All language subtitles for Star Trek The Next Generation S01E22

Picard:
All hands, this is the captain.

As you may know,
the sun in the delos system

is undergoing large-scale
magnetic field changes,

producing violent, gigantic flares.

Now, we shall be studying this star
at close range.

Even though we shall be running
with full deflectors,

The closeness of this event

and its severity will create problems.

Intense magnetic fields have a
disruptive effect on electrical systems.

Therefore we can expect
communication interruptions

as well as potential temporary loss
of other systems.

As a precaution,
we are now going to yellow alert.

Stay sharp, everyone.

Woman:
Attention, all decks. Yellow alert.

Data: Engineering,

this is lieutenant commander data.

Bring all systems online
and direct full power to the shields.

All sections secure, sir.

- Lieutenant la forge?
- Course is set, captain.

- Half impulse.
- Aye, sir, one-half impulse.

On main viewer.

Mask out the photosphere.

Magnify.

Quadrant 07,
magnification factor 12.

I've never seen anything
like this before.

The violence of those eruptions
is awesome.

Captain, I'm reading an unusual
number of sunspots

and eruptive prominences, sir.

The magnetic field
is extremely irregular.

Captain, deflectors are being hit
by huge bursts of x-rays.

Captain, my console seems
to be overloading.

The X-ray burst
is disrupting systems, captain.

I'm adjusting deflectors
to compensate.

Worf: Engineering,

increase power to shields.

Woman:
Forward deflectors online, sir.

Status report.

All systems operational, sir.

Captain, the level of tension
on the ship is mounting.

Understandable.

Mr. Data?

If we are to investigate, sir,
we must get closer.

Mr. La forge.

- Move us in closer.
- Aye, sir.

This is the captain.

We will be pushing the shields
to the limit,

but we are getting a splendid view
of this phenomenon.

Captain, I've intercepted
what appears to be a distress signal.

Let me hear it.

T'Jon: This is t'Jon.

I am on the ornaran freighter
sanction.

We have a serious problem here
and can't seem to fix it.

We need help.

The transmission
is coming from a freighter

in orbit around the fourth planet
in the system.

However, the receiving station
is on the third planet.

- Open hailing frequencies.
- Hailing frequencies open.

Unidentified freighter,
this is the USS enterprise.

May we be of assistance?

Whoever you are, yes.
I'm having trouble navigating.

I can't maintain a steady course.
Please, help us if you can.

Picard:
Can't you enhance the frequency?

Too much interference.

Set a course to intersect
with the freighter, warp 2.

- La forge: Aye, sir.
- Maintain yellow alert.

T'Jon: I can't control the helm
any longer. Our ship is losing orbit.

We 're heading into the atmosphere.

Please, do something.
We 're going to burn up.

We haven't much time.

Picard:
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.

It is a freighter. Very old.

Captain, our sensors are being
severely affected by the sun flares.

Helm, take us in as close as possible

- to the freighter's orbit.
- Moving in, sir.

There are six life forms
aboard the freighter, sir.

Captain, the freighter's orbit
is decaying.

How long before it loses integrity?

A matter of minutes.

Unidentified freighter,
this is the USS enterprise.

T'Jon: Enterprise,
this is the ornaran freighter sanction.

Put this on the main viewer.

The visual transmission
is still breaking up.

Picard: Freighter sanction,
this is the enterprise.

What is your situation?

Man 1: Oh, not so good.

Man 2:
The helm isn't working right.

Man 3: What is the problem?

This is the enterprise.

With all this interference,
it is difficult to copy your transmission.

If you all talk at once,
it is almost impossible.

Now, please, say again,
what is your situation?

I am t'Jon, captain of the sanction.

How can we help?

We have lost,
I don't know, something

and I am no longer able
to maintain this orbit,

nor am / able
to use the main thrusters.

It's all, you know, dead, I guess.

It's all shut down.

Well, that is a little vague.

What is the computer analysis?

Well, the computer's
not working very well.

Data, can you tap into their computer
and clarify the situation?

I will attempt it, sir.

Captain, the tractor beam is available,
if you want it.

At least we can pull them out of orbit
before they enter the atmosphere.

Freighter, we're gonna lock on the
tractor beam and pull you out of orbit.

T'Jon: Hey, that's great.

Captain, the freighter's orbit
continues to deteriorate.

The solar flares are interfering
with the tractor beam. I can't lock on.

