To save the dying Gemworld and free the Enterprise from the lethal grip of the singularity which has trapped it there, Picard and his crew must disable the artifical shell which holds the planet's atmostphere intact. But to safeguard the shell - since the planet could not survive without it - it cannot be shut down without six clearance keys. One key is in the possession of each of the planet's distinct and often reclusive species, and travel on the crumbling, disintegrating surface is nearly impossible. A religious sect views the shell as a holy object and will stop Picard from tampering with it - at any cost. And when all the keys are gathered and a mysterious murder is solved, the responsible party is discovered to be the planet itelf!