The Neutral Zone ( episode ) After rescuing three ancient Humans from cryogenic stasis , the " Enterprise " - D is ordered to the Romulan Neutral Zone on an important mission . ( " Season finale " ) Summary . Teaser . Captain Jean - Luc Picard is attending an emergency conference on Starbase 718 while the waits , it is observing an ancient space capsule , apparently from Earth . Data requests permission from Commander Riker to board the vehicle while waiting for the captain ' s return . Riker grants him permission but wants him back aboard the " Enterprise " - D before Picard returns . Data and Worf beam aboard the capsule and examine the still - functioning old - style equipment . Worf is momentarily baffled by a door that must be manually opened . Upon entering the vessel ' s main chamber , the two discover a number of refrigeration pods . The seals on two of them have been broken , and the environment corrupted ; these two contain decomposed Human remains . Three pods contain frozen Humans . Act One . When Data is ordered back to the " Enterprise " - D in preparation for Picard ' s return , he requests that the frozen people also be brought aboard , as the capsule is seriously damaged . Upon Picard ' s return , he immediately orders helmsman Geordi La Forge to lay in a course that will take them into the Neutral Zone . He explains to the senior officer s in the observation lounge that several outposts have been destroyed , and the " Enterprise " - D is being sent as the only Federation vessel to investigate , as it is the flagship . It is assumed that Romulan s are behind the problems , but since the Federation has had no contact with them in a number of years since the Tomed Incident , the situation is very uncertain . Riker and Worf both advise the captain to be prepared to fight , but he is determined to wait and see what the situation truly is before deciding on a aggressive course of action . Meanwhile , Doctor Crusher has thawed and revived the frozen Humans . All three had been cryogenically frozen in the late twentieth century on Earth . Dr . Crusher awakens the woman , who promptly faints at the sight of Worf . " " Welcome to the 24th century " " , Picard remarks to her while she lies unconscious . Act Two . The Humans are Clare Raymond , Ralph Offenhouse , and L . Q . " Sonny " Clemonds . As the ship continues toward the Neutral Zone , Riker explains to them what has happened , and they attempt to make sense of their new situation . Offenhouse , in particular , is shocked to learn from Data that the current year is 2364 . Offenhouse is very concerned about his financial investments and repeatedly demands to speak to the captain so he can get in touch with his attorney or bank on Earth . Act Three . In the ready room , Riker , Worf , Data and La Forge are all in belief that , if the Romulans are inviting confrontation to see how far the Federation has advanced , the " Enterprise " should be ready for combat . Picard does not like the option , but , suddenly , Offenhouse calls Picard , obviously having observed Riker use the room ' s comm panel . This forces Picard to visit the survivors , and Offenhouse seizes the opportunity for a face - to - face talk with the captain , demanding contact with his attorney . But the captain tells him that people are not consumed with owning possessions in this century and his attorney has been dead for four hundred year s . Offenhouse believes his lawyer ' s firm is still operating and that he has a lot of money coming to him . He stands firm , stating that Humanity must still be as it once was : power - hungry and controlling . Picard retorts that Humans no longer seek such material things ; they have grown out of their infancy . Clare becomes very upset thinking about her sons and family , so Picard has Counselor Deanna Troi come down to talk to her . She shows her the computer library ' s recorded family tree for her . It turns out there are ten generations there . Sonny goes to Dr . Crusher to find something to relax him , though he has no medical need . He is having trouble waiting around without " something to do . " He asks if Data can come visit him , and he suggests throwing a party when he arrives . Data says he will suggest it to the captain . However , the " Enterprise " now reaches the neutral zone and Data leaves , but not before confirming the Romulans will not be coming to the party . Act Four . When the " Enterprise " - D arrives at the edge of the Neutral Zone , they find that a number of outposts have been completely obliterated . There is no evidence of conventional weapons or attack , but Riker and Worf find this as clear evidence . Picard orders the ship to yellow alert , though Riker and Worf urge him to go to red alert and battle stations . Meanwhile , Offenhouse notices the tension level on the ship has jumped up and decides that he must take matters into his own hands and heads out to look for the captain . He eventually finds a turbolift and reaches the bridge . He arrives while the bridge crew wait for a Romulan vessel to appear . Picard has decided not to fire as it de - cloaks , but it remains