History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E8Unification2

* BondVillainStupidity / LockingMacGyverInTheStoreCupboard: Sela locks Captain Picard, Lt. Commander Data, and Ambassador Spock, the supreme examples of TheSmartGuy, in a room with a computer terminal and holographic projectors. Not to mention that, as WebSite/SFDebris pointed out, even normal prisoners could have just waited for the Romulans to come back and then hit them with the furniture.

* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: Sela's grand plan to invade Vulcan… with a grand total of at most 6,000 troops (Geordi says "2,000" at one point and sounds like he's referring to the whole force but might mean that's how many each of the three ships carried). That's barely enough to invade a town or two, much less than a entire planet (granted, orbital superiority is a force multiplier, but that's dependent on the defenders not having ships of their own; there's also the possibility that the Romulans are ''significantly underestimating'' the Vulcans' capabilities, as they're known for being pacifists). She then lauds that they'll be nearly impossible to discharge since they will be "dug in" by the time Starfleet responds. WordOfGod has been criticized for this, but they've tried to defend this by saying that a "Trojan horse" had been the only plausible way Vulcan could be invaded.
** And as the rest of the episode shows, those ships were flanked by at least two more cloaked warships, so they weren't going in completely alone. It's possible that, like the Trojan Horse example, one of the troops objectives was to disable the planetary security systems on Vulcan, thus allowing the cloaked warships to perform an OrbitalBombardment while sending more troops. TheReveal of the plan by Spock essentially nixes the use of the cloaked ships as Starfleet can now deploy an effective defensive perimeter, the Romulans were clearly betting on the element of surprise.
** SciFiWritersHave/NoSenseOfVelocity: Oh, and that invasion force is headed for Vulcan at... warp one. Shouldn't it take them a couple decades to get there at just the speed of light?

* WeNeedADistraction: Sela's plans on invading Vulcan hinges on this. With Vulcan (and by extension, the Federation) distracted with the notion of reunification, the Romulan Invasion force will begin the first steps to take control of the planet. Also, Sela has a mock distress signal sent to the Enterprise so that it will assist a Federation colony instead of intercepting the hidden invasion force. Data taking control of the holographic projectors ruins those plans in their entirety.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Sela is not seen or even mentioned again after this episode, even though her introduction in "Redemption" was made out to be a big thing. It's entirely possible that after she and her guards allowed three valuable prisoners to escape and ruin the entire plan, [[YouHaveFailedMe she was punished for her failure]].[[note]][[VideoGame/StarTrekOnline Star Trek Online]] establishes that Sela was able to consolidate her power in light of the assassination of the Romulan Senate in Nemesis, and the destruction of Romulus, becoming Empress of the remaining portions of the Romulan Empire.[[/note]]

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Spock predicts that Sela will kill him, Picard, and Data even if they cooperate.

[[caption-width-right:350:Don't worry, this went better than [[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry his last]] [[MindRape mind-meld]].]]

* CallBack: Sela refers to Data as [[WorthyOpponent "the android I have come to respect in battle…"]], in reference to Data exposing her Romulan convoy during "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E26S5E1Redemption Redemption: Part II]]".

Back on Galorndon Core, the Enterprise detects the three Vulcan ships and moves to intercept. Dr. Crusher then informs Riker of a distress signal that she has received from a nearby Federation Colony, of which the Enterprise is the only vessel able to assist. Riker questions the timing of this distress call, but before he can take any further action, they receive the altered message of Spock warning of the invasion force. Riker immediately tells Crusher to verify the transmission as he now suspects it is fake. The Enterprise rushes to intercept the three ships, but when they finally do, a Romulan Warbird decloaks alongside the three ships and promptly destroys them, then cloaks once again.

Spock meets up with Neral, and the conversation appears to be going along well, with Neral saying that he may push the Romulan Senate towards reunification. When Spock leaves, Neral is revealed to be working with Sela, meaning that there is something else at play that Spock is unaware of. Back with the Underground Movement, Picard expresses skepticism that a leading Romulan figure would swiftly agree with the idea of reunification of Vulcan and Romulus. Spock agrees with Picard's assessment, [[TrapIsTheOnlyOption but has to play along to see what the Romulans are up to]]. Data and Picard return to the Klingon ship, where they discard their Romulan disguises. Data attempts to access the Romulan Communications network to contact the Enterprise, where Picard and Data learn about the incident at Qualor II and the lead to Galorndon Core, and inform Riker of Spock's intentions. However, the transmission is being jammed by an unknown source, and Riker orders the Enterprise to Galorndon Core to investigate further. Data accesses the logs in the Communication Network and finds a transmission from Romulan Intelligence sent to Galorndon Core and received by a Barolian freighter consisting of 4 digits: 1 4 0 0.

