Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 3, Episode 2 - The Ensigns of Command - full transcript

Captain. Doctor.
I am honored by your presence,

but may I suggest you attend
the second concert?

Why, Data?

Ensign Ortiz will perform
the violin part.

My rendition will be less enjoyable.

I am technically proficient,

but according to
my fellow performers, I lack soul.

Telling us why you'll fail before
making the attempt is never wise.

But is not honesty
always the preferred choice?

Excessive honesty can be disastrous,
particularly in a commander.

Indeed?



Knowing your limitations
is one thing.

Advertising them to a crew
damages your credibility as a leader.

Because you will lose
their confidence?

And you may begin to believe
in those limitations yourself.

Captain, we're receiving a message
from the Sheliak Corporate.

Origin of message confirmed.
It is from the Shelia star system.

The Sheliak have not communicated
with the Federation for 111 years.

Why are they doing it now?

On screen.

Federation creatures,

there are humans
on the fifth planet of Tau Cygna.

This planet was ceded
to the Corporate in section 1 33

paragraph 77
of the Treaty of Armens.

We will begin settlement
of this world in four days.



- Remove the humans.
- What the...?

Federation creatures, there are
humans on the fifth planet...

Cancel message.

Tau Cygna V is in the de Laure Belt.

Heavy concentrations
of hyperonic radiation.

Humans can't survive there.

Hyperonic radiation is fatal.

Then the Sheliak are asking us
to chase ghosts.

No, Number One.

The Sheliak haven't broken
a century of silence

to send us after phantoms.

An investigation is in order.
Set course for Tau Cygna V.

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 civilisations...

...to boldly go
where no one has gone before.

Captain, human-life-form readings
from the planet.

- The Sheliak weren't hallucinating.
- Numbers?

Impossible to get a reading.

Radiation is disrupting our sensors.

Radiation has also made
the ship's transporters inoperable.

So are the phasers.

- How can humans survive there?
- They must have adapted.

Work with radiation sensitivity
suggests it's possible.

Perhaps with extensive
viral therapy.

Whoever they are,
we've gotta get them off the planet.

By treaty, that world still belongs
to the Sheliak.

Who are within their rights
to remove these trespassers.

If we don't remove them,
the Sheliak will. Forcefully.

How forcefully?

The Sheliak consider humans
a lower life form

and would have no compunctions
about exterminating them.

Mr Data, as you're unaffected
by hyperonic radiation,

I'd like you to go to the planet via
shuttlecraft to commence evacuation.

Aye, sir.

Number One.

Any speculation
on what we might find down there?

My guess would be
a lone survey craft.

Maybe a dozen or so survivors.

I think it's some sort
of shuttlecraft.

- Where's it from?
- Look at the markings.

It must be from the Federation.

Greetings, gentlemen.

We saw your ship.
You're the first visitor we've had...

The first visitor we've ever had.

You're not human.

That is correct. I am an android.

I am Lt Cmdr Data of
the Federation Starship Enterprise.

Our great-grandparents
were in the Federation.

You don't wanna waste time
talking to us.

You should meet Gosheven.
We'll take you.

I'm sure the Federation
will be proud of us.

Wait till you see
all we've accomplished.

And who precisely is "us"?

Don't you know?
Oh no, I don't guess you would.

We're descendants
of the original settlers,

from the colony ship Artemis.

Got it. The Artemis. Launched
92 years ago for Septimus Minor.

When they failed to check in,
Starfleet began a huge search.

What took the Artemis off course?

My local informant does not know.

In the early days, survival
was more important than history.

- Understood. How many are they?
- 1 5,253, sir.

1 5,000!

Three days, no transporters.
We'll never get them out in time.

Shuttles?

Loading all shuttlecraft
to capacity,

evacuation will take...
four weeks, four days.

We need more time.

Mr Data, prepare the colonists
for evacuation.

Aye, sir.

Get me the Sheliak.

Their homeworld is quite distant.
This will take some time.

Gosheven, look what's come.

Lt Cmdr Data
of the Starship Enterprise.

- He's an android.
- So he is.

Well, now that you're here,
what do you want?

My mission is to prepare
this colony for evacuation.

Why?

Because this planet
belongs to the Sheliak.