Captain t'Jon, we are unable
to attach the tractor beam

because of the intense solar activity.

T'Jon:
I understand. Thanks for trying.

Sir, I have determined
what is malfunctioning on the freighter.

Captain,
we have analyzed your problem.

- T'Jon: Great.
- Data.

Your ship's design
uses an electromagnetic coil

to constrict the exhaust flow.

- That coil is misaligned.
- T'Jon: Really?

Do you have the necessary tools
to realign the coil?

T'Jon: I don't think so.

I believe we can provide them
with a temporary substitute.

Our ship's stores contain a coil
of the proper type.

- Riker: Can we beam one over?
- Yes.

Captain, we are beaming over
a replacement coil.

T'Jon: That's great.

And that will fix us up?

- Yes, once it's installed.
- T'Jon: Right.

And how do we do that?

What is the matter
with these people?

How can he be captain of that vessel

and not understand
its simplest function?

Captain, how long have you
been in command of this freighter?

T'Jon: Seven years.
This is my 26th voyage to brekka.

And you don't know how
to align a control coil?

T'Jon: It's never come up.

Can anyone else over there do it?

T'Jon: Hold on. I'll ask.

Uh, sorry.
Nobody here knows anything about it.

I better get over there with a team.

Captain, I strongly recommend against
anyone from this ship beaming over.

The solar interference is too great.

Worf: The freighter entered
the planet's atmosphere.

Disintegration is imminent.

- We're running out of options.
- Let's get them off there.

T'Jon, stand by to beam over.

T'Jon: If you think that's best.

Well, unless you have any
other options, yes, I think that's best.

T'Jon: Well, whatever you say.

Tasha:
I can't maintain a positive lock.

Unusual em burst, sir.
Readings off scale.

Sanction, this is the enterprise.
We're having difficulty getting a fix.

Tasha: Have them go
to their transporter.

It will be tricky, but perhaps
I can link the two transporters in series

and get them over
with the increased power.

It's worth a try. Captain t'Jon.

Go to your transporter room,
contact me from there.

T'Jon:
Right, enterprise. It's right next door.

But if you can't get us
with your transporter,

what makes you think
ours will do the job?

- I'm going to interconnect them.
- T'Jon: I didn't know you could.

Hurry! We're running out of time.

T'Jon: We 're on our way.

I don't think they're going to make it.

Captain t'Jon doesn't sound
like he cares one way or the other.

Worf, how much time do we have?

Worf: One minute.

Captain t-Jon, are you there?

T'Jon:
We 're in the transporter room.

Great. Activate your transporters,
set coordinates 9703, Mark 268.

T'Jon: Did you say 286 or 886?

T'Jon: Got it.

Sir, the hull temperature of
the freighter is passing 3,000 degrees.

What's the holdup, number one?

We're establishing the link right now.

T'Jon: We 're ready.

Then all six of you
get on the transporter platform.

On my signal, energize.

I've got their initial transporter signal.
Interlock complete.

Energize on my Mark.
Four, three, two, one, energize.

Picard:
Number one, did you get them?

No, sir, they stayed on the freighter.

Riker:
But they beamed over their cargo.

Cargo?

Are those people crazy?
What could possibly be so important?

Sir, the freighter is disintegrating.

Their lives are in danger
and they're beaming over cargo?

Number one,
I don't understand these people.

Captain, the freighter's hull
temperature is approaching critical.

Unbelievable.

Picard:
Beam those people over now.

- Clear the cargo. Beam it to a hold.
- Tasha: Aye, sir.

Sanction, this is enterprise.
Get to your transporter...

Forget that.
Lock on to any life form you can find.

- Get them over here now.
- Trying, sir.

The freighter is going down.

Transporter room,
you're out of time.

Reading six life forms,
but I can't get a solid lock.

We have no choice. Energize.

You said there were six.
Where are the two?

- The lock didn't hold.
- Re-establish.

It's too late.

Number one?

Riker: Two are lost, sir.

But we saved four.

I'm commander William riker
of the USS enterprise.

I'm sorry we were unable
to rescue the other two.

We did everything we could.

If you had come
instead of sending your cargo,

you all would have made it.

The cargo, where is it?

You did save it, didn't you?

Yes, we did.
It's in one of our cargo holds.

You act as if it's more important
than your comrades.

The cargo, may we see it?

Riker: Follow me.

Thank you. Thank you.
We thought we had lost it.

