"The Ensigns of Command" (Star Trek: The Next Generation #50)

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The Ensigns of Command
Stardate 43133.3
Star Trek: The Next Generation, episode 50 (3.2)

Last Modified: 28 Jun 2006 13:30:03


Cast:
Patrick Stewart	IMDB	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	IMDB	Commander William T. Riker
Levar Burton	IMDB	Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	IMDB	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	IMDB	Commander Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	IMDB	Lt. Commander Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	IMDB	Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton	IMDB	Wesley Crusher
Guest Cast:
Eileen Seeley	IMDB	Ard'rian MacKenzie
Granger Hines	IMDB	Gosheven
Mark L. Taylor	IMDB	Haritath
Richard Allen	IMDB	Kentor
Colm Meaney	IMDB	Miles Edward O'Brien
Mart McChesney	IMDB	Sheliak
Music:
Dennis McCarthy	IMDB
Director:
Cliff Bole	IMDB
Author:
Melinda M. Snodgrass	IMDB
Published
Laser Disc	ST:TNG LaserDisc Volume 25
DVD	ST:TNG DVD 3.1
VHS	ST:TNG VHS 3.1
Teaser
The Next Generation Teaser #050: The Ensigns of Command

Data races against time to save a human colony that's been marked for extermination by hostile aliens.

Synopsis

The U.S.S. Enterprise receives a message from the Sheliak, who order the crew to remove all humans from the planet Tau Cygna V. According to a Federation treaty, the planet belongs to the alien race, who want to take control of their property and have given the crew four days to evacuate the men and women now living there. If the U.S.S. Enterprise does not complete the task, the Sheliak will kill all of the humans, whom they consider "vermin."

Due to the high level of radiation on Tau Cygna V, which the colonists have adapted to over several generations, Data is the only crew member capable of surviving the mission. After Riker speculates that there should be about a dozen humans there, Picard sends the android down to the planet to commence evacuation procedures. But the matter is complicated by Data's reports that 15,000 colonists are living on Tau Cygna V and Worf's estimate that transporting them off the planet will take several weeks, far longer than the Sheliak ultimatum.

What's worse, Data meets resistance to the evacuation plan from Gosheven, the leader of the colony, who refuses to abandon the planet. While Data tries to change Gosheven's mind, Picard's pleas for additional time from the Sheliak, who stick to every word of their 500,000 word treaty, are flatly refused.

While a stirring speech by Data convinces some colonists to revolt against Gosheven, Picard buys time when he finds a clause in the treaty that allows him to demand third party arbitration of the evacuation dispute. He deliberately chooses a race in hibernation for six months, which forces the Sheliak's hand and they agree to give Picard three weeks to relocate the colonists.
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