| "The Pegasus" | |||
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| Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |||
The remains of the Pegasus are discovered. |
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| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 12 |
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| Directed by | LeVar Burton | ||
| Written by | Ronald D. Moore | ||
| Featured music | John Debney | ||
| Production code | 264 | ||
| Original air date | January 10, 1994 | ||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes | |||
"The Pegasus" is the 164th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.
In this episode, crew of the Federation Starfleet Starship USS Enterprise-D attempt to recover the Pegasus, which was a Federation starship possibly containing experimental technology of vital strategic importance as well as being the first assignment of Enterprise first officer Commander William Riker.
The Enterprise is ordered on a priority mission to collect a member of Starfleet Intelligence, Admiral Eric Pressman, former Captain of the USS Pegasus where Will Riker first served after graduating from Starfleet Academy. Pressman informs Jean-Luc Picard and Riker that intelligence has located the Pegasus in the Devolin system near the Romulan Zone. Though presumed destroyed, Pressman orders the Enterprise to either recover the ship's remains or destroy them to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Romulans. In private, Riker attempts to discuss the events aboard the Pegasus's last mission and questions Pressman's intentions, but Pressman instructed Riker to remain silent until the current mission is completed. When Picard later questions Riker on his version of events on the Pegasus, Riker admits to Pressman's instructions; Picard respects Riker's silence but cautions that if it puts the Enterprise in danger, he may need to replace Riker as first officer.
In the Devlin system, the Enterprise encounters a Romulan Warbird, clearly searching for the Pegasus as well. Picard and Sirol, the Romulan captain, acknowledge the others' presence, creating a tense situation. Though the Enterprise sensors locate the Pegasus buried in a large fissure in an asteroid, Picard orders them to move on to lure the Romulans away. With the Romulans distracted, the Enterprise returns, enters the fissure in the asteroid, and finds that the Pegasus is partially fused with the asteroid. Pressman and Riker transport to the Pegasus, and recover an experimental device that the ship was equipped with which Riker thought was destroyed. Riker expresses his distrust and his concerns for withholding information from Picard, but Pressman reminds him of his rank. They quickly return to the Enterprise when they learn the Romulans have closed the fissure, trapping the Enterprise inside.
Sirol refuses to open the fissure, and instead gives Picard and his crew the option of taking asylum aboard the Warbird; this would allow both the Enterprise and the Pegasus to be captured by the Romulans. Riker proposes a solution using the device they took from the Pegasus—a phase-shifting Federation cloaking device that would allow them to travel through the solid matter of the asteroid and escape. Pressman is furious at the breaking of Riker's silence, but Picard reprimands Pressman, pointing out that the development of a cloaking device by the Federation is a violation of the Treaty of Algeron. Pressman attempts to take command of the Enterprise, but the crew refuses. Under Picard's orders, the cloaking device is installed on the Enterprise, and used to escape the asteroid. The cloak is dropped in full view of the Romulan ship, and Picard informs Sirol that the Federation will be contacting the Romulan government with regard to the entire incident.
Picard orders Pressman to be arrested for having violated a Federation treaty. Pressman threatens that he has allies in Starfleet, but Picard is unmoved. As Pressman is led off the bridge, Riker insists that he be arrested as well and Picard agrees. Visiting Riker in the brig, Picard notes that Riker's record will be affected by this incident but also that his having come clean at last will help. Picard tells him he still is proud to have him as a First Officer, releases him, and the two head off to the bridge together.
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