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|aPrevInUniverseTimeline = The Defector (episode)
 
|aPrevInUniverseTimeline = The Defector (episode)
 
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While the ''Enterprise''-D is reviewing a seemingly idyllic planet's application for Federation membership, an escaped prisoner leads its crew to discover an ugly secret: the government's shameful treatment of its war veterans.
+
While the ''Enterprise''-D is reviewing a seemingly idyllic planet's application for Federation membership, an escaped prisoner leads her crew to discover an ugly secret: the government's shameful treatment of its war veterans.
   
 
==Summary==
 
==Summary==
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:"''Captain's Log, Stardate 43489.2. We have arrived at [[Angosia III]], a planet that has expressed a strong desire for membership in the [[Federation]]. [[Prime Minister]] [[Nayrok]] has taken [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] and me on a tour of the capital city.''"
 
:"''Captain's Log, Stardate 43489.2. We have arrived at [[Angosia III]], a planet that has expressed a strong desire for membership in the [[Federation]]. [[Prime Minister]] [[Nayrok]] has taken [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] and me on a tour of the capital city.''"
   
At the conclusion of the tour, [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] and [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] congratulate Nayrok on their culture's rapid recovery from the [[Tarsian War]], and Nayrok says their people are equally grateful; violence of any kind is abhorrent to the [[Angosian]]s, who consider art and intellectual achievement to be their greatest virtues. As they are talking, Nayrok's aide pulls him aside with an urgent matter. In private, Picard comments that the Angosians will make a fine addition to the Federation's members. Riker agrees, though he finds the people of Angosia III somewhat stuffy.
+
At the conclusion of the tour, {{Captain}} [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] and [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] congratulate Nayrok on their culture's rapid recovery from the [[Tarsian War]], and Nayrok says their people are equally grateful; violence of any kind is abhorrent to the [[Angosian]]s, who consider art and intellectual achievement to be their greatest virtues. As they are talking, Nayrok's aide pulls him aside with an urgent matter. In private, Picard comments that the Angosians will make a fine addition to the Federation's members. Riker agrees, though he finds the people of Angosia III somewhat stuffy.
   
 
[[File:Enterprise chases Angosian vessel.jpg|thumb|left|"''He's seen us, Data!''"]]
 
[[File:Enterprise chases Angosian vessel.jpg|thumb|left|"''He's seen us, Data!''"]]
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[[File:Danar captured.jpg|thumb|"''Get him to a detention cell!''"]]
 
[[File:Danar captured.jpg|thumb|"''Get him to a detention cell!''"]]
Without a warp drive, [[Geordi La Forge|La Forge]] is certain that the vessel could not have fled the system, but [[sensor]]s cannot locate it. Riker guesses that he must be suspending his ship over the magnetic poles of the planet to avoid detection. When the ''Enterprise'' flushes him out and locks a [[tractor beam]] on him, he pushes his vessel towards the ''Enterprise'' in a [[Kamikaze]] run. The ship's computer automatically raises the shields and disengages the tractor beam, and the shuttle bounces off their shields. Becoming exasperated, Picard prepares to have the whole craft [[transporter|beamed]] into a shuttle bay, but the prisoner anticipates them and ejects from the drive section in an [[escape pod]].
+
Without a warp drive, [[Geordi La Forge|La Forge]] is certain that the vessel could not have fled the system, but [[sensor]]s cannot locate it. Riker guesses that he must be suspending his ship over the magnetic poles of the planet to avoid detection. When the ''Enterprise'' flushes him out and locks a [[tractor beam]] on him, he pushes his vessel towards the ''Enterprise'' in a [[suicide run]]. The ship's computer automatically raises the shields and disengages the tractor beam, and the shuttle bounces off their shields. Becoming exasperated, Picard prepares to have the whole craft [[transporter|beamed]] into a shuttle bay, but the prisoner anticipates them and ejects from the drive section in an [[escape pod]].
   
 
The pod is still devoid of life readings, but Picard orders [[Miles O'Brien]] to beam the contents of the pod aboard. O'Brien detects a weapon in the transporter beam and deactivates it, before completing the transport with a two-man security team standing by. When Danar refuses to surrender, he is shot twice with phasers set on [[stun]], which have no effect on him, and he overpowers O'Brien and the security team. The fight takes Danar out into the corridor, but before he can get further, Riker and [[Worf]] are able to subdue and capture him.
 
The pod is still devoid of life readings, but Picard orders [[Miles O'Brien]] to beam the contents of the pod aboard. O'Brien detects a weapon in the transporter beam and deactivates it, before completing the transport with a two-man security team standing by. When Danar refuses to surrender, he is shot twice with phasers set on [[stun]], which have no effect on him, and he overpowers O'Brien and the security team. The fight takes Danar out into the corridor, but before he can get further, Riker and [[Worf]] are able to subdue and capture him.
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===Act Two===
 
===Act Two===
 
[[File:Holding cell, 2366.jpg|thumb|left|"''It seems that I am a victim of my own bad timing.''"]]
 
[[File:Holding cell, 2366.jpg|thumb|left|"''It seems that I am a victim of my own bad timing.''"]]
While Picard and Nayrok make the arrangements to send Danar back to Lunar V, Riker asks why the sensors did not detect him. Data has confirmed that the sensors are functioning properly for some reason, Danar has no discernable [[life sign]]s.
+
While Picard and Nayrok make the arrangements to send Danar back to Lunar V, Riker asks why the sensors did not detect him. Data has confirmed that the sensors are functioning properly – for some reason, Danar has no discernable [[life sign]]s.
   
In the [[brig]], Danar is tossing and turning on his bunk, apparently in the grip of a violent [[nightmare]]. [[Deanna Troi]] is passing by the cell in a [[corridor]] when she senses his turmoil, and goes in to talk to him. Her conversation with the man is a surprise: though he is distrustful and suspicious, he is also intelligent, emotionally perceptive, and even has a fine-tuned sense of humor and irony. She describes her role as ship's [[counselor]], and is offended when he labels her a "mind-control expert." She is unable to fathom what has made Danar for all appearances a civilized man commit such violent acts, and asks if the other prisoners on Lunar V are mistreated. Danar replies that, on the contrary, Lunar V is a very comfortable and well-provisioned prison, but a prison nonetheless, since no one is allowed to leave.
+
In the [[brig]], Danar is tossing and turning on his bunk, apparently in the grip of a violent [[nightmare]]. [[Deanna Troi]] is passing by the cell in a [[corridor]] when she senses his turmoil, and goes in to talk to him. Her conversation with the man is a surprise: though he is distrustful and suspicious, he is also intelligent, emotionally perceptive, and even has a fine-tuned sense of humor and irony. She describes her role as ship's [[counselor]], and is offended when he labels her a "mind-control expert." She is unable to fathom what has made Danar – for all appearances a civilized man – commit such violent acts, and asks if the prisoners on Lunar V are mistreated. Danar replies that, on the contrary, Lunar V is a very comfortable, well-provisioned, and humane prison, but a prison nonetheless, since no one is allowed to leave. Using her [[empathic]] abilities, she confirms that the turmoil she sensed while he was asleep is gone, and his inner self mirrors his calm exterior.
   
 
[[File:Troi and Data research Danar.jpg|thumb|"''What was this man's crime?''"]]
 
[[File:Troi and Data research Danar.jpg|thumb|"''What was this man's crime?''"]]
Troi tells Picard that she senses something wrong Danar has a thoughtful and intelligent personality typical of his Angosian heritage, and she does not sense anything inherently violent about him. Picard reminds her of the mayhem he caused while they were trying to capture him, and says he will be glad to transfer Danar off the ''Enterprise'' when the Angosian shuttle arrives.
+
Troi tells Picard that she senses something wrong – Danar has a thoughtful and intelligent personality typical of his Angosian heritage, and she does not sense anything inherently violent about him. Picard reminds her of the mayhem he caused while they were trying to capture him, and says he will be glad to transfer Danar off the ''Enterprise'' when the Angosian shuttle arrives.
   
