It thankfully stops short of "meat":

Such animated characters are composed of solid matter arranged by transporter-based replicators and manipulated by highly articulated computer-driven tractor beams. The results are exceptionally realistic "puppets," which exhibit behaviors almost exactly like those of living beings, depending on software limits.

Objects created on the Holodeck that are pure holographic images cannot be removed from the Holodeck, even if they appear to possess physical reality because of the focused forcebeam imagery. Objects created by replicator matter conversion do have physical reality and can indeed be removed from the Holodeck, even though they will no longer be under computer control.

Obviously, there is an inconsistency here, as we saw that later holographic characters could not be removed from the holodeck, and therefore must not have been replicated.

I don't think so - I've never been able to find it.

That isn't actually stated anywhere, but...it kind of has to be true in order for latinum to work.

The Technical Manual explanation is not that replicators create matter out of pure energy - they are a type of transporter that dematerializes raw material and rematerializes it to match a molecular pattern. They are "matter-energy converters" only in the sense that the stream of particles during the materialization process could be called an energy stream.

These replicator system headends are located on Deck 12 in the Saucer Module [of the Enterprise-D] and on Deck 34 in the Engineering Section. These systems operate by using a phase-transition coil chamber in which a measured quantity of raw material is dematerialized in a manner similar to that of a standard transporter.

Instead of using a molecular imaging scanner to determine the patterns of the raw stock, however, a quantum geometry transformational matrix field is used to modify the matter stream to conform to a digitally stored molecular pattern matrix. The matter stream is then routed through a network of waveguide conduits that direct the signal to a replicator terminal at which the desired article is materialized within another phase transition chamber.

Yeah...I think a lot of that will depend on what the actual plot of the thing is, and they've been keeping a surprisingly tight lid on that.

The covert mission to destroy Cardassian weapons that Starfleet Intelligence sent Picard, Crusher, and Worf on in "Chain of Command" was probably illegal, but I never hear people complaining about it.

Reward Details: Merchantman Freighter [T4]

Freighters and Transports are large vessels designed for trade and long-range cargo hauling. Almost all space-faring races utilize Freighters and have for as long as space travel has been viable. The "Merchantman" line of Freighters represents independence and freedom from the primary powers of the galaxy, and is typically flown by those who value their own merchant empires above any faction, territory, colony, or empire they may have once called home.

The Merchantman Freighter interior has a number of amenities including a Trade Duty Officer Assignment contact, which is not standard on most starships. Both you and your allies can access the Trader.

Also assigned to the Freighter interior is a Quartermaster. The Quartermaster can sell you and your allies commodities at a discounted rate. A similar discount applies when you make any Energy Credit Purchase while onboard your ship (for instance, from Sector Space Freighter Stores). The interior also includes access to the Bank, Exchange and Mail, all of which are accessible to you and your allies.

The Merchantman Freighter has access to a secure subspace channel to call in a Security Transport ship. The Security Transport will allow you to access Prisoner Transfer and Contraband Assignments. The Security Transport is not a combat support vessel, and can only be called when in Sector Space. It is accessible to you and your allies. Finally, the Merchantman Freighter comes with a Transwarp Drive that will allow you to access the furthest corners of the quadrant. The Transwarp Drive will allow you to instantly access most Exploration Clusters. Note, like many older Transwarp drives, the Freighters Transwarp has a small chance to fail.

Merchantman Freighters are not designed as combat vessels. They come with minimal armaments designed only to ward off pirates and other would-be threats.

Note: You can switch to your Freighter from any ship interior. Once you're done using it, switch back to any ship from the Freighter interior.

Ship details:

Faction: Any

Required Rank: Complete the Tutorial

Hull Modifier: 1.1

Shield Modifier: 0.9

Fore Weapons: 3

Aft Weapons: 2

Device Slots: 3

Bridge Officer Stations:

1 Lieutenant Universal

1 Lieutenant Commander Universal

1 Ensign Universal

Console Modifications: 2 Tactical Console, 2 Science Consoles, 2 Engineering Consoles

Base Turn Rate: 15

Impulse Modifier: 0.16

Inertia: 40

+5 to All Subsystem Power

Yeah, I only really thought of them because (a) the Memory Alpha page for "Exoskeleton" mentioned them, and (b) people have been comparing Zeph here to the Borg since images first came out.

Disregarding the Borg, I can't think of any others.

Zeph has moved into my head, and he's not moving out.

Star Trek has certainly never shied away from "fun and silly" before. I think it's good to have different flavours available.

As long as I enjoy this thing, it should be enough for me.

The questions are pretty good. One thing that they didn't include is the spectre of people choosing MAID due to deficiencies in the health care system, rather than the medical condition itself. I had to write that one in.

So sad, yet so delicious.