Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [narrating] Captain's Log, Stardate 47111.1: A Federation listening post along the Romulan Neutral Zone has detected an unidentified vessel headed for Federation space. The Enterprise is moving to intercept.
Lt. Commander Data: At its reported heading and velocity, the vessel will enter Federation space in approximately 47.3 seconds.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Go to yellow alert.
Lieutenant Worf: We have the vessel on sensors.
Commander William T. Riker: The ship is a Garidian scout ship. They are driving their engines too hard, and their warp core is critical.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The Garidians? What is the status of their relationship with the Romulan empire?
Commander William T. Riker: They're on friendly terms and may share technology.
Lieutenant Worf: We are being hailed.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: On screen.
Lucana: [over channel] Help us! We are fleeing political persecution! We seek asylum! We are being persecuted...
[signal fades out]
Lieutenant Worf: Their signal is breaking up.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: What do you make of this, Number One?
Commander William T. Riker: It could be a trick.
Lieutenant Worf: The Garidians have earned a reputation as honorable warriors, Captain. They do not ordinarily resort to trickery.
Lt. Commander Data: We are within visual range. The Garidians' warp drive is failing. They are dropping to sub-lightspeed inside Federation space.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Slow to impulse...
Lieutenant Worf: Warbird decloaking directly ahead! The warbird is also Garidian. They are hailing us.
Pentara: This is an internal Garidian matter. Withdraw at once!
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You are violating Federation space-
[Pentara cuts off transmission]
Lieutenant Worf: They have cut off transmission.
Lt. Commander Data: The warbird has locked its tractor beam onto the scout ship.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Go to red alert!
[klaxons sound]