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First Contact

WOMAN ( over P.A. ): Dr. Nesser, please contact Station 12. Dr. Nesser, contact...

MAN: Got a Code Blue here. Call Dr. Berel.

Watch the door. All right.

Careful, he may have sustained cranial damage.

WOMAN: Move him to the diagnostic pad.

Right. Slowly.

I got it. Here we go.

Slowly. That's good.

Need him here stat.

( monitor beeping )

All right, all right, careful.

Readings?

Uh, they're fluctuating, sir.

He took a severe blow.

Possible trauma to the telencephalon.

Start 15 octares of quadroline.

We'll need a complete del-scan series.

I can't find his cardial organ.

What do you mean? I'm reading a steady circulation.

There it is. Up here.

In his digestive tract?

You ever seen anything like this?

He's missing three costal struts on one side.

And four on the other.

You think that's something? Look at this.

He has digits on his terminus.

What are you?

( indistinct voices )

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.

Yes, Doctor. Right away.

( monitors beeping )

What happened?

You are in the Crisis Room at the Sikla Medical Facility.

You've had a severe injury, but you're going to be all right.

( sighs )

I was caught in the riots when the police moved in.

That's the last thing I remember.

Can you tell us your name?

Rivas. Rivas Jakara.

Rivas Jakara.

Where do you live?

In the Marta community, on the Southern continent.

You're a long way from home.

Do you have any members of your family we should notify?

No. I have no family.

I can't stay here. I have to get...

You're in no condition to leave... yet.

( groaning )

There are several unusual things about your case, Mr. Jakara.

Your cranial lobes, for instance.

They seem to be surgical implants.

I had cosmetic surgery to correct a genetic birth defect.

And these?

Another birth defect?

Yes. Isn't that something?

My father's were the same way.

You want us to believe that all your abnormalities are inherited genetic traits?

I understand your confusion.

My personal physician is much more familiar with these genetic irregularities.

To be honest,

I would feel much better back home under her care.

Why don't I talk to her about that?

What's her name?

Crusher. Actually...

I'm not sure you'll be able to reach her.

Why not?

She's taking a sabbatical.

Well, we'll do the best we can for you.

Oh, there was one other thing.

We found this curious-looking device in your clothes. What is it?

It's just a toy.

I was taking it home, as a present.

I thought you didn't have any family.

It's for a neighbor's child.

Was there anything else found? I had one piece of jewelry-- a metal pin.

No. I'm sorry. This was all we found.

( indistinct voices )

( groans )

Genetic irregularities?

That thing isn't even the same species as we are.

Keep your voice down.

The last thing we need is a panic in here over some--

It's all the space flights.

They have attracted creatures from outer space.

That's exactly the kind of thing I don't want to hear.

What are you going to do?

( sighs )

Of all the medical facilities available... why did he have to end up here?

I think we ought to call Central Security.

Well, I'm not calling anybody yet.

Not till we've done a lot more.

A lot more.

I want his story checked out.

Run a complete search through the medical library.

Be absolutely certain there's never been anything like him.

What if there's more of them, hmm?

They could be everywhere.

Cordon off the wing.

I want security on his door 29 hours a day and I want this kept quiet.

WOMAN ( over P.A. ): Code Three drill in B Wing.

All instructors report immediately.

Code Three drill in B Wing. All instructors report...

At 12.4 after launch the warp field generator will be activated.

That's when it would break the light barrier?

Yes, Chancellor.

If we're successful, the craft will leave our star system, and in a matter of minutes will be on its way to the Garth system.

And then what?

And then, Krola, we'll see what's there.

How long, Mirasta?

We have the prototype design for the warp engine.

It would simply be a matter of building the actual production units.

If I get your approval today, ten months.

Maybe less.

KROLA: Chancellor?

I'll admit Mirasta's enthusiasm for her work is seductive, but perhaps we're moving too fast.

Your opponents will see this as another example of your determination to pull us further from our traditional ways.

My opponents look back, as I look forward.

I cannot believe that my people would choose to retreat after all we've done.

I agree.

The people were willing to accept your social reforms because they believe in you, Chancellor.

But there are many who say we have gone far enough.

All these new ideas, new technology, and now, space travel?

It confuses them, frightens them.

I will not allow them to remain in the Dark Ages.

The warp program will proceed as you have outlined, Mirasta.

And then we will slow down, Krola, to let everyone catch their breath, including you.

Mirasta Yale.

Yes?

Please, don't be alarmed at our appearance.

My name is Jean-Luc Picard.

This is my associate, Deanna Troi.

What are you?

We've come with some very important information.

