a lifeform. Data says that he had chosen to champion the exocomps for the same reasons. A sympathetic Picard notes, “ It was the most Human decision you have ever made. “

Isn’t that a great story? Combine it with all the other techy things going on, and you have one first-class science fiction tale. But, as I said, TNG often raises more questions than it’s prepared to answer.

Let’s take a look.

How Do We Define Life?

Data’s observations that the exocomps seem to have an inclination for self-preservation, an awareness of their surroundings, and the ability learn leads him to conclude that the exocomps are potentially a lifeform.

But here’s the question: are these qualities sufficient to qualify something as a lifeform?  I don’t believe so.

When the air in my house drops to a certain temperature, my thermostat becomes aware of it and turns my furnace on. Is it a lifeform? No, it’s programmed to do that.

If one of the tires on my car becomes punctured, it will repair itself in order to prevent a blowout. The tire has exhibited self-preservation. Has your computer ever warned you of an impending virus attack and told you not to open up that website because it will damage the computer?

On the surface, we have to be careful to use awareness and self-preservation as definitions of life.

A Contemporary Definition Of What Constitutes Life

Without getting too complicated, let’s use Wikipedia for a current definition of life. Wiki says that if an organism has these characteristics, it is considered living as opposed to inanimate:

• Composed of cells
• Can maintain homeostasis
• Undergoes metabolism
• Adapts to their environment
• Can respond to stimuli
• Can reproduce .

Some may find this list controversial but outside of those who may define a virus as a lifeform and some far out types, this list is pretty comprehensive. Oh, and by the way, a preborn infant meets all these criteria.

Let’s see how many criteria for life the exocomps fulfill.

Do Exocomps Have Cells?

We are told that Dr. Farallon made the exocomps out of machine parts. They are not to our knowledge composed of organic matter or cells. They fail on that account.

Yes, I remember the Horta. That was a living creature from the original Star Trek series that was composed of silicon. Oh, that’s right. It’s science fiction so living things don’t have to fit our categories. They can redefine categories.

But if inorganic matter or cell-less objects can be lifeforms, then potentially anything can be a lifeform. If so, then we could ask a question like, “what do sleeping rocks dream about?”

I realize that there are some people who believe that all things are considered to be alive in some respect. In that case, be careful the next time you want to skim a stone off a body of water. You may be violating its civil rights.

In order to make sense of the world, we have to have categories. Ask Aristotle about that one. So, in our world, the exocomps are not lifeforms. In science fiction, anything goes.

Can Exocomps Maintain Homeostasis?

Quoting physician Walter Cannon, The Scientific American defines homeostasis as any process that living things use to actively maintain fairly stable conditions necessary for survival.

We are not told whether the exocomps fulfill this requirement. We don’t know if they have a self-sustaining energy source or whether they eat or consume some other kind of energy. If they rely on an outside source to supply energy, then they are not a lifeform.

Yes, I know that pre-born babies and infants need someone to provide food for them. But they do have the future potentiality to feed themselves.

The exocomps fail this category.

Can An Exocomp Experience Metabolism And Grow?

One definition of metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within the cells of organisms. Since exocomps don’t have cells then this definition doesn’t apply.

Another definition of metabolism is the sum of the physical and chemical processes in an organism by which its material substance is produced, maintained, and destroyed, and by which energy is made available.

As far as we know, exocomps can’t grow physically. We know that they can self-create more circuits, but they cannot add more wire. Humans can add more muscle mass.

Exocomps fail this category.

Can Exocomps Adapt To Their Environment And Respond To Stimuli?

We know exocomps can fulfill these two functions to some extent so I will grant them these two categories.

Can The Exocomps Reproduce?

This seems to be the category that really does the exocomp in. As far as we know, Dr. Farallon has not created the exocomp with reproductive organs. If they don’t have them, they can’t reproduce, right? If they can’t reproduce, they’re not living, right? Even the Horta was able to reproduce.

It appears Data had to do a lot more evaluation of the exocomp before he started making decisions based on his belief that they were lifeforms.

Science Fiction Fallacies

Okay, so if we use our contemporary categories, the exocomps are not a lifeform. Now, I realize that this is science fiction and our categories don’t always apply.

But if that’s the case, let me point out some absurdities and logical conclusions that even fail in a future science fiction type universe.

Logical Absurdities # 1

If the exocomps are a lifeform, where did they come from? We know that they were created by Dr. Farallon. Does that then make Dr. Farallon their God?

Shouldn’t they then worship and obey her in all things? Who is Data to tell her what she can or can’t do with her creation?

These aren’t trivial questions.

Do All Lifeforms Require A Creator?

It’s a logical conclusion that all lifeforms require a creator. If they don’t, then we are only left with a few other options.

Life arises from spontaneous generation

This is a philosophical absurdity because we know that something cannot arise from nothing. Life cannot arise out of non-life.

