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The Drumhead

Captain's Log, Stardate 44769.2.

For some weeks we have had a Klingon exobiologist on board

as part of a scientific exchange program.

Unfortunately, we suspect that he was involved

in a security breach

and in the possible sabotage of our warp drive.

What were you doing accessing the propulsion system files on Stardate 44758?

I didn't.

Yes, you did, from computer 12B9, Deck 36.

The computer logged in your identification from your communicator.

It must be a mistake.

J'ddan, we have confirmed reports that schematic drawings of our dilithium chamber fell into Romulan hands one week later.

I know nothing about it.

I suppose you know nothing about the explosion that disabled the warp drive approximately at the same time?

No, I was not involved.

You accuse me because I am Klingon.

Our chief of security is Klingon.

That has nothing to do with it.

Send me home then, if you are so distrusting.

We've already contacted the Klingon High Council.

You'll be returned home as soon as we finish our investigation.

I have nothing more to say.

Very well.

Worf, accompany the lieutenant to his quarters.

What do you think?

It's hard to tell.

He's very closed, but he is hiding something.

On the Klingon home world, your name is not mentioned.

It is as though you never existed.

A terrible burden for a warrior to bear-- to become nothing, to be without honor, without the chance for glory.

I have friends-- powerful friends on the home world.

I could talk to them.

They might help to restore your name.

If you could just take me to a shuttle craft.

It could be done without anyone knowing about it.

I don't know how you transferred secret information to the Romulans, but I will find out-- Pahtak!

And when we inform the Klingon High Council, they will put you to a slow death.

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.

Captain's Log, supplemental.

Retired Admiral Norah Satie,

whose investigation exposed the alien conspiracy

against Starfleet Command three years ago

is arriving to assist in our inquiry.

Captain Picard.

Admiral Satie, welcome aboard the Enterprise.

Delighted to be here.

I managed to acquire my former staff.

My aide, Sabin Genestra from Betazed, and my assistant, Nellen Tore from Delb Two.

This is my first officer, Commander William Riker.

May I show you to your quarters?

Captain, if Starfleet Command was so concerned with your report they brought me out of retirement,

I think I should get right to work.

Very well.

Commander Riker, will you see to the Admiral's staff?

First, I'd like to inspect the damage to your engine room.

Admiral Satie, this is Commander Data,

Commander La Forge.

Admiral.

We still can't get in there, Captain.

The radiation levels are dropping, but they're still too high to raise the isolation door.

How much longer will it be?

At the rate the levels are decreasing, we will gain entry in 49 hours, Captain.

Maybe the Admiral would like to see the visual log of the explosion?

Yes.

This was logged four days ago at 0300 hours.

At that point, the emergency confinement field was activated, and the isolation doors came down.

No one was killed, but I have two people in Sick Bay from radiation burns.

Have you been able to make any assessments?

DATA: A slow-motion study of the explosion suggests that the articulation frame collapsed.

The schematics that were stolen from the Enterprise--

I believe some involved the articulation frame of the dilithium chamber.

That's one reason we tend to suspect sabotage.

Other evidence lends credence to that theory, Captain.

A review of the sensor logs indicates that every system's reading was well within normal parameters until 52 milliseconds before the explosion.

We haven't found anything that suggests there was a malfunction anywhere along the line.

Captain,

I think I'm going to need a full briefing before we go any further.

By all means, Admiral.

SATIE: Commander Data,

La Forge,

I don't envy you your job.

Good luck.

There are very disturbing overtones in the idea of a Klingon providing information to the Romulans.

Are you aware of any other Klingon-Romulan connection that Starfleet might have encountered recently?

I don't believe... what Starfleet Command knows or doesn't know is for me to reveal.

This ship has encountered... several incidents which might suggest a potential alliance between those two powers.

We're well aware of that, Captain.

What we must concentrate on is the business at hand.

( chiming )

Come.

Excuse me, Captain, I did not know...

Oh, please, Mr. Worf, come in.

I particularly want my guest to meet you.

Admiral Satie, this is my head of security,

Lieutenant Worf.

Captain, I have been pursuing the investigation of Lieutenant J'ddan.

I believe I know how he transferred information off the Enterprise.

Well done, Lieutenant.

