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* Data, who meets Spock in this episode, had, during his [[Encounter at Farpoint (episode)|first mission aboard the ''Enterprise'']], been told by [[Leonard McCoy|Spock's favorite irrational foil]] that, while he did not posess pointed ears, he sounded "just like a Vulcan".
 
* Data, who meets Spock in this episode, had, during his [[Encounter at Farpoint (episode)|first mission aboard the ''Enterprise'']], been told by [[Leonard McCoy|Spock's favorite irrational foil]] that, while he did not posess pointed ears, he sounded "just like a Vulcan".
 
* These episodes were created in part to promote {{film|6}}, and although that movie was released later, these episodes were produced after the film, making them Nimoy's final appearance as Spock for eighteen years until 2009's {{film|11}}.
 
* These episodes were created in part to promote {{film|6}}, and although that movie was released later, these episodes were produced after the film, making them Nimoy's final appearance as Spock for eighteen years until 2009's {{film|11}}.
* [[Malachi Throne]] (Senator [[Pardek]]) was also with Leonard Nimoy during his first appearance in [[Star Trek]], the first ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' pilot {{e|The Cage}}, as the voice of the [[Unnamed Talosians#Magistrate (The Keeper)|Talosian Keeper]]. He had also previously appeared as Commodore [[José I. Mendez]] in "[[The Menagerie]]."
+
* [[Malachi Throne]] (Senator [[Pardek]]) was also with Leonard Nimoy during his first appearance in [[Star Trek]], the first ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' pilot {{e|The Cage}}, as the voice of [[The Keeper]]. He had also previously appeared as Commodore [[José I. Mendez]] in "[[The Menagerie]]."
 
* This is Nimoy's third of four ''Star Trek'' appearances without [[William Shatner]]. The other three are {{TOS|The Cage}}, {{TAS|The Slaver Weapon}}, and {{film|11}}.
 
* This is Nimoy's third of four ''Star Trek'' appearances without [[William Shatner]]. The other three are {{TOS|The Cage}}, {{TAS|The Slaver Weapon}}, and {{film|11}}.
 
* This episode also marks the final appearance of the mysterious character of [[Sela]], although [[Denise Crosby]] does reprise her role of [[Natasha Yar]] in {{e|All Good Things...}}.
 
* This episode also marks the final appearance of the mysterious character of [[Sela]], although [[Denise Crosby]] does reprise her role of [[Natasha Yar]] in {{e|All Good Things...}}.

Revision as of 17:15, 18 August 2011

Template:Realworld

On Romulus, Picard and Data meet with Spock, who claims to be trying to reunite the Romulans and Vulcans. While Spock works to achieve his goal, powers within the Romulan government seek to pervert his mission into an invasion of the Federation.

Summary

Teaser

Captain Picard addresses Spock, who insists that his mission is private and is unwilling to discuss the mission with Picard as Federation representative; Spock asks Picard to leave and Picard refuses, saying that Spock's sort of "cowboy diplomacy" is not easily tolerated.

"If you wish to undertake a mission with obvious repercussions for the Federation, then you should discuss it with the Federation. I'm here as their representative."

Picard also has the unhappy task of informing Spock that his father is dead.

Walking with him, Spock tells Picard that he and Senator Pardek are involved in an underground movement learning Vulcan philosophy, with a view to effecting the reunification of Vulcan and Romulus. Pardek had asked him to come, as a young proconsul in the Romulan Senate is promising reform and they may be able to convert him to their movement. When Picard asks Spock why he hasn't mentioned this either to the Federation or to the Vulcans, Spock says that it was a personal decision based on what happened with his small role in the early overtures to peace with the Klingons.

"It was I who committed Captain Kirk to that peace mission, and I who had to bear the responsibility for the consequences to him and to his crew."

Spock states that he is unwilling to risk anyone's life but his own in this venture and once again asks Picard to leave. Picard states that he almost suspects Spock's judgment is being influenced by his emotions. Spock states that Picard speaks almost as Sarek would if he were there. Picard replies that he speaks only as a Starfleet officer and cannot ignore the risks to Spock. Spock then remarks that Picard is, in his own way, as stubborn as another captain of the Enterprise that he once knew.

Picard takes that as a compliment, remarking that he is in good company.

Act One

Data, having returned to the cloaked Klingon ship in orbit of Romulus, obtains the assistance of Captain K'Vada to access the Romulan Central Information Net, and to send a transmission to the Enterprise, piggybacking it on Romulan transmissions. In exchange, he promises to give the Klingons access to any Romulan information he uncovers.