Nonetheless, the predominant theory proposed by scientists for this possibility is called the RNA World Theory.

In the RNA World theory, scientists propose that inorganic matter in the form of RNA molecules eventually lead to the formation of DNA. However, recently, this theory has been shown to have insuperable problems and another supportive report was retracted because its data and conclusions were shown to be erroneous .

To date, no experiment has been performed to show the possibility of inorganic molecules evolving into organic molecules.

Life was always here

We know this was not the case with the exocomps. We also know that finite lifeforms cannot be eternal. Eternal causation is a philosophical absurdity. Look it up.

It’s all an illusion

Okay, the third option is favored by many in eastern religious traditions. Everything is an illusion or maya and we’re all just part of the same big picture. This is also an absurdity, and I’ll leave it to you to figure out why.

The only conclusion is that all lifeforms require a creator, and, if so, that creator should be worshipped and glorified for its power to give life where no life existed before.

Should Dr. Farallon Be Worshipped By The Exocomps?

Dr. Farallon was a created being. Also, the materials she used to create the exocomps were not created by her. So, again, worship is due to the ultimate Creator.

Data missed this fundamental fact lying behind the creation of all lifeforms.

In his rush to pronounce life, he was in some respect playing God. This led him to make another misjudgment on life which could have had serious consequences for the actual lives of others.

Is All Life Equally Valuable?

When Picard and La Forge became trapped on the mining station, Data made the decision that he could not allow the exocomps to save them. Since they were in his opinion a lifeform, he could not sacrifice them without their consent.

Data made a grave error in judgment here. Were the exocomps as a lifeform of the same value as Picard and La Forge? That raises this question: are all lifeforms to be equally valued just because they are lifeforms?

Sorry, I’m not going to chalk this one up to fuzzy science fiction agnosticism. I have some beautiful plants in my living room. Some of them even show awareness by bending to the sun for more light. They are definitely lifeforms.

But they are not on par with human lifeforms. If I had a need for heat, I wouldn’t hesitate to burn them for fuel. Why not? Because they have no soul. Humans are different from all other lifeforms.

Did the exocomps have a soul? Could they have had a soul? Sheeesh! They were created by a human. The soul is immaterial. Unless Farallon had a bunch of souls sitting around in her laboratory, and she knew how to secure it in a metal box, and … you get the picture.

Only an immaterial Creator can create a soul. Picard and La Forge had souls given them by their Creator. They were of much more value than an exocomp and should have been saved at the expense of the exocomps.

How did Data miss this?

Why Humans Are To Be Valued Ultimately Over All Other LifeForms

Man is finite and perishable. God is infinite and eternal. But God in his goodness chose to share some of his communicable attributes with us.

We can love, show mercy, be righteous, demonstrate justice, exercise wisdom, and lay our lives down for our neighbors.

We’re lead to believe that the exocomps did exhibit some sense of self-sacrifice in their rescuing of Picard and La Forge. However, the exocomps didn’t tell us that. It’s possible that’s what they were programmed to do. If so, then they couldn’t do otherwise.

Exocomp And Human Afterlife

Did the exocomps really face any eternal consequence if they were destroyed in the rescue attempt? If they perished, would they go to exocomp heaven or hell? They would go to neither because they have no soul.

However, if a man dies for his friend, he risks his body and perhaps even his soul.

No, Data’s action was not the most human decision he ever made . If you’re willing to sacrifice another human life for something you believe might have a higher value, you’re not acting humanely at all. 

Data, though, got one thing almost right. No human being can be compelled against their will to lay down their life down for another regardless of the reason. That includes noble-sounding ideas like establishing world peace or spreading democracy throughout the world.

However, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, entered history as a man and willingly laid down his life so that we, regardless if we’re male, female, gentile or Jew, could experience the fullness of what it means to be human and have a relationship with our Creator.

On a final note, the episode didn’t end with a memorial service for the destroyed exocomp. I guess the crew of the Enterprise came to their senses.

Philip Miller says

April 17, 2018 at 7:01 am

I just watched this episode, and I liked your commentary. My biggest problem was that the episode never differentiated between “life” and “intelligent life”. Even in the Star Trek future, not all life is treated equally, they make it very clear that intelligent life takes priority. It would have been a simple fix to refer to them as “intelligent”.

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• View history

Doctor Farallon was a female Tyran scientist and inventor of the particle fountain technology . She was a great admirer of Dr. Noonien Soong and made an extensive study of his positronic network design in her development of the exocomps .

The particle fountain, which operated from aboard the Tyrus VIIA station , was a new mining technology completely unlike any existing mining technology. To explore the possibilities, the project was started which Dr. Farallon supervised.

A few years before field testing commenced, she experimented with modified industrial servo mechanisms which she called exocomps. The devices not only replicate tools, but had problem-solving capabilities. She thought these would help to complete the project more quickly.

