Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 3, Episode 12 - The High Ground - full transcript

Captain's log, stardate 43510.7.

The Enterprise has put in at Rutia IV
to deliver medical supplies

following an outbreak
of violent protests.

Although nonaligned,
the planet has enjoyed

a long trading relationship
with the Federation.

Now a generation of peace
has ended with terrorist attacks

by Ansata separatists
who are demanding autonomy

and self-determination for their
homeland on the western continent.

Recreational shore leave
has been prohibited,

and all away teams have been
instructed to beam down armed.

We have only a few minutes
before our next meeting, doctor.



It's all right, we're finished. Waiter.

Doctor!

- Keep back.
- Put that away. I'm a doctor.

Just lie still. Try not to move.

Lieutenant Worf,
I need some bandages, disinfectant,

- something with alcohol in it.
- Doctor, it is not safe.

That's an order, lieutenant.

- You, clear this area.
- Don't be afraid.

There's bleeding,
but it's not as bad as it looks.

The Klingon's right.
These Ansata, they're madmen.

There could be another bomb.

Clear this area-
Everyone out of the plaza.

Doctor, I believe it would be prudent
to return to the Enterprise.

There are physicians on this planet.



Who are not here. I am.

Doctor.

Thank you.

- Thank you.
- Not at all, doctor.

Captain, there has been an incident.

A bomb has been
detonated by Ansata terrorists.

- Your security status?
- Vulnerable, sir.

Transporter Room 3,
lock on to the away team,

- prepare to beam them back.
- Yes, captain.

Sir, I've recommended such a course,
but there are several wounded,

and Dr. Crusher
is insisting on attending...

I understand. Picard to Dr. Crusher.

Go ahead.

Data has
informed me of your situation.

I already know
what you're going to say.

Will you at least allow me...?

The longer we argue, the longer
it's gonna take me to save...

Doctor, you are endangering yourself
and the away team.

Captain, I am trying to put life back into
a wounded body with sleight of hand.

I'm not going anywhere. Data and
Worf don't have to stay. Crusher out.

Transporter room, do you have
a lock on the away team?

Aye, sir. Shall I transport them?

I don't wanna be
in the transporter room to greet her.

Commander Data, hold your position
until the Rutian medics arrive.

Aye, sir.

The tricorder is not reading any other
explosive devices in this vicinity.

Get out of the way! Move!

You don't understand, I'm a...

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages
of the starship Enterprise.

To explore strange new worlds,

to seek out new life
and new civilizations,

to boldly go where no one
has gone before.

A transporter would leave
residual ionization in the air.

Our tricorder readings found
no trace after the incident.

People don't just appear
and disappear.

There must be some way
to track her.

We have been unable to detect
a signal from her communicator.

Either it has been deactivated,

or she is being held
in a shielded location.

Why her?

Sir, I believe she was
the intended target of the abduction.

Why would they wanna take
a Federation hostage?

Their fight doesn't involve us.

It does now.

You hungry?
Want something to eat?

It doesn't matter to me.
You wanna be hungry, be hungry.

What's your name?

You're a doctor
on a Federation starship.

I always wondered what it would
be like to travel across the galaxy.

It's not something
I've exactly had time for.

This isn't the best way
to meet new people, is it?

If you need anything, ask for me.

My name is Kyril Finn.

They know me.

We have no reason to believe
she's been hurt in any way.

In fact, it's more than likely
they will take good care of her

if they want to use her
as a bargaining chip.

- Bargaining chip?
- The innocent often become pawns

in conflicts of this type, Wes.

You see, the Ansata separatists

have been trying for generations
to free themselves

from the rule
of the eastern continent.

And if they can get the government
just to acknowledge their demands,

then kidnapping your mother
will have served its purpose.

I think that's what they may be after.

But it may not.
Frankly, Wesley, I don't care.

My only concern
is to get your mother back.

And very shortly, we shall be leaving
to have a meeting with the authorities.

Request permission to be
on the away team, sir.

No. You have an important job
to do here.

If we are to free your mother,
then we have to be able to trace

the movements of the terrorists.
I want you to work with the team

that are investigating this
new technology of theirs.

- I understand.
- Report to Mr. Data.

Dismissed.

He needs your strength right now.

History has shown us
that strength may be useless

when faced with terrorism.

And what exactly is Ansata policy
with regard to hostages?

I doubt if they have one.

They don't usually take hostages.

These are not people we're dealing
with here. They're animals.

Fanatics who kill
without remorse or conscience,

who think nothing of murdering
innocent people.

