While at Starbase 173 for crew rotation, Picard 
runs into an old acquaintance, Captain Phillipa 
Louvois, who once prosecuted him in the 
Stargazer court-martial, but is now working for 
the JAG (Judge Advocate General) office in this 
sector. Also on hand is Commander Bruce 
Maddox, who once on board the Enterprise, 
announces his intention to dismantle Data.
<P>
Maddox is an expert in cybernetics, and has 
worked for years to recreate the work of Dr. 
Soongh, and he believes examining Data will 
give him the boost he needs to create many more 
androids like Data. However, when Picard, wary 
of Maddox's vagueness, declines the offer, 
Maddox produces orders transferring Data to his 
command.
<P>
After talking to Data, Picard goes to Phillipa to 
find a way to block the transfer. Unfortunately, 
the only option is for Data to resign from 
Starfleet. This he does, immediately, but is 
interrupted while packing by Dr. Maddox, who 
claims Data cannot resign. Data says that he 
must, to protect Soongh's dream.
<P>
Maddox takes his complaint to Phillipa, and 
claims that since Data is property, he cannot 
resign. As she starts looking into this possibility, 
Data is thrown a going-away party and wished 
well in whatever he chooses to do. However, 
Phillipa then tells Picard and Riker that, 
according to the Acts of Cumberland, Data is the 
property of Starfleet, and thus cannot resign, or 
even refuse to cooperate with Maddox. Further, 
if a hearing is held to challenge this ruling, since 
Phillipa has no staff, serving officers must serve 
as counsel, with Picard defending and Riker 
prosecuting.
<P>
Riker does some research and presents a 
devastating case for the prosecution, turning 
Data off while talking about cutting Pinocchio's 
strings. Picard, taken aback, asks for a recess, 
and talks to Guinan. Guinan subtly gets Picard 
to realize that if Data, and his eventual 
successors, are held to be "disposable people", 
that's no better than slavery all over again. 
Picard, renewed, presents his defense.
<P>
He asks Data why he values such things as his 
medals, a gift from Picard, and especially a 
holographic image of Tasha (surprising Phillipa 
with Data's statement that they were 
"intimate"). He calls Maddox as a hostile 
witness, and demands from him the 
requirements for sentience. Finally, Picard 
points out that the possibility of thousands of 
Datas is becoming a race, and claims that 
"Starfleet was founded to seek out new life-well 
there it sits!!" Phillipa rules in favor of Data, 
who refuses to undergo Maddox's procedure. 
Maddox cancels the transfer order, and Data 
comforts Riker, saying he will not easily forget 
how Riker injured himself (by prosecuting) to 
save Data.
<P>