Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 1, Episode 4 - The Last Outpost - full transcript

The Enterprise makes a confrontational first contact with the piratical Ferengi race as their two ships are ensnared by a presumed dead planet ready to judge them.

Captain's log, stardate 41386.4.

We're in pursuit
of a starship of Ferengi design.

Our mission is to recover
a T-9 energy converter

which the Ferengi stole from an
unmanned post on Gamma Tauri IV.

A theft which scanners recorded,
providing us with the opportunity

to make close contact
with a Ferengi vessel.

If we succeed, it will be
Starfleet's first look at a life form

which, discounting rumor,
we know almost nothing about.

There she is.

Enlarge.

What is their course?



They're angling through
that solar system.

Identify.

Listed as Delphi Ardu, sir.
11 planets. Unexplored.

Stay with them, La Forge.

Power surge
from their last maneuver.

They are dropping to subwarp speed.

Reduce to impulse power.

Fluctuations in energy readings
from it, Captain.

Possibility,
a malfunction in their engines.

- Breaks my heart.
- In visual range, Captain.

Fully enlarge.

Hello, stranger.

- Very impressive design.
- Anything on that design, Data?

Nothing specific, sir.



Ferengi technology is estimated
to be equal to our own.

But that does not mean
identical, however.

Correct. We will be advanced
in some areas, they in others.

Another power surge, sir.

They are firing on us.

- Damage report?
- Shields holding.

Mostly electromagnetic. Fusion
generator down by 30 percent.

- Our impulse engines are surging.
- They're firing again.

Deflector-shield power weakening.

Phasers ready.
Photon torpedoes ready.

Do we return their fire, sir?

Negative. They're just responding
to our close pursuit.

Fall back a bit, but stay with them.

They're slowing.

They may be turning to fight.

Open hailing... Why are we gaining
on them? Don't anticipate.

I'm not, sir.

Something is dragging us forward.

I read that, too.
Lt Yar, what do your sensors show?

Not certain, sir.
I'm getting very confusing readings.

Captain, this shouldn't be.
Our power systems are failing.

Deflector shield failing.
Phasers going inoperative.

Something
is completely immobilizing us.

Immobilized by the damn Ferengi.

We need more information.
What the hell are they using?

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.

Obviously, we underestimated
their technology.

Considerably.

The Ferengi have us right where
they want us. In their sights.

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.

Are you searching all frequencies?
Any message?

Negative, sir.

Weapons report.

Phasers and torpedoes are armed,

but I show insufficient power
to fire them.

Engineering,
give me status on power recovery.

Engineering, come in.

Why aren't they answering?

La Forge,
get a report from Engineering.

Aye, sir.

It's impossible they could be
draining all power from all systems.

- Counselor?
- I'm sensing nothing from them, sir.

It could mean they can shield their
thoughts and emotions from others.

So it's our move.

They may know as little about us
as we do about them.

They know they've got us
in deep trouble.

If so, then what do they do
with that knowledge?

Data, do you have any information
on this on any file?

None. Only hearsay and third-hand
reports, most of which conflict.

Which reports do not conflict?

That the Ferengi are...
The best description may be traders.

What kind of traders?

Scholars of Earth history
liken the Ferengi

to the ocean-going Yankee traders
of 18th- and 19th-century America.

From the history of my forebears.
Yankee traders.

Who search the galaxy for mercantile
and territorial opportunity.

Are scholars saying
that the Ferengi may be like us?

Hardly, sir. The analogy refers to
the worst quality of capitalists.

The Ferengi
conduct their affairs of commerce

on the ancient principle
caveat emptor.

"Let the buyer beware."

Yankee traders. I like that.

Well, I doubt they wear red, white
and blue, or look like Uncle Sam.

Engineering? Join La Forge
in Engineering, Number One.

Aye, sir.

Without warp capacity,
we're just a floating target.

Uncle who?

What have primary colors
got to do with it?

I understand the allusion.

Colors representing countries
at a time when they competed.

Red, white and blue
for the United States.

Whereas the French
more properly used the same colors

in the order blue, white and red.

The Germans, red, black and gold.

- The Italians, green, white and red.
- That's enough, Data.

- It was you who...
- We were discussing the Ferengi.

I wish I had a clue
what they will do next.

