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First Contact (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"First Contact" is the 89th episode of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
crew is detained on the planet.
-capable species. Science Minister Mirasta Yale, lead researcher on their warp experiments, is suddenly visited by Picard
and Deanna Troi
as they transport into her laboratory. After calming her down and stating they come in peace, they explain they are there to make First Contact
but events have progressed unexpectedly, as Riker
, disguised as a Malcor to verify the level of society prior to First Contact, has been injured and is being held in a facility they cannot transport him out of. After touring the USS Enterprise, Mirasta agrees to help and arranges a private meeting with Chancellor Durken. After meeting on the planet, Picard returns with Durken to the Enterprise and explains the benefits of joining with the Federation
, but Durken remains concerned and requests time to think about it.
Meanwhile, the hospital administrator seeing to Riker's care tells the barely conscious Riker of his suspicions of his being an alien, and has guards monitor Riker's room, both for his protection and to prevent Riker from leaving. Riker attempts escape with the help of a nurse who reveals her xenophilia to Riker (who accepts her offer with the sigh, "...the things I do for Starfleet..."), but the attempt fails, worsening Riker's condition. Riker's presence at the hospital is reported to Security Minister Krola, who in turn accuses Durken of attempting to hide the truth, forcing Durken to reveal the contact with the Federation. When Picard next visits Durken, the Chancellor expresses his concerns on the Federation's covert operations to observe the planet, but continues to deliberate on going forward with First Contact. Krola, fearing hostile intentions from the Federation, works against Mirasta and the hospital administrators to inject drugs to revive Riker despite the chance they may kill him, and then attempts to set Riker up as a murderer by shooting himself with Riker's phaser while held in his hand. The Enterprise crew, able to locate Riker with Mirasta's help, arrive in time to bring both Riker and Krola back to the ship; they discover that Riker's phaser was only set to stun, and Krola was in no real danger.
After Krola is returned to the planet, Durken tells Picard that he feels Malcor is not ready for First Contact, fearing his people are not mature enough to handle the introduction of an alien species, and requests the Enterprise leave the planet, though they may be able to return at a later time. Mirasta, with the warp project being put on hold, asks Picard if she could go with them, a request Picard agrees to.
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
Delicate First Contact proceedings between the Federation and a new civilization on the verge of developing interstellar warp travel are disrupted when a member of the USS EnterpriseUSS 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...
crew is detained on the planet.
Plot
The humanoid race of Malcor III is preparing to venture into becoming a warpWarp 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...
-capable species. Science Minister Mirasta Yale, lead researcher on their warp experiments, is suddenly visited by 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 Deanna 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...
as they transport into her laboratory. After calming her down and stating they come in peace, they explain they are there to make First Contact
First contact (science fiction)
First contact is a common science fiction theme about the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrial life, or of any sentient race's first encounter with another one....
but events have progressed unexpectedly, as 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...
, disguised as a Malcor to verify the level of society prior to First Contact, has been injured and is being held in a facility they cannot transport him out of. After touring the USS Enterprise, Mirasta agrees to help and arranges a private meeting with Chancellor Durken. After meeting on the planet, Picard returns with Durken to the Enterprise and explains the benefits of joining with 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...
, but Durken remains concerned and requests time to think about it.
Meanwhile, the hospital administrator seeing to Riker's care tells the barely conscious Riker of his suspicions of his being an alien, and has guards monitor Riker's room, both for his protection and to prevent Riker from leaving. Riker attempts escape with the help of a nurse who reveals her xenophilia to Riker (who accepts her offer with the sigh, "...the things I do for Starfleet..."), but the attempt fails, worsening Riker's condition. Riker's presence at the hospital is reported to Security Minister Krola, who in turn accuses Durken of attempting to hide the truth, forcing Durken to reveal the contact with the Federation. When Picard next visits Durken, the Chancellor expresses his concerns on the Federation's covert operations to observe the planet, but continues to deliberate on going forward with First Contact. Krola, fearing hostile intentions from the Federation, works against Mirasta and the hospital administrators to inject drugs to revive Riker despite the chance they may kill him, and then attempts to set Riker up as a murderer by shooting himself with Riker's phaser while held in his hand. The Enterprise crew, able to locate Riker with Mirasta's help, arrive in time to bring both Riker and Krola back to the ship; they discover that Riker's phaser was only set to stun, and Krola was in no real danger.
After Krola is returned to the planet, Durken tells Picard that he feels Malcor is not ready for First Contact, fearing his people are not mature enough to handle the introduction of an alien species, and requests the Enterprise leave the planet, though they may be able to return at a later time. Mirasta, with the warp project being put on hold, asks Picard if she could go with them, a request Picard agrees to.
See also
- Star Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First Contact is the eighth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise, released in November 1996, by Paramount Pictures. First Contact is the first film in the franchise to feature no cast members from the original Star Trek television series of the 1960s...
, the eighth movie in the "Star Trek" franchise - First contact (disambiguation)