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The Defector

( rooster crows )

Brother John Bates, is that not the morning which breaks yonder?

I think it be.

But we have no great cause to desire the approach of day.

( rooster crows )

Who's there?!

A friend.

Under what Captain serve you?

Under Sir Thomas Erpingham.

I pray you what thinks he of our estate?

Even as men wrecked upon a sand that look to be washed off at the next tide.

He hath not told his thought to the king?

No. Nor it is not meet he should.

For though I speak it to you

I think the king is... but a man, as I am.

The violet smells to him as it doth to me.

In his nakedness, he appears but a man.

Therefore his fears, out of doubt be of the same relish as ours are.

Yet, no man should possess him with any appearance of fear lest he, by showing it, should dishearten his army.

He may show what outward courage he will but I believe, as cold a night as 'tis he could wish himself in Thames up to the neck.

Methinks I could not die anyplace so contented as in the king's company.

His cause being just and his quarrel honorable.

That's more than we know.

Or more than we should seek after.

If his cause be wrong, our obedience to the king wipes the crime of it out of us.

But if the cause be not good, the king, himself, have a heavy reckoning to make when all those legs and arms and heads chopped off in a battle shall join together at the latter day and cry all

"We died at such a place."

The king is not bound to answer the particular endings of his soldiers, the father of his son, nor the master of his servant.

Splendid, Data, splendid.

You're getting better and better.

Freeze program.

Thank you, sir.

I plan to study the performances of Olivier,

Branagh, Shapiro and Kullnark.

Data...

( sighs )

You're here to learn about the human condition.

And there is no better way of doing that than by embracing Shakespeare.

But... you must discover it through your own performance, not by imitating others.

Riker to Picard. Sorry to interrupt, sir.

Go ahead, Number One.

Sensors are picking up a unidentified craft in the Neutral Zone.

It's heading toward Federation space.

We're on our way. Picard out.

We'll get to the rest of the act another time, Data.

Computer, file program and clear.

Captain, why should a king wish to pass as a commoner?

If he is the leader, should he not be leading?

Listen to what Shakespeare is telling you about the man, Data.

A king who had true feeling for his soldiers would wish to share their fears with them on the eve of battle.

Sir, will I be able to schedule a performance for the crew in the near future?

Let's not rush it, shall we?

Hmm.

Outpost Sierra VI confirms our readings, sir.

They identify it as a Romulan scoutship.

Bearing: 270 mark 14.

Scoutship.

What would a scoutship be doing this far into the Neutral Zone?

Captain, shall we transmit a warning to withdraw, sir?

Open a hailing frequency.

Aye, sir.

Captain, the Romulan is hailing us.

Visual.

Not within range, yet.

Open a channel.

Federation ship, do you read?

I require urgent assistance.

This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS...

Federation ship, please help me.

Requesting asylum.

Under pursuit.

Pursuit?

Visual range.

On screen, Captain.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission--

to explore strange new worlds

to seek out new life and new civilizations

to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Red Alert.

Open a channel to the warship.

Come to intercept course.

Keep us out of the Neutral Zone.

Channel is open.

How long before they cross over into Federation territory?

41 seconds, sir.

Romulan warbird, this is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation vessel Enterprise.

You have crossed into the Neutral Zone and are engaged in hostile action.

Explain yourself and your intent.

No reply, sir.

Hail the scout.

Responding.

On screen.

Federation craft... please, you must help me!

We are moving to intercept.

Maintain your course and power.

The scoutship is severely damaged, sir.

Engines inoperative, shields are down.

Position?

Coordinates 140 by 205, sir.

Federation space.

Right. Move to within five kilometers.

Mr. La Forge, prepare to extend our shields around the Romulan scoutship.

At that range, the shields won't be able to take much punishment, Captain.

Five kilometers, sir.

All stop.

Extend shields.

LA FORGE: Shields in place.

We've got the scoutship, Captain.

The weapons on the warbird are fully powered, sir.

Lock phasers. Open a channel.

Ready.

Romulan vessel you are now in Federation territory.