This is J'ddan's.

A hypo-syringe he uses to treat his Ba'ltmasor syndrome.

But this has been fitted with an optical reader specially modified to read data from Starfleet isolinear chips.

He can extract digital information from a computer, encode it in the form of amino acid sequences, and transfer those sequences into a fluid in the syringe.

Then he injects someone.

Perhaps even without their knowledge.

Or perhaps with their knowledge.

The information would be carried in their bloodstream in the form of inert proteins.

The body itself becomes a conveyor of top secret files.

Lieutenant Worf, when we confront J'ddan,

I want you to conduct the interrogation.

I would be honored.

Captain. Admiral.

Captain, I predict that officer will be extremely valuable in this investigation.

I have tracked the movements of every person who has left the Enterprise since you have been here.

I traced one Tarkanian diplomat as far as the Cruces system where he disappeared and has not been seen since.

That proves nothing.

A hypo-syringe... was discovered in your quarters.

I take injections.

Everyone knows that.

But your injections do not include an optical chip reader.

This device has but one function--

To transform computer information into biological sequences.

The blood of all Klingons has become water!

Since the Federation Alliance, we are turned into a nation of mewling babies.

The Romulans are strong.

They are worthy allies.

They do not turn Klingons into weaklings, like you.

SATIE: Lieutenant... how did you damage the dilithium chamber?

I had nothing to do with that.

You mean it was sheer coincidence that it was sabotaged after you gave the plans for the design to the Romulans?

I do not know. I had nothing to do with it.

You've admitted your crime.

Why lie now?

I am not lying.

Mr. Worf, you may have him confined.

Sabin?

I believe he's telling the truth.

He admits stealing the files, but not sabotaging the dilithium chamber.

I get no sense that he's lying.

But if you're right, someone else may be involved.

I think, Captain, you have a bigger problem on your ship than just one Klingon exchange officer.

I've seen this before.

A specter of conspiracy on a starship is a frightening one.

I can scarcely believe it myself.

But I am so grateful for your presence, Admiral.

If anyone in Starfleet can help us, it's you.

Captain...

I find myself changing my mind about you.

In what way?

When Starfleet ordered me here, it was with the expressed command that we work together on this problem as equals.

My father taught me to avoid partnerships.

Most of them are woefully lopsided.

That sounds like Judge Aaron Satie.

You knew my father?

Only from his writings.

His judgments were required reading at the Academy.

He was an extraordinary man.

Every night, at the dinner table, he would pose a question for debate.

My big brothers and I would wrangle it around from one side and the other.

Father would referee.

And he kept a stopwatch on us so we would have to learn brevity,

But he wouldn't let us leave until he thought we'd completely explored the issue.

I'm willing to wager that you trounced your brothers during those debates.

More than once.

Father loved it when I nailed one of them with some subtle point of logic.

All that I am, I owe to him.

He was a giant.

You must miss him very much.

Captain, I always preferred working alone.

That way, if something went wrong,

I didn't have to go far for the cause.

I resented you being assigned to me, but I was wrong.

We're going to be quite a team.

J'ddan did not make friends easily.

There are not many to question.

You've done a thorough job, Lieutenant.

I am strongly motivated in this matter.

Yes, I can see that.

I don't mind telling you, I'm surprised.

Frankly, when I first heard about your father...

My father?

Yes.

There are some who believe he betrayed your people to the Romulans.

What he did or did not do is no one's concern but my own.

Of course. I only meant, before I saw you in action, I naturally considered you to be a possible security risk.

But I want you to know you have the Admiral's and my complete confidence.

You have nothing to prove to us.

If there is a conspiracy on board,

I promise you, I will find it.

Good.

You know the ship, you know the personnel.

You know exactly what we're up against.

We're counting on you, Lieutenant.

I will arrange for the interviews to begin.

And how often did Lieutenant J'ddan come in for his injections?

About once a week.

Did you administer them yourself?

No.

Well, who did?

I had one of my assistants do that.

Did you ever hear him say anything, anything that may have seemed innocent at the time that might now shed some light on this investigation?

No, nothing.

In fact, he rarely spoke at all.

Thank you, Dr. Crusher.

We appreciate your time, you're excused.

Mr. Worf, will you bring in the next person?

