Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

Descent (1993)

Natalija Nogulich: Adm. Alynna Nechayev

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Quotes 

• Admiral Alynna Nechayev : Captain, I've read the report you submitted to Admiral Brooks last year... regarding the Borg you named Hugh. And I've been trying to figure out why you let him go.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I thought I made my reasons clear.

  Admiral Alynna Nechayev : As I understand it, you found an injured Borg at a crash site, brought it aboard the Enterprise. Studied it. Analysed it. And then eventually, found a way to send it back to the Borg with a program that would have destroyed the entire Collective once and for all. But instead, you nursed the Borg back to health, treated it like a guest, gave it a name and then sent it home. Why?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Once Hugh was separated from the Borg Collective he began to grow and evolve into something other than an automaton. He became a person. When that happened, I felt I had no choice but to respect his rights as an individual.

  Admiral Alynna Nechayev : Of course you had a choice. You could have taken the opportunity to rid the Federation of a mortal enemy. One that has killed tens of thousands of innocent people and may kill even more.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : No-one is more aware of the danger than I am. But I am also bound by my oath and my conscience to uphold certain principles. And I will not sacrifice them in order to...

  Admiral Alynna Nechayev : [interrupting]  Your priority is to safeguard the lives of Federation citizens. Not to wrestle with your conscience. Now I want to make it clear, that if you have a similar opportunity in the future... an opportunity to destroy the Borg... you are under orders to take advantage of it. Is that understood?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [rising from his desk]  Yes sir.

  [Nechayev leaves without saying another word]