The week-long national syndication window opens for the 24th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. This is the goriest episode of the series’ entire run; even improved make-up effects in later seasons never quite match up to this story’s exploding head and torso (graphic visuals which any network with creative input or oversight would likely have nixed). Despite ending on an obvious cliffhanger, this story is never revisited by any later episodes or spinoff series. 
Stardate 41775.5: Picard is taken into the confidence of his good friend Captain Walker Keel, who warns that Starfleet is slowly being taken over by a conspiracy that plans to use the resources of Starfleet for conquest. After the shocking destruction of Keel’s ship and a series of grisly discoveries about the High Admirals of Starfleet, Picard learns that Earth is the home of the queen of an alien swarm…
teleplay by Tracy Torme
story by Robert Sabaroff
directed by Cliff Bole
music by Dennis McCarthyCast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher), Henry Darrow (Admiral Savaar), Ward Costello (Admiral Quinn), Robert Schenkkan (Commander Remmick), Ray Reinhardt (Admiral Aaron), Jonathan Farwell (Captain Walker Keel), Michael Berryman (Captain Rixx), Ursaline Bryant (Captain Tryla Scott)
LogBook entry by Earl Green