157. Once More Unto the Breach

Summary

On the eve of an important "cavalry raid" that Martok plans to mount against the Dominion, Worf is paid a visit by Kor, the legendary Dahar Master of our previous acquaintance (in Blood Oath and Sword of Kahless). He has come to ask Worf's help in obtaining a posting in the fleet...his long and ambitious career has made him enough enemies so that he can't find a ship on which to serve. To Worf's shock, one of these enemies is Martok, who categorically refuses to give Kor a post. Worf goes over Martok's head and makes Kor the third officer of the Ch'tang, which Martok commands and on which Worf will be serving as first officer. Martok makes it clear he wants nothing to do with Kor, and is chagrined when his crew are awestruck and reverent towards the legendary older Klingon when he boards. Throughout these opening scenes, Kor is showing signs of forgetfulness...needing ship's names repeated and at one point forgetting the way to the bridge, but the crew are honored to be serving with such a famous and honored warrior. Martok explains to Worf that his grudge against Kor originated when he was trying to earn a commission, but Kor struck his name from the rosters because of his common lowland heritage. Martok managed to earn his stripes eventually, but that shame still makes him hate Kor. When the attack on the Dominion outpost finally comes, at a crucial moment Martok and Worf are incapacitated. Kor takes over, but in his mind he's reliving a battle he fought with Kang against the Federation outpost at Caleb IV and becomes confused. Martok revives in time to stop him from allowing the entire fleet to be destroyed and Worf removes Kor from his post. They soon detect ten Jem'Hadar ships pursuing them. Worf concocts a daring plan to delay the pursuing ships so that they cannot overtake the fleet before they reach reinforcements, but it involves Worf sacrificing himself and one ship, and engaging the Jem'Hadar ships for ten full minutes with only a single bird of prey. Kor learns of the plan, incapacitates Worf with a hypospray, and takes command of the mission himself. Martok, Worf and their crew wait anxiously...finally the Jem'Hadar's time has run out. Kor has succeeded, and they toast his bravery in his final battle.

Analysis

I've never been a huge fan of Klingon episodes, whether they be TNG or DS9. It's probably a reflection of the fact that many of them are so much specious claptrap...Sons of Mogh springs to mind...but despite this predisposition I found this to be an excellent, multifaceted episode with superb writing by Ron Moore, Trek's foremost Klingophile. Ironic that Worf is by far the least interesting character in the episode, though. He all but becomes invisible next to Kor and especially Martok. It only reinforces my dislike of the character...I don't think I've really liked Worf since TNG's "Sins of the Father."

There are many subtextual threads at work here. First of all, there is the matter of Kor's descent into near-senility and his wish only to be useful and die like a Klingon. It is a wish we can empathize with, so at first it makes Martok (one of my favorite characters) look like an ogre for so steadfastly refusing to even entertain the notion. Then, suddenly, once we hear Martok's side of the story things seem very different. For all his high rank and importance, in his heart Martok is still stuck cleaning floors in the flagship, stripped of honor by a man who'd never even seen his face. The shame of that negation has never left him, and we can understand why he'd hate Kor for that injustice. It lends a new roundness and validity to Martok's character, not that it was lacking in the first place. Too often, on Trek as well as elsewhere, when there is character conflict someone is portrayed as being in the wrong so we have a clear path to empathy. Here we have two characters whose feelings are both portrayed as legitimate. We empathize with both.

Another thread is the attitudes of the young towards their elders, mentioned several times by Derok, Martok's elderly aide, who is of Kor's generation. The younger crew of the Ch'tang initially idolize Kor, but when he falls into delusions during battle they turn on him like a rabid targ, ridiculing him...both to punish him for his ineptness in battle and to assuage their own anger at having one of their heroes dethroned before their very eyes. Even Martok participates in this hazing (see Classic Scene below) but he soon realizes the hollowness of punishing a man who is already living in a hell of his own making.

Kor's final gesture is the deep blue hero stuff that has long been a standard in Trek, and it is beautifully rendered. We see absolutely nothing of Kor's battle, one ship against ten Jem'Hadar fighters. We see only the crew of Martok's ship as they follow the battle from afar until they lose contact. It is a very effective device...we can only imagine the glory of Kor's final battle and his eventual journey to StoVoKor. As the crew drinks to his victory and sings in his honor, it honestly sent a chill up my spine.

There are also a number of very cool visuals in this episode. A top-view of the station with Klingon ships flying past sticks out, and the Dominion outpost is neat looking, as is the view of it from above as the Klingon attackers make their escape through the atmosphere. I was extremely glad that at least small mention was made of Kor's relationship with Dax...in that minute and a half they established that continuity while managing to keep to the uneasy truce between Ezri and Worf. And the B plot, while a small one concering Quark's mistaken belief that Ezri wants to reconcile with Worf, doesn't detract from the plot. An episode I highly recommend, as most of these early season-seven offerings have been.

Rating: 9.5

Memorable Quote:

"The only real question is whether you believe in the legend of Davy Crockett or not. if you do, then there should be no doubt in your mind that he died a hero's death. If you do not believe in the legend, then he was just a man...and it does not matter how he died." --Worf

"It's a pity Sisko frowns on summary executions." --Martok, annoyed with Derok

"I've dreamt of the day when I would finally see him [Kor] stripped of his rank and title, when he would suddenly find himself without a friend in the world, without the power of his birthright. Well, I've had that moment now, and I took no joy in it." --Martok

"If they succeed, you can drink to their courage. And if they fail, you can still drink to their courage." --Derok

Classic Scene:

The scene I mentioned above which finds Martok and two younger crewmen rather ruthlessly ridiculing Kor and mocking his lapse into the past on the bridge is extremely powerful. Through their cruel remarks Kor sits very still and quiet, then finally gets up to leave. When Martok demands that he say something...for where is the fun in mockery if the subject does not respond?...Kor replies quietly: "Savor the fruit of life, my young friends. It has a sweet taste when it is fresh from the vine, but the taste turns bitter after a time." This dignified reply (one of my favorite lines, I think, of the entire series) with its subtle flavor of admonishment and regret take all the wind out of Martok's sails and make him realize the tragedy of Kor's position despite his own grudge.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

Klingon officer #1: I think he's asleep.
Klingon officer #2: How long should we wait?

The O/K Status Report

Kira has a nice small scene with Ezri but Odo has I think one line, and neither are together. So...nothing, then. :-)

Special Alerts

1