The Enterprise visits Ligon II to obtain a rare vaccine needed to avert a plague on Stryis IV. As the Ligonian leader, Lutan, comes on board, he seems very arrogant, and more than slightly attracted to Tasha, but not dangerous. Unfortunately, in departing, he kidnaps Tasha from right under the Enterprise's noses.

Data and Riker theorize that Lutan kidnapped Tasha as a display of "counting coup"-by stealing the riskiest prize of all, he proved himself very brave for his followers. By Ligonian custom, Picard must ask to get Tasha back, in public, at a banquet. He does this, but Lutan says that he cannot part with her, thus breaking even his own customs. His wife, Yareena, challenges Tasha to a death-duel, which she must accept if the Enterprise is to obtain the vaccine (and it's needed quickly, as the plague is growing ever worse...). Lutan now cannot lose; if Yareena dies, he inherits all her land (on Ligon, the women own the land), and if she lives, he loses nothing.

The crew tries to talk everyone out of this, to no avail. Then, they turn from diplomacy to deception. Yar wins the duel, killing Yareena with the instantly-lethal poison used on the weapons. They then both immediately beam up, where Beverly saves Yareena. Having come back from the dead, Yareena's marriage to Lutan is dissolved. She chooses his second, Hagon, as husband, and the ship leaves, with both Tasha and the vaccine.

Highlight Listing:

"Code of Honor" - Kidnapped by aliens known as Ligonians, Lieutenant Tasha Yar battles for her freedom and the welfare of a diseased Federation planet.

Advertising Headline:

A DUEL TO THE DEATH Captain Picard battles an alien code of honor to rescue Lt. Yar from her kidnappers.

TV log listing:

Lt. Yar faces a duel to the death when she's kidnapped by aliens in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION.

Operation SNAFU

While on the planet, watch Deanna's arms. In the group shots, Deanna's arms are at her sides, while, in the close-ups, her arms are behind her back. (UV) During the fight with Yareena, Yar's weapon is on her left hand. However, when Yar beams up with Yareena, the weapon moves to her right hand. I hate to think what else could be rearranged during transport! (UV)

Technical design, graphic design, interactive features, HTML & CGI programming by Andrew Tong. || All materials Copyright © 1987-1995 by their respective authors. || Document created: January 28, 1995 || Last Modified: November 09, 2010