Careful with your choice of words,
t'Jon. It's ours, not yours.

We paid a fair price for it.

You offered a fair price.
We have not received it.

You accepted our goods in trade.

Then where are they? Hmm?

Tell me.

That's not our problem.

Langor: No more than the barrel
is your property.

It's as simple as this.
The goods were never delivered.

They were destroyed with your ship.

Hence the deal was incomplete.

Hence possession of the felicium
remains ours.

Commander, I request you transport
my associate and myself

down to brekka
with our merchandise.

Yes, get them out of here.

But the barrel stays.

There's no reasoning with you.

Langor, you expect too much
from them.

You always have.
And you've always been disappointed.

You didn't pay for it.

Therefore it's not yours.

Damn you, sobi.

Stop this. Now!

Riker: Security to cargo bay 11.

Behave yourselves, gentlemen.

Escort our visitors
to the observation lounge.

A natural electrical charge?

- Formidable.
- Yes.

And a difficult weapon to confiscate.

I have never seen humanoids
with that power.

Neither have I.
I wonder how it evolved.

Wonder if the strong magnetic field
of their sun has to do with it.

Could be. I wonder how much power
our guests can produce.

Or if they need to recharge.

It's an interesting ability. Question is,
how do I defend against it?

- Think our visitors pose a threat?
- I don't know.

- But if they do, I'd better be ready for it.
- Precisely, lieutenant.

We have to resolve this soon.
There isn't much time.

What can you offer?

Everything we had went down
with the sanction.

Then it's going to be difficult
to accommodate you.

Solar flares increasing in magnitude,
captain.

Shields are shaky,
but they're holding.

Maintain.

How are our rather
quarrelsome guests?

They're waiting for you
in the observation lounge, sir.

Data, what information can you give us
about the inhabitants of this system?

Not very much, sir.

The only recorded contact with the
delos system was over 200 years ago.

A scout ship
reported two inhabited planets,

one of which was on the verge
of acquiring space travel.

Odd that in two centuries, neither
civilization advanced much further.

Sir, I find it strange that none
of our visitors feels much remorse

about the two freighter passengers
who perished.

Yet that barrel of cargo
is a source of great anxiety to them.

Mm-hm. Yes, let's pay a call,
get some answers.

Number one, Mr. Data.

- Mr. La forge, you have the bridge.
- Aye, sir.

Captain, may I present sobi
and langor from the planet brekka,

and t'Jon and romas from ornara.

I'm sorry we couldn't save your ship.

- Tell me, you could have repaired it?
- Picard: Oh, yes.

We have only two left.
Neither works properly.

They are critical to our survival.
Will you fix them?

Mr. Data?

Our computer has downloaded
the specifications

for the magnetic coils
the freighters depend on.

Assuming the malfunction is similar,

suitable replacements
can be fabricated.

- Instruct engineering to proceed.
- Data: Aye, sir.

- Now, as for our cargo...
- Our cargo, captain.

Wrong, sobi.

My first officer has said that
ownership of this cargo is in dispute,

but this question must be settled
by whatever legal machinery exists

between your two societies.

Captain, you don't understand.
This is a matter of life and death.

Why is that? What is this cargo?

Medicine.

Indeed.

Our planet is
in desperate need, captain.

We have people suffering
from a lethal plague.

The cargo you have impounded
is the only hope of life for our people.

- Is that so?
- Yes.

You must think us heartless brutes,
captain, but look at our side of it.

The plant which
yields the medicine felicium

grows only in remote areas
of brekka.

It must be painstakingly cultivated,
harvested, purified.

A complex and expensive process.

That single shipment of felicium
represents an enormous investment.

We can't just give it away.

We paid for it.
We ask for only what is ours.

Langor: That is your viewpoint.

Ours, of course, differs.

You are going to hold
to that position?

I am constrained to abide
by the terms of our agreement.

- Then you condemn us to death!
- Romas!

You disgust me.

If you could see the suffering
the plague has caused...

Well, you are going to
when you see what it does to us.

Romas, are you and t'Jon
carrying this plague?

Every ornaran does.

Then you may have brought it
aboard this ship.

Was there a medical scan
when they transported?

Unverified. The solar flares could have
caused a malfunction in the biofilter.

Red alert. Medical emergency.

Dr. Crusher to the observation lounge
at once.

You find us well, I trust?

As far as I can tell.

Your physiology is somewhat different
than I've ever encountered,

but I detect no dangerous virus
or bacteria.

