“Peak Performance” is episode twenty-one of season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise, despite Captain Picard’s misgivings, has been diverted by Starfleet to the Braslota system to take part in a wargame exercise. They will be joined by the Zakdorn master strategist Sirna Kolrami. Kolrami is escorted by Riker to see the captain in the conference room; Kolrami wants to start the mission immediately. On the bridge, Worf comments to Data that Kolrami doesn’t appear to be a formidable warrior. According to Data, the perception of the species is more important, and for the past nine millennia, potential foes have regarded the Zakdorn as the greatest innately strategic minds in the galaxy. Which means no-one has been willing to test their reputation. Worf believes it means nothing as a result.
The Enterprise will go up against the 80-year-old starship USS Hathaway. Kolrami questions Picard if Riker is still his first choice to captain it. He is. Riker will have 48 hours to get the ship ready before the Enterprise attacks. The combat will be done electronically and the computer will shut down affected areas for the appropriate repair time. Kolrami wants to know why Picard resisted the idea of wargames. Because Starfleet is not military and its purpose is exploration (despite the fact that Starfleet has been involved in wars in the past and, according to a later episode, was involved in one at that exact moment). The threat of the Borg, though, made the captain realise he and his officers needed to hone their tactical skills. Riker is also not impressed but will do his duty. Would the captain like to surrender now?
On the bridge Captain Picard tells Commander Riker to select the 40 crew who will join him, except for Data, who will serve as Picard’s first officer. Kolrami thought the captain would select the crew. No; the leader of an away team picks their crew. If you want to judge leadership, start at the beginning. Dr Pulaski, when Kolrami has left, thinks he needs an attitude adjustment. Data comments that the reputation is deserved.
Riker chooses Geordi, who was already prepared, then goes to see Worf. Worf thinks it’s a waste of time; with nothing to lose, there’s nothing to gain. Beside pride, according to Riker. They probably don’t have a chance; outmanned, outgunned, out equipped, what else do you have? Guile, according to Worf. Riker also wants Wesley, then asks Kolrami if he will play a game of Strategema against him. Kolrami agrees, rudely.
On the way to play, Riker tells Geordi he doesn’t stand a chance, but it’s an opportunity to play against the best ever. In Ten Forward, a crowd has gathered. Worf tells the commander that he has bet in the ship’s pool that Riker will get past a certain level. If he doesn’t? Worf will be… irritated. Pulaski suggests to Data that Data challenge Kolrami, because, as Troi helps explain, when someone is that smug, it’s nice to deflate them a little. Kolrami defeats Riker in seconds.
Riker and his crew beam over to the Hathaway, which is a mess. Worf doesn’t think it’s good. Riker says it’s fantastic, and theirs. He wants Worf with him. Yes, Geordi may be the superior, but Riker has discussed this with Geordi. This is a tactical situation and he wants Worf with him. Besides, Geordi will be needed in engineering. The ship lacks warp capability, because there’s no antimatter. Riker asks Kolrami what the Zakdorn word for mismatch is. ‘Challenge.’ When in a superior position, you expect to win. The Hathaway looks like it won’t stand a chance, but if Starfleet goes up against the Borg, they will be similarly outmatched.
Worf has a way of using his security codes to make the Enterprise see an apparent enemy ship. The Hathaway might have warp drive, but there’s no antimatter. Wesley asks to return to the Enterprise. He left an experiment running. This is allowed and Wesley claims the experiment has failed and needs beaming into space. It arrives in engineering on the Hathaway. The experiment contains antimatter.
Pulaski tells Kolrami that Data wished to play him at Strategema. Data did not, but does so anyway. When Data loses, he assumes he is faulty and takes himself off duty to run diagnostics. Troi and Pulaski try and convince him otherwise and eventually have to get the captain intervene, as Data has basically suffered a crisis of confidence.
Captain Picard has finally has enough of Kolrami disparaging Riker and speaks to him privately about it. The Hathaway might have eventually lost, but during the wargame, the Ferengi show up, get the wrong impression, and intervene (the Ferengi DaiMon, Bractor, is played by Armin Shimerman in his second role as a Ferengi), causing problems.