Back on the ship, Mariner, Tendi, and Rutherford are stuck with "Anomaly Consolidation Day," the task of collecting all the dangerous alien artifacts senior officers have stashed in their quarters.
Seeking a faster track to promotion, Boimler joins a clique of ambitious ensigns who call themselves "The Redshirts". They spend their time acting like senior officers and looking down on the other Lower Deckers. However, when the scorpion-Tendi begins tearing through the mess hall, Boimler realizes his friends are more important than a promotion. He uses his knowledge of Tendi's personality to save her, making a fool of himself with replicated food to make her laugh, which reverts her to her Orion form. The Prank Call [S2E6] The Spy Humongous
The episode ends with a deep-cut fan reference. Mariner reveals she swiped a crystal that allows for long-distance voice broadcasting. The "Fave Four" use it to prank call , the malevolent "Skin of Evil" that famously killed Tasha Yar on The Next Generation . They spend the evening making fun of the sentient puddle of tar, much to his eternal frustration. Star Trek: Lower Decks review – Season 2, Episode 6 Back on the ship, Mariner, Tendi, and Rutherford