Please sit down, Mr. Tarses.

For the record, will you tell us your name and position?

Simon Tarses, Crewman First Class, medical technician.

Now I assure you, Mr. Tarses, this is an informal inquiry.

We are not accusing you of anything.

However, if you would like counsel, it can be provided.

No, sir, I have nothing to hide.

Tell me, how long have you held your appointment aboard this vessel?

Since Stardate 43587.

Mr. Tarses, your records state that you were born on Mars Colony.

That's right.

Then you are human?

Largely.

My paternal grandfather was Vulcan.

Yes, I see that.

Tell me, what is your relationship with the Klingon, J'ddan?

Um, he...

I mean, there's no relationship.

He just came in for his injections.

Did you give him those injections?

Sometimes.

There were several of us, actually.

I-- I might have done it twice.

Did he ever make any comments that might in retrospect be suspicious?

Not really. He hardly ever talked.

Did you ever see him outside Sick Bay?

Once or twice in Ten Forward, with a group of people... but I never had a conversation with him.

Thank you, Mr. Tarses.

I don't think there's need for more, Captain.

You're excused, crewman.

Mr. Worf...

Wait. He's lying.

He's desperately frightened. He's covering something.

It's clear that he's frightened.

But that's hardly an indication...

It's more than that. He wasn't truthful.

He's covering a lie.

One so big, it's overwhelming him.

I think we found the man.

Admiral.

I have to tell you, you must not expect me to permit any action against Mr. Tarses solely on the basis of Betazoid intuition.

Sabin has uncanny instincts.

I've learned to trust them.

I'm not happy about this use of a Betazoid.

But you have a Betazoid counselor.

Surely you're aware of the advantages.

There is a difference between a counselor and an investigator.

Are you saying you never use your counselor during interrogations?

Yes, I do... but I would not act solely on the basis of her instinct.

Nor do I.

But you're asking... you're asking me to restrict

Mr. Tarses' movements solely on the basis of Sabin's feeling.

If Counselor Troi suggested to you that someone on the ship were dangerous, would you not act on that?

Observe him, curb his activity?

Yes, I admit I probably would, and perhaps I should re-evaluate that behavior.

Oh, nonsense.

Let's keep our priorities straight.

The important thing is to uncover the conspiracy on this ship and to prevent further damage.

Now, if Tarses is a possible saboteur, you cannot allow him access to sensitive areas of this ship, and I strongly suggest continuous surveillance.

If we had clear evidence...

We will have clear evidence.

Sabin and Lieutenant Worf are continuing to investigate.

But if we don't act until then, it may be too late.

No.

I won't treat a man as a criminal unless there is cause to do so.

And while you're being so generous, you give a saboteur a chance to strike again?

Last time, it was just a hatch cover.

What if next time it's more serious?

What if lives are lost?

Can you afford not to act?

LA FORGE: Engineering to Captain Picard.

Yes, Mr. La Forge?

Captain, could you come to Engineering right away?

We've got something interesting to show you.

We'll be right there.

Captain, we finally got in here about six hours ago, and we've been going over it inch by inch ever since.

We've made micro- tomographic analyses of the dilithium chamber, the hatch mounting, the blast pattern from the explosion.

We did mass spectrometer readings of the residue for chemical contents, sifted through the debris for bomb fragments.

What did you find?

This is the frame for the hatch.

It ruptured right along here.

And when we take a reading of that spot...

See?

I'm afraid I'm out of my element, Commander.

You'll have to interpret for me.

There are sub-micron fractures in the metal casing.

That's right. A breakdown of the atomic cohesive structure.

Yes, and what caused them?

DATA: Those fractures suggest nothing more than simple neutron fatigue.

I would speculate that, when the engine was last inspected at McKinley Station, the hatch casing was replaced with one which had an undetectable defect.

I believe, sir, that the conclusion to our investigation must be that the explosion was not intentional.

That's the way I see it.

This wasn't sabotage at all.

It was nothing more than... an accident.

An accident?

I find that hard to believe.

If my crew say there was no sabotage, you can be sure there was none.

Let us keep our perspective, gentlemen.

Just because there was no sabotage doesn't mean there isn't a conspiracy on this ship.

We do have a confessed spy.

