The Battle (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Battle" is the 9th episode of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
is given his old command, the Stargazer, as a gift by Ferengi
Daimon Bok who intends to use it as part of a trap to discredit and destroy the Enterprise
captain.
41723.9, the 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 Doctor Beverly Crusher
conducts a medical scan. She has no idea what is causing his headaches. In the meantime, Wesley Crusher
detects a second vessel approaching. 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 nine 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.
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 decides to visit his cabin, reuniting himself with a chest of personal items. What he doesn't notice is a glowing sphere hidden inside.
Somewhere on the Ferengi ship, Bok laughs as the sphere in Picard's chest glows brighter, and the Captain is struck by another wave of pain. Beverly comes to his aid and has him sent back to the Enterprise.
Data looks over the Stargazers 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.
Doctor Crusher meets with Counselor Deanna Troi
, wondering about the Captain's peculiar recovery. Wesley shows them a frequency he detected coming from the Ferengi ship. Beverly and Troi race to Riker informing him the signals are affecting the Captain. Riker asks for a location of the Captain and the computer indicates he beamed to the Stargazer.
On the Stargazer, Picard finds Bok waiting for him. The Ferengi activates his sphere. Bok 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. He utters, "Die well, Captain!" then transports away.
Back on the Enterprise, Tasha Yar
and 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. Riker insists that Bok is involved. On the Stargazer, Picard now sees the Enterprise as the unknown threat.
Riker tries to talk sense into the Captain. Picard replies "Do not attack again! We are on a peaceful mission!" Fearing the Picard Maneuver is imminent, Riker asks Data what defense there is against it.
Kazago informs Riker that Daimon Bok has been relieved from command, "for engaging in this unprofitable venture." Data suggests a plan of action against the Picard Maneuver.
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 wills himself to blast the sphere with his phaser. He then requests to be beamed back.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Overview
PicardJean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
is given his old command, the Stargazer, as a gift by Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
Daimon Bok who intends to use it as part of a trap to discredit and destroy the Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
captain.
Plot
On stardateStardate
A stardate is a date in the fictional system of time measurement developed for Star Trek, commonly heard at the beginning of a voiceover log entry such as "Captain's log, stardate 41153.7...
41723.9, the USS Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
has rendezvoused with a Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
vessel. After days of waiting, Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
, 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 Doctor Beverly Crusher
Beverly Crusher
Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D. , played by actress Gates McFadden, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent spinoff films...
conducts a medical scan. She has no idea what is causing his headaches. In the meantime, Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
detects a second vessel approaching. Geordi La Forge
Geordi La Forge
Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge is a regular character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its feature films, played by LeVar Burton...
identifies the ship as an old Constellation-class starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
.
Bok transports
Transporter (Star Trek)
A transporter is a fictional teleportation machine used in the Star Trek universe. Transporters convert a person or object into an energy pattern , then "beam" it to a target, where it is reconverted into matter...
to the Enterprise bridge, along with his first officer Kazago. Bok announces that the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
ship is a "gift" for "the hero of Maxia." Picard is not sure what Bok is referring to, where Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
reminds him that nine 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.
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
Warp drive (Star Trek)
Warp drive is a faster-than-light propulsion system in the setting of many science fiction works, most notably Star Trek. A spacecraft equipped with a warp drive may travel at velocities greater than that of light by many orders of magnitude, while circumventing the relativistic problem of time...
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 decides to visit his cabin, reuniting himself with a chest of personal items. What he doesn't notice is a glowing sphere hidden inside.
Somewhere on the Ferengi ship, Bok laughs as the sphere in Picard's chest glows brighter, and the Captain is struck by another wave of pain. Beverly comes to his aid and has him sent back to the Enterprise.
Data looks over the Stargazers logs, alerting Commander William Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
when he finds a discrepancy. It appears the vessel Picard attacked was under a flag of truce. Riker has to notify Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
.
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.
Doctor Crusher meets with Counselor Deanna Troi
Deanna Troi
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
, wondering about the Captain's peculiar recovery. Wesley shows them a frequency he detected coming from the Ferengi ship. Beverly and Troi race to Riker informing him the signals are affecting the Captain. Riker asks for a location of the Captain and the computer indicates he beamed to the Stargazer.
On the Stargazer, Picard finds Bok waiting for him. The Ferengi activates his sphere. Bok 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. He utters, "Die well, Captain!" then transports away.
Back on the Enterprise, Tasha Yar
Tasha Yar
Lieutenant Natasha "Tasha" Yar, played by Denise Crosby, is a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the fictional series, the character served as chief of security aboard the USS Enterprise-D for the first season....
and Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
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. Riker insists that Bok is involved. On the Stargazer, Picard now sees the Enterprise as the unknown threat.
Riker tries to talk sense into the Captain. Picard replies "Do not attack again! We are on a peaceful mission!" Fearing the Picard Maneuver is imminent, Riker asks Data what defense there is against it.
Kazago informs Riker that Daimon Bok has been relieved from command, "for engaging in this unprofitable venture." Data suggests a plan of action against the Picard Maneuver.
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 wills himself to blast the sphere with his phaser. He then requests to be beamed back.
See also
- The Measure of a Man, the second season episode where Picard encounters the prosecutor from his Stargazer court-martial.
- Bloodlines, the seventh season episode where there-former Daimon Bok again attempts revenge upon Picard.
External links
- The Battle reviewed by Wil WheatonWil WheatonRichard William "Wil" Wheaton III is an American actor and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me and Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers...
(Wesley CrusherWesley CrusherWesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
) - The Battle rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido