When an old professor of Jean-Luc's turns up on the Enterprise with a priceless gift, he knows that something is up. He is trying to talk the Captain into going on an archaeological venture with him, the chance of a lifetime. Picard turns him down because of his commitment to his ship and crew and sends the man on his way in a shuttlecraft. Soon forces of the Kardassians, the Klingons, and Romulans show their ugly faces and the shuttle is destroyed. Picard begins to feel guilty about leaving his mentor to the dogs. There is something on that planet that is attracting these guys. In the process of attempting to find out what, we learn a lot about the races that have become regular foes for the humans. This is a pretty moralistic episode and works pretty well.
