Redemption (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Redemption (Star Trek: The Next Generation)"

"Redemption" is the name of a two-part episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Parts I and II of "Redemption" comprise the 100th and 101st episodes of the series, also being the fourth season finale and the fifth season premiere. In the Star Trek timeline, the events depicted in the episodes occurred between stardates 44995.3 and 45020.4.

"Redemption" is mainly composed of two interrelated stories: Worf's attempt to clear his family of dishonor, and a conflict between Gowron and the Duras sisters for leadership in the Klingon High Council.

Plot

Part 1

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (as K'mpec's chosen "Arbiter of Succession") and the Enterprise-D are asked to attend the installation of Gowron as the Leader of the Klingon High Council. Gowron informs Picard that the House of Duras will challenge Gowron's position and may lead to a Klingon civil war. Meanwhile, Worf requests a leave of absence to visit his brother, Kurn, who controls a small fleet of Birds of Prey, and to urge him to back Gowron, as, once installed as the Leader, Gowron can reinstate their family name.

Interrupting the ceremony, the Duras sisters present their deceased brother's illegitimate son, Toral, who has the lineage to challenge Gowron. Picard is called on to determine Toral's candidacy. Relying on Klingon law, Picard comes to the conclusion that Toral is too inexperienced to be Leader. Gowron returns to his ship to meet with Worf, who offers his brother's fleet's support in exchange for the return of his family name to honor. Gowron initially refuses, but they are attacked by two ships loyal to the House of Duras. Worf and the arrival of Kurn's fleet dispatch the attackers. Picard completes the rite and installs Gowron as Leader; Gowron restores Worf's family honor.

Gowron and the Enterprise crew learn that the Duras sisters are assembling a fleet to incite a civil war. As the Federation cannot get involved in internal affairs, Worf resigns his commission from Starfleet to assist Gowron and Kurn. As the Enterprise evacuates the area before open conflict begins, Toral and the Duras sisters consider Picard a coward, but their Romulan ally, a woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to the late Tasha Yar, emerges from the shadows and warns them that Picard may return.

Part 2

Picard is aware that while he cannot get involved in the Klingon civil war, the Romulans will likely see it as an opportunity to gain an advantage over the Federation, and is put in charge of a fleet of ships to create a blockade between the Klingon and Romulan border. Severely undermanned, many of the Enterprise crew are assigned temporary command of individual ships. Picard initially does not assign Commander Data command of a ship, but after Data questions him about the omission, he gives him the Sutherland. Picard arranges the fleet to form a detection network that should observe any cloaked ships that pass the blockade. Commander Sela, the Romulan resembling Yar, orders her scientists to find a way to disable the network, but also contacts the Enterprise. Sela reveals that she is the daughter of Tasha Yar, who returned to the past on the Enterprise-C 24 years earlier ("Yesterday's Enterprise"). Sela warns that if Starfleet does not break off the blockade in 20 hours, their fleet will be attacked.

Meanwhile, Worf is kidnapped by the Duras sisters.

Picard urges Gowron to attack the Duras forces who are running low on supplies; this will force the Romulans to enter the detection network and be caught by Starfleet. Gowron agrees, knowing that association with the Romulans will ruin the Duras family's support and end the civil war. The Duras sisters demand the Romulans bring supplies. Sela's scientists find they can disrupt part of the network by sending out an energy burst. Sela initiates the plan, selecting the Sutherland as the target. When the network destabilizes, Picard orders the fleet to retreat and reform the net, but Data observes that he can trace the source of the disruption. He orders the firing of torpedoes at specific coordinates, revealing Romulan ships. The convoy retreats, and the Duras Sisters are forced to end the civil war. Worf breaks free in time to secure Toral, but the Duras sisters escape.

Gowron gives Worf the opportunity to kill Toral by Rite of Vengeance, but he declines to do so, sparing his life, and requests Picard that he be reinstated.

Series continuity

• This episode introduces the Duras sisters, Lursa and B'Etor, and also marks the first appearance of Duras' son, Toral, who will appear a second time in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "The Sword of Kahless". In Part I, Gowron says that women cannot serve on the High Council, which is why the Duras sisters needed the male Toral as a proxy. However, this is a retcon from "Reunion" when Gowron attempts to bribe K'Ehleyr with a seat on the Council in return for a favorable word from her to Picard. In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, the prohibition against females is again retconned away, when Gorkon's daughter Azetbur becomes Chancellor of the Council.

• This episode also formally introduces the character of Sela, which ties in the episode "Yesterday's Enterprise". Actress Denise Crosby also supplied the voice of a Romulan seen only in shadows in "The Mind's Eye"; this uncredited character is widely believed by fans to be Sela as well. The Star Trek Encyclopedia confirms that the woman in the shadows is Sela.

See also

Reunion, the prequel episode to Redemption.

References

• Star Trek The Next Generation DVD set, volume 4, disk 7, selection 2.
• Star Trek The Next Generation DVD set, volume 5, disk 1, selection 1.

External links

• Redemption I at IMDb
• Redemption II at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com episode
• Template:Tv.com episode
• Redemption I at Memory Alpha
• Redemption II at Memory Alpha
• Template:StarTrek.com link
• Template:StarTrek.com link