And he had confederates.

Do we know that for sure?

Of course he did. Do you think J'ddan could have come on board the flagship of the Federation and accomplish what he did without help from within?

I agree, it would be difficult.

But not impossible.

We should continue to investigate Tarses.

He was hiding something.

Captain Picard, Lieutenant Worf and I have been working well together.

I suggest we continue, if for no other purpose than to determine

Tarses's innocence.

Now please, let me remind you, he is innocent until he is proved guilty.

Of course he is.

What Sabin is saying is that he and Lieutenant Worf would like to establish his innocence unequivocally, for his own sake.

Very well.

But let us put this to rest as quickly as possible.

You've opened the hearing to spectators?

It isn't good to have closed-door proceedings for too long.

It invites rumor and speculation.

Nevertheless, Admiral, I think it would be wise--

Because spies and saboteurs don't like the bright lights of an open inquiry.

They're like roaches, scurrying for the dark corner.

This hearing is convened on Stardate 44780 as a continuing inquiry into the activities of crewman Simon Tarses.

Mr. Tarses, for your own protection,

I have assigned a counsel to you in the person of Commander William Riker.

Thank you, sir, but I don't need protection.

I have not done anything wrong.

Dr. Crusher, have you observed crewman Tarses with J'ddan?

Well, yes, he gave him his injection.

I meant outside of Sick Bay.

I think so. Perhaps in Ten Forward.

And whom else have you observed at these occasions?

I don't understand what relevance that has.

It was an innocent social gathering.

If it was so innocent, why do you hesitate to give us the names?

Thank you, Doctor.

( whispers: ) Admiral, if you have a case to make against Simon Tarses, you had better make it.

Otherwise I'm stopping this here and now.

Mr. Tarses, isn't it true that you have access to the biological supplies in Sick Bay?

It's part of my job, yes.

J'ddan used suspensions of deoxyribose to carry the encoded files he stole.

Isn't it true one of your duties is to prepare these suspensions?

Several technicians share that job.

And isn't it true that your security clearance allow you access to all the stores and files in Sick Bay?

Access which you can exercise at any time?

Because I have access does not mean I...

What would you say if I told you there is evidence... that the explosion in the engine room was caused by a corrosive chemical-- one that is kept stored in Sick Bay?

I had nothing to do with that.

How can we believe you?

How can we believe someone whom we know... we know to be a liar?

I object, there is no basis for calling crewman Tarses a liar.

Agreed. Mr. Sabin...

Captain, there is a basis which will become clear in a moment.

Mr. Tarses, didn't you deliberately and premeditatively lie when you filled out your personnel application and compounded that lie by repeating it to this committee?

What?

Isn't it true that the paternal grandfather of whom you speak was not a Vulcan but was in fact a Romulan?

That it is Romulan blood you carry and a Romulan heritage that you honor?

We're waiting, Mr. Tarses.

On the advice of my counsel...

I refuse to answer that question in... in that the answer might... might serve to incriminate me.

You and crewman Marcus will coordinate to track Tarses's movements over the last five years.

Ensign Kellogg, I want a list of all relatives, known associates, and especially old school friends.

And make arrangements to do an encephalographic polygraph scan...

Mr. Worf.

Yes, Captain?

I need to speak with you.

You are dismissed.

Please get your reports to me as soon as possible.

Do you see what is happening here, Mr. Worf?

Sir?

This is not unlike a... a drumhead trial.

I do not understand.

500 years ago, military officers would upend a drum on the battlefield.

They'd sit at it and dispense summary justice.

Decisions were quick, punishments severe, appeals denied.

Those who came to a drumhead were doomed.

But we know there is a traitor here.

J'ddan has admitted his guilt.

That's true, and he will stand for his crime.

Tarses has all but done the same.

How?

He refused to answer the question about his Romulan grandfather.

That is not a crime, Worf!

Nor can we infer his guilt because he didn't respond.

Sir, if a man were not afraid of the truth, he would answer.

Oh, no.

We cannot allow ourselves to think that.

The seventh guarantee is one of the most important rights granted by the Federation.

We cannot take a fundamental principle of the constitution and turn it against a citizen.

Sir, the Federation does have enemies.

We must seek them out.

Oh, yes.

