STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Season 5, Episode 9

A Matter of Time

Series: The Next Generation - (1987-1994)
Season: 5
Episode #: 5.09
Production #: 40275-209
Original Airdate: 11/18/1991

Writer(s): Rick Berman
Director(s): Paul Lynch

Guest Stars
Stefan Gierasch as Hal Moseley
Matt Frewer as Berlinghoff Rasmussen
Sheila Franklin as Ensign Felton
Shay Garner as a Penthara IV Scientist

Uncredited Guest Stars
Arratia as Ensign Alfonse Pacelli
Rachen Assapiomonwait as Crewman Nelson
Joe Bauman as Crewman Garvey
Bennett as a Penthara IV Scientist
Michael Braveheart as Ltjg. Martinez
Carl David Burks as Lt. Russell
Camara as an Operations Division Officer
Cameron as Ensign Kellogg
Cullen Chambers as a Command Division Officer
Tracee Cocco as Ltjg. Jae
John Copage as a Sciences Division Officer
Tony Cruz as Ensign Lopez
Denise Deuschle as a Sciences Division Officer
Michael Echols as a Civilian
Lanier Edwards as a Command Division Lieutenant
Factor as a Penthara IV Scientist
Falerne as a Penthara IV Scientist
Gina Gallante as a Sciences Division Officer
Grace Harrell as an Operations Division Officer
Hawthorne as a Sciences Division Officer
Hirner as a Command Division Officer
Reuel Kim as a Boy in Sickbay
Mark Lentry as a Civilian
Marco as a Penthara IV Scientist
Jay Montalvo as an Operations Division Officer
Michael Moorehead as a Sciences Division Ensign
Keith Rayve as a Command Division Ensign
Rose as a Penthara IV Scientist
Victor Sein as a Command Division Officer
Sigal as a Penthara IV Scientist
R. Swain as a Command Division Officer
Curt Truman as a Command Division Officer

Stardate: 45349.1

Synopsis

The Enterprise makes way toward a planet known as Penthara IV, where a massive asteroid has struck an unpopulated continent. Fearing that the resulting dust cloud could lead to a devastating nuclear winter like the one that occurred on Earth in the late 21st Century, the crew hopes to find a way to counteract the cloud's effects. As they travel toward the planet, a bright flash appears on the Bridge, and a strange man materializes before the crew. The man reveals that he is a Professor Berlinghoff Rasmussen, an historian from the late 26th Century Earth, who has traveled from the future to study the Enterprise. Although the crew is suspicious of Rasmussen, his presence arouses their interest in the future, but Picard insists they refrain from questioning their guest so they don't end up changing the future.

The Enterprise arrives at Penthara IV and the widespread devastation caused by the asteroid hit becomes apparent. While Geordi La Forge and Data work to save the planet, Rasmussen asks the crew to complete lengthy questionnaires, ostensibly for his research. He also asks to see several pieces of equipment, regarding them as relics of a bygone era. The crew members are nothing but polite, but privately they begin to lose patience with Rasmussen and his methods. Troi is especially wary of the man and what his true intentions might be after picking up a vibration that he is trying to confuse them.

[ Screencap Index ]

When the crew's initial plan to save Penthara IV backfires, Geordi comes up with an alternative solution that will either completely save the planet or kill every living thing on it. Desperate, Picard asks Rasmussen for advice regarding the plan, but Rasmussen refuses to help him on the grounds that Picard is trying to manipulate the future. Left only with his original choice to act or not to act, Picard goes with his original impulse and orders the crew to implement the risky plan.

The crew's efforts are successful, and Penthara IV is saved. Rasmussen immediately prepares to leave the Enterprise, but Picard and the crew greet him outside his vessel with the announcement that they plan to search his ship for several objects that have mysteriously disappeared during Rasmussen's stay. Rasmussen relents, but insists that only Data be allowed on his vessel since, if so instructed by Picard, he will never divulge what he sees.

Once inside, Rasmussen pulls a phaser on Data, revealing that he is not a 26th-century historian but a 22nd-century inventor. He traveled to the Enterprise to steal technology that he will take credit for creating, and he now plans to take Data with him as well. Luckily, Picard has already deactivated the phaser, and Data is able to outsmart his foe. After disposing of Rasmussen's ship, the crew turns him over to the authorities.

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