Picard and crew try to work out how the Bandi inhabitants of Deneb built the Farpoint station. During their journey, the crew of the Enterprise are put on trial by a mysterious force called Q, for all the crimes of mankind.

At the trial, Q continues to denounce humans, while Picard defends his race and convinces Q that the upcoming mission at Farpoint will be the perfect opportunity to prove his point.

The Enterprise crew are exposed to a deadly contaminant after investigating odd occurrences aboard the starship USS Tsiolokovsky.

The Enterprise travels to Ligon II to negotiate a treaty to obtain a vaccine needed on Stryris IV. The Ligonians feign friendliness but kidnap Lt Tasha Yar, and the crew must combine their wits to turn the tables on the Ligonians.

The USS Enterprise and Ferengi starships must pass a crucial inquisition by the guardian of the Tkon Empire before continuing their trips through space.

The Enterprise is catapulted more than a billion light years from its galaxy when a test on the ship's propulsion system backfires.