The Ensigns of Command ( episode ) Data must convince a colony of 15 , 000 people to evacuate before the aliens who own the planet arrive . Summary . Teaser . In Ten Forward , a string quartet is tuning up . Data enters carrying a violin and approaches Captain Picard and Dr . Crusher , who are sitting nearby at a table . He advises that they attend the second concert , as he will not be playing the violin , saying that although his playing is technically proficient , he has been told by his fellow performers that he lacks soul . He says he is only trying to be honest , but Picard tells him that excessive honesty can be dangerous in a leader . Data takes his place , but just as the quartet begins the first movement ( " Allegro " ) of Mozart ' s " Eine kleine Nachtmusik " , Riker calls Picard to the bridge , forcing the Captain to depart , painfully aware that it appears he ' s walking out on his friend ' s performance . When he gets there he learns that they have been contacted by the Sheliak Corporate , for the first time in 111 years . In a recorded message , set on repeat broadcast from the Shelia system , they demand that a Human colony on Tau Cygna V be removed , as this planet was ceded to the Sheliak in the Treaty of Armens . They give them four days to remove the Humans . The Federation has no record of a settlement on the planet , which is cloaked in hyperonic radiation that is lethal to Humans . Picard reasons that there must be someone there , so they set course for Tau Cygna . Act One . On arriving there , Lieutenant Worf detects Human life sign s , but interference from the radiation prevents him from determining how many exactly . The radiation also prevents the use of the transporter s and phaser s . Crusher suggests that they must have adapted somehow ; previous research had suggested it could be done , perhaps through extensive virotherapy . Picard says they must be evacuated or the Sheliak will remove them forcefully , as they consider Humans a lower form of life . ' Forceful removal ' would more than likely equate to outright extermination . As Data is unaffected by the radiation , Picard orders him down to the surface , Riker commenting that there are probably only a dozen or so survivors . Data lands the shuttlepod " Onizuka " on the surface , and is approached by two Humans , Kentor and Haritath . They recognize that he must be from the Federation and tell him he is the first visitor they have ever had . They will bring him to their leader , Gosheven . They claim to be descendants of the original settlers from the colony ship . On the , Riker learns that the " Artemis " was launched 92 years ago , its destination being Septimis Minor , but when they missed a check in , an extensive search by Starfleet was begun . To the shock of the bridge crew , Data informs them that there are 15 , 253 colonists . Without transporters , and using only shuttles it will take over four weeks to evacuate the colony . Picard orders Data to prepare for evacuation , and tells Worf to attempt to hail the Sheliak colony ship . On the surface , Data is brought to the town square where he meets Gosheven . He explains the situation and the need for evacuation , but Gosheven won ' t listen to him , and claims the planet is theirs . When the guidance system on the " Artemis " failed it took the ship far off course , and their ancestors were lucky to find Tau Cygna V to land on at all . One third of the colonists died before they learned that they could adapt to the radiation . Data agrees that the colony is remarkable , but as the planet clearly belongs to the Sheliak , the most sensible course of action is to evacuate . Gosheven tells him to go back to his ship . Someone throws a pipe towards Data , which he catches . A woman approaches , marveling at his reflexes and at him in general . She says she is very interested in cybernetics , and wants to question him . However he tells her he needs to know more about the settlement and its people . She agrees to show him around , and introduces herself as Ard ' rian McKenzie . Gosheven is not happy with this development . In the observation lounge , Riker tells La Forge and O ' Brien to try to get the transporters to function . Act Two . They leave , and Picard goes to the bridge to talk to the Sheliak director . They are very hostile , and repeat that the Humans must be removed . Picard tries to get them to compromise , but they refuse to negotiate , saying the law is paramount , then cut him off . In Ard ' rian ' s house on Tau Cygna , she tells Data that Gosheven won ' t listen to him because he is an android . She however , believes androids are better than Humans , as they have no emotions to cloud their judgment . Picard contacts Data , telling him he ' s contacting Starfleet for a transport ship . The transporters are still not working despite La Forge , O ' Brien and Wesley Crusher ' s best efforts . Data is trying again with Gosheven , but he still won ' t listen . He calls the town a monument to his people , saying his grandfather died in its construction . Too much has been sacrificed for them to leave . Data comes to the conclusion he will have to convince others of the need to leave , and Ard ' rian says she will help him . In the captain ' s ready room , Picard tells Riker that Starfleet is profuse in its apologies and that it will be three weeks before a colony transport ship will arrive . He will have to convince the Sheliak to compromise . Then he realizes that with the distances involved and the timetable the Sheliak intend on , their colony ship must be already en route , and orders the " Enterprise " to intercept . Act Three . Riker contacts Data and tells him what ' s planned . Data is unsure if he can arrange the evacuation , saying few colonists want to leave , but Riker dresses him down , saying he ' s responsible for the 15 , 000 colonist lives . He asks how violent the Sheliak may be in dealing with the colonists themselves ; Riker explains that the treaty was the only thing preventing them from eradicating the colony the moment they discovered it . Ard ' rian tells Data that Gosheven has called a meeting to discuss the situation , then gives him a kiss , saying that she thought he needed it . She then suggests some reverse psychology is needed . At the meeting , Data makes a speech , saying he admires their doomed effort , and how they are willing to die for land and so on . Gosheven sees through it , but Kentor and Haritath are getting worried . Gosheven starts to talk about his grandfather , when Ard ' rian interrupts , saying , " " who will bury you ? " " Gosheven counters , saying he is not willing to lose everything without a fight . The crowd cheers and gathers around him . Act Four . Later Kentor and Haritath approach Data and confess they are not convinced by Gosheven . Ard ' rian suggests a secret meeting at her house . The Sheliak ship is intercepted , and hail ed . Picard uses a clause in the treaty to get a hearing with them . In Ard ' rian ' s house , Kentor agrees to the need for an evacuation , but says they still need to convince Gosheven . Then Gosheven turns up , saying the matter is settled , there will be no evacuation . He then gives Data an electrical shock with a tool , knocking him out . The crowd leaves , as Ard ' rian tries to revive Data . Troi and Picard beam over to the Sheliak ship . Picard asks for some flexibility , saying they need three weeks . The Sheliak refuse , saying they will kill all the colonists if they are not removed . They then beam them back over to the bridge of the " Enterprise " . Act Five . On Tau Cygna , Data reawakens and says that actions speak louder than words , so some drastic action is needed . He returns to the " Onizuka " and modifies a Type 2 phaser using parts of his own circuitry , so it will work in the radiation , and tells Ard ' rian to let Gosheven know he intends to destroy the aqueduct at the pumping station . Picard has the " Enterprise " put on yellow alert and tells the Sheliak they will have to go through him to get to the colonists . He then decides to look through the treaty for something that will help . On the planet , Data has made his way to the pumping station unseen , where Gosheven has posted four armed guards and many of the colonists are present to watch what Data may do . He pops up from his hiding spot and stuns the guards as a demonstration of his firepower , and then demonstrates a stronger setting , firing it at the aqueduct and vaporizing the entire flow of water up to its source in the mountains . He informs the stunned colonists that he could reduce the pumping station to a pile of debris , but trusts that his point is clear . He then tells them that one android with a hand phaser has destroyed their aqueduct , while " hundreds " of Sheliak are on their way , with far more powerful weapons , and the will , to eradicate their entire colony from orbit ; they will not even see the faces of their killers before they die . The choice is theirs . Kentor speaks out , saying they must leave , telling Gosheven that there are challenges awaiting them elsewhere on another world . As colonists leave to start preparing for the evacuation , Data comforts Gosheven , hunched mournfully over the aqueduct , where the water has started to flow again . Gosheven now understands the reality of their situation , but tells Data that he really was ready to die for all they ' ve built . Data knows this , but reminds him that the aqueduct – and by extension , the colony it sustains – is merely a thing . It can always be replaced : lives cannot . Looking through the treaty , Picard sees something . He hails the Sheliak , and requests third party arbitration , as is his right . He nominates the Grizzela s , who are in the middle of their hibernation cycle for another six months . Three weeks or six months : which would they prefer ? The Sheliak insist that their colonization plans will not be delayed , but when Picard declares the treaty in abeyance for arbitration , they realize he ' s serious and quickly change their minds about negotiation ; he cuts them off by closing the channel . They hail him back , but Picard makes them wait before answering , taking the time to casually inspect the ship ' s dedication plaque for dust . They grudgingly agree to give him the three weeks and he politely thanks them . Data is preparing to leave in the " Onizuka " , when Ard ' rian approaches and says the evacuation plan is going well ; they ' ll be ready to go when the transport ship arrives . She asks if he feels anything for her , but he reminds her he has no feelings at all . She looks downcast before Data kisses her , saying she appeared to need it . He returns to the " Enterprise " , where he goes to Picard ' s ready room . Picard is listening to a recording of Data ' s concert ( now playing " Eine kleine Nachtmusik " ' s second movement ( " Andante " ) ) that Dr . Crusher made for him , and comments how he has managed to combine two disparate styles successfully . Picard considers this highly creative . Data is forced to admit that through his situation on Tau Cygna V , he has indeed learned to become more creative . Memorable quotes . " " Gentlemen , we ' re giving you an assignment . The one thing we don ' t want to hear is that it ' s impossible . " " " " I need the transporters to function despite the hyperonic radiation . " " " " Yeah , but that ' s im – yes , sir . " " " " Data , telling us you ' re going to fail before you make the attempt is never wise . " " " " What is your memory capacity ? How many operations per second ? I have a million questions . " " " " I am afraid I have no time for a " million " questions . " " " " Commander , in Human parlance , I do not believe I can ' get the job done ' . " " " " This is not a law , it is a treaty ! It is designed to smooth relations between races , not to act as a strait - - " " ( The Sheliak cut him off ) " " . . . jacket . " " " " The lives of 15 , 000 people are riding on you . You ' d better get innovative . Riker out ! " " " " Now , how are we progressing , Mister La Forge ? " " " " About like you ' d expect , sir . " " " " Splendid . Splendid . Carry on . " " " " Any objections ? Good because here . . . we stand . " " " " Then here , you die . " " " " He wants the impossible . . . ! " " " " That ' s the short definition of ' captain ' . " " " " Use that fancy positronic brain of yours . Carry out your mission . " " " " Sir , if I do not succeed , how violent is the Sheliak reaction likely to be ? " " " " The treaty is the only thing preventing them from eradicating the colony the moment they discovered it . " " " " . . . Ah . " " " " " Ah " is right , Data . " " " " It ' s over . Don ' t you get it ? You ' ve had your say . You ' ve lost . " " " " I appear to be reversing that defeat . " " " " No , you ' re not . You ' re just stubborn . Well , let me tell you something . " " ( zaps Data with an electrical prod ; Data falls to the floor ) " " So am I . " " " " Damn you , Gosheven ! " " " " You killed him ? ! " " " " I ' ve killed no one . I merely shut down a machine . " " " " That was the stun setting . This is not . " " " " This is just a thing . . . and things can be replaced . Lives cannot . " " " " Pursuant to Paragraph 1 , 290 , I hereby formally request third party arbitration of our dispute . " " " " You have the right . " " " " Furthermore , pursuant to Sub - section D - 3 I name . . . the Grizzelas to arbitrate . " " " " Grizzelas ? ! " " " " Unfortunately , they are currently in their hibernation cycle . However , they will awaken in six months , at which time we can get this matter settled . Now . . . do you want to wait ? Or give me my three weeks ? " " " " Wait ! Negotiation is permiss . . . ! " " " ( Picard signals to cut the transmission . ) " " " You enjoyed that . " " " " You ' re damned right ! " " " " Captain , they are hailing us . " " " ( Picard walks over to the " Enterprise ' s " dedication plaque and wipes some dust off of it with his finger ) " " " . . . Sir ? " " " ( another long pause ) " " " . . . on screen . " " " " You may have your three weeks , Picard of the " Enterprise " . " " " ( Politely ) " " " Thank you . " " " " Captain . We can do it . We can modify the transporters . " " " " Excellent . " " " " It will take fifteen years and a research team of a hundred . . . " " " " Mister La Forge . . . I believe we will postpone . " " " " Do you have any feelings for me ? " " " " I have no feelings of any kind . " " " " Captain , when the treaty was first negotiated , the Federation sent 372 legal experts . What do we have ? " " " " Thee and me ? " " Links and references . References . 2255 ; 2274 ; android ; aqueduct ; ; " Artemis " , SS ; " As You Like It " ; ; ; calculator ; cello ; classification R - 3 ; colony ship ; concert ; de Laure belt ; desert ; devil ; diagnostic circuit s ; director ; dog ; duotronic ; Earth ; " Eine kleine Nachtmusik " ; Federation ; Federation - Sheliak Conflict ; ghost ; great - grandparent ; Grizzela ; guidance system ; H class planet ; ; hibernation ; Human ; hydrogen ; hyperonic radiation ; informant ; kiss ; ; neural pathway ; non - humanoid ; number one ; " Onizuka " ; Ortiz ; passive resistance ; phaser ; plural ; positronic ; positronic brain ; prejudice ; pumping station ; radiation ; radiation sensitivity ; reverse psychology ; robotic dog ; rockslide ; sensor ; Septimis Minor ; servocircuit ; Shelia system ; Sheliak ; Sheliak colony ship ; Sheliak homeworld ; Sheliak language ; Sheliak Corporate ; Starfleet ( STFLT ) ; straitjacket ; string quartet ; survey craft ; Tau Cygna V ; Tau Cygna system ; telepathy ; test cylinder ; toy ; transporter s ; trespassing ; tricorder ; Type 15 shuttlepod ; viola ; violin ; violinist ; virotherapy ; Vulcan ; yellow alert