02x08 - Under the Cloak of w*r

[bunniefuu]

♪

Previously on Strange New Worlds...

M'BENGA: Years ago, I was
stationed on the moon of J'Gal.

ROR'QUEG: If you had served on J'Gal,

you'd be dead.

We both served in the Klingon w*r.

A hundred million Federation
bodies, slaughtered.

- What does this mean?
- I don't know.

Shut up.

Learn when to leave people alone, Spock.

Sorry. I'm working on that.

CHAPEL: You sure you
want to do this again?

M'BENGA: Again? No.

[EXHALES SLOWLY]

[GRUNTING]

The w*r is over, Joseph.

Yes, but how can it ever be?

PIKE: Captain's Log stardate . .

The Enterprise has arrived
at the Prospero system

for a rendezvous with the Kelcie Mae

in order to pick up a special visitor.

Prospero has been under
Starfleet jurisdiction

since the end of the Klingon w*r.

After years of infighting,
all three planets

have finally reached
a cease-fire agreement,

negotiated by a unique
Federation ambassador.

Enterprise has been tasked with

transporting the
ambassador to Starbase .

Our orders are to make him feel welcome.

However...

our esteemed guest is a Klingon,

a former general who
defected to our side.

Most of my crew didn't fight in the w*r,

but some did.

[BOATSWAIN'S WHISTLE BLOWS]

PIKE: Ambassador Dak'Rah,

Son of Ra'Ul, it is my honor

to welcome you aboard
the USS Enterprise.

It's just Rah.

Formal Klingon names are a mouthful.

What is that peculiar device?

Ah, the boatswain's whistle.

An old Earth custom from
the time of ships at sea.

It's become somewhat of a
tradition here on Enterprise

for our most distinguished guests.

Uh, I see.

Kind of like rolling the red carpet out?

[CHUCKLES] Yes.

Yes, exactly like that.

We want to extend every
courtesy the ship has to offer.

- Mm.
- My head of security

is ready to escort you to quarters.

Captain Christopher Pike,
if you wouldn't mind,

I've heard so many great things
about the Federation flagship.

Could I trouble you for
a brief tour of the ship?

The Summit of Scorpi Ten,

the Klingon Free-Trade Agreement,

negotiating the Perez Accords.

Sure, he's done some stuff.

UHURA: He's an effective voice

in spreading Starfleet's
message for unity.

A former enemy speaking on our behalf?

It's incredible.

Or it's a long con to gain
access to Federation secrets.

[SIGHS] Just because he's Klingon...

Trust me, I know Klingons.

This guy with the peace
treaties, that's not Klingon.

So you don't trust Ambassador Rah

because he believes in peace?

That's not what... Mm.

Ha ha.

The slaughter at Lembatta Five.

The siege at Starbase Zetta. Athos...

[ORTEGAS SIGHS]

I didn't mean to hit a nerve.

It's okay. You're right.

I don't really know what he's about.

All I know is the stories,

like that he k*lled his own
men to cover his retreat.

There's a reason other Klingons
call him the Butcher of J'Gal.

Captain on the bridge.

What an amazing view.

A Bird-of-Prey isn't built
to take in its surroundings.

Klingons will never admit it,

but the Federation
has much better ships.

Well, our ships are designed
primarily for exploration.

Ah, but this one,

- I bet, is fun to fly.
- [CHUCKLES]

Lieutenant Erica Ortegas here is
our senior officer at the helm.

A beautiful ship, Lieutenant.

And I'm sure it's in good hands.

Thank you, sir. I do my best.

Captain, may we continue the tour?

I don't want to distract your
bridge crew from their duties.

As you were.

This one's cold.

It is a simple matter of coding.

We will have ample time to
work out the inconsistencies

before presenting
this to the ambassador.

Not as much time as you think.

My science officer has been
preparing a small surprise

to make you feel more at home.

Mr. Spock?

Ambassador Rah, it is an honor.

In anticipation of your visit,
we are attempting to produce

a popular caffeinated
beverage from Kronos.

UNA: On a recent mission,

Spock was able to parley
with a Klingon captain

and procure a recipe.

I must admit, it has
ignited a curiosity in me,

a desire to experience
more of your culture.

There's nothing to experience.

They're a warmongering
race limited by ideology.

I have breached a complicated subject.

Please accept my apology.

No, no, no. I... apologize.

My distaste for the
past colors my words.

No, I appreciate this kind gesture,

and I would love to try the raktajino.

[BEEPING]

[BELL DINGS]

[CHUCKLES]

- Ah!
- [GASPS]

[GROWLS]

I think perhaps we should
let this cool a bit.

We are still working out the coding.

- This is entirely my fault.
- I'm fine.

One good thing about Klingons,

we have a high tolerance for pain.

Still, if you would indulge me.

Right this way, ambassador.

Our dermal regenerator will
patch that up in no time.

It will be good as new.

♪

I'll handle this.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

MAN: General Dak'Rah.

[EXPLOSIONS, WEAPONS f*ring]

[PANTING]

- [EXPLOSIONS, WEAPONS f*ring]
- General Dak'Rah.

[HEART POUNDING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

PIKE: Space.

The final frontier.

These are the voyages of
the starship Enterprise.

Its five-year mission:

to explore strange new worlds...

... to seek out new life

and new civilizations,

to boldly go where no
one has gone before.

♪

♪

♪

WOMAN: Roger, shuttlecraft .

- You're clear for descent.
- POLK: Copy, I've got approach.

Taking her down around the east side,

approaching from the south.

POLK: Lowering blast shields.

CHAPEL: Where are the landing pads?

POLK: It's too hairy down there,

so we drop you in transit.

It's the safest way to
get you on the ground.

- [EXPLOSIONS]
- [ALARM BLARING]

FOB's a mile from the
front, so don't wander out.

Good luck down there.

♪

[EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE IN DISTANCE]

BUCK: Christine Chapel.

Welcome to J'Gal.

Commander Martinez, thank you.

- Everyone calls me Buck.
- Okay.

Whatever you need, we
probably don't have it,

but ask anyway.

I'll run it up the flagpole
and see if it quacks.

- Right. Sounds good.
- You could also ask Joseph.

Uh, Joseph?

I'm the Chief Medical
Officer, but Joseph,

he does a lot around here.

Watch your feet.

Oh, that reminds me.

We do not have an
internal organ regenerator.

I keep putting in requests,

but apparently a watched
pot doesn't get the oil.

This needs to be scrubbed.

- Right away, Buck.
- Uh, where's the head nurse?

- I should report in.
- You haven't heard?

Congratulations, Head Nurse Chapel.

Me? I just got here.

Well, you have the most experience

of anybody on the staff.

We couldn't wait for roster rotations,

so I did what I had to
do to get you assigned.

Cost me a case of Romulan ale.

[expl*si*n]

Did we just take fire?

You get used to it.

We scramble sensors,

but the Klingons know we're here.

It's only a matter of time
before they get a lock on us.

[DISTANT w*apon FIRE CONTINUES]

We call it Tent City.

I think you see why.

It's not home, but it'll do.

You've been assigned Echo .

It's down there somewhere.

Uh, I'll put down my things
and get started right away.

Enjoy your downtime.

See a show.

You'll figure out the rest.

Who's that?

That's Joseph.

- [ALARM BLARES]
- COMPUTER: Incoming transport.

- Incoming transport.
- Bills and bows, people!

Bills and bows! Let's go!

- [URGENT CHATTER]
- [ALARM BLARING]

Let's go!

You're late!

COMPUTER: Incoming
transport. Incoming transport.

Burns. Um, this way.

COMPUTER: Incoming
transport. Incoming transport.

Get him to surgery.

[URGENT CHATTER CONTINUES]

- Treat him for shock.
- Yes, Doctor.

COMPUTER: Incoming
transport. Incoming transport.

Nurse, over here.

Look after these two.

Doctor! I need a doctor!

Hey, buddy, what's your name?

- Stay with me.
- Alvarado.

Alvarado. Excellent.

He needs immediate attention.

COMPUTER: Incoming transport.

M'BENGA: Internal bleeding,

massive damage to every major organ.

- Let's prep him.
- No regenerator.

Right. So, what, we just...

A morphine drip and let him die?

COMPUTER: Incoming transport.
Incoming transport.

We need to get him off the pad.

If we don't, more people will die.

When the convoy gets here,

the starships will have a surgery bay.

