In the year 2366, the USS Enterprise-D was contacted by the Bortas when Captain Jean-Luc Picard requested reinforcements prior to entering the Romulan Neutral Zone to investigate a potential Romulan military base on Nelvana III. (TNG episode: "The Defector") In 2368, when approaching the planet Qo'noS, the Enterprise was met by the Bortas just prior to the installation of Gowron as Chancellor of the Klingon High Council. In a meeting that followed, Gowron informed Picard that the Duras family was still seeking to control the council.