cloaked . Riker sees Offenhouse and immediately orders him off the bridge , but just then the Romulan ship de - cloaks . Act Five . The Romulan ship responds to the " Enterprise " - D hailing them , and the Romulans reveal that their outposts have been destroyed in the same manner as the Federation ' s . Picard asks who is responsible , and the Romulans fall silent . Offenhouse interjects , " " They haven ' t got a clue ! They ' re hoping you know , but they ' re too arrogant to ask . " " Picard proposes an agreement of cooperation as both sides investigate the disappearance of the outposts , and the Romulans agree . Before heading back toward their own territory , Tebok states to Picard that Federation " expansion " will not be tolerated any more , that the Romulans " " are back . " " Offenhouse is finally removed from the bridge . Deanna Troi helps Clare locate one of her living descendants , and Picard makes arrangements for the three Humans to be returned to Earth on the at the nearest starbase . At warp 8 , they can make it there in five days . Riker says that it is a shame they can ' t take the three with them ; it ' s like a visit from the past . Picard tells him that would be a step backward , when they still have so much to do and to learn . The " Enterprise " - D continues onward . Memorable quotes . " " Welcome to the 24th century . " " " " What is that ? " " " " An android . " " " " You mean a robot ? " " " " Actually , there is a distinct difference between an android and a robot . . . " " " " And . . . and him , the one I saw before with the . . . head ? " " " " She means Worf . . . " " " " He ' s a Klingon – that takes a little more " . . . explanation . " " " I wanna go to the , um . . . the , um . . . Where would a captain be ? " " " " Captain Picard is on the main bridge . " " " " Well , then , take me to the main bridge ! " " " " The Yankee ' s right . Let ' s get the big boy in here ! " " " " They are the most unusual Humans I have ever encountered . " " " " Well , from what I ' ve seen of our guests , there ' s not much to redeem them . Makes one wonder how our species survived the 21st century . " " " " This is the worst run ship I have ever been on . You should take lessons from the " QE2 " . Now that ' s an efficient operation . " " " " A lot has changed in the past three hundred years . People are no longer obsessed with the accumulation of things . We ' ve eliminated hunger , want , the need for possessions . We ' ve grown out of our infancy . " " " " Captain , these are " Romulans . " They are " without " honor . They killed my parents in an attack on Khitomer when they were supposed to be our allies . They believe that Humans and Klingons are a waste of skin ! " " " " Silence your dog , captain ! " " " " They haven ' t got a clue ! They ' re hoping " you " know , but they ' re too arrogant to ask ! " " " " Your presence is not wanted . Do you understand my meaning , captain ? We . . . are back . " " " " The challenge , Mr . Offenhouse , is to improve yourself . . . to enrich yourself . Enjoy it . " " " " Come back later , you and me can find us a couple of low - mileage pit woofies and help them build a memory . " " " " Our mission is to go forward , and it ' s just begun . [ . . . ] There ' s still much to do . There ' s still so much to learn . " " Links and references . References . 1939 ; 2040 ; 2311 ; 2364 ; address ; aquarium ; Atlantic Ocean ; Arloff IX ; Atlanta Braves ; bank ; biobed ; ; Borg ; brain ; bridge ; brown - out ; cardiomyopathy ; ; chord ; circulatory system ; Clemonds ' ex - wives ; cloaking device ; ; ; construction work ; couch ; country fried potatoes ; cryonics ; cryonics satellite ; ; desk ; desktop monitor ; door ; earring ; Earth ; embolism ; Emergency Manual Override station ; emphysema ; " Enterprise " history ; ; ; ; ; ; executive key ; fad ; firm ; fog ; food service ; ; " Galaxy " - class decks ; genealogy ; generation ; guest quarters ; guitar ; Geneva ; homemaker ; homeostasis ; hypospray ; Indianapolis ; Kansas City ; Kansas City strip steak ; Kazis binary system ; Khitomer ; Library Computer Access and Retrieval System ; liver ; low - mileage pit woofie ; martini ; mmHg ; model ; Mogh ; money ; musician ; NCC - 7100 ; number one ; observation lounge ; occupation ( job ) ; Offenhouse ' s lawyer ; olive ; painting ; passenger liner ; patient ; progeny ; " QE2 " ; ; ; Raymond family ; ; ; ready room ; replicator ; respiratory system ; Romulan ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; Romulan philosophy ; Romulan Star Empire ; Romulan uniform ; rose ; Science Station Delta - 05 ; Science Station Delta - 05 planet ; sculpture ; Sector 3 - 0 ; Sector 3 - 1 ; shrink ; sickbay ; sideman ; skant ; skeletal system ; skull ; star ; Starbase 39 - Sierra ; Starbase 718 ; statue ; stock ; table ; Tarod IX ; Tebok ' s Warbird ; television ; three - dimensional chess ; Tomed Incident ; tricorder ; turbolift ; type 1 phaser ; United Federation of Planets ; United States of America ; unnamed plants ; utility uniform ; viewscreen ; VISOR ; vitamin ; Vulcan ; " Wall Street Journal " ; warbird ; whacko ; window ; Yankee