In 2369 , Dr. Farallon assisted Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge of the starship USS Enterprise -D to perform an evaluation of the particle fountain technology. The Starfleet was interested to use a particle fountain on Carema III . When there were problems with the new mining system, Farallon used the exocomps to repair the mining systems. Data discovered the exocomps were sentient . At first Farallon refused to believe Data, but after it was determined that they were, she agreed not to exploit the exocomps. ( TNG : " The Quality of Life ")

Background information [ ]

Dr. Farallon was played by Ellen Bry .

According to the script , " she's an attractive humanoid alien woman about the same age as Geordi. "

She was named after the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 227))

Her costume from this episode was sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [1]

External link [ ]

• Farallon at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

7 Star Trek Characters Who Used To Be Aliens-Of-The-Week

• Star Trek introduces new alien species in each episode to showcase unique aspects of human experience and comment on relevant themes.
• Some one-episode aliens return as regular characters in newer shows, like the Barzan Lt. Commander D. Nhan in Star Trek: Discovery.
• Each returning species, from Trill to Illyrians, adds depth to Star Trek by exploring themes of gender, disability, and cultural practices.

Most Star Trek characters are humans, or members of well-known alien races, but sometimes, a new main or recurring character will hail from an alien species that viewers have only seen once before. Humans make up the majority of Star Trek characters, with Starfleet being based on Earth, but you'll find plenty of Vulcans, Romulans, and Klingons throughout the franchise, too, since each of these species originated on Star Trek: The Original Series . The Star Trek timeline marched on into Star Trek: The Next Generation, which introduced its own share of frequently-seen alien species, like adversarial Ferengi or Cardassians, and allies like Bajorans or Betazoids.

Because one of the core missions of Starfleet is seeking out new civilizations, however, a conceit of Star Trek is introducing a new alien species every time the USS Enterprise visits a strange new world. Usually, these one-episode aliens are never seen again after serving their purpose in an episodic adventure, because there's more space to explore, other alien species to meet, and more stories to tell. Sometimes, however, something about a new alien species is interesting enough to warrant seeing them again , so members of these single-serving species turn up again as regular or recurring characters in newer Star Trek shows.

10 Star Trek Alien Species' Best Character

Lt. commander d. nhan on star trek: discovery, barzan, from star trek: the next generation season 3, episode 8 - "the price".

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 8, "The Price", the discovery of a supposedly stable wormhole in 2366 puts Barzan II on the map, which makes it all the more interesting that Lt. Commander D. Nhan (Rachael Ancheril) is a Barzan serving in Starfleet on the USS Enterprise and the USS Discovery close to a century earlier. Nhan wears the same assistive breathing device as the Barzans in TNG , whose culture emphasizes personal obligation and duty to one's community due to Barzan II's lack of natural resources. Nhan shares that attitude, and explains that her people have a penchant for security roles because of it.

Lt. Kayshon on Star Trek: Lower Decks

Tamarian, from star trek: the next generation season 5, episode 2 - "darmok".

For all that the highly metaphorical Tamarian language has had an impact on Star Trek fandom, the Children of Tama were only in a single Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, season 5's "Darmok", before the arrival of Lt. Kayshon (Carl Tart) in Star Trek: Lower Decks . Kayshon has fortunately mastered Federation Standard , making communication as a Starfleet officer far less of a "beast at Tanagra" and more "Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel" . Although Kayshon is just a recurring character aboard the USS Cerritos, a Tamarian on Lower Decks has the ability to explore that linguistic misunderstanding can lead to comedy, just as TNG showed it as tragedy.

In Tamarian, "Beast at Tanagra" is a problem to overcome, and "Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel" represents working together towards a common goal.

Ensign Peanut Hamper on Star Trek: Lower Decks

Exocomp, from star trek: the next generation season 6, episode 9 - "the quality of life".

When introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation , the Exocomps are non-humanoid robots capable of adaptive learning and tool production to assist engineers, but one Exocomp's refusal to follow orders that would place it in harm's way leads Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) to determine that the Exocomps are actually sentient. And since Exocomps are sentient, they can join Starfleet, like the "mathematically perfectly named" Ensign Peanut Hamper (Kether Donohue) in Star Trek: Lower Decks . A sassy and self-absorbed model who joins Starfleet to anger her father, Peanut Hamper's calculating self-preservation and various acts of rebellion take TNG 's Exocomp behavior to the extreme.

Lt. Hemmer on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Aenar, from star trek: enterprise season 4, episode 14 - "the aenar".

In Star Trek: Enterprise , the Aenar are an ostensibly mythical offshoot of Andorians known for their telepathic abilities, with a minimal population limited to the coldest parts of Andoria. Most Aenar are blind, including Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak) , introduced as the Starship Enterprise's Chief Engineer. Like the Enterprise Aenar, Hemmer demonstrates heightened senses that compensate for his lack of sight, as well as telepathy and some precognition. In mentoring Cadet Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), Hemmer exemplifies the Aenar philosophies of pacifism and respect for life , and his personal philosophy of challenging others' views.

