Face of the Enemy (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Face of the Enemy", is the 140th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
is recruited against her will to assist in the defection of a high-ranking member of the Romulan
government.
awakens in an unfamiliar room, surgically altered to appear Romulan
. Subcommander N'Vek soon enters the room and tells Troi that she is on the Romulan Warbird Khazara and is to masquerade as Major Rakal of the Tal Shiar, the Romulan intelligence service
and secret police
. N'Vek tells her that her assistance is needed, and that her only chance of survival is to listen to him. Troi agrees for the time being and goes to meet the ship's commander, Toreth.
Toreth has an extreme dislike of the Tal Shiar and is unhappy about the clandestine nature of their mission. Troi is initially taken aback by Toreth's constant questioning, but settles into her role as Rakal, threatening Toreth with interrogation
unless she follows orders. Troi informs Toreth that she is to take the Khazara into the Kaleb sector once they have finished loading their cargo, as N'Vek instructed her.
On the Enterprise
, Ensign DeSeve transports on board. DeSeve defected to Romulus
, but returned to the Federation
. While the Federation plans to arrest DeSeve for treason, Picard listens when he says that he is delivering a message from Ambassador Spock. A Corvallen cargo ship will arrive in the Kaleb sector with a cargo that is important to the Federation. He requests that the Enterprise meet it.
On the Khazara, N'Vek shows Troi that the cargo is Romulans in stasis. Vice Proconsul M'ret and two of his aides are defecting to the Federation. N'Vek is providing an underground railroad
for them, which could potentially allow a means for thousands of Romulan dissident
s to escape the Empire. Troi deduces that he works for Ambassador Spock but wonders whether a Romulan might be better suited to the plan. N'Vek insists that a Starfleet
officer may be needed.
The ship meets the Corvallen freighter, but Troi senses that they do not plan to keep their promise to deliver the cargo. N'Vek fires on the freighter, destroying it. When Toreth demands to know why he fired, N'Vek responds that he was obeying Major Rakal's orders. Troi informs Toreth that she identified the freighter captain as a Federation spy. Toreth informs her that she will make an official record of the incident. Troi orders Toreth to cloak the ship and hold position.
The Enterprise, not knowing that N'Vek's plan has failed, does not find the freighter. Picard asks DeSeve what happened but DeSeve does not know. It is determined that the freighter has minimal speed, and cannot be more than fifteen light years away. Picard orders a search.
N'Vek tells Troi that they must go to the Federation starbase on Draken Four, finally revealing why he needed a Starfleet officer: only they can provide the access codes to get into Federation space. Returning to the bridge, Troi informs Toreth about the plan to bring the Khazara into Federation space. Toreth is against the plan, knowing it is dangerous. The crew sets course for Draken Four, but suddenly detect the approaching Enterprise.
Toreth admits that the presence of the Enterprise vindicates Troi's earlier action and that they are obviously looking for their missing spies. She initially decides to leave, but N'Vek cautions that the radiation from the destroyed freighter could make them detectable to the Enterprise if they engage their warp engines. Toreth orders the ship to move clear of the debris field before going to warp.
The Enterprise discovers the remains of the Corvallen ship. Data concludes that the ship was destroyed by Romulans. On the Khazara, Troi tells N'Vek they should get a message to the Enterprise. N'Vek has the chief engineer, a sympathiser, create a small imbalance in the engines that renders the ship detectable.
Furious that her ship is being tracked, Toreth decides she has no option but to attack. DeSeve warns Picard that the Romulan commander may attack if it becomes clear they cannot escape undetected. Toreth orders the ship to move toward the Enterprise, reasoning that if the Federation ship can detect them, they will move to avoid a collision, at which point Toreth will destroy the Enterprise.
The Enterprise backs away when DeSeve can give no explanation for the collision course. Before Toreth can order her crew to attack, Troi relieves her of duty. Troi orders the crew to decloak the ship and open a channel.
The Enterprise responds to the hail and the bridge crew is shocked when Troi appears on the screen but give nothing away. Troi apologises for the incident with the Corvallen ship and offers to beam aboard to sort everything out. Picard acknowledges Troi's offer, and asks Worf to put a transporter lock on Troi and prepare to beam her aboard.
On the Khazara, the crew reports that the Enterprise is lowering its shields. Troi orders N'Vek to fire on the Enterprise. The ship takes a direct hit but suffers no damage. Instead, the three Romulans in stasis appear on the bridge. The crew on the Khazara report that the disruptors were using minimal power and were used to disguise transport
of cargo to the Enterprise. Toreth understands that Troi and N'Vek are traitors. N'Vek reaches for a weapon but is killed by the helmsman. Toreth orders the crew to cloak the ship and set a course for home. She vows to interrogate Troi and possibly execute her, but before she can take action, the Enterprise beams Troi away.
Back on the Enterprise Troi gets her own face back and is reassured by Picard that N'Vek's sacrifice was not in vain.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Overview
Deanna TroiDeanna Troi
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
is recruited against her will to assist in the defection of a high-ranking member of the Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
government.
