Peak Performance (episode)
With the Borg threat in mind, Starfleet stages a war-game simulation pitting Captain Picard and the Enterprise against Commander Riker and the eighty-year-old starship Hathaway. However, when the Ferengi suddenly attack, the Enterprise is crippled, forcing Picard into a seemingly no-win situation.

Summary

Teaser 

The  has a rendezvous with a shuttlecraft carrying the famed strategist Sirna Kolrami en route to a battle simulation in the Braslota system in which Commander Riker will command an inferior ship, the eighty-year-old . Kolrami is a Zakdorn, a race which has been feared for nine millennia as having the most innately strategic minds in the known galaxy.

While being briefed by Kolrami in the observation lounge, Captain Picard and Riker are at first reluctant to take part in this simulation as they believe diplomacy and exploration are the more important mandates of Starfleet, and that Starfleet itself is not a military organization. However, because of the newly-discovered Borg threat, they decide it is a good idea to hone their tactical skills so as to have as many options as possible in crisis situations.

Act One 
Picard gives Riker his choice of officers (save Data, who will be his first officer while Riker is absent). Riker goes down to engineering to ask Geordi La Forge to join him. La Forge has already prepared the necessary engineering tools to join Riker on the Hathaway. Next, he goes to Worf's quarters, where Worf is attempting to build a wooden ship. He breaks one of the wooden pieces after hearing the chime to his quarters rung by Riker and shoves the ship into a drawer. Worf thinks the exercise is a waste of time, but Riker convinces him to join the team after remarking that he has a hopeless chance of winning, which piques Worf's interest. Finally, Riker asks Wesley Crusher to come along as an observer.

Before starting the simulation, Riker challenges Kolrami to a game of Strategema, of which Kolrami is a third level grandmaster. Kolrami is impressed by Riker's audacity in challenging him and accepts it, noting that playing the game with an opponent of such limited dimensions could be diverting. The challenge takes place in Ten Forward, with a large audience. Worf informs Riker that he has wagered heavily that Riker will take Kolrami past the sixth plateau. If he does not, Worf tells him he will be irritated.

Data is intrigued by the Human urge to compete. Dr. Pulaski and La Forge suggest that Data challenge Kolrami to a game of Strategema. Both of them would like to see Kolrami's smugness taken down a notch. Riker assumes his seat opposite Kolrami and the game begins. However, it is over almost as soon as it begins, Kolrami winning by a large margin (100-23).

Act Two 

Riker and his team beam over to the Hathaway and are given only forty-eight hours to get the ship into working order. On seeing the condition of the Hathaway, Worf is not enthusiastic, but Riker is. Crusher and La Forge are in engineering. La Forge doesn't think that they can attain warp speed as there are not very many dilithium crystals and no antimatter to power the warp drive. Crusher thinks they have not got a prayer now and Riker reprimands him over the com, asking him if he would like to return to the Enterprise. Crusher says he would not and Riker reminds him that their purpose is to improvise – it is the effort that counts.

Back on the Enterprise, Kolrami challenges Data to a game of Strategema (after Dr. Pulaski goads him into it). He has nothing to gain by beating a computer, but everything to lose if Data wins. Kolrami tells Data that he will be playing for the honor of the Enterprise before leaving the bridge. Pulaski also reminds Data that his reputation is on the line as well. 

Worf suggests using the Enterprises sensors against it to create a false image of another hostile ship, assuming his knowledge of the Enterprise security override is correct. Crusher wants to beam back to the Enterprise, under the guise of shutting down a science experiment for his plasma physics class. Picard and Kolrami allow it as long as he has no other contact. Crusher tells his escort  that his antimatter experiment is ruined and that he will have to dispose of it by beaming it into space. However, he instead beams the experiment onto the Hathaways engine room, surprising La Forge.

Act Three 

Data and Kolrami prepare to play Strategema. The game is more evenly matched, but Kolrami again wins (100-81). He offers Data a rematch. Deanna Troi consoles Data as Pulaski is amazed as Data is supposed to be infallible. 

Back on the bridge, Kolrami continues to display a lack of confidence in Riker. Picard takes him aside in his ready room for an explanation and Kolrami says that he has found Riker "wanting". He does not think that Riker will make a good captain because he makes light of serious situations. Picard sticks up for him, saying that his joviality is his leadership style. Picard further tells Kolrami that Riker is the finest Starfleet officer he has ever served with, and he will match Riker's command style with his statistics any time.

