The season begins with the successful rescue of Data from the nineteenth century, and we learn just how long Guinan has actually known Picard. The crew also took part in a variety of shady operations, the first of what would be many departures from Gene Roddenberry's more Utopian vision of the future. Picard is temporarily assigned away from the Enterprise for a dangerous espionage mission against the Cardassians, but is captured and subjected to torture, nearly succumbing before being released. Deanna Troi engaged in a similarly risky mission of espionage against the Romulans. The Enterprise also nearly became a victim of space pirates.