But they could just as easily
have shot her where she stood.

Don't ask me to explain.

I can't.
The atrocities that I've seen...

And now they have this new device
that makes them even more deadly.

How do I combat an enemy
that fails to register on any scanner

until they're literally standing
in front of you,

pointing a phaser at your head?

What can you tell us
about this device?

Not much, really.

They first started using it
two months ago.

We've taken several
of these off dead terrorists.

Our people have looked at them,
nothing they can explain.

Do you mind if we take one of these
with us and have our people study it?

Not at all.

And I'll put you in touch
with our research people, if you wish.

I appreciate your help.

Perhaps if we found ourselves
in possession

of some of that advanced
Federation weaponry of yours,

it would shift the balance of power
back to our favor.

Of course,
you know that is out of the question.

Yes. Of course.

I would like to leave Commander Riker
here to assist in your search

for Dr. Crusher.

If you like.

You don't sound very optimistic.

I know my enemy, commander.

They don't leave much room
for optimism.

You hungry?
You want something to eat?

Relax, relax.

I'm just going to...

Now eat something.

What's the point of not eating?
You're the only one who suffers.

Do I look like it's bothering me?

Okay, it's bothering me.

Come on.

No forks. Sorry.

Did I mention my name is Finn?
And you're...

- Why have you brought me here?
- I need a doctor.

- There are doctors on Rutia.
- I need somebody better.

I heard you were
with the Federation flagship,

and I knew you had to be.

- Who told you that?
- I heard.

Now you'll help me
just like you helped them.

What are you talking about?

Your ship carries
medical supplies for them,

for the other side.

Why does the Federation ally itself
with the Rutians?

We don't.
All we did was bring them...

- Medical supplies.
- People were hurt.

I know. I hurt them.

You've finished eating. Get up.

Get up.

I have a son.

You'll be with him again, doctor.

I see no reason to kill you.

I need some instruments from my ship
in order to diagnose this.

And you think if I allow you
to contact your ship

they will transport the instruments?

When I inform the captain
how serious the situation is,

I'm sure he'll agree.

I've told you, Finn, the Federation
is not allied with the Rutians.

We're here on an errand of mercy.

And since the Federation
does not wish to take sides,

they will send the supplies
that you need.

Absolutely.

I've anticipated your needs.

These are Federation supplies.

The ones we had delivered
to the medical dispensary.

I heard.

You mean to tell me
all these people belong to the Ansata?

No, not really.

We suspect the organization itself only
to consist of some 200 members.

There are over 5,000 names
on this list.

Citizens we know to be sympathetic
to their cause.

They pass along weaponry
and information,

march in pro-Ansata demonstrations,
participate in general strikes

- or the occasional riot.
- How did this ever get started?

Seventy years ago,
we denied them independence.

That gave them a noble cause.

Now it's just an excuse
for more violence.

You hate them
as much as they hate you.

Believe it or not,
I always considered myself moderate.

What changed your mind?

Being stationed here for six months,
watching the body count grow.

The three assassination attempts
on my life.

Well, that'll change
your point of view.

The event
that really opened my eyes

took place only a few days
after my arrival.

A terrorist bomb
destroyed a shuttle bus.

Sixty schoolchildren.
There were no survivors.

The Ansata claimed
that it was a mistake,

that their intended target
was a police transport.

As if that made everything all right.

That day, I vowed that I would put
an end to terrorism in this city.

And I will.

Thank you. You're very helpful.

You could learn to do this
when you grow up.

If you grow up.

They're dying-

I'm seeing
a complicated set of conditions.

Their DNA is warped somehow,

and it's distorting
their entire cellular chemistry.

You can't do anything?

I can make them more comfortable.
That's all.

The damage is too extensive.

If I could detect
their condition earlier...

- You could reverse the damage?
- Perhaps. I don't know.

What happened to them?

It's the inverter.

It's given our cause a new life,

but it asks for our lives in return.

What does it do?

We transport
through a dimensional shift

that the Rutian sensors can't trace.

Dimensional shifting?

You can't do that
with humanoid tissue.

There are risks, the designers told us,
but it works.

You're showing
the same distorted readings.

- Not as severe as the others, but...
- Doesn't matter.

It does if it kills you.

Don't you know?

A dead martyr's worth
ten posturing leaders.

A subspace field coil
with an isolated power source.

Curious.

Hey, guys, come here.

Look at this.

The Rutian team picked up
a faint nuclear vibration

during the terrorist movements.

Nuclear vibration?