Data has removed himself from bridge duty because of his loss to Kolrami. Troi tries to counsel him in his quarters to learn from his mistakes. But Data has performed a diagnostic of his systems, and found that he has made no mistakes, and therefore his deductive capabilities should be questioned. Pulaski later tells Data that he should rebound from his loss rather than sulking and licking his wounds. But Data is still concerned about giving unsound advice.  

Meanwhile, on the Hathaway, Wesley and La Forge are hooking up Crusher's experiment, which can be used to fuel their warp engines because it contains antimatter. Riker walks in and accuses him of cheating, to which Wesley says he was told to improvise. La Forge thinks that they can use the rig to achieve warp 1 for less than two seconds, but there is a chance that they could stall the Hathaway.

Act Four 

An hour before the battle, Troi and Pulaski approach Picard about Data's condition. He is not pleased but goes to see Data anyway in his quarters. Picard tells him that he might make a mistake, but that does not alter his duty and that it is possible to lose without making mistakes. He tells Data that that is simply a part of life and before he leaves, tells Data to leave his hesitation and self-doubt in his quarters.

Data goes to the observation lounge to brief Troi on Riker's past use of tactics. This dissolves into a circular debate over whether Riker will play into their knowledge of his tactics, or their knowledge that he knows they know. Troi interrupts with some practical advice concerning Riker's temperament and suggests that he will fight to the bitter end, and that the more desperate his situation, the harder he will fight.

The battle commences. Picard initiates the Kumeh Maneuver to get Riker to tip his hand. At Worf's suggestion, Riker counters with the Talupian maneuver and readies one of their tricks. Suddenly, a Romulan warship appears, and the Enterprise attacks it, but it is only a hologram. The Hathaway scores several hits as the Enterprise is otherwise engaged. Picard changes the access codes on the Enterprise and prepares to fire. 

The Hathaway prepares the warp jump. A Ferengi  warship appears, and the Enterprise ignores it. But this time it is real, and scores several real hits on the Enterprise, weakening its shields and disabling the transporters. Neither ship can attack the Ferengi, as neither has any real weapons that are operable. Picard refuses to abandon the crew on the Hathaway and retreat (as Kolrami orders). 

The Ferengi are confused why the Enterprise was attacking (and now defending) the Hathaway. They believe they have the upper hand, as both ships are unarmed, and that the Hathaway has some secret value. The Kreechtas commander, DaiMon Bractor, gives the Enterprise ten minutes to surrender the Hathaway and leave in peace.

Act Five 
Picard confers with Riker who informs him about the warp capability of the Hathaway.

Data formulates a plan to fire photon torpedoes at the Hathaway, which will jump to warp only one millisecond before the torpedoes detonate, thus making the Ferengi momentarily think that the Hathaway has been destroyed. Riker agrees to the plan despite the possibility that they will be destroyed if their warp drive doesn't function as it should.

The plan works. As Picard negotiates with the Ferengi, the Hathaway projects a false Federation starship image on the Ferengi warship's sensors, making the Ferengi think they have been outmaneuvered. They retreat, and Kolrami admits to greatly underestimating Riker.

As the Enterprise tows the Hathaway to the nearest starbase, Data and Kolrami engage in a rematch of Strategema. Kolrami is intent on the game, but Data is calm. Both players have made over thirty thousand moves over the course of the record-setting game, and the numbers are still climbing rapidly. Finally, Kolrami throws down his controls in disgust. He accuses Data of making a mockery of him, and storms out of Ten Forward.

Data explains that instead of playing to win the game, he played for a stalemate, passing up obvious avenues of advancement and simply countering Kolrami's own advances again and again until Kolrami finally ran out of patience. Thus, Data declared that though he had not strictly defeated Kolrami, he had "busted him up".

Log entries
 Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365

Memorable quotes
"Bye-bye, Hathaway!"
 - Ensign Burke

"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness, that is life."
 - Jean-Luc Picard

"Starfleet is not a military organization. Its purpose is exploration."
 - Picard

"Less than one hour away from a battle simulation and I have to go hand-hold an android."	
"The burdens of command."
 - Picard and Dr. Pulaski

"I enjoy a challenge."
"Very well. An opponent of limited dimensions can often be quite diverting."
 - Riker asks Kolrami to play a game of Strategema

"So you're gonna beat him, huh?"
"No."
"Well, then it's gonna be a close one?"
"No."
"But… you have got a chance?"
"Nah."
 - La Forge and Riker, before the latter's Strategema match with Kolrami

"Use their moment of indecision to escape."
"I have forty crew members aboard the Hathaway…"
"Who should be sacrificed to save a thousand; acceptable tactical losses, considering the circumstances."
"Not to me."
- Kolrami and Picard