Just hang tight, Alvarado, okay?

We need to do something.

Load his pattern into the buffer.

We can keep him suspended in there

- until the starships arrive.
- You can do that?

- Show me.
- I do it all the time with the bad ones.

Load the bio-data as a backlog
with a pending transport.

Once he's in, delete the transport.

We can recall the backlog later.

Just hold on.

COMPUTER: Incoming
transport. Incoming transport.

M'BENGA: Chief Medical Officer's Log,

USS Enterprise,

stardate . .

Biobed two has shut down again.

Ever since the Gorn
att*ck at Finibus Three,

it hasn't been the same.

Dr. M'Benga.

Chris.

Do you have any more of that
Deltan parsley in your apothecary?

Careful.

Deltan parsley is deadly
in excessive amounts.

And in small amounts, delicious.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

You could have just called.

Or sent a yeoman.

Mm-hmm. I wanted to check in with you.

Because of our Klingon visitor?

I know you and Chapel were
both stationed on J'Gal,

where Rah earned his reputation.

Apparently, there was...

a minor protest during
his last transport,

so we have direct orders.

Klingon w*r veterans
need to interact with Rah.

We have to make him feel welcome here,

and we will, but I don't want that

to come at the personal
expense of anyone on the crew.

I'm fine.

As for Chapel...

PIKE: Oh. Hey.

All good here, too, Captain.

Great. Good to hear it.

Ultimate goal of the Federation

is to make peace with our enemies.

True, but it's also an organization

that waged w*r with the Klingons.

As I mentioned, we have
orders from pretty up high.

I'm hosting a dinner tonight
in honor of Ambassador Rah.

It would mean a lot...

I'll be there.

Totally. Me, too.

Thank you.

I appreciate you both being there.

See you tonight.

Great.

[CHAPEL EXHALES SHAKILY]

- We can still ditch this.
- No.

Chris needs us there.

I've handled worse than
polite conversation.

Plus...

... I don't want to
give Rah the satisfaction

of chasing me away from
the captain's table.

Joseph.

We got this.

[ECHOING]: We got this.

[ECHOING]: Dermal team!

[HEART MONITOR BEEPING STEADILY]

[FLATLINE TONE]

He's in cardiac arrest.

We're losing him.

- Manual stimulation.
- What?

Grab his heart and start pumping.

It's not working.

Eyes up. We got this.

We got this.

Say it with me.

- We got this.
- We got this.

- We got this.
- We got this.

That's right. Continue stimulation.

[HEART MONITOR BEEPING STEADILY]

He's back!

Dermal team, now!

- [ALARM BLARING]
- COMPUTER: Incoming transport.

- Incoming transport.
- BUCK: Bills and bows, people!

Bills and bows! Let's go!

WOMAN [OVER P.A.]:
Attention, all personnel.

Tactical reviews have been updated

and are available on
your personal datapad.

M'BENGA: Erica.

Everything all right?

No. The Butcher of J'Gal is in there,

and everyone's acting like
he's the freaking Dalai Lama.

I've got a bad poker face
when I don't like someone.

I need to bail.

Why didn't you just tell the captain no?

Why didn't you?

There's a chance General...

... Ambassador Rah
has genuinely reformed.

No, he's pretending.

I sense it, and I don't
want to play along.

Sometimes you pretend
something long enough...

... it becomes the truth.

So let's pretend the
w*r doesn't bother us,

at least for tonight.

Put on the Starfleet face?

It's a good face.

Plus, Pike made jambalaya.

Ooh, jambalaya?

With Deltan parsley.

[SIGHS]

RAH: There were eight delegates
from three separate planets,

and everyone thought I was crazy.

- And maybe I am.
- [LAUGHTER]

The ally ambassador must
have many interesting insights

on delicate matters of diplomacy.

UNA: Why did the Federation
send you there alone?

PIKE: Joseph, Erica, welcome.

Uh, you met our helmsman earlier,

and this is our CMO, Dr. M'Benga.

The honor is all mine.

Ambassador.

I hope you're enjoying our ship.

- Christine?
- What?

Oh, you're doing the word game. Um...

I'm sorry, I don't
really have one right now.

- You are under duress.
- Hmm?

Oh. Yeah.

