Journey's End (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Journey's End"
Star Trek: The Next Generation episode
Episode no. Season 7
Episode 20
Directed by Corey Allen
Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore
Story by Ronald D. Moore
Shawn Piller (idea)
Antonia Napoli (idea)
Featured music Jay Chattaway
Production code 272
Original air date March 28, 1994 (1994-03-28)
Guest actors

"Journey's End" is the 172nd episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and is the 20th episode of the seventh season.

Wesley Crusher questions his future as the Enterprise is under orders to forcibly remove the descendants of native North Americans (here called 'Indians') from a planet being yielded to the Cardassians.

Plot

As a result of a long-disputed treaty with the Cardassians, the Federation has agreed to return several planets to Cardassian control. Therefore, all colonists on these planets must be relocated by Starfleet. Admiral Alynna Nechayev assigns the Enterprise to one such planet, Dorvan V, which is inhabited by Native American settlers who left Earth to preserve their culture in a new home. Their orders are to remove the inhabitants by any means necessary if they do not comply with the evacuation. Captain Picard has strong moral reservations about forcing the Native Americans to leave, but Nechayev ultimately persuades him that it is necessary for the greater good. Hoping to make the best of the situation, Picard approaches the Native Americans having already sited out three planets in the same sector and with near-identical climate conditions. However, their leader says the Native Americans spent 200 years searching for a world before choosing Dorvan V for spiritual properties, and that it will take another 200 years to find another world with the same spiritual properties. Picard tries to convince them to sacrifice their own desires for the good of the many other civilizations in the Federation, to no avail. During one debate the leader of the tribal council, Anthwara, tells Picard that according to their research Picard's ancestor had been involved in a massacre related to the Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico in the 17th century; they believe Picard inherits his ancestor's guilt, an idea Picard finds disturbing.

Meanwhile, Wesley has returned from Starfleet Academy for a vacation aboard the Enterprise. He is snappish and depressed, which really worries Dr. Crusher. He is rude to La Forge in the engine room. Dr. Crusher tries to talk to her son, but gets nowhere.

At a reception on the Enterprise, Wesley comes in contact with Lakanta, an Indian holy man of sorts. He guides Wesley on a vision quest, in which he talks to his long-dead father, who tells Wesley that he is destined to go down a path different from his own.

Meanwhile, a group of Cardassians arrives on the planet to scout buildings and equipment being left behind, and raises tensions among the settlers further. Picard realizes he has no choice but to force the Indians to leave. He plans to secretly beam them up to the ship, but when Wesley is informed of this, he incites the people to riot. When Picard criticizes his actions, Wesley quits Starfleet.

Soon the Indians capture some of the Cardassians on the planet, and a fight breaks out. The Cardassian gul is willing to send reinforcements to attack the Indians, but Picard warns him that, as the Indians are Federation citizens, he would be required to stop the Cardassians, which could lead to more violence between the two groups. Gul Evek reluctantly agrees, and beams up the Cardassians from the planet to prevent more violence.

Eventually Lakanta reveals himself as the Traveler, with whom Wesley had contact years ago. Wesley decides to leave Starfleet and explore the universe with him. Wesley tells Beverly this and reveals that he feared disappointing others. Beverly reassures him that she's still proud of him, no matter what he decides to do with his life.

The Indians, still insistent on staying on the planet, decide to forgo Federation citizenship and remain on the planet under the Cardassians' control. The Cardassians agree to leave them alone.

References

    External links

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