Unless you withdraw...

No argument?

Warbird has re-entered the Neutral Zone.

Heading toward Romulan territory.

Massive power failure to the scoutship, sir.

All systems are going off-line including life-support.

Transporter 2, prepare to beam the occupant of the scoutship directly aboard.

Aye, sir.

Mr. Worf.

Mr. Data, lock onto the scoutship.

Take it in tow.

Energize.

I must see your Captain immediately.

We'll get you to Sick Bay.

After that...

This cannot wait!

I have information vital to your survival.

Captain's Log, Stardate 43462.5.

We have beamed aboard an apparent Romulan defector

who claims to be a low-ranking logistics officer

with extraordinary information about a secret offensive.

The humiliating defeat at the battle of Cheron has not been forgotten.

The new leaders have vowed to disregard the treaty and claim the Neutral Zone.

Nelvana III is just the first step.

You're saying an entire base has already been established there?

Within 48 hours, the reactor core will be on-line.

So the Federation sensors that monitor the Neutral Zone just missed it.

It would seem so.

In two days a fleet of Romulan warbirds will be within striking distance of 15 Federation sectors.

The Federation will not permit that.

Then it is war that we're talking about, isn't it?

Destroy the base now and the threat is over.

Well, I'm sure you are fatigued by your ordeal and you require medical attention.

Lieutenant Worf will you conduct Sublieutenant Setal to the Sick Bay?

We will attend to your quarters.

No doubt you will wish to question me further.

No doubt.

He tells a hell of a story.

You don't believe it?

Well, the Empire knows that we would never allow them to build a base within the Neutral Zone.

Commander, that would not be an atypical Romulan ploy.

In their long history of war the Romulans have rarely attacked first.

They prefer to test their enemy's resolve.

RIKER: I think he's a plant to draw us into the Neutral Zone.

That way, we look like the aggressors.

And the Romulans would have a legitimate excuse for responding in force.

Exactly.

DATA: That would also not be an atypical Romulan ploy, sir.

It's always a game of chess with them, isn't it?

Well, at least he's given us a chance to get a look at some Romulan technology close-up.

Mr. La Forge, you will lead the away team over to the scout.

Commander, you and Counselor Troi will conduct Setal's interrogation.

Captain, permission to observe the interrogation.

No, Mr. Data.

I need you on the bridge with me. There is much to be done.

We have less than 48 hours to prevent a war or, perhaps... to start one.

This will depend on establishing the truth...

I set the autodestruct sequencer before I left the ship.

Why?

Wouldn't you?

To prevent your ship from being captured?

Excuse me for being a little confused, Setal but I thought you were defecting.

I am not a traitor.

All you can see is the opportunity to exploit me.

The Federation credo-- exploitation!

Oh, you couldn't get aboard my ship fast enough, hmm?

Strip it down.

"What secrets might it reveal that we can use?"

You're shortsighted people.

Can't you understand?

I came to stop a war.

If you could just hold still.

With your metabolism this will heal in a few moments.

Thank you, Doctor.

How fortunate that you know something of Romulan medicine.

Yes, I had a chance to gain some experience recently.

Oh, yes.

The incident at the Galorndon Core.

The two officers.

You are aware of a great deal for a logistics clerk.

It was common knowledge.

I could show you my rating code.

Forged credentials are a simple matter for a spy.

How do you allow Klingon pahtk to walk around in a Starfleet uniform?

You are lucky this is not a Klingon ship.

We know how to deal with spies.

Remove this tohzah from my sight.

Your knowledge of Klingon curses is impressive, but, as a Romulan might say, only a veruul would use such language in public.

Mr. Worf please see to the security arrangements for our guest's stay.

Aye, sir.

( laughs )

You find something amusing?

Lieutenant Worf-- I like him.

To be more accurate, I understand him-- a warrior, proud, fearless, living only for combat.

Exactly the type that will get us all killed if we're not careful.

This is the food station.

You can reach me through the com panel.

Later, we would like to ask you a few more questions.

Computer, water.

Temperature?

