THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

STORIES INVOLVING THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

[TNG: Season 4: Devil's Due]

SUMMARY: Just as the Ventaxian race is about to surrender itself into slavery to Ardra, their she-devil of legend, Picard intervenes, intent on saving both the Ventaxians, himself and the Enterprise from Ardra by exposing her as a fraud.

An emergency transmission from a Federation science station brings the Enterprise-D to Ventax II which is being attacked by the otherwise peaceful inhabitants. Of the Federation scientists, the starship crew manage to rescue only Dr Clarke. The crew learn that in Ventaxian legend, the pollution-plagued and war-torn citizens made a pact with the she-devil named Ardra: in exchange for a thousand years of peace and health they would hand themselves over to eternal slavery thereafter. The thousand years' period is about to end and it is the occurrence earth tremors and visions presaging Ardra's return that led to the panic that caused the Ventaxians to attack the Federation science station and seize hostages. Picard beams down to try to calm the situation and negotiate for the safe release of the hostages, when Ardra arrives. She orders the release of the hostages, expects the peaceful transition of power to herself, and asks the former leader Jared for an audit of the planet's prosperity attained during the thousand years. Picard is convinced that it is merely an alien woman seeking profit and power who claims to be Ardra, despite her apparent magic powers such as the ability to shape-shift, cause earth tremors and make herself or others vanish. Picard has Data check the legal contract the ancient Ventaxians made with Ardra but no loophole can be found.

Panicking Ventaxians run amok. Picard beams down with an Enterprise away team to talk to Jared. Ardra arrives and uses a few magic tricks which impress Jared (shown standing on Picard's left). The archives where Picard orders Data to check the contract.

Ardra appears on the Enterprise Bridge and claims possession of the starship and all aboard, and the contract's wording confirms her claim is valid.

Picard draws Ardra's wrath when he refuses her sexual advances, and she makes the Enterprise vanish. Whilst checking the Ventaxian archives, Data comes across an obscure legal precedent that allows an arbitrator to judge matters involving outsiders (such as the Federation). Picard invokes the precedent. Ardra agrees and appoints Data as arbitrator, which Picard consents to. At stake is not only the control of the planet but Picard's freedom as he is compelled to agree, if he loses, to become Ardra's personal slave.

in the Federation science station, Picard and Ardra agree on arbitration and Ardra's spoils if she wins [TNG: Season 4: Devil's Due]

The arbitration hearing does not start well for Picard, with Ardra proving her identity sufficiently according to Ventaxian legends. Picard argues that the era comprising a thousand years of peace was thanks, not to Ardra who did not take specific roles in ridding the planet of its pollution or strife, but to the Ventaxians themselves who organised themselves and succeeded in eventually achieving the present-day peace.

the arbitration hearing

the arbitration hearing - Ardra apparently turns herself for a moment into a devil monster

Meanwhile, La Forge and Dr Clarke locate the Enterprise and also Ardra's hidden ship. An Enterprise away team led by Riker boards Ardra's ship, whereupon La Forge interrupts the arbitration hearing to brief Picard. As Ardra's 'supernatural' powers are in fact achieved using basic holographic and transporter technology, Picard uses these same methods to conduct the same tricks as her. He thus exposes her as a fraud and con artist. She has appeared in numerous systems and enacted similar frauds on other species. She withdraws her claim to both Picard and the Ventaxians as Jared summons guards to take her into custody. It seems that, after all, the determination of the Ventaxians and not any pact with Ardra was what brought about the thousand years of peace and prosperiy.

Jared resumes power and his guards detain the false Ardra. Picard and Data leave, with the freedom of the Ventaxians and the Enterprise crew restored.

DISCUSSION: Once the alien female who calls herself Ardra is revealed as a fraud, this story ceases to be about the Prime Directive, its infringement and implications. Instead it becomes the story of an alien female unmasked as a fraudster. That raises the question of whether the Federation should or should not interfere when the commanding officer in the field (in this case Picard) believes that fraud is being perpetrated. If Ardra truly had been who she claimed to be, or if the Enterprise crew had been unable to disprove her claim, then it could be argued that the Enterprise interferes or interferes too much with Ventaxian society. That would also raise the issue of whether Picard's determined intervention is justified later solely on the grounds of saving his ship and crew. However, the television viewer knows that it is highly unlikely that "Ardra" genuinely has supernatural powers because Gene Roddenberry's views whenever expressed in Star Trek, and the view maintained in Star Trek after his death, tend to be that there is usually a scientific explanation for phenomena even if it is not always a rational scientific explanation. The Federation is already interacting with the Ventaxians, which involves the Enterprise-D when it answers the distress call.

NOTES: Ardra "transforms" herself into Fek'lhr. He is described as the guardian of Gre'thor, where dishonoured Klingons go after they die. The Klingon religion has no devil. In [#123 Barge Of The Dead], Torres is "conveyed" there. Blooper: Data briefs Enterprise senior staff that the Ventaxians consider it bad luck to speak Ardra's name, but Jared does so several times. Excuse: it is not considered bad luck for the Ventaxian leader to do so. During the above-mentioned staff meeting, possible explanations are offered to explain Ardra's abilities - transporter and holographic technology. But during the arbitration hearing, when asked Picard replies: "No." Excuse: he knew hypotheses would not be acceptable. However, La Forge later beams down to inform him they have evidence and Picard presents that. Picard explains to the arbitration hearing that an Enterprise away team is on board Ardra's ship and has been monitoring him via comms. in order for him to perform the same tricks as Ardra. He clicks his combadge to thank them (Riker replies). As he was already in comms. contact he need not have clicked his combadge. Excuse: a courtesy combadge click specifically alerts the away team that Picard wishes to speak to them.

 

 

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