Preemptive Strike (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Preemptive Strike (Star Trek: The Next Generation) "Preemptive Strike" is the 176th episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series "". It is the 24th episode of the , and penultimate episode of the series overall, directed by cast member Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard). Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Federation starship USS "Enterprise"-D. In this episode, the recurring character Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes), a court-martialed Starfleet officer who first appeared in the episode "", finds her loyalties divided between Starfleet and a group of resistance fighters who oppose
The Forge (Star Trek: Enterprise) had previously written a number of "Star Trek"-related novels and books, including a series of collaborations with William Shatner and the novel "Federation". They had also written several nonfiction books on the behind-the-scenes productions of the "Star Trek" series such as " - The Lost Series" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Continuing Mission". "The Forge" was their first script together for a "Star Trek" series, but they had previously written scripts for other shows, including "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World" and "Once a Thief". They joined the "Enterprise" writing team shortly before working on the