"Last time on "Star Trek:" "The Next Generation"." ""You are requested and required to relinquish command to Capt Edward Jellico, Commanding Officer, USS Cairo, as of this date."" "I want this ship ready for action and I don't have time to give Will Riker or anyone else a chance." "And forgive me for being blunt, but the Enterprise is mine now." "Our orders are to penetrate the Celtris III installation." "It's a trap!" "Come on!" "Let's go!" " The Captain!" " No!" "There are five more of them heading this way." "You should prove an interesting challenge." "Possibly the most interesting to come through that door in years." " What do you want?" " Why, you, of course." "And now, the conclusion." "Your place of birth?" "Labarre, France." "Mother's name?" "Yvette Gessard." "He's ready." "Keep the serum at that level." "What is your current assignment?" "Special operations on Celtris III." "What is your mission on Celtris III?" "To seek and destroy a metagenic weapon." "How many others were part of this mission?" " Two." " Name and rank?" "Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher." "Lt Worf." "What are the Federation's defence plans for Minos Korva?" "I don't know." "Increase the level slightly to 0.31 ." "Let's begin again, shall we?" "Name?" "Picard." "Jean-Luc." "Place of birth?" "Labarre, France." "Space, the final frontier." "These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise." "Its continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds,... ..to seek out new life and new civilizations,..." "..to boldly go where no one has gone before." "Captain's log, stardate 46360.8." "Negotiations with the Cardassians have made little progress." "I believe a military confrontation may be unavoidable." "Gul Lemec, I assure you that what the Federation wants above all is peace." "Then how do you explain the Federation's unprovoked assault on Cardassian territory 14 hours ago?" "I don't know what you mean." "Then let me explain." "Capt Jean-Luc Picard, Lt Worf and Dr Beverly Crusher landed on Celtris III, brutally attacked one of our outposts and killed over 55 men, women and children." " What evidence do you have of that?" " We have all the evidence we need." "We have Capt Picard." "Is he alive?" "The Cardassian Union has yet to decide how it will respond to this latest provocation." "But, rest assured, ... ..we will respond." "Is there any truth in this?" "They were sent to investigate reports of a metagenic weapon on Celtris III." "It's possible that they may have been captured." "But if they did escape, they'll head for the Lyshan System." "The Enterprise is to meet them there in eight hours." "Will, I want you to take a shuttle and head for the rendezvous point." "We will have to stay here until the endgame with Gul Lemec is played." "Aye, sir." "Capt Picard." "I demand to see a neutral representative as required by the Federation-Cardassian peace treaty." "We have sent a message to Tovhun III, the nearest neutral planet." "They assure us they will send someone immediately." "Will you allow me to remove your restraints?" "You are a student of archaeology." "Did you know that Cardassia boasts some of the most ancient and splendid ruins in the galaxy?" "I know that the burial vaults of the First Hebitian civilization are said to be magnificent." "Apparently, when they were unearthed 200 years ago, they were." "The vaults contained unimaginably beautiful artefacts made of jevonite, a rare, breathtaking stone." "But most of those objects are gone." "What happened to them?" "What happens to impoverished societies." "The tombs were plundered, priceless treasures stolen." "A few were preserved in museums, but even those were eventually sold to pay for our war efforts." "That war cost you hundreds of thousands of lives." "It depleted your food supplies, left your population weakened and miserable, and yet you risk another war." "Let's not waste time arguing about issues we cannot resolve." "Would you care to tour the Hebitian burial vaults?" "What I would like is to be returned to my ship." "My dear Captain, you are a criminal." "You've been apprehended invading one of our secret facilities." "The least that will happen is for you to stand trial and be punished." "But I'm offering you the opportunity for that experience to be... ..civilised." "What is the price of that opportunity?" "Cooperation." "We need to know the Federation's defence strategy for Minos Korva." "You've injected me with drugs." "Surely you must realize I've answered truthfully every question put to me." "Captain, ... ..we have gone to great lengths to lure you here because we know that in the event of an invasion, the Enterprise will be the Command ship for the sector encompassing Minos Korva." "Then it seems you have more knowledge of the situation than I." "Wasted energy, Captain." "You might wish you hadn't expended it in such a futile effort." "Torture is forbidden by the Seldonis IV Convention governing the treatment of prisoners of war!" "Are you in good health?" "Do you have any physical ailments I should know about?" "Beautiful, isn't it?" "The stone is jevonite." "And now you know why it is so highly prized." "From this point on, you will enjoy no privilege of rank, no privileges of person." "From now on... ..I will refer to you only as human." "You have no other identity!" "First Officer's log, supplemental." "I have returned from the rendezvous point with Dr Crusher and Lt Worf." "Capt Picard's fate is still unknown." "We couldn't go back