About what?

PICARD: About space.

About the universe you are preparing to enter.

We come from a federation of planets.

Captain Picard is from a planet called Earth, which is over 2,000 light-years from here.

I'm from another planet called Betazed.

( sighs )

We've been monitoring your progress toward warp drive capability.

When a society reaches your level of technology and is clearly about to initiate warp travel, we feel the time is right for first contact.

We prefer meeting like this rather than a random confrontation in deep space.

We've come to you first because you're a leader in the scientific community.

Scientists generally accept our arrival more easily than others.

We almost always encounter shock and fear on this sort of mission.

We hope that you will help us to facilitate our introduction.

Is this a joke?

Did Lupo and the others from the lab put you up to this?

Oh, it's certainly no joke.

As you can see, we are physically quite different from Malcorians.

And, with your permission, I'm prepared to prove it to you.

I would like that.

Picard to Enterprise.

Three to beam up.

( conversation and laughter )

It's everything I ever dreamed of.

When I was a child my parents would take me to the planetarium.

And we would sit in the dark, and it was as if I was on a spaceship on my way to another world to meet people on other planets.

Part of me keeps waiting for the lights to come up and the program to end.

How did you know about me?

( sighs )

We learn as much as possible about a planet before we make first contact.

One of the things we monitor are your broadcast signals-- your journalism, your music, your humor.

Try to understand you better as a people.

( chuckles )

I hate to think how you would judge us based on our popular music and entertainment.

Indeed.

We do get an incomplete picture, which is why we also do... surface reconnaissance.

You've had people on our planet?

For several years.

PICARD: These are specialists.

Highly-trained observation teams-- superficially identical to yourselves-- and, therefore, able to blend naturally into your society.

You see, we have discovered that the most hazardous aspect of these missions is the lack of sufficient information.

You don't have to explain.

I understand.

Although not everybody on my planet would.

They would think you were trying to infiltrate our society.

Well, there is a difficulty here.

One that has forced us to accelerate this entire process.

One of our people is missing-- my First Officer, Commander William Riker.

He was down on the planet's surface coordinating with the observation team the final details of contact.

He disappeared.

My people have made inquiries, but they have not been able to locate him.

If there is anything you can do to help...

Oh, of course.

Where was Riker's last known location?

The capital city.

He was under the name "Rivas Jakara"-- a tourist from the Marta community.

Well, we must find him before someone realizes what he really is.

If this gets out prematurely, it could seriously complicate matters.

Our ideology is based on the assumption that the Malcorian is a supreme life-form, and our world is the center of the universe.

Your arrival will change our entire understanding of life.

And some will not want it to change.

What about Durken?

(chuckles softly) Durken... he will be open-minded, but cautious.

I strongly suggest that you do not discuss your surveillance teams with him, at least not right away.

But with the disappearance of Commander Riker, wouldn't it be prudent--

Captain Picard,

I must ask you to trust me on this.

If you tell the Chancellor about Commander Riker, you will undermine everything that you hope to accomplish here.

Durken will assign Krola, our Minister of Security, to find him, and Krola has his own political agenda.

He will perceive you as the greatest threat that our people have ever known.

And he will not hesitate to use Riker to prove that he is correct.

( quietly ) ...from another planet.

Hundreds of 'em.

I saw them.

It doesn't make sense that he's the only one.

Think about it. It's true.

I'm sure they have a whole...

( whispers continue )

I thought I said this was to be kept a secret.

You know Nilrem.

Well, it's getting out of control.

I don't know what else he is, but he is still a patient in this medical facility.

And we have a responsibility for his care and recovery.

Remind them of that, will you?

You're not going to be able to contain this much longer.

I know. If people get scared enough, anything could happen.

Mr. Jakara, we have been unable to confirm anything you told us.

No physician named Crusher is on file-- not on this planet.

( sighs )

Your address in Marta is an eating establishment.

The cook has never heard of Rivas Jakara.

Well, obviously, there's been some misunderstanding.

There's a growing number of people on the other side of that door who believe that you are not one of us, Mr. Jakara.

Not one of you?

That you are from another planet.

Are you, Mr. Jakara?

Do you realize what you're saying?

I know how it sounds.

I'm not anxious to make a fool of myself.

This new era of space flight... it fires the imagination.

People see unidentified vessels in the sky.

They turn out to be weather balloons.

Well, it's far more likely that I am a weather balloon than an alien.

( sighs )

Our medical journals have documented several cases of genetic mutation in recent history.

Some unusual physical disfigurations have occurred.

I'm just another case for your medical journals, then.