And who is the Sheliak?

The term is plural.

The Sheliak are a non-humanoid
intelligent life form, class R3.

Well, this colony
has been here over 90 years.

We've never seen a Sheliak.

I'd say that makes
Tau Cygna V our planet.

The original destination
of the Artemis was Septimus Minor.

The guidance system failed.
Took them far off course.

Our ancestors were lucky
to land anywhere.

Then the radiation
started killing them.

It killed a third of the colonists
before they adapted to it.

Our colony prospered.

Look around. We've brought water
to the desert, built a community.

Your accomplishments
are truly remarkable.

Yet there is a treaty which
makes this planet Sheliak domain.

- Then change the treaty.
- That may not be possible.

The Sheliak wish
to colonize this planet

and will not share it with humans.

If you are here when they arrive,
they will eradicate you.

They'd kill all of us?

They have little regard
for human life.

The sensible thing is
to prepare a contingency plan

for the evacuation of your people.

We're not evacuating.

- I have not made myself clear.
- Yes, you have.

Let me be equally clear.

There's going to be no evacuation.

You've delivered your message,
so go back to your ship.

I have work to do.

Nice catch.

Wonderful reflexes.

Sorry to test you like that,
but I was curious.

- Found a new toy, have we?
- Toy?

This is the most incredible android
I've ever seen.

Have you seen many?

Actually, no. You're the first.

Only you would get this excited
over a walking calculator.

Cybernetics fascinates me.

- Are your neural paths duotronic?
- No. Positronic.

Is that possible?
What's your memory capacity?

How many operations per second?
I have a million questions.

I have no time
to answer a million.

I have a mission to accomplish.
I must know about your people.

Gosheven seems unwilling to talk.

I'm Ard'rian McKenzie.

Perhaps I can help you.

Gentlemen,
we're giving you an assignment.

One thing we don't want to hear
is that it's impossible.

I need the transporters to work
despite the radiation.

Yeah, but that's im...

Yes, sir.

Even if we get the Sheliak to talk,
they won't be accommodating.

When the treaty was first negotiated,

the Federation
sent 372 legal experts.

What do we have?

Thee and me?

No response.

Try them again.
Boost the signal strength.

Sheliak Corporate.
This is the Starship Enterprise.

Respond, please.

Conversation is neither
required nor desired.

Conversation is necessary

if we are to find a solution
to our mutual problem.

Our involvement in Federation
illegality is not indicated.

Both parties are involved, sir.

Remove the humans
from the Tau Cygna system.

Three Earth days remain.

Let us negotiate in good faith.

Negotiate to what purpose?
The treaty is signed.

There is a thriving colony
on that planet.

Rather than uproot these people,
may I offer a compromise?

- Denied.
- Why?

The law is paramount.
We are entitled.

This is not a law. It is a treaty.

It is designed to smooth relations
between races,

not to act as a strait...

...jacket.

You really think
we'll have to leave Tau Cygna V?

The possibility exists, yet Gosheven
seems unwilling to prepare for it.

- Why?
- Maybe because you're an android.

I don't think he likes the idea
of machines ordering him around.

I am not ordering him.

I am trying to persuade him
to evacuate his people.

Do you think my course of action
should be followed?

Of course.

- Despite the fact I am an android?
- Because of that fact.

I'm not prejudiced against
computers. I like them.

Not that any computer we have
is as sophisticated as you.

No, I would say not.

People can be selfish,
irrational, stubborn, malicious.

But computers don't have
those failings.

And you conclude that I am impartial?

Hence, you accept
my recommendations?

Yet Gosheven does not.

Picard to Cmdr Data.

Data here.

- The Sheliak won't bargain.
- Understood, sir.

I'm calling for transport. Get those
people ready to evacuate quickly.

Aye, sir.

We must speak to Gosheven
immediately.

Gentlemen, how's it coming?

- What the hell is that?
- Our first attempt.

Keep at it.
We need those transporters.

You see this?

Do you have any idea what it is,
or what it means?

It is water. A substance composed
of two atoms of hydrogen...

It's not water.

It's blood and sweat. The result
of 90 years of combined effort.

This isn't a town.

It's a monument to everyone
who's lived and died here.