Troi asks Data to check the Angosian government's records, trying to find out what crime Danar committed that sent him to Lunar V in the first place. Data finds that Danar has no criminal record whatsoever. As a matter of fact, Lunar V is a [[military]] facility, and Danar's records show him to be a highly decorated soldier of the Tarsian Wars. Troi goes back to Danar and asks what did he do to end up at Lunar V, and he replies that he did everything the Angosians asked him to. Her next supposition is that his psyche was damaged by his experience in the war, and he says the "damage" began when he first volunteered for service, and was introduced to his first military instructor - who, ironically, also carried the title of "Counselor."
+
Troi asks Data to check the Angosian government's records, trying to find out what crime Danar committed that sent him to Lunar V in the first place. Data finds that Danar has no criminal record whatsoever. As a matter of fact, Lunar V is a [[military]] facility, and Danar's records show him to be a highly decorated soldier of the Tarsian Wars. Troi goes back to Danar and asks what did he do to end up at Lunar V, and he replies that he did everything the Angosians asked him to. Her next supposition is that his psyche was damaged by his experience in the war, and he says the "damage" began when he first volunteered for service, and was introduced to his first military instructor – who, ironically, also carried the title of "Counselor."
   
 
===Act Three===
 
===Act Three===
 
[[File:Troi leads briefing.jpg|thumb|left|"''He's been programmed to be the perfect soldier.''"]]
 
[[File:Troi leads briefing.jpg|thumb|left|"''He's been programmed to be the perfect soldier.''"]]
Troi and [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Beverly Crusher]] examine Danar and finds that he has been psychologically manipulated and biochemically modified programmed to become "the perfect soldier." The conditioning enhanced his strength, reflexes, and intelligence, and programmed him to survive at any cost. Crusher adds that one of the chemicals also shields his cellular electrical impulses, masking his life signs to sensors. Unfortunately, the soldiers became a liability to their people after the Tarsian Wars. Minor arguments could trigger their programming on and result in extreme violence. Instead of trying to reverse their programming, the government simply exiled them to Lunar V, including those like Danar who committed no criminal acts.
+
Troi and [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Beverly Crusher]] examine Danar and finds that he has been psychologically manipulated and biochemically modified – programmed to become "the perfect soldier." The conditioning enhanced his strength, reflexes, and intelligence, and programmed him to survive at any cost. Crusher adds that one of the chemicals also shields his cellular electrical impulses, masking his life signs to sensors. Unfortunately, the soldiers became a liability to their people after the Tarsian Wars. Minor arguments could trigger their programming on and result in extreme violence. Instead of trying to reverse their programming, the government simply exiled them to Lunar V, including those like Danar who committed no criminal acts.
   
Data visits Danar in his cell. Danar is initially mistrustful and asks Data to leave, but then asks him back, admitting that he needs company. Data identifies himself as an android and says that they have one thing in common they have both been programmed. Data asks Danar if his programming cannot be changed, and Danar says bitterly that no one on Angosia has ever explored the possibility instead, they left him to live with the alterations they made to him.
+
Data visits Danar in his cell. Danar is initially mistrustful and asks Data to leave, but then asks him back, admitting that he needs company. Data identifies himself as an android and says that they have one thing in common – they have both been programmed. Data asks Danar if his programming cannot be changed, and Danar says bitterly that no one on Angosia has ever explored the possibility – instead, they left him to live with the alterations they made to him.
   
Picard confers with Nayrok, who says that Danar is putting an undeservedly harsh spin on the truth. The soldiers had trouble readjusting to normal life, so the government resettled them to a "colony" on Lunar V. Nayrok assures Picard that the Angosians went to great lengths to give the "colonists" a comfortable way of life, and it was only later, after the agitations of a few men like Danar, that they had to add security measures and convert the soldiers' "colony" into a prison. Picard asks if the resettlement was of the soldiers' own choosing, and whether the government ever explored the possibility of reversing the soldiers' conditioning. Nayrok curtly replies that the Federation is "treading on matters of internal security," and cuts off the transmission after thanking the ''Enterprise'' for its help.
+
Picard confers with Nayrok, who says that Danar is putting an undeservedly harsh spin on the truth. The soldiers had trouble readjusting to normal life, so the government resettled them to a "colony" on Lunar V. Nayrok assures Picard that the Angosians went to great lengths to give the "colonists" a comfortable way of life, and it was only later, after the agitations of a few men like Danar, that they had to add security measures and convert the soldiers' "colony" into a prison. Picard asks if the resettlement was of the soldiers' own choosing, and whether the government ever explored the possibility of reversing the soldiers' conditioning. Nayrok curtly replies that the Federation is "treading on matters of internal security," and cuts off the transmission after thanking the ''Enterprise'' for its help. Picard closes down his own terminal with an expression of deep disgust, his good opinion of the Angosians and their Prime Minister extinguished.
   
 
[[File:Data visits Danar.jpg|thumb|"''We have both been programmed.''"]]
 
[[File:Data visits Danar.jpg|thumb|"''We have both been programmed.''"]]
 
In conversation with Data, Danar says the man he used to be is still inside him, but the "programming" takes over at the slightest provocation. Danar asks Data whether Data is programmed for combat like he is. Data says no, he is not programmed to kill. Danar reflects that his enhanced combat abilities have enabled him to kill 84 people in his lifetime, and his enhanced memory enables him to remember each of the 84 faces with perfect clarity.
 
In conversation with Data, Danar says the man he used to be is still inside him, but the "programming" takes over at the slightest provocation. Danar asks Data whether Data is programmed for combat like he is. Data says no, he is not programmed to kill. Danar reflects that his enhanced combat abilities have enabled him to kill 84 people in his lifetime, and his enhanced memory enables him to remember each of the 84 faces with perfect clarity.
   
Picard enters with Troi and says that he has no choice but to transfer him back to Angosian custody, even though he sympathizes with the plight of Danar and his compatriots. Danar courteously thanks the captain for being upfront with him, and returns the favor by telling Picard that he will do anything in his power to escape. Troi tries to reassure him that if Angosia joins the Federation, its resources will be put to use finding a cure for their condition. Danar says simply that even if that happens, he will not be around to see it, because he would rather die than return to Lunar V - and that resolve is stronger than the imperative to survive programmed into his soul.
+
Picard enters with Troi and says that he has no choice but to transfer him back to Angosian custody, even though he sympathizes with the plight of Danar and his compatriots. Danar courteously thanks the captain for being upfront with him, and returns the favor by telling Picard that he will do anything in his power to escape. Troi tries to reassure him that if Angosia joins the Federation, its resources will be put to use finding a cure for their condition. Danar says simply that even if that happens, he will not be around to see it, because he would rather die than return to Lunar V – and that resolve is stronger than the imperative to survive programmed into his soul.
   
 
[[File:Danar escapes from transporter beam.jpg|thumb|left|"''What the hell?!''"]]
 
[[File:Danar escapes from transporter beam.jpg|thumb|left|"''What the hell?!''"]]
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[[File:Nayrok asks for help.jpg|thumb|"''This is all you've brought? Where are your security men?''"]]
 
[[File:Nayrok asks for help.jpg|thumb|"''This is all you've brought? Where are your security men?''"]]
Picard, Worf, Troi and Data beam down to the surface while Nayrok's staff are arming themselves. Nayrok is surprised to see only four members of the away team - he was expecting Picard to bring an army to protect them. Picard says the Federation is not going to help them evade responsibility for their actions: they recruited an army of idealistic young men like Danar, turned them into killing machines, and then locked them away and did their best to forget about them. Troi and Data urge them to consider whether the soldiers' programming can be reversed.
+
Picard, Worf, Troi and Data beam down to the surface while Nayrok's staff are arming themselves. Nayrok is surprised to see only four members of the away team – he was expecting Picard to bring an army to protect them. Picard says the Federation is not going to help them evade responsibility for their actions: they recruited an army of idealistic young men like Danar, turned them into killing machines, and then locked them away and did their best to forget about them. Troi and Data urge them to consider whether the soldiers' programming can be reversed.
   
Nayrok and his adjutant, [[Zayner]], admit that the chemicals can be removed, but the psychological conditioning is considered irreversible. Even before the soldiers were trained, the government knew that was a risk they were taking and Worf, whose warrior sensibilities are naturally outraged, asked whether the government revealed that risk to the men who volunteered to fight for their world.
+
Nayrok and his adjutant, [[Zayner]], admit that the chemicals can be removed, but the psychological conditioning is considered irreversible. Even before the soldiers were trained, the government knew that was a risk they were taking – and Worf, whose warrior sensibilities are naturally outraged, asked whether the government revealed that risk to the men who volunteered to fight for their world.
   
