The Pegasus (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
 | This article consists almost entirely of a plot summary. (March 2010) |
| "The Pegasus (Star Trek: The Next Generation)" |
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"The Pegasus" is the 164th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the 12th episode of the show's seventh season. It was first broadcast on January 10, 1994.
In this episode, the Federation Starfleet Starship USS Enterprise-D crew attempts to recover the Pegasus, a Federation ship possibly containing experimental technology of vital strategic importance, and the first assignment of Enterprise first officer Commander William Riker. This episode explains why Starfleet has never developed cloaking technology.
Divided loyalties between Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Riker's former commander torment the first officer, while decisions made twelve years earlier return to haunt him. In a later retcon, this becomes the frame story for the Star Trek: Enterprise series finale "These Are the Voyages...", told via the USS Enterprise-D holodeck.
Plot
The Enterprise is ordered on a priority mission to collect a member of Starfleet Intelligence, Admiral Eric Pressman, former Captain of the USS Pegasus where Will Riker first served on after graduating from Starfleet Academy. Pressman informs Jean-Luc Picard and Riker that intelligence has located the Pegasus in the Devolin system near the Romulan Zone. Though presumed destroyed, Pressman orders the Enterprise to either recover the ship's remains or destroy them to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Romulans. In private, Riker attempts to discuss the events aboard the Pegasus's last mission and questions Pressman's intentions, but Pressman instructed Riker to remain silent until the current mission is completed. When Picard later questions Riker on his version of events on the Pegasus, Riker admits to Pressman's instructions; Picard respects Riker's silence but cautions that if it puts the Enterprise in danger, he may need to relieve Riker of command.
In the Devlin system, the Enterprise encounters a Romulan Warbird, clearly searching for the Pegasus as well. Picard and Sirol, the Romulan captain, acknowledge the others' presence, creating a tense situation. Though the Enterprise sensors locate the Pegasus buried in a large fissure in an asteroid, Picard orders them to move on to lure the Romulans away. With the Romulans distracted, the Enterprise returns, enters the fissure in the asteroid, and finds that the Pegasus is partially fused with the asteroid. Pressman and Riker transport to the Pegasus, and recover an experimental device that the ship was equipped with which Riker thought was destroyed. Riker expresses his distrust and his concerns for withholding information from Picard, but Pressman reminds him of his rank. They quickly return to the Enterprise when they learn the Romulans have closed the fissure, trapping the Enterprise inside.
Sirol refuses to open the fissure, and instead gives Picard and his crew the option of taking asylum aboard the Warbird; this would allow both the Enterprise and the Pegasus to be captured by the Romulans. Riker proposes a solution using the device they took from the Pegasus—a phase-shifting Federation cloaking device that would allow them to travel through the solid matter of the asteroid and escape. Pressman is furious at the breaking of Riker's silence, but Picard reprimands Pressman, pointing out that the development of a cloaking device by the Federation is a violation of the Treaty of Algeron. Pressman attempts to take command of the Enterprise, but the crew refuses. Under Picard's orders, the cloaking device is installed on the Enterprise, and used to escape the asteroid. The cloak is dropped in full view of the Romulan ship, and Picard informs Sirol that the Federation will be contacting the Romulan government with regard to the entire incident.
Pressman is arrested and placed in the brig; Riker demands he be arrested as well for his past actions. In the brig, Picard warns Pressman that he will likely face court-martial charges, though Pressman believes he has several allies in Starfleet that will clear him. Picard notes that Riker's record will also be marred by the incident, but he still is proud to have him as a First Officer. Picard releases Riker, and the two leave Pressman to his own thoughts.
Production notes
- Video footage from this episode's scenes in Ten Forward were edited and reincorpoated into the production of the Star Trek: Enterprise episode These Are the Voyages.... New footage of Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes was shot and a portion of the Enterprise-D sets recreated, more than 11 years after the original episode was produced.
References
- Star Trek The Next Generation DVD set, volume 7, disc 3, selection 4.