- You're talking nonsense.
- Am I?

My grandfather is buried
on that mountain.

He died in a rock slide
surveying for this aqueduct.

This colony exists
because of his sacrifice

and the sacrifice
of thousands of others.

No, we are not leaving.

The Sheliak will not accept
humans on their planet.

They will use force to remove you.

We will not be bullied off our land.
Not by you, and not by the Sheliak.

Stubborn and irrational.
Now what do we do?

- Are his sentiments typical?
- I hope not.

If I can convince people to leave...

Don't you mean if we can convince?

- Come.
- Yes, sir.

Three weeks. Starfleet
is profuse in its apologies,

but it will still be three weeks
until the arrival of a transport ship

equipped with
dedicated personnel shuttles.

We can't wait three weeks.

Then the Sheliak must agree
to extend our deadline.

They plan to settle Tau Cygna V
two days from now.

One of their ships
must already be en route.

We're going to intercept that ship.

The Sheliak may see that as hostile.

A risk we have to take.

The Enterprise is going
to intercept the Sheliak ship.

Now, your job...

- Well, you know what your job is.
- Commander.

In human parlance, I do not believe
I can get the job done.

My training prepared me
for starship command duties.

As a cultural contact,
I am less than exemplary.

- What's the situation?
- Their leader will not listen.

He denies my arguments and speaks
of structures they have built.

- Try something else.
- I have, sir.

In the last three hours,
I have spoken with 56 colonists.

Ten refused
to believe the threat exists.

22 favor staying
and fighting the Sheliak.

1 6 prefer negotiation
or some sort of passive resistance.

Only eight considered evacuation.
Of those...

Data, I can't help you.

I haven't talked to these people.
You have.

Use your positronic brain
to carry out your mission.

Sir, if I do not succeed,

how violent is
the Sheliak reaction likely to be?

Only the treaty stopped them

from eradicating the colony
the moment they discovered it.

- Ah.
- "Ah" is right, Data.

The lives of 1 5,000 people
are riding on you.

You'd better get innovative.
Riker out.

Data?

We're having an effect.

People are asking questions.
Gosheven has called a meeting.

Has Gosheven changed his position?

No. But you can present
your recommendations.

So far, my attempts at persuasion
have been ineffective.

- Why did you do that?
- You appeared to need it.

Among humans, a kiss usually serves
to seal a friendship,

or indicate support,
attraction, affection.

In this context, I must assume

that your intention
was to express support.

You don't understand human behavior.

That is an understatement.

Sometimes I don't either.
Androids are a lot more rational.

That quality has not helped me
to accomplish my mission.

A rational argument
isn't always enough.

Maybe, to be more persuasive,
you should use reverse psychology.

Elicit a desired behavior
by advocating its opposite.

That implies deception.

A little. But if it helps us
get our point across...

Perhaps this is a situation where
excessive honesty can be detrimental.

Are we progressing?

- About like you'd expect, sir.
- Splendid! Carry on.

He wants the impossible.

That's the short definition
of "Captain".

You all know the android
from Starfleet,

and you've been discussing
why he's come.

I called this meeting

to replace misinformation
with cold hard fact.

- I wish to speak.
- No. Leave now.

Is your position so weak
that it cannot withstand debate?

Let him speak.

You all know of the Sheliak threat.

Starfleet wishes to evacuate you
for your own protection.

Yet Gosheven has decided otherwise.

That is his right.

I will not waste time
trying to reverse that decision.

I admire your conviction
in the face of certain defeat.

Though doomed,
your effort will be valiant.

And when you die, you will die
for land and for honor.

Your children will understand that
they are dying for a worthy cause.

Long after the battle is over,

their courage
will be remembered and extolled.

Remembered by who?

Yes, that is true.

There will be no one left alive
to remember.

A valiant try, android.

But what a low opinion
you must have of us.

I wanted to describe
your destruction

in a manner with an emotional effect.

He describes it pretty damn well.

Are you ready to follow this
machine? Give up without a fight?

He says we're going to lose.
That's his cowardice talking.

What if he's right? Shouldn't we
consider that possibility?

This colony exists because
generations gave their lives for it.

Many died before we could adapt
to the radiation.