Given what is happening to our ship,

their weapons
could be vastly superior to ours.

Yes, Data,
that is a natural assumption.

Engineering?

- Bottom line?
- Not good, sir.

Their force field compensates almost
as fast as we can increase power.

There's a 0.372 millisecond delay
between the use of our power

and the counter force of the Ferengi.

See, we push and they push back
with equal force, sir.

What's our delay between slow-reverse
impulse and top warp speed?

That's 0.300 milliseconds. There's...

I see where you're going.

We shift down, then kick hard
into warp nine. Come back fighting!

- Can we do it?
- Ask me after it's done, sir.

I want a slow reverse
into drop-off over five minutes.

We'll show 'em, sir.

- Give me everything you've got.
- Aye-aye, sir.

In an abrupt power surge
to high warp speed,

we may be able to break loose
from that Ferengi force field.

I wish I knew
what they were thinking.

They're wondering what we'll do next.

I say fight. There's no shame
in falling before a superior enemy.

And no shame
in a strategic retreat either.

All systems ready. Communication
is restored to Engineering.

Excellent, La Forge.

Now, let's... throw them off guard.

Lt Yar, open hailing frequencies.

Hailing frequencies open, sir.

At least we won't begin
with weakness.

Attention, Ferengi starship.

This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard
of the USS Enterprise.

In the name of the Federation,

I demand that you return
the T-9 energy converter

you removed from Gamma Tauri IV.

Send that in all language forms.

All language forms, sir.

Sometimes, the best way
to fight is not to be there.

Yes, sir.

"He will triumph who knows when
to fight and when not to fight."

I'm glad the Academy still teaches
the strategies of Sun Tzu.

This delay had better prove out.

0.300 milliseconds, sir.

Let's blast full power
into warp nine. Ready?

On your command, Captain.

On the count of three.
Stand by on phasers.

One, set warp to nine.

Two, divert shield power
to main engines.

Three...

Merde.

Shields up.

Captain,
I think you had better see this.

What's wrong?

Someone is reading every file
in the Enterprise memory banks.

- They can do that?
- And more, perhaps.

Captain, if I may recommend...?

With our attention on the Ferengi
vessel, we have ignored the planet.

Data, consult the charts on this
planet. See what we've got on it.

Conference evaluation.

So, it's time for difficult
decisions. Opinions, please.

I say put all power into
a combined phaser and torpedo salvo.

Destroy their ability
to sustain this force field.

Yes, hit them hard,
and hit them fast.

Impractical... and provocative.

Even assuming we have power
to sustain such a tactic.

But firing on us is an act of war.

The facts are, the Ferengis did fire
on us, but we were chasing them.

Since then, all they've done

is search our computers
to learn what we are.

- Your point?
- Let's talk to them.

It's been tried. No response.

But did we tell them
anything they wanted to hear?

Other opinions?
Thank you for your advice.

Will?
I haven't had your assessment.

I believe we've covered
every available option, Captain.

Are there other options
you want to analyze?

The only one left is
the one that needs no conversation.

- The one we must avoid.
- Sir?

The one that leads
to total annihilation.

- Open hailing frequencies.
- Open, sir.

Attention, Ferengi starship.
This is Captain Picard.

It is obvious that we are in
a situation which needs resolving.

We are willing to do
whatever is... required,

whatever is necessary.

I would like...

I would request...
that you present your terms to us.

Captain's log, stardate 41386.5.

It is with a heavy heart that I have
offered to meet any reasonable terms

demanded by the Ferengi.

I fear for my people and vessel

in the event that the unknown
Ferengi ask the unreasonable.

How can I oppose
even unreasonable demands?

It's moving, sir.

We ask to surrender.
Now they fire on us?

Ready torpedoes.
We have enough power for a few.

Ready, but hold on ready.

- Open hailing frequencies.
- Hailing frequencies open, sir.

Ferengi vessel,
we await your response.

Suggest first strike, sir.

Our shields now only have
63 seconds of power left.

If their sensors can read us,

they will wait
until we are most vulnerable.

- I agree. They have not responded.
- Wait a bit more.

50 seconds.

Patience.

The quicker we can come
to terms, the better, NCC- 17O 1D.

Who is speaking?

I am Tarr, DaiMon of the Ferengi.

You wish to discuss surrender,
Capt Picard?