That could possibly indicate
subspace transition

rebound during transport.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

- May I?
- Mm.

Computer, call up the files on...
What was his name?

We spent two hours on him
in astral physics last year. Uh...

Folded space transport.

- Adaptive transport.
- Yes.

Are you referring
to the Elway Theorem?

Yes, computer, call up the files
on the Elway Theorem.

What if they're using
interdimensional travel?

But the Elway Theorem
proved to be entirely inaccurate.

All research was abandoned
by the mid-23rd century.

Data, look,
the nuclear vibrations are the same,

and Elway used a model
similar to this.

It would certainly be untraceable
by any standard method of detection.

But it was proven to be fatal.

To use this technology
would be an irrational act.

We may be dealing
with irrational people, Data.

Is there a way to trace this?

With an adaptive
subspace echogram, maybe.

Captain, anyone who is willing
to transport in this manner

would suffer significant internal
damage that could be detected.

Hmm.

It sounds as though they may require
the services of a doctor.

Excuse me.

This way.

- This is no way to live.
- For us or them?

For both of you.

I know it's not pretty, Riker,

but this is what terrorism
has done to this city.

There's gotta be a better way
to deal with it than this.

My methods may seem harsh,
but believe me,

they're gentle
compared to my predecessors'.

Suspects would be brought
into police headquarters

and mysteriously vanish.

I put a stop to that.

What happened
to your predecessors?

They were murdered.

Are you gonna tell me
that little boy's a threat?

It's possible.

That shuttle bus I told you about?

The bomb was set by a teenager.

In a world where children
blow up children,

everyone's a threat.

It's okay. Over there.

You should be drawing,
not killing people.

I can do both.

How can you have
such a casual attitude toward killing?

I take my killing very seriously,
doctor.

You are an idealist.

I live in an ideal culture.

There's no need
for your kind of violence.

We've proven that.

Your origins on Earth are from
the American continent, are they not?

- North America.
- I've read your history books.

This is a war for independence.

And I am no different
than your own George Washington.

Washington was a military general,
not a terrorist.

The difference between
generals and terrorists, doctor,

is only the difference
between winners and losers.

You win, you're called a general.
You lose...

You are killing innocent people.

Can't you see the immorality
of what you're doing?

Or have you killed so much
you've become blind to it?

How much innocent blood
has been spilled

for the cause of freedom in the history
of your Federation, doctor?

How many good and noble societies
have bombed civilians in war?

Have wiped out whole cities?

And now that you enjoy the comfort
that has come from their battles,

their killing,
you frown on my immorality?

I'm willing to die
for my freedom, doctor.

And in the finest tradition
of your own great civilization,

I'm willing to kill for it too.

All right. You can go.

- Next man.
- If you want,

- I could become more persuasive.
- No.

You're Katik Shaw,
the waiter from the Lumar Cafe.

You witnessed both the explosion
and the kidnapping.

I saw nothing.

We're aware of your ties
with the Ansata.

For all we know,
you planted the bomb yourself.

Where have they taken her?

- I don't know what you're talking about.
- I've had enough of this.

I want you to take a message
back to your people.

You tell them the Federation
is willing to negotiate

for the release of Dr. Crusher.

Riker.

She's a Starfleet officer,
and she's my responsibility.

Your people have terms.
We're willing to listen.

We want her back.
It's as simple as that.

I don't think it's necessary
to detain this gentleman any longer.

Get out.

I should have him followed.

But we'll try it your way.

Is that what you want?

What I want

is to go home.

Back to my own country.

To leave behind the round-ups,
the interrogations,

the bodies lying in the street.

To be able to walk
without the bodyguards

and not to have to jump
at every unexpected noise.

That's what I want, Riker!

A dimensional jump

can create subspace
pressure modulation, captain.

By setting up
a magnetosphere echogram

that can monitor
each of their movements,

we may be able to collect enough data
to trace their power source.

Can you estimate the number of jumps
it would take?

Dimensional shifting
is such an unstable procedure, sir,

that I cannot say.

Sir.

I am finding it difficult to understand
many aspects of Ansata conduct.

Much of their behavioral norm
would be defined by my program

as unnecessary and unacceptable.

Mm-hm.
By my program as well, Data.

But if that is so, captain,

why are their methods
so often successful?

I have been reviewing the history
of armed rebellion,

and it appears that terrorism
is an effective way

to promote political change.

Yes, it can be,

but I have never subscribed
to the theory

that political power flows
from the barrel of a gun.