Many more died
bringing water to this desert.

- My grandfather...
...is buried on that mountain.

Who'll be left to bury you?

Have you considered
what this evacuation means?

Everything we have, we abandon.

Everything that we have built
turns to dust.

Everything that we have accomplished
means nothing. I say no.

You elected me your leader.
Follow me now.

I don't think our chances
are as hopeless as he says.

And I'm willing
to stake our lives on it.

Any objections?

Good.

Because here we stand.

- Aye.
- We stand with you.

Then here you die.

Mr Data, I want you to know that
Gosheven doesn't speak for all of us.

I see no reason to die needlessly.

And you?

I'm not sure.
Gosheven's done well for us.

But I want to hear more
of what you have to say.

Others feel the same,

but they are uneasy
about confronting Gosheven.

Get them together
and we'll meet at my house.

With other non-humanoid races,

there's always been
some point of reference.

Not so with the Sheliak.

We must have something in common.
We communicate.

Barely. They have learnt
several Federation languages,

but theirs continues to elude us.

- Telepaths.
- Attempted and failed.

Actually,
the fact that any alien race

communicates with another
is quite remarkable.

We are stranded on a planet.

We have no language in common,
but I want to teach you mine.

- S'marith. What did I just say?
- Cup?

- Glass?
- Are you sure?

I may have meant
liquid, clear, brown, hot.

We conceptualize the universe
in relatively the same way.

Point taken.

In your talks,
you must be extremely accurate.

The treaty is 500,000 words.

The length was to accommodate
the Sheliak.

They consider our language irrational

and wanted this level of complexity
to avoid future misunderstandings.

Captain, we have the vessel
carrying the Sheliak on visual.

On my way.

So, it begins.

- Hailing frequencies.
- Open.

This is Capt Jean-Luc Picard
of the Starship Enterprise.

Your purpose, Enterprise?

We desire face-to-face negotiations
to settle the crisis on Tau Cygna V.

Meaningless.

We're entitled to consultation under
paragraph 653, subparagraph nine.

Granted.

- Was that an invitation?
- I am taking it as such. Counselor.

You have the bridge, Number One.

Helm, maintain relative position.

Mr Worf, tell transporter room two
to stand by.

Aye, sir.

Once the Federation resettles us,
we'll be left alone?

If you so desire.

We do.
We like to do things on our own.

The Federation will offer as little
or as much help as you want.

Kentor, are you with us?

Yes. The question is
how do we convince Gosheven?

Why do we need to?

He's respected.
Most people will do what he says.

They respect you, too. If you take
a stand, they'll fall in line.

I don't know. Gosheven's
got a lot of supporters.

Don't forget that.

I'm disappointed.
I thought we'd settled this.

Apparently, that is not correct.

Still stirring up trouble?

Since when is talk trouble?

It's over. Don't you get it?

You had your say. You lost.

I appear to be reversing that defeat.

No, you're not.

You're just stubborn.
Well, let me tell you something.

- So am I.
- Damn you, Gosheven!

- You killed him!
- I killed no one.

I merely shut down a machine.

That's it, everyone.
It's time to go home.

You'll see that I'm right.

Advance and speak.

Director...

...we will comply with your request

to remove the colony
from Tau Cygna V,

but we need time.

The given time has elapsed.

We carry the membership.

We will proceed
with their debarkation.

The temporary presence of humans
won't interfere with your plans.

Unacceptable.
You must remove the creatures.

I'm trying, but the ship
isn't available for three weeks.

Then you are in violation.

I have admitted that.

I am only asking
for a little flexibility.

Section 501, paragraph 7 1 6,
subparagraph five.

"Unwanted life forms
inhabiting H-Class worlds

may be removed at the discretion
of the Sheliak Corporate."

We will remove them, but you must
grant us the time we require.

You need time, Picard?
We will save you time.

We will eradicate
the human infestation.

They are not vermin!
I will not permit this outrage.

Intelligent converse is impossible.
You do not discuss. You gibber.

Between intelligent species
of goodwill...

I take it the Sheliak
just hung up on us again.

I was afraid your neural pathways
were scrambled.

I have diagnostic circuits

and am able
to correct many malfunctions.

I'm not surprised at Gosheven.

