“Haven” is episode eleven of season one of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise is in orbit about Haven, a planet renowned for its peaceful beauty and said to have mystical healing powers. Captain Picard mentions some legends about the planet, which Data says are unsupported by fact. Picard tells him that sometimes they have a way of coming true.
Commander Riker is in his quarters, watching some holographic music, when Tasha contacts him; his presence is requested in Transporter Room 1. An object of some kind is beaming up from Haven; Tasha isn’t sure what it is. It appears to be a chest with a face in it. The face (Armin Shimerman) animates and states it holds a message for Deanna Troi from Lwaxana Troi and the Miller family, who will soon arrive. The momentous day is at hand. Troi has arrived and starts saying no. Then the chest opens, and jewellery pours out. Troi says they are bonding gifts; what they would call wedding presents. As to who is getting married; she is. That’s not a happy face.
Troi and Riker speak to the captain; Troi was certain this would never happen. Genetic bonding is a Betazoid tradition and Steven Miller was her father’s closest friend. Her father, and the Millers, are human though. No, she and her husband wouldn’t be staying with the ship. Captain Picard congratulates Troi for now, then leaves. Riker also lacks a happy face. Troi tells him that, more than anything in the world, he wants to be a starship captain. Yes, she can feel that isn’t all he wants. Riker leaves too, as Data is arriving; the Miller wedding party wishes to beam aboard.
The Millers beam aboard and the captain greets them. Troi’s mother is still on the planet. When Troi asks why, the son, Wyatt, avoids the question and suggests that his parents are tired. Steven claims he isn’t but his wife, Victoria, says he knows full well that Lwaxana won’t beam aboard whilst they are there. They leave and two more are ready to beam up. Troi mentions that she wasn’t what Wyatt expected, although she doesn’t know why. She was definitely a surprise of some sort. Troi also warns Picard that her mother is a little eccentric. Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett) and her valet, Mr. Homn, beam aboard. Lwaxana would like her daughter to only speak mentally.
They head to Lwaxana’s rooms and Troi finally uses her mental powers to tell her mother to shut up. Captain Picard excuses himself and Troi tells her mother that too much honesty can be a problem for humans. Lwaxana is sorry it has come to this, but Steven Miller tracked her down and reminded her of the vows. Troi has difficulty in believing in the vows now, but will honour them. Lwaxana also says that Wyatt is an unusual person with hidden depths.
Elector Valeda of Haven contacts the Enterprise; an incoming vessel has bypassed their stargate and is violating their law. They are refusing to communicate, which is inherently hostile, and Haven has no defensive capability. Their treaty with the Federation states that such is the Enterprise’s responsibility.
Troi goes to see Wyatt and also senses something unusual about him, something that she has only felt with Riker before. Troi sees drawings of a woman, a woman that Wyatt had seen since he was a boy. He thought Deanna would be the woman of his dreams.
The incoming vessel is approaching at subwarp and, when the image is magnified, Captain Picard asks if that’s the trouble he believes it is. Data replies that, if the captain means is it a Tirellian vessel, it is. Tirellians were thought to be all dead and the captain contacts Dr. Crusher. The Tirellians will not be permitted to destroy them or the planet.
The senior staff have a meeting; the Tirellians were believed to all be extinct. Hostilities between the two major landmasses on their planet were ended when one side used a deadly biological weapon that infected both sides. Some fled to other worlds, where they died along with the infected world. The rest were hunted down and killed. The treaty protects Haven, but Federation policy states they will assist lifeforms in need.
There is a pre-joining ceremony before Troi’s wedding. Victoria and Lwaxana start squabbling over what type of wedding it will be. Eventually, the captain states he can declare all disagreements resolves, in order to stop the squabbling. Mr. Homn is knocking back drinks to such a degree that Data asks if his lineage is mixed with human. It turns out that Wyatt, who is a medical doctor, extensively studied the Tirellians.
Haven is concerned about a plague ship heading towards them, and wants it destroying. Captain Picard won’t just blow it up. It seems a large coincidence that Wyatt, who knows a lot about the Tirellians, would arrive at the same time as they do.
There are a couple of oddities. The Tirellians were stated to have a technology at the level of 20th century Earth, yet they also apparently had warp-capable ships and transporters. Where did they get them? Also, why would a bioweapon created with several centuries old technology still be such a problem? Data acts oddly at the pre-joining ceremony; he’s clearly smiling at the squabbling and enjoying himself, when later it’s shown he lacks emotions and isn’t even that good at emulating them.