[LAUGHTER]

Is it true that all peace negotiations

must include drinking
bloodwine in excess?

Peace is not a destination.

It's a journey. It's a state of mind.

The Klingon need to feel...

SPOCK: Quite understandable.

I do not know much about your
service in the w*r, but...

I am available to you if you
ever feel the need to share.

Yeah, I don't, so let's just
change the subject, yeah?

RAH: Convincing Prospero Alpha

to agree to an armistice
was like getting a Tellarite

- to give a compliment.
- [LAUGHTER]

CHAPEL: I just wish he
would shut up for one second

about all this amazing
peace he's managed.

I can help with that.

ORTEGAS: He's not wrong.

I was stationed near Prospero.

They are pretty stubborn.

They are stubborn. Correct.

- Often badly.
- Ambassador Rah,

are you familiar with
the ancient Earth text

Sun Tzu's The Art of w*r?

A most inspired human masterpiece.

I would love to hear your
views on its comparison

with the Klingon
manuscript mL' parmaq Qoj.

This is a most excellent topic
of conversation, Mr. Spock. Yes.

All Klingon children learn mL'
parmaq Qoj practically from birth.

I was introduced when I was seven.

My father taught me w*r and bloodshed,

but my mother taught
me to see and feel...

[CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

Better make that two.

- Mine's a double.
- Even better.

Why are we here?

You know why.

Our captain needs us.

Why is it so hard to explain
to people who weren't there?

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]

General Dak'Rah.

- His men wouldn't let me die.
- That was then.

Now you're here.

Got it?

Focus on getting better.

How's your chest feeling?

Like someone squeezed my
heart with their fingers.

Someone did.

Where are you from, Ensign?

New Angeles.

Terra Luna?

You're a long way from the shipyards.

We all just call it the Moon.

I have to go check on other patients.

When I come back, I want
to hear more about the Moon.

The answer is no.

And tell them to stop sending people.

Nobody sent me.

In fact, they said you'd
turn me down if I tried.

Good.

We're done here.

General Dak'Rah, son of Ra'Ul.

I need help taking him out.

Intel says he's head of
the house here on J'Gal,

running the entire
operation for the Klingons.

M'Benga, they're k*lling civilians.

Human and Klingon, it doesn't matter.

This General Dak'Rah,

he's ordering his men to k*ll on sight

anyone that isn't a Klingon soldier.

After they t*rture them.

What are you doing,
hiding behind the wire?

Everyone knows the stories.

The most hand-to-hand kills confirmed.

I'm just a doctor now.

I prefer saving lives to taking them.

And I need quick and silent.

I need you.

I gave you my answer.

Protocol .

It was discontinued.

Starfleet won't make it anymore,
but I heard you still have some.

- You heard wrong.
- You designed it, right?

Make more.

Even if I could, I wouldn't.

It turns out that pumping your body

full of adrenaline and pain inhibitors

is bad for your health.

I'd rather die tomorrow than today.

Come on, be reasonable.
My team needs an edge.

RAH: The negotiations almost fell apart

when the chancellor said to me,

"How is it that a Klingon

is speaking on behalf
of the Federation?"

[PIKE CHUCKLES]

That's a good question.
How did you respond?

I simply told him the truth.

Who I am and who I was.

And what the Federation did for me.

It saved my life.

J'Gal changed me.

J'Gal changed a lot of us.

You were on J'Gal?

I was.

The final conflict.

And the m*ssacre of Colony Athos.

RAH: Then you both know
my pain all too well.

Those were difficult times.

After what happened on
Athos, my ideals shifted.

The fighting was without merit.

It was pointless.

w*r is never the ideal option.

Is it true?

The story about what
you had to do to escape?

We were all pushed to our limits.

To the survivors of J'Gal.

[SPEAKS KLINGON]

"We are Klingon, may we endure"?

"Remain Klingon."

Remember that?

It was our battle cry during the w*r.

"Remain Klingon" is much
easier to shout in our language.

[REPEATS KLINGON PHRASE]

"Remain Klingon," all over the comms,

and then... [CLICKS TONGUE]

Boom. All your friends are dead.

Lieutenant Ortegas, stand down.

Captain?

RAH: Let us all

step back.

I...

I've heard worse.

