Ep 5. Loud As A Whisper

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2 episode 5, titled "Loud As A Whisper," the USS Enterprise is tasked with transporting Riva, a renowned mediator, to a planet in the hopes of brokering peace between two warring factions. However, Riva is not like any normal mediator - he is deaf and relies on three interpreters to communicate his thoughts and emotions to others.

As the Enterprise crew escorts Riva and his interpreters to the planet, they are ambushed by an enemy ship. The crew manages to fend off the attack, but Riva's interpreters are killed in the process. This leaves the peace talks in jeopardy as Riva is unable to communicate without them.

Determined to salvage the negotiations, Captain Picard offers to help Riva find new interpreters. He takes Riva and his team to a nearby planet where they encounter a society that communicates solely through telepathy. Riva is fascinated by this and decides to attempt to learn their language.

In the meantime, tensions rise between the two factions awaiting mediation. The Enterprise crew discovers that the attack on their ship was carried out by one of the factions in an attempt to sabotage the peace talks. As they work to prevent further violence and aid Riva in learning the telepathic language, the crew also faces a moral dilemma - should they interfere and help broker peace or remain neutral and let the factions sort out their own issues?

As Riva continues to learn the telepathic language, he becomes frustrated with the limitations of human communication and the role his interpreters have played in his life. He begins to question his own abilities and the way in which others perceive him.

In the end, Riva is able to successfully mediate the peace talks with the aid of his new telepathic abilities. As the Enterprise departs the planet, Riva expresses his gratitude for the help provided by the crew and reflects on the newfound understanding he has gained about himself and the importance of communication.

"Loud As A Whisper" is a thought-provoking episode that explores themes of language, communication, and the power of perception. The unique portrayal of a deaf mediator and the challenges he faces in a society that values verbal communication adds depth and nuance to the story. The moral dilemmas faced by the Enterprise crew also serve to highlight the complexities of conflict resolution and the role of outside intervention. Overall, this episode is a standout example of the thought-provoking and impactful storytelling that Star Trek is known for.