A Matter of Honor: Difference between revisions

* [[Laura Drake (actress)|Laura Drake]] – [[Vekma]]

| season_article = Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 2)

As part of an officer exchange program, [[Benzite]] Ensign Mendon is brought aboard the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] [[starship]] ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|Enterprise]]''. Acting Ensign [[Wesley Crusher]] mistakes Mendon for Mordock, another Benzite who took the Starfleet entrance examination with him (in "[[Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Coming of Age]]"). [[Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Picard]] suggests a similar officer exchange with the Klingons, and Commander Riker readily volunteers. Riker is assigned to the Klingon ship IKS ''Pagh'', captained by Kargan. Before Riker departs for the ''Pagh'', [[Worf|Lt. Worf]] briefs Riker on Klingon customs, and gives him a transponder to signal the ''Enterprise'' in the event of an emergency. Riker embraces his role as the Klingon First Officer, and when challenged by Second Officer Klag, subdues him by force, pleasing Captain Kargan and earning respect from the crew.

Before the ships move away, Mendon scans the Klingon vessel and discovers a patch of strange organic material on its hull but does not bring it to Picard's attention. Worf soon discovers a similar patch on the ''Enterprise'' hull, identifying it as a lifeform. Mendon then reveals his previous discovery of the same matter on the Klingon ship, and when asked why he withheld the information, explains that on Benzite ships, it is considered improper to bring up a problem before you have a solution. Picard chastises him and orders the ''Enterprise'' to intercept the ''Pagh'', as the Klingon ship is even more susceptible to damage from the organism. While en route, Mendon discovers a method to remove the organism.

The Klingon crew also discovers the organism eating away at their hull. Kargan concludes that it must be a new Federation weapon, noting that the ''Enterprise'' had heavilythoroughly scanned the area during their rendezvous, and orders the ''Pagh'' to cloak and prepare to attack the ''Enterprise''. Riker is unable to convince Kargan to stand down, even after the ''Enterprise'' sends a message with instructions for removing the organism. Suspicious of the radio silence, the ''Enterprise'' raises its shields. Seemingly accepting his fate, Riker convinces Kargan to close to a distance of 40,000 kilometers before attacking the ''Enterprise''. He activates the transponder he got from Worf and tricks Kargan into taking it. The ''Enterprise'' locks onto the transponder signal and waits for the ''Pagh'' to get within 40,000 kilometers, the range of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s transporters. Kargan is beamed to the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s bridge and draws his disruptor but Worf fires first and stuns him. Riker assumes command of the ''Pagh'', decloaks, and demands that the ''Enterprise'' surrender, which Picard agrees to, disgracing Kargan further. The ''Enterprise'' cleans the organism from the Klingon ship, and Kargan is returned. Riker allows Kargan to hit him and order him off the ship to allow the Klingon to regain some of his dignity before the ''Pagh'' departs.

* {{IMDb episode|0708670}}

* {{MemoryalphaMemory Alpha|A Matter Of Honor|"A Matter of Honor"}}

[[Category:Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 2) episodes]]