Under the Cloak of War

Plotline

The Enterprise hosts Ambassador Dak'Rah, a Klingon general who is said to have killed his own officers when he learned that they had ordered attacks on civilians while fighting on the moon of J'Gal. He subsequently defected to the Federation and now acts as a ambassador for piece. Veterans of the Federation–Klingon war, including M'Benga, Chapel and Ortegas, are uncomfortable with his presence on the ship. M'Benga and Chapel served at a field hospital on J'Gal and witnessed the brutality of the Klingon forces under Dak'Rah's command.

Dak'Rah invites M'Benga to join his campaign for peace, citing the symbolic power of a partnership between two men who were on opposing sides at J'Gal. When he offers to help M'Benga find healing from the trauma he experienced. M'Benga rejects Dak'Rah's offer reveals that he knows it was Dak'Rah who ordered the attacks on civilians.

While the two are alone in sickbay, M'Benga reveals that it was him who killed the Klingon officers whose deaths Dak'Rah took credit for. A fight breaks out and M'Benga kills Dak'Rah with the same dagger with which he used to killed his officers.

Later, M'Benga tells Pike that he did not start the fight with Dak'Rah and did not intend to kill him, however, he does not regret his actions. Stating that some actions can never be forgiven.

Analysis

On the face of it this is a very powerful episode. The themes are raw and the experiences distrubing, however, both the Klingon and M'Benga are so flat in the demeanour that it seems to rob all passion from the episode. Missing that spark the episode just seems to falls flat and have little emotional impact on the watcher.

I'm reminded of the best Voyager episodes ever made, Jetrel, which has similar themes. Attrosities enacted in war and a crew memeber deeply and directly affected by the events. Voyager, however, manages those themes in a far better way. Thus the score.

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© Graham & Ian Kennedy

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Last updated : 18 Aug 2023