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Peak Performance (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Peak Performance" is an episode from the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
is ordered by Starfleet Command
to take part in a combat practice simulation in preparation for the Borg
threat. Both Captain Picard
and Commander Riker
are reluctant to participate, citing Starfleet
's traditional role as an exploratory and paramilitary organization, not an actual military. Nevertheless, they follow the orders. A Zakdorn strategist named Sirma Kolrami (played by Roy Brocksmith
) is sent to the Enterprise-D to serve as tactical consultant and overseer of the simulation. Kolrami's severe condescension toward the crew is only made stronger when he easily beats Riker and Lieutenant Commander Data
at Strategema. Data becomes convinced he is malfunctioning, but his crewmates realize he is in fact experiencing a crisis of confidence, a very human response.
The simulation consists of a battle between the Enterprise-D and an 80-year-old Federation
ship called the USS Hathaway, which is in orbit around a nearby planet in the Braslota system. The crew of the Enterprise-D is split: Captain Picard, Lieutenant Commander Data, Doctor Pulaski
and Counselor Troi
stay on the Enterprise-D, while Commander Riker, Lieutenant La Forge
, Lieutenant Worf
and Ensign Wesley Crusher
go aboard the Hathaway. Each ship will try its best to disable the other, although for the purpose of practice, they are using simulated phasers instead of real ones.
The Hathaway, clearly technologically obsolete, is completely out of antimatter
, making warp drive
impossible. However, Wesley Crusher pretends to have left an experiment running on the Enterprise-D, and temporarily beams back to shut it down. He beams the experiment, containing antimatter, to the Hathaway. This allows them Warp 1 for two seconds.
As the battle begins, Riker allows Worf to use a trick he designed. The Hathaway disrupts the Enterprise-Ds sensors, causing them to see a fake image of a Romulan
warship that is supposedly attacking them. While the Enterprise-D turns to face the fake Romulan ship, the Hathaway scores a direct hit on them.
However, the simulation is abruptly cut short by an attack by a real foreign enemy: the Ferengi
warship Kreechta under the command of DaiMon Bractor (Armin Shimerman
). Believing the Kreechta' s approach to be another of Worf's feints, Picard initially ignores it. However, the resulting Ferengi attack on the Enterprise-D locks the Federation ship's weapons into the harmless war-games mode, leaving it defenseless.
The Ferengi had seen two Federation ships fighting each other, noticed that the fight was hopelessly mismatched as one ship was far superior to the other, and thus deduced that the smaller, older ship must contain something very valuable. Being Ferengi, they want to have this valuable thing for themselves. The Ferengi threaten to destroy the Enterprise if it is not turned over to them.
Of course, giving in to the Ferengi's demands isn't an option because there is nothing valuable on board the Hathaway, and the Ferengi probably would not have simply withdrawn had Picard admitted to the simulation. So Picard and Riker agree to a cunning plan: The Enterprise-D fires photon torpedoes at the Hathaway, but an instant before they hit, the Hathaway goes to warp speed (thanks to Wesley Crusher's antimatter). This works, causing the Ferengi to think the Hathaway was destroyed. They then prepare to destroy the Enterprise-D, but Worf uses his sensor trick again, causing the Kreechta to see a fake Federation starship. Thinking they're outnumbered, the Ferengi escape to save their lives.
The simulation over, Data challenges Kolrami to a Strategema rematch. However, this time, he alters his strategy by playing to a draw instead of playing to win. The game continues for a considerable length of time until finally Kolrami, frustrated at Data's apparent stalling, quits the game in disgust - to the delight of the Enterprise crew.
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...
.
Plot
The USS Enterprise-DUSS 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...
is ordered by Starfleet Command
Starfleet Command
Starfleet Command may refer to:*Starfleet Command, headquarters/command center of Starfleet in Star Trek.*Star Trek: Starfleet Command, a space battle simulation game set in the Star Trek universe....
to take part in a combat practice simulation in preparation for the Borg
Borg (Star Trek)
The Borg are a fictional pseudo-race of cybernetic organisms depicted in the Star Trek universe associated with Star Trek.Whereas cybernetics are used by other races in the science fiction world to repair bodily damage and birth defects, the Borg use enforced cybernetic enhancement as a means of...
threat. Both Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
and Commander Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
are reluctant to participate, citing 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...
