Chain of Command, part 1

Vice Admiral Nechayev replaces Picard with Captain Jellico to negotiate with the Cardassians, while Picard, Worf and Crusher secretly enter Cardassian space to find a suspected metagenic weapon lab. It is a trap, and Picard is captured and interrogated by Madred.

• Follows The Wounded (S04E12): Related rather than explicit: both are set on the Federation-Cardassian border after the peace treaty.
• Leads to Chain of Command, part 2 (S06E11): Resolves the cliffhanger: Picard's interrogation by Gul Madred.

Captain's log, stardate 46357.4. We have rendezvoused with the starship Cairo near the Cardassian border for an urgent meeting with Vice Admiral Nechayev.

Captain's log, stardate 46358.2. The Enterprise is on course for a rendezvous with the Cardassian ship Reklar. Fortunately, I still have time to prepare the ship and crew for the task ahead.

First Officer's log, supplemental. We have rendezvoused with the Cardassian ship Reklar to begin diplomatic talks designed to ease tensions along the border.

Characters with no lines who appear according to the cast list or the stage directions.

• Ensign Gates (cast list)

From Memory Alpha. Linked where the credit could be matched to a transcript label.

Starring

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Captain Jean-Luc Picard)
• Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker (Commander William T. Riker)

Also starring

• LeVar Burton as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge (Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge)
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf (Lieutenant Worf)
• Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher (Dr Beverly Crusher)
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi (Counselor Deanna Troi)
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data (Lieutenant Commander Data)

Guest stars

• Ronny Cox as Edward Jellico (Captain Edward Jellico)
• Natalija Nogulich as Alynna Nechayev (Admiral Alynna Nechayev)
• John Durbin as Lemec (Gul Lemec)
• Lou Wagner as Solok

Co-star

• Majel Barrett as Computer Voice

Uncredited co-stars

• Joe Baumann as Garvey
• H. Borgen, M. McMahon, J. Napier as Cardassian soldier (3 performers)
• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• Cameron as Kellogg
• Cullen Chambers, Ron Large, Karen Uchizono as command officer (3 performers)
• Hal Donahue as command lieutenant
• Elliot Durant III as Mizarian bar patron
• Melanie Hathorn, Gary Hunter, Harry Young as sciences officer (3 performers)
• Arvo Katajisto as Torigan
• Dennis Madalone as Cardassian
• Michael Moorehead as sciences ensign
• Tom Morga as Cardassian
• Randy Pflug as Bajoran bar patron
• Joycelyn Robinson as Gates (Ensign Gates)
• Sissy Sessions as operations ensign
• Shawn as Cardassian guard
• Noriko Suzuki as operations ensign
• Talbot as Ten Forward waitress
• Michael Tierney as Tajor
• Jana Wallace as command lieutenant jg