“Code of Honor” is episode four of season one of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise is arriving at Ligon II, the source of a rare vaccine to treat a disease on Styris IV. They are there to open treaty negotiations. Lt. Yar contacts the bridge and says the welcoming party is ready to beam aboard. Captain Picard, Riker and Troi head to the cargo bay where the party is beaming in. The locals insisted on using their own transporter technology.
Five people beam in and one unrolls a red carpet, then a sixth, Lutan, arrives. Picard introduces his officers; Tasha being his security officer surprises them, as she’s a woman. Lutan’s second, Hagon, has a sample of the vaccine. Tasha refuses to let him approach and sends him to the ground when he tries anyway. Lutan finds this interesting and Troi tells the captain not to apologise, as that would be a sign of weakness. Tasha checks the vaccine box and pronounces it safe. The Ligonians are invited to be entertained and Hagon apologises to Lutan. Lutan tells him that an apology is not necessary and Tasha may be exactly what he needs.
On the Enterprise, the Ligonians are presented a gift from the Chinese Sung Dynasty; Data corrects the captain when he gets the century wrong. Lutan says they may not be as technologically advanced, but they have something the Federation does not, the vaccine. If they respect the Ligonians customs, they will be friends and will make the antidote available to all. Lutan dismisses his guards and wants to see the holodecks. Specifically, he wants Tasha to show them to him. On Ligon, the duty of women is to own the land and that of men to rule and protect.
Tasha is willing and demonstrates an aikido program, explaining that the created ‘person’ isn’t real but controlled by the computer. She defeats the hologram but Hagon comes out second best. Tasha explains that the program learns as you fight it. Lutan is impressed with Tasha’s skill. As the Ligonians are about to beam down, Tasha is seized and transported as well.
A display blast of photon torpedoes is ordered but they haven’t traced the source of the transporter beam. Data starts digressing on the transporter technology before realising it isn’t really irrelevant. Lutan won’t respond to hails. Troi doesn’t think he will harm her. She felt attraction from all the males, but avarice and ambition from Lutan. Data says the Ligonians respect patience. Which means they sit and wait it out.
A day later and they know where Lutan’s compound is but haven’t heard from him. Dr Crusher speaks to the captain; the disease is getting worse and they can’t replicate the vaccine. She also wants to talk about Wesley, who is in the turbolift. Staying off the bridge like the captain ordered. Picard does relent and invite Wesley to sit at ops. Temporarily.
Data, Riker and Troi have more information on the Ligonians. Data says that what Lutan did is considered to be ‘counting coup’ and starts explaining to the French Jean-Luc Picard about the obscure dialect known as French. What Lutan did would be considered to be heroic, which fits Lutan’s personality. Troi says Lutan has a high desire for achievement, a desire that could result in him being willing to kill. They need to, politely, ask for Tasha’s return. Which the captain does and they are invited down.
Troi tells Commander Riker that the captain needs to lead the away team, and Data agrees. Riker disagrees, because it’s his duty to keep the captain out of danger. However, the Ligonians custom is that a visiting leader becomes an honoured guest, and only the captain qualifies. They would die rat5her than violate custom. Riker consents and Troi and Captain Picard beam down.
Things on the planet do not go as well as they should. Lutan had an ulterior motive for taking Tasha, and this comes out. The outbreak on Styris IV is getting worse and the vaccine is desperately needed.
Data is attempting human humour, badly, and Worf is not seen (Michael Dorn was unable to make it for this episode and the next one filmed).
Errors in choices made when portraying the Ligonians resulted in this being considered to be one of the worst Star Trek episodes and the director was fired.