Now I am simply hoping
to make up for my past,

and...

and connecting with others
who need healing like you.

[SCOFFS]

Okay, I am gonna go see
if she needs anything.

My sincere apologies, Ambassador Rah.

RAH: None are needed, Captain.

As I said, I bear no grudge.

Uh, sh-she will find
her own way to peace.

UHURA: Your perspective,

it bears a remarkable similarity
to Aenar existentialism.

RAH: Yes.

I love the Aenar.

Brilliant pacifists.

Doctor, maybe you should
check on Erica as well.

Chapel might need a
hand calming her down.

Aye, Captain.

Your security officer,
La'An, she tells me that

the two of you are practicing
full impact Mok'bara,

and I was wondering if we
might arrange a session.

I'll check my schedule.

Thank you.

You should be in bed.

What are we doing here, Doc?

Why did you join Starfleet, Ensign?

To explore.

Learn.

I don't know... none of the
stuff that I've been doing lately.

I joined to find new
ways of healing people.

With Starfleet, you learn

how the rest of the
universe treats its maladies.

And this w*r, it's a disease

eating at the heart of the Federation.

If we let the Klingons conquer
every colony in the sector,

they won't stop.

They won't go back to Kronos.

All of us have to remember

what we love most about back home.

We fight for them.

We fight hoping it doesn't change us.

Hoping...

... don't come home different.

But if we don't fight,

we don't win.

The disease takes over.

And none of us have
a home to go back to.

I just wish we could stop
this without all this dying.

We have to fight

so the people we love can
have a chance to live in peace.

That's Starfleet.

- [DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]
- [URGENT CHATTER]

Why are we being briefed?

Lieutenant Va'Al Trask, special forces.

He just got orders.

For the entire outfit?

I just heard the whole stinking thing.

You know, for being black ops,
these guys talk super loud.

[LAUGHS]

You don't sound happy.

Command thinks this is our
chance to take control of J'Gal.

Trask's team is going dark
to find the local generals,

while ground units
mount a huge offensive

near Colony Athos to provide cover.

All they need is meat for the grinder.

My platoon is leading the charge.

Fighting is one thing, but this...

This is the mission, remember?

I don't question orders.

It's a su1c1de run.

I can put you down for
mandatory convalescence.

- Where's your C.O.?
- Don't.

Forget before.

It was the dr*gs. I was tired.

Thanks for the patch up job.

Stay low.

Fight hard.

I'm a soldier, Doc.

This is what I do.

Eyes up, people!

We got the word, and the word is now.

Check the battle plans,
check assignments.

We all know the drill.

SPOCK: I want to apologize

for my part in last night's dinner.

You don't need to apologize.

None of this is about you.

You just see me going through something,

and our closeness makes
you feel responsible.

You're not.

I understand.

That is not true.

I am having difficulty

watching you experience
such obvious distress.

I want to help.

But it would appear all that
I am doing is making it worse.

w*r, it doesn't leave you. It...

It can, it can bury itself,
but it's-it's always there.

I researched J'Gal.

It was a forward operating base.

The data suggests the loss of
life was disproportionate...

J'Gal is not a statistic, Spock.

J'Gal is what it is.

w*r, it makes sense
if you've been there,

but it will never make sense.

Like I've been trying to tell you,

I just need some personal time.

I understand.

You require personal time away from me.

- [ALARM BLARING]
- COMPUTER: Incoming transport.

Incoming transport.

[PEOPLE SCREAMING]

Incoming transport.

Incoming transport.

- You good?
- No, no, I'm good, I'm good.

- Go, go.
- Incoming transport.

[ALARM BLARING]

CHAPEL: Where's all the wounded?

General Dak'Rah is sending all he's got.

They hit our power supply.

Auxiliary generators are up.

We got a lot people in the
field who can't make it out.

CHAPEL: All we need is
one transporter, right?

I'm trying to get one online now.

Use all the auxiliary power,
override the redundant systems,

route everything to the pads.

It'll purge the backlogs,
but it should work. Do it.

Incoming transport. Incoming transport.

CHAPEL: Wait, wait, wait. No, no.

Um, the transport buffer.
Alvarado's in there.

If we purge the logs, he'll die.

Uh...

COMPUTER: Pattern deleted.