Picard and Data return to the Underground Movement where they relay the message to Spock. [[INeverSaidItWasPoison Spock immediately realizes that he has been betrayed]]: the numbers are actually the time in which Spock is supposed to make an announcement regarding reunification the following day. At this point, a number of Romulan Troops burst in, led by Sela. Spock immediately calls out Pardek as working with Sela, given that it was Pardek's idea to come to Romulus. Sela acknowledges Pardek's treachery and tells Spock that his idea of reunification will still happen, but in a different form: the invasion of Vulcan by the Imperial Romulan Fleet. At this point, at Galorndon Core, the Enterprise receives a message ostensibly from Picard saying that Spock's initiative is successful and to await further instructions.

Picard, Data, and Spock are brought to Sela's office where it is revealed that there are actually three ships full of Romulan Troops that will be sent to Vulcan as the vanguard of the Romulan Invasion force. Sela threatens to kill Spock unless Spock makes the announcement about reunification but Spock outright refuses: he surmises that [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he will be dead anyway once he makes the announcement.]] This only seems to [[VillainousBreakdown enrage Sela further]], she then reveals that she has a backup plan to use a holographic recording of Spock to make the announcement. It's not perfect, as she would rather have Spock delivering the announcement to reduce suspicion, but then again, they only need to confuse the Federation long enough for the Romulan Troops to entrench themselves on Vulcan. Sela then leaves to begin the Operation, [[BondVillainStupidity locking Picard, Data, and Spock in the room with the holographic projectors]]. [[LockingMacgyverInTheStoreCupboard Spock then notices that they still have access to her computer terminal and Data immediately gets to work.]] When Sela returns, she finds that the three prisoners are apparently not in the room. They are suddenly accosted by Riker and a security team, but when they fire on the intruders, they realize that the intruders are holographic projections. [[WeNeedADistraction This distraction is enough for Spock and Picard to surprise Sela's security team and knock them out]], with Sela now held by Spock holding one of the disrupters that obtained from the fallen security members. It turns out that Data used the holographic projectors to create false walls to hide himself, Picard, and Spock, enabling them to surprise the Romulans. Data now uses this moment to alter the pre-recorded message of Spock to inform the public that the Vulcan ships are actually an invasion force and must be stopped. The transmission is sent out, but stopped when the Romulans realize the message has been compromised. With her plans now ruined, Sela tells Picard, Data, and Spock that they will never get out of the building alive, but Data has already planned out an escape route and knocks Sela out with a Vulcan Nerve Pinch, to the approval of Spock.

Back on Galorndon Core, the Enterprise sees the three Vulcan ships and moves to intercept. Dr. Crusher then informs Riker of a distress signal that she has received from a nearby Federation Colony. Riker immediately questions the timing of this distress call, but before he can take any further action, they receive the altered message of Spock warning of the invasion force. Riker immediately tells Crusher to verify the transmission as he now suspects it is fake. The Enterprise rushes to intercept the three ships, but when they finally do, a Romulan Warbird decloaks alongside the three ships and promptly destroys them.

Back on Romulus, the Underground movement has set up shop in a different cave network that Pardek does not know about, ensuring some level of security for them. Picard implores Spock to return with him and Data, but Spock refuses noting that this is now his life mission and that he must work to change Romulan Society from within and prepare the Romulan people for a time in which reunification would be acceptable to both peoples. Picard offers Spock a parting gift: to share with him what Sarek shared when Picard when Sarek mind-melded with Picard. Spock accepts and is truly moved by what he now knows is his father's true feelings for him.

