“Gambit, Part II” is episode five of season seven of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
In the previous episode, “Gambit, Part I”, when Riker was captured by the mercenaries, he discovered that Captain Picard was alive and on the same ship, pretending to be a smuggler. The mercenaries opened fire on the Enterprise, Data having decided to drop the shields to keep up with the scam he believed Riker was doing. Both nacelles are hit with no appreciable damage to either. Data decides to play along and pretend they are damaged. They fire back and on the mercenaries’ ship Tallera reports that the Enterprise is damaged but they still have superior firepower. The logical course of action is to withdraw. Baran agrees. On the Enterprise, Word says they cannot track the other ship when it enters warp, but Data says to let it go.
They’re looking for a hidden code in Riker’s message and Worf reports Starfleet is dispatching ships to two likely destinations for the mercenary ship. He’s not happy about letting them get away. Data believes Riker wanted them to let him and the ship escape. Geordi reports he thinks he’s found a hidden message.
The mercenaries arrive at a planet and Baran supposes he should thank Riker. Captain Picard has a go at Riker, to stay in character, and Riker punches him. Again, to stay in character. Baran tells the captain to go check out the artefacts and Tallera follows. She thinks Picard, or Galen, as she knows him, is either incredibly stupid or incredibly smart. She believes he could have continued to fire and arguing with Riker just risks alienating Baran. Picard says this isn’t a Romulan labour camp; he doesn’t have to answer her questions. Or care what she thinks. Then the computer finishes the scan; a 98% probability the artefact is one they’re looking for. Tallera contacts Baran and informs him.
Baran is with Riker; once the final artefact is found, Galen’s usefulness comes to an end. And Riker has no real future with Starfleet now. Riker agrees he might be looking for a new career. Possibly with Baran. Baran cautiously agrees. But he wants Riker to become Galen’s friend to find out who is allied with Galen aboard the ship and, when the time comes, kill Galen himself.
The hidden message that was sent was the flight plan of the mercenary ship. Data orders a course set. Worf makes a grumpy reply and Data asks to speak to him in the ready room. Data explains that Worf questioning his orders in front of the crew isn’t appropriate. Yes, Worf could always voice his opinions to Riker and Captain Picard, but that was as head of security, not acting first officer. Yes, it is his duty to offer alternatives, but once Data has made a decision, Worf’s duty is to carry it out. If he has further reservations, they should be mentioned in private. Data doesn’t recall Riker ever showing irritation like Worf did. If Worf doesn’t feel capable of doing this. Data will appoint Geordi as first officer. Worf agrees to comply and Data is sorry if this has ended their friendship. Worf says Worf jeopardised it, not Data. And he would like to continue to consider Data his friend.
Riker finds the captain and explains that Baran has sent him and why. They’re going to be rendezvousing with a Klingon transport, to collect another Romulan artefact. Captain Picard says that the artefact they found isn’t Romulan; it’s Vulcan. Riker says that once the captain has verified the authenticity of the next artefact, Riker is supposed to kill him. Picard thinks it’s time to plan a mutiny.
He starts by speaking to Narik, who says the other crew will follow Tallera, not Galen. As Narik leaves, Tallera enters. She draws a gun as she’s found the message Picard sent to the Enterprise. The only logical – again with the logic; unusual in a Romulan – is that ‘Galen’ is a Starfleet officer.
Tallera puts her gun away and explains she is actually an agent of the V’Shar called T’Paal. Vulcan Security. She’s investigating a possible threat to Vulcan. The captain introduces himself properly. T’Paal explains there’s an extreme isolationist faction on Vulcan who believes they’re being polluted by alien races. They want to isolate Vulcan from the rest of the galaxy and purge all alien influences. The captain thinks that’s illogical. T’Paal says extremists have a logic of their own.
Captain Picard asks about the Vulcan artefacts. T’Paal explains that they are a weapon, a way of killing with telepathic abilities. The Stone of Gol. The captain has heard the story in Vulcan mythology. T’Paal says it’s a psionic resonator, one of the most devastating weapons ever conceived. It was believed to be destroyed at the Time of Awakening. Only one piece was known to exist, and that kept in a museum. It was stolen. Then archaeological sites were raided. The isolationists are looking for the Stone.
At this point, the Enterprise still don’t know Captain Picard is alive. And the mercenaries are getting close to finding all of the weapon. Which the Vulcans and Starfleet probably don’t want extremists to get their hands on.