Thank you.
- The diplomatic corps is busy with Dominon negotiations.
- So they need us to put out one more brush fire.
Can anyone remember
when we used to be explorers?
Deck 10.
Remember, they have significant
less advanced technology than ours.
- They only archieved warp drive last year.
- Now they're a protectorate.
With the Borg and the Dominon,
we need all the allies we can get.
Captain on deck.
- You'll be expected to dance with Regent Cuzar.
- Can she mambo?
- Very funny.
- The Captain cuts quite a rug.
La Forge to Picard. I need to talk
to you before the reception.
Mr Worf!
What are you doing here?
He's a little late, can it wait?
- Tell him to come up here.
- The Captain wants you to join us.
There's a communiquй from
Admiral Dougherty about Data.
Regent Cuzar, welcome aboard.
Captain Picard, I welcome you
in the tradition of my people.
We are so honoured to be accepted
within the great Federation family.
- We have a dance later.
- I look forward to it.
- Counsellor ...?
- Nice bead work.
Captain, Admiral Dougherty is aboard
a Son'a ship in sector 4-4-1 .
He's requesting Data's schematics.
He doesn't say why.
Data was only scheduled to observe
the Ba'ku village for a week.
Geordi, set up a secure com-link
to the Admiral.
Hars Adislo. We met at the
Nel Bato conference last year.
Did you read my paper
on thermionic transconductance?
Would you excuse me?
He's not acknowledging
any Starfleet protocol.
- What precipitated this behaviour?
- I don't know. Now he has hostages.
We could be there in two days.
That's not a good idea. Your ship
hasn't been fitted for this region.
- There are environmental concerns.
- Such as?
We're studying various anomalies.
They call this area the Briar Patch.
We've had trouble
even getting a signal to you.
Just get me Data's schematics.
I'll keep you informed.
- His emotion chip?
- He didn't take it with him.
Send the Admiral Data's schematics.
Report to the galley and tell
the chef to skip the fish course.
I'd like our guests to depart
as soon as etiquette allows.
I'm going to ask Worf
to delay his return to DS9.
Sector 4-4-1 is on our way
to the Goren system.
- They are in opposite directions.
- Are they?
I should never have let you
talk me into that duck blind.
Federation procedures have made this
more difficult than it needed to be.
We have to protect the planet's
population from unnecessary risk.
Planet's population?
600 people!
If you want to avoid unnecessary
risks, leave your android at home.
- We are approaching the planet.
- Take us into a high orbit.
Lie down, the girls
will take 20 years off your face.
- Another time, perhaps.
- Your self-restraint puzzles me.
You deny yourself every benefit
this mission has to offer.
Such benefits are to be shared with
allthe people of the Federation.
- Report!
- Phaser blast. Unknown origin.
- Take us out of orbit.
- Photon torpedoes.
- The vessel has broken off pursuit.
- Visual contact.
That's our ship.
We're about to lose communications
with Starfleet.
I have all the files on the
duck-blind mission and the Son'a.
You have two days to become experts.
Mr Worf, we need a plan
to safely capture Data.
La Forge has modified this tricorder
with one of Data's actuation servos.
Its range is only four metres,
but it will shut him down.
Good to have you back.
Take us in.
Half a century ago,
they conquered two primitive races -
- and integrated them into
their culture as a labour class.
The Son'a have produced quantities
of the narcotic ketracel-white.
Their ships are rumoured to be
equipped with outlawed weapons.
- Why are we involved with them?
- Good question.
You haven't done that in a while.
- What you're doing to my neck.
- What?
Bridge to Commander Worf.
- Worf!
- Captain.
How are things on DS9? Don't
officers report for duty on time?
- Sorry, sir. I'm on my way.
- We'll skip the court martial.
When was the last