 
[[File:Danar fires warning shot.jpg|thumb|left|"''You will '''not''' ignore us!''"]]
 
[[File:Danar fires warning shot.jpg|thumb|left|"''You will '''not''' ignore us!''"]]
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[[File:Nayrok.jpg|thumb|"''Picard, you can't leave us like this!''"]]
 
[[File:Nayrok.jpg|thumb|"''Picard, you can't leave us like this!''"]]
Nayrok says the ''Enterprise'' must do something about the situation, and Picard agrees he tells the transporter room to beam the away team back aboard the ship. Picard says that, after all, he cannot interfere with the "internal security" of Angosia. He tells the government that they must make a decision regarding the fate of their veterans. In the meantime, Picard has all the information he needs for his report, and, if the Angosians wish to reapply for Federation membership, their application will be given all due consideration. Danar seems pleased that he is being recognized and smiles at the away team as they leave.
+
Nayrok says the ''Enterprise'' must do something about the situation, and Picard agrees – he tells the transporter room to beam the away team back aboard the ship. Picard says that, after all, he cannot interfere with the "internal security" of Angosia. He tells the government that they must make a decision regarding the fate of their veterans. In the meantime, Picard has all the information he needs for his report, and, if the Angosians wish to reapply for Federation membership, their application will be given all due consideration. Danar seems pleased that he is being recognized and smiles at the away team as they leave.
   
 
Aboard the ''Enterprise'', Picard notes that if the government survives the night, they will be given assistance by the Federation in helping their veterans with their conditioning. When Riker asks whether the government will survive the night, Picard remarks dryly that he believes it will "choose to." The ''Enterprise'' leaves Angosia.
 
Aboard the ''Enterprise'', Picard notes that if the government survives the night, they will be given assistance by the Federation in helping their veterans with their conditioning. When Riker asks whether the government will survive the night, Picard remarks dryly that he believes it will "choose to." The ''Enterprise'' leaves Angosia.
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"''He's intelligent, thoughtful... typically Angosian. I know what he's done, but when I'm with him, I cannot believe that he is randomly and deliberately violent. In fact, inherently he has a ''non''-violent personality.''"<br />
+
"''He's intelligent, thoughtful&hellip; typically Angosian. I know what he's done, but when I'm with him, I cannot believe that he is randomly and deliberately violent. In fact, inherently he has a ''non''-violent personality.''"<br />
 
"''Counselor, it took five men to restrain him! And he took about half the transporter room in the process!''"
 
"''Counselor, it took five men to restrain him! And he took about half the transporter room in the process!''"
 
: - '''Deanna Troi''' and '''Picard''', about Danar
 
: - '''Deanna Troi''' and '''Picard''', about Danar
   
   
"''Lunar V... an orbiting gulag.''"
+
"''Lunar V&hellip an orbiting gulag.''"
 
: - '''Picard'''
 
: - '''Picard'''
   
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== Background information ==
 
== Background information ==
  +
=== Production history ===
  +
* First draft script: {{d|13|October|1989}}
  +
* Revised first draft script: [[16 October]] 1989
  +
* Final draft script: [[25 October]] 1989 {{Star Trek Minutiae|resources/scripts/159.txt}}
 
* Premiere airdate: {{d|8|January|1990}}
  +
* First UK airdate: {{d|8|January|1992}}
  +
 
=== Story and production ===
 
=== Story and production ===
 
* This episode was an allegory to US veterans of the Vietnam War, integrating back into American society. [[Michael Piller]] remarked, "''The whole theme of the show was let's look at how society treats its returning veterans. I thought from a conceptual level we handled that well, and we came up with good science fiction to make it interesting. There's some argument that the best soldier ever created bringing the ''Enterprise'' to its knees is a little hard to believe, and that might have been the weakness of the show. I enjoyed it, and was not ashamed of the show.''" (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]''; ''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
 
* This episode was an allegory to US veterans of the Vietnam War, integrating back into American society. [[Michael Piller]] remarked, "''The whole theme of the show was let's look at how society treats its returning veterans. I thought from a conceptual level we handled that well, and we came up with good science fiction to make it interesting. There's some argument that the best soldier ever created bringing the ''Enterprise'' to its knees is a little hard to believe, and that might have been the weakness of the show. I enjoyed it, and was not ashamed of the show.''" (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]''; ''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
 
* Originally, a different ending was considered where the soldiers violently stormed the capital. Director [[Cliff Bole]] recalled, "''Originally, Danar was going to come back and there was going to be a big confrontation. That was cut due to budget and time. We simply did not have the time in seven days to do that. I thought the loss of that confrontation took away a little bit.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
 
* Originally, a different ending was considered where the soldiers violently stormed the capital. Director [[Cliff Bole]] recalled, "''Originally, Danar was going to come back and there was going to be a big confrontation. That was cut due to budget and time. We simply did not have the time in seven days to do that. I thought the loss of that confrontation took away a little bit.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
* Piller commented, "''At first we were going to have a huge shoot out and have everyone wiped out in the end, but that didn't really make anybody a hero. Picard goes down there and we're caught in a stalemate. We've now created the character of this planet's society in such a way that Picard can make the statement at the end, 'This is not our affair. You guys are going to have to solve it...' I thought it worked. There are people on the staff to this day who think it doesn't. I think it is an important enough theme that I cannot explore enough, but I don't think we really got to the heart of it because the story was one-note, and it could have used a little more texture.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
+
* Piller commented, "''At first we were going to have a huge shoot out and have everyone wiped out in the end, but that didn't really make anybody a hero. Picard goes down there and we're caught in a stalemate. We've now created the character of this planet's society in such a way that Picard can make the statement at the end, 'This is not our affair. You guys are going to have to solve it&hellip' I thought it worked. There are people on the staff to this day who think it doesn't. I think it is an important enough theme that I cannot explore enough, but I don't think we really got to the heart of it because the story was one-note, and it could have used a little more texture.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'')
* [[Ira Steven Behr]] performed an uncredited rewrite on the episode during his first day as a staff writer on the show, in particular expanding Danar's escape from the ''Enterprise'', which was only briefly shown in [[Robin Bernheim]]'s original draft, into an action sequence that took up most of the third act. As Behr was only especially familiar with ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' and had paid little attention to ''The Next Generation'', he had to get a "crash course" in the series from [[Hans Beimler]] and [[Richard Manning]]. ([[TNG Season 3 Blu-ray]], ''"Technological Distinctiveness"'')
+
* [[Ira Steven Behr]] performed an uncredited rewrite on the episode during his first day as a staff writer on the show, in particular expanding Danar's escape from the ''Enterprise'', which was only briefly shown in [[Robin Bernheim]]'s original draft, into an action sequence that took up most of the third act. As Behr was only especially familiar with {{s|TOS}} and had paid little attention to ''The Next Generation'', he had to get a "crash course" in the series from [[Hans Beimler]] and [[Richard Manning]]. ([[TNG Season 3 Blu-ray]], ''"Technological Distinctiveness"'')
 
* During the filming of this episode, the energy weapon prop [[Roga Danar]] is holding when he is first transported to the ''Enterprise'' was broken during the struggle with security officers. What remains of it is on display at Seattle's Science Fiction Hall of Fame and Museum.
 
* During the filming of this episode, the energy weapon prop [[Roga Danar]] is holding when he is first transported to the ''Enterprise'' was broken during the struggle with security officers. What remains of it is on display at Seattle's Science Fiction Hall of Fame and Museum.
* The shirts worn by the members of the [[Angosian Senate]] were the turtlenecked men's shirts from the {{film|2}} [[Starfleet uniform (late 2270s-2350s)|Starfleet officers' uniforms]]. (''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'')
+
* The shirts worn by the members of the [[Angosian Senate]] were the turtlenecked men's shirts from the {{film|2}} [[Starfleet uniform (late 2270s-2350s)|Starfleet officers' uniforms]]. ({{ste|3|14}})
* First UK airdate: 8th January 1992
 
   
 
=== Continuity ===
 
=== Continuity ===
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*We learn in this episode that there are emergency airlocks and a control room for the aft torpedoes which are located between decks 37 and 39.
 
