Trapped in a Tholian web. — "A Handful of Dust" is the 72nd issue of DC Comics's 1989 series of TNG comics. It is the second issue in the five-part War and Madness story arc written by Michael Jan Friedman, drawn by Gordon Purcell and Terry Pallot, and published in 1995.
Summary[]
The Enterprise crew investigates the Tholian attack at Alpha Unuria, which had been interrupted by the USS Stockholm, but no new data comes from examining debris and speaking with the colonists. William T. Riker spends two days looking for clues, possibly as an overreaction to his father Kyle Riker's belief that they should move on. Deanna Troi asks Will about his judgment in Ten Forward, and he does at least confess that Kyle Riker's impending marriage bothers him.
En route to Beta Exorpa, the Enterprise picks up a distress signal from the colony at Beta Barnia, and diverts there at maximum warp. Three Tholian Web Spinner-class starships capture the Enterprise in a Tholian web. Will Riker recalls a battle scenario at Starfleet Academy that took advantage of a blind spot in a Tholian ship's sensor array, and attempts the same maneuver, but to no avail. Meanwhile, the flagship's first officer Nethrax doubts the reasoning behind his commander's actions, but is unsure what he can do about it.
Log entries[]
- First Officer's log, stardate 48252.6.
- Of the three Federation colonies attacked by the Tholians for no apparent reason, only Alpha Unuria produced any survivors. That's where our investigation is slated to begin.
- First Officer's log.
- Despite the efforts of the Stockholm, some twenty percent of the colonists were killed in the Tholian raid. Considering they had no doctor of their own here, it's a wonder the casualties weren't greater.
- Captain's log, supplemental.
- After two days of sheer frustration, I have been forced to withdraw our away team from the Alpha Unuria colony.
- Counselor's log, supplemental.
- It is increasingly clear to me that Will and his father are not arguing solely about strategy. There is a decidedly personal element to their confrontation as well. Both of them are being stubborn. The question is… which one of them is right?
- Captain's log, supplemental.
- The Tholians' energy web continues to constrict about the Enterprise. Power levels are dropping steadily. The moment of our destruction approaches… and we are no closer to solving the problem than we were before.
References[]
Characters[]
- Alpha Unuria residents • Ben • Beverly Crusher • Data • Glenda • Guinan • Hans • Narqal personnel • Nethrax • Alyssa Ogawa • Jean-Luc Picard • Kyle Riker • William Riker • Selar • Deanna Troi • Worf
- Referenced only
- Annie Riker • Brenda Sorenson • USS Stockholm personnel
Starships and vehicles[]
- USS Enterprise-D (Galaxy-class) • Narqal (Web Spinner-class Tholian starship)
- Referenced only
- USS Stockholm (Miranda-class)
Locations[]
- Alpha Unuria • Beta Barania
- Referenced only
- Beta Exorpa • Starfleet Academy
Races and cultures[]
States and organizations[]
Science and classification[]
- annular confinement beam • biobed • commbadge • deflector grid • deflector shield • directed energy weapon • medical tricorder • medscanner • phaser • sensor • sensor array • Tholian web • tricorder • viewscreen
Ranks and titles[]
- captain • chief medical officer • commander • counselor • ensign • executive officer • first officer • lieutenant • number one • senior officer
Other references[]
- book • bridge • captain's log, USS Enterprise, 2371 • chief medical officer's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) • counselor's log • distress signal • evasive maneuvers • Federation Starfleet ranks (2360s-2370s) • first officer's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) • flagship • hour • inch • minute • outpost • rank • second • sickbay • Starfleet ranks • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (2366-2373) • Ten Forward • warp factor (warp six) • year
Timeline[]
Chronology[]
- 2350s
- Cadet William T. Riker takes advantage of a sensor array blind spot to incapacitate a Tholian vessel during a simulation at Starfleet Academy.
- 2371
- USS Enterprise-D confronts three Tholian Web Spinner-class starships at Beta Barania.
Production history[]
- June 1995
- First printed by DC Comics
- 6 February 2020
- Reprinted in Graphic Novel Collection # 98 (Eaglemoss)
Appendices[]
Background[]
- The title refers to the line, "I will show you fear in a handful of dust", from a 1922 poem by T.S. Eliot. (The Waste Land article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)
Related stories[]
Images[]
Connections[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous comic: The First Casualty |
TNG comics DC monthly series |
Next comic: The Dying of the Light |
| Previous story: The First Casualty |
Comics by: Michael Jan Friedman |
Next story: The Dying of the Light |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: The First Casualty |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next Adventure: The Dying of the Light |
| Previous Adventure: The First Casualty |
Voyages of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) |
Next Adventure: The Dying of the Light |
External link[]
- A Handful of Dust article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.