Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The Pegasus (1994)

Terry O'Quinn: Adm. Eric Pressman

Photos 

Quotes 

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : That's what it's about - a cloaking device. In the Treaty of Algeron, the Federation specifically agreed not to develop cloaking technology.

  Admiral Eric Pressman : And that treaty is the biggest mistake we ever made! It's kept us from exploiting a vital area of defense!

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : That treaty has kept us in peace for sixty years! And as a Starfleet officer, you're supposed to uphold it.

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [on recruiting Riker as First Officer]  I was looking through the records of about fifty candidates, and Will's was very much like all the others, filled with... lots of dry statistics and glowing letters of recommendation that tell you nothing. I was about to put it aside, look at another file, and then... something caught my eye. There was an incident on Altair III when Will was First Officer of the Hood. He refused to let Captain DeSoto beam down during a crisis. He disobeyed a direct order, and he risked a general court martial because he thought he was right. And when I read that, I knew that I had found my Number One.

  Admiral Eric Pressman : You wanted someone with a history of disobedience?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I wanted someone who would stand up to me, someone who was more concerned with the safety of the ship and accomplishing the mission than with how it might look on his record. To me, that's one of the marks of a good officer.

• [Admiral Pressman has suggested to take the Enterprise into the fissure of an asteroid] 

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Admiral, I don't think that we can risk...

  Admiral Eric Pressman : I've made my decision. Prepare to take the Enterprise in, Captain. That's an order.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Mr. Data, will you please note in the ship's log that this action is being taken over my explicit objection.

  Lt. Commander Data : It is so noted, sir.

• Admiral Eric Pressman : [as he is being led away to the brig]  I have a lot of friends at Starfleet Command, Captain.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : You're going to need them.

• Admiral Eric Pressman : [about the dead crew of the Pegasus]  I knew most of these people a lot longer than you did. Yes, it was tragic, but it was their fault!

  Commander William T. Riker : You don't know that. Neither of us knows what happened after we left.

  Admiral Eric Pressman : Well, it's not hard to guess. They tried to shut down an experiment they didn't understand; something went wrong and it killed them.

  Commander William T. Riker : No - *we* killed them.

  Admiral Eric Pressman : Now that doesn't sound like the same man who grabbed a phaser and defended his captain twelve years ago.

  Commander William T. Riker : I've had twelve years to think about it. And if I had it to do over again, I would have grabbed the phaser and pointed it at you instead of them.

• Admiral Eric Pressman : So, how long have you had that beard?

  Commander William T. Riker : About four years. I got tired of hearing how young I looked.

  Admiral Eric Pressman : What was it that, uh... Lieutenant Boylen used to call you?

  Commander William T. Riker : Ensign Babyface!

• Commander William T. Riker : [the Federation cloaking device on board the Pegasus]  I kept hoping it wouldn't be here. That it would have been destroyed or buried back there in that rockface.

  Admiral Eric Pressman : What the hell's that supposed to mean?

  Commander William T. Riker : It means I can't put this off any longer. Right up until now... I have had the luxury of time. But now I've got to make a choice. And Admiral... I'm afraid my choice is this. I can't let you start these experiments again. It was wrong twelve years ago, and it is wrong today.

• Admiral Eric Pressman : Twelve years ago, I needed an officer that I could count on in a crisis, someone who would support and obey my decisions without question, someone who was willing to trust my judgment. And that someone was Will Riker. Without his loyalty, none of us would have survived.

• Admiral Eric Pressman : You are still under my direct orders not to talk about what you know, and I expect you to follow those orders to the letter. I made you, Mister, and I can break you just as easily. Do you understand me, Commander?

• Admiral Eric Pressman : You *have* changed.

  Commander William T. Riker : Changed?

  Admiral Eric Pressman : Just something the Captain and I were talking about. To be honest, I'm glad to see this kind of change in you, Will. State your opinion and stand by it. It's a far cry from the young man who used to sit at my helm and worry about pressing the wrong button.

  Commander William T. Riker : A lot of things can change in twelve years, Admiral.

  Admiral Eric Pressman : Yes, they can. But it's important that a man changes the right things in his life. Not his sense of duty, not his sense of loyalty.

  Commander William T. Riker : I'd like to think that I haven't changed those things, sir.

  Admiral Eric Pressman : I would like to think that too. Because those things say more about a man than the rank on his collar or the uniform he wears. They define him. - Twelve years ago, a lot of older and more seasoned officers turned away from their duty. But you stood up for what was right. I'm sorry, Will. I know the kind of man you are. I know that I can count on you again.

• Admiral Eric Pressman : Will, don't worry. It won't be like it was twelve years ago. And this time no one's gonna stop us.