Preemptive Strike (14 May 1994)

Following her return from Advanced Tactical Training, Ro is sent to infiltrate the Maquis and finds herself torn between her loyalty to Picard and Starfleet and to her sympathy with the Maquis fighting "the good fight".

Director:

Patrick Stewart

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), René Echevarria (teleplay),

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Doctor Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Michelle Forbes	...	Ro Laren
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Macias
Natalija Nogulich	...	Admiral Alynna Nechayev
William Thomas Jr.	...	Santos
Shannon Cochran	...	Kalita
Richard Poe	...	Gul Evek

Storyline

Ensign Ro Laren is welcomed back with a party after Advanced Tactical Training. Almost immediately she's picked as best suited for an undercover mission in the demilitarized zone, to prevent the peace treaty with the Cardassians being undermined by illegally attacking Federation 'maquis' ships. Again given her ethnic and personal background, the conflict of loyalties -existing with Riker and other crew too- grows as her covert mission to trap the resistance fighters succeeds.

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Plot Keywords:

loyalty | party | medical supplies | episode title spoken by character | stolen goods | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Release Date:

14 May 1994 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Poe makes his second and final appearance in TNG as Gul Evek. He would make several more appearances in the same role in DS9 and one in VGR.

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Goofs

Picard tells Ro that two years ago, Starfleet would never have considered sending her on the mission at hand. She later tells the Maquis that she was released from prison three years ago because Starfleet wanted her to work for them in Bajoran matters. What Picard means here is that Ro would not have been chosen for this type of mission shortly after being reinstated by Starfleet, obviously because of its much more sensitive nature. In the meantime, however, she must have gained a lot of credit with Starfleet, which Picard suggests as well.

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Quotes

[Ro has managed to steal Enterprise's medical supplies, with 'announcement']
Commander William T. Riker: Now we know what they mean by 'advanced' tactical training.

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Connections

References Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)

User Reviews

Ro Laren's story arc concludes.

ST:TNG:176 - "Preemptive Strike" (Stardate: 47941.7) - this is the 24th episode of the 7th and last season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The newly promoted Lt. Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes in her first appearance since the 5th season) returns to the Enterprise and immediately embarks on an undercover mission to infiltrate the Maquis - a group living in the Demilitarized Zone who is against the Cardassians since the peace treaty since they are now on part of Cardassian territory instead of Federation (they will become a formidable foe in DS9 and VOY).

Ro only takes this mission out of loyalty to Picard, being uneasy helping the Cardassians since she is Bajoran. After learning more about the Maquis, she grows more sympathetic with their cause. And due to this conflict of loyalties, Ro Laren is torn . . . but must soon make a choice.

Trivia note: Deep Space Nine is mentioned here.