'Aquiel' (Story Code 239) by Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore Story by Jeri Taylor

The U.S.S. Enterprise investigates a remote subspace relay station near the Klingon border which has recently gone silent. Beaming down, Commander Riker, Lieutenant LaForge and Doctor Crusher find the station deserted apart from a stray dog and traces of blood and cellular residue - which appear to be the remains of Lieutenant Aquiel Uhnari. Searching for the missing Lieutenant Rocha, Riker and Doctor Crusher find evidence of a Klingon attack on the shuttlecraft docked to the station. LaForge finds recordings of Aquiel’s personal correspondence, learning that a Klingon named Morag had been repeatedly harassing the station, and that Aquiel had a tenuous relationship with Rocha. Picard seeks assistance in the inquiry from Klingon Governor Torak; the governor soon arrives in a ship - together with Aquiel, still very much alive. The beautiful Lieutenant explains that Rocha attacked her, but she was able to escape into Klingon space in the shuttlecraft; she states that the remains are probably Rocha's, but is unable remember exactly what happened. Picard asks Torak to arrange for a meeting with Commander Morag; meanwhile, LaForge, finding himself attracted to Aquiel, quickly strikes up a friendship with her. However, new evidence then comes to light that implicates Aquiel in the murder of her colleague…

Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Thomas Riker), LeVar Burton (Chief Engineer Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Security Chief Lieutenant Worf), Gates McFadden (Doctor Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Councelor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data), Renee Jones (Lieutenant Acquiel Uhnari), Wayne Grace (Governor Torak), Reg E. Cathey (Morag), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

Directed by Cliff Bole
Produced by Peter Lauritson
Co-Produced by Ronald D. Moore
Co-Executive Producer Jeri Taylor
Executive Producers Michael Piller and Rick Berman

TX:
1st February, 1993

Notes:
*Featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William Thomas Riker, Chief Engineer Lieutenant Geordi La Forge, Security Chief Lieutenant Worf, Doctor Beverly Crusher, Councelor Deanna Troi and Lieutenant Commander Data