The Battle (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
”The Battle” is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, first broadcast November 16, 1987. It is episode #8, production #110, written by Herbert Wright, based on a story by Larry Forrester, and directed by Robert Bowman.
Quick Overview: Captain Picard is reunited with his old ship, the Stargazer, and is lured into a trap by a vengeful Ferengi.
On stardate 41723.9, the USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, has rendezvoused with a Ferengi vessel in the Xendi Sabu system. Although the Ferengi have requested the meeting, for three days since arriving, the Ferengi remain silent, only asking that the Enterprise to “stand by”. By now, Picard is annoyed ready to leave. He is fatigued and plagued by annoying headaches to which Dr. Crusher expresses concern. She suggests he undergo a full examination.
The Ferengi finally respond, but do not give a reason for the delay. The Ferengi Captain, DaiMon Bok, calls for Picard, sounding anxious to meet him. Bok claims to have summoned Picard about a mutual problem, insisting on discussing the matter face-to-face. Bok is aware of the high level of distrust between them and gives the choice; his ship or theirs. Picard's officers suggest the Enterprise to which Bok seems all too quick to agree, indicating he'll beam over in one hour.
Picard goes to sickbay where Beverly probes his cranium. She has no idea what is causing the headaches but gives him something for the pain. In the meantime, Wesley, having made booster modifications to the ship's long range sensors, detects a second approaching vessel before the bridge does. Geordi confirms the signal, identifying the ship as an old Constitution Class starship, one of theirs. Riker is puzzled by the ship's presence, and more so when they have no response to hails. The ghost ship seems to be flying itself. Picard is notified of the approaching ship, but it is now time to receive the Ferengi.
Bok transports directly to the Enterprise bridge, along with his first officer Kazago, and second officer Rata. Kazago immediately scrutinizes Data, asking if the android is for sale. Riker jokes that Data is “second-hand” merchandise, and he wouldn't want him. Tasha alerts that the second vessel is closing, still no contact. Bok announces the ship is under his control, a “gift” for the “Hero of Maxia”. The word “gift” stirs concern from Kazago and Rata who thought their leader was going to sell the ship back to them.
Picard is confused and doesn't know what Bok is referring too. Bok is certain Picard remembers his famous battle at Maxia. Data reminds the Captain that at Maxia, Picard was attacked by an unidentified aggressor, to which Bok hotly indicates was a Ferengi ship. Data concludes, “which you destroyed sir”. It is obvious that Bok is angry, yet he coolly offers an apology, “such mistakes happen in space”. Data deems it hardly a mistake, records indicated the Ferengi ship attacked first. Picard is then struck by another wave of pain in his head. Troi senses something too. Bok replies, “Perhaps it's his conscious” to Troi's puzzlement.
Bok doesn't defend the record, instead he offers a closer look at the old ship. The viewer magnifies, and Picard squints at the hull nomenclature which reads: “U.S.S. STARGAZER NCC-2893”. He is struck in awe for a moment realizing it's his old ship. Bok explains they found the derelict adrift at the edges of the system, but now offer it as a memento to Picard's “victory” at Maxia. The Ferengi kindly leave, but everyone remains suspicious over the their sudden gesture of hospitality.
In the observation lounge, Picard remembers of the incident at Maxia. He recalls the final moments of the Stargazer; they encountered an unknown ship and offered greetings, but the vessel attacked without provocation. The aggressor pounded the Stargazer, shields were dropping, there was a fire in engineering, and as the enemy ship came in for another pass the Stargazer executed what went down in history as the “Picard Maneuver”. Picard gathered up remaining warp power and made a short burst of speed ahead of the enemy ship. The effect made the Stargazer” appear to be in two places at once. The enemy attacked their ghost, and Picard went in for the kill. Unfortunately, the Stargazer was heavily damaged, and he and the surviving crew abandoned the ship in a shuttle craft. They drifted for weeks before another starship found them.
An away team is sent over to the Stargazer” to check for any Ferengi “surprises”. Finding the ship clean, Picard joins them. He says “hello” to his old friend, walking about the battered bridge, left just like it was when his crew abandoned it seven years earlier. The bridge is a mess, the scent of smoke still lingers, and scorch marks cover every console. Georgi restores some minimal power, surprised the energy reserves still work. Picard decides to visit his old cabin, reuniting himself with some personal items. He finds his old academy diploma, some award plaques, and a wooden chest still containing a neatly folded uniform. What he doesn't notice is a peculiar glowing sphere also hidden inside.