*We learn in this episode that there are emergency airlocks and a control room for the aft torpedoes which are located between decks 37 and 39.
 
*[[James Cromwell]], who starred as Prime Minister [[Nayrok]], later starred as [[Jaglom Shrek]] in the TNG episodes {{e|Birthright, Part I}} and {{e|Birthright, Part II}}, Minister [[Hanok]] in {{DS9|Starship Down}}, and most notably as [[Zefram Cochrane]] in {{film|8}} and {{ENT|Broken Bow}}.
 
*[[James Cromwell]], who starred as Prime Minister [[Nayrok]], later starred as [[Jaglom Shrek]] in the TNG episodes {{e|Birthright, Part I}} and {{e|Birthright, Part II}}, Minister [[Hanok]] in {{DS9|Starship Down}}, and most notably as [[Zefram Cochrane]] in {{film|8}} and {{ENT|Broken Bow}}.
*[[Jeff McCarthy]] who starred as [[Roga Danar]], made a second ''Star Trek'' appearance by playing the ill-fated original [[USS Voyager chief medical officer|chief medical officer]] of the {{USS|Voyager}} in ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''{{'}}s pilot episode, {{e|Caretaker}}.
+
*[[Jeff McCarthy]] who starred as [[Roga Danar]], made a second ''Star Trek'' appearance by playing the ill-fated original [[USS Voyager chief medical officer|chief medical officer]] of the {{USS|Voyager}} in {{s|VOY}}{{'}}s pilot episode, {{e|Caretaker}}.
*[[J. Michael Flynn]], who plays [[Zayner]], later appeared in two guest roles on ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'': as a [[Unnamed Mazarites#Mazarite magistrate|Mazarite magistrate]] in {{e|Fallen Hero}} and as the [[Romulan]] [[Nijil]] in {{e|Babel One}}, {{e|United}}, and {{e|The Aenar}}.
+
*[[J. Michael Flynn]], who plays [[Zayner]], later appeared in two guest roles on {{s|ENT}}: as a [[Mazarite magistrate 001|Mazarite magistrate]] in {{e|Fallen Hero}} and as the [[Romulan]] [[Nijil]] in {{e|Babel One}}, {{e|United}}, and {{e|The Aenar}}.
 
*The maneuver Danar uses to evade the ''Enterprise'', hiding above the planet's magnetic poles with all ship's systems powered down, is much the same tactic that Riker once employed on the {{USS|Potemkin|Excelsior class}} to confuse an enemy's sensors. Fittingly, it is Riker himself who suggests this possibility here. ({{TNG|Peak Performance}})
 
*The maneuver Danar uses to evade the ''Enterprise'', hiding above the planet's magnetic poles with all ship's systems powered down, is much the same tactic that Riker once employed on the {{USS|Potemkin|Excelsior class}} to confuse an enemy's sensors. Fittingly, it is Riker himself who suggests this possibility here. ({{TNG|Peak Performance}})
  +
*When Troi first meets Danar, he asks her if the ''Enterprise'' is a war vessel. Four episodes later, in {{e|Yesterday's Enterprise}}, the ''Enterprise'' is portrayed as a war vessel in an [[Alternate timeline|alternate timeline]] in which the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] is at war with the [[Klingon Empire]].
   
 
=== Reception ===
 
=== Reception ===
* Director [[Cliff Bole]] remembered: "''I liked the story, because the premise was dealing with an issue that has happened and is happening in our present time. The end was again affected by a budget situation. We were going to do a big battle, but couldn't. Originally, Danar was going to come back, and there would be a big confrontation - almost a Rambo-like situation. I thought the loss of that [scene] took away a little from the episode, making it slightly anti-climatic. We simply didn't have the time to do it in seven days.''" ("Cliff Bole - Of Redemption & Unification", ''[[The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine]]'' Vol. 17, p. 31)
+
* Director [[Cliff Bole]] remembered: "''I liked the story, because the premise was dealing with an issue that has happened and is happening in our present time. The end was again affected by a budget situation. We were going to do a big battle, but couldn't. Originally, Danar was going to come back, and there would be a big confrontation &ndash; almost a Rambo-like situation. I thought the loss of that [scene] took away a little from the episode, making it slightly anti-climatic. We simply didn't have the time to do it in seven days.''" ("Cliff Bole &ndash; Of Redemption & Unification", {{STNG|17|31}})
* A mission report for this episode by Patrick Daniel O'Neill was published in ''[[The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine]]'' Vol. 12, pp. 10-12.
+
* A mission report for this episode by Patrick Daniel O'Neill was published in {{STNG|12|10-12}}.
   
 
=== Video and DVD releases ===
 
=== Video and DVD releases ===
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== Links and references ==
 
== Links and references ==
 
=== Starring ===
 
=== Starring ===
* [[Patrick Stewart]] as [[Captain|Capt.]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
+
* [[Patrick Stewart]] as {{dis|Captain|rank|Capt.}} [[Jean-Luc Picard]]
 
* [[Jonathan Frakes]] as [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|William Riker]]
 
* [[Jonathan Frakes]] as [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|William Riker]]
   
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* [[Rachen Assapiomonwait]] as {{dis|Nelson|Starfleet}}
 
* [[Rachen Assapiomonwait]] as {{dis|Nelson|Starfleet}}
 
* [[Majel Barrett]] as {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} [[computer voice]]
 
* [[Majel Barrett]] as {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} [[computer voice]]
* [[Joe Bauman]] as [[Unnamed Angosians#Soldiers|Angosian soldier]]
+
* [[Joe Bauman]] as [[Angosian soldier 004|Angosian soldier]]
* [[David Chanel]] as [[Unnamed Angosians#Senators|Angosian senator]]
+
* [[David Chanel]] as [[Angosian senator 001|Angosian senator]]
* [[George Colucci]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security officer (2366-2367)|security officer]]
+
* [[George Colucci]] as [[USS Enterprise-D security guard 009|security officer]]
* [[John Gillespie]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Lead security officer (2366)|security officer]]
+
* [[Robert Daniels]] as [[USS Enterprise-D engineer 008|operations officer]]
* [[Leif Johannesen]] as [[Unnamed Angosians#Senators|Angosian senator]]
+
* [[John Gillespie]] as [[USS Enterprise-D security guard 011|security officer]]
  +
* [[Leif Johannesen]] as [[Angosian senator 010|Angosian senator]]
 
* [[Tim McCormack]] as {{dis|Bennett|Ensign}}
 
* [[Tim McCormack]] as {{dis|Bennett|Ensign}}
* [[Lincoln Simonds]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security officer (2365-2368)|security officer]]
+
* [[Lincoln Simonds]] as [[USS Enterprise-D security guard 007|security officer]]
* [[Bryan Thompson]] as [[Unnamed Angosians#Angosian senators|Angosian senator]]
+
* [[Bryan Thompson]] as [[Angosian senator 002|Angosian senator]]
 
* [[Guy Vardaman]] as [[Darien Wallace]]
 
* [[Guy Vardaman]] as [[Darien Wallace]]
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
** [[Unnamed Angosians#Police officer|Angosian police officer]]
+
** [[Angosian police officer 001|Angosian police officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Science division bridge officer (2366)|Female science division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Science division bridge officer (2366)|Female science division officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Female science division officer (2366)|Female science officer]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Female science division officer (2366)|Female science officer]]
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Holding cell guard (2366)|Operations division officer]]
+
** [[USS Enterprise-D security guard 012|Operations division officer]]
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security crewman (2366)|Operations division officer]]
+
** [[USS Enterprise-D security guard 008|Operations division officer]]
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security guard (2366)|Operations division officer]]
+
** [[USS Enterprise-D security guard 013|Operations division officer]]
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security officer/ engineer (2366)|Operations division officer]]
 
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Security officer (2366)|Security officer (voice)]]
 
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Security officer (2366)|Security officer (voice)]]
** [[Unnamed Angosians#Senators|Seven Angosian senators]]
+
** [[Angosian senators 001|Seven Angosian senators]]
** [[Unnamed Angosians#Soldiers|Six Angosian soldiers]]
+
** [[Angosian soldiers 001|Six Angosian soldiers]]
   