Back on Romulus, a Romulan comes to Picard and Spock's table bearing a flower – a signal that Pardek will shortly arrive. Picard and Spock discuss the underground movement, with Spock noting that it has members in four provinces and is a serious concern to the Romulan leadership, while Picard expresses skepticism regarding its chances of success, which Spock urges him to reconsider. A boy, D'Tan, arrives with an antique Vulcan book telling the history of the separation. Pardek arrives, rebukes the boy gently for bringing the book into the open, and they leave. Pardek tells Picard and Spock that Spock's presence has greatly inspired the movement, and informs them that the proconsul will meet with Spock.

Act Two

"First Officer's log, Stardate 45245.8. The Enterprise remains at Qualor II while we continue to investigate the theft of a surplus Vulcan ship. The trail has led us to the former wife of a deceased smuggler."

Riker enters a bar near the Qualor II surplus depot and encounters Amarie, a four-armed pianist and the former wife of the smuggler who died when the Enterprise opened fire on the ship stealing deuterium tanks from the depot. After a brief bargaining session, she agrees to provide him information on his business partners, in exchange for jazz lessons. She informs him that Omag, "a fat Ferengi", will be in the bar at some point and will have information.

On Romulus, Pardek and Spock meet with Proconsul Neral. He expresses enthusiasm for their movement, even greeting Spock with "Live long and prosper", and saying he may be able to obtain the support of the Romulan Senate and is prepared to publicly endorse reunification. But after Spock leaves, Sela enters the room – she has heard the whole conversation, and Neral has tricked the underground.

In the caves, Spock shares the good news, despite Picard's skepticism. Spock and Picard argue, with Picard accusing Spock of being swayed by Romulan emotions, and Spock insinuating that Picard is over-influenced by Sarek, possibly even by the results of his mind meld with the ambassador. In the end, Spock concedes that there is room to suspect treachery, but resolves to play out the scene to determine what that treachery may be.

Act Three

Back aboard K'Vada's ship, Data is attempting to access the information net; Spock provides the last necessary cipher in order to access it. Spock notes that Picard has an almost Vulcan-like quality, which Data is surprised by given that Picard has been his role model in his quest to become more Human. Spock is fascinated by this telling Data that his intellect, physical skills and lack of emotions gives him by default what Vulcans strive for their entire lives... and yet he wishes to be Human. Data then notes that Spock is half-Human, yet chose to live a Vulcan way of life thereby abandoning what the android has always aimed for.

In the bar on Qualor II, Worf requests a theme from Aktuh and Maylota, in which Amarie joins with gusto. Soon, Omag enters the bar and Worf advises Riker on the Enterprise. Riker arrives shortly and intimidates the arrogant Ferengi into revealing that he delivered the Vulcan ship to a Barolian freighter near Galorndon Core.

Act Four

Riker is communicating with Picard over the piggybacked subspace signal, who brings him up to date about the negotiations with Proconsul Neral. The Enterprise then makes for Galorndon Core.

On K'Vada's ship, Data has accessed Romulan communications logs and finds a transmission to a Barolian ship near Galorndon Core. Although Barolians often run that trade route, the signal includes the code prefix of Romulan Intelligence. The signal is a mere four digits: 1 4 0 0.

On Romulus, D'Tan catches up with Spock and shows him small carved stones, which Spock describes as the syllabic nucleus of the Vulcan language. D'Tan reveals that his parents taught him Vulcan when he was small. Summoned by Picard and Data, Spock returns to the cave. They share the message with him, and Spock immediately realizes that the proconsul has deceived him and that the Vulcan ships are involved, as 1400 hours is the time set for Spock's announcement regarding reunification. Suddenly, Sela bursts in and captures Spock, Picard, and Data; Spock realizes that Pardek has betrayed him. Sela reveals the Romulan plot: to send the Vulcan ships, full of Romulan troops, to conquer Vulcan.

Act Five

"First officer's log, supplemental. The Enterprise has reached Galorndon Core near the border of the Neutral Zone."

In orbit of Galorndon Core, the Enterprise receives a message, ostensibly from Picard, advising them that the initiative is successful and ordering to hold their position. Riker dismisses it.

On Romulus, Spock, Data, and Picard are brought into Sela's office. She informs them that Spock will read a speech encouraging the Vulcans to welcome the "peace envoy." When Spock refuses to read that or any other statement, Sela reveals a holographic version of him that will read the speech. She then leaves to order the ships on their way, locking the three in her office. Data and Spock immediately set about to access the Romulan computer system.

Back in orbit of Galorndon Core, the Enterprise detects the oncoming Vulcan ships and move to intercept.