Somewhere on the Ferengi vessel, Bok sits at a strange console. Next to him is a sphere identical to the one in Picard's chest. He laughs vengefully, “Try this, hero of Maxia”. The sphere in Picard's chest glows brighter, and the Captain is struck by another wave of pain. He falls, knocking the chest closed. His officers hear his groans and come to his aid. He is disoriented but insists he's alright. Riker has him sent back to the Enterprise. Picard insists his personal effects come as well and Lt. Yar assures him they will be sent to his quarters.
The Ferengi finish their transfer of the logs and the Enterprise puts a tractor beam on the Stargazer, deciding to tow the wreck to Xendi Starbase 9. The Ferengi remains with the two ships, offering an uneasy escort. Meanwhile, Picard takes time to rest. He is still ravaged by pain. As he tries to sleep, voices enter his mind: “Torpedoes ready Captain... shields weakening... My God! Who are they? ... Sir, they're coming back around... Orders sir? SIR?” Picard's eyes pop open; he lies in terror.
Elsewhere, Data looks over the Stargazer's logs. He alerts Riker when he finds a discrepancy. The Captain's personal logs recount a much different version of the battle than official historic records. It appears the vessel Picard attacked, was in fact under a flag of truce. Riker thinks it to be impossible and asks what caused the fires. Data says an accident in engineering, and the proof lies in the Captains own recorded words. Riker listens to Picard's voice. He still can believe the Captain would be guilty of falsifying a battle report.
Riker confronts the Captain, replaying the reports. Picard listens to himself say he mistook a subspace antenna for a weapons cluster and fired upon the ship. Riker believes the voice has been simulated and the Ferengi have been tampered with the logs. It probably explains why they offered escort, they're waiting for something, but without clear evidence of the fact, he indicates he still has a duty to perform; notify Starfleet of the discrepancy. Picard sits dismayed, guessing Starfleet will relieve him of command, especially while the Ferengi are making peace overtures. He however, agrees with Riker's decision. Riker tells him the report will take a day to reach Starfleet, with another day for their reply. In the meantime, he assures he will do everything he can to prove the logs were tampered with.
In privacy, Riker calls over to the Ferengi ship to talk with Kazago, “first-officer-to-first-officer”. Kazago is quite aware of Picard's infamy; what he calls “the wanton destruction of an unarmed vessel”. Riker explains he will find evidence that the logs were tampered with, but Kazago expects as much; a cover up the decadent humans would use to defend such disgrace. Riker asks the question, if the Ferengi knew of Picard's deception, then why offer the Stargazer as a peace gesture? Kazago is insulted, the Ferengi kindly return the derelict ship and now they are accused of a crime. He cuts off leaving Riker bewildered.
In the meantime, Beverly looks over Picard. His headaches grow worse and nothing the doctor does seems to help. She believes the pain is connected to the emotional stress he has been under, but Picard explains the pain started before finding the Stargazer. The Captain is a mess, he tells Beverly he hears voices, and that he unsure if he was in his right mind at Maxia, or even if he is in his right mind now. He tries to sleep again, but the voices return: “Shields collapsing!, Torpedoes armed!, Where the hell are they?”
In his lair, Bok sits at a screen, somehow distorting Picard's mind. “And now my dear Captain, you are ready to relive the past.” The voices turn to visions. Picard dreams he is in the center seat of the Stargazer's bridge, he sees fire everywhere, smoke and sparks fill the air. The ship rocks back and fourth. He sees glowing apparitions of his old crew manning their stations. “What should we do sir?... Fire sir, Fire!” Bok manipulates his controls, hissing “You will injure yourself as you injured me.” The action in Picard's mind intensifies: “Clear the debris!... Damage report!... Power systems failing... Ready phasers and lock!... FIRE!”
Elsewhere, Data and Geordi report to Riker. They have found the evidence that the Stargazer logs were faked. The forger made a crucial mistake however, and forgot about timecode stamps, they prove they were added in later, a deliberate fabrication. Picard suddenly appears. He seems back to normal. Riker informs him of the log tampering. Oddly it seems the last thing on his mind. He orders Riker to disable the tractor beam on the Stargazer, indicating the ship's inertia will keep it with the Enterprise and conserve power. Riker thinks the request is odd but disengages the beam.
