In this episode, while the Enterprise is evacuated for hazardous maintenance, Captain Picard must, alone, contend with thieves posing as a work crew aboard the ship.
He returns to the Enterprise to retrieve his saddle to go riding instead, but on leaving finds an array technician working with the ship's panels.
Meanwhile, at the cocktail party, Enterprise Chief Engineer La Forge detects strange readings coming from one of the centerpieces with his VISOR.
The Enterprise officers, having managed to overcome their captors by an elaborate ruse involving Geordi's VISOR, are able to stop the sweep just in time to save Picard's life.
Tim Russ, as the rogue technician Devor, made his first appearance in the Star Trek franchise in "Starship Mine".
He had previously been an alternate choice for the part of Geordi La Forge at the start of the series, but LeVar Burton was chosen instead by Gene Roddenberry.
[1] Russ subsequently auditioned on multiple occasions for parts in episodes, and was again considered for a main role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
[13] The episode was released as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation season six DVD box set in the United States on December 3, 2002.