'The Icarus Factor' (Story Code 140) by David Assael and Robert L. McCullough Story by David Assael

Commander Riker is offered captaincy of the starship U.S.S. Aries; however, when the Enterprise arrives at Starbase Montgomery, Riker is disturbed to learn that the briefing for his new assignment is to be carried out by his estranged father, Kyle. It has been fifteen years since either of them spoke to the other, and Riker immediately refuses to listen to his father's attempts at reconciliation. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Worf begins to display uncharacteristically hostile behaviour towards his crewmates; Ensign Wesley Crusher manages to discover that the Klingon is feeling culturally isolated because it is the tenth anniversary of his Age of Ascension, an important ritual that signifies a new level of spiritual attainment. However, Wesley, Lieutenant Commander Data and Lieutenant Geordi LaForge soon learn that the ritual is a test of a Klingon's ability to endure pain at the hands of his friends…

Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Thomas Riker), LeVar Burton (Chief Engineer Lieutenant Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Security Chief Lieutenant Worf), Marina Sirtis (Councelor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data), Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher), Diana Muldaur (Katherine ‘Kate’ Pulaski), Diana Muldaur (Doctor [Commander] Katherine ‘Kate’ Pulaski), Colm Meaney (Transporter Chief Miles O’Brien), Mitchell Ryan (Kyle Riker), Lance Spellerberg (Ensign Herbert)

Directed by Robert Iscove
Produced by Robert L. McCullough
Executive Producer Gene Roddenberry

TX:
24th April, 1989

Notes:
*Featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William Thomas Riker, Chief Engineer Lieutenant Geordi La Forge, Security Chief Lieutenant Worf, Councelor Deanna Troi, Lieutenant Commander Data, Doctor [Commander] Katherine ‘Kate’ Pulaski, Transporter Chief Miles O’Brien and Wesley Crusher