The first Aenar is technically seen for a moment at the very end of Enterprise season 4, episode 13, "United", as a lead-in to their primary episode, "The Aenar".

How Star Trek: Enterprise Characters Could Return In Strange New Worlds

Zero on star trek: prodigy, medusan, from star trek: the original series season 3, episode 7 - "is there in truth no beauty".

Star Trek: The Original Series establishes the non-corporeal Medusans as a species that humanoids can't look at without going mad, so Ambassador Kollos travels by pod and interacts either through a handler, Dr. Miranda Jones (Diana Muldaur), or a mind meld with Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). In Star Trek: Prodigy , Zero (Angus Imrie) comes from a hive-mind of genderless beings, and inhabits an exosuit that allows them to interact directly with the corporeal world. Instead of being a curious plot device, Zero is one of Star Trek: Prodigy 's main characters , so their story explores the psychological ramifications of the Medusan capability to induce madness, and also being isolated from others while trying to belong.

With 53 years separating the Medusans' debut in TOS and the start of Star Trek: Prodigy , Zero represents the longest period of time between a single-episode species' introduction and its return in a Star Trek main character.

Commander Una Chin-Riley on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Illyrian, from star trek: enterprise season 3, episode 19 - "damage".

The Illyrians in Star Trek: Enterprise seem very different from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romjin), also known as Number One. Illyrians employ genetic modification as a cultural practice that allows Illyrians to inhabit otherwise uninhabitable worlds, so it's practically expected that Illyrians from different colonies will look different as a result. The Illyrian ship in Enterprise serves as a plot device, so there's little information about them as species until Strange New Worlds expands on Illyrian culture through Number One, particularly in Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 3 "Ghosts of Illyria", and SNW season 2, episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera".

Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Trill, from star trek: the next generation season 4, episode 23 - "the host".

The symbiotic Trill have become popular Star Trek aliens, and Trill stories contain metaphors for expressing the rich variety of human gender and sexuality , just as intended in their one episode of TNG. In "The Host", the humanoid host's personality is suppressed, so Ambassador Odan (Franc Luz) remains the same person regardless of host. When DS9 changes the Trill , Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) sports a spotted look, and joined Trill are now a blend of host and symbiont personalities. As a regular character, Dax's relationships build on themes of personal and gender identity that were established but never broadly explored with Odan.

Every one of these returning species represents a unique aspect of the human experience for Star Trek to comment on that has become more relevant than ever. From the Tamarians' meme-like language and Exocomps' autonomy, to the further reaching consequences of Illyrian genetic modification, discussions of disability surrounding the Barzans and Aenar, and concepts of gender for Trill and Medusans, the defining traits of some single-serving species are just too broad to be fully explored in just one episode . In those cases, it makes perfect sense for Star Trek to revisit those species with new characters.

Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are streaming on Paramount+. Star Trek: Prodigy is streaming on Netflix.

• VisualEditor
• View history

An Exocomp from different angles.

Exocomps are sentient mechanical lifeforms and a non-player race in Star Trek Online , with some serving in various branches of the Federation , including Starfleet as crewmen. They are also utilised by the Terran Empire .

Missions involved [ | ]

• “Firewall” : Terran Exocomps are used to download data during the final segment of the mission.

Duty officers [ | ]

Abilities [ | ]

• Fabrication Engineer § Support Drone variant

Gallery [ | ]

The paint job, insignia and holographic tool differ depending on which Exocomp is summoned, including ones from the mirror universe . Most Excomps, including the companion and Seeker and Support drone variants, have "RX6A3K" printed on the back of their bodies with a Starfleet insignia, while Exocomps from the mirror universe have the same string, but reversed to "K3A6XR" and with a Terran Empire insignia. A notable exception is the Drone Summon Passive Exocomp, which has a "MACO" written on it, and associated M.A.C.O. insignia.

Standard Exocomp model, found on the non-combat companions and the Holographic Combat Drone

Starfleet Exocomps: Tactical Seeker Drone on the left, Engineering Support Drone on the right

Aft views of the same

Legume Creel

Liberated Terran Exocomps

The Drone Summon Passive Exocomp with M.A.C.O. insignia

The aft parts of the M.A.C.O. Exocomp

Exocomp companion box, which still uses the old model (see below)

Holographic Combat Drone box, which still uses the old model (see below)

Original model [ | ]

Original Zen Store image.