I assure you, we're in perfect health.

But we are not.
We need our medicine.

- Our medicine.
- We paid for it. It's ours now.

Enough!

Of course. You are right, doctor.

Could we leave now?

I see no reason why not.

Escort them to their quarters.

- Doctor...
- Captain.

Could I speak with you, please?

In private?

Not right now. Captain.

What have you learned?

The brekkians
show no sign of infection.

The ornarans show all the symptoms
of a disease, but I can't find a cause.

Perhaps it was filtered out
by the transporter

- when they beamed aboard.
- There's no record of it.

Then again, the solar flare activity
might have caused a malfunction

in the biofilters or their monitors.

Are they going to die?

I need to check further,
but my instinct says no.

Do you think that we're in any
danger from this plague?

Again, I need more time.

There are some missing pieces
to this puzzle.

What's missing
is a little compassion.

Are we losing our
professional detachment, doctor?

Perhaps. But, captain,
I must tell you,

I am developing a very active dislike
for these brekkians.

Understandable.

Captain, you must give us
back our cargo.

I can't do that.

Why? It belongs to us.

The brekkians claim
it belongs to them.

Theyhe.

That may be so,
but it is not my decision.

We need some now. Now!

I don't care if it's your decision.
Get us some.

T'Jon:
Captain, what is happening to us

is happening to thousands more
on ornara.

Please, understand the magnitude
of the problem.

Your people don't need it.
The brekkians don't need it.

Our people do.

If you don't give it to us,
you will be a party to murder.

Not only of us,
but of an entire civilization.

I... I'm sorry.

I do not mean to insult you.

I'm feeling very shaky.

We cannot hold out much longer.

They believe it will help them.

That in itself
might control their symptoms.

I'll talk with the brekkians.

Thank you, captain.
We appreciate anything you can do.

May I say, captain, how impressed we
are with your ship and all its facilities?

- Thank you.
- Langor: And its crew.

Everyone is so efficient
and professional.

I'm glad you're comfortable.

I've come to seek your agreement
to an ornaran request.

- We cannot agree...
- Wait. Let the captain speak.

We want to be reasonable.

The two ornarans are really quite ill.

They're insisting
that they need the felicium.

That is not surprising.

Would you object to giving them enough
for their own immediate needs?

Captain, we brekkians
are in business.

We are not in the habit of giving away
that which has not been paid for.

You would see them die
rather than share the medicine?

Langor:
We want to be fair, captain.

We agree to permitting them
two doses for immediate use.

No charge.

I'll let my medical officer handle it.

Langor: Captain.

I trust you won't mind if we're present
while you open the cargo?

What does that device do?

Sobi: This measures
the individual portions.

Crusher: What's the dosage?

Langor:
Point-zero-one milliliters.

A very potent substance.

We've improved our distillation
process over the years.

In my grandfather's day,
this same amount of felicium

would have filled
five rooms this size.

Sobi: But now with
our improved processes,

this one barrel contains
over 4 billion doses.

I would estimate 4 billion,
375 million...

Thank you, Mr. Data.

How long is the dosage effective?

Langor:
It varies with the individual.

But never more than 72 hours.

- And then the symptoms return?
- Langor: Yes.

Unfortunately, there is no cure
for the plague.

But felicium inhibits the sickness
with total efficiency.

Allowing the ornarans
to lead normal lives.

An unusual disease.

Virulent, extremely persistent,
yet I can't isolate it.

The plague has baffled doctors
on both planets for 200 years.

We've therefore concentrated
on treatment.

Finding new ways to improve
the potency and purity of felicium.

No doubt you have applied
your technology from other industries

to the refinement of this product.

We have no other industry.

- None at all?
- Langor: We don't need any.

The ornarans provide us with
everything we need,

in exchange for this.

Fascinating.

Your society dedicated exclusively
to the production of a single product.

A product for which
you have no use,

but which the ornarans
cannot live without.

One of life's little ironies, captain.

But one we'd be fools
not to take advantage of.

It's mutually beneficial.

The ornarans provide us
with the necessities of life,

and we provide them
with the necessities of living.

It is a fair exchange.

Interesting relationship.

Excuse me. I'll take that to sickbay.

Crusher: Can I help? T'Jon: No.

Hurry up.

You're feeling better?

Yes, thank you.

I'm fine now.

Picard: Come.

Doctor.

