'Next Generation' Episode : 'The Defector' Quiz

Answer: Henry V

The story begins on a holodeck with Data practising his acting and Captain Picard watching. Picard has taught Data about Shakespeare, now Data plays the part of Henry V. Specifically, the scene where King Henry disguised himself and walked among his troops to ascertain their mood before the battle of Agincourt. Little do both Starfleet officers know this play will soon be relevant to brewing developments...

Answer: Romulan

The Federation and The Romulan Empire have had a Cold War for centuries. The Klingons despise the Romulans even more, but obey the wishes of Starfleet and keep the peace. But that day, as the Enterprise patrols near the Neutral Zone, they are surprised to detect a damaged Romulan scout-ship heading towards them.

They are even more surprised when the Romulan pilot contacts them, pleading for asylum. No wonder - he is being pursued and fired upon by his own people!

Answer: None of his race have defected before

The Romulans used to be Vulcans who left the planet Vulcan centuries ago due to ideological differences. They despise their "cousins" and the feeling is mutual. Picard comments at one point "A Romulan defector is almost a contradiction in terms." The Romulans are fanatically loyal to their way of life.

They usually stay on their side of The Neutral Zone but now a scout-ship has violated the historic treaty and crossed over! Not only that, a Romulan warbird is pursuing and firing on it - disregarding the same treaty.

Answer: False

Surprisingly, the larger Romulan craft does not offer any hostility. Once the damaged defector's ship is in Federation space the Enterprise's shields protect it. The warbird's weapons are locked onto the Enterprise and vice-versa. Could they be on the verge of war? Picard is angrily warning the warbird to withdraw, but it cloaks (becomes invisible) and returns home before he can finish his sentence.

The Enterprise officers look at each other, puzzled.

Answer: False

Even though the fugitive Romulan is burnt and bleeding badly, he insists on speaking to the Captain immediately. He tells Commander Riker and Lieutenant Worf "I have information - vital to your survival!"
They look at each other. This encounter with an enemy is getting stranger by the minute.

Answer: To warn Starfleet about an upcoming attack

The defector introduces himself as Sub-Lieutenant Setol, a logistics clerk. He warns Picard and the others that the new leaders of his empire are going to start a war. They have secretly built a base on the small planet Nelvana 3, and within 48 hours it will become operational and launch a fleet of enemy ships into Federation space. Unless the Enterprise crosses the Neutral Zone and destroys the base. Immediately!

Answer: All these reasons

Captain Picard orders Geordi la Forge to transport to the damaged Romulan craft. He might learn something...then suddenly the scout-ship explodes! In Sickbay the defector reveals he set the auto-destruct before he left (luckily Geordi had not gone onboard yet!). Riker asks "Are you defecting or not?" The Defector replies he didn't want his people's secrets falling into Federation hands.

He further irritates his hosts by refusing to answer their questions about the Romulan fleet and other matters.

He will only speak of the base about to launch an attack. Riker and Worf grow more suspicious when the defector reveals he knows about a classified Romulan encounter the Enterprise had months ago. Worf growls "You are aware of a great deal - for a logistics clerk!" Not only that, it seems the Romulan warbird let Setol's craft reach the Enterprise. Did they intend him to defect? They could have killed him before he got very far, but they didn't.

Answer: Data

As each hour passes, the Defector hates his new life more. When Data sees him sitting morbidly in Ten Forward he goes over to join him. Is there any way to cheer up their guest? Picard has just asked Data to compile a record of brewing developments. Since Data is emotionless, the record will be historically viewed as dispassionate.

It is very possible they are about to go to war and Picard wants to know how his crew feel. He reminds Data "Unlike King Henry it is not easy for me to disguise myself to walk among my troops."

Answer: Takes him to the holodeck

The defector tells Data he cannot stand Starfleet food and drink. He also remarks he knows several Romulan scientists who would long to be this close to Data. Data comments he does not find that thought appealing and the defector smiles chillingly. "Nor should you."
They chat and the defector admits he is missing his home, his people, and his food. Data thinks of a way to cheer him up. He takes the man calling himself "Setol" to the holodesk and recreates a Romulan landscape. At first the man is happy, then realises it is fake and tells Data to turn it off.
He realizes he must tell his hosts everything. He has thrown away his life and it must not be in vain. He must convince the humans to cross the Neutral Zone and destroy the base before it comes operational! He turns to Data and says "Arrange a meeting between myself and Captain Picard." and takes a deep breath because he is about to reveal the biggest secret of all.
"Tell him Admiral Jarok wishes to see him."

Answer: True

Picard and his crew are astounded. This so-called logistics clerk is in fact a notorious Admiral. He tells Picard he chose an alternate identity because of his reputation, but has now come clean since they don't believe him about the secret base. He claims he only wants peace, but Picard angrily cuts him short "YOU Admiral are not a man of peace. Your military record, what we know if it, is clear." He is referring to a massacre Jarok once commanded. Jarok angrily retorts "What you call 'massacre' was called a 'campaign' on my world. One world's hero is another world's butcher!" he admits after a pause. "Perhaps I am neither one." Picard considers. That may be true, but it will take a lot to convince him to cross the Neutral Zone and risk war. Starfleet have said the decision is his to make.

