When the Bough Breaks

The Enterprise finds Aldea, a planet thought to be a myth, which has hidden itself behind a cloak. The Aldeans welcome an away team, then reveal that they cannot have children and want to trade their advanced knowledge for some of the Enterprise's. When Picard refuses, they take seven children, Wesley among them, and push the ship away. The children are placed with Aldean families who cherish them, but Wesley quietly organises them to refuse cooperation. Dr Crusher, who scanned the Aldeans during the first meeting, finds the cause of their problem: radiation damage. The very shield that hides their world has stripped away its ozone layer. While Picard negotiates on the planet, Riker and Data slip through the shield and disable the ancient Custodian computer. The Aldeans accept that their technology has been killing them, return the children and agree to accept help.