- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [narrating] Captain's Log, Stardate 47111.1: A Federation listening post along the Romulan Neutral Zone has detected an unidentified vessel headed for Federation space. The Enterprise is moving to intercept.
- Lt. Commander Data: At its reported heading and velocity, the vessel will enter Federation space in approximately 47.3 seconds.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Go to yellow alert.
- Lieutenant Worf: We have the vessel on sensors.
- Commander William T. Riker: The ship is a Garidian scout ship. They are driving their engines too hard, and their warp core is critical.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The Garidians? What is the status of their relationship with the Romulan empire?
- Commander William T. Riker: They're on friendly terms and may share technology.
- Lieutenant Worf: We are being hailed.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: On screen.
- Lucana: [over channel] Help us! We are fleeing political persecution! We seek asylum! We are being persecuted...
- [signal fades out]
- Lieutenant Worf: Their signal is breaking up.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: What do you make of this, Number One?
- Commander William T. Riker: It could be a trick.
- Lieutenant Worf: The Garidians have earned a reputation as honorable warriors, Captain. They do not ordinarily resort to trickery.
- Lt. Commander Data: We are within visual range. The Garidians' warp drive is failing. They are dropping to sub-lightspeed inside Federation space.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Slow to impulse...
- Lieutenant Worf: Warbird decloaking directly ahead! The warbird is also Garidian. They are hailing us.
- Pentara: This is an internal Garidian matter. Withdraw at once!
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You are violating Federation space-
- [Pentara cuts off transmission]
- Lieutenant Worf: They have cut off transmission.
- Lt. Commander Data: The warbird has locked its tractor beam onto the scout ship.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Go to red alert!
- [klaxons sound]
- Lieutenant Worf: Captain, we are receiving an emergency transmission from Cymkoe IV.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Cymkoe IV? Isn't there a research center there?
- Lt. Commander Data: Yes, sir. The work at Mertens Orbital Station focuses on power generation. The researchers there are among the best in the Federation.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: On screen. This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise. How can we be of help?
- Daenub: Captain Picard, I am Daenub, chancellor of Cymkoe. We are in need of immediate assistance. Mertens Orbital Station has been attacked by an unknown vessel, and does not answer our hails.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Attacked? But the station is a purely scientific facility.
- Commander William T. Riker: Is the attacking vessel still present?
- Daenub: We do not know. Whoever or whatever they were, our sensors did not detect them.
- Lieutenant Worf: Perhaps it was a cloaked Romulan vessel.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I doubt the Romulans would venture this far into Federation territory. The risks are too great.
- Daenub: Captain, you must hurry. The attack has destabilized the station's experimental power core. We don't know how long we have till a core breach, but I can tell you the resulting energy release and radiation would be catastrophic.
- Commander William T. Riker: What about survivors? Did anyone get off the station?
- Daenub: We detected several escape pods, but we haven't recovered them yet. The pods we detected could hold only a few dozen. There are hundreds aboard the station, including families.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Set course for Cymkoe IV. I hope it's not too late.
- Daenub: Thank you, Captain. I hope you arrive in time.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: We'll do our best. Picard out.
- [hails Medical]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Dr. Crusher?
- Commander: Crusher here.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Doctor, we may shortly be taking on a large number of wounded - possibly hundreds.
- Commander: How much time have I got?
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Not enough, I'm afraid. Picard out.
- [hails Engineering]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Mr. LaForge?
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: Yes, Captain.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: We're en route to Mertens Orbital Station. They've been attacked, and they're going to need immediate assistance. See what you can find out about their experimental power core.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: I'll see what I can dig up, but the Cymkonians do some advanced work. It may take a while to figure it all out.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Then I suggest you work quickly. Millions of lives on the planet surface may be at stake. I expect a full analysis of the situation-and our options-as soon as we are within sensor range.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: Yes, sir.