The Battle (Star Trek: The Next Generation) The Battle (Star Trek: The Next Generation) "The Battle" is the eigth episode of the of the American science fiction television series "" and was originally aired on November 16, 1987, in broadcast syndication. The episode was written by Herbert Wright, based on a story by Larry Forrester, and directed by Rob Bowman. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship "Enterprise"-D. In this episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is given his former vessel, the "Stargazer", as a gift by the Ferengi DaiMon Bok (Frank Corsentino) who intends to use
Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation) "Descent" is the 26th episode of the and the first episode of the of the American science fiction television series "", the 152nd and 153rd episodes overall. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Federation starship "Enterprise". The episode features a guest appearance by Stephen Hawking, making it the only episode to feature a guest star appearing as themselves on any "Trek" series. On the holodeck, Lt. Commander Data plays a game of poker with holographic representations of Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking.