The Wounded ( episode ) When Captain Benjamin Maxwell apparently goes rogue , the " Enterprise " is ordered to apprehend him before his actions result in another war between the Federation and the Cardassian Union . Summary . Teaser . The is conducting mapping surveys near the Cardassian border . Captain Picard is cautious . The Federation had been at war with Cardassia for some years and only recently established a peace treaty between the two peoples in the past year . This particular sector is a second trip for Picard , as he once encountered the Cardassian s in the sector when he was in command of the . He tells the story to the bridge crew , recounting how he lowered his shields as a sign of good will , but the Cardassians took offense and attacked , taking out his weapon s and damaging the impulse engines before he could regroup and run . Counselor Troi finds the story humorous , and expresses mock disbelief that Picard was capable of running away from a fight . Picard simply replies " " Believe it " . " Lieutenant Worf says that the Cardassians have no sense of honor and should not be trusted . Troi replies that they are now allies and have to be trusted . Worf scoffs that trust is earned and not given . Even still , Picard does not want to stay too long near the border without letting the Cardassians know . Alone in their quarters , newly - married Miles and Keiko O ' Brien are having breakfast together . The chief doesn ' t seem to care much for Keiko ' s breakfast selections ( kelp buds , plankton loaf , and sea berries ) , but she explains that she has this every morning and that it ' s very healthy . O ' Brien diplomatically thanks her for introducing him to the food she ' s accustomed to , and says that he ' d love to make her food " he ' s " used to . He goes on to describe how his mother used to cook , using real , non - replicated food , as she believed that real food was more nutritious . This surprises Keiko , to which she asks if O ' Brien ' s mother handled raw meat , touched it , and cut it . O ' Brien says that he ' ll have to use the replicator to make something special for her , much to Keiko ' s delight . Their romantic moment is soon interrupted by a weapon impact , and the sounds of the red alert klaxon . O ' Brien quickly gets up and reports to his station . Worf calls out that the Cardassian ship is beginning to fire again . The ship takes a hit off the shields and minor damage is sustained on the secondary hull before the shields went up . Chief Engineer Lt . Commander La Forge calls out that the starboard power coupling is down , as the ship is hit by an even heavier blast . The fish - like Cardassian ship lets loose another salvo at the " Enterprise " . Picard initiates a delta - sequence maneuver and orders the ship ' s phaser s ready , and limits the targets to engines and shields . After scoring multiple hits on his opponent , Picard successfully forces the ship to stand down . The Cardassian ship ' s captain , Gul Macet , answers the hail , and informs Picard that the attack on the " Enterprise " was in retaliation – a Federation starship attacked and destroyed an unarmed science station in the Cuellar system . Picard doesn ' t understand this , and asks for one hour to speak with his superiors at Starfleet . The alternative is for each ship to continue firing at each other , which Picard reminds Gul Macet that such a contest would put him at a disadvantage . Macet grants the Starfleet captain his request , only one hour . Act One . The report submitted to Starfleet is confirmed , and Admiral Haden reports it was the , commanded by Captain Benjamin Maxwell . Picard knows of Maxwell , and is confused as to why he would do something like this , since he is one of Starfleet ' s finest captains , and that he must have had a reason . Haden doesn ' t know , because the ship is running silent . The Cardassians have given Picard safe passage as long as they allow a delegation to come along with them . He is ordered to find the " Phoenix " , which was last seen in Sector 21505 , and return her to Federation space . Haden reminds Picard that the Federation is not prepared for a new sustained conflict – after their losses to the Borg at Wolf 359 – and that the peace must be preserved at all costs . Picard explains that Macet and two of his aides will be transporting to the ship as guests . Worf and Commander Riker ask that they post guards at sensitive areas of the ship . Picard agrees , but reminds Worf to instruct his men that they are guests . He asks Data if anyone on the ship has served previously with Maxwell . Data mentions O ' Brien , since he served on the as tactical officer . Picard asks Riker and Troi to