"Star Trek: The Next Generation" Preemptive Strike (1994)

Director:

Patrick Stewart

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator)
René Echevarria (teleplay)

TV Series:

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)

Original Air Date:

14 May 1994 (Season 7, Episode 24)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

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".

Plot Keywords:

Loyalty | Party | Captain | Ferengi | Andorian

Cast

  (Episode Credited cast)

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
Natalia Nogulich	...	Admiral Alynna Nechayev (as Natalija Nogulich)
William Thomas Jr.	...	Santos
Shannon Cochran	...	Kalita
Richard Poe	...	Gul Evek

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

The only time the Maquis appear in TNG. We get to see the DMZ too, after being established in DS9, and TNG episode #7.20.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening battle with the Maquis, when the Enterprise disperses two of the ships with phaser fire, space appears to be shaking.

Quotes:

[Ro has turned against Starfleet to join the Maquis]
Ro Laren: Could you tell Captain Picard something for me?
Commander William T. Riker: Of course, what is it?
Ro Laren: Tell him I'm sorry.

Ro Laren's story arc concludes.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

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.