MEMORY OMEGA EXTRACT / PERSONAL LOG: PICARD

SD44402.8

While I find Admiral Raner’s “Data Red” project to be misguided at best, I have no choice but to release Geordi to her command.

Personally, I find the entire concept to be offensive. Mister Data has proven to be an exemplary officer and I am proud to count him as a friend.  

I wonder, when the first Vulcans enlisted in Starfleet, if there were similar discussions that their vulnerabilities should be profiled. Just in case. After all, Vulcans possess an exceptional intelligence and superior physical strength to most Federation races. I consider this treatment of Data no different.

It is, in fact, Data’s vulnerabilities that force me to concede that he has been made to act against his friend’s and colleagues in his past, not his strengths. And all of us aboard the Enterprise have endeavored to aid Data in his quest to better himself. A red team is not what’s called for here.

As well as I know Data, so do I know my chief engineer. He is more than one of the finest technical minds in Starfleet; he is Data’s best friend. While he unquestionably loyal to Starfleet, I also know I can count on him to not just find a way through this assignment, but to find the right way.