The visuals for Exocomps received an update with Season Twenty-four: Reflections to make them in-line with their appearance in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Quality of Life" and Star Trek: Lower Decks episode "No Small Parts." Below is a gallery of the original Star Trek Online Exocomp models for posterity. Previously, there were only two Exocomp visual variants in the game:

• The Starfleet Corps of Engineers (S.F.C.E) variant with yellow paint, seen as the Exocomp non-combat pet, Federation Support Drone, and the Exocomp duty officers' icons.
• The Military Assault Command Operations (M.A.C.O) variant with red paint, seen as the Holographic Exocomp non-combat pet, Holographic Combat Drone combat pet, Federation Seeker Drone, and the Tactical Exocomp duty officer icon.

View of the old S.F.C.E Exocomp

Another view of the old S.F.C.E. Exocomp

Original Exocomp duty officer icon

Original Exocomp companion icon

View of the old M.A.C.O Exocomp

Another view of the old M.A.C.O. Exocomp

Original Tactical Exocomp duty officer icon

Original Holographic Exocomp and Combat Drone icon

See also [ | ]

External links [ | ]

• TNG episode " The Quality of Life ".
• Exocomp at Memory Beta , the non-canon Star Trek Wiki.
• 2 Playable starship
• 3 Infinity Prize Pack - T6 Ship

• Stored in the " Consumables " tab in your inventory
• Each Consumable will provide you a number of important info (e.g Type, Rarity etc)
• You can activate the consumable from your inventory
• Consumables have an expiration time (displayed before and after activation)
• Active Consumables take up a slot
• There is a limited number of available slots
• When the expiration time is reached the Consumable is consumed

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NCC1887 Educational Library An educational archive of tips/tricks for the game Star Trek Fleet Command (STFC). Information on this site is broken up into sections. Use the Navigation section to find the topic you want. Popular tips for this month are listed at the bottom of the page. If this is your first time here, please bookmark the page, and checkout our other sections.

TNG #5 - Exocomps

 The Star Trek TNG Arc #4 has brought us a new building and new game feature: Exocomps. These intelligent robots come from the TNG episode  S6E09 - "Quality of Life" . 

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Star Trek Had A Huge Star Wars Easter Egg - But It Was Cut

"Star Trek" and "Star Wars" are two of the best sci-fi franchises out there, and they're still going strong after all these years. As such, they are often compared to each other, and debates regarding which saga is better have informed pop culture discourse for decades. That said, what if both franchises were part of the same universe and people could embrace them equally?

That's probably never going to happen, but "Star Trek: The Next Generation" tried to make it so. A "Star Wars" Easter egg appeared in Season 2's "Up the Long Ladder" episode, according to Larry Nemecek's "Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion." The moment occurs when the HMS New Zealand ship is sent to a planet called Alderaan — you know, the same planet that is destroyed by the Death Star in "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope."

The planet isn't explicitly mentioned on TNG, but it could be spotted on computer screens. Unfortunately, the reference was removed for the Blu-ray release and replaced with the planet Aldebaran, ultimately debunking any notion that both sci-fi sagas are canonically linked. Still, the thought has led to some interesting fan conversations — and there are other references to the galaxy far, far away.

There's a Star Wars Easter egg in Star Trek: DS9

It seems that sneaky "Star Wars" homages were an in-joke for some "Star Trek" creators, as Alderaan briefly reappeared in another series. In the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" Season 1 episode titled "A Man Alone," the planet crops up during the scene where Odo (René Auberjonois) checks Ibudan's (Stephen James Carver) calendar.

Meanwhile, other fans have pondered how the Federation would have reacted to the Galactic Republic's destruction of Alderaan. As Redditor  u/TheBurgareanSlapper wrote, "If Alderaan is an Imperial planet, its destruction is a clear-cut case of an internal Empire affair and none of the Federation's business. The most the Federation Council may do is send a strongly worded letter to the Imperial Ambassador. Maybe."

Sadly, high-definition Blu-ray technology has ruined the idea that both franchises are canonically intertwined. That said, "Star Wars" and "E.T." might exist in the same universe , which is also an exciting notion.

If you enjoyed this article, read about the actors who've appeared in both "Star Trek" and "Star Wars."

More From Forbes

3 methods to use tech without losing your brand's human touch.

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Keeping your business "human" with technology

In an era of rampant automation, convenience, and AI, you may be tempted to put more weight on tech tools. Just make sure you don't lose your brand's humanity in the process.

People may love the convenience and efficiency of automation, but they're not willing to trade technology for old-fashioned human contact. The human-to-human connection is still a powerful force, especially in business. By offering customers the chance to engage with your brand's team — and not just the AI-based tools or systems you use — you can more easily gain trust and loyalty for your brand.

A recent survey from Cogito showed just how important it is to customers to be able to reach a human representative, even in a digital age. When asked about their customer support preferences, 53% of survey participants said they'd rather talk with a human than a bot. Thirty-two percent agreed that having their concerns resolved by a human would lead to better future interactions with the company.