He earlier quoted Henry V "Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king who led them to it."

Answer: The defector promises full co-operation

In Picard's ready-room, the captain and defector are still arguing. Jarok does all but plead Picard to go and destroy the base but Picard still doesn't believe him. Jarok could easily be a spy sent to trick the "Enterprise" into crossing the Neutral Zone so the Romulans have an excuse to go to war. As it happens, Data and Geordi have detected strange signals coming from Nelvana 3 which is, after all, supposed to be uninhabited. But the only way to know for sure is to visit the planet. And run the risk of being attacked?
Jarok refuses to reveal military secrets. He cries "I cannot betray my people!" Picard retorts "You've already betrayed them!"
He will not risk his ship and crew without irrefutable evidence. But the Admiral brought no evidence at all! Jarok finally decides to admit everything. He has a young daughter, whom he will never see again. He had tried for months to convince his superiors a war with The Federation will destroy the Romulan Empire. He defected to save his empire, not destroy it. Eventually, sick of listening to him, they sent him to command a distant sector. Defecting was the only way he could prevent this war. He admits to Picard sadly that his daughter will grow up believing her father is a traitor. But at least she will grow up...if Picard acts. Now!
Picard says coldly "I can't. And I won't." he looks Jarok straight in the eye, "Unless I have unequivocal co-operation."
Jarok finally relents.

Answer: There Is No Base

In direct violation of the peace treaty, the Enterprise crosses the Neutral Zone. They are mildly surprised no Romulan warships appear to challenge them. Picard, who has been comparing this situation to "Henry V" all along, now mentions General Custer's demise at Little Bighorn. Riker comments "May we have better luck!" (Picard also mentions Pearl Harbor, for obvious reasons.)
Soon they will arrive at Nelvana 3. Then they will know if Jarok has been telling the truth all along or not. Whether he is really a defector or not.
But when they arrive...the entire planet is empty.
Jarok, for the first time, is at a loss. He cannot understand! He KNEW there was a base - he SAW numerous reports about its construction, personnel and military deployment. He is utterly bewildered.
Just then, a possibly occurs to Picard no one has thought of. "Is it possible they could have been feeding you disinformation?"
A horrified look spreads across Jarok's face. It seems he has been set up by the same military he tried to talk out of war. "No..." he whispers in horror.

Answer: False

Realising that they, and Jarok, have been duped, Riker asks permission to leave. "At your earliest convenience Number One," replies the Captain. But as the ship turns around, two Romulan warbirds suddenly de-cloak and fire at them. Nelvana 3 was a trap all along!
After a brief exchange of firepower, a familiar Romulan commander named Tomalok appears on their screen. "Captain Picard!" he smiles "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." he is enjoying himself, recalling their encounter some months ago.
Picard tries to explain why they have broken the treaty and Tomalok just smiles innocently. "Er...but Captain, as you can see, there IS no incursion." The signals Data and Geordi detected were actually a cloaked satellite. It is now clear the Romulans had planned this all in advance. They tricked one of their own admirals to defect and convince the Enterprise to come here. That way the Federation's flagship falls into their hands, without needing to go to war!
Jarok growls at the screen "All the communiqués. All the timetables. All the records! They were fiction; written for my benefit. You used me to lure the Enterprise into the Neutral Zone!" (it's ironic that Jarok has been a genuine defector all along, but defected for phoney reasons). He and the Enterprise are now at the Romulans' mercy.

Answer: Klingon ships suddenly surround the Romulans

Tomalok orders the Enterprise to hand over Jarok and surrender as prisoners of war. Picard says "Do you seriously expect me to accept those terms?"
Tomalok sighs. "No Captain Picard. I expect you won't. You have 30 seconds to decide!"
"I do not require one, Tomalok!" Picard refuses to surrender. Tomalok tries to reason with him, pointing out his crew will die. Picard smiles and quotes "Henry V" for the last time: "If the cause is just and honourable, they are prepared to give their lives. Are you prepared to die, today, Tomalok?"
Tomalok snorts, unimpressed. "I expected more from you Picard, than an empty threat."
"Then you shall have it!"
Suddenly, a bunch of Klingon Birds of Prey materialise around Tomalok's ships. The Romulan is furious! Clearly the Enterprise did not cross the Neutral Zone alone, after all. The Romulans' entire plan has failed. Their ships leave, after a few more harsh words.

Answer: He takes his own life

Everyone aboard the Enterprise is happy. Except their guest. He stares blankly, distraught. "I did it for nothing. My home, my family. For nothing."
Shortly afterwards, Picard and Data are summoned to Jarok's guest quarters by Dr. Crusher. The Admiral has killed himself with some poison he brought with him.
They find a letter he wrote before he died. Data comments they cannot possibly deliver it, and Jarok must have known.
Picard comments "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."