Alien Spotlight : Andorians Summary . Deanna Troi approaches Sharad as he sits in Ten Forward . She comments that she has noticed that he hasn ' t had much company on the trip and that he ' s been alone a lot . Sharad tells her that he ' s been keeping busy with fitness and combat simulations on the holodeck . She tells him that she worried that his solitude wasn ' t by choice because the " Enterprise " has not had any Andorian crew members and very few guests . Sharad comments that the crew has been very welcoming , he ' s just had other things on his mind . She asks him what troubles him , using her Betazoid empathy . He points out that this is likely due to his role in Starfleet Intelligence , he constantly sees new reports about threats to the Federation , including the recent peace with the Cardassian s being threatened by the Maquis attacks , the reports from the Gamma Quadrant about the Jem ' Hadar and the Dominion , never mind the recent Borg attacks . He excuses himself to take care of some last minute things before their arrival at Andoria . On Andoria , Sharad stands in his uniform looking out a window when some younger Andorians begin to mock him , calling him a pink skin . Sharad retorts that Andorians helped found the Federation , but that they likely haven ' t gotten that far in school as yet . They suggest teaching " " this fade a lesson , " " but a nearby guardsman intervenes . It turns out to be Sharad ' s brother Shaa , and he notes that their family has had guards on all four sides , for five generations , questioning whether that is blue enough for the youths , who hurry away . The two greet each other , and Shaa tells Sharad that " fade " is " " the latest slang for an Andorian they don ' t think is Andorian " enough " . People with Aenar in their bloodline or the ones they think have sold out to the Human s . " " Back at home around the dinner table , Shralla , Sharad ' s sibling who is also in Starfleet turns the conversation to the fact that Andoria has essentially dropped out of the Federation over the last 200 years , and that back then Andorians realized that more could be accomplished together than apart . Unfortunately , they are now raising their children on stories of the empire of old , emphasizing that the fate of Andoria is primarily determined by others . Thra questions why they cannot find something more pleasant to talk about , and Shralla points out that Sharad encountered " " ice snakes spouting the Old Ways party line . " " His other mother asks when Sharad and Thrynn are going to hunt up another pairing to get married . Sharad , obviously embarrassed , point out that he isn ' t certain and excuses himself to meet up " " with someone who doesn ' t get quite so much joy out of tweaking my antennae . " " Out at a bar , Thrynn asks him what the " Enterprise " is doing at Andoria . He responds that Picard was sent to talk to the Chancellor in order to try to get Andorians more involved in the Federation . Thrynn points out that he has sympathy with those who believe that Andoria should break free entirely and that Old Wayers got him elected . Sharad looks about and comments that not long ago , half the patrons in the bar were with Starfleet and nobody gave the uniform a second glance . Thrynn tells him that times have changed , and some people now see Starfleet as the whip the Federation uses to keep Andoria in line . Sharad tells her that she sounds like a renegade . She says that the " True Heirs of Andor " are seen as renegades by Starfleet , but that many Andorians view them as heroes . She suggests they leave , and as he tells her about seeing old friends on Deep Space 9 , they are confronted by a large group of Andorians , and Sharad is quickly knocked unconscious . He wakes up on the icy floor of a cell , Thrynn outside the bars – a member of the T . H . A . She tells him that she has changed and tells him that he ' s been turned from a warrior into " " a glorified " data " interpreter ! " " He insists on speaking to her superior , telling her that kidnapping a Starfleet officer is too big a risk for a local commander . He suggests that since the " Enterprise " is in orbit , General Kovan is likely about . Kovan steps out of the shadows , remarking that Starfleet " " certainly hasn ' t dulled his mind " " about Sharad ' s astute observations . Kovan tells Sharad that Thrynn had hoped that he might be convinced to join them , but that due to his continued defense , that is obviously not going to occur . Kovan tells Thrynn to call four guards down , since they might be able to get some insight into Picard ' s visit due to Sharad ' s intelligence background . Sharad notes that he was merely a passenger , but that he ' d heard that Picard had been impressed with Kovan told stories about his subterfuge in the Triangulum System to dinner guests . The guards arrive , and Kovan tells them to take him to the interrogation chamber . Sharad asks if Kovan expects him to break , and Kovan responds in the affirmative , " " in this day and age , commander , " no one " can hold out forever . " " Sharad ' s antennae flatten and he declares his honor insulted , demanding a duel by the code of Ushaan . Thrynn tries to stop Kovan from participating , but Sharad points out that this is what Kovan stands for . Sharad continues to goad him until Kovan strikes him across the face and tells Thrynn to prepare him because he has nothing to fear because " " his time with the pink skins has filled him full of their love for peace and compromise and talk ! " " In the arena , Kovan congratulates Sharad on a well - played ruse as even if Kovan wins , he loses because Sharad ' s information will be out of his reach , because the fight is to the death . He asks if there is any chance that Sharad will drop the challenge because Andoria could use a man like him . Sharad refuses , insisting that he does what he does for Andoria already . Kovan offers him the choice of Ushaan - tor and salutes him as a worthy foe , despite his loyalties being misplaced . Sharad retorts " " I wish I could do the same , general , but you are a dangerous lunatic whose madness would drag Andoria into destruction . " " The battle begins , the opponents trading blows . Sharad draws blood first , but Kovan retaliates quickly . After more fighting , Sharad guts Kovan , killing him , and leaving himself covered in blue blood . Thrynn charges in , telling him that he will not live . He tells her that living was never part of his plan and that her transmissions had given her away . He had let himself be captured by the Heirs so that he could force Kovan into a duel . Thrynn accuses him of being a spy , but he points out that Starfleet would never risk an agent on such a gamble , and that he acted alone , despite there being a good chance of his being kicked out of Starfleet . He acted so that Starfleet would not have to worry about the renegades continuing to be a distraction on Andoria . She tells him that Kovan ' s death will not stop them , and that they will wring the information from him . He points out that Kovan was their best leader , best strategist , and much more important than the information he holds , and that he will not let them take him alive . . . Memorable quotes . " " Times change . People change . I got tired of watching our people taking orders from your precious Federation . Dying in " their " battles had no benefit for Andoria . " " " " I ' d say not being wiped out by the Romulan s or the Borg or the Cardassians is a benefit for us . " " " " Is it " enough " to merely " survive " ? There was a time when Andorians took the battle to our enemies . When we were conquerors ! Your Federation has stripped that from us ! " " " " In accordance with the code of Ushaan , I challenge you ! " " " " I thought your precious Federation didn ' t allow dueling , Commander ! " " " " There have been exceptions before , General . Besides , what do you care ? You " believe " in the old ways , don ' t you ? " " " " General , don ' t ! You ' re too important to risk over the " questionable " honor who has turned his back on his own people ! " " " " Ha ! It ' s not a question of my honor , Thrynn . It is a question of his . This is supposed to be what he stands for . What he ' s " fighting " for . " " " " He ' s right . This is our way . The old way . The way of Andorians since the dawn of time . " " " " You cannot win the future by hiding in the past . " " " " I have done what I set out to do by cunning and skill , passion and honor ! I am a " true " Andorian and I am " prepared " to die ! Are you ? " "