The Federation starship Enterprise, commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), is set to take aboard Riva (Howie Seago), a renowned negotiator, to help resolve a centuries-old war between two tribes on planet Solais V. Riva is deaf due to a hereditary lack of the gene for hearing in the royal family.

He uses sign language and lip reading but travels with a "chorus" (Marnie Mosiman, Thomas Oglesby, and Leo Damian), an entourage in telepathic communication with him, who are able to enunciate his thoughts.

Riva dismisses the Enterprise crew's briefing on the history of the conflict, explaining that the dispute has long since become personal, regardless of the tangible concerns that may have started it.

The tribe's leader immediately brands him a traitor and executes him, begging for the talks to continue but the away team has already begun emergency transport back to the Enterprise amid the chaos.

Riva returns to the meeting spot on the planet and to the crew's surprise, tells them that they should leave and that he will signal Starfleet when the negotiations are complete, as they may take several months.