Yet there are numerous examples
when it was successful.

Theindependence
of the Mexican State from Spain,

the Irish Unification of 2024
and the Kenzie Rebellion.

- Yes, I'm aware of them.
- Then would it be accurate

to say that terrorism is acceptable

when all options for peaceful
settlement have been foreclosed?

Data, these are questions
that mankind has been struggling with

throughout history.

Your confusion is only human.

Finn, everyone is being rounded up.

Because of her?

The Federation wants
to negotiate her release.

While they arrange
for the Rutian police

to fill up the detention cells.

A Starfleet officer
is working with the director.

- He wants a meeting with you.
- Oh, I'm sure he does.

Your Federation colleagues
have engineered mass arrests

to pressure me into releasing you.

I'm sure you've misunderstood.

They're working with the police.
He's seen it with his own eyes.

All they want
is to get me back safely.

I'm not releasing you.

I need you here.

To find a way to reverse the effects
of the dimensional shift?

Heh. I can do that right now.
Stop using it.

I have a life, Finn.
I have a son who needs me.

- Is your son on the ship?
- Yes.

I'm sorry he's on the ship.

- No.
- They have joined forces

- with the Rutians against us.
- We are not your enemy.

They are more valuable to me
than an enemy.

For 70 years, we have shouted,
and no one has heard us.

Destroy the Federation flagship,

- someone will listen.
- Please.

They are the ones who interfered.

They are the ones
who sent medical supplies.

They are the ones
who organized mass arrests.

They are killing your son, not me.

Please, Finn, don't do this.

I will do anything you ask.

I had a son too.

He was 13
when he died in detention.

Wha...?

Intruder alert, Deck 12.

Another subspace reflection.
Dimensional shift, sir.

Go to red alert.
Sound general quarters.

Security to Engineering!

Intruders in Engineering.

Casualties reported on Deck 12.
Sickbay responding.

Seal off all decks. Lock on transporters
to the intruder signals.

Intruder signals unstable, captain.

I cannot lock on.

They are moving interdimensionally.

Neither transporters nor forcefields
will contain them, sir.

Explosive charge
on the main warp chamber.

Transporter Room 3,

lock on to the explosive device
and energize.

"MAN". It's scrambling the sensors,
captain. I can't pinpoint it.

Begin emergency evacuation.
Stand by for saucer separation.

Mr. La Forge, can you remove
the charge from the engine core?

I'm trying. Hold on.

They've got it locked on somehow.
Stand by.

Transporter Room.

Lock on my signal and stand by

to transport two kilometers
off the starboard nacelle.

His signal?

Transporter Room, now!

Mr. La Forge, report.

Transport complete, captain.
I have a man down.

More dimensional shifts, sir.

Can you calibrate their destination?

No, sir, the readings are...

Security, code one emergency.

Security!

Lieutenant Worf
is recovering in Sickbay.

The wound was not severe.

Dead? Injured?

Three dead, four wounded.

Another millisecond, and there would
have been a dust cloud

orbiting Rutia
instead of the Enterprise.

- Why? I just asked if they would talk.
- You have your answer, Riker.

Sir, the next time the Ansata
use their dimensional jump,

we should be able to get a fix
on the power source.

Worf went down.
I don't know if he's alive or dead.

And there were other casualties.

Was Wes on the Bridge?

Yes. He took cover.

I didn't see any more than that.

But you are all right, though?

Yes. They needed a doctor.

Uh-huh.
The side effects of the transport.

Yes.

We're getting closer
to tracing their movements.

Actually, it was Wesley who put us
onto this dimensional jump of theirs.

He has been extraordinary, Beverly.

He's gonna make a very fine officer.

He's had good role models.

I'm sorry.
If I'd only gone back to the ship...

- I should have beamed you up.
- You wouldn't dare.

Oh, yes, I would and should.

- Without my permission?
- If you don't follow orders...

If you'd give reasonable orders,
I'd obey.

Doctor, I will be the judge
of what is reasonable.

There aren't any exits to the surface.

So the only way out
is by the transporter

or the dimensional jump.

A mode of travel
I'd encourage you to avoid.

It's killing them.

- They're mad.
- I don't know anymore.

The difference between a madman
and a committed man

willing to die for a cause,

it's all become blurred
over the last few days.

Beverly, I don't have to remind you
of the psychological impact

of being a hostage.

I know. I understand that.

But their leader, Finn,
he's not what you'd expect.

No, he's certainly not
what I would expect.

Without cause or reason,
he and his little band of outlaws

have attacked my ship.