meet the guests and tell O ' Brien that he will need to meet with him soon . The three Cardassians transport on board and Riker and Troi introduce themselves . Macet introduces his aides , Glinn s Daro and Telle . Riker introduces O ' Brien to them , and O ' Brien replies with a simple brief nod . Riker escorts them to the conference room , and Troi looks at O ' Brien , as she senses something about the Cardassians is making him uneasy . Act Two . In the observation lounge with the senior staff and the Cardassians , La Forge explains that they can scan up to ten light year s , which translates to one sector per day . They ' ve scanned Sector 21505 and found no sign of the " Phoenix " . Gul Macet appears to be dissatisfied at the " Enterprise " s progress , and expresses his doubt that the ship is still in the sector . Riker , echoing Macet ' s irritated tone , explains that they have no idea where the " Phoenix " is , but that its last known location is a good place to start . Macet then articulates his doubts that the " Enterprise " crew is seriously interested in locating the " Phoenix " , and the atmosphere in the room becomes more heated . However , Picard , demonstrating his diplomatic expertise , takes on a calm , genial tone and reassures Macet that he is hearing reports just as they come in - - nothing edited or withheld . Gul Macet , unable to respond to Picard ' s reason with more anger , concedes the point and settles down . Riker looks at Picard with undisguised admiration for how skillfully he handled the Cardassians in that tense moment . Picard then turns the floor over to Chief O ' Brien , who served with Maxwell . Picard understands that Maxwell lost his entire family in a Cardassian raid on Setlik III , and O ' Brien explains the circumstances . He describes Maxwell as a model Starfleet officer , not missing a moment ' s duty , despite his grief for his family . Macet quickly concludes that Maxwell is acting out of a desire for vengeance , but O ' Brien counters that Maxwell would not do that . Once again , the atmosphere in the room becomes heated , and Picard intervenes . Just as the discussion begins again , Worf reports from the bridge that they have located the " Phoenix " . The conference scatters as Picard and his bridge crew escort Macet to the bridge , leaving the Glinns and O ' Brien to proceed to the turbolift by themselves . A discussion takes place on the turbolift between Daro and O ' Brien , with whom O ' Brien loses his cool when Daro asks if he would like to join them in Ten Forward . He responds that it is his business who he spends time with . Data reports that the " Phoenix " is indeed in Sector 21505 . Picard orders helm officer Wallace to set a course there and has Worf send a subspace message to the " Phoenix " , instructing them to prepare for a rendezvous . Macet offers a suggestion to Picard : with precise coordinates and the ship ' s transponder codes , he can have one of his ships meet up with the " Phoenix " much quicker than Picard can . Picard refuses , indicating that if one of his ships retaliates , they could lose control of the situation , and he prefers to make the contact himself . During the lull as the " Enterprise " is en route , O ' Brien treats Keiko to a potato casserole . He then starts humming " The Minstrel Boy , " a war song from his days on the " Rutledge " , a song he says that Maxwell liked . He recounts the story told by the song , leading him to speak about his own experiences in the war and how he noticed that even in the conference room , there are people there who still don ' t like the Cardassians . He doesn ' t understand that even though the war is over , why there is still hatred towards them . Keiko asks how he feels about the Cardassians , and he responds that he feels fine . Keiko isn ' t too sure , however . The " Phoenix " is in hot pursuit of a Cardassian supply ship ; this surprises Macet , as he does not expect them to be able to read the transponder codes of the Cardassian ships . Picard tries to hail the " Phoenix " but to no avail , which annoys Macet . He points out that he has warships that can intercept the ship much faster than the " Enterprise " . With no choice , and ignoring objections from Worf , Picard orders Worf to relay the prefix code s of the " Phoenix " to the Cardassian ship , stating he cannot allow Maxwell to destroy the ship . Act Three . The Cardassian warship is in weapons range of the " Phoenix " , and Picard orders an overlay of the weapon ranges of both ships . The Cardassian ship fires on the " Phoenix " , which scores a direct hit on the starboard forward and aft , doing damage to its shields , and forcing the ship to move out of range