- Data befriends an alien girl in distress, breaking the Prime Directive, while Wesley commands his first team.
- On arriving at a newly identified planetary group, the crew finds that the entire system is unstable. As the person in charge of Wesley Crusher's training and education, Commander Riker wants to put him in charge of the planetary mineral survey, the results of which should explain why the system has become so unstable. He has to command a team for the first time, all of whom are older than himself. Data meanwhile has a pen pal of sorts when he establishes radio contact with Sarjenka, a young girl from a nearby planet. They exchange information for several weeks when Data finally realizes that Sarjenka's world isn't aware of extra-terrestrial life and as a result, he has broken the Prime Directive.—garykmcd
- Ensign Wesley Crusher is delighted to get his first training taste of command, leading a scientific survey of the Selcundi Drema sector planetary systems, rich in precious deuterium but at risk of being torn apart by natural processes, which might be controlled. Wesley wrestles to balance the assignment to take charge with his Cartesian doubt and natural regard for his team members' reserves. Data is in danger of disregarding the Federation's anti-intervention First Direction by resuming radio contact with Sarjenka, a young girl from a Drema planet in danger of explosion. Rather then disregarding her call for help, he beams down unauthorized and brings her aboard.—KGF Vissers
- The Enterprise investigates the Selcundi Drema region of space, where planets tear themselves apart. During Data's investigation of signals, he becomes radio pen pals with a little girl named Sarjenka who lives on Drema IV. When Data discovers that her planet is in danger of imminent destruction, he informs the Captain that he has broken the Prime Directive by talking to someone from a planet without space travel. Meanwhile, William Riker puts Wesley Crusher in charge of the mineral surveys to determine what causes the quakes and volcanic eruptions on the various planets in order to further Wesley's education as a Starfleet ensign. Wesley is talked out of ordering a time-consuming analysis by an older crew member under his command. After talking to Riker, Wesley gains the confidence to order the tests, which quickly reveal the cause of the geological disturbances, and Picard agrees to help save the planet. After Data loses his connection to the girl, he beams down to the planet to find her and returns her to the ship. The Enterprise saves the planet and, after the girl's mind is wiped of her memories of Data, she is beamed back to her now-safe planet.—Michael W Hughes
- On arriving at a newly identified planetary group in the Selcundi Drema sector, the crew finds that the entire system is unstable. Geological activity in all five planetary systems, and in the past 150 years the fifth planet of the 1st system has shattered to make an asteroid belt and they find another planet that is just about ready to shatter. As the person in charge of Wesley Crusher's training and education, Commander Riker wants to put him in charge of the planetary mineral survey on the 2nd system, the results of which should explain why the system has become so unstable. He has to command a team for the first time, all of whom are older than himself.
Wesley has Davies (Nicholas Cascone), Hildebrant (Ann Gillespie) and Alans (Whitney Rydbeck) on his team. Alans and Hildebrant are married. Riker had advised Wesley all crew are through professionals and their age should not come in the way of doing their jobs, including Wesley's orders.
The trio take advantage of Wesley's doubts about himself and overrule him on critical decisions regarding the analysis to be carried out. Wesley wants the team to be thorough, but the team wants to cut corners, and tells Wesley that he is wasting everyone's time with all the extra analysis. Wesley seeks Riker's advice, who tells him to be self-confident about his decisions. If Wesley does not trust his own decisions, he will never belong in a command chair.
Data meanwhile has a pen pal of sorts when he establishes radio contact with Sarjenka (Nikki Cox), a young girl from a nearby planet. They exchange information for several weeks when Data finally realizes that Sarjenka's world (Drema IV) isn't aware of extra-terrestrial life and as a result, he has broken the Prime Directive. Plus, the Drema IV planet is also experiencing the same geological stresses that are breaking up other planets. This planet is like to go the same way.
Wesley figures that all the planets in the system are rich in Dilithium. These crystals are growing in a lattice grid and creating a Pizo-electric effect. They take the radiant heat of the planet and convert it into a mechanical effect, which increases tectonic stresses.
Enterprise deploys resonators to break up the Dilithium growth. The resonators will emit a harmonic frequency which will shatter the crystals and thus reverse the geological stresses on the planet.
The command group deliberates over the right punishment for Data, but Pulaski is in favor of breaking the Prime Directive when life of millions is at stake, while Worf is more rigid. The group believes that breaking the directive is justified in the face of a natural calamity or an epidemic. But the same group wavers to interfere in face of war, where millions of lives are at stake. Eventually, Picard rules that the ask from Sarjenka is a plea for help and cannot be ignored. He asks Data to contact the girl, and when she is not contactable, he allows him to beam down to the surface to meet her. The surface is getting more and more unstable, so Data locates Sarjenka and beams her back up with him.
Resonators are launched into the planet's crust by Data and Wesley working together. The resonators work and Drema IV shows noticeable reduction in tectonic stress levels. To counter the implications of the Prime Directive, Picard orders Pulaski to purge Sarjenka's memory of all communication with Data and her trip to the Enterprise. Pulaski performs the procedure and Data returns her to her home.
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