The Ensigns of Command

"**The Ensigns of Command**"
"The Ensigns of Command"
Star Trek: The Next Generation episode
Episode no.	Season 3; Episode 2
Directed by	Cliff Bole
Written by	Melinda M. Snodgrass
Featured music	Dennis McCarthy
Cinematography by	Marvin Rush
Production code	149
Original air date	October 2, 1989
Guest appearances
	Eileen Seeley as Ard'rian McKenzie; Mark L. Taylor as Haritath; Richard Allen as Kentor; Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien; Mart McChesney as Sheliak; Christopher Collins as Sheliak (voice); Grainger Hines as Gosheven (uncredited, voice redubbed);
Episode chronology
← Previous; "Evolution"	Next →; "The Survivors"
	Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3
	List of episodes

"The Ensigns of Command" is the second episode of the third season of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 50th episode overall, first broadcast on October 2, 1989.

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) must convince a reluctant colony of more than 15,000 to prepare for immediate evacuation while Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) attempts to negotiate a three-week reprieve from aliens intent on colonizing the planet themselves in four days and wiping out any humans found there.