Ep 15. Pen Pals

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2 episode 15, entitled "Pen Pals," the crew of the USS Enterprise encounter a young girl named Sarjenka who lives on a planet in the Melona IV system. They initially made contact with the planet due to geological disturbances happening in the system. However, upon closer investigation, they discover that Sarjenka has been secretly communicating with Commander Data through a subspace message relay she has constructed herself.

As they monitor her planet, they learn that it is undergoing a catastrophic geological disturbance which will exterminate all life on it. After a heated ethical debate among the crew, Captain Picard decides to save Sarjenka and her people by stabilizing the planet's tectonic plates. However, the Prime Directive prohibits interference in the internal affairs of alien cultures, so they must be discreet in their efforts to help.

Meanwhile, Sarjenka’s communication with Data has become more frequent, and she confides in him about the imminent danger her planet faces. With Data's help, she is able to slowly evacuate the underground dwelling of her people. However, when it becomes clear that the intervention to stabilize the planet has put the Enterprise at risk, Picard is forced to abort their efforts to save Sarjenka's people. This leaves Sarjenka and her planet to face their fate.

The episode raises a host of timely and complex issues around humanity's duty to protect life beyond Earth, as well as whether or not it is moral to let a culture and its species perish when there are the means to save them. It also delves deeply into Data's character and the unique relationship he and Sarjenka have formed through their exchanges of knowledge and curiosity.

As the episode unfolds, it becomes clear that the choices made by the crew will have far-reaching consequences for the characters involved and the broader Star Trek universe. The narrative tension and emotional resonance of "Pen Pals" make it a must-see episode for fans of the series and science fiction enthusiasts more broadly.