That's how it starts.

But the road from legitimate suspicion to rampant paranoia is very much shorter than we think.

Something is wrong here, Mr. Worf.

I don't like what we have become.

There you are, Mr. Tarses.

Would you care for some lemon?

No, thank you, sir, this is fine.

Well, tell me a little about yourself, crewman.

I know you were born on Mars Colony.

Yes, sir.

All my life, I wanted to be in Starfleet.

I went to the Academy's training program for enlisted personnel.

I took training as a medical technician, and I served at several outposts.

The day that I was posted to the Enterprise was the happiest day of my life.

Did you ever consider applying to the Academy, going the whole route? Apply to become an officer?

My parents wanted me to, and I thought about it.

I used to sit under this big tree near the parade grounds.

An elm tree with a circular bench?

Yes, that's the one.

I spent many an hour there.

It was my favorite spot to study.

I used to sit under that tree and watch the drills.

Picture myself an officer.

I know that it would have made my mother very happy, but I...

You didn't do it. No.

I was 18 and eager.

The last thing I wanted was to spend four years sitting in classrooms.

I wanted to be out there, traveling the stars.

I didn't want to wait for anything.

Now it's done, isn't it?

My career in Starfleet is finished.

Not if you aren't guilty, Simon.

It doesn't matter.

I lied on my application.

And that mistake will be with me for the rest of my life.

Mr. Worf has found a brother who still lives on Mars Colony.

Contact someone there and have him interviewed.

Admiral Satie? And start a background checkup into all his friends at the Academy training program.

Admiral Satie? Yes, Captain?

I would like to have a word with you.

Of course.

In private.

And off the record.

Of course.

After all, you are my partner in this.

I cannot possibly believe you mean this.

But I do.

This must stop. It has gone too far.

You lied to him about the engine room.

There were no volatile chemicals found there.

It was a tactic-- a way of applying pressure.

We're hounding an innocent man.

And how, may I ask, have you managed to determine that?

I've talked with him.

I see.

And he told you he was a victim of circumstance.

Blameless and pure?

No, he admits his mistake in falsifying his application, but that does not make him a traitor.

How can you be so incredibly naive?

Captain... may I tell you how I have spent the last four years?

From planet to starbase to planet.

I have no home.

I live on starships and shuttlecraft.

I haven't seen a family member in years.

I have no friends.

But I have a purpose.

My father taught me from the time I was a little girl still clutching a blanket that the United Federation of Planets is the most remarkable institution ever conceived, and it is my cause to make sure that this extraordinary union be preserved.

I cannot imagine why you are trying to block this investigation.

There have been others in the past who doubted me.

They came to regret it.

The hearings on Simon Tarses will stop.

If necessary, I will go to Starfleet Command.

I have news for you, Captain.

I've been in constant contact with Starfleet Command.

The hearings are not going to stop.

They're going to be expanded.

What are you saying?

I'm going to get to the heart of this conspiracy if it means investigating every last person on this ship.

And every hearing from now on... will be held in the presence of Admiral Thomas Henry of Starfleet security.

I've requested he be brought here at once.

You never told me about this.

I report to Starfleet Command directly.

I do not need your permission or your approval for my decisions.

Admiral.

What you're doing here... is unethical... it's immoral.

I'll fight it.

Do what you must, Captain.

And so will I.

Captain, warp engines are back online.

We are ready to commence restart sequences.

Sir?

Yes?

Yes, yes, of course, proceed, Mr. Data.

You all right, Captain?

Yes, of course, Number One, just a little preoccupied.

Admiral Satie has ordered you to report to the interrogation room at 0900 hours tomorrow morning.

You are to be questioned before the committee.

Captain's Log, supplemental.

Admiral Thomas Henry,

who has worked closely with Norah Satie in the past,

has arrived to observe the hearings.

Your full name?

Jean-Luc Picard.

Rank and position?

Captain, Federation Starship Enterprise.

How long have you held this post?

Over three years, since Stardate 41124.

Very well. Admiral.

If you don't mind, there is something I would like to say.

If you have a statement, you'll have an opportunity to make it later.

I believe that Chapter Four, Article 12 of the Uniform Code of Justice grants me the right to make a statement before questioning begins.

