Peak Performance
Starfleet sends the Enterprise to the Braslota system where it will be tested in battle simulations devised by Kolrami, the Zakdorn master strategist.
Picard selects Riker to command the Hathaway, the opposing vessel. Riker selects La Forge, Worf, and Wesley to be part of his team aboard the Hathaway. Riker challenges Kolrami to a game of Stratagema before the battle simulation begins. Kolrami beats Riker fairly quickly.
Riker and the 40-person crew he’s selected beam aboard the Hathaway. They have 48 hours to get it ready for the simulated battle with the Enterprise. Wesley beams back aboard the Enterprise briefly to shutdown a science experiment that he forgot to shut down. His trip back to the Enterprise is a ploy which he manages to conceal from everyone, until he is back aboard the Hathaway.
Both ships continue to make preparations for the battle simulation. Doctor Pulaski talks Data into challenging Kolrami to a game of Stratagema. Data loses the game and starts to doubt his ability to serve as Captain Picard’s second in command during the battle simulation. Wesley and Geordi use the gear Wesley brought back with him to give the Hathaway very limited warp engine capability.
Picard is pulled into a meeting with Dr. Pulaski and Counselor Troi who tell him about Data’s crisis of confidence. Picard orders Data to return the bridge, immediately.
The simulated battle begins. The Hathaway wins the first round thanks to a ploy devised by Worf. A Ferengi ship enters the area and attacks the Enterprise before the next round begins. Picard is faced with a dilemma.
Data comes up with a risky tactic to deal with the Ferengi. If it doesn’t work then the Hathaway and everyone aboard will be destroyed. The plan works and the Ferengi flee. Data gets a Stratagema rematch with Kolrami. This time he frustrates Kolrami so much that Kolrami storms out before the game has ended.
Thoughts
Armin Shimerman played the part of the Ferengi captain. This was the second time he played a Ferengi and his third appearance on The Next Generation. He later went on to play Quark on Deep Space Nine.
Would Data be capable of having a crisis of confidence? I don't know. Maybe not, but in this episode he did.
Roy Brocksmith played Kolrami. He was great in that role, so pompous. I can see how some people might find the character annoying but he was exactly what was called for in that role. He was also in an episode of Deep Space Nine but he played a different character in that episode.
I enjoyed this episode very much. I like how each of the characters got a moment to shine although some got more screen time than others.
12/05/25 - 11:00
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