Ep 17. Samaritan Snare

Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise-D is urged by his superiors to attend a peace conference with the Pakleds, a species known for their low intelligence but reportedly peaceful intentions. However, Picard is reluctant to abandon his ship on a routine diplomatic mission, and instead sends a shuttlecraft with a skeleton crew to make first contact with the Pakleds.

Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge is tasked with repairing the ship's dilithium crystals, a crucial component of the ship's warp drive. However, the repairs turn out to be more difficult than anticipated, forcing La Forge to call in a specialist from a nearby starbase.

Picard's shuttlecraft, en route to the Pakleds' homeworld, is suddenly intercepted by a Ferengi ship, whose captain demands that Picard relinquish control of the shuttlecraft. With no weapons on board, Picard and his crew must find a way to outsmart the Ferengi and salvage the peace conference with the Pakleds.

Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, La Forge's guest arrives – a surly, irritable Bolian named Mendon, whose abrasive demeanor and aggressive work style clash with La Forge's more easygoing approach. Despite their differences, the two must work together to repair the ship's dilithium crystals before the Enterprise is stranded in deep space.

As Picard and his crew try to negotiate with the Ferengi, they soon realize that the Ferengi ship is in dire need of repairs, and that their captain is desperate to obtain the expertise of the Enterprise crew. Picard must balance his duty to the Pakled peace conference with his obligations towards the stranded Ferengi, all while fending off the Ferengi captain's advances towards certain members of Picard's crew.

Back on the Enterprise, La Forge and Mendon race against the clock to complete the repairs before the ship runs out of power. Mendon's abrasive attitude causes tension between him and the Enterprise crew, which culminates in a heated confrontation in the ship's engine room.

In the end, the Enterprise crew manages to save both the Pakled peace conference and the stranded Ferengi ship, thanks to their ingenuity, teamwork, and Picard's skilled diplomacy. However, the episode ends on a bittersweet note, as Picard reflects on the difficult choices and sacrifices he must make as a Starfleet captain.