What I said, DaiMon Tarr, is...

Unconditional surrender, I warn you,
is totally unacceptable.

We will die to the last one of us
before such dishonor.

Hailing frequencies closed.

Something has seized their ship too.
They're in the same predicament.

Launch a sensor probe.

Set it to search for whatever it is
that is holding both ships.

Go back to hailing frequency, fast.

...and I regret, DaiMon Tarr,

that I can no longer negotiate
unless it is conducted visually.

Your complete message not received,

but visual communication
is against our custom.

It is against Starfleet orders
to accept a surrender otherwise.

Do you withdraw your surrender?

You give us no choice, Enterprise.
May we have a visual on you as well?

Agreed, DaiMon Tarr.
You should be able to view us now.

Are we on your screen?

Yes. The ugliness of the human
was not an exaggeration.

I do not know how
you have paralyzed our vessel.

I concede your Enterprise
is superior.

We will return your T-9. We offer
the lives of our second officers

as required by the Ferengi code.

Fortunately, Starfleet has no
such rules for its second officers.

Is this to your satisfaction,
Picard?

Your offer may be inadequate,
but I will discuss it with my staff.

Stand by for further communication.

Matthew, Pola, you know this area
is off limits. Come on.

Boys will be boys.

- Have you launched the probe?
- Aye. We'll get the readings soon.

If we're not holding the Ferengi,
and they're not holding us, who is?

The probe will give us
some answers.

Data, you were going to
show us something.

As requested, library computer
information on this planet.

It has been charted
only from long-range scans.

It is Class-M, but shows no
life forms, sentient or otherwise.

However,
you may find this of interest.

Resolving it into our language.

The centre
of a huge space federation,

a population of trillions.

Trillions? I've never heard
the word "Tkon" before.

Understandable. It has been extinct
for 600,000 of our...

...of our years.

These planets were once outposts
of that empire.

- Data, what are you doing?
- Apologies, Captain.

I seem to have reached an odd...

functional impasse.

I am... stuck.

Get unstuck
and continue the briefing.

That is what I am trying to do, sir,
but the solution eludes me.

My hero!

Continue, Commander.

Intriguing.

It des...

It describes the empire as being
highly advanced and powerful,

and capable of actually moving stars.

Stars whose planets
are their defense system?

Correct, sir. Outposts. The planet
below was possibly one of them.

Excuse the interruption,
but this is worth it.

We're receiving a signal
from the probe.

We'll take it here.

Incredible.

There's our mysterious something.
It is a force field of some kind.

Reaching up from the planet surface.
Amazing power.

What does the legend say
about the end of the Tkon Empire?

- Their sun went supernova.
- Could this planet have escaped?

It may have been
the most distant outpost,

but it shows no life-form readings.

Let's take a look.
Stand by with an away team.

And if the Ferengi realize
the field's from the planet?

That's a complication.
We should ask them to join us.

Team up with the Ferengi?

We've been ordered to learn about
them. Do you know a better way?

Captain's log, supplemental.

In orbit of a planet
whose unexplained force field

has seized us with a power
almost beyond imagination.

Any solution to this
will almost certainly involve

cooperation from the Ferengi.

Ship's power drain is critical.

I must shut down shields
to maintain life support.

Understood.

- Open hailing frequencies.
- Hailing frequencies open, sir.

Ferengi vessel from Enterprise,
come in.

Your alien images again shock us.

About the surrender,
the facts are different.

Our own probe has shown us
your trickery, human.

- We withdraw our surrender.
- Agreed.

Perhaps you would agree
to a more productive relationship?

I'd prefer a more profitable one,
human.

- Yankee trader.
- Explain what means Yankee traders!

He heard that.

He recognizes your interest
in profit. Or is that incorrect?

We seek only what is equitable.

What do you seek?
Why did you attack us?

We did not attack. We gave chase to
recover a Federation energy device...

Which is ours! Your Federation
placed it on one of our planets.

No, Gamma Tauri IV
is recognized by all civilized...

The Ferengi are not uncivilized.
Are you suggesting otherwise?

All I'm saying
is that you removed something

which did not belong to you.

Are you now calling us thieves?

On the contrary, I have no wish
to discuss property or territory

while our mutual problem remains.

