“A Matter of Perspective” is episode fourteen of season three of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Three people are painting a nude – Captain Picard is one of them – when Data enters to say the away team has completed their survey of Dr Apgar’s work and is ready to return to the ship. The captain says Data is welcome to examine everyone’s work. He compliments the other two; not so much the captain’s.
The Enterprise is visiting Tanuga IV where Dr Apgar is experimenting with the creation of Krieger waves, a potentially valuable new power source. On the bridge. the captain speaks to Geordi; Commander Riker is still on the station as Apgar wanted a word with him. Problems? Not scientific. Riker contacts the ship; he’s ready to beam back and sounds irritated. Geordi is sure Riker will be able to explain everything.
O’Brien is beaming Riker aboard when he contacts engineering due to a sudden power drain. Then the station the commander is being beamed off explodes. O’Brien manages to rematerialize Riker and Riker asks him why he sounds so surprised. Because O’Brien wasn’t sure Riker left the station before it exploded.
Dr Apgar was the only one onboard. There was no malfunction in the transporter and the cause of the power drain isn’t known. The explosion is consistent of an overload in the station’s reactor core. Geordi didn’t spot any problems whilst there. Riker’s story is a long one and he tells the captain he’s sure it had nothing to do with the accident. Worf states that Chief Investigator Krag wishes to beam aboard. Picard thinks Riker should tell him as much as possible before Krag arrives.
Krag is escorted to the bridge, where he states he’s there to take Riker into custody on the suspicion of murder. The captain is willing to cooperate, but not to release Riker into Krag’s custody, and suggests they speak in his ready room. Two witnesses have said Riker made threats against Apgar. In their system, an accused is guilty until proven innocent and the Enterprise is in their jurisdiction. Krag quotes regulations, somewhat smugly, about how Riker is to be realised to them. Except that is only done if the captain thinks there’s a case.
Krag wants Riker on the planet, in case the Enterprise suddenly decides to leave. Picard wants any interrogation done here. Krag doesn’t think it’s possible to recreate everything on the Enterprise., The captain summons Data; yes, they can do it on the holodeck. Krag will return with the witnesses.
Wesley and Geordi are to help Data on the holodeck. Riker and Geordi need to make detailed depositions. Troi will assist the captain. His decision will be based on the evidence on the recreations. With the programming complete, Picard, Riker, Troi and Krag head to the holodeck. The first recreation is Riker’s. Apgar is acting very defensive about his work and his wife is behaving rather flirtatiously.
According to Riker, Mrs Apgar suggested they stay the night. In the guest quarters, she shuts herself in with Riker and starts removing her clothes. Dr Apgar opens the door, hits his wife and tries to attack Riker but falls. He tells Riker he won’t get away with this. The next day, Apgar asked to see Riker alone. A somewhat acrimonious talk follows and Riker beams off. According to Krag, there was a focused energy pulse fired at the reactor just as transport began. It came from where Riker was, hit the reactor and destroyed the station.
Mrs Apgar’s recreation is totally different to Riker’s. In it, Riker was the one making advances and he beat up her husband. According to Troi, Mrs Apgar believes she’s telling the truth. Just when Troi’s abilities would have proved useful; knowing when someone believes they are telling the truth and whether they actually are, are different matters. And there’s a reason why eyewitness testimony is not considered that useful in an investigation. Apgar’s assistant, Tayna, also gives her version of events. Including what Apgar told her about his scuffle with Riker. Utterly implausible and Picard states it’s hearsay. Apparently allowed, according to Krag, because Apgar can’t testify himself. Oddly, there’s no recreation of what Geordi saw.
The Tanugan justice system seems a little flawed, and Riker’s case doesn’t look good. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is being affected by strange radiation. That has to be connected.