"My, what a charmer." 
 - Pulaski, on Sirna Kolrami

"Thoroughly enjoyable, Mr. Data. I'm at your disposal for a rematch."
 - Kolrami after beating Data at Strategema

"Our shields will not withstand another assault, sir."
"Then, there are no options. Retreat… or die."
 - Data, reporting to Picard after the Kreechta opens fire on the Enterprise and Kolramis response

"As the Starfleet observer I am ORDERING you to withdraw!"
"I am the captain of this vessel! Your order is nullified!""
 - Picard reminds Kolrami who is in command

"Present context, what did she mean by 'bust him up'?"
"In her own way, Dr. Pulaski was instructing you to take the shortest route to victory."
"As opposed to what?"
- Data and Deanna Troi, prior to Data's first Strategema match against Kolrami

"On the captain's command, we will fire four photon torpedoes directly at the Hathaway. One millisecond after its detonation, the computer will trigger your warp jump."
"Wait a minute, I think I hate this plan. Data, we are not even sure our warp jump will work."
"If the warp engines fail to function, the result could be… unfortunate."
"Very unfortunate. We will be dead."
 - Data, La Forge, and Worf

"I have wagered heavily in the ship's pool that you will get past the sixth plateau."
"And if I don't?"
"I will be… irritated."
 - Worf and Riker

"Where am I going to get the opti-cable?"
(Worf grabs a fistful of cable from the ceiling of the Hathaway)
"Anywhere."
 - Ensign Nagel and Worf

"In the strictest sense, I did not win."
(disappointed groans)
"I busted him up."
(Cheering)
 - Data and Enterprise crew members

Background information

Production history 
 Second revised final draft script:  
 Premiere airdate: 
 First UK airdate:

Story and production 
 The episode received an uncredited page one rewrite by Hans Beimler and Richard Manning. () The script was revised by Melinda Snodgrass. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 182)
 Snodgrass recalled, "I loved that script. When I came in, I thought it was a wonderful vehicle for Jonathan and I had a lot of fun doing the rewrite. I really enjoyed writing action, but we had a hard time selling it, because it costs a lot of money to have spaceships fight." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 182)
 The dilithium pieces were in reality wax from a blue candle. ()
 The footage of the USS Enterprise-D towing the USS Hathaway is recycled from .
 The Hathaways main bridge is a minor redress of the Enterprise-D's battle bridge, last seen in . The original battle bridge set was itself a redress of Kirk's  bridge, from  through , and had previously served, with some subtle differences, as the Stargazers bridge in . ()

Continuity 
 Armin Shimerman, who played the Ferengi captain, Bractor, in this episode, first played a Ferengi in  – the first (aired) episode to depict the species. He later played Quark, a regular on , who also appeared in  and .
 This episode marks Glenn Morshower's first appearance in Star Trek.
 Roy Brocksmith also appeared in  as Razka Karn. 
 This episode presents the first look at the inside of a non- Federation starship since . It is notable for featuring the series' only shots of a 's main engineering section.
 The Ferengi refer to the Hathaways warp drive as the "lightspeed drive". This is the first and only time that warp drive has been referred to in this way.
 This episode marks the first appearance of the Zakdorn species.
 Picard makes reference to the "Borg threat" introduced in .
 Riker tells the Enterprise "Captain Riker's never lost." In , Riker, as acting captain of the Klingon vessel , forced the surrender of the Enterprise.
 The chair in Worf's quarters was also seen in the episodes , , , , , , , , , and  and was used as the command chair aboard the Tarellian starship in the first season episode . It was designed by Peter Opsvik. 
 Like , this episode references the Japanese anime series . After Picard convinces Data to return to his duties, "Kei/Yuri submodule" can briefly be seen on the screen showing Data's systems before being shut down. Kei and Yuri were characters in that series. Further, an Okudagram labels the war games "Operation Lovely Angel". ()

Reception 
 Maurice Hurley commented, "A good idea that worked. The war games were fun, and the characters were good." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 182)
 Director Robert Scheerer remarked, "That was the one where Riker took over the old ship. That ship was fun to play with. God, I had more fun ripping wires out and making it look like an old, junky ship. The art director on that show was a joy. Jonathan had fun with that episode, too, going up against Patrick. It was competitive, and on top of that, we had the wonderful comedic character running the show; he was wonderful, Roy Brocksmith [as Sirna Kolrami]. I've used him since then on other shows, like ." ()
 A mission report for this episode by Robert Greenberger was published in .