Spock meets up with Neral, and the conversation appears to be going along well, with Neral saying that he may push the Romulan Senate towards reunification. When Spock leaves, Neral is revealed to be working with Sela, meaning that there is something else at play that Spock is unaware of. Back with the Underground Movement, Picard expresses skepticism that a leading Romulan figure would swiftly agree with the idea of reunification of Vulcan and Romulus. Spock agrees with Picard's assessment, [[TrapIsTheOnlyOption but has to play along to see what the Romulans are up to]]. Data and Picard return to the Klingon ship, where they discard their Romulan disguises. Data attempts to access the Romulan Communications network to contact the Enterprise, where Picard and Data learn about the incident at Qualor II and the lead to Galorndon Core, and inform Riker of Spock's intentions. However, the transmission is being jammed by an unknown source, and Riker orders the Enterprise to Galorndon Core to investigate further. Data accesses the logs in the Communication Network and finds a transmission to that Barolian freighter consisting of 4 digits: 1 4 0 0.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Sela is not seen or even mentioned again after this episode, even though her introduction in "Redemption" was made out to be a big thing. It's entirely possible that after she and her guards allowed three valuable prisoners to escape and ruin the entire plan, [[YouHaveFailedMe she was punished for her failure]].

Picard, Data, and Spock are brought to Sela's office where it is revealed that there are actually three ships full of Romulan Troops that will be sent to Vulcan as the vanguard of the Romulan Invasion force. Sela threatens to kill Spock unless Spock makes the announcement about reunification but Spock outright refuses: he surmises that [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he will be dead anyway once he makes the announcement.]] This only seems to [[VillainousBreakdown enrage Sela further]], she then reveals that she has a backup plan to use a holographic recording of Spock to make the announcement. It's not perfect, as she would rather have Spock delivering the announcement to reduce suspicion, but then again, they only need to confuse the Federation long enough for the Romulan Troops to entrench themselves on Vulcan. Sela then leaves to begin the Operation, [[BondVillainStupidity locking Picard, Data, and Spock in the room with the holographic projectors]]. [[LockingMacgyverInTheStoreCupboard Spock then notices that they still have access to her computer terminal and Data immediately gets to work.]] When Sela returns, she finds that the three prisoners are apparently not in the room. They are suddenly accosted by Riker and a security team, but when they fire on the intruders, they realize that the intruders are holographic projections. [[WeNeedADistraction This distraction is enough for Spock and Picard to surprise Sela's security team and knock them out]], with Sela now held by Spock holding one of the disrupters that obtained from the fallen security members. Data now uses this moment to alter the pre-recorded message of Spock to inform the public that the Vulcan ships are actually an invasion force and must be stopped. The transmission is sent out, but stopped when the Romulans realize the message has been compromised. With her plans now ruined, Sela tells Picard, Data, and Spock that they will never get out of the building alive, but Data has already planned out an escape route and knocks Sela out with a Vulcan Nerve Pinch, to the approval of Spock.

* WeNeedADistraction: Sela's plans on invading Vulcan hinges on this. With Vulcan (and by extension, the Federation) distracted with the notion of reunification, the Romulan Invasion force will begin the first steps to take control of the planet. Also, Sela has a mock distress signal sent to the Enterprise so that it will assist a Federation colony. Data taking control of the holographic projectors ruins those plans in their entirety.

Picard, Data, and Spock are brought to Sela's office where it is revealed that there are actually three ships full of Romulan Troops that will be sent to Vulcan as the vanguard of the Romulan Invasion force. Sela wants Spock to make the announcement about reunification but Spock outright refuses: he surmises that [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he will be dead anyway once he makes the announcement.]] This only seems to [[VillainousBreakdown enrage Sela further]], she then reveals that she has a backup plan to use a holographic recording of Spock to make the announcement. It's not perfect, as she would rather have Spock delivering the announcement to reduce suspicion, but then again, they only need to confuse the Federation long enough for the Romulan Troops to entrench themselves on Vulcan. Sela then leaves to begin the Operation, [[BondVillainStupidity locking Picard, Data, and Spock in the room with the holographic projectors]]. [[LockingMacgyverInTheStoreCupboard Spock then notices that they still have access to her computer terminal and Data immediately gets to work.]] When Sela returns, she finds that the three prisoners are apparently not in the room. They are suddenly accosted by Riker and a security team, but when they fire on the intruders, they realize that the intruders are holographic projections. [[WeNeedADistraction This distraction is enough for Spock and Picard to surprise Sela's security team and knock them out]], with Sela now held by Spock holding one of the disrupters that obtained from the fallen security members. Data now uses this moment to alter the pre-recorded message of Spock to inform the public that the Vulcan ships are actually an invasion force and must be stopped. The transmission is sent out, but stopped when the Romulans realize the message has been compromised. With her plans now ruined, Sela tells Picard, Data, and Spock that they will never get out of the building alive, but Data has already planned out an escape route and knocks Sela out with a Vulcan Nerve Pinch, to the approval of Spock.