's traditional role as an exploratory and paramilitary organization, not an actual military. Nevertheless, they follow the orders. A Zakdorn strategist named Sirma Kolrami (played by Roy Brocksmith
Roy Brocksmith
-Biography:Brocksmith was born in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Vera Marguerite and Otis E. Brocksmith, who was a mechanic. He graduated from Quincy University in 1970. He then moved to New York City where he began a career on Broadway...
) is sent to the Enterprise-D to serve as tactical consultant and overseer of the simulation. Kolrami's severe condescension toward the crew is only made stronger when he easily beats Riker and Lieutenant Commander Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
at Strategema. Data becomes convinced he is malfunctioning, but his crewmates realize he is in fact experiencing a crisis of confidence, a very human response.
The simulation consists of a battle between the Enterprise-D and an 80-year-old 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...
ship called the USS Hathaway, which is in orbit around a nearby planet in the Braslota system. The crew of the Enterprise-D is split: Captain Picard, Lieutenant Commander Data, Doctor Pulaski
Katherine Pulaski
Commander Katherine Pulaski, MD; played by Diana Muldaur, is the replacement chief medical officer for Dr. Beverly Crusher during the second season of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.-Overview:...
and Counselor Troi
Deanna 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...
stay on the Enterprise-D, while Commander Riker, Lieutenant La Forge
Geordi La Forge
Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge is a regular character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its feature films, played by LeVar Burton...
, Lieutenant Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
and Ensign Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
go aboard the Hathaway. Each ship will try its best to disable the other, although for the purpose of practice, they are using simulated phasers instead of real ones.
The Hathaway, clearly technologically obsolete, is completely out of antimatter
Antimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
, making warp drive
Warp drive (Star Trek)
Warp drive is a faster-than-light propulsion system in the setting of many science fiction works, most notably Star Trek. A spacecraft equipped with a warp drive may travel at velocities greater than that of light by many orders of magnitude, while circumventing the relativistic problem of time...
impossible. However, Wesley Crusher pretends to have left an experiment running on the Enterprise-D, and temporarily beams back to shut it down. He beams the experiment, containing antimatter, to the Hathaway. This allows them Warp 1 for two seconds.
As the battle begins, Riker allows Worf to use a trick he designed. The Hathaway disrupts the Enterprise-Ds sensors, causing them to see a fake image of a 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...
warship that is supposedly attacking them. While the Enterprise-D turns to face the fake Romulan ship, the Hathaway scores a direct hit on them.
However, the simulation is abruptly cut short by an attack by a real foreign enemy: the Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
warship Kreechta under the command of DaiMon Bractor (Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman is an American actor. Shimerman is best known for playing the Ferengi bartender Quark in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Principal Snyder in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kramer's caddy Stan on Seinfeld, voicing Dr. Nefarious in the Ratchet & Clank series, and Andrew...
). Believing the Kreechta
The Ferengi had seen two Federation ships fighting each other, noticed that the fight was hopelessly mismatched as one ship was far superior to the other, and thus deduced that the smaller, older ship must contain something very valuable. Being Ferengi, they want to have this valuable thing for themselves. The Ferengi threaten to destroy the Enterprise if it is not turned over to them.
Of course, giving in to the Ferengi's demands isn't an option because there is nothing valuable on board the Hathaway, and the Ferengi probably would not have simply withdrawn had Picard admitted to the simulation. So Picard and Riker agree to a cunning plan: The Enterprise-D fires photon torpedoes at the Hathaway, but an instant before they hit, the Hathaway goes to warp speed (thanks to Wesley Crusher's antimatter). This works, causing the Ferengi to think the Hathaway was destroyed. They then prepare to destroy the Enterprise-D, but Worf uses his sensor trick again, causing the Kreechta to see a fake Federation starship. Thinking they're outnumbered, the Ferengi escape to save their lives.
The simulation over, Data challenges Kolrami to a Strategema rematch. However, this time, he alters his strategy by playing to a draw instead of playing to win. The game continues for a considerable length of time until finally Kolrami, frustrated at Data's apparent stalling, quits the game in disgust - to the delight of the Enterprise crew.