Power restored.

Transport initiated.

No. What did you do?

We saved lives.

[POWERING UP]

Incoming transport. Incoming transport.

[ECHOING]: Incoming transport.

I must admit, I thought you
might decline my invitation.

It crossed my mind.

But Klingon Judo is good exercise.

Are you sure you're up for full impact?

I am more virile than I appear.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[PANTING]

I see there's more to you than
what's on the surface, Rah.

Most people who see me see
a Klingon, bringer of death.

They do not believe that I am reformed.

No.

You actually seem like

you're able to put the past behind you.

In fact, you make it look easy.

You don't put something
like J'Gal behind you.

But you learn from it.

RAH: I have a proposal.

If the two of us, direct
enemies on the b*ttlefield,

can find a way to work together,

that would be a powerful message.

So you want to be my friend?

We don't need to be
friends, just allies.

[M'BENGA GROANS]

The combat veterans on this ship,

they look up to you.

And I believe many others
in Starfleet will, too.

Consider joining me for
my next peace conference.

You and I together can advance
Klingon-Federation relations

by leaps and bounds.

[EXHALES]

You ask a big favor of me,

but I still want to know about you.

Ask anything you want.

Did you really k*ll your own men?

We were under att*ck.

The leaders under my command

decided that all tactical
options were viable.

Most of the casualties
on Athos were civilians.

I am aware.

And...

yes, I...

... k*lled my own men

because I was appalled
by those atrocities.

You against three Klingon warriors.

Impressive.

Who fought the hardest?

[GRUNTING]

[GROWLING]

[SHOUTING]

[GRUNTS, WHEEZES]

Kiff.

He almost ended me.

But witnessing so many nameless victims,

I had to fight on.

The nameless?

You did it for them?

I stood up for what is right.

And for that, my Klingon brethren

call me the Butcher of J'Gal.

J'Gal changed you. It changed me.

Wars change people.

This has been invigorating.

I look forward to our next session.

♪

M'BENGA: Computer, set
sonic shower to full.

COMPUTER: Incoming
transport. Incoming transport.

- Incoming transport.
- [WEAPONS f*ring, EXPLOSIONS]

- Incoming transport.
- WOMAN: Over here!

[PEOPLE SCREAMING]

[GRUNTS]

CHAPEL: Children.

They're k*lling children.

I need pediatric medical assistance.

[EXPLOSIONS AND SHOUTING CONTINUE]

Incoming transport. Incoming transport.

- [PANTING]
- Incoming transport.

TRASK: M'Benga, they're
k*lling civilians.

[GRUNTS]

[OVERLAPPING URGENT CHATTER]

TRASK: General Gra'val,
Commander Kiff, Captain Ruh'lis

[ECHOING]: and General Dak'Rah.

I need quick and silent.

M'BENGA: It's a m*ssacre.

- They're k*lling everyone.
- CHAPEL: This is a bloodbath.

- M'BENGA: Entire families.
- CHAPEL: They're k*lling everyone.

TRASK: You're the Ghost.

I need you.

♪

♪

Number One.

What's this?

UNA: A course through
the Chantico Nebula.

Gets us to Starbase by tomorrow.

Chantico?

We need to get Rah off this ship.

Crew morale is low.

[SIGHS]

How can we represent a Federation

that believes in peace if we say

some people aren't allowed
to make up for their past?

I agree with you, in the abstract,

but the people he hurt,

some of them right here in this crew,

might not find forgiveness so easily.

It isn't fair for us to
ask them to just let it go.

Federation or not,

everyone is on their own journey.

Okay, change course,

cut through Chantico
Nebula and arrive early.

Aye, Captain.

- [DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]
- [WEAPONS f*ring]

CHAPEL: People are looking for you.

You're going out there.

Someone has to finish the mission.

J'Gal is burning.

We're all leaving. The
convoy is warping in.

You can use this to find me.

Don't beam me out until you have to.

I told myself,

I don't want to go home different.

My family deserves better.

I see now that's impossible.

Go stop them.

Save as many as you can.

And when you find whoever's in charge,

you make them pay.

Protocol .

It helps you fight.

If the Klingons breach the
wire, use it to get out.

Good luck.

♪

I've just been informed
that my time on the ship

is being cut short.