Very well.

I'm deeply concerned about what is happening here.

It began when we apprehended a spy.

A man who admitted his guilt and who will answer for his crime.

But the hunt didn't end there.

Another man...

Mr. Simon Tarses, was brought to trial.

And it was a trial.

No matter what others choose to call it.

A trial based on insinuation... and innuendo.

Nothing substantive offered against Mr. Tarses, much less proven.

Mr. Tarses' grandfather... is Romulan, and for that reason, his career now stands in ruins.

Have we become so fearful-- have we become so cowardly... that we must extinguish a man... because he carries the blood of a current enemy?

Admiral... let us not condemn Simon Tarses or anyone else because of their bloodlines or investigate others for their innocent associations.

I implore you.

Do not continue with this... proceeding.

End it now.

Captain, do you believe in the Prime Directive?

Of course.

In fact, it's Starfleet's

General Order Number 1, is it not?

Your point, Admiral?

Would it surprise you to learn that you have violated the Prime Directive a total of nine times since you took command of the Enterprise?

I must say, Captain, it surprised the hell out of me.

My reports to Starfleet will document the circumstances of those instances.

Yes, we're looking into those reports, Captain.

Very closely into those reports, after which, I'm sure we'll have more questions for you about your so-called commitment to Starfleet Prime Directive.

Captain, could you tell us just what happened on Stardate 44390?

I beg your pardon?

Let me refresh your memory.

You were transporting a Vulcan ambassador, T'pel.

I was following orders to take this ambassador to a location near the Neutral Zone.

I don't think we need the preamble.

In fact, she was not a Vulcan at all, was she?

She was a Romulan spy.

That's correct.

A spy whom you were delivering back into the hands of the enemy.

Tell me, Captain, when the deception was revealed, and she stood proudly on the bridge of a Romulan ship, did you make any effort to retrieve her?

PICARD: No.

No? Even though you knew she carried Federation secrets that she had been accumulating for years?

The Enterprise could have been captured by the Romulans.

Captain Picard did the only thing he could.

Really, Lieutenant.

And where were you when this traitor was on board the Enterprise?

Where was ship's security?

SABIN: Don't you think it's questionable judgment, Captain, to have a security officer whose father was a Romulan collaborator?

PICARD: Lieutenant.

Tell me, Captain.

Have you completely recovered from your experience with the Borg?

Yes, I have completely recovered.

It must have been awful for you.

Actually becoming one of them.

Being forced to use your vast knowledge of Starfleet Operations to aid the Borg.

Just how many of our ships were lost?

39?

And a loss of life, I believe, measured at nearly 11,000.

One wonders how you can sleep at night, having caused so much destruction.

I question your actions, Captain.

I question your choices.

I question your loyalty.

You know, there are some words I've known since I was a schoolboy.

"With the first link, the chain is forged.

"The first speech censured,

"the first thought forbidden,

"the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Those words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie as wisdom and warning.

The first time any man's freedom... is trodden on, we are all damaged.

I fear that today...

How dare you!

You who consort with Romulans... invoke my father's name to support your traitorous arguments?

It is an offense to everything I hold dear, and to hear those words used to subvert the United Federation of Planets!

My father was a great man.

His name stands for integrity and principle.

You dirty his name when you speak it.

He loved the Federation, but you, Captain, corrupt it.

You undermine our very way of life.

I will expose you for what you are.

I've brought down bigger men than you, Picard.

I have nothing more to say.

Perhaps we should call a recess until tomorrow.

Am I bothering you, Captain?

No, please, Mr. Worf, come in.

It is over.

Admiral Henry has called an end to any more hearings on this matter.

That's good.

Admiral Satie has left the Enterprise.

We think we've come so far.

Torture of heretics, burning of witches is all ancient history, and then, before you can blink an eye, suddenly it threatens to start all over again.

I believed her.

I... I helped her.

I did not see what she was.

Mr. Worf, villains who twirl their moustaches are easy to spot.

Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged.

I think, after yesterday, people will not be so ready to trust her.

Maybe.

But she, or someone like her, will always be with us.

Waiting for the right climate in which to flourish.

Spreading fear in the name of righteousness.

Vigilance, Mr. Worf.

That is the price we have to continually pay.