The Enterprise is in hot pursuit of a Ferengi 
vessel, which has stolen a T-9 energy unit from 
an unmanned base. Both ships are passing 
through an unknown solar system, when 
suddenly both are rendered immobile and 
powerless. The Enterprise tries to exploit the 
.300 millisecond delay between force and 
counterforce, to no avail. The crew assumes the 
Ferengi have them right where they want them, 
but when they contact the Ferengi ship to 
discuss surrender, the Ferengi grudgingly 
surrender to them, believing that the Enterprise 
is responsible for their immobility.
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Eventually, a probe finds that it's a force-field 
from the planet below that is responsible. The 
planet was once the outermost remnant of the 
long-dead Tkon empire, which was destroyed 
600,000 years ago. Picard tells this to the 
Ferengi, and offers a joint expedition to discover 
what's going on. After much discussion, they 
agree.
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However, the away team faces many problems. 
First, the force-field interfered with transport, 
separating them. Then, they discover the 
Ferengi beamed down first, and are ambushed 
by the Ferengi party. Yar rescues them and is 
about to stun the Ferengi, when the crystalline 
shapes all around them come alive and absorb 
the phaser fire (and the energy of the Ferengi 
whips as well). The "Portal" to the Tkon empire 
appears and demands to know why they have 
come. He has been sleeping for many hundreds 
of millenia and does not know of his Empire's 
collapse. He challenges Riker to take a test.
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Riker passes said test (a test of wisdom), and 
Portal frees the Enterprise, just as reserve 
power is running out. Shortly after, he frees the 
Ferengi vessel, after Riker suggests mercy, 
saying that the Federation's moral code forces 
them to face even the possibility that they will 
one day be destroyed by a civilization such as 
this. The Ferengi return the converter, and both 
ships leave.
<P>