Stardate: 41723.9
Original Air Date: November 14, 1987
Writers: Larry Forrester and Herbert Wright
Director: Rob Bowman
“Like going back to the house you grew up in,
but no one’s home except phantoms of the past.”
In response to a Starfleet order, the Enterprise-D has arrived in the Xendi Sabu star system having rendezvoused with a Ferengi vessel which has requested a meeting. But the Ferengi have only responded with the message, “stand by.” Meanwhile Picard complains about a headache to Dr. Crusher and the Ferengi under Daimon Bok finally open communications with the Enterprise. Bok claims to know Picard and he insists on meeting in-person. Will their meeting offer “a new era cooperation?”
Bok beams over with his officers, Kazago and Rata, and they hail Picard as “the hero of Maxia” a reference to an encounter that occurred nine years ago in the Maxia Zeta Star System in which an unidentified (Ferengi) vessel was destroyed under Picard’s orders. Suddenly a constellation class starship arrives on impulse power near the Enterprise’s, and it turns out to be under the control of the Ferengi. It turns out to be the U.S.S. Stargazer, Picard’s old ship, a derelict ship which has been acquired by the Ferengi. They offer it to Picard as a gift –an “act of… friendship.” Do we trust them? Decidedly not.
Nevertheless, Picard and a group beam aboard The Stargazer where Data learns that the last log entry was entered by Picard nine years ago when he and his crew were forced to abandon ship. Unsurprisingly, Picard’s headache grows worse –it is mysteriously caused by the Ferengi via a strange device, meanwhile an altered log entry “confession” by Picard is discovered wherein he supposedly admits he destroyed an unarmed Ferengi ship under the flag of truce. Eventually, the Ferengi use a mind control device which forces Picard to relive his past.
As it turns out, Bok’s only son was head of the destroyed Ferengi vessel nine years ago and he has been planning his revenge on Picard ever since. However, first officer Kazago has mutinied against Daimon Bok for “engaging in this unprofitable adventure.” Riker then manages to persuade Picard to destroy the silver spherical Ferengi thought control device, freeing him from this entrapment.
My Thoughts on “The Battle”
“The Battle” offers some key insights into Picard’s past and Patrick Stewart deliveres a solid performance, but as with many other Season 1 episodes, something is just off about this episode. Somehow it is Wesley Crusher who discovers the constellation class ship himself by using long-range sensors, a process which stumps even Data? Also how is it that Wesley seems to discover the truth of Picard’s headaches after merely “glancing” at his brain scans? Are the writers attempting to paint Wesley as a super-human genius? And why isn’t the crew more suspicious of the Ferengi’s obvious ulterior motives when nothing about them is trustworthy? And why does the Enterprise allow Daimon Bok to get away without punishment? At least “The Battle” was better than some other Season 1 episodes like “Code of Honor” or “Justice.”
Writer/Director
The story for this episode was developed by Scotsman Larry Forrester, who sadly died five months after he wrote “The Battle” in Northridge, CA. The teleplay was written by screenwriter Herbert Wright.
This was one of thirteen episodes of TNG directed by Rob Bowman. He also directed episodes of MacGyver and The X-Files, among other shows.
Star Trek Trivia:
- This episode features the second appearance of the Ferengi. Executive producer Rick Berman thought they didn’t make a compelling adversary by this point.
- The character of Bok will return in the episode “Bloodlines.”
- In this episode, Dr. Crusher claims headaches and the common cold are mostly a thing of the past.
- This episode explores some of Picard’s past as a helmsman aboard U.S.S. The Stargazer, a constellation class vessel Starfleet registry NCCC 2893. Vigo was apparently Picard’s weapons officer on The Stargazer.
- Picard used an unorthodox defensive maneuver when battling the Ferengi nine years ago. Starfleet textbooks now refers to it as “The Picard Maneuver.”