Picard intencionalmente destruiu todos os registros da tecnologia do Iconian, incluindo o gateway, os probes e todos os seus próprios scans.
PICARD: (handing the tricorder to Worf) Destroy this.
WORF: But, sir, it contains the record of all that we have discovered here.
PICARD: And that is precisely why it must be destroyed. Time?
WORF: Three minutes.
PICARD: (to himself) I am running out of time. We all are.
Picard kneels beside Data and pulls him up until the android is supported against his shoulder. Worf lays the tricorder on the floor of the chamber and fires his phaser at it. The tricorder VANISHES.
PICARD: (continuing) This room and the technology contained in it must be destroyed. It cannot be allowed to fall into Romulan hands.
O que resta são simplesmente as lembranças da tripulação, pouco melhor do que descrições amplas de uma tecnologia que está tão adiantada na Federação, que poderia ser apenas mágica. Podemos supor que a o interrogatório pós-missão foi algo assim ...
Federation Scientist: So, Captain Picard, can you please describe the Iconian Gateway in as much detail as possible.
Picard: It was a sort of glowing window thing that went places.
Federation Scientist: OK. Thanks for that. Very useful.
No que diz respeito a qualquer exame feito do segundo Gateway Iconiano visto em DS9: Para a Morte Com base no relato de Worf sobre a missão anterior, e notando a aprovação da Starfleet da decisão de Picard de destruir todos os dados sobre o Portal Iconiano, parece muito provável que eles teriam feito o mesmo com qualquer leitura feita naquele portal, mesmo que não tivesse campo de amortecimento em torno dele impedindo uma inspeção mais próxima.
WORF: I was on the mission that discovered the Iconian homeworld. We were forced to destroy the Gateway we found there rather than let it fall into Romulan hands, and Starfleet Command supported our decision.
Isso não impede que os rumores se espalhem ...
PARIS: If it'll make you feel any better, I'll let you in on a little secret. I was on the bridge this morning when we received a hail from an Iconian scientist. He claims to have a trans-dimensional gateway that can take us anywhere in the galaxy.
KIM: I'm not that gullible.