But Kentor and the others
said they were with us.

I guess words don't mean much.

Perhaps that is our difficulty.
Words are all we have been using.

Humans seem to take
much stronger notice of actions.

I require a phaser.

- What's a phaser?
- A type of weapon.

Unfortunately, it does not function
around hyperonic radiation.

I will have to be innovative.

Hyperonic radiation
randomizes phaser beams.

I think I can improvise
a circuit which will compensate

by continuously
recollimating the output.

You're using your own neural
processors to build a smarter phaser.

Essentially correct.

Get word to Gosheven.

Tell him I am coming
to the pumping station.

Tell him I am going
to destroy the aqueduct.

He'll try and stop you.

I sincerely hope so.

- Go to yellow alert. Shields up.
- Aye, sir.

Riker, keep close to the Sheliak
vessel. Match any move she makes.

- Aye, sir.
- Mr Worf, hailing frequency.

Open.

They are not responding.

They don't have to answer.
They just have to listen.

Sheliak vessel,
you will have to get past me

to get at the colony on Tau Cygna V.

- No response.
- Close channel.

Get me that treaty.

They've beat us over the head
with it for three days.

Let's find something in it that
we can turn to our own advantage.

Stop!

That was the stun setting.

This is not.

I can reduce this pumping station
to a pile of debris,

but I trust my point is clear.

I am but one android
with a single weapon.

There are hundreds
of Sheliak on the way.

Their weapons are far more powerful.

They may not offer you a target.

They can obliterate you from orbit.

You will die never having seen
the faces of your killers.

The choice is yours.

There are other places,
other challenges.

Yes, listen to Kentor.

I really was willing
to stay here and die for this.

I know that.

This is just a thing,
and things can be replaced.

Lives cannot.

This is hopeless.

Fighting would be preferable.

- That's it.
- I don't follow you, sir.

- Mr Worf, get me the Sheliak.
- Yes, sir.

Coming through, sir.

Pursuant to paragraph 1,290,

I hereby request third-party
arbitration of our dispute.

You have the right.

Furthermore,
pursuant to subsection D3,

- I name the Grisellas to arbitrate.
- Grisellas?

Unfortunately,
they are hibernating now.

They'll awaken in six months,
at which time we can settle this.

Now, do you want to wait
or give me my three weeks?

Absurd. We carry the membership.
We can brook no delay.

Then I hereby declare this treaty
in abeyance.

Wait! Negotiation is permiss...

- You enjoyed that.
- You're damned right.

Captain, they are hailing us.

Sir?

On screen.

You may have your three weeks,
Picard of the Enterprise.

Thank you.

Captain, we can do it.
We can modify the transporters.

Excellent.

It'll take 15 years
and 1 00 researchers.

Mr La Forge, I believe
we will postpone.

Yes, sir.

Lt Cmdr Data to Enterprise.

I am about to leave Tau Cygna V
and await rendezvous instructions.

Acknowledged. Stand by.

Hi. The evacuation plan
is going well.

When the ship arrives, we'll be
ready to leave. You succeeded.

I only succeeded
with your support and insight.

- I am grateful for your assistance.
- Good.

- Then you won't forget me.
- I am incapable of forgetting.

I will remember every detail
of my visit with perfect clarity.

But nothing more?

I do not understand.

I guess what
I really want to know is...

...do you have any feelings for me?

I have no feelings of any kind.

No, of course you don't.

What was that for?

You appeared to need it.

So you saw that I was unhappy

and did what you concluded

would make me feel better?

Rational to the last.

Bye.

Come.

- Welcome home. Well done.
- Thank you, sir.

The good Doctor provided me
with a recording of your concert.

Your performance shows... feeling.

As I have recently reminded others,
sir, I have no feeling.

It's hard to believe.
Your playing is quite beautiful.

Strictly speaking, sir,
it is not my playing.

It is a precise imitation of
Jascha Heifetz and Trenka Bronkin.

Is there nothing of Data
in what I'm hearing?

You see, you chose the violinists.

Heifetz and Bronkin have radically
different styles and techniques,

yet you combined them successfully.

I suppose I have learned
to be creative, sir.

When necessary.

Mr Data, I look forward
to your next concert.