The Last Outpost

Next Generation Episode #5

Written by Herbert Wright. Story by Richard Krzemien. Directed by Richard Colla.

Stardate: 41386.4 First aired: 19 October 1987

The Enterprise pursues a Ferengi vessel that's stolen a T9 energy converter to the Delphi Ardu system. The Enterprise becomes trapped in an energy beam, which the crew assume is a Ferengi weapon - until the Ferengi contact them, asking to be released. Research reveals that the planet below used to belong to the extinct Tkon Empire. As the power drain becomes critical, the Enterprise and Ferengi send parties down to the planet to investigate. The Ferengi attack the Away Team but a mysterious figure, Portal, appears, claiming to be the Guardian of the Tkon Empire. The Ferengi try to paint the Enterprise crew as raiders, but Riker convinces Portal that they pose no threat and the ships are released on the condition that the Ferengi return the stolen energy converter. The Ferengi make their first appearance in this episode, and we see their marauder spacecraft for the first time as well.

Guest Cast

Jake Dengel as "Mordoc", Mike Gomez as "Tarr", Darryl Henriques as "Portal", Armin Shimmerman as "Letak", Tracey Walter as "Kayron".

Trivia

• The name Ferengi might derive from the old Asian word 'firinghee', a disparaging term used to describe European traders.

• It's made clear here that the Federation have never seen a Ferengi - this runs counter to the impression given later that the Ferengi have been traders in and around the Federation for centuries. The earliest contact with the Ferengi has now been backdated to Archer's time (Acquisition).

• The first Ferengi seen is played by Armin Shimmerman, who'd go on (after a number of other roles in The Next Generation) to play a Ferengi regular character, Quark, in Deep Space Nine.

• Geordi seems to fulfil the function of Chief Engineer despite not having been given the role. Sarah McDougal has vanished.

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