and regroup . The " Phoenix " returns fire with its forward phasers and photon torpedoes , destroying the warship , all of which is watched by a stunned Macet . When Picard asks if the supply ship is armed , Macet numbly replies that its weapons are certainly not enough to combat a starship . Before he can react , the " Phoenix " fires on the supply ship , destroying it . Horrified , Macet reports that the warship had a crew of 600 , and the supply ship carried 50 . Picard accelerates to warp nine , while Macet leaves the bridge , clearly upset at these losses . Picard speaks to O ' Brien , who is working on the transporter , about the man he once served under . O ' Brien explains that Maxwell is a person who would not act based on vengeance , and that the Cardassians are up to something . He says that Picard should be investigating " them " , and not Maxwell . Picard reveals what happened moments ago , which puzzles O ' Brien , but he still defends Maxwell , saying he must have had good cause to do it . Picard points out that when someone is angry for a long time , he gets used to it , and gets comfortable with it - - so much so that he becomes blind to his own actions . In Ten Forward , O ' Brien joins Daro for a drink . He apologizes for his behavior on the turbolift , which Daro accepts , and indicates that it ' s taking a toll on both sides . O ' Brien then brings up the Setlik III massacre . He was sent there to reinforce the garrison there , and that mostly everyone was dead . Daro tells O ' Brien that they were told it was being used as a launch site for a massive strike against them . O ' Brien was with a group of women and children when two Cardassian soldiers burst in . He stunned one , and was jumped by the other . During the struggle , a woman tossed him a phaser , and he fired . The phaser was set to maximum , disintegrating the soldier . O ' Brien had never killed anything before then , not even a mosquito . Finally , he gets up and says to Daro " " It ' s not you I hate , Cardassian ; I hate what I became because of you " " . Macet ' s other aide , Telle , is forcibly escorted to the bridge by Worf , who reports that the Cardassian was found accessing a computer terminal to study the ship ' s weapon systems on deck 35 . Telle denies any such intention for accessing the computers , claiming only to study the efficiency of the computer systems themselves , but Macet chastises him for accessing them in the first place . He confines Telle to his quarters and asks to meet with Picard privately . He apologizes for Telle ' s actions in Picard ' s ready room and promises he will be disciplined . Picard takes it in stride and views the matter closed , but Macet isn ' t so sure . He then proclaims himself as a man who does not crave war , and states that he views Picard in a similar light . They then get good news from Data : they will intercept the " Phoenix " in 22 minutes . Act Four . Maxwell beams aboard and is greeted by Riker . Maxwell knows all about Riker ' s efforts against the Borg and says they all owe him one . He is surprised to see O ' Brien who Maxwell had no idea was serving on the " Enterprise " and details his service on the " Rutledge " . O ' Brien takes it in stride and says he learned his technique from him , to which Maxwell laughs . He then asks to see the captain , as he has a lot to talk about . Maxwell gives O ' Brien a wink before leaving . With introductions settled , Maxwell explains his motive to Picard : the Cardassians are rearming , and the science station he destroyed in the Cuellar sector was actually a military supply port . Picard asks for proof , but Maxwell can ' t provide it , for he has none . Maxwell indicates that a science station in the Cuellar sector served no purpose , but it ' s a good strategic location for a military supply base in three Federation - controlled sectors . They were running supply ships in and out , and he would not accept that they were used for scientific research . Picard asks why he did not contact Starfleet . Maxwell did not want to wait months while they sift through the reports and says lives were at stake and that they had to act now . Picard asks why . Maxwell gets annoyed and pins Picard as a bureaucrat . Picard points out that he nearly plunged the Federation into another war , but Maxwell counters that he " prevented " a war or delayed it . Picard dismisses it and scores a low blow on Maxwell , linking his actions to the loss of his family ; a claim Maxwell vehemently denies and claims history will remember Picard as a fool ; a claim Picard will accept . Maxwell points out that he will be vindicated once it is clear what the Cardassians have done , but Picard