Is it easier to hide behind tech gadgets and processes? Perhaps. Yet when you do, you deny your organization a key differentiator: The ability to communicate on a human level. Too many companies make it challenging for consumers to engage with humans. This lack of human communication causes friction and encourages those consumers to seek alternatives. Alternatively, if you're offering a more balanced mix of automation and human interaction, you could look very appealing to someone who's tired of automated technology.

This isn't to say that you need to do away with high-tech options. Keep them. But know that they're never going to be a replacement for human intervention. For example, chatbots can be helpful for relatively simple and straightforward issues, but they can be frustrating when problems become more complex. Standalone shopping kiosks can be similarly annoying, which is one of the reasons some brick-and-mortar stores are saying goodbye to self-checkouts .

To help you humanize your business, try incorporating these strategies into your operational workflows. They'll help you stand out positively and deliver more well-rounded value to your customer base.

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1. Strive for an equalized human-to-tech ratio.

As a starting point, consider all the processes that you rely upon to interact with your customers. Then, divide them into those that are tech and those that have a human angle. Ideally, there should be an even split between the two. If you're leaning too heavily into tech territory, consider ways to seamlessly bring team members back into the picture.

Never underestimate the importance of offering consumers a line of connection to honest-to-goodness humans. It matters more than you might think. While on The Big Story podcast in late 2023, Vox business reporter Emily Stewart noted that although many major companies, including Facebook and Frontier Airlines, have ditched human agents, the trend is causing customer stress. "I found someone who could not get in touch with Uber," said Stewart, "And when I asked Uber what she should have done, they kind of said she should use our app. There was no phone number for her to call."

2. Position tech in a "supporting player" role.

Companies have been making technology the star of the show. However, putting all your tech into a supportive role may be wiser. That way, the tech can help you enhance your team's abilities rather than replace them.

For instance, you might want to invest in an AI product that makes it possible for your sales or service representatives to do their jobs faster. A solution that can "listen" to calls and rapidly fetch key information or prompt humans with insider tips could be useful.

The secret to making this work is moving ahead with intentionality. Kelly Knight , president and integrator at EOS, has seen the benefits and reports of intentionally creating people-centric processes. "Relationships always come first. We want to put the human touch in everything we do," she explains. "We realize that people just want human interaction when it matters most. I think that's just going to be the way we continue forever. People are just going to value human relationships more and more."

3. Build your team's interpersonal skills and empathy.

Once you've begun to prioritize your human connections, you may discover that some of your people need coaching in topics like emotional intelligence (EI). Consequently, be prepared to invest in training across your workforce so everyone's interpersonal skills are as refined as possible.

Even if you have seasoned workers on your team, you may be surprised at their lack of EI aptitude. According to Adecco research , 54% of managers admitted that finding team members with solid interpersonal abilities was difficult. About the same number identified listening skills as another "soft" gap in employee toolkits.

By growing your team's empathy, you'll grow your company's humanity. In the process, you should begin to see a nice side advantage: Your people will be able to interact with each other more effectively internally.

It's exciting to explore all the technologies that are emerging today. However, think twice before putting them between you and your customers. The last thing you want is to make it harder for people to love your brand.

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Star trek: discovery season 5 episode 6 is a welcome classic tng episode reminder.

Burnham and Tilly encounter a fascinating new alien language in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, reminding us of a classic TNG episode.

• "Whistlespeak" in Star Trek: Discovery pays homage to TNG's "Darmok" with a unique language element.
• Despite a promising setup, Discovery's use of whistlespeak was abandoned early in the episode.
• The episode missed an opportunity to use whistlespeak creatively to resolve the story's conflict.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, "Whistlespeak" contains a welcome reminder of a classic episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Discovery season 5 is a sequel to TNG season 6, episode 20, "The Chase", and so connections to the iconic Star Trek show are expected. Discovery season 5, episode 6, written by Kenneth Lin and Brandon Schultz, and directed by Chris Byrne, is a reminder of a completely different TNG episode , however. In "Whistlespeak", Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) visit the pre-warp planet of Halem'no, where Burnham's forced to break the Prime Directive.

While the story of a pre-warp society forming a religion around failing technology is a well-worn Star Trek trope now, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6 makes a good stab at bringing something new to the table. One of the most interesting aspects of "Whistlespeak" is the titular language spoken by the Halem'nites. At the start of the episode, Burnham explains to Tilly that the Halem'nites have two languages, a phonetic language for day-to-day interactions, and whistlespeak for communication across distances. This completely alien language is a reminder of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 2, "Darmok" .

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

How star trek: discovery season 5, episode 6 recalls tng’s “darmok”.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 2, "Darmok", Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is stranded on an alien world with a Tamarian captain whose complex language of metaphors is incompatible with the universal translator. It's only through unpicking the alien language of Captain Dathon (Paul Winfield) that Picard can find a way off the planet. "Darmok" is one of Captain Picard's best TNG episodes , and a wonderful Star Trek story about the importance of communication, no matter how alien the other person's language is.

