In 'Menage a Troi' TNG, the episode makes the point, several times over, that Betazoids are unable to read Ferengi minds. In fact it is central to the episode's plot. They do not have full telepathic powers (they can only read each other's thoughts and communicate telepathically, but are limited to reading the emotions of alien species, and they cannot read Ferengi emotions at all.) Troi is only half-Betazoid, so would her ablilities be scaled-down versions of a full Betazoid's empathic capabilities? I believe so. In addition to this Data says in 'The Loss' TNG that both Ferengi and Breen minds, as well as other races are not empathically detectable. So that seems fairly clear!
Yet, in two earlier episodes Troi comments that she senses certain emotions from the captains of the Ferengi vessels the Enterprise encounters. In 'The Last Outpost' TNG Troi states that she senses that the Ferengi captain is hiding something when he agrees to co-operate with Picard. In 'The Battle' TNG Troi cautions Picard that she senses "consideable deception on Bok's part and danger."
So either all the 'Star Trek' guides have got it wrong, Betazoids can and do read Ferengi minds, or else Troi is being sycophantic, toadying up to Picard, even giving an outright lie in the case of DaiMon Bok. We know that when she loses her powers in 'The Loss' she feels that she needs to resign as ship's counsellor, so she obviously feels that her empathic abilities are more important to her job than her experience and professional training. She suffers denial, panic and even anger at her friends when she discovers that her abilites have disappeared. I think she feels that her position would be under threat if she was unable to sense the Ferengi and that's why she gives the impression that she can read them.
Yet, in two earlier episodes Troi comments that she senses certain emotions from the captains of the Ferengi vessels the Enterprise encounters. In 'The Last Outpost' TNG Troi states that she senses that the Ferengi captain is hiding something when he agrees to co-operate with Picard. In 'The Battle' TNG Troi cautions Picard that she senses "consideable deception on Bok's part and danger."
So either all the 'Star Trek' guides have got it wrong, Betazoids can and do read Ferengi minds, or else Troi is being sycophantic, toadying up to Picard, even giving an outright lie in the case of DaiMon Bok. We know that when she loses her powers in 'The Loss' she feels that she needs to resign as ship's counsellor, so she obviously feels that her empathic abilities are more important to her job than her experience and professional training. She suffers denial, panic and even anger at her friends when she discovers that her abilites have disappeared. I think she feels that her position would be under threat if she was unable to sense the Ferengi and that's why she gives the impression that she can read them.