 
=== Stunt doubles ===
 
=== Stunt doubles ===
Line 294: Line 301:
 
* [[Guy Vardaman]] &ndash; stand-in for [[Wil Wheaton]]
 
* [[Guy Vardaman]] &ndash; stand-in for [[Wil Wheaton]]
   
===References===
+
=== References ===
  +
"[[Idiom|a little]]"; [[access panel]]; [[advice]]; [[aft thruster]]; [[agitator]]; [[application]]; "[[Idiom|all right]]"; [[Anabar Squadron]]; [[analysis]]; [[android]]; [[anesthizine]]; [[anger]]; [[Angosia III]]; [[Angosian]]; [[Unnamed settlements#Angosia III|Angosian capital city]]; [[Unnamed medications#Angosian enhancement drugs|Angosian enhancement drugs]]; [[Angosian escape pod]]; [[Angosian military]]; [[Angosian police shuttle]]; [[Angosian security]]; [[Angosian Senate]]; [[Angosian senatorial database]]; [[area]]; [[arrest]]; [[arrival]]; [[asteroid]]; "[[Idiom|at any cost]]"; "[[Idiom|at large]]"; "[[Idiom|at least]]"; "[[Idiom|at stake]]"; [[away team]]; [[backup system]]; [[bait]]; {{dis|base|military}}; [[battle]]; [[blood]]; "[[Idiom|broke my heart]]"; [[brother]]; [[bypass]]; [[campaign]]; [[cargo bay|cargo bay three]]; [[cargo transporter]]; [[cell structure]]; [[century]]; [[central computer]]; [[chemical]]; [[choice]]; [[citizen]]; [[civilian]]; [[cloaking device]]; [[cloaking technology]]; [[colony]]; [[combat]]; "[[Idiom|come in]]"; [[concentration]]; [[confrontation]]; [[coordinates]]; [[counsellor]]; [[corridor]]; [[coward]]; [[crime]]; [[criminal behavior]] (aka [[criminal personality]]); [[criminal record]]; [[cryptobiolin]]; [[cultivation]]; [[culture]]; [[cylindrical]]; [[damage]]; [[Unnamed Angosians#Danar's mother|Danar's mother]]; [[danger]]; [[Unnamed Angosians#Dark-haired girl|Dark-haired girl]]; [[day]]; [[deck]]; [[destination]]; [[detention cell]]; [[diameter]]; [[dilemma]]; [[discussion]]; [[diversionary tactic]]; [[physician|doctor]]; [[door]]; [[drive section]]; [[duality]]; [[effect]]; [[electrical impulse]]; [[electromagnetic interference]]; [[emergency airlock]]; [[escape pod]]; "[[Idiom|excuse me]]"; [[exile]];[[explanation]]; [[explosion]]; [[eye]]; [[face]]; "[[Idiom|face-to-face]]"; [[Federation]]; [[feeling]]; [[force field]]; [[French language]]; [[full alert]]; [[Galaxy class decks|''Galaxy'' class decks]]; [[general quarters]]; "[[Idiom|go ahead]]"; "[[Idiom|go on]]"; [[government]]; [[guest]]; [[gulag]]; [[hair]]; [[heading]]; [[heart]]; [[holding cell]]; [[home]]; [[hostage]]; [[hour]]; [[humanoid]]; {{dis|hundred|number}}; "[[Idiom|I don't understand]]"; [[idea]]; "[[Idiom|in common]]"; "[[Idiom|in fact]]"; [[information]]; [[insect]]; [[inspection]]; [[instructor]]; [[intellect]]; [[intelligence]]; [[internal security]]; [[intruder]]; [[jail]]; [[Jefferies tube]]; {{dis|judgment|concept}}; [[jailer|keeper]]; [[Klingon]]; [[knowledge]]; [[length]]; [[life sign]]; [[lifeform]]; [[location]]; [[Lunar V]]; [[Unnamed Angosians#Lunar V guards 001|Lunar V guards]]; [[Unnamed Angosians#Lunar V prisoners 001|Lunar V prisoners]]; [[Lya III]]; [[macrospentol]]; [[magnetic field]]; [[main viewer]]; [[martial arts]]; [[maximum security facility]]; [[medical team]]; {{dis|memory|mental process}}; [[message]]; [[meter]]; [[microscope]]; [[military]]; [[military prison facility]]; [[military record]]; [[military service]]; [[mind]]; [[mind control expert]]; [[minute]]; [[mister]]; ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]''; [[murder]]; [[mystery]]; [[name]]; "[[Idiom|not at all]]"; [[number one]]; [[object]]; "[[Idiom|on board]]"; [[online]]; [[oppressor]]; [[overload]]; [[pain]]; [[parts per million]]; [[patience]]; [[peace]]; [[penal colony]]; [[permission]]; [[personality]]; [[phaser]]; [[photon torpedo launcher]]; [[pilot]]; [[place]]; [[plan]]; [[polar orbit]]; [[pole]]; [[police record]]; [[pressure suit]]; [[Prime Minister]]; [[priority channel]]; [[priority one]]; [[Unnamed Angosians#Prison psychologist 001|prison psychologist]]; [[prisoner]]; [[prisoner of war]]; [[problem]]; [[promotion]]; [[protection]]; [[psychological conditioning]]; [[quarantine]]; [[quality of life]]; [[question]]; [[range]]; [[rank]]; [[reactor core]]; [[reality]]; [[reason]]; [[record]]; [[referendum]]; [[reflex]]; [[rendezvous]]; [[report]]; [[resentment]]; [[resettlement]]; [[right]]; [[riot]]; [[risk]]; [[rule]]; [[sabotage]]; [[sensor|scanner]]; [[second]]; [[security]]; [[security containment field]]; [[security guard]]; [[security personnel]]; [[security system]]; [[security team]]; [[sensor]]; [[sensor range]]; [[sensor sweep]]; [[shuttlebay]]; [[shuttlebay 2]]; [[signal]]; "[[Idiom|sit down]]"; [[skill]]; [[society]]; [[soldier]]; [[solution]]; [[son]]; [[soul]]; [[specification]]; [[specialist]]; [[specimen]]; [[speed]]; "[[Idiom|stand by]]"; [[status]]; [[status report]]; {{dis|strategy|concept}}; [[strength]]; [[stun setting]]; [[subhadar]]; [[substance]]; [[suicide run]]; [[surface]]; {{dis|survival|concept}}; [[tactics]]; [[Tarsian War]]; [[temper]]; [[thing]]; [[thought]]; [[threat]]; [[tour]]; [[tour of duty]]; [[tracking station]]; [[tractor beam]]; [[training]]; [[transfer]]; [[transport beam]]; [[transporter]]; [[transporter power]]; [[transporter room|Transporter Rooms 1 and 4]]; [[treatment]]; [[trick]]; [[triclenidil]]; [[turbolift]]; [[veteran]]; [[victim]]; [[violence]]; [[visit]]; [[volunteer]]; [[war vessel]]; [[warp drive]]; [[warrior]]; [[way of life]]; [[weapon]]; "[[Idiom|what the hell]]"; "[[Idiom|with all due respect]]"; [[word]]; [[wreckage]]; [[yellow]]
[[Anabar Squadron]]; [[anesthizine]]; [[Angosia III]]; [[Angosian]]; [[Unnamed settlements#Angosia III|Angosian capital city]]; [[Angosian military]]; [[Angosian police shuttle]]; [[Angosian Senate]]; [[Angosian senatorial database]]; [[asteroid]]; [[cargo bay]]; [[criminal behavior]]; [[cryptobiolin]]; [[duality]]; [[escape pod]]; [[Federation]]; [[general quarters]]; [[gulag]]; [[holding cell]]; [[Jefferies tube]]; [[Lunar V]]; [[Lya III]]; [[macrospentol]]; [[martial arts]]; [[meter]]; ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]''; [[murder]]; [[number one]]; [[penal colony]]; [[orbit|polar orbit]]; [[pressure suit]]; [[Prime Minister]]; [[priority one]]; [[prison psychologist]]; [[referendum]]; [[riot]]; [[sabotage]]; [[security team]]; [[stun setting]]; [[subhadar]]; [[Tarsian War]]; [[tour of duty]]; [[tracking station]]; [[triclenidil]]
 
