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The Enemy (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

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"The Enemy (Star Trek: The Next Generation)"

"The Enemy" is the 55th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the seventh episode of the third season. It was first broadcast on November 6, 1989.

In this episode, the Chief Engineer of the Federation Starfleet starship USS Enterprise , Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge is trapped on a life-threatening planet with a Romulan. The two adversaries must work together if they wish to survive. Meanwhile, on board the Enterprise, Chief of Security Lt. Worf is faced with a conflict between his duty as a Starfleet officer and his prejudice against Romulans.

Plot

First Officer Commander William Riker, Worf, and Geordi La Forge beam to a planet with such a stormy environment that a locator beacon must be used to recover them. Worf discovers that due to electromagnetic interference, the communicators are not functioning and tricorders have a range of 5 meters. The three search for something, which La Forge locates using his VISOR. Their target turns out to be a spacecraft. Worf finds a Romulan who recovers to grip the Klingon, but Worf knocks his assailant unconscious. Meanwhile, as La Forge searches, the ground gives way, plunging him into a cavity. When Riker and Worf return to the beam-out location with the Romulan, La Forge is nowhere to be seen.

Aboard the Enterprise, in voice-over, Captain Jean-Luc Picard states in his Captain's Log that a distress signal led them to the ship on Galorndon Core.

La Forge uses his phaser to melt fragments into stakes, which he employs to climb out of the hole.

In sick bay, Beverly Crusher attempts to treat the Romulan and discovers that he needs a transplant of ribosomes.

Returning to the bridge, Picard initiates a discussion for the recovery of La Forge. Helmsman Wesley Crusher suggests sending a neutrino pulse device to the planet in a probe; the neutrino beams will be visible to La Forge's VISOR.

Data picks up a transmission. Romulan Commander Tomalak is responding to the original distress call, telling his fellow Romulans that he is entering the Neutral Zone.

Picard responds. Tomalak expects Picard to rendezvous with him on the Federation edge of the Neutral Zone.

In sick bay, the injured humanoid is not responding to treatment.

La Forge spots the neutrino beacon. However, he is hit by a second Romulan.

La Forge wakes up to find that he is being menaced by a Romulan disruptor pistol.

Dr. Crusher summons Worf to inform him that he's the only person on the ship who is a compatible ribosome match for the Romulan. Worf refuses to donate the tissue. Dr. Crusher tries to tell him that without treatment the Romulan will die. Worf replies “then he will die”.

Back on Galorndon Core, the Romulan introduces himself as Bochra. La Forge begins to have problems with the interface of his VISOR, and realizes that the planet has a deleterious effect on their nervous systems.

Picard receives a call from Tomalak, demanding to know why the Enterprise isn't waiting at the edge of the Neutral Zone. Picard explains that he has not been able to recover his away team from the planet.

La Forge's VISOR cuts out, leaving him unable to lead Bochra to the probe.

Tomalak's Warbird has entered Federation space. Picard orders Red Alert. Worf tells the Romulan that he has biological factors needed by the Romulan to survive, but the Romulan tells him that "he would rather die than be polluted by Klingon filth".

Bochra suggests that La Forge's VISOR and tricorder could be adapted to interface together. La Forge replies that the two instruments aren't designed to speak the same communications protocol language. La Forge realizes the Romulan's idea has merit; what Bochra suggests would create a "Geiger counter" for neutrino emissions, giving the bearing to the beacon. La Forge has no chance of completing the work since he can't see, but Bochra volunteers to assist him.

Picard calls Worf to his ready room. Saying that the Romulan officer is worth more to them alive than dead, he begs Worf to volunteer for the transfusion. Worf continues to refuse. Picard calls Dr. Crusher, but she replies that her patient has perished.

Bochra completes the modifications to the VISOR and tricorder, resulting in, as La Forge puts it, "The first Romulan / Federation co-venture".

Tomalak's Warbird arrives and demands the return of his officer. Picard replies that the man is dead. Tomalak prepares for battle. Wesley reports that the beacon has started to modulate. Data adds that there are two life-forms. Picard opens a channel to Tomalak; telling him that the Enterprise has located a second Romulan on the planet. Picard tells Tomalak that he is going to drop his shields to beam the two aboard, and has Miles O'Brien beam them to the Bridge.

Picard's bit of brinkmanship is successful and Tomalak powers down his weaponry. Picard returns Bochra to his people and provides the Romulan ship with an escort back to the Neutral Zone.

References

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