The Battle (Star Trek: The Next Generation) - Plot

Plot

On stardate 41723.9, the Federation starship USS Enterprise has rendezvoused with a Ferengi vessel. After days of waiting, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, who is plagued by a headache, grows impatient. The Ferengi finally respond with their Captain, Daimon Bok, requesting to meet Picard.

Picard goes to Sickbay where the Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Beverly Crusher, conducts a medical scan. She has no idea what is causing his headaches. In the meantime, her young son Wesley Crusher detects a second vessel approaching. At the Ops bridge console Geordi La Forge identifies the ship as an old Constellation-class starship.

Bok transports to the Enterprise bridge, along with his first officer Kazago. Bok announces that the Federation ship is a "gift" for "the hero of Maxia." Picard is not sure what Bok is referring to, where Data reminds him that 9 years ago, at Maxia, he was attacked by an unidentified aggressor which he destroyed. Bok angrily shouts that ship in question was Ferengi.

The viewer magnifies upon the old ship. The nomenclature reads: "STARGAZER". Picard is realizing it's his former command. Bok found the derelict, and offers it as a memento (a move which unsettles Bok's officers; for a Ferengi to offer something without the expectation of profit in return is practically unheard of).

Picard tells of the incident at Maxia. The Stargazer suffered damage and the Captain executed what went down in history as the "Picard Maneuver". Gathering warp power, Picard ordered a short burst of speed. The effect made the Stargazer appear in two places at once, allowing Picard to go in for the kill. Unfortunately, he and the surviving crew had to abandon ship.

An away team is sent to the Stargazer. Picard discovers a chest of personal items which he orders beamed aboard the Enterprise and stored in his quarters. What he doesn't notice is a glowing sphere hidden inside.

Privately, aboard the Ferengi ship, Bok laughs as the sphere in Picard's chest glows brighter, and the Captain is struck by another wave of pain. Dr. Crusher comes to his aid and has him sent back to the Enterprise.

Data looks over the Stargazer's logs, alerting Commander William Riker when he finds a discrepancy. It appears the vessel Picard attacked was under a flag of truce. Riker has to notify Starfleet.

Data and La Forge report to Riker that the Stargazer logs were faked. The forger forgot the proper timecode stamps. Picard appears and oddly seems back to normal.

Dr. Crusher meets with Ship's Counselor Deanna Troi, wondering about the Captain's peculiar recovery. Wesley shows them an unusual low-intensity transmission he detected coming from the Ferengi ship. Beverly and Troi race to Riker, and inform him that the signals may be affecting the Captain, but when Riker asks for Picard's location the computer indicates he beamed to the Stargazer.

On the Stargazer, Picard finds Bok waiting for him. The Ferengi activates his sphere and says he is "collecting on an old debt", explaining that the ship Picard destroyed was commanded by his son. Bok sets the sphere on a seat, utters, "Die well, Captain!" then transports away. Under the influence of the sphere, Picard believes that he is fighting the Battle of Maxia once again.

Back on the Enterprise, Security Chief Lt. Tasha Yar and Lt. Worf locate the sphere in the chest that was brought over from the Stargazer. They bring it to Riker, just as the Stargazer raises shields. Yar warns the Stargazer has powered up weapons and is maneuvering to attack.

Riker calls over to Kazago, demanding an explanation. Kazago, once shown the mind sphere, becomes suspicious. He explains the sphere is "a thought maker", a forbidden device. Kazago is initially suspicious, but he quickly agrees to investigate Riker's claims. Meanwhile, on the Stargazer, Picard now sees the Enterprise as the then-unknown vessel threatening the Stargazer.

Riker tries to talk sense into the Captain, but Picard is caught up in his hallucination and replies "Do not attack again! We are on a peaceful mission!" Fearing the Picard Maneuver is imminent, Riker asks Data to devise a defense before Picard inadvertently fires on the Enterprise.

The Stargazer makes its abrupt jump to warp, and for an instant, appears in two places at once. Data deflects the ship with the tractor beam and the force nearly knocks Picard from his seat. Riker tells him to look for a sphere, and destroy it. Picard struggles against the sphere's effect, and subconsciously takes Riker's warning as a command, blasting the sphere with his phaser and causing it to explode violently.

After several tense seconds, Picard responds to Riker's hails and requests to be beamed back to the Enterprise. Kazago informs Riker that Daimon Bok has been relieved of his command, "for engaging in this unprofitable venture".