We don't have as much
time as I had hoped

to get to know one another.

I'm okay with that.

I don't need to know any
more than I already do.

Now...

please go away.

I thought that as victims of
the horrors of J'Gal, that...

Stop!

I know why you're here.

You want me to make you feel okay.

To say you've done enough.

You misunderstand me.

Oh, I understand you,

General Dak'Rah,

son of Ra'Ul.

Perhaps you do.

I sense that we are the same.

You're letting your
pain cloud your judgment.

Please.

Leave me alone.

Don't let hate ruin your soul.

You gave the order!

Anyone not a Klingon
soldier is the enemy.

You gave the order.

Yes, this is true.

But I've been doing the best I can

to make up for my transgressions.

Kiff didn't fight the hardest.

It was Captain Ruh'lis.

He held me back while
you made your escape.

- [BLADE SLICING, STABBING]
- [GRUNTING]

You turned me into a monster.

I told you I was there.

I am the Butcher of J'Gal.

No.

All of this time...

All of this time, you've said nothing.

You let me take credit.

Because, unlike you, I
am ashamed of that night.

I am ashamed of my cowardice.

I looked for you.

And now here you are,

using the blood on my hands
to make yourself a saint.

I only wanted Starfleet to trust me.

Look at the work that I've done.

People need saints.

They need belief.

If people knew the truth,
my work would be undone.

Your work is built on lies.

You never paid for what you did.

When I was at my lowest,
the Federation was there.

I need it, and they need me.

I have a purpose now.

Why did you have to come?

Why couldn't you leave me alone?

M'Benga, I'm here to provide healing.

Please, let me have a
chance to help you heal.

M'BENGA: I said no.

RAH [GRUNTING]: Don't be stupid.

M'BENGA [GRUNTING]:
You're a w*r criminal.

- RAH: Don't you see it?
- M'BENGA: Get your hands off!

RAH: So selfish a human!

M'BENGA: Don't!

[EXHALES WEAKLY]

I was there.

Saw the whole thing.

Rah wanted to talk, but Joseph was done.

He told Rah he didn't want to
be involved with a w*r criminal.

Guess hearing that set him off.

I can't believe he would
do something like this.

COMPUTER: Commander
Kiff, Klingon, deceased.

Captain Ruh'lis, Klingon, deceased.

Ambassador Dak'Rah, Klingon, deceased.

The Kn*fe belongs to the
Butcher of J'Gal, right?

Starfleet records tell us

the DNA belongs to the
three warlords he k*lled.

And I checked the
logs, tracked movements.

They corroborate the timeline.

I'm just shocked

that Rah would att*ck him like that.

I guess it just goes to show,

no one ever really knows

what goes on in anyone's heart.

♪

Joseph.

La'An's submitting her report.

Uh, there's likely to
be an inquiry, but...

Oh, we've known each other...

- How long?
- Too long to count.

Yeah, I'd like to think,

if you did instigate the fight with Rah,

if it got away from you
somehow, you could talk to me.

I'd be on your side. We'd work it out.

I didn't start the fight, Chris.

This whole situation, it's...

it's complicated.

Is it?

Rah was living a lie.

I saw his true face.

What if I told you he m*rder*d children?

Not his men.

He did it.

What if I started the fight then?

Would that be so bad?

Even if he had secrets,
there's due process.

That's why we have tribunals.

The Diplomatic Corps knew who he was,

and they still let him
represent the Federation.

The Federation believes everyone
deserves a second chance.

What about justice?

What about the victims?

Doesn't everyone deserve
to pay for their actions?

So who decides, hmm?

Who pays and who gets redemption?

Where's the line?

[CHUCKLES] You're right, Chris.

We've known each other
for a very long time,

see eye to eye on most things.

But you haven't lived my life.

You have the privilege

of believing in what's best in people.

Me?

I happen to know there are
some things in this world

that don't deserve forgiveness.

What are you saying?

I told you, I didn't start the fight.

But I'm glad he's dead.

M'BENGA: Chief Medical
Officer's Log, stardate . .

Biobed two is working again.

At least for now.

But I know it's only a matter of time

before it shuts down again.

Some things break in a way
that can never be repaired.

Only managed.

[ELECTRICITY CRACKLES]