Like it or not, we are both trapped

by this energy-draining force field
from the planet.

On that matter
there can be no argument.

I would like to propose a swap.

- And what is a swap?
- It's a trade, an exchange.

Yes, trade, human.
What do you offer?

We will tell you
what we know about the planet.

In trade,
you give us your information.

How do we know
you will not withhold information?

- We must trust each other, Tarr.
- Amusing, human. Trust each other?

I propose
that we test this relationship

by cooperating in a joint
exploration of the planet's surface.

And what profit is in this?

The profit, DaiMon Tarr,
of saving all our lives.

We will agree, no doubt foolishly,

but any trickery on your part
will meet with no mercy.

Agreed. If you care to join us,
our transporter device...

We have a device of our own.

We will beam a science team of three
to coordinates you can propose.

We will transmit
the information shortly.

- Enterprise out.
- Hailing frequencies off.

I would log that agreement
as promising, at least.

I wonder, Captain.

I don't usually distrust on sight,
but this is an exception.

Especially in view of the fact that
his transmission was distorted.

I sensed the same thing, Captain.
He's hiding something.

With the power drain, we can't delay.

I'd like additional help.
Can you spare Worf?

Take him.
And... be careful, Number One.

With the power drain,
communication may be hard.

Understood. Anything else?

The force field means
we cannot beam back.

- You had to ask.
- Understood. Energize.

Anybody?

- What are you doing up there?
- Most intriguing, sir.

I assume
inaccurately transmitted coordinates

due to the force field
around the ship, sir.

Are we alone, sir?

Unfortunately. Let's find the others.

What do you make of these?

Crystalline. Mostly inert.
Nothing to write home about.

- Excuse me?
- Slang, sir.

I did use it correctly, did I not?

They have to be
around here somewhere.

- What's that?
- What?

- Are you conscious?
- Do I look conscious?

- What are you doing?
- Resting, sir!

My foot's stuck. Up there.

I materialized upside down
above the planet's surface.

Tricorder's useless.
Communication's gone too.

- Fortunately, you did not break...
- Data, who's that?

Who are you?

Captain's log, supplemental.

It is six hours since our
away team beamed down to the planet.

On the Enterprise,
our condition is rapidly worsening.

Ordinarily, with reserve power,

we could maintain life support
for several months.

But the force holding us
has closed down all engines

and is draining
our reserve power, too.

It's getting colder, sir.
How far down is it likely to go?

A lot. Even in orbital space
it'll get below minus 200 degrees.

You won't have to worry much
past minus 70 or so.

Feels like that now.
Good. Thank you.

If he moves, kill him.

Letek, we have broken
our agreement with their captain.

We will accuse the humans
of preparing to ambush us.

It will be our word against theirs.

And who is more trustworthy, Mordoc?

It looks like gold.

- Tastes like gold.
- It is gold.

Accursed planet!

It's nothing to what our Captain
will do for breaking our agreement.

What part of the agreement?
You appeared and attacked us.

Are you one of their assassins?

I'm Cmdr William Riker,
First Officer of the USS Enterprise.

You have a lot to learn.

I got this one!

Careful,
they are much stronger than...

Pygmy cretins!

- Kill them! Hideous monsters!
- No!

Good. You've heard of phasers.

Now, over there.

- Is this a female?
- A human female, Letek?

Yes, it is true.

You work with your females, arm them

and force them to wear clothing.

Sickening!

I've diverted the reserve power
to the family decks.

They'll last longest.

Is there anything else
we can do, Doctor?

Where's Wesley?

He's in our quarters.

- I considered giving him a sedative.
- You shouldn't.

I know, but he's my son. I love him.

He has the right to meet death awake.

Is that a male perspective?

Rubbish.

Hold it right there!

Stop.

- Phasers on stun.
- Already set.

What's going on?

What is this?

We can deduce
that these crystalline tree shapes

are actually energy collectors.

On the same principle as that which
is draining energy from our ships.

The Ferengi whips
were working earlier.

So something new has happened.

I'm beginning to understand
what my eyes are showing me.

It's patterns of force everywhere.

This entire planet has been
turned into a power accumulator.

These are the point of this place.

I can see power emanating...

Commander.

Be you barbarians? Speak!

Who meets the challenge?

Who will it be?

Him.

