New Ground ( episode ) Worf ' s son Alexander comes to live on the " Enterprise " ; the crew helps guide a test vehicle for a revolutionary new form of interstellar travel . Summary . Teaser . Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge is visibly excited about the history - making events about to transpire . He likens it to being present to see Chuck Yeager break the sound barrier or Zefram Cochrane engage the first warp drive . Lieutenant Commander Data and Lieutenant Worf don ' t share his enthusiasm . La Forge leaves them to talk with crewman Donaldson , a fellow engineer who may be more receptive . Worf receives a subspace communication from the transport ship " " . It is Worf ' s mother , Helena Rozhenko , who has brought with her Worf ' s son , Alexander , to visit . Worf makes arrangements for them to come aboard . In the transporter room , Worf greets his mother and son stiffly and asks " " How long can you stay ? " " , to which Alexander replies , " " I ' m not going back " . " Act One . Worf and his mother enter Ten Forward and sit at a table . Helena explains to Worf that she and Worf ' s father are getting older and cannot take proper care of Alexander anymore and that he needs to be with his father . Worf protests that it is " " not possible " " and that they must find another option . Helena says that Alexander " " needs " his " father " " and that Alexander has been having difficulties with his behavior , even lying . She insists that he needs his father for guidance . Worf seems to agree with her . Afterward , Worf and Alexander are walking in a corridor to visit the " Enterprise " s primary school teacher , Miss . Worf is stiffly asking questions of Alexander who is giving one - word answers . When they arrive and are introduced , Miss Kyle asks Alexander to spell his last name for her . He isn ' t paying attention and the teacher moves on to another question , Alexander ' s date of birth . Worf doesn ' t know the answer and Alexander is clearly disappointed and answers , " " The forty - third day of Maktag , Stardate 43205 . " " When Kyle asks Worf how long Alexander will be on board , he replies that it hasn ' t been decided . Alexander looks crushed . Captain Picard is waiting in his ready room tapping an isolinear chip and looking somewhat annoyed . Worf enters and Picard mildly upbraids him for being late then begins speaking about new security officers coming on duty when they are interrupted by a call from Miss Kyle asking about scheduling placement tests for Alexander . Worf cuts her off and says he will speak to her at another time . Picard continues , only to be interrupted again by Doctor Crusher calling Worf from sickbay to ask about scheduling a physical examination of Alexander . Worf asks her if they can discuss it later and apologizes to Picard for the interruptions . Picard tells Worf to take care of his son and that the security matters can wait . He seems mildly amused as Worf leaves . Doctor Ja ' Dar is briefing the senior staff in the observation lounge about the upcoming experiment . He says that there are 23 field coils on the planet working in concert to generate the soliton wave . The test ship will be towed to a position approximately two million kilometer s from the planet . The plan is for the wave to envelop the ship and push it into warp . Picard comments , " " Warp without warp drive , " " and Commander Riker jokes that this could put La Forge out of a job . Data asks how closely the " Enterprise " will need to follow the test vehicle and Ja ' Dar responds that the soliton emits a great deal of subspace radio interference so they must remain within 20 kilometers in order to receive telemetry . Picard asks how the experiment will be terminated and is told that the wave is being directed at the planet Lemma II , about three light year s away where their sister facility will generate a scattering field to dissipate the wave and bring the ship out of warp . The briefing ends and the staff leaves . On the bridge , Counselor Deanna Troi approaches Worf and informs him that she has spoken with " Mrs . " Kyle about Alexander being enrolled in the ship ' s primary school . She asks if Worf is planning to attend the father and son field trip scheduled for later in the afternoon . Worf replies that he has a personnel review scheduled for 1300 hours . Deanna replies that it would be a good opportunity for him to get to know the other students and parents . Worf decides to reschedule the review so they can attend . On the field trip , Miss Kyle is showing her class and the parents a pair of animals from Corvan II in a cage while Alexander is looking at some small animal models on a table . She explains that the animals are called gilvos and that their eating habits are similar to that of