Video and DVD releases
 Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 24, catalog number VHR 2507, 
 UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 2.7, catalog number VHR 4743, 
 As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection
 As part of the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray collection

Links and references

Starring 
 Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
 Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker

Also starring 
 LeVar Burton as Lt. Geordi La Forge
 Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
 Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
 Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
 Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher

Special appearance by 
 Diana Muldaur as Doctor Pulaski

Guest stars 
 Roy Brocksmith as Sirna Kolrami
 Armin Shimerman as Bractor
 David L. Lander as Ferengi Tactical Officer

Co-stars 
 Leslie Neale as Ensign Nagel
 Glenn Morshower as Ensign

Uncredited co-stars 
 James G. Becker as Youngblood
 Tim McCormack as 
 Richard Sarstedt as a command division ensign
 Guy Vardaman as Darien Wallace
 Unknown performers as
 Boliska
 Command spectator
 Female civilian
 Female civilian spectator
 Female science division officer
 Operations division ensign

Stand-ins 
 James G. Becker – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
 Darrell Burris – stand-in for LeVar Burton
 Dexter Clay – stand-in for Michael Dorn
 Jeffrey Deacon – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
 Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
 Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner
 Guy Vardaman – stand-in for Wil Wheaton

References 
9,000 years ago; 2285; ; advice; aft; algorithm; "alternative; analysis; android; answer; antimatter; area; assignement; assumption; attack vessel; attention; attitude; audacity; Avidyne engines; away team; battle conditions; battle simulation; battle technique; betting pool; blind spot; Borg; Braslota; Braslota system; Braslota system primary; bridge duty; brinksmanship; "bust him up"; chance; cheating; choice; clutch; combat; "command style; complement; computer; conclusion; confidence; ; coordinates; crisis; crisis planet; crisis situation; culture; damage; day; dedication plaque; ;  (unnamed); ; deduction; detonation; dilithium; duty station; effect; ego; emotion; excitement; experiment; expertise; explanation; exploration; explosion; failure; fate; Federation; Ferengi; ; first officer; "flesh and blood"; fool; fragment; fun; ghost; goal; grade; Grenthemen water hopper; hailing frequency; ; high energy plasma; holding clamp; honor; hour; Human; Human nature; humanoid; image; impulse power; individual; interview; ; "knowledge; Kreechta; Kumeh maneuver; laser pulse system; leader; Leader; leadership; lesson; light speed drive; light year; lining; loyalty; machine; magnetic pole; main viewscreen; malfunction; master strategist; mediator; message; military organization; Milky Way Galaxy; millimeter; millisecond; mind; minute; mission; mistake; mister; non-commissioned; number one; objection; observer; offensive systems (aka offensive weapons); "on the line"; opti-cable; opponent; orbit; order; outsider; pattern; percent; perception; permission; personnel file; photon torpedo; plan; plasma physics; ploy; ; prejudice; premise; pride; prize; problem; program; progress report; "pull a rabbit out of a hat"; quarters; question; rabbit; repair time; repairs; report; reputation; research; result; rule; sacrifice; Sakharov; second; secret; sector; security override; self-assuredness; self-doubt; sensors; sensor probe; sensory blind spot; shield; signal; skepticism; skill; sleep; species; stamina; "starbase near Braslota system; star cruiser; Starfleet; Starfleet Academy; Starfleet Command; starship; starship captain; statistics; story; Strategema; strategic ability; strategist; suggestion; superior officer; surprise; surprise attack; tactical skill; tactical officer; tactician; tactics; Talupian maneuver; target; tent; theory; thinking; Tholian; Tholian vessel; thousand; threat; transfer; transporter; transporter room; tribute; understanding; value; victory; war game exercise; warp drive; warp engine; warp jump; warrior;  (sensor ghost); weapon system; week; "whipped into shape"; window; "with all due respect"; "with pleasure"; word; Zakdorn

Other references 
Technical Schematics of Data: chemical fuel reaction unit; cryo fluid pressure system; fluidic subsystem regulator; kei/yuri submodule; locomotion subsystem; nutrient distribution net; nutrient processing system; oscillation overthruster; positronic cortex unit; primary system module; spatial orientation unit; substrate interface
Dedication plaque references: Copernicus Ship Yards; Hathaway dedication plaque; Luna; Yoyodyne Division
Okudagram references: Kei; Oneamisu sector; Operation Lovely Angel; strategic simulation exercise; Totoro; Yuri

External links 
 
 
 
 

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TNG episodes