for the Captain." "We barely made it to the Ferengi cargo ship ourselves." " You were smart not to try." " I don't feel so smart." "Get some rest, Doctor." "Will." "I want Geordi to analyze the readings from Beverly's tricorder." "Tell him to scrutinize every detail of those caverns on Celtris III." "Aye, sir." "Request permission to begin planning a rescue operation." "I know you were close to him, Will, but we don't even know if he's alive." "Under the circumstances, a rescue mission would be foolhardy." "Shouldn't we assume he's alive until proved dead?" "We can't just abandon him." "He's gone!" "I'm sorry, Will, but you're gonna have to accept that." "I want those tricorder readings analyzed by 1400 hours." "Yes, sir." "Good morning." "I trust you slept well." "Thirsty?" "I would imagine so." "Well, it's time to move on." " I've told you all that I know." " Yes, I'm sure you have." "How many lights do you see there?" " I see four lights." " No, there are five." "Are you quite sure?" "There are four lights." "Perhaps you are aware of the incision in your chest." "While you were under our drugs, you were implanted with a small device." "It's a remarkable invention!" "By entering commands in this pad," "I can produce pain in any part of your body, various levels of severity." "Forgive me." "I don't enjoy this, but I must demonstrate." "It will make everything clearer." "Surprising, isn't it?" "People feel they can steel themselves against it, but they're unprepared for the intensity of the pain." "That was the lowest possible setting." "I know nothing about Minos Korva." "But I've told you, I believe you." "I didn't ask you about Minos Korva." "I asked how many lights you see." "There are four lights." "I don't understand how you can be so mistaken." " What is your current assignment?" " Special operations on Celtris III." "Do you have anything to say?" "Capt Picard was not acting under my orders." "And if we wish to execute him?" "Under the Seldonis Convention..." "The Seldonis Convention applies to prisoners of war." "Which means you admit he was on a mission authorized by Federation." "Are you willing to make such an admission?" "No." "Then he will be treated as a terrorist." "It's not my concern." "There is, of course, an alternative." "I'm listening." "If the Federation agreed to a complete withdrawal from this sector, then we would be disposed to release Capt Picard and forget about this incident." "I'll have to discuss this with my superiors." "Of course." "You have seven hours." "What will you do?" "Send a message to Admiral Necheyev." "I recommend that she reject Lemec's proposal and deploy additional ships along the border." "What about Capt Picard?" "I don't suggest you trade a star system for one man's life, but these were Federation orders and he is a prisoner of war." "No!" "He will be protected by the Convention." "That would play into Lemec's hand." "He's waiting for a sign of weakness." "I can't believe you'd sacrifice Capt Picard as a negotiation tactic!" "Will!" "Captain, we're all concerned..." "Are you questioning my judgement?" "It is my responsibility to point out any actions that may be mistakes by a commanding officer, sir." "Then maybe it's time you found other responsibilities." "You're relieved." "Don't make me confine you to quarters as well." "Sir." "They worked hard to lure a Federation team to that planet." "Why?" "They may have been specifically interested in capturing Capt Picard." "Why?" "The metagenic weapon they were supposedly developing used a theta-band delivery system." "Capt Picard is one of only three Starfleet captains with experience in theta-band devices." "The other two are no longer in Starfleet." "So they tailored a fake weapon to lure Picard." "But why?" "They must know we'd change his access codes and security protocols." "Maybe they were interested in something he did in the past while he was Captain." "Or in something he was going to do in the future." "If the Cardassians attack, the Enterprise will be assigned as Command ship for this sector." "If they got wind of that..." "They might assume Capt Picard knew those defence plans." "If your theory is correct, they may be planning an attack in this sector." "The question is where?" "Geordi, run a discreet scan of Gul Lemec's ship." "Look for anything unusual that might indicate where they've been lately." "Aye, sir." "I want you to be very careful with your wompat from now on, Jil Orra." "Now she's left her mother, she depends on you." "I will, Father." " Do humans have mothers and fathers?" " Yes." "But human mothers and fathers don't love their children as we do." "They're not the same as we are." " Will you read to me tonight?" " Of course I will!" "I'll see you later." "Your daughter is lovely." "Yes, I think so." "And unusually bright." "It's amazing, isn't it, the way they're able to sneak into your heart?" "I must admit I was unprepared for the power she had over me, from the moment she was born." "I am surprised that you let her come in here." "Why?" "To expose a child to... ..this." "To someone who is suffering." "To see that it is you that inflict that suffering." "From the time Jil Orra could crawl, she's been taught about our enemies and that they deserve their fate." "When children learn to devalue others, they can devalue anyone, including their parents." "What a blind, narrow view you have." "What an arrogant man you are!" "What do you know of Cardassian history?" "I know that once, you were a peaceful people with a