Beverly tells the Captain he should be resting, but he reassures her his headaches are gone and he can return to duty. The doctor meets with Troi, wondering about the Captain's peculiar recovery. Troi feels something odd in the Captain; overlapping patterns of thought, as if there is disorder in his mind. Suddenly Wesley interrupts them. He shows them a strange frequency he detected coming from the Ferengi ship. When compared to the model of Picard's brainwaves, the frequency model is an exact match. Beverly and Troi race to Riker informing him of the transmissions. The two believe they are affecting the Captain's judgment. Alarmed, Riker asks for a location of Captain Picard. The computer indicates he went to transporter room three and beamed to the Stargazer.
On the Stargazer's bridge, Picard finds Bok waiting for him. The Ferengi activates his sphere causing Picard to wrench back in pain. The sinister alien explains he is “collecting on an old debt”. Picard wobbles in pain, disoriented, unsure of what Bok is talking about. Bok paces, explaining that the Ferengi ship Picard destroyed was commanded by his son, his first mission as DaiMon. He has been searching three years for a proper blood revenge, having found one on a distant world where human evil has not yet reached. He has spent a lifetime of riches to acquire the mind control devices. Bok explains the computers are set to respond to verbal commands. Picard struggles for control, as Bok sets the sphere on a seat. He utters, “Die well, Picard, then transports away leaving the Captain alone with the menacing sphere.
Back on the Enterprise, Tasha Yar and Worf rush to Picard's quarters and locate the sphere in the Captain's chest that was brought over from the Stargazer. They bring it to Riker, just as the Stargazer raises shields and maneuvers away. They look over the sphere knowing it must be connected to the thought-altering transmissions. It must have prepared Picard for whatever he is about to do. Tasha warns the Stargazer has powered up weapons and maneuvering to attack. Although the ship is heavily damaged, it is armed with enough firepower to bring down the “Enterprise.
Riker calls over to Kazago, demanding an explanation of what is going on. Kazago seems just as confused as Riker, but once shown the mind sphere, he becomes suspicious. He explains the sphere is “thought maker”, a forbidden device, suggesting Picard is criminal to own one. Riker insists that Bok is involved and demands to speak with him. Kazago refuses to question his DaiMon and to Riker's annoyance, cuts off communication. On the Stargazer, Picard takes his old command chair. He sees the phantoms of his old crew manning their stations. Picard now sees the Enterprise as the unknown threat.
Back on the Enterprise, Riker tries to talk sense into the Captain. Picard replies “Do not attack, we are on a peaceful mission” Troi senses frustration and anger coming from Picard, he is living the delusion. Picard responds, “Give us your identity! You force us to defend ourselves.” They hear him relay orders to his imaginary crew then communications cut off. Fearing the Picard Maneuver is eminent, Riker asks Data what defense there is against it. Data replies there is none so Riker tells him to devise one, fast!
The Ferengi ship suddenly calls over. Riker is a little busy at the moment, but Kazago informs him his DaiMon has been relieved from command, “for engaging in an unprofitable adventure”. Kazago refuses to help the Enterprise, preferring not to get involved in their affairs. He wishes Riker luck and signs off. Data speaks up with his defense plan, indicating as the opposing ship exits warp, sensors will detect a sudden “compression” of stellar gases... but Riker cuts him off and orders that whatever he has planned, just do it! Seeing the four warp nacelles of the Stargazer flair up, Geordi announces “here he comes!”
The Stargazer makes its abrupt jump to warp, and for an instant, appears in to places at once. With lightning speed, Data deflects the ship with the forward tractor beam. The Stargazer” fires torpedoes which wrack the Enterprise's shields, causing minor damage. The force of the deflection knocks Picard from his command seat. He stumbles and hears Riker calling for him. Dazed, he responds. Riker tells him to look for a silver sphere and destroy it. It is controlling his mind.
In a zombie daze, Picard finds the sphere. He hesitates then wills himself to blast the sphere with his phaser. He is finally released and quickly comes to his senses. The next thing Riker hears is Picard requesting to be beamed back home.