Earth ' s draco lizard , which went extinct more than 300 years ago . She goes on to say there are only fourteen of the animals left on Corvan II , so the " Enterprise " is transplanting this pair to the protected planet Brentalia where they will be able to thrive . After her lecture , Miss Kyle gently confronts Alexander about taking a model lizard from the table , trying to make it out to be a misunderstanding . Worf is angry at even the hint of an accusation and asks his son if he took the model . He looks directly at Worf and denies it . Miss Kyle insists that she saw Alexander put the model into his jacket . Worf reaches into Alexander ' s pocket and removes the lizard model ; Alexander has lied to Worf ' s face . Act Two . In his quarters , Worf is pacing and lecturing Alexander who is seated and staring at the floor . He is telling his son about honor and how " " a Klingon ' s word is his bond , without it he is nothing . " " Alexander doesn ' t know why he stole or lied and this infuriates Worf who quickly calms down and takes Alexander into the next room and sits down with him on a couch . He points out a stature of two figures locked in hand - to - hand combat . He asks Alexander if he knows who they are . Alexander knows that one of them is Kahless , and Worf tells him that the other one is Kahless ' brother , Morath . They are fighting because Morath told a lie and brought shame to their family . They fought for twelve days and nights . Worf explains to Alexander that when he lies , he is dishonoring his own family in the same way , and that he is dishonoring Worf . Alexander promises never to lie again . In the corridor , Troi asks Worf about the field trip . As they enter the turbolift en route to the bridge , Worf recounts the incident with the model and the lie . Troi offers to help if there are any further problems , but Worf is confident that Alexander will not repeat the behavior . On the bridge , the " Enterprise " is linked telemetrically to the test ship and Dr . Ja ' Dar begins the launch sequence for the soliton wave . The wave rockets from the surface of the planet and envelops the test ship which successfully enters warp . The " Enterprise " follows and moves to within twenty kilometers . La Forge reports that the ship ' s speed is warp 2 . 35 , slightly faster than they expected . Picard asks if the wave is affecting the " Enterprise " s warp drive , but Data replies that it is not . La Forge reports that the power efficiency of the wave is 98 percent . Data remarks that is 450 percent more efficient than their own warp engines . Suddenly , the wave ' s power signature fluctuates and efficiency drops to 73 percent . Then a subspace distortion is detected and hits the " Enterprise " . La Forge is unable to compensate and Picard is forced to order Ensign Felton to put all stop on the engines just as the test ship explodes . Act Three . Sensor s and warp drive are off - line and deflectors are at fifteen percent . Dr . Ja ' Dar sends a message from the surface of Bilana III asking if everyone is all right . He speculates that there was a transient power imbalance and La Forge confirms this as consistent with the telemetry readings from the ship before it exploded . Though the experiment wasn ' t entirely successful , La Forge congratulates Ja ' Dar for achieving warp without warp drive . Worf meets with Miss Kyle to discuss Alexander . She is concerned with his demeanor in class . Worf dismisses it as typical Klingon child behavior and suggests that Kyle use a " " firm hand . " " She reports that Alexander is still stealing and lying and that perhaps they should meet with counselor Troi . Worf interrupts her , stands and inquires of the ship ' s computer the whereabouts of his son . The computer reports that he is on holodeck four . Worf turns as he leaves and tells Miss Kyle that he will " " handle this . " " When Worf arrives at holodeck four , he discovers that Alexander is running his calisthenics program – at the novice level . Worf enters the holodeck and finds Alexander fighting a skeleton - headed holographic adversary . Alexander wins the battle and Worf freezes the program . Alexander has taken Worf ' s " bat ' leth " and used the holodeck without permission . Worf confronts Alexander about his disobedience to Miss Kyle . He denies doing it and Worf orders him back to their quarters , lamenting his own failure in his fatherly duties . Alexander doesn ' t leave and argues with his father . Worf decides to send him to a Klingon school and Alexander shouts that he " " won ' t go . " " With that , Worf demands that he return to their quarters and remain there . Back on the bridge , Riker is informed by La Forge that it will be another hour until engines are back online . Sensors come back up and Data determines that the soliton wave is still on course for the Lemma II colony , and that the wave has increased velocity to warp 4 . 