Spock meets up with Neral, and the conversation appears to be going along well, with Neral saying that he may push the Romulan Senate towards reunification. When Spock leaves, Neral is revealed to be working with Sela, meaning that there is something else at play that Spock is unaware of. Back with the Underground Movement, Picard expresses skepticism that a leading Romulan figure would swiftly agree with the idea of reunification of Vulcan and Romulus. Spock agrees with Picard's assessment, but has to play along to see what the Romulans are up to. Data and Picard return to the Klingon ship, where they discard their Romulan disguises. Data attempts to access the Romulan Communications network to contact the Enterprise, where Picard and Data learn about the incident at Qualor II and the lead to Galorndon Core, and inform Riker of Spock's intentions. However, the transmission is being jammed by an unknown source, and Riker orders the Enterprise to Galorndon Core to investigate further. Data accesses the logs in the Communication Network and finds a transmission to that Barolian freighter consisting of 4 digits: 1 4 0 0.

Picard and Data return to the Underground Movement where they relay the message to Spock. Spock immediately realizes that he has been betrayed: the numbers are actually the time in which Spock is supposed to make an announcement regarding reunification the following day. At this point, a number of Romulan Troops burst in, led by Sela. Spock immediately calls out Pardek as working with Sela, given that it was Pardek's idea to come to Romulus. Sela tells Spock that his idea of reunification will still happen, but in a different form: the invasion of Vulcan by the Imperial Romulan Fleet. At this point, at Galorndon Core, the Enterprise receives a message ostensibly from Picard saying that Spock's initiative is successful and to await further instructions.

* WeNeedADistraction: Sela's plans on invading Vulcan hinges on this. With Vulcan distracted with the notion of reunification, the Romulan Invasion force will begin the first steps to take control of the planet. Also, Sela has a mock distress signal sent to the Enterprise so that it will assist a Federation colony. Data taking control of the holographic projectors ruins those plans in their entirety.

* INeverToldYouItWasPoison: Spock realizes that both Pardek and Neral have betrayed him when he realizes that the transmission to the Barolian Freighter consists of the timestamp of when he would announce the reunification of Vulcan and Romulus.

Back on Romulus, the Underground movement has set up shop in a different cave network that Pardek does not know about, ensuring some level of security for them. Picard implores Spock to return with him and Data, but Spock dismisses this noting that this is now his life mission and that he must work to change Romulan Society from within and prepare the Romulan people for a time in which reunification would be acceptable to both peoples. Picard offers Spock a parting gift: to share with him what Sarek shared when Picard when Sarek mind-melded with Picard. Spock accepts and is truly moved by what he now knows is his father's true feelings for him.

** Also, when Data takes control of the holographic projectors, they use this to distract Sela and her guards with a holographic representation of Riker and his security team, then use the distraction to knock out Sela's security detail.

Spock is promoting the idea of reunification of Romulus and Vulcan, but Picard is sceptical, with good cause--Romulan Proconsul Neral is plotting with Sela to invade Vulcan with stolen Vulcan ships in the guise of a peace envoy.

-->'''Data:''' Perhaps [[ComicallyMissingThePoint you would be happier in another job]].

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Sela is not seen or even mentioned again after this episode, despite her introduction in "Redemption" was made to seem a big thing.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Sela is not seen or even mentioned again after this episode, despite her introduction in "Redemption" made to look like a big thing.

** And as the rest of the episode shows, those ships were flanked by at least two more cloaked warships, so they weren't going in completely alone. It's possible that, like the Trojan Horse example, one of the troops objectives was to disable the planetary security systems on Vulcan, thus allowing the cloaked warships to perform an OrbitalBombardment while sending more troops.

** And as the rest of the episode shows, those ships were flanked by at least two more cloaked warships, so they weren't going in completely alone.