Rules of Engagement

DVD, DS9 S4 (Rules of Engagement)

It hasn't been an easy season for Worf. Not only has he had to adjust to a new life and career aboard an old Cardassian station, he's become an outcast from his people once again, has had difficulties fitting in with his new crew and had to wipe his brother's mind to cast away the dishonour that was causing his brother to be suicidal. But through it all he always had Starfleet as his solid base, the thing that kept him going and gave him a purpose. Now even that is questioned when he's brought up for an extradition hearing by the Klingons and a particularly scheming advocate in Ch'Pok. We haven't seen many Klingons who take their non-military jobs as seriously as the way of the warrior, so Ch'Pok is an intriguing anomaly. Ron Canada (who could be seen in other Trek), infuses the man with intelligence and gall, someone that could tell a good story, I think, but through all his machinations he's still fully Klingon with the skew of that race upon his deliberations. General Chang of 'Star Trek VI' springs to mind.

The question of the Federation and Klingon's relationship comes up again, and is really the central theme running through the story. The Klingons are described as not being at war and not being at peace with the potential for either. The way they've been acting has been most unlike them, perhaps inspired by the changeling influence upon Gowron, they've become much more like the Romulans in the way they do business. Though they're unquestionably at war with the Cardassians, things are a little trickier to define when it comes to the Federation. Gowron stood down from the attack on DS9 when Sisko explained that that was what the Dominion wanted and since then his race have been much more careful in their dealings. They've become devious, laying a minefield around the Bajoran sector, setting up this plot against Worf to use him as a tool to discredit the Federation, but they've kept away from open warfare with their former allies. It's like Kurn said recently, the Federation is stronger than they like to admit. But it is fascinating that I've never thought before about the changeling influence on the Klingons at this stage of the series, yet the change in their behaviour is noticeable!

The thing this courtroom drama is best known for is the device through which the testimonies of Worf's colleagues is played out as flashbacks. The first time it happens Dax is on the stand and we see her memory of fighting with Worf in the Holosuite. At first it could have been footage taken from one of the recent episodes in which they've fought and trained together, but then Dax begins speaking as if she were still in the courtroom and even looks directly at the camera while in the scene. Levar Burton must have been thrilled to get the chance to use such a device in his directing of the episode as it's something that just doesn't happen in Trek. It shows that 'DS9' could push the envelope in terms of story and character, as it did throughout its run, but it also allowed the writing and direction to boldly go further than any of the other series' did.

All the flashbacks have their moments, whether it's the way O'Brien's eyes follow the camera as it sweeps slowly round his circular conn station and back, the jerky, unreliable testimony of Quark (who first claims it was Bashir to talking to a Dabo girl, no it was another Dabo girl, or was it that Dabo girl…? No, it was Morn talking to the Dabo girl! A good thing really, as Leeta wouldn't have been too happy about Bashir chatting up one of her co-workers), which leads to the funniest moment when Morn is about to speak… and then we break off and return to the courtroom! But my favourite is the one where Worf is on the stand (and I couldn't help noticing what a comfortable-looking chair it was, as Kurn would have pointed out). He's immediately talking to camera on the bridge of the Defiant, then they come under attack and he finishes what he's saying quickly as if he has to rush off and do his duty. It's a moment that makes no sense because Worf is saying this in the courtroom, yet his counterpart in the flashback wants to dash off and defend the ship, but it makes no sense in a good way, a bizarre and brilliant merging of the two realities.

I would have liked to see the scene with Kira on the stand which was originally part of the story (I don't know whether they filmed it or it was only scripted and cut out), because everyone that has to speak in the hearing has their own connection with Worf, helping to further define his place on DS9. He may not have fitted in at first, but this episode shows how many friends he really has and that he's respected and part of the crew now. Even Odo, who got off on the wrong foot with him, is happy to do his job and investigate any possible avenues to support Worf's actions. Worf had better keep out of Odo's way for a bit as he already owes the constable for giving Kurn a job, and now he's saved his Starfleet career by gathering the evidence that swayed the case in Worf's favour, and he always collects on his debts. I would like to know how Odo ended up getting Klingon contacts in the first place. I can understand Cardassian and Bajoran ones, but when did he have time to go off gallivanting round the Quadrant to make all these contacts? Maybe it happened in a little known period of his life during the Occupation - I like to think he's got all kinds of links to various races spread throughout the Alpha Quadrant.

The episode starts dramatically with the nightmare of Worf as he lives out his recent experiences, but all set on the Defiant which has become his home. He runs through the corridors in slow motion, Klingons laughing over the dead bodies of his crew and Klingon children lying slain on the bridge. Though the flashbacks are what make the episode special, and the drama of the courtroom keeps things burning, Worf is never really a great part of the story and it becomes a battle of wits between Ch'Pok and Sisko, Worf only making things worse when he strikes the advocate after being goaded. It's well structured so that the case starts badly and only gets worse, until it seems to be at rock bottom only for an unexpected reveal to turn the tide of Worf's fortunes, but it is unfortunate that Worf, who usually does the talking with his fists, doesn't have much of a chance to do the talking and stand up for himself.

At the same time it's great to see people like O'Brien and Dax doing their best to support Worf in his difficulty. Sisko is the most powerful ally however, and like a teacher that sees the potential in a student, he ascertains at the end whether Worf has realised the mistakes he made. He'd never have brought those points up at the hearing as it would have damaged Worf's case, but it's important as his superior to know that Worf understands where he went wrong. Because he does it's all been worthwhile and leads to a nice conversation between the two, almost as equals discussing the nature of command - not often possible because of differences in rank. Sisko standing up wholeheartedly for his officer was a fine thing to behold, even complimenting Worf at the end that he could be a fine captain one day - a real shame that 'Nemesis' came along and destroyed all the good work by showing that he'd regressed into his old position as if 'DS9' had never happened! The episode was lacking a little in tension though, and needed a bit more dynamism such as the battle scenes, which could have been longer, perhaps some of the flashbacks could have had more lead in time before switching to acknowledgment of the camera.

To add to the growing background alien list of the Promenade I noticed a Yridian, and what looked like an extra who'd taken a wrong turn and walked off the 'Alien Nation' set: a bald woman with mottled skin very visible in some scenes. It's good to have a Vulcan as the Judge Advocate since the race is so rarely used on the series and it's entirely logical to have such a balanced Admiral to decide the case, though I do wonder if she'd have found in the Klingon's favour even if the new evidence hadn't been presented. When the hypothetical sequence occurs, O'Brien in command and a guy in the conn seat, I at first thought it was Michael Dorn out of makeup as a little in-joke (as they did later with Morn in 'Who Mourns For Morn'), but I soon realised it wasn't him and his voice sounded completely different anyway. It must have been Christopher Michael who is credited as 'Helm Officer.' Once again the cast look great in their dress uniforms, Dax strangely similar to her Season 1 look for some reason, making a link back to her courtroom drama (cunningly called 'Dax'). What comes out of the episode as the most important thing is that Worf learned from his mistakes and fortunately, as Sisko notes, no one really got hurt so the valuable experience came only at the cost of short term discomfort.

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