The USS Enterprise approaches Mab-Bu VI, from where it has detected a distress call. Commander Data discovers that the distress call is standard for Daedalus-class starships, which went out of service 172 years ago. He then finds that the USS Essex, a Daedalus-class ship, was lost in the region 200 years ago. After concluding that assessing the situation from the ship is inadequate, Picard decides that an away team must visit the moon. Troi indicates that she "feels" a living presence on the surface. Data announces that electromagnetic interference from electrical storms precludes the use of the transporter to the moon; Picard authorizes a shuttlecraft mission, manned by Riker, Data, and Troi.

As the shuttlecraft travels towards the moon's surface, the crew loses control, and Data makes a crash landing. By the time the shuttle lands, all communication with the Enterprise has been cut off by electromagnetic interference.

Riker suspects he has a broken arm due to the crash landing, and the three crewmembers emerge from the shuttlecraft to learn about their surroundings. They observe the front of a massive electrical storm, and Riker comments that it appears nothing like the front of any other electrical storm he has seen before. A tricorder scan indicates EM bursts across the entire spectrum.

Back on the Enterprise, the crew discuss rescuing the crew of the shuttle. Ro Laren states she can use the descent angle of the shuttlecraft to approximate the landing site. Miles O’Brien proposes that he should transport to the surface and use a pattern-enhancing device to allow a reliable transport of the away team. Geordi cautions Picard that O’Brien's chance of surviving the transport is about "fifty-fifty." O’Brien acknowledges the risk, and Picard grants permission.

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Wikipedia