Plot
Deanna TroiDeanna Troi
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
awakens in an unfamiliar room, surgically altered to appear Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
. Subcommander N'Vek soon enters the room and tells Troi that she is on the Romulan Warbird Khazara and is to masquerade as Major Rakal of the Tal Shiar, the Romulan intelligence service
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
and secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
. N'Vek tells her that her assistance is needed, and that her only chance of survival is to listen to him. Troi agrees for the time being and goes to meet the ship's commander, Toreth.
Toreth has an extreme dislike of the Tal Shiar and is unhappy about the clandestine nature of their mission. Troi is initially taken aback by Toreth's constant questioning, but settles into her role as Rakal, threatening Toreth with interrogation
Interrogation
Interrogation is interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the police, military, and Intelligence agencies with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information. Subjects of interrogation are often the suspects, victims, or witnesses of a crime...
unless she follows orders. Troi informs Toreth that she is to take the Khazara into the Kaleb sector once they have finished loading their cargo, as N'Vek instructed her.
On the Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
, Ensign DeSeve transports on board. DeSeve defected to Romulus
Romulus
- People:* Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome* Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor* Valerius Romulus , deified son of the Roman emperor Maxentius* Romulus , son of the Western Roman emperor Anthemius...
, but returned to the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
. While the Federation plans to arrest DeSeve for treason, Picard listens when he says that he is delivering a message from Ambassador Spock. A Corvallen cargo ship will arrive in the Kaleb sector with a cargo that is important to the Federation. He requests that the Enterprise meet it.
On the Khazara, N'Vek shows Troi that the cargo is Romulans in stasis. Vice Proconsul M'ret and two of his aides are defecting to the Federation. N'Vek is providing an underground railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
for them, which could potentially allow a means for thousands of Romulan dissident
Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
s to escape the Empire. Troi deduces that he works for Ambassador Spock but wonders whether a Romulan might be better suited to the plan. N'Vek insists that a Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
officer may be needed.
The ship meets the Corvallen freighter, but Troi senses that they do not plan to keep their promise to deliver the cargo. N'Vek fires on the freighter, destroying it. When Toreth demands to know why he fired, N'Vek responds that he was obeying Major Rakal's orders. Troi informs Toreth that she identified the freighter captain as a Federation spy. Toreth informs her that she will make an official record of the incident. Troi orders Toreth to cloak the ship and hold position.
The Enterprise, not knowing that N'Vek's plan has failed, does not find the freighter. Picard asks DeSeve what happened but DeSeve does not know. It is determined that the freighter has minimal speed, and cannot be more than fifteen light years away. Picard orders a search.
N'Vek tells Troi that they must go to the Federation starbase on Draken Four, finally revealing why he needed a Starfleet officer: only they can provide the access codes to get into Federation space. Returning to the bridge, Troi informs Toreth about the plan to bring the Khazara into Federation space. Toreth is against the plan, knowing it is dangerous. The crew sets course for Draken Four, but suddenly detect the approaching Enterprise.
Toreth admits that the presence of the Enterprise vindicates Troi's earlier action and that they are obviously looking for their missing spies. She initially decides to leave, but N'Vek cautions that the radiation from the destroyed freighter could make them detectable to the Enterprise if they engage their warp engines. Toreth orders the ship to move clear of the debris field before going to warp.
The Enterprise discovers the remains of the Corvallen ship. Data concludes that the ship was destroyed by Romulans. On the Khazara, Troi tells N'Vek they should get a message to the Enterprise. N'Vek has the chief engineer, a sympathiser, create a small imbalance in the engines that renders the ship detectable.
Furious that her ship is being tracked, Toreth decides she has no option but to attack. DeSeve warns Picard that the Romulan commander may attack if it becomes clear they cannot escape undetected. Toreth orders the ship to move toward the Enterprise, reasoning that if the Federation ship can detect them, they will move to avoid a collision, at which point Toreth will destroy the Enterprise.
The Enterprise backs away when DeSeve can give no explanation for the collision course. Before Toreth can order her crew to attack, Troi relieves her of duty. Troi orders the crew to decloak the ship and open a channel.
The Enterprise responds to the hail and the bridge crew is shocked when Troi appears on the screen but give nothing away. Troi apologises for the incident with the Corvallen ship and offers to beam aboard to sort everything out. Picard acknowledges Troi's offer, and asks Worf to put a transporter lock on Troi and prepare to beam her aboard.
On the Khazara, the crew reports that the Enterprise is lowering its shields. Troi orders N'Vek to fire on the Enterprise. The ship takes a direct hit but suffers no damage. Instead, the three Romulans in stasis appear on the bridge. The crew on the Khazara report that the disruptors were using minimal power and were used to disguise transport
Transporter (Star Trek)
A transporter is a fictional teleportation machine used in the Star Trek universe. Transporters convert a person or object into an energy pattern , then "beam" it to a target, where it is reconverted into matter...
of cargo to the Enterprise. Toreth understands that Troi and N'Vek are traitors. N'Vek reaches for a weapon but is killed by the helmsman. Toreth orders the crew to cloak the ship and set a course for home. She vows to interrogate Troi and possibly execute her, but before she can take action, the Enterprise beams Troi away.
Back on the Enterprise Troi gets her own face back and is reassured by Picard that N'Vek's sacrifice was not in vain.
External links
- Good Troi Episode at the TV Tropes Wiki