The fifth season of Next Generation starts off with the Federation exposing the secret Romulan-Duras plot explored in the previous season. ("Redemption II" ) Ensign Ro Laren joins the crew of the USS Enterprise-D, and although some members of the crew, notably Commander William T. Riker, have misgivings about her presence on board, she eventually proves herself to be a valuable crew member. ("Ensign Ro" ) Picard has some memorable experiences, such as learning to communicate with the heretofore unintelligible Tamarians ("Darmok" ), overcoming to some extent his dislike of children when he is trapped along with three children after the Enterprise-D is struck by a quantum filament ("Disaster" ), and meeting with Ambassador Spock on Romulus. ("Unification I" , "Unification II" ) Most notably,