"The Neutral Zone" is the 26th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.
[edit] Overview
A derelict ancient Earth satellite is found with cryonically frozen humans aboard as the USS Enterprise is sent to investigate the destruction of outposts near Romulan space.
While Captain Picard is away at an emergency Federation conference, the Enterprise crew discovers an ancient space capsule from Earth. Inside they find twelve cryonic chambers occupied by humans, only three of whom survive. Data offers to move the survivors to the Enterprise and Commander Riker agrees.
Picard returns and orders the Enterprise to the Neutral Zone, as several Federation outposts nearby have not responded to communications. He explains that the conference was about the potential threat of the Romulans, docile for the last several decades on the other side of the Zone. As Data and Dr. Crusher work to thaw the cryonic survivors, Picard admonishes Riker and Data for bringing them aboard during a crucial time, and puts Riker in charge of them.
The three humans—Claire Raymond, a homemaker; Ralph Offenhouse, a financier; and L. Q. "Sonny" Clemmons, a musician—are from the late 20th Century. All had "died" of incurable illnesses. They were placed in cryogenic suspension after their death in the hope that a cure might be found in the future. Dr. Crusher, in reviving them, successfully cures them of their illnesses. They deal with the culture shock of awakening in a distant future, while Councilor Troi and Data search for their living descendants. Offenhouse is irritated by the loss of his wealth, and lack of access to news or other information. He demands to see Captain Picard. Picard assures him that all questions will be answered "in good time", but that their current situation is very tense and requires Picard's full attention.
The Enterprise reaches the Neutral Zone and confirms that the outposts have been destroyed. They are soon met by a Romulan Warbird, whose Captain questions why the Enterprise is near the Neutral Zone. As Picard tries to explain his actions, Offenhouse arrives on the bridge and threatens to disrupt the tense situation. Picard determines that the Romulans have also lost outposts near the Zone, and that the evidence suggests that the Federation cannot be responsible. Picard and the Romulan Captain agree to pool their resources to discover the culprit. Picard later comments that while the encounter went favorably, the Romulans may be a significant threat in future engagements. Picard arranges to transport the 20th Century humans to Earth, where one of Raymond's descendants lives. Clemmons expresses enthusiasm for the future, but Offenhouse has no idea what to do without money. Picard encourages him "...To improve yourself. To enrich yourself. Enjoy it."
- Ralph Offenhouse appears in several novels, set both before his appearance here (such as Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars Volume 1, in which Claire Raymond also receives a mention) and Debtors' Planet set after the episode's events, in which it is revealed that after Offenhouse returns to Earth, he becomes active in Federation politics, first serving as ambassador to the Ferengi and then becoming the Federation's Secretary of Commerce.
- Roger C. Carmel was to appear in this episode as Harry Mudd, but died before filming could commence. The episode was then rewritten and the character of Ralph Offenhouse was created to replace Mudd. [1]
- This episode was originally meant to introduce a reference to the Borg (it was the Borg who destroyed both outposts) created by staff writer and staff producer Maurice Hurley.
- This is the first episode to include the Romulans since the original series. The Romulans appear significantly different from their original appearance identical to Vulcans: they now appear with raised brows on their foreheads as well as the original series pointed ears. No explanation has as yet been forthcoming.
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