Loud As A Whisper ( episode ) The " Enterprise " brings a deaf negotiator to mediate the end of a planetary civil war . Summary . Teaser . The war - torn planet Solais V , desperate for peace , calls for the famous mediator Riva to hear their dispute . This man , being deaf and mute , depends on his telepathic powers , and those of his three aides , to communicate with others . The is dispatched to Ramatis III to bring Riva to the planet . Captain Jean - Luc Picard , Worf , and Troi are transported down to Ramatis III to pick up Riva . Prior to beam ing down , Troi senses discomfort from Worf . At first Worf denies it , but Troi insists and presses the issue . When Riker and Picard turn to inquire , Worf admits to some discomfort because of Riva . Picard understands and explains to the others that Riva had played a key role in negotiating several peace treaties between the Klingon Empire and the Federation . Worf tells the away team that before Riva , there was no Klingon word for " peacemaker . " When they arrive , however , there is no one to be found . Act One . Riva eventually arrives , coming close to each one of them without speaking . Then , three others arrive , calling themselves his chorus . They explain that they are his interpreters , since he is deaf . In fact , for several generations there have been people like Riva and interpreters like them . They call themselves the scholar , the warrior , and that which binds them . It ' s a beautiful method of interpretation , Troi admits . Riva is impressed and attracted by her telepathic capabilities and , foremost , by her beauty . Act Two . Riva and his interpreters arrive on the bridge to meet some of the bridge crew . He very diplomatically greets each of William T . Riker , Geordi La Forge and Data by commenting on Data ' s uniqueness and La Forge ' s VISOR . He then asks that Troi show him to his quarters . There , he asks her to dinner after a briefing from Picard ' s team . In the observation lounge , Picard , Riker and Data have prepared a lengthy briefing , however , all Riva needed to hear was that the fighting started over some historical event a long time ago and that something recent has changed prompting a desire for peace . Confident in his abilities , he decides to leave the meeting early and prepare for his dinner . Riva and Troi continually meet to show their affection . Riva , in his persistent behavior , has let his emotions takeover the mission that he set out to do . Over dinner , they carry on conversations through sign language . Suddenly , their dinner is interrupted by Picard . The " Enterprise " reached Solais V and Picard discovered that the ceasefire on Solais V has been broken . Upon Picard ' s request , Riva approaches the bridge to communicate with the two factions . Beyond all skepticism , Riva successfully stops the fighting . Picard shows him to the computer in order to locate a meeting spot on Solais V to conduct the peace meeting . He chooses the site of the Battle of Zambrano , on a hilltop . Act Three . Worf , Riker , Riva and his chorus beam down to the site . Riva calls for a specific kind of table and torches from the " Enterprise " to set the stage , though the two factions arrive before they are beamed down . During initial meeting , a rogue member of one of the factions suddenly opens fire at the negotiation team , missing Riva due to Riker ' s interference but instead killing his whole chorus . The enraged leader of the faction instantly executes the rogue subordinate and quickly throws up his hands , pleading for them to stay . In the confusion , Riker orders immediate beam - out of Riva and the " Enterprise " crew . Despite the subsequent pleas of both faction leaders , Riva is very distraught and refuses to continue with the negotiations , but frantically expresses this in some kind of sign language no one can understand . Picard quickly asks Data to attempt to learn his language and to get Dr . Katherine Pulaski to see if she can develop some way of helping him communicate . Riva continues to be frustrated . Picard grabs Riva and tells him that while his chorus is dead , he is not alone . They are all in this situation together . This made an impact on him , and he leaves with Troi . Act Four . Data , through the computer , analyzes a number of different sign languages that help him to construct an index which he later uses to decipher Riva ' s sign language . They now understand that Riva assumes responsibility for the deaths of his translators and is not willing to continue with the peace treaty . Riva explains that he cannot use Data in their stead because while he considers Data a fine machine , he cannot deliver the necessary emotions found in his translator ' s voices . Meanwhile , Geordi La Forge and Dr . Pulaski discuss La Forge ' s medical case . Dr . Pulaski is apparently capable of repairing his eyes through two types of surgery : ocular implant s , which would give him 80 % of the vision provided by his VISOR , or extensive repairs done to the optical nerves and replicated eyes , which would give him normal vision but at greater risk . She tells him if he decides to undergo the surgery , there is no going back . La Forge , surprised and overwhelmed , decides to take time to think about his decision . Troi tells Riva that she will be conducting the negotiations in his place and asks for help . Riva explains several of the important aspects of negotiating peace between warring factions . One such idea , " turn a disadvantage into an advantage , " inspires Riva to come up with a solution . He agrees to try it himself . Act Five . Riva decides that the best way to resolve the confrontation is for him to teach sign language to both factions , believing that as the factions learn to talk to him , they will also learn to talk to one another . The " Enterprise " leaves Riva on the planet to resolve the issue and carries on . Picard thanks Troi for her help with Riva and says that while she can read his thoughts , he wanted to tell her himself . Memorable quotes . " " Oh , cluck , cluck , cluck , Number One . " " " " Sir ? " " " " You ' re being a mother hen . " " " " Our job is not to police the galaxy . " " " " Isn ' t that my speech , Number One ? " " " " Before him , there was no Klingon word for " peacemaker " . " " " " Then Riva , the mediator is . . . " " " " Deaf . " " " " Confidence is faith in oneself . It can ' t be easily given by another . " " " " Your method of communication is most elegant and quite beautiful . " " " " Well , this is a lot to think about . I ' ll get back to you , doctor . " " " " Phasers on stun . " " " " You won ' t need them . " " " " I ' m sure we won ' t . Energize . " " " " The time for killing has come to an end . " " " " Listen to me ! " You " are not alone ! We are all in this together . . . now . " " " " Data is a fine machine but he cannot take the place of my chorus . " " " " Why can ' t " you " do that ? Why can ' t you turn a disadvantage into an advantage ? " " " " That is interesting . " " Links and references . References . 9th century ; anarchy ; " As You Like It " ; blindness ; cease fire ; chicken ; deaf ; Denkir IV ; ear ; Earth ; empathic ; Federation ; Fendaus V ; Fendaus V leaders ; gestural language ; gesture ; hemophilia ; House of Hanover ; kilometer ; Klingon Empire ; Klingonese ; laser weapon s ; lateral sensor array ; Leyron ; Lima Sierra system ; limb ; M - 9 ; magnetic field ; magnetosphere ; Malkus IX ; Milky Way Galaxy ; NCC - 7100 ; number one ; ocular implant ; optic nerve ; optic nerve laser welding ; Ramatis III ; Ramatis III native ; Ramatis system ; replicator ; sign language ; Solais V ; Solais system ; Solari ; Solari wars ; standard orbit ; topography ; Transporter Room Five ; VISOR Library computer references . fingerspelling ; ; ; Jupiter ; magnetic field ; magnetosphere ; NASA ; past semi - subjunctive ; " Pioneer 11 " ; telescope ; Saturn ; Sol ; Sol system ; solar wind ; " Sputnik " ; " United States Declaration of Independence " ; Unreferenced material . Plaeties system