The Enterprise is delivering medical supplies to Rutia Four, a nonaligned planet currently facing terrorist attacks from the Ansata, a group wanting independence for the Western Continent. When Bev insists on staying planetside after a terrorist attack, Picard grudgingly allows it, but then, an Ansata appears (literally out of thin air) and grabs Bev- then, they both vanish.

While Finn, the leader of the Ansata, tries to befriend Bev, Picard puts Wesley on the team trying to figure out how the Ansata are traveling, and Riker visits with Alexana Devos, Rutian chief of police. Devos says she is willing to help, but dismisses the Ansata as "animals" and seems not at all optimistic.

Finn eventually gets Bev talking, and tells her the Ansata need a doctor, then accuses the Federation of helping the Rutians by bringing the medical supplies. When she says she needs supplies, Finn produces the ones she brought for the other side. While Riker continues working with Devos and sees evidence of hate on both sides of the issue, Bev discovers that the Ansata's DNA are warping, and she can't help them without first finding what's causing the damage. Finn tells her it's the Inverter, a new invention that allows them to travel via a dimensional shift, but "asks a price in return". Bev discovers Finn has it as well, but he dismisses it, claiming that if he dies, he'll merely be a martyr for the cause. As Finn tells Bev that they are fighting a war for independence, as noble as any other, Wes and company figure out how the Ansata are moving, but find it will take several more jumps to pinpoint their power source.

When Riker talks to a captured Ansata and tells him he wants a meeting with Finn, Finn takes it the wrong way, seeing the mass arrests as the Federation coming down harder on the other side, and decides to blow up the Enterprise. They nearly succeed, but are thwarted. Then, however, Finn appears on the bridge, and when attacked by Picard, transports back with him.

Picard and Bev talk, first amongst themselves, then with Finn, who tells them he wants Federation involvement, saying he'll look even better against a more powerful enemy, and that making the Federation sit in on the bargaining will get him concessions. He transports up one more time to the Enterprise to give his demands, then leaves- but now, the power source has been found, and Riker beams down with Devos, Worf, and a security team.

The team manages to knock out the power, and as the Ansata are rounded up, start searching for Picard. Riker finds them, and Devos shoots Finn just as he raises his weapon to shoot Picard. After a small child threatens them and is talked down by Bev, Riker responds to Devos's claim that "it never ends" by pointing out that "maybe the end begins with one boy putting down his gun."

Highlight Listing:

"The High Ground." Doctor Crusher's abduction by a radical terrorist group thrusts the crew into an explosive civil war on Rutia Four.

Advertising Headline:

DR. CRUSHER IS KIDNAPPED! A radical terrorist group takes Beverly hostage!

TV log listing:

Beverly abducted by terrorists!/STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

Technical design, graphic design, interactive features, HTML & CGI programming by Andrew Tong. || All materials Copyright © 1987-1995 by their respective authors. || Document created: January 28, 1995 || Last Modified: July 12, 1999