Perhaps.

But you, Mr. Jakara, are hiding something.

And unless you tell me the truth about yourself, this rumor will persist and grow and could even become dangerous, most especially to you.

( door opens )

( door closes )

( ringing )

MAN: Chancellor, Minister Yale of the Space Bureau would like to introduce you to someone.

Call her back, see if the Vice-Chancellor will do.

MAN: They're out here waiting to see you, sir.

( sighs ) All right, send them in.

( beeping )

Always time to meet your friends, Mirasta.

Chancellor, I think you might want to clear your afternoon schedule for this.

And this... is the Bridge.

Chancellor.

Here we have environment and engineering stations, mission operations, and the two principal science stations.

Data, allow me to introduce

Chancellor Avel Durken and Space Administrator Mirasta Yale.

Chancellor. Minister.

Commander Data is my Second Officer.

He's an android, Chancellor-- a constructed being.

A machine?

In a manner of speaking.

The term "artificial life-form" would be more accurate.

Captain Picard, is there some place we might speak together without distraction?

Certainly.

Chancellor, with your permission,

I would like to "beam" to the surface.

I have several matters to attend to.

Not a word to anyone about this, Mirasta.

Of course.

Mr. Data, will you escort the Minister to the Transporter Room?

Chancellor.

Has there still been no communication from Commander Riker, Data?

No, Minister. He has not returned to our designated transport coordinates.

We have continued to scan the capital city without success.

PICARD: I've been saving this for a special occasion.

My brother on Earth produces a fruit known as "grapes" which he turns into wine.

He's really quite good at it.

Chancellor, we have a tradition called a "toast."

It is a drink to salute one's friends and good fortune.

And I would like to propose a toast to our new friendship.

( sighs )

We have something very much like this on Malcor III.

I think we shall find we have much in common.

And much that is not in common.

An opportunity to learn from one another.

You speak the language of diplomacy very well, Captain.

It's a language I appreciate and understand, but I have learned to not always trust it.

Trust requires time and experience.

My world's history has recorded that conquerors often arrived with the words, "We are your friends."

We are not here as conquerors, Chancellor.

What do you want?

A beginning.

But how we proceed is entirely up to you.

And if my wishes should conflict with yours?

There'll be no conflict.

And if I should tell you to leave and never return to my world?

We will leave and never return.

Chancellor, we are here only to help guide you into a new era.

I can assure you, we will not interfere in the natural development of your planet.

That is, in fact, our Prime Directive.

I can infer from that directive that you do not intend to share all this exceptional technology with us.

That is not the whole meaning, but it is part of it.

Is this your way of maintaining superiority?

Chancellor, to instantly transform a society with technology would be harmful and it would be destructive.

You're right, of course.

I'm... overwhelmed, Captain Picard.

I'm...

I'm quite overwhelmed.

I go home each night to a loving wife, two beautiful daughters.

We eat the evening meal together as a family.

I think that's important.

And they always ask me if I've had a good day.

And how will you answer them tonight, Chancellor?

I will have to say, "This morning,

"I was the leader of the universe as I knew it.

"This afternoon, I am only a voice in a chorus.

But I think it was a good day."

( grunts )

There are guards out there. You'll never escape that way.

I'm not afraid of you.

Good.

Because there's nothing to be afraid of.

We shouldn't fear the unknown.

We should embrace it.

Can you help me get out of here?

Are you really an alien?

It's all right to tell me.

No. I'm not an alien.

I don't believe you. You are an alien.

I really have to leave.

I could divert the guard's attention.

You might stand a chance if you took the service exit down the hallway to the right.

To the right?

Fine. Let's do it.

Why should I?

Well... you know why.

I don't belong here.

I have to get back on my ship... in space.

I believe you.

Now, will you help me?

If you make love to me.

What?

I've always wanted to make love with an alien.

Listen, Miss...?

Lanel.

Lanel... I really have to get going.

All the other... aliens are waiting for me.

Oh, it's not so much to ask.

And then I'll help you escape.

( scoffs ) It's not that easy.

There are differences in the way that my people make love.

I can't wait to learn.

But it's...

It's your only way out of here... my alien.

Something's happened to him. I think he's dead.

Go on, get some help.

( whispers ) Okay.

No! That way.

Thanks. Hmm.

Will I ever see you again?

I'll call you the next time

I pass through your star system.

( inhales )

MAN ( over P.A. ): Dermatome analyzer to third level Trauma Care.

Dermatome analyzer to third level Trauma Care.

Stop him! Somebody stop him!

All right, hold it!

He's escaping!

There he goes! The alien's escaping!