says whatever they ' ve done or not done is irrelevant . This burns Maxwell to the core . He wants Picard to come with him to prove he ' s been telling the truth , but Picard orders him to return to his ship and set a course to Starbase 211 with the " Enterprise " . Both ships have been ordered by Starfleet to return to Federation space together . The alternative is to be thrown in the brig and his ship towed in disgrace . Faced with that reality , Maxwell reluctantly shows acceptance of the orders and returns to his ship . Act Five . With the " Phoenix " in close formation with the " Enterprise " , Picard orders Worf to send a message to Admiral Haden with their expected time of arrival . Just then , the " Phoenix " alters course , which baffles the bridge crew . Maxwell has set an intercept course for a Cardassian ship , which Macet believes Maxwell will attack . Unable to overtake the " Phoenix " and separate the potential combatants , Picard orders an intercept course , and arms phasers . Riker reminds Picard that O ' Brien was Maxwell ' s tactical officer , and Picard acknowledges this ordering Chief O ' Brien to the bridge . When they arrive , the " Phoenix " does not appear to be ready to battle the Cardassian ship , yet the sensors cannot ascertain the Cardassians ' status as the ship is running a high - powered subspace field . Picard is faced with a decision of firing on a Federation starship , and needs O ' Brien ' s insight into how Maxwell thinks in a situation like this . Maxwell hails the " Enterprise " and demands that Picard board the Cardassians ' ship , or he ' ll destroy it . Picard refuses and affirms his resolve to use whatever means necessary to prevent Maxwell from undertaking any further hostile action . With that , he closes the channel and O ' Brien warns that Maxwell will strike if his back is to the wall , and that is exactly what happens . Picard initiates red alert and readies to attack the " Phoenix " but O ' Brien offers to beam over to talk some sense into Maxwell . Riker cautions that the " Phoenix " captain won ' t bring his shields down to transport , but O ' Brien replies that he knows how the " Phoenix " shields work . He explains that as it uses a high - energy sensor system , which cycles every 5 . 5 minutes , with a window of a fiftieth of a second , he can get on board through that window . Picard accepts the opportunity to avoid spilling the blood of fellow Starfleet officers , and O ' Brien prepares to board the ship . Maxwell gazes at the " Enterprise " through his window and is surprised to see O ' Brien enter . He points a phaser at O ' Brien , but the transporter chief isn ' t armed . Maxwell wants Picard to board the Cardassian vessel , but O ' Brien knows he won ' t . Maxwell is in disbelief that a Federation starship would attack another to protect the enemy , and O ' Brien warns that he will . Maxwell asks what happened to the war , which O ' Brien tells him that there " is " no war . Maxwell says the Cardassians live to make war , and that neither of them are the same . They start reminiscing about Setlik III , and Maxwell asks who that fellow was that used to follow O ' Brien around like a puppy . O ' Brien replies that it was Will Kayden . When Maxwell doesn ' t respond , O ' Brien elaborates with the officer ' s nickname , " Stompie " . O ' Brien confirms Maxwell ' s memory that they also lost Kayden at Setlik III . Maxwell then asks " What was that song of his ; the one he ' d always sing , the one I liked ? " . O ' Brien recollects for a moment , then begins singing soon joined by Maxwell : < poem > < / poem > Maxwell realizes that he will not be able to win this fight , which O ' Brien quietly confirms . Maxwell then turns over command of the " Phoenix " to his first officer and transports himself to the " Enterprise , " where Picard has him confined to quarters . Picard praises O ' Brien for his accomplishment . Even though O ' Brien knows Maxwell ' s action was wrong , he says he is still proud to have served with him . Macet scoffs that O ' Brien ' s loyalties are misplaced , but Picard claims he has much to learn about Human s . Maxwell was twice decorated with the Federation ' s highest citation for courage and valor during war ; that he could not adjust himself to peace makes him an object of pity , but he shall not be dismissed . Before Macet leaves the conference lounge , Picard tells him that Maxwell was not wrong , even if his actions were : the transports and the outpost clearly point to the Cardassians re - arming in secret . Macet rejoins that , if Picard believed that , why didn ' t he board the transport ? Picard says his mission was to protect the peace , and if he had