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The High Ground (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"The High Ground" is the 60th episode of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
starship
USS Enterprise-D
is taken hostage by terrorists who hope Federation involvement will help them win concessions for their cause.
attempts to tend to the wounded against Captain Picard
's orders to return to the ship, but her efforts are interrupted when she is abducted by a man using an unknown method of teleportation. Picard and the crew learn from the head of Rutian security, Alexana Devos, that the bomb and Crusher's abduction were by the Ansata separatist rebels who seek to become independent of Rutian rule, and will likely use Crusher as a hostage. After being denied the use of the Enterprises superior firepower to seek and destroy the Ansata's base of operations, Devos orders severe interrogation of all known Ansata sympathizers, an act that the Enterprise crew find immoral. Without new information from Devos, the Enterprise crew investigate the teleportation technology and find that it is used to shift between dimension
, allowing the Ansata rebels to surpass even force fields, and that if they are able to observe the teleportation, they will be able to pinpoint the location of the base. Wesley
takes an active part in the analysis in order to help save his mother.
At the Ansata base, Crusher learns her abductor is Kyril Finn, the leader of Ansata. Crusher follows the Starfleet
protocol of taking the "higher ground", and refuses to eat or otherwise cooperate with Finn. After several hours, Finn lets Crusher out of her restraints and requests that she help treat their wounded. Crusher discovers that the "Inverters", the Ansata teleportation technology, cause irreversible damage to the user's DNA
, and that many of Ansata's sick are due to excessive use of the Inverter. Finn admits that the Inverter is their only weapon against the Rutian government. After more hours pass, Finn believes the Federation to be working with the Rutian government and launches an attack on the Enterprise, despite Crusher's requests to avoid harming her son. Ansata manage to plant a bomb on the Enterprise warp engine. It is quickly transported into space by La Forge
, but the distraction is enough to allow Ansata to appear on the bridge and abduct Captain Picard. With Picard as his captive, Finn uses the Inverter to come to Troi
on the Enterprise and demand the Federation become involved in mediating the dispute, returning to the planet before security can arrive. Picard, learning of Crusher's situation, tells her to continue to work on gaining Finn's confidence to hopefully end the dispute peacefully.
Data
and Wesley are able to use Finn's appearance to locate the Ansata, and Riker
and Devos assemble their forces. After they transport into the base, the combined forces are quickly able to quell the resistance. Finn, as a last resort, attempts to execute Picard, but Devos kills him, believing that if Finn remained alive his imprisonment would spark more resistance while being killed in battle may elevate him to a martyr
and reduce the violence in the short-term. When a young Ansata member attempts to extract revenge on Devos, Crusher is able to convince him to drop his weapon, which Riker notes is a sign that there may be more fruitful discussions to resolve the issue in the future. The Enterprise crew returns to the ship, and Crusher reunites with her son, thanking him for his efforts in rescuing her.
in 2024 after a successful terrorist campaign. As a result, this episode was not originally shown on free-to-air television in the United Kingdom
for many years. In the Republic of Ireland
the episode was shown in full with an advisory that the content and allusions were fictional, and initial airings were edited when shown on satellite channel Sky One
. The episode was broadcast unedited in May 2006 on Sky One and finally shown unedited on BBC Two
during the third season's repeats after midnight in September 2007.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
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
In this episode, a crew member of the Federation StarfleetStarfleet
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...
starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
USS Enterprise-D
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...
is taken hostage by terrorists who hope Federation involvement will help them win concessions for their cause.
Plot
As the crew deliver medical supplies to the non-affiliated planet Rutia IV, a bomb goes off in a public plaza, injuring many bystanders. Dr. CrusherBeverly Crusher
Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D. , played by actress Gates McFadden, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent spinoff films...
attempts to tend to the wounded against 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...
's orders to return to the ship, but her efforts are interrupted when she is abducted by a man using an unknown method of teleportation. Picard and the crew learn from the head of Rutian security, Alexana Devos, that the bomb and Crusher's abduction were by the Ansata separatist rebels who seek to become independent of Rutian rule, and will likely use Crusher as a hostage. After being denied the use of the Enterprises superior firepower to seek and destroy the Ansata's base of operations, Devos orders severe interrogation of all known Ansata sympathizers, an act that the Enterprise crew find immoral. Without new information from Devos, the Enterprise crew investigate the teleportation technology and find that it is used to shift between dimension
Hyperspace (science fiction)
Hyperspace is a plot device sometimes used in science fiction. It is typically described as an alternative region of space co-existing with our own universe which may be entered using an energy field or other device...
, allowing the Ansata rebels to surpass even force fields, and that if they are able to observe the teleportation, they will be able to pinpoint the location of the base. Wesley
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...
takes an active part in the analysis in order to help save his mother.
At the Ansata base, Crusher learns her abductor is Kyril Finn, the leader of Ansata. Crusher follows the 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...
protocol of taking the "higher ground", and refuses to eat or otherwise cooperate with Finn. After several hours, Finn lets Crusher out of her restraints and requests that she help treat their wounded. Crusher discovers that the "Inverters", the Ansata teleportation technology, cause irreversible damage to the user's DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
, and that many of Ansata's sick are due to excessive use of the Inverter. Finn admits that the Inverter is their only weapon against the Rutian government. After more hours pass, Finn believes the Federation to be working with the Rutian government and launches an attack on the Enterprise, despite Crusher's requests to avoid harming her son. Ansata manage to plant a bomb on the Enterprise warp engine. It is quickly transported into space by 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...
, but the distraction is enough to allow Ansata to appear on the bridge and abduct Captain Picard. With Picard as his captive, Finn uses the Inverter to come to 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...
on the Enterprise and demand the Federation become involved in mediating the dispute, returning to the planet before security can arrive. Picard, learning of Crusher's situation, tells her to continue to work on gaining Finn's confidence to hopefully end the dispute peacefully.
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...
and Wesley are able to use Finn's appearance to locate the Ansata, and 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...
and Devos assemble their forces. After they transport into the base, the combined forces are quickly able to quell the resistance. Finn, as a last resort, attempts to execute Picard, but Devos kills him, believing that if Finn remained alive his imprisonment would spark more resistance while being killed in battle may elevate him to a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
and reduce the violence in the short-term. When a young Ansata member attempts to extract revenge on Devos, Crusher is able to convince him to drop his weapon, which Riker notes is a sign that there may be more fruitful discussions to resolve the issue in the future. The Enterprise crew returns to the ship, and Crusher reunites with her son, thanking him for his efforts in rescuing her.
Censorship
In his study of terrorism, Data notes that Ireland was unifiedUnited Ireland
A united Ireland is the term used to refer to the idea of a sovereign state which covers all of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. The island of Ireland includes the territory of two independent sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland, which covers 26 counties of the island, and the...
in 2024 after a successful terrorist campaign. As a result, this episode was not originally shown on free-to-air television in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for many years. In the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
the episode was shown in full with an advisory that the content and allusions were fictional, and initial airings were edited when shown on satellite channel Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
. The episode was broadcast unedited in May 2006 on Sky One and finally shown unedited on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
during the third season's repeats after midnight in September 2007.