Once again the prime directive gets put to the test. Because of the subjectivity of this directive, it is often up to the captain to be the interpreter. When Data makes contact with a young alien on a dying planet (due to geological issues) he makes a plea to Picard to save her and her family or even the whole planet. This puts the Enterprise in the position of playing god. Still, she is a child and pulls at our heartstrings. Coincidentally, Wesley is given his first significant position on the ship, leading a geological team in analyzing the planet's surface. He is torn between his given authority and the ages of those under him (he is, of course, wet behind the ears). So his issue with commanding others is his issue. The two plots eventually will come together. While I think it's sort of contrived and a little too easy for things to work out, it's a decent episode. Data's programming seems to contain a fair amount of humanity. His desires and his altruism must have been there from the start or we wouldn't have episodes like this.