Ro sabotages the mission and turns on Riker
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Maquis squadron, including Ro and Riker, prepares to cross the border into Cardassian territory, arming their weapons as Starfleet awaits their move, and Ro reflects on her plan to betray the Maquis.
As the Maquis approach the convoy, Ro, witnessing the raising of shields, makes a sudden decision and triggers a power surge in their ship.
Ro, having made her choice, aims a phaser at Riker, preventing him from interfering with her decision to betray Starfleet and protect the Maquis.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A turbulent mix of guilt, determination, and defiant resolve—her actions are driven by a deep-seated belief in the Maquis' cause, but the weight of betrayal is visibly heavy on her.
Ro Laren, her face a mask of conflicted resolve, reaches forward and triggers a power surge in the ship’s systems. As Riker turns toward her, she draws her hand phaser, aiming it directly at him with a steady hand. Her voice is firm but laced with remorse as she declares her betrayal of Starfleet, her body language tense yet determined. The act is a physical manifestation of her internal fracture—her loyalty to the Maquis now overriding her duty to Starfleet.
- • To prevent the Starfleet ambush and protect the Maquis squadron from destruction.
- • To fully commit to the Maquis, severing her ties with Starfleet once and for all.
- • The Maquis' struggle is just and Starfleet’s actions are morally indefensible.
- • Her loyalty to the Maquis outweighs her duty to Starfleet, even if it means betrayal.
Stunned, betrayed, and momentarily vulnerable—his trust in Ro is shattered, leaving him emotionally exposed in a way that contrasts sharply with his usual confidence.
William T. Riker, monitoring the ship’s systems, is caught off-guard as Ro triggers the power surge. He turns toward her just in time to see her phaser aimed at him, his expression shifting from confusion to stunned betrayal. His hands raise instinctively, his body language tense and vulnerable. The moment is a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor, revealing the depth of his shock at Ro’s defection.
- • To understand Ro’s motivations and potentially de-escalate the situation.
- • To ensure the mission’s success, even as his personal loyalty to Ro is tested.
- • Ro’s actions are a personal betrayal, not just a professional failure.
- • The mission’s objectives must still be met, despite the emotional fallout.
Tense and anticipatory, but unaware of the impending danger or Ro’s betrayal—their emotional state is one of readiness and resolve, not suspicion.
The Maquis squadron, flying in formation at impulse, remains unaware of Ro’s betrayal. Their focus is on crossing the Demilitarized Zone border, weapons armed and ready for the planned ambush. Santos’ voice crackles over the comms, ordering the squadron to prepare for action, oblivious to the internal conflict unfolding in Ro’s ship. Their collective energy is one of anticipation and readiness, unaware of the impending Starfleet trap or Ro’s defection.
- • To successfully cross the Demilitarized Zone border and execute the ambush on the Cardassian ship.
- • To maintain formation and follow Santos’ orders without question.
- • Starfleet is an enemy that must be outmaneuvered and resisted.
- • Their cause is just, and any means necessary are justified to achieve it.
Confident and focused, with no hint of suspicion or doubt—his emotional state is one of tactical readiness and leadership, not personal conflict.
Santos, leading the Maquis squadron from his ship, communicates with Ro over the comms, ordering the squadron to arm their weapons as they approach the border. His voice is authoritative and focused, reflecting his role as a tactical leader. He is unaware of Ro’s internal conflict or her impending betrayal, his attention solely on the mission at hand. His presence in the scene is primarily auditory, but his influence is palpable as the squadron prepares for action.
- • To successfully lead the Maquis squadron across the Demilitarized Zone border and execute the ambush.
- • To maintain discipline and coordination among the squadron members.
- • The Maquis’ cause is just, and Starfleet is an obstacle that must be resisted.
- • His leadership is critical to the success of the mission and the survival of the Maquis.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Maquis squadron’s weapons, armed and ready for the ambush, are a looming threat in the background of this event. Santos orders the squadron to arm their weapons as they near the border, phaser banks and torpedo launchers powering up. While the weapons themselves are not directly involved in Ro’s betrayal, their presence underscores the high stakes of the moment. They symbolize the Maquis’ readiness for conflict and the potential for violence that Ro is trying to prevent by sabotaging the mission.