rich spiritual life." "What did peace and spirituality get us?" "Millions starved." "Bodies went unburied." "Disease was rampant." "Suffering was unimaginable." "Since the military took over, hundreds of thousands more have died." "But we are feeding the people." "We acquired territory during the wars." "We developed new resources." "We initiated a rebuilding programme." "We have mandated agricultural programmes." "That is what the military has done for Cardassia." "And, because of that, my daughter will never worry about going hungry." "Her belly may be full, but her spirit will be empty." "Shall we begin again?" "How many lights are there?" "What lights?" "It looks like some minor hull degradation on their warp nacelles," "The pattern indicates recent exposure to a molecular-dispersion field." "Where could they have run into one?" "The McAllister C-5 nebula, seven light years from Federation space." "Could there be Cardassian ships inside the nebula?" "Maybe, but they couldn't stay in there long." "The nebula's particle flux would break down a hull after 72 hours." "Is there a Federation system near the nebula that might interest the Cardassians?" "Minos Korva is just 11 light years from the nebula." "And the Cardassians tried to annex it during the war." "Data, I want to be at Minos Korva in one hour." "Aye, sir." "Set course 350, mark 215 and engage at warp 8.5." "Wake up." "Where were you?" "At home." "Sunday dinner." "We would all sing afterwards." "What a charming picture." "The Picard family, voices raised in song." "Is that what's keeping you from breaking?" "Memories of home and hearth, images of happier times?" "I congratulate you." "You're remarkably strong-willed." "I see no point holding you further." "You may go." "Someone will give you clean clothing before we return you to your ship." "We will get what we need from the human female." "What female are you referring to?" "The one who was part of your abortive assault team." "Dr Beverly Crusher." "What have you done to her?" "Not a thing." "She's quite safe." "I wanted to finish interviewing you before interrogating her." "I had hoped it might not be necessary." "Lt Worf?" "He left us few options." "We had to kill him." "I'm optimistic we can get what we need from the woman." "Dr Crusher has no knowledge of any Starfleet operations." "She's a Medical officer." "You might be right." "I'll determine that for myself." "Are you choosing to stay with me?" "Excellent." "I can't tell you how pleased that makes me." "Starfleet now believes the Cardassians will invade Minos Korva." "I'm convinced their invasion fleet is hiding in the McAllister Nebula." " We'll hit it before they leave it." " Captain, what if you're wrong?" "What if the Cardassians are there to conduct research?" "You'd need good evidence to convince me of that." "You're still gambling hundreds of lives." "This discussion is moot." "The plan has been approved." "We are going ahead." "Mr. Data, how long could the Cardassians stay in the nebula?" "In 17 hours, their hull degradation will become dangerous." " They must leave before that." " Alright." "Worf, prepare 500 antimatter mines with magnetic targeting capability." "Aye, sir." "Geordi, we'll need a shuttle, specially outfitted for the nebula, by 1400." "Beverly, you'll need to... ..have sickbay ready for the casualties you'll send me." "That's right." "Dismissed." "You're awake." "Have something to eat." "I insist." "Boiled taspar egg." "It's a delicacy I'm happy to share with you." "Wonderful!" "Wonderful!" "I like you, human." "Most people become ill at the sight of live taspar." "I remember the first time I ate a live taspar." "I was six years old and living on the streets of Lakat." "There was a band of children, four, five, six years old, some even smaller, desperately trying to survive." "We were thin, scrawny little animals, constantly hungry, always cold." "We slept in doorways, like packs of wild gettles, for warmth." "Once, I found a nest." "Taspars had built a nest in the eave of a burnt-out building and I found three eggs in it." "It was like finding treasure." "I cracked one open on the spot and ate it, very much as you just did." "I planned to save the other two." "That would keep me alive for another week." "But, of course, an older boy saw them and wanted them." "And he got them." "But he had to break my arm to do it." "Must be rewarding to you to repay others for all those years of misery." "What do you mean?" "Torture has never been a reliable means of extracting information." "It is ultimately self-defeating as a means of control." "One wonders that it's still practiced." "I fail to see where this analysis is leading." "Whenever I look at you now, ... ..I won't see a powerful Cardassian warrior." "I will see a six-year-old boy who is powerless to protect himself." "Be quiet!" "In spite of all you've done to me, I find you a pitiable man." "Picard, stop it." "Or I will turn this on and leave you in agony all night." "You called me "Picard"!" "What are the Federation's defence plans for Minos Korva?" "There are four lights!" "There are five lights!" "How many do you see now?" "You are six years old!" "Weak and helpless." "You cannot hurt me!" "How many?" "How are we doing?" "Almost done, sir." "I've shielded the nacelles and the transporter system against particle-flux from the nebula." "Good." "Been a while since I flew one of these." " You're a pilot, aren't you, Geordi?" " Yes, sir." "I began my career as a shuttle pilot, on the Jovian