"Darmok" marked Starfleet's official First Contact with the Tamarians, leading to at least one member of the species, Kayshon, becoming a Starfleet officer in Star Trek: Lower Decks .

From the opening, it appeared that Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, "Whistlespeak" was going to tell a similar story. However, Burnham and Tilly's universal translators quickly translate the Halem'nites' second language before they even beam down to the surface . It's odd that understanding and using Halem'nite whistlespeak isn't a key part of the story, especially as Tilly becomes stranded inside the High Summit weather station with Ravah (June Laporte). Despite this great distance, Burnham doesn't deploy any whistlespeak to help Ravah and Tilly with their predicament , instead opting to beam directly into the weather station's control room.

Why Discovery Season 5, Episode 6 Didn’t Do More With Whistlespeak

Star Trek 's Tamarians unique language of metaphors was certainly easier to write in the script for Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Darmok". Lines like " Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra " are more poetic and enigmatic than increasingly complicated whistling. It's likely for this reason that Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6 abandoned whistlespeak almost immediately, barring the coda at the end of the episode. There was perhaps a feeling among Discovery 's writers that having Burnham and Tilly communicate purely by whistling would undermine the life-threatening drama of the situation.

The weather station in which Tilly and Ravah were trapped was designed by Star Trek: Enterprise 's Denobulans, who installed them on Halem'no to help its people cope with the punishing dust storms.

Given that the whistespeak was a unique element of Star Trek: Discovery 's formulaic pre-warp planet, it feels disappointing that the episode didn't do more with it. Burnham could have saved herself from breaking the Prime Directive by using whistlespeak to communicate some means to stop the weather tower from suffocating Ravah and Tilly to death. Instead, "Whistlespeak" opted for an abrupt conclusion that just beamed Burnham into the heart of the action to save the day. However, given that Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Darmok" is an unimpeachable classic, it may have been wise for Star Trek: Discovery to avoid remaking it.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

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Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

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A Wealth Shift That Could Leave Some Younger Americans Behind

Assets held by baby boomers are changing hands, but that doesn’t mean their millennial heirs will be set for life.

By Martha C. White

Alainta Alcin has heard about the huge transfer of wealth from baby boomers to their millennial children that is underway — a move that has been called the largest shift of assets in history. But Ms. Alcin, an analyst for hospital systems, says it bears little resemblance to her own family’s experience.

“Unfortunately, my mom is one paycheck away from being unable to pay for anything,” said Ms. Alcin, a 34-year-old resident of West Palm Beach, Fla. “There’s nothing to transfer.”

Baby boomers have trillions of dollars in wealth that some economists predict will have a significant impact on their millennial-aged children when they inherit the cash, homes, stock portfolios and other assets their elders hold. But experts say that the narrative of millennials’ paying off debts and wielding greater spending power over the next two to three decades is complex — and leaves out families without enough assets to pass along.

As a first-generation American, Ms. Alcin saw her mother struggle to raise herself and five siblings after her father died. The elder Ms. Alcin had menial agricultural jobs — work that, at the age of 67, has become more difficult to do, even as she tries to make higher payments on her home’s adjustable-rate mortgage.

“She only has a limited amount of time where she can continue to work,” Ms. Alcin said. “It just seems as though economists miss a part of the hidden stories of people where there’s no wealth to begin with.”

In particular, young adults who are providing for aging parents while trying to establish their own retirement nest eggs worry that this inflection point will leave them further behind. Federal Reserve data shows that the average net worth among those aged 65 to 74 in 2022 was nearly $1.8 million. This figure is skewed by those at the upper end of the wealth spectrum, though. At the median, the average net worth of this age bracket was roughly $410,000, a figure that includes the values of homes and investments.

Estimates of how much wealth will be transferred over the coming decades vary widely, but even low calculations suggest that tens of trillions of dollars will change hands as baby boomers die. Some $84 trillion is expected to pass from older to younger generations between now and 2045, with $16 trillion of that taking place over the next decade. The rise in real estate values and the historically long bull market predating the pandemic, along with the shift from defined-benefit pensions to defined-contribution plans like 401(k)s over roughly the past generation, has made it possible, experts say.

Many monthly pension payments cover most or all of the cost of day-to-day living expenses, but with rare exceptions, payouts terminate after the worker or that person’s surviving spouse dies. Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts, though, are treated differently.

“One of the interesting things about 401(k)s is that, unlike pensions, they can be handed down,” said Geoffrey Sanzenbacher, an associate professor of economics at Boston College. “There’s the opportunity for there to be this wealth transfer.”

And some boomers have both pensions and 401(k)s, giving them the flexibility to live on their pension payments and Social Security, and to save the defined-contribution balance for their heirs.

