- [the Enterprise goes through a series of system failures while facing a Romulan battle cruiser]
- Wesley Crusher: Sir, the shields are back up.
- Commander William T. Riker: Impeccable timing!
- Wesley Crusher: Sir, the shields are back down.
- Ensign Williams: Phaser banks are down.
- Wesley Crusher: Shields are back up.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: In another time and place, this could be funny.
- Commander William T. Riker: Status of torpedo banks?
- Ensign Williams: They're down too.
- Commander William T. Riker: [frustrated] If it should become necessary to fight, could you arrange to find me some rocks to throw at them?
- [Geordi is thrown onto the bridge from the turbolift. Riker helps him up]
- Lieutenant Geordi La Forge: Destroy the probe, sir, quickly!
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Worf, target phasers!
- Lieutenant Worf: Phasers locked on target.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Fire!
- [the probe is destroyed]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Welcome to the bridge, Mr. La Forge.
- Capt. Donald Varley: [from his log] My First Officer is questioning the wisdom of my order to violate the Neutral Zone, but I'm convinced that I've taken the only proper course. Should this advanced technology fall into the hands of the Romulan, we might as well dock our ships and defend ourselves with sticks.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: We're going to assume the Yamato's mission.
- Commander William T. Riker: And risk a war?
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Perhaps... prevent one.
- Wesley Crusher: It's about the Iconians, sir. I was told they were just a myth.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: China was thought to be a myth, until Marco Polo traveled there.
- [despite his programming failing, Data tries to tell Picard how to destroy the Iconian technology]
- Lt. Commander Data: Key blue-amber-amber-red.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: That's the launch sequence?
- [Data nods awkwardly]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: How do I override the doors?
- Lt. Commander Data: Blue-blue-blue.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I hope that's not a stutter.
- Lieutenant Worf: Captain - you... will be killed.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I'll go through the gate.
- Lieutenant Worf: But where will you end up?
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Very shortly, anywhere will be preferable to this room.
- [after going through the Iconian gateway, Picard ends up on the Romulan ship, which has its auto-destruct sequence running]
- Subcommander Taris: You did this! You sabotaged my ship.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Oh, no.
- Subcommander Taris: I cannot deactivate the auto-destruct, but at least I have the satisfaction that you will die with us.
- [Picard is being beamed away]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Not, I think, today, Commander.
- [when trying to access the master program, La Forge is hit by an energy surge. Data grabs him from behind and throws him away from the console]
- Lieutenant Geordi La Forge: [lying motionless on the floor] Data?
- Lt. Commander Data: Yes?
- Lieutenant Geordi La Forge: What happened?
- Lt. Commander Data: Any answer would be mere speculation. This is yet another example of how our actions have random results.
- Lieutenant Geordi La Forge: Thanks, Data. I noticed.
- [last lines]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Well, Number One, I can see why you want to keep the away missions to yourself. That's where the excitement is. So, what's been happening here? Same old routine, I suppose?
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The victors invariably write the history to their own advantage. There is an unfortunate tendency in many cultures to fear what they do not understand.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Are you responsible for the destruction of the Yamato?
- Subcommander Taris: No, but believe me, Captain, had we chosen to exercise our right to defend the Neutral Zone, we would not have stopped with one starship.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I have been studying the Iconians since I was a cadet. I have to be the one to go. The Enterprise is yours.
- Commander William T. Riker: [to himself] As long as she lasts.
- [one of the doctors in sickbay has problems repairing a broken bone with a knitter]
- Doctor Pulaski: Try a splint.
- Doctor: Doctor?
- Doctor Pulaski: Splint - it's a very ancient concept. You take two flat pieces of wood or plastic, a bandage. The broken limb is kept immobile.
- Doctor: That's crazy, that's not practicing medicine.
- Doctor Pulaski: Oh, yes, it is. It's a time-honored way to practice medicine, with your head and your heart and your hands, so - jump to it.
- [Picard withdraws a potted plant from the replicator]
- Wesley Crusher: Didn't you order tea, sir?
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Now, that should not have happened.
- Lieutenant Worf: [observing an ever-changing oblong] These scenes could be holographic images.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Be careful.
- [Data approaches the oblong and puts his hand through]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Data! That was very foolish.
- Lt. Commander Data: But we have established that this is not a holograph.
- [first lines]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [voiceover] Captain's log, stardate 42609.1. In response to a desperate plea from my old friend Captain Donald Varley of the USS Yamato, I am running a grave risk by taking the Enterprise into the Neutral Zone. Varley's request was prompted by dangerous malfunctions which have been plaguing our sister ship. Perhaps with both crews working together, we can eliminate the problems, before our presence is detected by the Romulans.