The Maquis ship’s cockpit helm controls are central to Ro’s act of sabotage. She reaches forward and deliberately triggers a power surge through these controls, disrupting the ship’s systems and sending a jolt through the console. The surge is a physical manifestation of her internal conflict, a deliberate action that halts the ship’s progress and forces Riker to confront her betrayal. The controls, usually a tool for navigation, become the instrument of her defiance, symbolizing her rejection of Starfleet’s mission.
The Maquis ship’s console is a critical tool in this moment of betrayal. Riker is hunched over it, monitoring the propulsion systems and the squadron’s approach to the Demilitarized Zone border. When Ro triggers the power surge, the console’s screens spike with erratic readouts, exposing her sabotage. The console, usually a source of data and control, becomes a witness to Ro’s defiance, its flickering displays reflecting the chaos of her internal conflict and the disruption of the mission.
Ro Laren’s hand phaser is the physical embodiment of her betrayal. She draws it from her side and levels it at Riker, her grip steady and resolute. The phaser is not just a weapon but a symbol of her final choice—her loyalty to the Maquis over Starfleet. Its presence in her hand is a stark visual representation of the violence of her defection, forcing Riker into a vulnerable position and marking the irreversible moment of her commitment to the Maquis cause.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Demilitarized Zone border is the strategic boundary that Ro’s betrayal is designed to protect. As the Maquis squadron approaches the border, the tension of the moment is heightened by the knowledge that Starfleet is poised to ambush them. The border itself is a symbolic and physical line that Ro is trying to cross—not just geographically, but morally and politically. Her act of sabotage is an attempt to prevent the Maquis from being drawn into a trap that would escalate the conflict with Starfleet and the Cardassians. The border represents the fragile peace that Ro is trying to preserve, even as she betrays her own institution.
Ro’s Maquis ship serves as the battleground for her internal and external conflict. The cramped cockpit, with its flickering LCARS panels and tense silence, becomes the stage for her betrayal. The confined space amplifies the tension between Ro and Riker, as she draws her phaser and declares her defiance. The ship’s rear panel area, where Ro crouches to trigger the power surge, is a symbol of her physical and emotional separation from Starfleet. The location is not just a setting but an active participant in the drama, its confined quarters forcing the characters into a confrontation that cannot be avoided.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet’s influence is palpable in this moment, even though it is not physically present. The mission Ro and Riker are on is a direct extension of Starfleet’s efforts to control the Maquis and prevent escalating conflict with the Cardassians. Ro’s betrayal is a direct rejection of Starfleet’s authority and a challenge to its institutional power. The organization’s presence is felt through the orders Riker relays and the ambush that Ro is trying to prevent. Her act of defiance is not just personal but a symbolic rejection of Starfleet’s policies and the moral compromises they represent.
The Maquis is the driving force behind Ro’s betrayal. The organization represents the displaced Federation citizens who have turned to insurgency in the face of the Cardassian-Federation treaty. Ro’s growing empathy for their cause and her conflict with Starfleet’s mission culminate in her act of sabotage, which is a direct attempt to protect the Maquis from the Starfleet ambush. The Maquis’ presence is felt through Santos’ orders over the comms and the collective energy of the squadron, which remains unaware of Ro’s defection. Her betrayal is an act of solidarity with the Maquis, marking her full commitment to their cause.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Ro holds Riker at phaser point as she carries out her new mission to warn the Maquis. It is here that the Maquis aborted the mission and are now aware of Starfleet."
"Ro holds Riker at phaser point as she carries out her new mission to warn the Maquis. It is here that the Maquis aborted the mission and are now aware of Starfleet."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"SANTOS: Squad leader to all ships."
"RO: Go ahead, squad leader."
"SANTOS: We'll be crossing the border in less than one minute. Arm your weapons."
"RO: Acknowledged."
"RIKER: Starfleet can't make its move until we're out of the Demilitarized Zone. We're to break formation and take cover in the Nebula as soon as they appear."
"RIKER: What the -"
"RO: I'm sorry... but I can't let this happen."