 Federation Ambassador Sarek ( Mark Lenard ) of Vulcan has arrived on board the Enterprise with his human wife , Perrin ( Joanna Miles ) . His mission is to attend a conference to lay the foundation for trade relations between the Federation and an alien race called the Legarans , after which time he will retire due to old age . Though Captain Jean @-@ Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) and his crew attempt to provide for Sarek and have arranged for a chamber music concert for him , the ambassador expresses apprehension and annoyance . Picard is surprised when Sarek starts crying in the middle of the performance , an emotional trait Vulcans normally suppress . 
