Preemptive Strike (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Preemptive Strike" is the 176th episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is the 24th episode of the seventh season, and penultimate episode of the series overall, directed by cast member Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard).

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Federation starship USS Enterprise-D. In this episode, the recurring character Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes), a court-martialed Starfleet officer who first appeared in the episode "Ensign Ro", finds her loyalties divided between Starfleet and a group of resistance fighters who oppose the Cardassian Union, as she and her fellow Bajorans once did. Ro Laren would later return in Star Trek: Picard's season 3 episode "Imposters" which revealed what became of her after this episode.

In addition to wrapping the last season of Star Trek: The Next Generation', it was meant to bolster Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. It was a difficult time for the show's writers because some of them also had to work on the upcoming Star Trek film, Star Trek Generations.