Star Trek: The Next Generation 6.10

Chain of Command - Part 1

Captain Picard is relieved of command of the Enterprise. Doctor Crusher, Lieutenant Worf, and Captain Picard begin training for a secret mission. Captain Edward Jellicoe is given command of the Enterprise. He immediately starts to make changes, changes that get on the nerves of all the senior officers.

Picard, Crusher, and Worf train until Picard feels that they are ready. They depart in a shuttlecraft. It is at this time the Picard explains the mission to the other two. They are to sneak into Cardassian space to a planet called Celtris III. It is believed the Cardassian are developing metagenic weapons, extremely deadly biologic weapons. Their mission is to determine if this is true and destroy the weapons if they do exist.

Captain Jellicoe is given the task of negotiating a treaty with the Cardassians. He takes a very confrontational approach to the negotiations. Gul Lemec, the Cardassian representative, takes great offense to the way he is treated. Commander Riker thinks that Jellicoe is very confident in his abilities but Counselor Troi doesn't agree with the assessment.

Picard, Crusher, and Worf make their way to Celtris III some help from a Ferengi merchant. They break into the facility where they believe the metagenic weapons are being developed only to discover that it's a trap. Worf and Beverly get away but Captain Picard is captured and taken to Gul Madred.

Thoughts

I don't recall seeing this episode before but it does have a familiar feel to it. I wonder if I did see part of it once before. The situation with Captain Jellicoe feels very familiar.

Ronny Cox played the part of Captain Jellicoe. I've seen Ronny Cox in a number of movies including Deliverance (1972), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Robocop (1987), and Total Recall (1990). 

There is something about sending Picard and Crusher on a covert mission that feels wrong. I will be intrigued to read and hear about the making of this story once I have watched Part 2.

I am intrigued by this episode but I don't love it. I'm curious to see how things go in Part 2. I expect that Captain Jellicoe is going to screw things up and that Commander Riker is going to have to clean up the mess. I'm not sure how they are going to get Captain Picard back.