Some obvious examples
- the holodeck gets a fatal software error and people are stuck in a classic novel
- a shuttle breaks down and crashes into a habitable planet
- the federation loses a space battle, but thankfully there’s some space jungle (nebula, asteroid field, etc) to hide out in, thankfully within sub light distances
I am more annoyed by the lack of what should happen, but doesn’t.
Captain’s Log, Stardate everyday: Space is still empty and boring.
Data: We’re approaching an asteroid.
Picard: On screen. Is there anything interesting about this asteroid?
Data: it is almost entirely composed of iron and silicon dioxide.
Picard: still the most interesting thing we have encountered in months.