Plot

The crew of the Enterprise enters into orbit around the home planet of their former crewmate, Tasha Yar, where they encounter her sister.

The Enterprise aborts an archaeological mission, responding to an emergency call from the devastated colony on the home planet of deceased crewmate Tasha Yar, Turkana IV. There two Federation officers are held hostage, captured from an escape pod, by the Alliance which has been fighting for decades against a rebel party, the Coalition, which includes Tasha's sister Ishara Yar, who seems prepared to sacrifice anything necessary to help rescue the officers, and wins Data's friendship, but came with a secret agenda.—KGF Vissers

The Enterprise answers a distress call from a Federation freighter in orbit around Turkana IV, home of the late Tasha Yar. The freighter explodes before they can rescue anyone but an escape pod is tracked to the planet's surface. Turkana IV is lawless and quite dangerous but they learn that a group known as the Alliance is holding two survivors from the escape pod. They're surprised when Ishara Yar, Tasha's sister, is assigned by a rival group to act as liaison and to help get the men back. Ishara has little love for her dead sister who she feels abandoned their fight on the planet. She has quite an effect on the crew, particularly Data with whom she becomes fast friends. She is hiding something however.—garykmcd

The Enterprise aborts an archaeological mission on Camus II, responding to an emergency call from the devastated colony on the home planet of deceased crew-mate Tasha Yar, Turkana IV. Before the Enterprise can reach Turkana IV, the freighter Arcos blows up as its warp containment drive fails. The Enterprise was not able to beam anyone aboard. But they see an escape pod eject and head towards the planet colony. USS Potemkin was the last ship to visit Turkana IV 6 years ago and were warned that anyone beaming down to the surface will be killed. Picard sends Riker, Data, Worf and Beverly on the away team. Surface structures are all but destroyed and all colonists live in structures more than 3 kilometers below the city.

There two Federation officers are held hostage, captured from an escape pod, by the Alliance which has been fighting for decades against a rebel party, the Coalition, which includes Tasha's sister Ishara Yar (Beth Toussaint). The Coalition and the Alliance both control one part of the city. Each citizen has a proximity alert embedded into their body, and it goes if they transgress into the opposing forces' area. This prevents any serious damage to either side. The Coalition is led by Hayne (Don Mirault), who wants the Enterprise to arm them in exchange for help in rescuing their men from the Alliance. But shortly later, he drops that requirement and send Ishara to the Enterprise to plan the rescue mission. Deanna is clear that Hayne is deceiving the crew and is aiming to manipulate them. Deanna is not sure if Ishara is really Tasha's sister.

The Alliance message the Enterprise to pay a ransom (in weapons) in 20 hours, or face execution of the captured hostages. Ishara tells the command crew how the colony on Turkana IV plunged into civil war 30 years ago. Of the many factions, Coalition and Alliance survived. The Govt was incapable and gave them police powers. Soon, the Government was displaced and now the 2 factions run the colony by controlling one half each. Skirmishes are common, but brutal war has been avoided for many years. Ishara calls Tasha a coward for running away from the colony. She says she has not seen Tasha for 15 years and doesn't remember what she looks like.

Ishara helps the Enterprise to infiltrate the Alliance hideout and locate the escape pod. Geordi uses the life sign instruments on the escape pods to pinpoint the location of the hostages. Ishara seems prepared to sacrifice anything necessary to help rescue the officers Ishara is almost caught by the Alliance, and had to rescued by Riker, and wins Data's friendship. To help rescue the hostages themselves Ishara offers to have her proximity alert implant removed, by which she will be able to enter Alliance areas without triggering any alarms. In exchange for this sacrifice and the act will lead to her to be expelled from the Coalition, she wants to be enlisted in Starfleet and taken away from her miserable life on Turkana IV. Data is very supportive as Ishara reminds him of Tasha.

Deanna feels Ishara is playing with Data's emotions and even warns him. Ishara calls Hayne on a secure channel (privately) and says "its working". This indicates that the whole plan was a ruse to draw the Enterprise in, and Ishara was never related to Tasha. Ishara helps Riker & Data to rescue their crewmen from the Alliance HQ. But she uses the infiltration to overload their fusion generator. Data discovers this and confronts Ishara, who reveals that 3000 coalition troops are waiting at the perimeter and will attack as soon as the generator explodes. Data stops Ishara by stunning her with a phaser and stops the generator from exploding.

Riker is against returning Ishara to Hayne, but Picard goes ahead with the transfer. He says the fault lies with them, as they wanted Ishara to join them badly, to somehow lessen the guilt of Tasha's death.