   
 
==== Other references ====
 
==== Other references ====
* '''Angosian senatorial database''': [[Anabar Squadron]]; [[Chritezbr]]; [[Cragweis]]; [[Dantang]]; [[Davgrant]]; [[Derwarn]]; [[Dylhuc]]; [[Erbrun]]; [[Group Kikimorr]]; [[Hilgroen]]; [[Janlee]]; [[Jongri]]; [[Jongrinsb Theater]]; [[Jospania Theater]]; [[Kevscotti Military Base]]; [[Marjmacl]]; [[Marvhil Infantry Division]]; [[Marvhild]]; [[military conduct code]]; [[Nikkr-Br]]; [[Philbis Infantry Group]]; [[primehadar]]; [[Robmeybur Rebellion]]; [[Roglay Outpost]]; [[Ryadam]]; [[Sarpaul Transport Complex]]; [[third hadar]]; [[Todfrey Campaign]]; [[Wadfelk Ground Tactical Training Division]]; [[Wenruiz Indoctrination Center]]
+
* '''Angosian senatorial database:''' [[Anabar Squadron]]; [[assignment]]; {{dis|charge|law}}; [[Chritezbr]]; [[Cragweis]]; [[Dantang]]; [[Davgrant]]; [[Derwarn]]; [[Dylhuc]]; [[Erbrun]]; [[exercise]]; [[Group Kikimorr]]; [[hand-to-hand combat]]; [[Hilgroen]]; [[individual]]; [[Janlee]]; [[Jongri]]; [[Jongrinsb Theater]]; [[Jospania Theater]]; [[Kevscotti Military Base]]; [[Marjmacl]]; [[Marvhil Infantry Division]]; [[Marvhild]]; [[military conduct code]]; [[Nikkr-Br]]; [[Philbis Infantry Group]]; [[primehadar]]; [[reprimand]]; [[Robmeybur Rebellion]]; [[Roglay Outpost]]; [[Ryadam]]; [[Sarpaul Transport Complex]]; [[third hadar]]; [[Todfrey Campaign]]; [[Wadfelk Ground Tactical Training Division]]; [[Wenruiz Indoctrination Center]]
  +
* '''Other:''' [[Comm channel 4077]]
   
 
===External link===
 
===External link===

Revision as of 04:36, 28 November 2019

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

While the Enterprise-D is reviewing a seemingly idyllic planet's application for Federation membership, an escaped prisoner leads her crew to discover an ugly secret: the government's shameful treatment of its war veterans.

Summary

Teaser

"Captain's Log, Stardate 43489.2. We have arrived at Angosia III, a planet that has expressed a strong desire for membership in the Federation. Prime Minister Nayrok has taken Commander Riker and me on a tour of the capital city."

At the conclusion of the tour, Captain Picard and Commander Riker congratulate Nayrok on their culture's rapid recovery from the Tarsian War, and Nayrok says their people are equally grateful; violence of any kind is abhorrent to the Angosians, who consider art and intellectual achievement to be their greatest virtues. As they are talking, Nayrok's aide pulls him aside with an urgent matter. In private, Picard comments that the Angosians will make a fine addition to the Federation's members. Riker agrees, though he finds the people of Angosia III somewhat stuffy.

File:Enterprise chases Angosian vessel.jpg

"He's seen us, Data!"

Nayrok returns and asks for Picard's help: an Angosian prisoner has escaped from a penal colony, Lunar V, in a stolen transport vessel. Angosian security forces are trying to track him down, but, frankly, are not very well-trained or equipped. With Picard's agreement, Riker signals the Enterprise, where Data is in command. The ship's sensors locate the sub-warp vessel with little difficulty, but as soon as they begin pursuit, the transport ship ducks behind a nearby asteroid and jettisons its drive section, which is devoid of life readings.

When the Enterprise circles around the asteroid, they locate the wreckage of the ship's main body, but Wesley Crusher reports in surprise that the drive section has meanwhile disappeared. Slightly bewildered, Data reports to an astonished Picard and Riker that the tiny vessel has successfully eluded the Galaxy-class starship.

Act One

Picard and Riker return to the ship to command the pursuit. Nayrok calls to inform them that the fugitive's name is Roga Danar, and warns them that he is extremely violent.

Danar captured

"Get him to a detention cell!"

Without a warp drive, La Forge is certain that the vessel could not have fled the system, but sensors cannot locate it. Riker guesses that he must be suspending his ship over the magnetic poles of the planet to avoid detection. When the Enterprise flushes him out and locks a tractor beam on him, he pushes his vessel towards the Enterprise in a suicide run. The ship's computer automatically raises the shields and disengages the tractor beam, and the shuttle bounces off their shields. Becoming exasperated, Picard prepares to have the whole craft beamed into a shuttle bay, but the prisoner anticipates them and ejects from the drive section in an escape pod.

The pod is still devoid of life readings, but Picard orders Miles O'Brien to beam the contents of the pod aboard. O'Brien detects a weapon in the transporter beam and deactivates it, before completing the transport with a two-man security team standing by. When Danar refuses to surrender, he is shot twice with phasers set on stun, which have no effect on him, and he overpowers O'Brien and the security team. The fight takes Danar out into the corridor, but before he can get further, Riker and Worf are able to subdue and capture him.

Act Two

Holding cell, 2366

"It seems that I am a victim of my own bad timing."

While Picard and Nayrok make the arrangements to send Danar back to Lunar V, Riker asks why the sensors did not detect him. Data has confirmed that the sensors are functioning properly – for some reason, Danar has no discernable life signs.

In the brig, Danar is tossing and turning on his bunk, apparently in the grip of a violent nightmare. Deanna Troi is passing by the cell in a corridor when she senses his turmoil, and goes in to talk to him. Her conversation with the man is a surprise: though he is distrustful and suspicious, he is also intelligent, emotionally perceptive, and even has a fine-tuned sense of humor and irony. She describes her role as ship's counselor, and is offended when he labels her a "mind-control expert." She is unable to fathom what has made Danar – for all appearances a civilized man – commit such violent acts, and asks if the prisoners on Lunar V are mistreated. Danar replies that, on the contrary, Lunar V is a very comfortable, well-provisioned, and humane prison, but a prison nonetheless, since no one is allowed to leave. Using her empathic abilities, she confirms that the turmoil she sensed while he was asleep is gone, and his inner self mirrors his calm exterior.

Troi and Data research Danar

"What was this man's crime?"

Troi tells Picard that she senses something wrong – Danar has a thoughtful and intelligent personality typical of his Angosian heritage, and she does not sense anything inherently violent about him. Picard reminds her of the mayhem he caused while they were trying to capture him, and says he will be glad to transfer Danar off the Enterprise when the Angosian shuttle arrives.

Troi asks Data to check the Angosian government's records, trying to find out what crime Danar committed that sent him to Lunar V in the first place. Data finds that Danar has no criminal record whatsoever. As a matter of fact, Lunar V is a military facility, and Danar's records show him to be a highly decorated soldier of the Tarsian Wars. Troi goes back to Danar and asks what did he do to end up at Lunar V, and he replies that he did everything the Angosians asked him to. Her next supposition is that his psyche was damaged by his experience in the war, and he says the "damage" began when he first volunteered for service, and was introduced to his first military instructor – who, ironically, also carried the title of "Counselor."

Act Three

Troi leads briefing

"He's been programmed to be the perfect soldier."

Troi and Dr. Beverly Crusher examine Danar and finds that he has been psychologically manipulated and biochemically modified – programmed to become "the perfect soldier." The conditioning enhanced his strength, reflexes, and intelligence, and programmed him to survive at any cost. Crusher adds that one of the chemicals also shields his cellular electrical impulses, masking his life signs to sensors. Unfortunately, the soldiers became a liability to their people after the Tarsian Wars. Minor arguments could trigger their programming on and result in extreme violence. Instead of trying to reverse their programming, the government simply exiled them to Lunar V, including those like Danar who committed no criminal acts.

Data visits Danar in his cell. Danar is initially mistrustful and asks Data to leave, but then asks him back, admitting that he needs company. Data identifies himself as an android and says that they have one thing in common – they have both been programmed. Data asks Danar if his programming cannot be changed, and Danar says bitterly that no one on Angosia has ever explored the possibility – instead, they left him to live with the alterations they made to him.