But he did have reasons.
The medical supplies, the arrests.

Jean-Luc, if we really examined
our role in all this...

Beverly, you are arguing for a man
who may have murdered your son.

I didn't kill your son, Beverly.

We weren't able to destroy the ship.
We had to settle for him.

She wouldn't even tell me her name.

I call her "doctor."

You have made
a grave miscalculation.

Oh?

You assaulted a Federation starship,

killed and wounded several members
of her crew,

kidnapped two of her officers,
and you don't expect a response?

On the contrary, I'm counting on it.

You want Federation involvement?

Captain, the Federation
has a lotto admire in it,

but there's a hint of moral cowardice

in your dealings
with nonaligned planets.

You're doing business
with a government that is crushing us,

and you say you're not involved.

You're very, very much involved.
You just don't wanna get dirty.

You accuse us of cowardice
while you plant bombs in shadows.

I am fighting the only war that I can
against an intractable enemy.

Now I'm fighting a big war
against a more powerful adversary.

- Can't you see how that helps me?
- I'm afraid I can't.

He's added another chair
to the negotiating table.

You added the chair, captain.
I am simply forcing you to sit in it.

The Federation will quickly tire
of our little war.

They'll want you back.

They will want to get as far
from Rutia as they can.

And I will not make it easy.

Eventually the Federation
will force the government

into making concessions,
and then a few more,

and then a few more,

until we can finally reach
an honorable agreement

that saves face for all sides.

Except, we win.

You understand I will not cooperate
with you in any way.

You've already cooperated, captain.

Just by coming here.

I am not here to hurt you.
Just hear what I have to say.

Your people are safe.

How long they stay that way
depends on you.

We demand an embargo

and trade sanctions
levied against Rutia.

The Federation
will blockade the planet.

No ships will be allowed in or out.

This will continue
until the government of Rutia

consents to talks mediated
by a Federation counsel.

You have 12 hours
to make your decision.

Got it.

We've pinpointed the Ansata base

to some 300 kilometers from the city,
on the southern tip of the continent.

Sensors indicate it is located
30 meters below the ground,

implying a cavern-like dwelling.

Any passages
leading to the surface?

Our readings show no evidence of any,
commander.

Any light they have must be
artificially generated.

If we could shut that down,
you could use the confusion

to find your people.

Request permission
to join the rescue party, sir.

- I owe it to the captain.
- Permission granted.

- You have the Bridge, Mr. Data.
- Aye, sir.

Commander.

Good luck.

We'll bring them home, Wes.

You're glad to see your captain.

Yes.

I may have to kill him.

I just wanted to warn you.

He can help you, Finn.
He is very influential...

He will not help us.

If you could convince him...

You may be able to convince him,
perhaps. Not I.

I've talked to him.

I'll try.

If our places were reversed,

I would expect to die.

Your places
would never be reversed.

He would never forcibly abduct you
or play games with your life.

He would treat you with respect.

I've treated you with respect.

You've scared the hell out of me, Finn.
You've controlled me through fear,

just like you've tried to control
this whole continent.

You haven't tasted real fear yet,
doctor.

Is that the best you can do?
Ls fear the only weapon you have?

No, but it's a good one.

You know what scares me the most,
Finn?

It scares me to think
that you might win this fight

and gain real power.

Doctor.

L...

I don't want you to fear me.

The generator's right over there.

Beverly, how dangerous
would another ride

through the inverter be to us?

I don't know.

But I don't want you
to start thinking about...

Beverly, it is our obligation
to think of escape.

- He's prepared to kill you.
- An excellent reason to escape.

Do you think you've gained
his confidence?

Indeed you have.

And more.

This might prove to be
an advantage to us.

Jean-Luc.

There are some things I want to tell
you in case we don't get out of this.

Have they found us?

- Freeze!
- Hold it. Hands up!

- Hands up. Let's go.
- Move it.

- This way.
- All right, all right.

Finn.

He's dead.

You didn't have to kill him.

As a prisoner, he would have been
a focus for violence

as his followers tried to free him.

Now he's a martyr.

But the death toll might go down,
at least in the short term.

It's an imperfect solution
for an imperfect world.

Riker.

No more killing.

Already another one
to take his place.

It never ends.

He could have killed you. He didn't.

Maybe the end begins
with one boy putting down his gun.

Oh.

I hear I owe my rescue to you.

I was just part of the team.
It's good to have you back.

Both of you, sir.

Take us out of orbit, Mr. Crusher.

Mm.

At your convenience.