NEWS              GENERAL    TOS    TAS    TNG    DS9    VOY    ENT    DSC    PIC    LOW    PRO    SNW    ACADEMY    MOVIES    GAMING    
Mar 30, 2025 - [HOME] Nacelle Reveals Wave 2 STAR TREK Action Figure Lineup
Mar 30, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY Season 2 Screencaps: "Touch of Grey"
Mar 30, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY Season 2 Screencaps: "Brink"
Mar 29, 2025 - [HOME] Master Replicas, Hiya Toys Launch New STAR TREK Preorders
Mar 29, 2025 - [LOW] LOWER DECKS Season 5 on Blu-ray: Review & Giveaway
Mar 28, 2025 - [TOS] Wand Company Tricorder Replica Pricing, Fulfillment Plan Revealed
Mar 27, 2025 - [DSC] DISCOVERY Season 5 Screencaps: "Life, Itself"
Mar 24, 2025 - [TOS] TOS Season 2 Screencaps: Remastered Visual Effects
Mar 23, 2025 - [HOME] IDW Unveils Three STAR TREK Comic Miniseries for 2025
Mar 23, 2025 - [TOS] Master Replicas Offers Full-Sized Original Enterprise Plaque
Mar 21, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY 214 Blu-ray Screencaps: "Ascension, Part I"
Mar 21, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY 215 Blu-ray Screencaps: "Ascension, Part II"
Mar 19, 2025 - [DS9] Video Update: "DS9" Interviews & Behind-the-Scenes
Mar 18, 2025 - [LOW] LOWER DECKS S4 Screencaps: "The Inner Fight"
Mar 17, 2025 - [DSC] DISCOVERY Season 5 Screencaps: "Lagrange Point"
Mar 16, 2025 - [HOME] WeeklyTrek: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Starts Season 4 Filming
Mar 15, 2025 - [TOS] TOS Season 1 Screencaps: Remastered Visual Effects
Mar 14, 2025 - [TOS] Master Replicas Recreates Original STAR TREK Coffee Cup
Mar 14, 2025 - [HOME] Fundraiser Success - Thanks to You!
Mar 14, 2025 - [DS9] "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" Episode Trailers — Season 7
Mar 13, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY 213 Blu-ray Screencaps: "Cracked Mirror"
Mar 13, 2025 - [PRO] PRODIGY 212 Blu-ray Screencaps: "A Tribble Called Quest"
Mar 11, 2025 - [DS9] CherryTree Debuts DS9-Inspired Raktajino Mug Replica
Mar 09, 2025 - [HOME] REVIEW: Fanhome's Stargazer and Farragut Models, Plus: Subscriptions Reopen March 10!
Mar 08, 2025 - [LOW] LOWER DECKS S4 Screencaps: "Caves"
Mar 08, 2025 - [DSC] DISCOVERY Season 5 Screencaps: "Labryinths"
Mar 07, 2025 - [DS9] "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" Episode Trailers — 'Final Chapter'
Mar 06, 2025 - [SNW] STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 3 Character Portraits Arrive!
Mar 05, 2025 - [HOME] INTERVIEW: Brian Volk-Weiss on Nacelle's New TREK Action Figures
Mar 04, 2025 - [HOME] Nacelle Launches Preorders for New STAR TREK Action Figures
Episode Synopsis

  TNG NEWS
  TNG EPISODE GUIDE



  BLU-RAY
  S1 SCREENCAPS
  S2 SCREENCAPS
  S3 SCREENCAPS
  S4 SCREENCAPS
  S5 SCREENCAPS
  S6 SCREENCAPS
  S7 SCREENCAPS
  BONUS FEATURES
  OPENING CREDITS

  OTHER CONTENT
  BEHIND THE SCENES
  PRESS KITS
  PUBLICITY PHOTOS
  MAGAZINES
  VHS COVER ARCHIVE

TREKCORE > TNG > EPISODES > SYMBIOSIS > Synopsis

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS from StarTrek.com

While studying magnetic changes in the Delos system's sun, the U.S.S. Enterprise receives a distress signal from a disabled freighter ship.

The starship beams four of the passengers on board, along with the ship's cargo. Two of the guests are from the technically advanced planet of Ornara, and the other two are from its neighboring planet of Brekka. The crew is puzzled when the two groups immediately begin to argue over the cargo.

Picard learns that the precious cargo is in fact a remedy for a plague which has gripped Ornara for two centuries. The "cure" is manufactured exclusively on Brekka, whose citizens provide it to the Ornarans in exchange for food and other basic necessities. However, in this instance, the Brekkians claim the Ornarans did not pay for their cargo, and they prepare to take it back to Brekka.

Pleading that their civilization will be wiped out without the medication, the Ornarans convince Picard to mediate. However, Picard is able only to convince the Brekkians to give doses to the two Ornarans on the Enterprise. But as the Ornarans take the remedy, Dr. Crusher realizes that the alleged cure is nothing more than a narcotic ... and that the Ornarans are a race of drug addicts!

Apparently, the Brekkians have neglected to inform the Ornarans that the plague is not fatal and have instead allowed the Ornarans to become addicted to a bogus cure.

Picard, citing the Prime Directive, refuses to inform the Ornarans that the Brekkians have been deceiving them for 200 years. Instead, he cleverly turns the tables on the Brekkians by withdrawing an earlier offer to repair the Ornaran freighter ship. In this way, the Ornarans will be unable to honor their trade agreement and will consequently escape their addiction.



BACK TO EPISODES HOME, BACK TO SYMBIOSIS INDEX, Quick Section Links: Behind the Scenes, Credits, Quotes, Review, Screencaps, Script, Synopsis, Trivia

 
TrekCore.com is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with Paramount, CBS Studios, Paramount Pictures, or the Star Trek franchise.
All STAR TREK images, trademarks and logos are owned by CBS Studios Inc. and/or Paramount Pictures.
All original TrekCore.com content (c) 2025 Trapezoid Media, LLC. - Terms & Conditions