Grab him!

( groans ) Get him!

MAN: Get him!

Stop it, all of you! Stop it now!

Have you all lost your minds?

Oh! They've aggravated the injury to his renal organ.

He's bleeding internally.

Get him into a surgical cubicle and call Central Security.

This has gone too far.

( murmuring voices )

Their leader, Picard, has made it clear that how we proceed is entirely our own decision.

You cannot possibly be suggesting surrender, Chancellor?

They are not hostile.

Mirasta, you are incredibly naive.

Can you be so enraptured with the notion of space travelers that you are blind to the threat they represent?

I have seen their vessel, Krola.

If they chose to be hostile,

I do not think we would be standing here now.

Why should they use force when we are ready to lay down in fear?

I do not lay down in fear.

To them or to you, Krola.

Chancellor, I mean no disrespect, but I have repeatedly warned you about your policies, taking us too quickly where we had no business going in the first place.

New philosophies, new economics, new technologies.

And there are still many people who value our traditional way of life, and I, for one, am willing to die to defend it.

Open your eyes, Krola.

We are part of a greater community.

We cannot ignore it.

You would ignore them... as they infiltrate and spy on us.

What are you saying, Krola?

We have captured one of their spies.

Chancellor, he is Captain Picard's First Officer--

Commander Riker.

You knew about this, Mirasta?

He has been missing for two days.

I told Captain Picard not to discuss this, because I was afraid this is exactly what would happen.

What else do you know, Mirasta? Everything!

They have been on our planet, observing, for several years.

Years?

Imagine what they have done-- influenced our young, stirred up dissent.

They were collecting information.

Where is this Commander Riker now?

He's in the Sikla Medical Facility.

He's recovering from surgery.

He suffered head injuries in an escape attempt.

He will recover consciousness in a few hours.

( quiet voices )

Will he survive?

I didn't think he would have survived the injuries.

I have to interrogate him before he dies.

Well, at least give him time to regain some strength.

Come back tomorrow.

It cannot wait until tomorrow.

( door opens )

Krola, we can get help from his ship.

With their medical technology, he might recover.

We're not giving him back.

He's the one advantage we have now.

Use your drugs to revive him.

Those drugs increase cardial rate and vascular pressure. That's the last thing we need to do to him right now.

( whispers ) It will probably be enough to kill him.

You can't do it.

Revive him.

I'm just a physician, Minister.

I don't know much about affairs of state.

But he is a living, intelligent being.

I don't care if the Chancellor, himself, calls down here.

I have sworn an oath to do no harm, and I will not.

Then I'll find someone to replace you.

( birds chirping )

Chancellor.

You're punctual, Captain.

I know how busy you are.

Do you?

I think you know a great deal more about me than I know about you.

In what respect?

You speak of trust and peace, and working together to enter a new era.

And at the same time, you conduct secret surveillance posing as Malcorians.

Commander Riker.

Commander Riker.

Mirasta said it would be a mistake to discuss--

Yes.

She has already tried to accept the responsibility.

It was my error, not hers.

Chancellor, there is no starship mission more dangerous than that of first contact.

We never know what we will face when we open the door on a new world-- how we will be greeted, what exactly the dangers will be.

Centuries ago, disastrous contact with the Klingon Empire led to decades of war.

And it was decided then we would do surveillance before making contact.

It... it was a controversial decision.

I believe it prevented more problems than it created.

I can appreciate the logic of your position, Captain.

But it would seem that full disclosure

after contact would have been in order.

In time, there would have been full disclosure.

I can only ask you to believe that.

On other worlds, it would not be an issue.

But here, everything our observers reported indicated that the people of this world would almost certainly react negatively to our arrival.

We could see that even surveillance might be interpreted as an act of aggression.

I hoped that we would have found Commander Riker before you did, so that this matter would not complicate our introduction.

It was a mistake.

Yes.

A mistake I might have made in your place.

I rather like it, actually.

Like it?

That you make mistakes, like any man.

Chancellor, I have made some fine ones in my time.

Now, I must ask you.

Will you release my officer?

We'll talk again later, Captain.

Enterprise, one to beam up.

Yes, I understand.

I have been relieved of my duties, as I'm sure you already know.

You are Acting Director of the facility, Nilrem.

Revive him.

Leave us.

I am Minister Krola of Internal Security.

You are Riker... an alien.

Yes, we know.

Please bring my people here.

In time... in time.

But first, I need to ask you some questions.

Thank you for seeing me.

If I did not depend so much on your expertise in space matters,

I would have asked for your resignation.

I felt I was acting in the best interests of our people, Chancellor.

When you are selected to occupy this office, then you will have the privilege of deciding the best interests of our people.

Picard, I can excuse, but you, Mirasta.

You should have trusted me.

Chancellor, we must release Riker to Picard.

Any hope for a relationship with these people depends on it.

I can't afford to be the idealist you are, Mirasta.

But Riker-- I am prepared to release Riker after we have interrogated him.

Are you prepared for him to die, Chancellor?

His injuries are extremely serious.

A mob at the medical facility almost killed him.

Krola has ordered drugs to be used to revive him for questioning-- drugs that in his condition, would be dangerous for him.

Without medical aid from his ship,

I believe that Riker will not survive the day.

You must tell Picard where he is.

You have lied since the moment of your capture, and I believe you are lying now, Commander.

No, we're here on a mission of peace.

Such noble creatures.

Why do peaceful people develop such lethal weapons?

Or do you still insist it's just a toy?

( loud clattering )

An interesting toy, to be sure.

It is only used for defense.

Perhaps, like many conquerors, you believe your goals to be benevolent.

I cannot.

For however you would describe your intentions, you still represent the end to my way of life.

I cannot permit that to occur.

Eventually, Durken would choose to welcome your people with arms open and eyes closed.

I must force him down another path.

When they find us, I will be dead-- killed by your weapon.

The lines will be drawn.

A peaceful accord will no longer be an option.

( whispers ) No...

For my people.

What happened?

He shot him.

The alien shot Krola.

Get me three octares of adrulmine.

High-frequency EM charge unit now.

I have a circulation pattern.

It's very weak.

We have to get him on vital buffers right now.

I'm a physician. Don't be frightened.

I need to know what happened.

Are you doctors?

Yes. He shot him.

With that thing.

Crusher to Picard.

PICARD: Go ahead, Doctor.

Commander Riker is near death, but there's still some brain activity.

I need to get him back to the ship.

Acknowledged. And there's a Malcorian male with a phaser wound in his upper chest.

I need to get him back, as well.

We'll meet you on the Enterprise.

Picard out.

They're both going to be okay.

We were able to stabilize Will.

If we had been any later...

Krola?

He was never in any real danger.

The phaser was on stun.

"Stun"?

It's a defensive weapon.

Have you been able to ascertain what happened?

Based on the angle of impact, it suggests that Krola's left hand was on the phaser when it went off.

They were struggling for the weapon.

Commander Riker was in no position to offer any kind of struggle, Chancellor.

Krola was trying to be a martyr?

Where is this?

You're aboard the starship, my foolish old friend.

No, Chancellor.

You must not...

You must not pursue relations with them.

Must not!

I know.

I know.

But, Chancellor-- Mirasta... it goes against every instinct of my being.

But my people are not ready to accept what you represent.

Everything that happened in the hospital proves that.

And Krola is the best evidence of all.

We must slow down and allow those who are like him to join us in the present before we can move into the future.

But when we encounter other beings in space, our people must be ready.

The warp program will have to be delayed.

We will divert more resources to education and social development, to prepare for the day when we are ready.

Chancellor, I strongly disagree.

( sighing ) I know.

Captain... you once said if I asked you to leave, you would do so without hesitation.

I'm afraid I must ask you to do just that.

Well... it's your decision, Chancellor.

But I must say...

I regret that I won't have the opportunity of knowing your people better.

We're a good people, Captain-- a society with much potential.

Once we cross the threshold of space we shall have to give up this self-importance-- this conceit-- that we are the center of the universe.

But this is not the time for that.

For now, we will have to enjoy that sweet innocence.

How will you keep us secret, when so many have seen and heard so much?

The stories will be told for many years,

I have no doubt... about the ship that made contact, of the alien who was held prisoner in the medical facility.

There will be charges of a government conspiracy.

Some of the witnesses will tell their tales and most of the people will laugh at them, and go back and watch the more interesting fiction of the daily broadcasts.

It will pass.

MIRASTA: I'm sorry to say he's probably right.

Captain Picard, I have one last request.

Take me with you.

She will be unhappy with the restrictions

I must place upon her at home, Captain.

We may not be back here in your lifetime.

And... I have to believe that you cannot be fully prepared for the realities of space travel.

I have been prepared for the realities of space travel since I was nine years old and sitting in a planetarium.

Mr. Worf, to my ready room.

Escort Chancellor Durken to the transporter room, Lieutenant, and... assign quarters to Minister Yale.

She will be remaining on board.

Aye, sir.

Until we return, then.

With luck, we will both be around to renew our friendship, Captain.