Even in families that have been able to accumulate some wealth, research suggests that millennials might be overconfident when it comes to expectations about how much they’ll inherit, though. A survey conducted two years ago by Alliant Credit Union found that just over half of millennials who anticipated inheriting money expected that they would get at least $350,000. However, 55 percent of boomers who say they plan to bequeath assets to their children or other younger family members say the amount will be less than $250,000.

“Parents have less money than their kids think,” said Sumeet Grover, Alliant’s chief digital and marketing officer.

A generational divide, and agreement

Boomers say their children live beyond their means. Millennials say their parents don’t have a clue how expensive it is to raise a family today. Beyond that, financial advisers who work with each generation say they see a widespread lack of transparency — although, again, they differ on what creates this divide.

Sophia Bera Daigle, founder of Gen Y Planning, a financial planning firm in Austin that works mostly with millennials, suspects that the appeal of holding onto the family purse strings for boomers is too strong to relinquish. “I think a part of it is control,” she said. “They really like having that control, being able to dole out those gifts if, and when, they want, or when they see fit.”

Boomers might also be unfamiliar with what young adults have to pay for homes, child care and college, even when those young adults are their own children, Ms. Daigle said.

In some cases, that disconnect extends to boomers’ own finances.

“In the ’90s with the tech boom, I think a lot of people made a lot of money and expected that same amount of money” would be available to them in the future, she said, but everything from recessions to health crises to divorce can crack those nest eggs.

Boomers counter that they are acting in their children’s best interests.

“In some families, it gets into the parents’ perception of the child’s work ethic and spending habits,” said Scott Oeth, a financial planner in Edina, Minn. “They don’t want it to seem like their kids are depending on their inheritance.”

Where the generations do agree is that virtually nobody talks about this.

Alvin Carlos, a financial planner in Arlington, Va., said only about 10 percent of his millennial clients had talked to their parents about estate planning. “I think a majority of our clients think their parents are in a decent financial situation, but they don’t know that for sure.”

Ms. Daigle also said she saw generational differences in comfort with discussing financial matters. “I have yet to see a boomer be extremely transparent with their finances for their kids, unless that parent is living with them,” she said.

Mr. Grover, of Alliant, suggested that millennials were comparatively more open about their finances because, as a generation, they had been conditioned via social media to obtain and share information readily. “When you look at millennials, they’re extremely comfortable talking about money,” he said. “I think one of the reasons for that is the internet,” because young adults are used to sharing so much online about their personal lives.

The cost-of-care conundrum

One of the biggest risks that comes with not sharing financial and estate-planning information is the prospect that a parent could wind up needing lengthy nursing home care.

State-administered Medicaid programs are often families’ only options for that care, but eligibility requirements mean spending down savings and selling off or liquidating assets.

“That next generation needs to wait longer and may get less because, in the last few years of their parents’ lives, they had all those expenses of long-term care,” said Steve Parrish, co-director of the Center for Retirement Income at the American College of Financial Services.

People who want to leave an inheritance to their children and minimize taxes and delays on the transfer often establish trusts for their assets. But this supposes that these families are wealthy enough to afford to hire an estate lawyer. Middle-class millennials who might otherwise inherit a home and perhaps the contents of a bank account are the most vulnerable to seeing that value get depleted in order for their parent to qualify for Medicaid.

And some aren’t expecting anything at all.

Joyce Hahn, a first-generation American, said she worried about her father as he approaches age 80. Although he held a plethora of jobs since emigrating from South Korea in the 1970s, Ms. Hahn, 39, said she didn’t believe he was ever able to save for retirement.

Ms. Hahn, a Census Bureau employee and resident of Washington, D.C., already splits the cost of her father’s housing, in a rent-controlled senior living apartment in California, with her younger sister. She also pays ancillary expenses not covered by insurance, such as dental care. “We never really talk about those kinds of things,” she said. “We were raised in this Asian mentality of taking care of your elders,” she said.

She said she wished she had more visibility into her father’s finances. “I don’t imagine he’ll get to the point where he needs long-term care, but I don’t want to be surprised by it.”

Significant as the impact of long-term care costs can be on affected families, social policy experts warn that there is a much bigger pool of people who could be hurt by the way this wealth is transferred: Those millennials whose parents were unable to accrue wealth in the first place.

“It just exacerbates the wealth inequality that’s been growing worse over the last several decades,” Mr. Sanzenbacher said. “It becomes harder and harder to compete for resources.”

Marsha Barnes, founder of the Finance Bar, a financial planning firm in Charlotte, N.C., said many of her younger clients worried about outliving their 401(k) balances.

“Many of my clients are Black,” said Ms. Barnes, who is also Black. “They maybe started a little later in life with saving money in their 401(k),” she said, because many had to support their parents in retirement.

“I have a client who’s in her early 30s, and now she’s helping her mom because her dad passed away — she just feels that level of responsibility,” Ms. Barnes said.

An earlier version of this article misstated the hometown of a financial planner. Scott Oeth is in Edina, Minn., not Lake Edina.

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