There is some weird space stuff going on an Troi loses her empathic powers. This is a huge deal and she has to learn how to deal with her disability.

As someone with actual brain damage, this one was a little difficult to get through. They also introduce cosmic strings to the ‘Trek universe, a phenomenon first hypothesized in the 1970’s.

I summarize the plot and point out and explain all the references so you don’t have to