| "The Wounded" | |||
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| Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |||
Picard orders Captain Maxwell to stand down. |
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| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 12 |
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| Directed by | Chip Chalmers | ||
| Teleplay by | Jeri Taylor | ||
| Story by | Stuart Charno Sara Charno Cy Chermak |
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| Featured music | Dennis McCarthy | ||
| Production code | 186 | ||
| Original air date | January 28, 1991 | ||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes | |||
"The Wounded" is the 85th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.
In this episode, the crew of the Federation Starfleet Starship USS Enterprise cooperates with the Cardassians to track down another Starfleet vessel, the Nebula-class USS Phoenix, after it appears to have gone rogue, attacking and destroying a Cardassian space station that was said to be unarmed.
As the episode begins, the Enterprise is conducting a routine survey mission along the edge of Cardassian space when a Cardassian warship unexpectedly attacks. Reacting quickly, Captain Picard defends his ship and forces the Cardassian vessel to stand down. The Cardassian commander, Gul Macet, tells Picard that he attacked because a Federation starship destroyed a Cardassian science station without provocation two days earlier. Picard asks for an hour's truce so that he can confirm this with Starfleet.
Starfleet Admiral Haden confirms the Cardassian claims, telling Picard that the starship USS Phoenix, under the command of Captain Benjamin Maxwell, was responsible for the attack, adding that the ship is no longer answering communications. The Enterprise is ordered after Maxwell, and Picard is instructed to preserve the peace no matter what the cost. As a show of good faith, he takes Macet and two other Cardassian officers along as observers.
Since transporter chief Miles O'Brien served with Maxwell on the USS Rutledge, Picard invites him to attend a meeting with the Cardassians in the briefing room. O'Brien finds that he still harbors some resentment toward the Cardassians. Picard asks O'Brien if it is true that Maxwell's family were killed by Cardassians while O'Brien served with Maxwell; Macet immediately jumps to the conclusion that Maxwell must be acting out of vengeance, which O'Brien rejects.
The Enterprise locates the Phoenix on long-range sensors and Picard orders an intercept course. Chief Operations Officer Data reports that Maxwell is pursuing a Cardassian supply ship, but the Enterprise is too far away to intercede. Picard provides the precise location of the Phoenix to a Cardassian warship which is closer, but the tactically skilled Maxwell destroys the warship as well as the supply ship, killing over 650 Cardassians.
When the Enterprise and the Phoenix finally rendezvous, Maxwell beams aboard. Seeing O'Brien, he greets his former officer warmly. Maxwell tells Enterprise first officer Commander William Riker that O'Brien was the best tactical officer he had ever had.
Maxwell explains to Picard that his attack was justified because the Cardassians are rearming, adding that the "science station" was actually a military supply depot in a strategic location. He also claims that the Cardassian supply ships are a sham for transporting arms. Picard condemns Maxwell's actions and informs him that both ships are to return to Federation space at once, generously allowing Maxwell the dignity of retaining command during the return voyage. Maxwell returns to his ship.
In close formation, the two ships begin their journey, but the Phoenix quickly alters course and accelerates away. Picard orders a pursuit course, but the Enterprise is unable to catch the Phoenix before it intercepts another Cardassian supply ship. As the Enterprise approaches the scene, Data observes that his sensors are unable to read the contents of the supply ship, as it is running a high-powered subspace field. Maxwell hails Picard and tells him that if he will board the supply ship, he will have all the proof he needs. Picard refuses and Maxwell threatens to destroy it. O'Brien then asks Picard if he may transport over to the Phoenix, explaining that Maxwell may listen to him. (O'Brien, being an expert in transporter systems, knows a trick that can allow him to beam through a "gap" in the Phoenix's shields).
Once aboard the Phoenix, O'Brien gently convinces Maxwell that Picard is just as determined as Maxwell and will fire on a fellow Starfleet vessel if necessary. They talk about the old days aboard the Rutledge during the Cardassian war, and sing a fellow Rutledge crewmember's favorite song, "The Minstrel Boy", an ancient Irish war song. Finally accepting that there is no way he can win, Maxwell turns the Phoenix over to his first officer and transports aboard the Enterprise.
In his debriefing with Picard and Gul Macet, O'Brien states that while he realizes what Maxwell did was terribly wrong, he is still proud to have served with him.
After O'Brien is dismissed, Macet tells Picard that O'Brien's loyalty is admirable, though misplaced. Picard disagrees, saying that Macet's people have much to learn about humans, as such loyalty doesn't come easily. He adds that although Maxwell's tribulations affected his judgment, his heroic service won't be dismissed.
As Macet turns to leave, Picard tells him that he and the Federation know that Maxwell was right—it is no coincidence that the putative supply ships were rigged to jam Federation sensors—and adds that the strategically placed "research" station was not in a locale conducive to scientific investigation. Picard states that while his orders were to preserve the treaty, he also personally believes that maintaining the peace is in the best interests of both sides. Macet appears genuinely taken aback by this accusation, and Picard sternly tells him to pass along to his superiors that the Federation will be watching.
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