I may not know felicium's full effect
on ornaran physiology,

but I know how
to interpret physical reactions.

Are the ornarans recovering?

T'Jon and romas are feeling fine.

In fact, too fine.

Felicium's a narcotic.

Then t'Jon and romas
and everyone on their world...

Is a drug addict.

You'll find it's a fascinating tale
that we've come across here.

You've piqued my interest,
number one. Please, continue.

Data, what have we got?

Beginning several thousand years ago,
the two planets took different paths.

Ornara became
technologically sophisticated.

Then 200 years ago, ornara
was stricken by a devastating plague.

Their advanced technology
could provide no solution.

Data: Somehow, and there is limited
information on this point,

a cure was found
in a plant indigenous only to brekka,

and which rejected all attempts
at cultivation on ornara.

In any case, a trading situation
developed which still exists.

A nice arrangement
for the brekkians.

And for the ornarans. Without
the medicine, they would all die.

No, they wouldn't.

Despite what the ornarans
have been saying, it is not a medicine.

It was a medicine,
but it cured the plague 200 years ago.

The plague is irrelevant now.
It doesn't exist.

Then why are they so desperate
for the felicium?

It's an addiction.

The physical and psychological need
is very real.

Thank you.

What are you going to do?

Based on what we know so far,
there's nothing I can do.

You don't think drug addiction
and exploitation

is sufficient cause to do something?

This situation has existed
for a very long time.

These two societies are intertwined
in a symbiotic relationship.

With one society profiting
at the expense of the other.

That's how you see it.

I can synthesize
a non-addictive substitute

which will ease
their withdrawal symptoms.

No. I can't do that, either.

You can't let them have the felicium.

Why? Because it offends
against our sensibilities?

It is not our mission to impose
federation or earth values

on any others in the galaxy.

Well, in this case, captain,
I disagree 100 percent.

Tasha: Captain,
I'm receiving a call from ornara.

The signal is ragged, but I think
I can put it on the view screen.

Picard: Do it.

I'm margan.

Are my people on board your ship?

Some of them, yes.

May I speak to them?

Yes. Lieutenant yar,
have the ornarans brought in.

No, wait.

I don't want them to have access
to the bridge.

We will contact you
in a few minutes.

I will continue this in the guest quarters.
Commander, doctor.

Data, I can understand how
this could happen to the ornarans.

What I can't understand
is why anyone would voluntarily

become dependent on a chemical.

Voluntary addiction to drugs
is a recurrent theme in many cultures.

Wesley, no one wants to become
dependent. That happens later.

But it does happen,
so why do people start?

On my home planet,
there was so much poverty and violence

that, for some,
the only escape was through drugs.

How can a chemical substance
provide an escape?

It doesn't.

But it makes you think it does.

You have to understand,
drugs can make you feel good.

They make you feel on top
of the world.

You're happy, sure of yourself,
in control.

But it's artificial.

It doesn't feel artificial
until the drug wears off.

Then you pay the price.

Before you know it,
you're taking the drug not to feel good,

but to keep from feeling bad.

And that's the trap.

Tasha: All you care about
is getting your next dosage.

Nothing else matters.

I guess I just don't understand.

Wesley, I hope you never do.

Picard:
Lieutenant yar, we 're ready.

Do you have it?

Yes, it is here, but...

You've gotta get it to us.

T'Jon, please,
we 're dying down here.

You don't know.
It's worse than it's ever been before.

I'm doing everything I can.

You see, what happened, well, was...

Stop! I can't listen anymore!

T'Jon, there's so many people here.
So much suffering.

We need the medicine.
You've got to get it to us.

I can't go on.

Help, t'Jon.

Please.

I'm sorry.

You will take us to our planet
and leave us there with our medicine

or this person dies.

Don't you see? I have no choice.

We were sent
to bring the felicium back.

The suffering on my planet
is too great.

People are dying.

It doesn't matter
whether we're entitled to it or not.

- We must have it.
- Let him go.

You will take us there now
or give us a shuttle,

but we must have the medicine.

If you refuse, this person will die.

I will not be coerced.

I will do it.

No, you won't. You're not a killer.

Help us, please.

Help us.

I'm not sure that I can.

My insides are still shaking,
but I'm all right.

Captain picard,
could I see you a moment?

I'll stay here.

Come with me, doctor.
This could be interesting.

Langor: We have thought about this
a great deal.

We both feel deeply
about what is happening on ornara.