12 onkians.

This system is calibrated to the Celsius metric system.

Any temperature at all on the cold side of whatever your system is.

( food station beeping )

DATA: There is no unusual activity in the Nelvana system, sir.

Let's isolate and magnify that system.

Nothing on the sensors.

It's hard to believe in what one cannot see, and yet, conceivably with their cloaking technology a fleet of Romulan warbirds could be passing before our eyes.

There must be some way to neutralize this advantage.

COMPUTER: Captain Picard, priority one message from Starfleet coming in on secured channel.

In my ready room.

Computer, delay time?

Two hours, 22 minute delay from time of transmission at Starfleet Command on Lya III.

Computer, key access 412 mark 80.

Picard, Jean-Luc.

Starfleet priority code Gamma.

Decode.

Begin message.

Captain, we have received an official protest from the Romulan Empire demanding the return of your defector.

Obviously, we are refusing to comply.

I join in your skepticism, but if it is a deception the Romulans are certainly making a good show of it.

The Federation Council has convened an emergency session.

There is no doubt in my mind that this will eventually fall on your shoulders, Jean-Luc.

You've got him.

You must decide if he's telling the truth.

For now, I suggest you proceed along the Neutral Zone border toward a Federation position proximate to Nelvana III.

Picard to Lieutenant Worf.

Yes, Captain.

Please come to my ready room.

Aye, sir. On my way.

LA FORGE: Slow playback.

Display engine logs and power data for both vessels.

Now, watch what happens at 095433 on the clock.

The scout has sustained engine damage forcing him to slow to .615 impulse power.

The warship should overtake him, but it doesn't.

Now, just 2.6 seconds later, the warship slows to precisely the same speed.

Three times, three speed fluctuations.

The warship kept its distance every time.

I don't think they wanted to catch up.

And yet they fired on the scoutship.

They could have killed him.

Not necessarily, Doctor.

The Romulans have the same capability to direct the impact of their weapons as we do.

Hmm. Is there a possibility the wound could be self-inflicted?

They're very bad burns. I hardly think...

A possibility.

Yes.

Captain's Log, Stardate 43463.7.

We are holding a position at the Neutral Zone border

proximate to Nelvana III.

If our guest is telling the truth, there are 21 hours left

before the Romulan base becomes functional.

The Monitor and the Hood are headed in your direction, but they will arrive too late to be of assistance.

Warnings have gone out to all outposts along the border as well as several independent vessels in nearby sectors.

No one here wants a war, Captain, but we are prepared to take them on if that is what they want.

All Federation starships have been placed on Yellow Alert.

( door chimes )

Come.

You wanted to see me, Captain?

Yes, Data, I want you to prepare a class-1 probe.

Set the sensors for maximum scan.

I want every meter of Nelvana III monitored.

I will start my calibrations, sir.

Data...

Is there something else you require of me, Captain?

Your clarity of thought.

Your objectivity, as always.

Sit down.

Data, it's very possible that we are about to go to war.

The repercussions of what we do during the next 24 hours may be felt for years to come.

I want you to keep a record of these events so that history will have the benefit of... a dispassionate view.

I will begin immediately, sir.

Is that all?

How is the crew's spirit?

They are concerned, of course, Captain, but confident.

Do you not see that, sir?

Data, unlike King Henry, it is not easy for me to disguise myself and walk among my troops.

That'll be all.

"Now if these men do not die well

"it will be a black matter for the king who led them to it."

Why must we waste time playing this ridiculous game?

There's more here than you're telling us.

You're forcing yourself to hold back.

I have told you everything relevant about Nelvana III.

I'm not talking about the base.

The base is all that matters.

You're lying, Setal.

Go to Nelvana III and you will see.

We're not going anywhere until we get to the truth.

You're a spy, aren't you?

No.

Then prove it.

You can begin by telling me something about the location and the strength of the Romulan fleet.

I don't know it.

You're a logistics officer.

For one sector only.

Who was your superior officer? Admiral Jarok.

The location of the Romulan bases along the Neutral Zone?

I don't know.

