First Contact (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

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This article is about the episode from "The Next Generation" series. You may have been searching for the eighth Star Trek film Star Trek: First Contact.

Star Trek: TNG episode
"First Contact"
Riker recovers from injuries in an alien infirmary in "First Contact".
Episode no.	89
Prod. code	189
Airdate	February 18, 1991
Writer(s)	Dennis Russell Bailey & David Bischoff Joe Menosky & Ronald D. Moore Michael Piller story by Marc Scott Zicree
Director	Cliff Bole
Guest star(s)	Bebe Neuwirth George Coe Carolyn Seymour Michael Ensign George Hearn Steven Anderson Sachi Parker
Year	2367
Stardate	Unknown
Episode chronology
Previous	"Clues"
Next	"Galaxy's Child"

"First Contact" is a fourth season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The episode has an average rating of 3.6/5 on the official Star Trek website (as of June 14th, 2007). [1]

1 Synopsis
2 Plot
3 Trivia
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Synopsis

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 Enterprise crew is detained on the planet.

[edit] Plot

An unidentified patient is brought to a medical clinic on an alien world, obviously badly injured. The triage staff begin to treat him and comment among themselves that they are not sure if he is going to make it or not. The injured patient’s face is finally revealed and he turns out to be Commander William Riker.

In her lab elsewhere on the planet, which is known as Malacor to the indigenous humanoids, Science Minister Mirasta Yale is working on what will hopefully be the crowning achievement of Malkorian civilization to date, a warp drive engine. Suddenly Captain Picard and Counselor Troi beam into the lab and tell the startled scientist that they are there to make First Contact with her people. Picard points out that First Contact is usually initiated by the Federation whenever a civilization reaches the level of technology related to the development of warp drive capability. He adds that contact made in this way is often more fruitful than a later random encounter in space between the two civilizations. The Starfleet officers also explain that First Contact is one of the most perilous and difficult missions the Federation undertakes, which is one reason scientists of the planet are often chosen since they seem to adjust most easily to the concept of contact with alien civilizations. At this point Mirasta isn’t sure whether she is the butt of a practical joke or perhaps is dreaming. Picard offers to prove to her that they are telling the truth by beaming her up to the Enterprise with them. She accepts and is given a tour of the Federation's flagship.

Picard tells Mirasta that Federation observation teams have been among her people surveying the planet for several years. He also informs her that Commander Riker, who was involved in a final survey leading up to First Contact is missing, apparently having been caught up in a riot. He adds that Riker's disappearance and concerns for his safety have pushed up the Federation's First Contact timetable. She promises to help the Enterprise crew locate him, but warns Picard that her society is very paranoid and mistrustful and will likely see even 'benevolent' observation as a hostile act. She adds that it is imperative Riker’s presence on the planet not become known and that the leader of her people, Chancellor Avel Durken must not find out about the observation teams or Riker if Picard hopes to establish friendly diplomatic relations.

Down on the planet, Riker regains consciousness. The physicians have discovered that his internal physiology is quite different from theirs and suspect he is not from their planet. He tries to convince them that he is indeed one of them and merely suffers from natural genetic mutations, but the doctor in charge of the facility does not believe him. Rumors quickly begin to spread among the clinic staff about the "injured alien" being held there and the Administrator fears a possible panic. He orders clinic security forces to be placed guarding Riker's room to prevent the spread of any more unauthorized information and to prevent Riker's escape.

Riker knows it is a matter of time before he is found out and decides to attempt to get away. A female medical aide (played by Bebe Neuwirth, better known as 'Lillith' from the US sitcoms 'Cheers' and 'Fraser') who imagines he might be an alien finds the concept very alluring, and offers to help him escape in return for a sexual encounter with - as she puts it - “my alien”, but the attempt fails and his earlier injuries are greatly exacerbated as he is beaten in the hysteria which ensues.

Mirasta brings Picard to Chancellor Durken’s office and introduces the two men. Durken is also beamed aboard the Enterprise, and doesn't quite know what to make of the Federation, however Picard's skillful diplomacy begins to gain his trust and win him over. The two men share a sense of camaraderie and quickly start to become friends, but Durken tells Picard that technically advanced aliens will be a terrible cultural shock to his people as they believe themselves to be the most superior life form in the universe. He also feels a bit threatened, wondering what would happen if the Federation were to turn hostile, as well as observing that while yesterday he was the master of the known universe, today he realizes that “he is but one voice in a chorus”. He finally asks Captain Picard what Picard would do if the Federation was asked to leave and Picard says he reluctantly would leave and never return. Saying that he has much to think about, Durken returns to Malacor.

Meanwhile, Malcorian Security Minister Kroller has been notified of Riker's capture. Mirasta is called to the Chancellor’s office and finds out that Kroller has told him about Riker, thus putting the entire First Contact process in jeopardy. Mirasta tries to take all the blame for keeping Riker's presence on the planet secret by saying that Picard was only following her advice. Durken tells her that she should have trusted him and that if she were not so important to Malacor's scientific projects he would ask for her resignation.

When Picard beams down to have further discussions with Durken, he is told that the discovery of Riker's covert presence on the planet has undermined trust in Picard and the Federation and that Durken is going to have to reconsider continuing relations with them. Picard asks for the return of his officer which is refused, and Durken requests that Picard leave for the time being. Picard beams back up to his ship.

Kroller arrives at the clinic and desires to conduct an interrogation, so he instructs the Chief Administrator of the clinic to administer drugs to revive Riker. As Mirista arrives, the doctor refuses citing medical concerns for Riker's health (a parallel to Earth's Hippocratic Oath), Kroller has the man replaced as Administrator. As Mirasta leaves, the new Administrator injects the drugs and Kroller begins his interrogation.

Mirasta goes to see Durken and pleads for him to release Riker, noting that not only does Durken risk a diplomatic incident, but Riker's health is being further endangered by Kroller's tactics. She points out that Federation advanced medical technology is probably Riker's only chance to survive. Durken decides to release Riker and contacts Picard.

At the clinic, Kroller, who is conservative to the point of being reactionary, fears the possible harmful influence of the Federation, and is afraid the Federation might secretly harbor hostile intentions. He decides the only way to deal with these threats is to martyr himself and paint the Federation as monsters. He tries to kill himself with Riker's phaser while making it look like Riker attacked him with the weapon, but Riker fights back and is able to lower the power setting just as Kroller fires. Dr. Crusher beams into the room barely in time to save Riker. Riker and Kroller are both transported up to the Enterprise and Crusher successfully treats Kroller, who though severely injured was never in any real danger.

Using Kroller and the events at the clinic as examples, Durken tells Picard that he does not think his people are ready culturally or socially for contact with an advanced alien civilization, and sadly must request that Picard follow through on his earlier promise to leave and never return if asked. He adds that perhaps his people have advanced too quickly in technology and have outstripped their social development, and decides that more government programs must be directed toward helping his people mature socially. He also decides that the warp engine project must be delayed. Mirasta is not happy with this and decides that under the circumstances of scientific discovery and achievement being suppressed, she would like to leave her planet. She requests that she be allowed to remain on the Enterprise, which Picard grants.

Saying that he regrets that he won't get to know the Malcorian people better, Picard honors his promise to break off contact with their civilization. He adds that he hopes the situation will change sometime in the future so that he can renew his friendship with Chancellor Durken.

[edit] Trivia

This episode mirrors a possible First Contact scenario with one or more alien civilisations on modern-day earth, as some references of popular culture and political power of the Malcorian people and the consequences to exposure of alien life outside their solar system suggest.