The Next Phase

TNG Season 5 Episode 24
Air Date: May 18th, 1992

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Romulan science vessel. The ship is suffering from a warp core containment issue and during transport back, Lt. Cmdr. La Forge and Ensign Ro get into a transporter accident. To the crew, they never made it but they actually reappeared in different parts of the ship out of phase and cloaked.

They perform their own investigation and discover that the Romulan's were experimenting with a theory that they were working on a new type of cloak that also moves the ship into another phase which would make them impervious to all weapons. They even fight a Romulan they find in this other phase.

Lt. Cmdr. La Forge discovers that they can create chronoton radiation that Lt. Cmdr. Data was investigating which helps him realize what is happening and how to get Geordi and Laren back.

The episode is a prequel to an episode where Riker's old captain is working on a similar cloacking/phasing device.

Quotes

"In almost all societies, it is traditional to say a ritual farewell to those you call friends. I never knew what a friend was until I met Geordi. He spoke to me as though I were human. He treated me no differently from anyone else. He accepted me for what I am. And that, I have learned, is friendship. But I do not know how to say goodbye." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"Captain. I don't believe this. I'm dead. You can't even hear me, and I'm still intimidated by you." - Ensign Ro

"Are you saying I'm some blind ghost with clothes?" - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge

"Ensign Ro was a Bajoran. Her beliefs should be reflected as well. However, their death rituals are quite complicated." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Oh, please, not the death chant." - Ensign Ro
"The Bajoran death chant is over two hours long." - Lt. Worf

"I don't believe this, they think we're dead and they're having a party?" - Ensign Ro Laren