“Attached” is episode eight of season seven of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise is at Kesprytt II evaluating an unusual request by the Kes for membership in the Federation. Dr Crusher and Captain Picard are having breakfast; she’s talking, he’s not paying attention. He’s being thinking on their mission. The Kes want to join the Federation; the Prytt don’t want outside contact. Every other member of the Federation entered as a unified planet. It said something about them. The Prytt are reclusive to the point of xenophobia. The doctor is making an analogy when Riker contacts them and says that Ambassador Mauric is ready to see them.
They arrive at the transporter room and Worf contacts the Kes security station, who lower the defensive shield. Worf beams them down. He’s leaving when the security station contacts him; they’re ready to receive. The captain and doctor haven’t arrived.
They both come to in a cell. The doctor notices something on the captain’s neck. They both have one and it seems to be an implant connected directly to the brainstem. Three Prytt enter the cell and the leader, a woman with two guards, says she’s from the Prytt Security Ministry. They know the Federation is attempting to establish a military alliance with the Kes and won’t tolerate it. There’s no point trying to deceive them with denials; soon the devices will be calibrated and they will get all the information they need. The captain says she will see they are telling the truth. She is unconvinced.
Data can find nothing wrong with the transporter and Worf reports antigraviton particles in the emitter coil. Data says that could be from a tractor beam that might have deflected the transporter beam. It’s tracked to the Prytt Alliance. Riker wants Mauric contacted.
The captain is looking for an exit from their cell when a guard arrives with a dish of food. Except what’s underneath is the doctor’s tricorder with data added to it, including a map showing an escape route. The captain warns it could be a trap. The doctor is willing to try, as is he. The tricorder includes the code for the cell door and they leave.
Ambassador Mauric arrives on the Enterprise and apologises. He’s prepared to insert a hostage rescue team. Riker would prefer to try talking first. Mauric doesn’t believe diplomacy will work. They have no formal contact with the Prytt. Worf can contact them. Troi asks how long since the Kes last dealt with the Prytt. As it’s almost a century, she thinks they may have changed. Mauric says they have had less formal contacts that he can’t discuss, and the Prytt have changed very little. Riker wants to try anyway, and the ambassador will make preparations for a rescue. However, there must be a breach in the Kes communications network and he’s like to base operations on the Enterprise for security details. Worf takes the ambassador and his guard to quarters. He offers his assistance, as head of security, but is told there’s no need.
The captain and doctor are making their way through some flame filled caves. Captain Picard thinks the doctor said something when she didn’t.
Data has found a way in to Prytt communications, but they have no link for extraterritorial communications. This may come as a surprise to the Prytt. They contact the prime minister’s headquarters and the person responding says he cannot participate in an unauthorised transmission and terminates the link. Then the Prytt Security Council hails the Enterprise.
The woman who spoke to the captain and doctor is Security Minister Lorin. She tells them to stop trying to contact the Prytt and won’t talk about Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher. Lorin threatens offensive actions, then also terminates the transmission. Worf says the Prytt weapons are no threat. The ambassador has arrived on the bridge; they have people in Prytt and they’ve freed the two. He’s willing to talk further, in his assigned quarters. They’re more secure.
Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher start noticing they can detect things from the other; unsaid things. Initially, they can’t do this deliberately, but the connection gets stronger. It seems the doctor is a sarcastic commentator in her own head; she managed to break the habit of actually saying it. This means the two get to uncover rather more about their relationship, past and present, than expected. Meanwhile, Riker is having to deal with the Kes who are extremely paranoid about the Prytt. And therefore with the Federation. He ends up dealing with two equally paranoid individuals, both accusing the Federation of conspiring with the other.