Há algumas coisas acontecendo aqui.
De acordo com o script , primeiro temos a cena que você se refere entre Worf, Troi e Riker. na ponte:
WORF: Sir. Permission to speak frankly.
RIKER: Go ahead.
WORF: Our priority is to stop the aliens from any more incursions to Earth. Any delay is unacceptable.
RIKER: If I can save Captain Picard, I consider that very acceptable.
WORF: The Captain would not. I recommend we target photon torpedoes on the alien habitat and destroy it. Immediately.
TROI: He's right, Will.
RIKER: Power up the photons, Mister Worf. Alert me when they're ready.
Presumivelmente, ao mesmo tempo, você tem essa cena, à qual você também se refere vagamente, acontecendo em engenharia:
LAFORGE: Computer, initialise the reload circuits.
COMPUTER: Reload circuits are initialising.
LAFORGE: Okay. Data? This ought to do it. (does something to his positronic net)
LAFORGE: I don't get it. I don't understand why isn't this working. Computer, run me a diagnostic on the input polarisers.
COMPUTER: There is intermittent contact in the input polarisers.
LAFORGE: Intermittent? (Geordi opens the back of Data's head)
LAFORGE: What? An iron filing. How'd that get in there?
E então você tem essa troca imediatamente depois de volta na ponte:
WORF: Commander, I have set the photons to fire in staggered rounds, detonating in ten second intervals.
RIKER: Very well. Fire when ready.
WORF: The sequence will be ready to initiate in one minute.
Isso parece mostrar que Worf gastou um pequeno tempo instruindo o computador a usar uma solução de disparo específica enquanto o LaForge estava solucionando alguns problemas com o reinício dos dados. Como resultado, o computador precisará de cerca de um minuto para calcular a solução de disparo e preparar o número necessário de torpedos de fótons para executar a solução. Este minuto de cálculo permite que a próxima cena ocorra:
LAFORGE: Computer, run another diagnostic on the input polarisers.
COMPUTER: Polariser circuits are functioning.
LAFORGE: Well, then, that ought to do it. Okay, Data. Come on, now.
DATA: Torpedoes. Phasing. Alien. I am processing a binary message entered into my static memory by Captain Picard. Geordi, are we planning to fire on the alien habitat?
LAFORGE: Yeah, but
DATA: It is imperative that we do not. I will explain later.
LAFORGE: La Forge to Riker. Hold your fire!