“The Defector” is episode ten of season three of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Data is on the holodeck playing the part of Henry V is Shakespeare’s play of the same name. Captain Picard is watching and congratulates him. He’s getting better and better. Data plans to study the performances of some other great performers. The captain says that Data is attempting to learn the human condition and that there is no better way than through Shakespeare, but he needs to discover it through his own performance, not imitating others. Then Riker contacts them from the bridge; an unidentified craft has been detected in the Neutral Zone heading towards Federation space.
On the bridge, Riker states that it’s a Romulan scout ship. The captain wants to hail it, but Worf says the scout ship is hailing them. They are not in visual range yet. Whoever is on the scout ship requests urgent assistance and asylum. When the ship enters visual range, a Warbird decloaks behind it and attacks.
The Warbird doesn’t answer hails, but the scout does. The pilot asks for help. His ship takes a hit and loses engines and shields. It’s inside Federation space by now and Picard wants the Enterprise‘s shields extended to cover the scout ship. He hails the Warbird again, which turns away and cloaks. All the scout ship’s systems are offline, including life support, so the captain orders the pilot be beamed aboard. Worf and Riker head to meet the Romulan in the transporter room. He’s injured, but demands to speak to the captain immediately. It cannot wait until he’s been to sickbay.
The Romulan says he’s a low-ranking logistics officer called Setol. The4 Romulan Empire is planning a secret offensive and to discard the Treaty of Algeron. They are going to claim the Neutral Zone and have already built a base. One the Federation sensors haven’t detected. In two days, it will be operational and Romulan Warbirds will be in striking distance of 15 Federation sectors. Worf states the Federation would not permit that. Setol states then it is war. If they destroy the base, the threat will be over. The captain orders Worf to escort Setol to sickbay.
Riker doesn’t believe it and it could be a ploy. It could be designed to make the Federation look like the aggressors. That is not atypical for the Romulans. Picard wants Riker and Troi to interrogate Setol; Geordi to investigate the scout ship. Data is needed by the captain. They have less than 48 hours to stop a war. Or, perhaps, start one. Then the scout ship explodes.
In sickbay, Setol states he set the autodestruct before leaving the ship. Wouldn’t they have done the same? He’s a defector, not a traitor, and wasn’t going to let them examine the ship. He came to stop a war. Dr Crusher is doing far better than last time she treated a Romulan in “The Enemy” and Setol congratulates her. She says she got experience recently. Setol knows of the incident. Everyone does. The Romulan is not polite to Worf, but says once Worf leaves that he likes him. Or, rather, understands him. And that he’s the type to get them all killed. Riker escorts Setol to quarters.
Picard and Data are not finding signs of unusual activity where Setol stated the base was. It could be cloaked, as could the Warbirds. Picard receives a message from Starfleet; they have had an official protest from the Ro9mulan Empire demanding Setol’s return. If it’s a deception, the Romulans are making a good show of it. The decision will fall on Picard’s shoulders. Afterwards, the captain calls for Worf.
Geordi has analysed the attack on the scout ship; the Warbird held off from catching or destroying it. Dr Crusher agrees the wound could have been self-inflicted. The Monitor and the Hood are heading in the Enterprise‘s direction, but will arrive too late to be of assistance. The captain wants Data to launch a probe at the planet and wants him to keep a record of events. As a dispassionate observer, history could benefit from his view on what may be the eve of war. He also wants to know how the crew feels; unlike Henry V, Picard can’t wander amongst his troops.
Part of this getting the record involves talking to Geordi about feelings, facts and your gut. Data also speaks to the Romulan. Is Setol telling the truth? It seems he’s definitely lying about something and the Romulans are known for deception. No-one really trust Setol, who, if he is telling the truth, doesn’t consider himself a traitor, as he’s doing it to protect the Romulan Empire, from itself.