boarded the transport , the Federation and the Cardassians would be arming for war at that very moment . But he tells the Cardassian Gul to take one last message to his superiors : " " We ' ll be watching . . . " " Memorable quotes . " " The Cardassians have no honor . I do not trust them . " " " " Let me talk to my superiors and find out what is behind this . Give me one hour . The alternative is for us to continue firing at one another and in such a contest you would be . . . at a disadvantage . " " " " Very well . . . one . . . hour . " " " " Smells musty in here . . . like a bureaucrat ' s office . " " " " You ' re a fool , Picard . History will look at you and say : ' This man was a fool . ' " " " " I ' ll accept the judgment of history . " " " " Mr . Worf , report to my ready room . My guest is departing . " " " " I think , when one has been angry for a very long time , one gets used to it . And it becomes comfortable like . . . like old leather . And finally . . . it becomes so familiar that one can ' t remember feeling any other way . " " " " It ' s not you I hate , Cardassian . I hate what I became " because " of you . " " " " Sweetheart , I ' m not a fish . " " " " I ' m not gonna win this one , am I , Chief ? " " " " No , sir . " " " " The loyalty that you would so quickly dismiss does not come easily to my people , Gul Macet . You have much to learn about us . Benjamin Maxwell earned the loyalty of those who served with him . You know , in war , he was twice honored with the Federation ' s highest citation for courage and valor . And if he could not find a role for himself in peace , we can pity him , but we shall not dismiss him . " " " " If there is to be a lasting peace between us , neither you nor I must allow any one man to undermine our efforts . " " " " Take this message to your leaders , Gul Macet : ' We ' ll be watching ' . " " Background information . Deleted scenes . Several scenes were filmed but later cut from the episode during editing . These scenes came to light in when Canadian " Star Trek " collector Cyril " Patchou " Paciullo ( owning several more " Next Generation " episodes workprints ) uploaded the contents of an early workprint VHS tape of the episode to the internet . Finally , in the last scene in which Picard warns Gul Macet , Picard is seen stating " " Take this message to your leaders , Gul Macet . We know . We ' ll be watching . And we ' ll be ready . " " In the edited version , Picard ends the line with only " " We ' ll be watching . " " Paciullo submitted his tapes to , who in turn brought him into contact with CBS . This discovery was a timely one , as these scenes , found on the tape of the episode ( labeled " Peter ' s Cut – 11 / 26 / 90 " , after Producer Peter Lauritson ) , could , cleaned - up ( " not " remastered as magnetic tapes can not be digitally scanned ) in better resolution , still be incorporated as part of the bonus feature " Deleted Scenes " on disc six of the later that year released TNG Season 4 Blu - ray set . Incidentally , one of Paciullo ' s other tapes , that of season companion episode , was likewise treated , unlike his other workprint tapes of the second season episode , and the third season episodes and , which came to light too late for inclusion on their corresponding releases . The tapes , nine in total , were acquired by Paciullo as Lot 77 , estimated at US $ 200 - $ 400 , at the Propworx ' " The official STAR TREK prop and costume auction " of 8 August 2010 for US $ 360 ( including buyer ' s premium ) . Links and references . References . ale ; arsenal ; bard ; Battle of Wolf 359 ; Blarney Stone ; Borg ; bureaucrat ; cabbage ; caper ; Cardassia ; Cardassian s ; Cardassian militia ; Cardassian sector ; Cardassian supply ship ; coded transponder frequency ( aka transponder code , transponder frequency ) ; corned beef ; Cuellar system ; defensive system ; district ; evasive maneuvers ; Federation ; Federation - Cardassian War ; : gesture ; glinn ; gul ; harp ; " kanar " ; ; kelp bud s ; Kelrabi system ; kidney pie ; king ; leather ; master chef ; master chief ; Maxwell ' s family ; meat ; " " ; military supply port / military transport station ; minstrel ; " " ; mosquito ; muffin ; mutton shank ; ; Number one ; oatmeal ; observer ; oxtail ; pattern buffer ; phaser bank ; ; plankton loaf ; potato ; potato casserole ; power coupling ; prefix code ; priority one ; red alert ; replicator ; research station ; ; scalloped potatoes ; sea berry ; Sector 21503 ; Sector 21505 ; Setlik III ; Setlik III massacre ; shield generator ; silent running ; squad ; Starbase 211 ; ; subspace field ; tactical officer ; terminal interface system ; " Trager " ; transporter ; turbolift ; warrior