| The Next Generation | |
| 65 | |
| Sins of The Father | |
| 43685.2 | |
A Klingon officer is going to transfer to the Enterprise on an exchange program. Yippee! Does this mean that for once there will be a modicum of discipline on NCC-1701-D? Does it mean that Wesley may be killed for an act of insolence? Does it mean that Riker will do nothing but exercise his amazing beard powers? Probably not, but we can all live in hope. The officer's name is Kurn and his first official duty is to relieve Riker of his command. A spot of discipline on our tardy ship will be good for everyone.
On the bridge Kurn seems amused by the concept of a chair as he flops into it with all the graciousness and poise of a pregnant rhino. Wesley makes a snide comment to Data and is immediately chastised for it. No executions yet, but there is still time.
Later in 10-Forward Wesley relates to Riker that Kurn doesn't seem to like him. I have news for him - nobody likes him. There is no real evidence that his mother even likes him. His whinging is compounded by that of Mr X-Ray Charles when an inspection of engineering is required. Despite all this, the one who is taking it the worst is Worf, as Kurn seems to patronise him at every available option. Smells like character development.
A dinner is organised for Kurn, and I hope after seeing the disgusting things that the Klingons eat, there will be some real food - even if replicated. In the turbo-lift, Riker makes a suggestion to Kurn that he lighten up on the crew, to which Kirn replies that he would have had to kill Riker for the insolence if this was a Klingon ship. Maybe we could arrange for a short-term change of ownership... Kurn dislikes the human food, but this is hardly surprising when you consider that he was wiping caviar onto sythesised turkey.
Worf finally faces-off Kurn and asks him why he dishonours him so. After a bit of Klingon macho-bullshit it is revealed that Kurn is Worf's long-lost brother. Groan! Hasn't that line be used a little too much in the past? Kurn was left behind and not taken to Khitomer and so was not killed in the massacre. The Klingon High Command has judged Worf's father a traitor for aiding the Romulan attack on the outpost, and hence Worf's family name is now mud. Interesting thought that. "Hi, my name's Worf Mud, please to meet you."
Worf seeks Picard's approval to journey to Kling to restore his father's name. Picard denies the request as he says that it could involve a Starfleet officer being involved in a capital offence - as if that hasn't ever happened before. Picard then does a complete backflip and says that it's ok to go as long as he can come too! Sounds like a spoiled child.
Worf asks his long-lost-brother to be his chadich or second. "Honour" he says, "means more than life." Great, Mr Spinal Head is a Paladin. Haven't these guys got it through their lumpy brows that this sort of mindless action has put everybody's history back. At least they're not complete butt-heads like the Ferengi. Worf strides forward to announce his challenge, in English! Yep. We have had several words and even phrases in Klingon, so why the English? I think that Worf's blood must have thinned...
Duras claims that Worf's father Mogh sent the defence access codes to the Romulans and hence they could lower the shields and blast the outpost. This is tantamount to stupidity. Why send the access codes that will cause your own destruction? Who know, they are Klingon after all. Worf is told that he may not wear the emblems of his people again, and the silver Christmas decoration that he wears over his shoulder is thrown to the floor. I always wondered what that was. I figured that Worf had been to a really wild Christmas party and was pretending to be the tree.
Picard uses the resources of the Federation to find information on the Khitomer massacre is Worf's defence. At the same time, the leader of the council tells Worf to leave and ignore the challenge? Strange coming form a Klingon. Duras goes to see Kurn and tries to get him to abandon Worf and the challenge, but he won't. So he gets a knife in the guts. Shows what standing up for your family achieves in the 24th century. No real harm done since Bev patches him up.
The evidence agains Mogh is courtesy of a captured Romulan ship. Geordi compares the log entries with the closest Federation ship at the time and finds discrepancies. Mogh probably wasn't a traitor and someone has been trying to rewrite history! Surprise, surprise, surprise. Since his first chadich got skewered, Worf has to find a replacement. Will he pick Wesley? It would be a good chance to remove him permanently. Nope, bad luck, he picks Picard - who accepts.
Federation records show that there was one more survivor of the attack, an old woman who was Worf's nanny. She is still alive and living in the old quarter of the city. Picard attempts to be discrete, but keeps his red uniform on. Not much chance of that matey! Kahlest says that her old life died then and that she doesn't want to get involved, but she does say that Mogh wasn't the traitor - he was there searching for the traitor. As Picard leaves he is accosted by a pair of burly Klingons with knives. He fights well, and kills the first of the two, but it looks as though our erstwhile captain is going to get skewered by the other when... Kahlest stabs him in the back. This act has changed her mind? What act? The fact that people are trying to kill everyone involved? That would change my mind, but not in that direction.
In the council chambers, Duras doesn't want the evidence heard as it will show that Mogh was not involved. It transpires that it was Durard, Duras' father who was the real traitor, but since their family is strong they needed a scapegoat. Great for an honour bound society. Picard finally gets assertive and says that he will not hand over either Worf or Kurn for a crime they did not commit.
Worf accepts discommodation to protect Kurn. This means the same as admitting the guilt of his father. He does this so the fight to regain his honour may be continued at a later date. As the Klingons all turn their backs on them, Worf and Picard leave.