run, from Jupiter to Saturn and back, once a day, every day." "Is that right?" "I was on that run myself for a while." "Then you must have done Titan's Turn." "Yeah," "You set a course directly for Titan, hold it till you're just brushing the atmosphere, throw the helm hard over and whip round the moon at 0.7C." "And pray like hell nobody saw you." "This trip into the nebula will need someone who can do Titan's Turn in their sleep." "The mines must be laid within two kilometers of the Cardassian ships." "But the flux will blind all sensors except this proximity detector." "You need one heck of a pilot to pull that off." "Is that you?" "I could do it." "But, truthfully, the man you want is Cmdr Riker." "He's the best there is." "Come in." "Am I disturbing you?" "Not at all." " A musician." " Yes." "Classical?" "Contemporary?" "Jazz." "Is there something I can do for you, Captain?" "Are you aware of our plans to attack the Cardassian fleet?" "Yes, sir." "I understand you've been talking to every shuttle pilot on board." "Let's drop ranks for a moment." "I don't like you." "I think you're insubordinate, arrogant, wilful." "And I don't think you're a particularly good first officer." "But you are also the best pilot on the ship." "Well, now that the ranks are dropped, Captain, I don't like you, either." "You are arrogant and closed-minded." "You need to control everything and everyone." "You don't provide an atmosphere of trust." "You don't inspire people." "You've got everyone wound up so tight, there's no joy in anything." "I don't think you're a particularly good captain." "I won't order you to fly this mission." "Then ask me." "Will you pilot the shuttle, Commander?" "Yes." "You're welcome." "We've lost primary navigation." "Switching to secondary." " Inertial dampers compensating." " Sensors inoperative." "Right on schedule." "The proximity detector is working." "We should read their ships at a distance of 500 meters." "Don't make this too easy." "Hang on." " Do I wanna know how close that was?" " No." "Get ready to deploy the mines." "Captain, the shuttle is emerging from the nebula." "Enterprise to shuttle." "Were you successful, Commander?" "Aye, sir." "The mines are laid." "Very well." "Red alert." "Stand by to detonate the mines on my command." "Standing by." "Open a channel to the Reklar." "This is Cardassian territory!" "Your presence is deliberate provocation..." "I won't argue, Gul Lemec." "Every one of your ships is mined, my finger is on the button, and you're in a very bad position." "You can't intimidate us." " Mr. Worf, set off Alpha 42." " Aye, sir." "That was just a baby." "The big boys are on your hull, just waiting for the word." "What are your terms?" "Your ships will leave the nebula one by one." "Each ship will eject its primary phaser coil before setting course for the nearest Cardassian base." " But that will leave us defenceless!" " Mr. Worf, prepare to detonate..." " I will agree to your terms." " Excellent." "And one more thing." "I understand you're holding a Starfleet officer, Jean-Luc Picard." "I expect him returned immediately." "That won't help." "I have many more." "Still, it felt good." "Enjoy your good feelings while you can." "There may not be many more of them." "I've just received word." "There's been a battle." "The Enterprise is burning in space." "The invasion of Minos Korva has been successful." "I don't believe you." "I no longer need information from you." "Our troops were successful, despite your refusal to help me." "You might have saved yourself much torment by yielding." "I want to see a neutral representative." "There is no such person." "The word will be that you perished with your crew." "No one will ever know that you are here with us, as you will be for a long, long time." "You do, however, have a choice." "You can live out your life in misery, held here, subject to my whims, or you can live in comfort with good food and warm clothing, women as you desire them, free to pursue your studies of philosophy and history." "I would enjoy debating with you." "You have a keen mind." "It's up to you." "A life of ease and reflection and intellectual challenge, ... ..or this." "What must I do?" "Nothing, really." "Tell me how many lights you see." "How many?" "How many lights?" "This is your last chance." "The guards are coming, don't be a stubborn fool." "How many?" "You told me he would be ready to go." "We had some unfinished business." "Get him cleaned up." "A ship is waiting to take him back to the Enterprise." "Capt Picard." "If you'll go with the guards, they'll take care of you." "There are four lights!" "Captain on the bridge." " Welcome home, Jean-Luc." " Thank you." "Just the way you left it, maybe a little better." "Computer, transfer all command codes to Capt Jean-Luc Picard." "Voice authorization, Jellico, Alpha three one." "Transfer complete." "USS Enterprise now under command of Capt Picard." " I relieve you, sir." " I stand relieved." "It's been an honour serving with you." " You have the bridge, Number One." " Aye, sir." "I..." "I don't know where to begin." "It was..." "I read your report." "What I didn't put in the report was that at the end, he gave me a choice between a life of comfort or more torture." "All I had to do was to say that I could see five lights when, in fact, there were only four." " You didn't say it?" " No." "But I was going to." "I would have told him anything." "Anything at all." "But, more than that, ... ..I believed that I could see..." "..five lights."