1 . Riker repeats these findings to Dr . Ja ' Dar and Data adds that the energy level of the wave has increased 12 times and will increase by a factor of 200 by the time it reaches Lemma II . Ja ' Dar announces that at such a power level , not only will the colony be destroyed , but most of the planet as well . Act Four . Worf and Troi are meeting to discuss his decision to send Alexander away to a Klingon school . Troi asks Worf many questions that Worf seems to have difficulty answering . She also mentions Alexander ' s mother , K ' Ehleyr , who was killed by an enemy of Worf ' s while they were visiting him . It was at this time that Worf sent Alexander to live with the Rozhenkos on Earth . Troi opines that for Alexander , this was like losing both parents at the same time . Worf listens , then tells Troi about the last time he spoke to K ' Ehleyr . They argued about how K ' Ehleyr kept her pregnancy and Alexander ' s birth a secret from Worf . Troi helps Worf deal with his anger over the episode and suggests that he and Alexander should work together on healing , as they both have a lot to do . When Worf returns to his quarters , Alexander is packing a suitcase . He believes that Worf is ashamed of him and is sending him away for that reason . Worf tries to explain the reason for sending him away , but Alexander doesn ' t understand . Worf is called to the observation lounge by Commander Riker , but before he leaves , he instructs Alexander to remain in their quarters . Picard enters the observation lounge where La Forge and Data are waiting . La Forge begins speaking as soon as the captain is seated when Worf comes in , interrupting him . La Forge continues to explain that the wave ' s energy level has increased by a factor of 96 and will hit the planet within a couple hours . Picard asks how they can stop it and La Forge replies that there are two options . The first is to use the " Enterprise " s warp engines to create an inverse resonance wave , but since the soliton wave is constantly changing its frequency and amplitude , it would be very difficult to match it . The second option is to set off an explosion just in front of the wave which would cause it to dissipate . The wave is now traveling at warp 6 . 37 according to Data , and the " Enterprise " must get in front of it to set off the explosion . Due to the increasing size and power of the wave , it is no longer possible to circumvent it before it reaches Lemma II ; they have to go " through " it . Worf warns that the shields are only at 33 % , as they have not yet been fully restored after the explosion of the test ship , and thus the Enterprise would be in for a rough ride . Picard orders a course to be set to intercept the soliton wave . They leave the observation lounge for the bridge . Worf stays behind to apologize for his distractions on duty , which surprises Picard . The captain tells Worf that he has met all the challenges in Starfleet , hinting that raising a son is simply one more . Picard orders Ensign Felton to increase speed and hold relative position 23 kilometers in front of the wave . She increases speed to warp 7 . 21 . As they approach the wave , Riker orders red alert and torpedo bay s to be loaded with warhead s set to level 16 . The " Enterprise " increases speed to warp 7 . 3 and everyone braces for impact . Alexander has disobeyed his father and is in the biolab . He switches on the light in the gilvos ' cage when the ship is jolted by the wave , knocking him to the floor . The " Enterprise " has encountered the soliton wave and has passed through it , but it has been a rough ride . They take position in front of it and Worf reports that there are fluctuations in several warp transfer conduit s and that deflector strength is down to twelve percent . Riker reports gaps in the aft shields and recommends that they evacuate section s 24 through 47 , deck s 35 through 38 to avoid exposing the crew in these areas to ion radiation . Worf suddenly reports that there is a fire in Biolab 4 and that fire - suppression system s are not working . Data reports that there are lifeforms in the biolab and that one is humanoid . The computer identifies the occupant of the biolab as Alexander Rozhenko to Worf ' s horror . Act Five . Captain Picard tries to contact Alexander , but there is no response . Internal sensors show that he is alive , but may be hurt . Felton announces that warp power is dropping and the ship is losing speed . Riker contacts La Forge in engineering for an explanation . He is told that they lost four warp plasma conduits and can ' t maintain current speed much longer . Data offers that they are four minutes and thirty