The Hood unexpectedly joins the Enterprise and delivers their new orders and a passenger, Tam Elbrun. Tam is a Betazoid telepath and specializes in first-contacts but, he is also not well liked because he lacks tact. Tam explains that a recently discovered object in orbit around a dying star is suspected of being a living spaceship, dubbed "Tin Man" and Tam's mission is to contact it. However, the Romulans claim that space and are also sending ships to contact the newly discovered alien.

Producers: Ira Steven Behr, Hans Beimler and Richard Manning
Director: Robert Scheerer
Writers: Dennis Putman Bailey and David Bischoff

Guest Cast:

Michael Cavanaugh (Captain DeSoto)
Peter Vogt (Romulan Commander)
Harry Groener (Tam Elbrun)