And although it is going to cause
hardship to us and to our people,

we have decided
to give the felicium to them.

They can pay whenever
they are able.

We don't want to be the ones
responsible for their suffering.

There goes the other shoe.

- They know.
- What do they know?

They know that the ornarans
no longer have the plague.

They know that felicium
is no longer a medicine.

So of course they are willing
to give this shipment,

because they don't want
to take the chance

that the ornarans
will lose their addiction.

They don't want to lose
their only customers.

How would they have known all that

unless the plague had once
infected their planet as well?

They were infected.

They used the felicium
to cure themselves,

but somehow their ancestors realized
that it was a narcotic.

Crusher: They broke the cycle of
addiction and never told the ornarans.

They let them continue to believe that
without the felicium they would die.

Picard:
Oh, I think it's worse than that.

My guess is that this refining process
of which you are so proud...

Is only to increase the potency
of the felicium and tighten your grip.

What are you going to do?

Are you going to tell them?

No. I'm bound by the rules
of the united federation of planets

which order me not to interfere
with other worlds, other cultures.

If I were to tell them any of this,
I would violate that prime directive.

But you are talking to us about it.

This is information you already know,
and so nothing has changed.

If you can't interfere,

then you are going to allow
the ornarans to have the felicium.

- Yes, I am.
- No. Don't do it.

Jean-Luc,
this is not a symbiotic relationship.

This is exploitation, pure and simple.

The brekkians have caused all
of this suffering and hardship,

only to make their pitiful lives easier.

And all of it based on a lie.

No. Deny them this shipment.
It is the least we can do.

From the moment they agreed
to give them the felicium,

my hands were tied.

Langor:
You are absolutely right, captain.

It's not your business.

Are these the spare parts
for our freighters?

They look complicated.

Are they already...?

- Aligned?
- Right.

You'd have to ask the captain.

La forge:
Captain picard, we've arrived at ornara

and assumed standard orbit.

Acknowledged. Thank you.

Captain, please.
My planet is suffering.

We beg you to give us our medicine.

The matter is already decided.

You're beaming down to your world
with the felicium.

I knew it. I knew you'd help us.

We thank you.

No, don't thank me.

Sobi and langor,
they decided to let you have it.

We'll discuss
the payment terms later.

In the meantime, there's no reason to
deprive you of your needed medicine.

Thank you. That's terrific.

I'm sure we can come
to a fair deal for payment.

May we beam down with you
and discuss it?

Well, of course.
You are quite welcome on ornara.

We appreciate your hospitality.

And, captain,
we appreciate your gift of the coils.

Yes. Once our freighters are fixed,
everything will be back to normal.

The coils stay here.

What about our freighters?

If you want to repair them,
you'll have to learn to do it yourselves.

But we can't.

If you don't help us,
our ships will soon be inoperable.

Quite possibly.

If you withhold those coils,

you'll be disrupting the stability
of both our planets.

And interfering with a trade agreement
that has lasted for generations.

What of your prime directive?

In this situation, the prime directive
prohibits me from helping you.

That's absurd.

You did not think so
when it worked in your favor.

Do you want our world to suffer?

Oh, no, I don't want that.

Without the freighters, there will be
no more shipments of felicium.

You must trust yourselves.
There are other options.

Ensign, prepare to beam our guests
and their cargo down to ornara.

Captain, I hope you realize
what you've done to us.

Of that, you can be sure.

Good luck.

Main bridge.

When the felicium runs out,

the people of ornara
will suffer horrible withdrawal pains.

No doubt, but they will pass.

That seems so cruel.

We could have made
their burden easier.

Could we have?

Perhaps in the short term.

But to what end?

Beverly, the prime directive
is not just a set of rules.

It is a philosophy,
and a very correct one.

History has proved again and again

that whenever mankind interferes
with a less-developed civilization,

no matter how well-intentioned
that interference may be,

the results are invariably disastrous.

It's hard to be philosophical
when faced with suffering.

Believe me, Beverly,
there was only one decision.

I just hope it was the right one.

And we may never know.

Resume.

- Mr. La forge, take us out of orbit.
- La forge: Destination, sir?

I don't care. Let's just get some
distance between us and this system.

La forge: Aye, sir.

Course 970, Mark 318.

Speed, warp 3.

Where will that take us,
Mr. La forge?

The opra line system.

Riker: An interesting choice.

Why?

Curiosity.

We've never been there.

Engage.