seconds in front of the wave as Worf asks permission to leave the bridge to rescue Alexander . Picard grants it and sends Riker along to help . Data says that Biolab 4 is one of the areas that will be flooded with ion radiation when the torpedoes explode . Picard states that he must protect the colony at all costs and gives Worf and Riker " " three minutes , not one second more . " " Riker and Worf arrive at the biolab , but can ' t open the doors because the primary control is shorted out . Worf rips off an access panel and is able to open the doors . Flames burst into the corridor and the two enter the smoke - filled room . They call out for Alexander but there is no response . On the bridge , Data announces that the soliton wave has closed to 10 kilometers . Torpedoes are at standby as Worf finds Alexander unconscious under a fallen beam . He is still alive , but Riker and Worf cannot move the beam that has fallen on his leg . Alexander regains consciousness and tells Worf that his leg hurts and that he ' s scared . Worf summons strength from this and struggles to lift the beam himself . He does so and throws it aside just as Riker is returning with a lever . They move more debris and Worf takes Alexander into his arms . Alexander pleads with Riker to save the gilvos . Riker does so as the wave closes to one kilometer . Picard has run out of time and orders the torpedoes launched . Worf and Riker exit the burning biolab carrying Alexander and the gilvos as the torpedoes explode , successfully disrupting the soliton wave . Riker reports to Picard that they made it out and that the boy will be fine . Later , Worf and Alexander are in sickbay with Dr . Crusher who finds that Alexander has suffered some minor smoke inhalation and has a hairline fracture of the tibia . She wants to keep him overnight but announces that he will be fine . After she leaves , Alexander is worried that he is in trouble , to which Worf responds , " " yes . " " Alexander apologizes and promises to be good at the Klingon school . Worf explains how difficult and demanding the Klingon school is , but that if Alexander would like an even greater challenge , he can stay on the " Enterprise " with Worf and they can face the difficulties together . Alexander replies , " " I accept your challenge , father . I will stay . " " Worf replies , " " I believe your mother would be pleased . " " Memorable quotes . " " This is going to be like being there to watch Chuck Yeager break the sound barrier or Zefram Cochrane engage the first warp drive ! " " " " It should be interesting . " " " Very " exciting . " " " " I ' m talking to the wrong crowd . " " " " How long can you stay ? " " " " I ' m not going back . " " " " A Klingon ' s honor is more important to him than his life . A Klingon would gladly face the most horrible punishment rather than bring shame or disgrace to his family name . His word is his bond . Without it , he is nothing . " " " " When I was a child , younger than you , I lost my parents , my family , my people . Everything I had was taken from me , except my sense of honor . It was the one thing I had which was truly Klingon and which no one could take away . Do you know who they are ? " " " " Kahless . " " " " And his brother Morath . They fought for twelve days and twelve nights because Morath had broken his word and brought shame to his family . When you lie or steal , you not only dishonor yourself , but your family . You dishonor me . " " " " Warp without warp drive . " " " " They ' re gonna put you out of a job , Geordi . " " " " You don ' t care about me ! " " " " That ' s not true ! " " " " All you care about is your honor . " " Links and references . References . Balduk ; " bat ' leth " ; beard ; Bilana III ; biolab ; Brentalia ; calisthenics program ; ; Corvan gilvo ; Corvan II ; Draco lizard ; Earth ; family name ; field coil ; field generator ; field trip ; fire - suppression system ; gamma emission ; ; hairline fracture ; honor ; ; inverse - resonance wave ; ion radiation ; K ' Ehleyr ; Kahless the Unforgettable ; Komodo dragon ; Lapling ; Lapsang suchong tea ; Lemma II ; Maktag ; ' ; ' ; millicochrane ; model ; Morath ; nanosecond ; photon torpedo ; prototype ; radiation ; rainforest ; red alert ; Science Institute of Bilana III ; ; shearing stress ; smoke inhalation ; soliton wave ; soliton wave rider ; sound barrier ; subspace radio ; tibia ; turbolift ; warp drive ; warp - transfer conduit ; white rhinoceros ; USS " Enterprise " - D schematic . Bussard collector ; captain ' s yacht ; class M ; gross vehicle mass ; impulse engine ; main shuttlebay Mars ; navigational deflector ; observation lounge ; phaser bank ; service docking port ; shuttlebay 2 ; shuttlebay 3 ; torpedo launcher ; umbilical connect port ; Utopia Planitia ; warp nacelle