Picard confers with Nayrok, who says that Danar is putting an undeservedly harsh spin on the truth. The soldiers had trouble readjusting to normal life, so the government resettled them to a "colony" on Lunar V. Nayrok assures Picard that the Angosians went to great lengths to give the "colonists" a comfortable way of life, and it was only later, after the agitations of a few men like Danar, that they had to add security measures and convert the soldiers' "colony" into a prison. Picard asks if the resettlement was of the soldiers' own choosing, and whether the government ever explored the possibility of reversing the soldiers' conditioning. Nayrok curtly replies that the Federation is "treading on matters of internal security," and cuts off the transmission after thanking the Enterprise for its help. Picard closes down his own terminal with an expression of deep disgust, his good opinion of the Angosians and their Prime Minister extinguished.

Data visits Danar

"We have both been programmed."

In conversation with Data, Danar says the man he used to be is still inside him, but the "programming" takes over at the slightest provocation. Danar asks Data whether Data is programmed for combat like he is. Data says no, he is not programmed to kill. Danar reflects that his enhanced combat abilities have enabled him to kill 84 people in his lifetime, and his enhanced memory enables him to remember each of the 84 faces with perfect clarity.

Picard enters with Troi and says that he has no choice but to transfer him back to Angosian custody, even though he sympathizes with the plight of Danar and his compatriots. Danar courteously thanks the captain for being upfront with him, and returns the favor by telling Picard that he will do anything in his power to escape. Troi tries to reassure him that if Angosia joins the Federation, its resources will be put to use finding a cure for their condition. Danar says simply that even if that happens, he will not be around to see it, because he would rather die than return to Lunar V – and that resolve is stronger than the imperative to survive programmed into his soul.

Danar escapes from transporter beam

"What the hell?!"

The Enterprise readies Danar for transport, and knowing how intelligent Danar is, Worf has calibrated the transporter beam to activate 0.1 seconds after the cell's force field is shut down. During the attempted transport from the Enterprise's brig to the Angosian police transport vessel, Danar literally breaks out of the transporter beam, causing an explosion of energy within the cell that momentarily blinds Worf and Troi . When they come around, Danar has disappeared and a phaser is missing.

Act Four

As with the initial pursuit in space, Danar's cunning and resourcefulness are on full display during the chase through the Enterprise's interior.

Picard blocks off the decks where Danar was held and shuts down the power to the turbolifts. Since the sensors cannot follow Danar's movements, he is able to evade the internal sensors.

Danar in conduits

Danar on the run

Riker tells Data to reactivate the turbolifts, to trap Danar if he tries to use them. When a turbolift is engaged, the bridge diverts it to where Worf and a security team is waiting. But when the doors open, instead of Danar, they find a phaser set on overload. Worf disables it barely in time. Meanwhile, Danar knocks out a security guard and uses his combadge to order a force field shut down.

Danar moves quickly through the hallways and heads to engineering to override the system lockout. Geordi and the rest of the engineering crew are overpowered by Danar. Data reroutes everything from the bridge, but Danar still manages to restore power to the shuttle bays by rerouting power through engineering's isolinear chips, something which Data finds Danar to be incredibly adept at. To avoid the sealed hallways, he crawls through the core reactor and enters a Jefferies tube. He places another of his captured phasers into a power conduit and sets it to overload.

Riker orders security teams to the shuttle bays, but Data volunteers that Danar's past strategy has been based on misdirection and diversion; it is extremely unlikely that he is planning to use the shuttle bay, but Data cannot anticipate what his true destination is.

Danar makes his way to a cargo bay and plugs his phaser into the deactivated transporter console. Data reads the activity, and Picard has the cargo bay flooded with anesthizine. Seeing the gas, Danar grabs a pressure suit from a cargo container.

Danar on cargo transporter

"He used a phaser to power the cargo transporter."

When Worf's security team is outside the cargo bay, Picard has the gas removed. When Worf and his team move in, the cargo bay is apparently deserted, but Worf notes the absence of the pressure suit and surmises that Danar may try to access the shuttle bay from an external hatch, such as from the Enterprise's photon torpedo launcher. Worf signals the bridge that he and his security teams will guard the external exits.

In a corner of the cargo bay, Danar smiles, and emerges from hiding, leaving the pressure suit (which he only needed to protect himself from the gas) behind. But Worf, having out-thought the Angosian for once, emerges from hiding, aiming his phaser. He congratulates Danar for his extreme cunning, remarking that he must have Klingon blood, but orders him to surrender. At that moment, the phaser in the Jefferies tube explodes, shutting down the lights in the cargo bay. That brief distraction is all Danar needs to tackle Worf, and knock him unconscious after a brief struggle. Using his phaser to power the transporter, Danar successfully beams himself onto the Angosian police shuttle and takes its pilots hostage. With the Enterprise external sensors disabled by the explosion, it has no way to track him, and Danar has made a clean getaway.

Act Five

When the Enterprise restores its systems, Nayrok informs them that Danar has organized a mass breakout from Lunar V, and that several soldiers have made their way to Angosia and entered the capital city. Nayrok urgently asks Picard for help.

Nayrok asks for help

"This is all you've brought? Where are your security men?"

Picard, Worf, Troi and Data beam down to the surface while Nayrok's staff are arming themselves. Nayrok is surprised to see only four members of the away team – he was expecting Picard to bring an army to protect them. Picard says the Federation is not going to help them evade responsibility for their actions: they recruited an army of idealistic young men like Danar, turned them into killing machines, and then locked them away and did their best to forget about them. Troi and Data urge them to consider whether the soldiers' programming can be reversed.

Nayrok and his adjutant, Zayner, admit that the chemicals can be removed, but the psychological conditioning is considered irreversible. Even before the soldiers were trained, the government knew that was a risk they were taking – and Worf, whose warrior sensibilities are naturally outraged, asked whether the government revealed that risk to the men who volunteered to fight for their world.

Danar fires warning shot

"You will not ignore us!"

Underneath their sophistry, it is clear that the government never seriously tried to cure the soldiers; instead, "the people" chose to "resettle" them, "for the greater good," turning their backs on the soldiers who helped defend their way of life. Besides, Zayner adds tactlessly, they do not wish to undo the programming, because they may need the soldiers again if Angosia ever fights another war.

Just as Picard and Troi are about to detonate with anger, Danar and his fellow inmates storm into the building. Picard warns everyone not to raise their weapons. Since Danar and his fellow inmates are not being provoked, they can not willfully attack the Prime Minister or his staff. Danar demands that the Angosians fight back, rather than continue to ignore them. Nayrok says that the soldiers have been given the skills they need to survive, and should be able to survive on Lunar V. Danar says that is not enough: he and his comrades want their lives back, and they want to come home. Nayrok then says that he is not going to bow to a threat of violence, but promises to review their case if they surrender and return peaceably to Lunar V. Danar laughs the offer back in his face, knowing full well that Nayrok has no intention of helping them once he has them under lock and key again.

Nayrok

"Picard, you can't leave us like this!"

Nayrok says the Enterprise must do something about the situation, and Picard agrees – he tells the transporter room to beam the away team back aboard the ship. Picard says that, after all, he cannot interfere with the "internal security" of Angosia. He tells the government that they must make a decision regarding the fate of their veterans. In the meantime, Picard has all the information he needs for his report, and, if the Angosians wish to reapply for Federation membership, their application will be given all due consideration. Danar seems pleased that he is being recognized and smiles at the away team as they leave.

Aboard the Enterprise, Picard notes that if the government survives the night, they will be given assistance by the Federation in helping their veterans with their conditioning. When Riker asks whether the government will survive the night, Picard remarks dryly that he believes it will "choose to." The Enterprise leaves Angosia.

Log entries

Memorable quotes

"I am afraid the prisoner has eluded us, sir."
"[incredulous] Eluded the Enterprise?"

- Data and Picard


"This guy knows all the tricks, doesn't he?"

- Riker, when Danar's ship is discovered hiding in the planet's magnetic field


"He bounced off the shields!"
"That's an interesting twist."

- Wesley and Riker, on Danar's second gambit


"An escape pod!"
"This guy's incredible!"