In your sector? Irrelevant!

The number of troops under your admiral's command?

Irrelevant! Irrelevant!

I guess you're right.

It's not worth playing this game.

Oh, what a fool I've been-- to come looking for courage in the lair of cowards.

COMPUTER: Captain Picard, priority message from Security Officer, Klingon vessel Bortas.

Mr. Worf, will you handle this at security station, deck nine?

Aye, sir.

Sensors are configured for planetary probe, sir.

Ready for launch.

Proceed.

Probe on course.

Sensors are functioning.

Coordinate your analysis with Mr. La Forge.

I want this report with dispatch.

I don't know, Data.

My gut tells me we ought to be listening to what this guy's trying to tell us.

Your "gut"?

It's just a... a feeling, you know-- an instinct, intuition.

But those qualities would interfere with rational judgment, would they not?

You're right, sometimes they do.

Then why not rely strictly on the facts?

Because you just can't rely on the plain and simple facts.

Sometimes they lie.

They can lead to the wrong conclusions, but they cannot lie.

Yeah? Well, what do you think?

Is he a defector or not?

The facts to date would lead to the objective conclusion that he is not.

Well... somehow I think we're going to catch the Romulans with their pants down on Nelvana III, just like he says.

"With their pants...?"

A metaphor.

Catching them in the act.

Because your gut tells you so.

Exactly.

But you can't always go with your gut, either.

It's...

Well, it's a combination, Data.

All right, I'll put it to you this way.

All these feelings that get in the way of human judgment, that confuse the hell out of us, that make us second-guess ourselves-- well, we need them.

We need them to... help us fill in the missing pieces because we almost never have all the facts.

So a person fills in the missing pieces of the puzzle with his own personality, resulting in a conclusion based as much on instinct and intuition as on fact.

Now you're getting it.

Hmm.

But what does one do if he has no instinct or intuition?

Data, look at this.

The facts just took a left turn.

DATA: As the probe went into orbit around Nelvana III, it began picking up low-level subspace radio emissions.

Could they be naturally occurring?

No, sir, the patterns are clearly artificial.

The signal was so faint, our ship's sensors couldn't read it from this distance.

Can we decode it?

We've tried.

It's probably Romulan, but we can't be sure.

We've also picked up ionization disturbances.

Cloaked Romulan ships could produce that effect.

What about the planet's surface?

Reading nothing but barren rock.

I don't know. They might be able to hide a base from our probe.

Its capabilities are limited.

The only way we'll know for sure is if we go down and take a look for ourselves.

That'll be all, gentlemen.

I take it, you have never seen a Romulan before.

That would be an incorrect assumption.

Then why do you invade my privacy?

I was attempting to ascertain what my guts tell me about you.

You're the android.

I know a host of Romulan cyberneticists that would love to be this close to you.

I do not find that concept particularly appealing.

Nor should you.

I am told by various crew members that this viewport is their favorite on the ship.

Hmm.

I thought it would bring me some comfort, but these are not my stars.

Even the heavens are denied me here.

Oh... synthetic swill.

I don't suppose your food terminals would be capable of producing a Romulan ale?

I am afraid that would require the molecular structure of the beverage in question.

And, as you are no doubt aware our knowledge of your planet is quite limited.

The loss is yours.

For I have visited over a hundred different worlds and none possessed the awesome beauty of Romulus.

Am I correct in assuming you regret your decision to come here?

What I did had to be done, but... never again to see the firefalls at Gal Gath'thong and the spires of my home as they rise above the Apnex Sea at dawn.

It's a bitter thing to be exiled from your own home.

It does appear unlikely you will ever be allowed to return to your planet.

The cold reaction of an android.

But perhaps we can bring Romulus to you.

COMPUTER: Program complete.

Run program.

After you.

The Valley of Chula.

I know it well.

You are free to stay here as long as you wish.

I no longer live here.

Turn it off.

Cancel program.

This... this is my home now, my future.

I have sacrificed everything.

It must not be in vain.

Arrange a meeting between myself and Captain Picard.

