The
Enterprise receives an automated distress call from a human colony on the planet Bringloid V, which is in danger from
solar flares from its star. The colony turns out to have been founded by the crew of the SS
Mariposa, a freighter launched from Earth several hundred years earlier. As the Enterprise approaches the planet, Worf collapses on the bridge. When he regains consciousness in sick bay, he is embarrassed to admit suffering a Klingon childhood illness equivalent to measles. Dr. Pulaski agrees to protect his privacy. In gratitude, Worf later approaches her to offer a Klingon tea ceremony. He warns that the tea is deadly to humans and explains it is just a gesture which would be important in his culture. Pulaski suggests he is a romantic and takes an antidote to allow herself to drink the tea with him safely. The "Bringloidi" colony, now led by an Irishman named Danilo Odell and his hot-tempered daughter Brenna, are followers of an early 22nd-century philosopher who advocated returning to a pre-industrial agrarian lifestyle, and when taken aboard the
Enterprise, must quickly adapt to the 24th-century technology. Odell informs Picard of another colony, also planted by the
Mariposa. The
Enterprise proceeds to the second colony—which has named itself "Mariposa" after their ship—half a
light year away. The colony's Prime Minister, Wilson Granger, is happy to see the
Enterprise and welcomes them to visit, so
Commander Riker beams down with
Lieutenant Worf and Chief Medical Officer
Doctor Pulaski. The Mariposa colony has kept their advanced technology, and appear refined and cultured in contrast to the Bringloidi's relatively primitive existence. Pulaski quickly ascertains that all of the inhabitants are
clones. Granger reveals that their ship crashed while landing, and only five survivors were left to start the colony. As this was insufficient to establish a stable
gene pool, and the survivors were all scientists, they turned exclusively to
cloning instead and consequently no longer have any desire for
biological reproduction. For almost three centuries, every Mariposan has been a clone derived from one of the five original colonists, and now the colony is in danger of dying out because of replicative fading: each subsequent generation introduces additional minor flaws in the genetic code, which within only a few more generations will make further clones
nonviable. The Mariposans ask the
Enterprise crew for samples of their
DNA to create new clones. Riker refuses, as he values his uniqueness, and Picard advises that the rest of the crew is likely to feel the same, so the Mariposans kidnap Riker and Pulaski to steal their DNA. Upon discovering this, the away team beams directly to the colony's cloning labs, where they are repulsed to find copies of themselves being grown, which Riker destroys. Granger is furious and appeals to Picard, but Pulaski argues that a new batch of clones will only delay the inevitable. Instead, she advises that they consider partnering with the Bringloidi to create a viable
gene pool. Initially, each colony's leader treats the other society with disdain, but they eventually agree to merge their colonies and disparate cultures. ==Production==