Summary[]
The Barzanians arrange a conference on the Enterprise with the Federation, the Caldonians and the Chrysalians to sell the control over an allegedly stable wormhole in their space. The Ferengi invite themselves to the negotiations, and they disable the Federation negotiator Mendoza, so Will Riker has to take his place. Deanna Troi falls in love with the delegate representing the Chrysalians, the human Devinoni Ral, who has not told anyone that he is actually one quarter Betazoid and uses his empathic powers in the negotiations.
A Federation and a Ferengi shuttle set out to explore the wormhole. Geordi and Data discover that the far end is unstable. The crew of the Ferengi shuttle don't listen to the warnings, and they get stranded in the Delta Quadrant when the entrance of the wormhole shifts. In the meantime DaiMon Goss of the Ferengi ship incites a conflict with the Enterprise over the wormhole, which leads Bhavani of the Barzanians to come to an agreement with Ral. Deanna, however, senses that Ral and Goss are working together. All efforts turn out useless anyway when Data and Geordi return and report that the wormhole is unstable and therefore not suited for space travel.
Errors and Explanations[]
Internet Movie Database[]
Plot holes[]
- At the end of the episode, Devinoni Ral tells Troi, "I've been recalled by the Chrysalians. Explanations demanded, and so forth." But he has nothing to explain or apologize for. He succeeded in securing the Chrysalians the rights to control the use of the wormhole, which is what he was hired to do. Only after the negotiations were complete and Ral won did Geordi and Data return from their exploratory trip and reveal that the wormhole was unstable and therefore worthless.Perhaps the Chrysalians want to know why nobody had forseen that the wormhole would turn out to be useless.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs[]
- When Daimon Goss threatens to destroy the wormhole, Counselor Troi tells Capt. Picard that Goss is lying and that he didn't mean what he said, implying she can sense Goss's thoughts. (In previous episodes involving the Ferengi however, it has been stated that the Ferengi brain is too complex for Betazoids to be read telepathically.) (IMDB) Ral and Troi had earlier discussed using other cues to reading emotions besides their powers (voice stress and body language), which is what she could be using in this scene.
Nit Central[]
- Aaron Dotter on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 8:25 pm: I am curious as to why the Klingons and Romulans were not there. Perhaps the Barzans did not want them to have it? The Barzans may have considered the Klingons and Romulans too war-like. In addition, Barzan's location in the Alpha Quadrant would place the two Beta Quadrant races at a disadvantage.
- Keith Alan Morgan (Kmorgan) on Sunday, July 22, 2001 - 2:11 am: The magnification of Geordi's VISOR must be incredible if he can see Meson and Lepton activity increasing. Mesons are Subatomic particles and Leptons are a class of Subatomic particles. The VISOR provides Geordi with a visual range greater than that provided by biological eyes.
- I just don't understand why it's supposed to be a conflict of interest. Troi's position as ship's counsellor means she is obliged to help support the Federation bid, thus precluding close involvement with another bidder.