- Wesley and La Forge, on Danar's third gambit


"More security, Transporter Room Four! More security! More security!"

- O'Brien, as Danar attacks all of the security guards in the transporter room


"I just killed three men to get out of there, counselor. And I'm fully capable of killing you as well. That's a terrifying thought, isn't it? Even to me."

- Roga Danar


"He's intelligent, thoughtful… typically Angosian. I know what he's done, but when I'm with him, I cannot believe that he is randomly and deliberately violent. In fact, inherently he has a non-violent personality."
"Counselor, it took five men to restrain him! And he took about half the transporter room in the process!"

- Deanna Troi and Picard, about Danar


"Lunar V&hellip an orbiting gulag."

- Picard


"What do you want?"
"Am I disturbing you?"
"Yes!"
"Then I will leave."
"No, wait, wait! I'd rather talk to someone."

- Danar and Data


"Prime Minister, even the most comfortable prison is still a prison."

- Picard, to Nayrok


"'A matter of internal security' – the age-old cry of the oppressor."

- Picard


"My improved reflexes have allowed me to kill eighty-four times. And my improved memory allows me to remember each of those eighty-four faces. Can you imagine what that feels like?"
"I am incapable of any feeling."
"Well, then I envy you."

- Danar and Data


"Mr. Danar, I'm transferring you to Angosian Security. They're en route, they will arrive shortly. I wanted to tell you I have no choice. The Prime Minister insisted, and we have no right to refuse."
"Well, you would be foolish to consider it otherwise, Captain, for they are very correct. I am dangerous. There is no place for me in a civilized society."
"I do not believe that."
"Nor do I."

- Picard, Danar, Troi, and Data


"Take care of yourself, android. I enjoyed our talk."
"I, too."

- Danar and Data


"There is a full contingent of security at all shuttlebays."
"You want my advice? Double it!"

- Worf and La Forge, the latter recovering from Danar's one-man assault on engineering


"Danar! You are cunning. You must have Klingon blood. But the battle is over."
"My battle is never over."

- Worf and Danar


"In your own words, this is not our affair. We cannot interfere in the natural course of your society's development. And I'd say it's going to develop significantly in the next few minutes."

- Picard

Background information

Production history

Story and production

  • This episode was an allegory to US veterans of the Vietnam War, integrating back into American society. Michael Piller remarked, "The whole theme of the show was let's look at how society treats its returning veterans. I thought from a conceptual level we handled that well, and we came up with good science fiction to make it interesting. There's some argument that the best soldier ever created bringing the Enterprise to its knees is a little hard to believe, and that might have been the weakness of the show. I enjoyed it, and was not ashamed of the show." (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion; Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
  • Originally, a different ending was considered where the soldiers violently stormed the capital. Director Cliff Bole recalled, "Originally, Danar was going to come back and there was going to be a big confrontation. That was cut due to budget and time. We simply did not have the time in seven days to do that. I thought the loss of that confrontation took away a little bit." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
  • Piller commented, "At first we were going to have a huge shoot out and have everyone wiped out in the end, but that didn't really make anybody a hero. Picard goes down there and we're caught in a stalemate. We've now created the character of this planet's society in such a way that Picard can make the statement at the end, 'This is not our affair. You guys are going to have to solve it&hellip' I thought it worked. There are people on the staff to this day who think it doesn't. I think it is an important enough theme that I cannot explore enough, but I don't think we really got to the heart of it because the story was one-note, and it could have used a little more texture." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
  • Ira Steven Behr performed an uncredited rewrite on the episode during his first day as a staff writer on the show, in particular expanding Danar's escape from the Enterprise, which was only briefly shown in Robin Bernheim's original draft, into an action sequence that took up most of the third act. As Behr was only especially familiar with Star Trek: The Original Series and had paid little attention to The Next Generation, he had to get a "crash course" in the series from Hans Beimler and Richard Manning. (TNG Season 3 Blu-ray, "Technological Distinctiveness")
  • During the filming of this episode, the energy weapon prop Roga Danar is holding when he is first transported to the Enterprise was broken during the struggle with security officers. What remains of it is on display at Seattle's Science Fiction Hall of Fame and Museum.
  • The shirts worn by the members of the Angosian Senate were the turtlenecked men's shirts from the Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Starfleet officers' uniforms. (Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd ed., p. 14))

Continuity

Reception

  • Director Cliff Bole remembered: "I liked the story, because the premise was dealing with an issue that has happened and is happening in our present time. The end was again affected by a budget situation. We were going to do a big battle, but couldn't. Originally, Danar was going to come back, and there would be a big confrontation – almost a Rambo-like situation. I thought the loss of that [scene] took away a little from the episode, making it slightly anti-climatic. We simply didn't have the time to do it in seven days." ("Cliff Bole – Of Redemption & Unification", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 17, p. 31)
  • A mission report for this episode by Patrick Daniel O'Neill was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 12, pp. 10-12.

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Stunt doubles

Stand-ins

References

"a little"; access panel; advice; aft thruster; agitator; application; "all right"; Anabar Squadron; analysis; android; anesthizine; anger; Angosia III; Angosian; Angosian capital city; Angosian enhancement drugs; Angosian escape pod; Angosian military; Angosian police shuttle; Angosian security; Angosian Senate; Angosian senatorial database; area; arrest; arrival; asteroid; "at any cost"; "at large"; "at least"; "at stake"; away team; backup system; bait; base; battle; blood; "broke my heart"; brother; bypass; campaign; cargo bay three; cargo transporter; cell structure; century; central computer; chemical; choice; citizen; civilian; cloaking device; cloaking technology; colony; combat; "come in"; concentration; confrontation; coordinates; counsellor; corridor; coward; crime; criminal behavior (aka criminal personality); criminal record; cryptobiolin; cultivation; culture; cylindrical; damage; Danar's mother; danger; Dark-haired girl; day; deck; destination; detention cell; diameter; dilemma; discussion; diversionary tactic; doctor; door; drive section; duality; effect; electrical impulse; electromagnetic interference; emergency airlock; escape pod; "excuse me"; exile;explanation; explosion; eye; face; "face-to-face"; Federation; feeling; force field; French language; full alert; Galaxy class decks; general quarters; "go ahead"; "go on"; government; guest; gulag; hair; heading; heart; holding cell; home; hostage; hour; humanoid; hundred; "I don't understand"; idea; "in common"; "in fact"; information; insect; inspection; instructor; intellect; intelligence; internal security; intruder; jail; Jefferies tube; judgment; keeper; Klingon; knowledge; length; life sign; lifeform; location; Lunar V; Lunar V guards; Lunar V prisoners; Lya III; macrospentol; magnetic field; main viewer; martial arts; maximum security facility; medical team; memory; message; meter; microscope; military; military prison facility; military record; military service; mind; mind control expert; minute; mister; Much Ado About Nothing; murder; mystery; name; "not at all"; number one; object; "on board"; online; oppressor; overload; pain; parts per million; patience; peace; penal colony; permission; personality; phaser; photon torpedo launcher; pilot; place; plan; polar orbit; pole; police record; pressure suit; Prime Minister; priority channel; priority one; prison psychologist; prisoner; prisoner of war; problem; promotion; protection; psychological conditioning; quarantine; quality of life; question; range; rank; reactor core; reality; reason; record; referendum; reflex; rendezvous; report; resentment; resettlement; right; riot; risk; rule; sabotage; scanner; second; security; security containment field; security guard; security personnel; security system; security team; sensor; sensor range; sensor sweep; shuttlebay; shuttlebay 2; signal; "sit down"; skill; society; soldier; solution; son; soul; specification; specialist; specimen; speed; "stand by"; status; status report; strategy; strength; stun setting; subhadar; substance; suicide run; surface; survival; tactics; Tarsian War; temper; thing; thought; threat; tour; tour of duty; tracking station; tractor beam; training; transfer; transport beam; transporter; transporter power; Transporter Rooms 1 and 4; treatment; trick; triclenidil; turbolift; veteran; victim; violence; visit; volunteer; war vessel; warp drive; warrior; way of life; weapon; "what the hell"; "with all due respect"; word; wreckage; yellow

Other references

External link

Previous episode:
"The Defector"
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 3
Next episode:
"The High Ground"