You have awakened Portal 63.
Do you petition to enter the Empire?

- Who asks the question?
- A guardian of the Tkon Empire.

Biped. Excellent.

Why would we petition to enter...
an empire that no longer exists?

Why do you attempt this deception?
The Empire is for ever.

Your empire fell prey to a supernova.

We are for ever.

Data, please repeat the file.

It is a matter of record.

In the Age of Makto, the central star
of the Tkon Empire destabilized.

There has never been an Age of Makto.

In fact, many ages
have come and passed since Makto.

- It is the Age of Bastu.
- I'm afraid not.

According to the Tkon use of the
galactic motionary startime charts,

after Bastu came Cimi, Xora, Makto...

Enough! Absurdities.

You must have been asleep for
hundreds of thousands of our years.

Deception is the way of the human.

We Ferengi
will gladly make a petition.

We invite your petition.

Speak!

We wish to offer our services

to serve the Tkon Empire
at no profit.

Return control of our starship to us

and we will happily destroy
the human criminals

and their vessel which attacked us
without provocation.

They came to loot your empire,

but we intercepted them.

You are accused
of deceit and treachery.

Do you give yourself up
for judgment?

Yes. If you believe these
accusations, then act on them.

And there is even more.

We can prove that the humans
are destroyers of legal commerce,

and that they withhold vital
technology from backward worlds.

And necessary defensive weapons, too.

We Ferengi now challenge
this human madness!

I admit, we withheld modern
technologies from some worlds.

You see? They are demented.
Their values are insane.

They have destroyed
business opportunities.

Proof of their barbarism!

They adorn themselves with gold,
a despicable use of a valuable metal.

And they shamelessly clothe
their females,

inviting others to unclothe them,
the very depth of perversion.

Paws off, Ferengi!

No female, human or Ferengi,
can order Mordoc around.

Submit!

- Just try it, shorty.
- At ease, Lieutenant.

And we still have more faults.

Starfleet has permitted
several civilizations to fall.

We have allowed the strong
to overcome the weak.

They admit their crimes. Hear them!

They admit the evil that they do.

- Barbarian!
- Yes, you show wisdom.

Barbarians all! But this one first...

...in the fashion the Empire
has always challenged savages.

- No! For battle, come to me!
- No! That's an order.

You have a single chance for life.
One only.

What is the answer to my challenge?

I offer a thought.

"He will triumph who knows when
to fight and when not to fight."

You are being tested, Riker.
What is the answer?

How do you know my name?

You are facing fate with composure.

But what is the answer
to my challenge?

Fear is the true enemy,
the only enemy.

Unlike these little ones
who close their minds,

your mind holds interesting thoughts.

"Know your enemy and know yourself,
and you will always be victorious."

Why that thought?
And who is this Sun Tzu you revere?

An old Chinese philosopher
from ancient Earth history.

Tell me more of this wisdom,
so much like our own.

Gladly, but first our starship.
Can you release it?

It is released.
All power is restored.

Not a moment too soon, Jean.

I mean, Captain.

I had my doubts
as your ships battled each other,

in acts of belligerence.

Normally I would destroy all of you,
and your ships.

- But something confused me.
- Which was?

First,
you wanted to destroy each other.

Then you agreed to assist each other.

What of our vessel?
We knew the same answer.

The truth is,
I gave those words to this human.

What of them? Shall I destroy them?

Then they would learn nothing.

A most interesting conclusion.

But what if they never learn, Riker?

Is this a test also?

In life, one is always tested.

I see them much as we were
several hundred years ago,

but possessing the technology
they now have, they are dangerous.

Untrue. We seek friendship with you.

But we can hardly hate what we
once were. They may grow and learn.

And learn ways to destroy you.

Our values require us
to face that possibility.

What of you, with your empire gone?

The universe exists to me
to create life.

I shall sleep... until needed again.

Compliments, Lieutenant. Lt Worf.

- You've done well.
- Something to write home about.

"Something to write home about"?
That's very human.

The T-9 has been
beamed aboard securely.

The Ferengi complained, but one final
roar from Portal convinced them.

- I commend your performance.
- One final request, sir.

Permission to beam a box
of Data's Chinese finger puzzles

over to the Ferengi.

A thank you for all they tried to do.

Make it so.

Set course, La Forge.

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.