History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E9TheVengeanceFactor

As the ''Enterprise'' travels to the rendezvous with Chorgan's ship, Brull very briefly becomes VitriolicBestBuds with Wesley of all people, while Crusher continues her investigation into the death. Riker, meanwhile, has a private dinner with Yuta, who seems oddly devoted to carrying out her "duty." Riker is able to work out that she probably isn't talking about her cooking, but she isn't very forthcoming with information. Meanwhile, Crusher discovers that the old Gatherer's heart attack was induced by some sort of genetically engineered virus. Further investigation reveals that the virus has likely been designed to target members of the Lornak clan of Acamarians.

Negotiations between Marouk and Chorgan are stormy, but with Picard's help are gradually progressing. Just as Yuta goes to serve drinks, Riker beams aboard, with a phaser aimed at Yuta. He reveals the full story; 80 years ago the Lornak and Tralesta clans all but wiped each other out in a massive war. Yuta was one of a small number of survivors on the Tralesta side, and was genetically re-engineered to age slowly and carry a virus that would kill any Lornak clan member she came into contact with. And wouldn't you know it, Chorgan is the last surviving member of the Lornak clan. Riker tries to talk Yuta down, but she refuses to be reasoned with, and Riker is forced to vaporize her. Chorgan is grateful, but it's of little consolation to Riker, who [[DrowningMySorrows drowns his sorrows]] in Ten Forward as the episode ends.

Negotiations between Marouk and Chorgan are stormy, but with Picard's help are gradually progressing. Just as Yuta goes to serve drinks, Riker beams aboard, with a phaser aimed at Yuta. He reveals the full story; 80 years ago the Lornak and Tralesta clans all but wiped each other out in a massive war. Yuta was one of a small number of survivors on the Tralesta side, and was genetically re-engineered to age slowly and carry a virus that would kill any Lornak clan member she came into contact with. And wouldn't you know it, Chorgan is the last surviving member of the Lornak clan. Riker tries to talk Yuta down, but she refuses to be reasoned with, and Riker is forced to vaporize her. Chorgan is grateful, but it's of little consolation to Riker, who drowns his sorrows in Ten Forward as the episode ends.

* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Brull describes himself this way.
-->'''Brull:''' You don't like me, do you?\\
'''Wesley:''' I didn't say that!\\
'''Brull:''' No problem! I have many friends who don't like me!

On arrival at a Gatherer outpost, an away team beams down, only to end up in a firefight with the residents, which is ended when the away team pretends to beam out, then ambushes the unsuspecting Gatherers. As formal of a meeting as possible is then held with the uncouth Gatherers, who initially scorn Marouk's attempts at diplomacy. However, the leader of this particular cell, Brull eventually agrees to relay the offer to the Gatherer leader, Chorgan, promising a reply within thirty days. Picard flatly tells Brull that he has much better things to do that stick around a month waiting for the reply, and offers to fly Brull there himself. While this is going on, Yuta takes an interest in an elderly Gatherer. Announcing that she is "Yuta, of the clan Tralesta," she touches the Gatherer, who immediately falls over dead. The other Gatherers shrug off his death as being the result of his age, but Riker has Dr. Crusher beam down and do a quick autopsy; she finds that he died of a heart attack, but that something about it seems odd.

Before they can work out anything else, the ''Enterprise'' arrives at the co-ordinates of Chorgan's ship. Unfortunately, Brull evidently forgot to call ahead, and the ship attacks the ''Enterprise'', which has to disable Chorgan's ship. Picard makes it clear that while he's here to facilitate negotiations, he's not going to put up with any crap, and he beams aboard with Marouk and her delegation, including Yuta. Riker and Crusher continue their investigation with Data's help, and discover that the last death by the virus was caused 53 years ago. Examination of an old photograph reveals that the likely assailant was none other than Yuta, who appears to have not aged a day since then.

!!This episode provides examples of

--> '''Riker:''' I told you, I prefer equals.
--> '''Yuta:''' Even in the matters of love?
--> '''Riker:''' Especially in matters of love.

* DullSurprise: The director opted to film Picard, Marouk and Chorgan sitting behind Yuta as she's vaporized, but didn't realize this would mean that the three would just end up sitting there, not reacting at all to her death.
* EnhanceButton: One of the most glaring examples in any medium; the ''Enterprise'' computer is not only able to extrapolate a perfectly clear image from a small portion of a photograph, but is able to reconstruct Yuta's full face when maybe just a ''fifth'' of it is visible in the unaltered image.
** May be justified since it takes place in a setting where "holographic cameras" exist. The image could actually be a holographic sensor reading stored from a fixed point of reference, which would mean that elements of the photo could be removed and possibly even rotated.

* HalfwayPlotSwitch: The episode initially seems to be an action piece pitting the ''Enterprise'' against a bunch of Space Pirates. That all changes when Yuta kills the elderly Gatherer.

* NotSoDifferent: Invoked by Picard during the talks between Marouk and Chorgan, as he points out that the two are more alike than they care to admit.

* SpacePirates: The Gatherers are this, albeit the type who do it to survive rather than just being greedy jerks.

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: Subverted, because Riker had to use a "vaporize" setting to stop Yuta as stun shots weren't stopping her, and even a shot that would have been lethal to anyone else didn't slow her down for long.

--> '''Riker''' Especially in matters of love.

* LargeHam: Brull and Chorgan, likely to provide a contrast against the more "civilized" ''Enterprise'' crew. Marouk can also turn into this while arguing with the Gatherers.

* LeftHanging: While the Gatherer raids and possible reconciliation with the rest of the Acamarians is the story's driving force for the most part, we never actually find out if the negotiations achieved anything.

* KillTheCutie: Riker has to do this to Yuta at the end. Though in this case, the "cutie" had done more than a little killing of her own.

As the ''Enterprise'' travels to the rendezvous with Chorgan's ship, Brull very briefly becomes VirtriolicBestBuds with Wesley of all people, while Crusher continues her investigation into the death. Riker, meanwhile, has a private dinner with Yuta, who seems oddly devoted to carrying out her "duty." Riker is able to work out that she probably isn't talking about her cooking, but she isn't very forthcoming with information. Meanwhile, Crusher discovers that the old Gatherer's heart attack was induced by some sort of genetically engineered virus. Further investigation reveals that the virus has likely been designed to target members of the Lornak clan of Acamarians.