Picard goes undercover with mercenaries seeking an ancient Vulcan artifact.
Picard is apparently killed in a bar on Dessica II while investigating thefts at archaeological sites. Riker takes over the hunt for the mercenaries behind the raids. During the search he is captured and taken aboard their ship.
There he finds Picard alive and posing as a smuggler, who had joined the gang to learn what they are looking for. The mercenaries, led by Arctus Baran, are gathering pieces of an ancient artifact, and their crew includes a Vulcan woman, Tallera. With Riker and Picard both away, Data commands the Enterprise.