‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Preemptive Strike’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One of the hardest lessons we will ever learn in life, is that the institutions we believe in are flawed, and don’t always have our best interests in mind, and sometimes struggle to take care of all of their citizens. And what makes that so difficult to learn, is that we are taught hard… otherwise. For our teachers and our society preach and praise who we are and what we can be and how great our nation is. So, to learn otherwise is difficult to say the least and sometimes… that brings about problems and pain for some individuals. To the point where the lie is too great, and that seemingly motivates them to step away from their country and its actions and what it stands for to back other causes. Which tends to lead to revolutions and guerilla warfare in other parts of the world and even in America now… there are hints of that divide. 
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But while we can acknowledge the fact that people will step away from their country and go their own path, we often don’t understand the why. Because there has to be more at play here than just being upset with their country over the fact that it isn’t the majestic place, they were told it was while growing up. Well, the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation explores the genesis of such an act and ‘Preemptive Strike’ postulates that it is something far deeper than just, America isn’t the shining beacon we are taught to believe. A feat that this episode accomplished by bringing a fan favorite character back aboard the Enterprise in this story, one Lieutenant Ro Laren. Who was recently promoted after heading out to Advanced Tactical Training and well, she was asked to put that training to use.

Because the Maquis were getting bolder by the minute in the Demilitarized Zone between the Federation and Cardassia, and that had to end before a war started. And that prompted Captain Picard to ask Ro to use her elite training and her standing as a Bajoran that dealt with the horrors of the occupation, to go undercover with the Maquis and bring peace to this situation and bring forth arrests as needed. Which she did, to make her captain proud and to stand up for what’s right. And thankfully, it didn’t take long for her to become part of the Maquis and impress them with her tactical knowledge and ability to get things done from a supply and combat perspective. But the longer she stayed amongst the Maquis, the more she came to realize about the Federation’s efforts here and the failures that were coming into play regarding how the citizens of the DMZ were viewed/treated.

Because in essence, people that were once Federation citizens were forgotten because of a border dispute, simply because they didn’t want to leave their homes, and then were viewed as villains for trying to keep the peace. An act the Federation should have taken part in and knowing that these people were being targeted as the heavy for not holding up the Federation’s ideals with zero support, pushed Ro Laren to do what once seemed unthinkable… and leave Starfleet behind. Because she truly believed that the United Federation of Planets abandoned these people and therein lies the lesson. In that, it takes a marginalization and a sense of abandonment, in addition to not having faith in one’s government, to prompt a person to turn one’s back upon them. Which means. The Federation had to do better here and in reality, so many more nations have to do better, and go the extra mile for every citizen so that this kind of disaster can be averted.

But alas, that’s easier said than done and that is likely why this episode doesn’t offer a solution and it deserves a round of applause for that, and for showing us both sides of the coin. Since the Maquis aren’t innocent here and they help us to understand the dangers of such organized groups to everyday citizens. Because yes… this is the kind of conflict that could bring forth war. In the end, this is just… a perfect TNG episode. For it features commentary, a thoughtful plot, and a powerful and unexpected farewell to boot. Since this is the last time Michelle Forbes would play Ro Laren in the STU, and of course this episode is of note because it is… the penultimate episode for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Which means that what lies ahead is the series finale and all the emotions the end of a powerhouse seven-year journey will bring to the table. Until next time.

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