Tell him Admiral Jarok wants to see him.

Captain, we have confirmed that you are holding Admiral Alidar Jarok.

He has been identified as the commander at the massacre of the Norkan outposts.

The council strongly advises that you consider Jarok an unreliable source of information.

Bring him in.

Ensign, will you wait outside?

Have a seat, Admiral Jarok.

Captain, there is no more time.

Admiral, have a seat.

You see, I'm just not convinced that you are telling the truth.

What must I do?

You must convince me.

If I had irrefutable evidence... but you did not bring irrefutable evidence.

You brought no evidence at all.

And now I hear you are not the man you claimed to be.

Admiral... your credibility is stretched beyond belief.

A Romulan defector is almost a contradiction in terms.

But Admiral Jarok crossing the lines?

I explained my motivations to your interrogators.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes-- peace in our galaxy.

Except, Admiral, you are not a man of peace.

Your military record, what we know of it, is clear.

Which is precisely why I chose an alternate identity here.

The massacres in the Norkan outposts, for example.

What you call "massacres" were called the "Norkan campaigns" on my world, Captain.

One world's butcher is another world's hero.

Perhaps I am neither one.

On what basis, Admiral, am I to decide?

Hmm?

Your good word?

Are you willing to help us overpower the Romulan B-Type warbirds we may encounter?

Are you prepared to help us detect them through their cloaking shields?

Well, you see my problem, Admiral.

You ask us for faith in circumstances which are hardly possible to believe compounded by lies and your refusal to tell us what you know.

I cannot betray my people.

You've already betrayed your people, Admiral.

You've made your choices, sir.

You're a traitor.

Now, if the bitter taste of that is unpalatable to you,

I am truly sorry.

But I will not risk my crew because you think you can dance on the edge of the Neutral Zone.

You've crossed over, Admiral.

You make yourself comfortable with that.

Do you... have any children, Captain Picard, a family?

No.

Oh. Then you have sacrificed too much for your career.

Yes, this is all very interesting...

There comes a time in a man's life that you cannot know when he looks down at the first smile of his baby girl and realizes he must change the world for her-- for all children.

It is for her that I am here.

Not to destroy the Romulan Empire, but to save it.

For months

I tried desperately to persuade the High Command that another war would destroy the Empire.

They got tired of my arguments.

Finally, I was censured, sent off to command some distant sector.

This was my only recourse.

I... will never see my child smile again.

She will grow up believing that her father is a traitor.

But she will grow up... if you act, Picard, if we stop this war before it begins.

I can't and I won't... unless I have unequivocal cooperation.

Admiral Jarok has provided me with the locations, strengths and tactical plans of the Romulan fleet.

Mr. La Forge, he is prepared to give you data regarding engines, weapons, and the cloaking systems of the warbird class starship.

But I believe his experience as a field commander will be more valuable for its strategic sense than in the technical areas.

Any edge will help, Captain.

Don't depend on this.

For all we know, he may be still lying, but we shall find that out soon enough.

Number One, set course for Nelvana III.

DATA: Second Officer's Log, Stardate 43465.2.

We have entered the Neutral Zone

in direct violation of the Treaty of Algeron.

Presuming Romulan warships are cloaked and monitoring us,

we expect heavy resistance

as we approach Nelvana III.

Tactical?

Nothing on sensors.

I don't like it.

I would have expected a greeting party.

You echo another noteworthy commander in similar circumstances, Number One.

A countryman of yours--

George Armstrong Custer when his Seventh Cavalry arrived at The Little Bighorn.

May we have better luck.

Approaching Nelvana system.

Engage impulse engines.

Nelvana III on screen.

Still no signs of them on sensors.

In a way, I'd rather be fighting my way through this.

It's just too damned easy.

Prepare to enter standard orbit.

Data?

Scanning the planet, sir.

No life forms, no power sources, no weapons systems.

No indication of a base at all?

DATA: No, sir.

The subspace signal the probe detected?

The ionization disturbances?

DATA: I am picking them up, sir but I cannot identify the source.

They seem to be moving in an orbital path with an 800-kilometer apogee.

Lieutenant Worf, bring the Admiral up here.

Aye, sir.

Maybe they abandoned the planet after he defected.

There is no scarring on the planet surface that would denote heavy construction of any kind.

A cloaking device of some sort to hide the entire base?

A cloaking device operating on the surface would be given away by visible distortion effects.

Perhaps you would care to explain why we are here, Admiral.

There doesn't appear to be a base.

I don't understand.

PICARD: Nelvana III, Admiral! No base!

No weapons!

No sign of any life at all!

I-I saw the tactical communiqués-- the records, timetables for completion.

An entire legion was assigned to this section.

Is it possible they could have been feeding you disinformation?

You said that you had been censured-- reassigned four months ago.

They knew of your dissatisfaction.

Could all this have been to test your loyalty?

No.

No!

It's impossible.

They let you escape with an arsenal of worthless secrets.

What other explanation is there?

Permission to withdraw from the Neutral Zone.

At your earliest convenience, Number One.

Helm, bring her around 180 degrees!

Geordi, get us out of here!

GEORDI: I hear you, Commander.

Two Romulan warships uncloaking.

Coordinates...

Shields holding.

Damage?

La FORGE: Minor damage to the secondary hull.

Power transfer fields may be pinched off.

I'm working on it.

Captain?

Not yet, Mr. Worf.

This is just a tap on the shoulder or we wouldn't be here talking about it.

The Romulans are hailing us.

On screen.

TOMALAK: Captain Picard,

I hardly expected to see you again so soon.

It seems this time you are the one who has made an aggressive move across the Neutral Zone.

Commander Tomalak, as I am sure you already know, we were responding to warnings of Romulan incursions at Nelvana III.

But, Captain, as you can see, there is no incursion.

And the matter of the unidentified subspace radio emissions and the ionization disturbances?

Oh, you must mean our orbiting probe.

We are studying Nelvana III for... archaeological research.

With a cloaked satellite?

Oh, really, Captain, would you have us believe this satellite is an excuse for your aggressive charge across the Neutral Zone?

You can believe what you wish, and we will be on our way.

Without even an apology, Captain?

If an apology will do, then I offer it.

I'm afraid it won't, so I will save you the humiliation.

Get to it, Tomalak!

You see, Picard, after we dissect your Enterprise for every precious bit of information,

I intend to display its broken hull in the center of the Romulan capitol as a symbol of our victory.

It will inspire our armies for generations to come and serve as a warning to any other traitor who would create ripples of disloyalty.

All the communiqués, all the timetables, all the records-- they were all fiction written for my benefit.

A test... a test of my loyalty.

And you used me to lure the Enterprise into the Neutral Zone.

First, Captain, you will return the traitor, Jarok.

Then you will surrender as prisoners of war.

Do you seriously expect me to accept those terms?

No, Captain Picard, I expect you won't.

You have 30 seconds to decide.

I do not require one, Tomalak.

I urge you, Captain Picard-- surrender.

Consider the men and women you would lead into a lost cause.

If the cause is just and honorable, they are prepared to give their lives.

Are you prepared to die today, Tomalak?

I expected more from you than an idle threat, Picard.

Then you shall have it.

Mr. Worf.

Aye, sir.

Klingon warships-- armed and ready, sir.

What shall it be, Tomalak?

You will still not survive our assault.

And you will not survive ours.

Shall we die together?

I look forward to our next meeting, Captain.

Romulan disrupters are powering down, sir.

Cancel Red Alert.

Mr. Worf, will you extend the appreciation of the Federation and my personal gratitude to the Klingons.

Aye, sir.

Take us back, Number One.

I did it for nothing.

My home, my family... for nothing.

He ingested a Felodesine chip.

He must have brought it with him.

I'm sorry, Captain, there was no antidote.

A letter to his wife and daughter.

Sir, he must have known it would be impossible for us to deliver it.

Today, perhaps, but if there are others with the courage of Admiral Jarok, we may hope to see a day of peace when we can take his letter home.