Sela returns to her office to find her three prisoners gone, and is immediately confronted by Riker and two security officers. She shoots at them, but the beam passes through them – holograms. While they are distracted, Spock and Picard emerge from the wall – also a hologram – and incapacitate Sela's guards (Spock with a nerve pinch, Picard with a right hook to the jaw), and get the drop on her. But she blusters that her forces will be on Vulcan before they can alert anyone.

Dr. Crusher arrives on the bridge saying she's received an urgent distress signal from Dulisian IV calling for emergency evacuation. Just before they divert to assist, they receive a message from Spock alerting them to the invasion force and saying the Vulcan ships must be stopped at all costs. Riker tells Dr. Crusher to verify the signal from Dulisian IV, as it is probably fake.

Data confirms that the message was sent and nerve pinches Sela, and the three make good their escape from the senate.

The Vulcan ships begin to retreat to the Neutral Zone, with the Enterprise in pursuit. Suddenly, a Template:ShipClass warbird uncloaks; Riker calls red alert, but the warbird destroys the three Vulcan ships, then re-cloaks as quickly as it appeared. Geordi and Troi note with shock that there were over 2,000 Romulan troops aboard the Vulcan ships, but the Romulans destroyed their own invasion force rather than let them be captured.

In caves that Pardek never knew about, the remaining underground movement resolves to continue working for change in Romulan society. Picard and Data prepare to beam up to K'Vada's ship, but Spock chooses to remain behind, saying his work has never been more important. As Picard and Spock discuss their gently adversarial relationship, Spock comments that Picard may know Sarek "better than his own son did. My father and I never chose to meld." On hearing this, Picard says, "I offer you the chance to touch what he [Sarek] shared with me." As Data watches, Spock places his hand on Picard's face and makes contact with the essence of Sarek that remains in Picard's mind, and Picard thus fulfills the request that Sarek made: Spock's face is suffused with emotion as he realizes the depth of his father's love for him.

Memorable quotes

"I have to ask you about your husband."
"Well, it was nice while it lasted... which husband?"
"The dead one, I'm afraid."

- Riker and Amarie


"And what do you want from me?"
"I was hoping you knew his business partners."
"And why should I help you?"
"To be honest, I can't think of a good reason."
"Well, you did kill my ex-husband. And that's not a bad start."

- Amarie and Riker


"What is that dreadful noise?! It sounds like a Bardakian pronghorn moose!"

- Omag, in response to Worf's and Amarie's singing in Klingon.


"I think I'll take this opportunity to remove my ears."

- Picard


"Excuse me, I'm just finishing up a speech–for you, Mr. Spock. I rather enjoy writing. I don't get to do it very often in this job."
"Perhaps you would be happier in another job."

- Sela and Data


"I'm afraid I don't know too much about Romulan disruptor settings."

- Spock, holding Sela at gunpoint


""Cowboy diplomacy?""

- Spock


"I will not read this or any other statement."
"If you do not, you will die. All of you will die."
"Since it is logical to conclude that you will kill us in any event, I choose not to cooperate."
(enraged) "I hate Vulcans. I hate the logic. I hate the arrogance. Very well."

- Spock and Sela


"As you examine your life, do you find you have missed your Humanity?"
"I have no regrets."
"'No regrets.' That is a Human expression."
"Yes. Fascinating."

- Data and Spock


"In your own way, you are as stubborn as another captain of the Enterprise I once knew."
"Then I am in good company, sir."

- Spock and Picard


"This is Ambassador Spock of Vulcan. By now, Federation sensors are tracking three Vulcan ships crossing the Neutral Zone. These ships carry a Romulan invasion force and must be stopped. I repeat, these ships carry a Romula—"

- Spock


"I am afraid we cannot allow you to warn your guards."
(Data delivers Vulcan nerve-pinch on Sela, knocking her unconscious)
"Not bad."

- Data and Spock


"Worf to Riker."
"Riker here."
"A fat Ferengi has entered the establishment."
"Is that Melor Famagal I hear?"
"It is."
"I'm on my way."

- Worf and Riker

Background Information

Awards

  • This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series.

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Main cast

Special guest star

Guest stars

And

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Photo doubles

References

Aktuh and Melota; Andorian blues; Bardakian pronghorn moose; Barolian freighter; cafe; carrier wave; defector; disruptor array; Galorndon Core; James T. Kirk, Klingon opera; Melor Famagal; priority 1 distress call; Rutian; Sector 213; Spock One; suck salt; T'Pau; Uhlan; unnamed Apollo class starships; Vulcan defense vessel

Previous episode:
"Unification I"
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 5
Next episode:
"A Matter of Time"