Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
(1993–1999)
When Worf destroys a civilian shuttle during an engagement with the Klingons, an extradition hearing is held to see if he must face charges.
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Title: Rules Of Engagement (08 Apr 1996)
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Cast
| Episode complete credited cast: | |||
| Avery Brooks | ... | Capt. Benjamin Sisko | |
| Rene Auberjonois | ... | Odo | |
| Michael Dorn | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Worf | |
| Terry Farrell | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax | |
| Cirroc Lofton | ... | Jake Sisko (credit only) | |
| Colm Meaney | ... | Chief Miles O'Brien | |
| Armin Shimerman | ... | Quark | |
| Alexander Siddig | ... | Doctor Bashir | |
| Nana Visitor | ... | Major Kira | |
| Ron Canada | ... | Ch'Pok | |
| Deborah Strang | ... | Admiral T'Lara | |
| Christopher Michael | ... | Helm Officer | |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
The Klingon Empire has asked the Federation to extradite Worf for murder. Worf commanded the Defiant which was guarding a Cardassian convoy offering medical aid to the Pentath colony. The convoy was attacked by the Klingons and in the heat of battle Worf gave the order to fire on a decloaking ship. It was a civilian transport, 441 Klingons died. The Klingon advocate Ch'Pok is trying to prove to admiral T'Lara in a hearing that Worf's bloodlust took over. Ch'Pok has a hidden agenda and he openly admits it. The Klingons see this as the perfect opportunity to gain sympathy and weaken the Federation. Captain Sisko is defending Worf and asks Odo to try to find out why the civilian transport joined the battle. Sisko's defense in the meantime is not going well. With every witness Ch'Pok's reasoning seems more and more plausible. Written by Arnoud Tiele (imdb@tiele.nl)
Plot Keywords:
false accusation | extradition | extradition hearing | expert testimony | rules of engagement |Parents Guide:
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Yet establishing that Worf did not know the identity of the ship destroys Ch'Pok's argument, which is that Worf fired on an unarmed ship carrying civilians on purpose. See more »
(uncredited)
Written by Dennis McCarthy
Performed by Dennis McCarthy
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Episode uses classic film-noir plot device of having witnesses flashback and give their testimony as if they were third-party observers of the events they are testifying to. See more »Goofs
At the trial's start, Ch'Pok accepts that all the facts given by Worf and other Starfleet officers aboard the Defiant during the incident were true, and states he wishes instead to prove that Worf had a secondary motive for attacking the transport ship. During O'Brien's testimony one fact Ch'Pok accepts without question is that Worf fired on the transport as it was decloaking, and did not know its identity but assumed it was the warship. Ch'Pok gets O'Brien to admit he himself would have waited for the ship to fully decloak before firing, suggesting Worf was negligent.Yet establishing that Worf did not know the identity of the ship destroys Ch'Pok's argument, which is that Worf fired on an unarmed ship carrying civilians on purpose. See more »
Soundtracks
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Title(uncredited)
Written by Dennis McCarthy
Performed by Dennis McCarthy
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In a recent humanitarian mission, Worf commanded the Defiant and was responsible for destroying a Klingon vessel that de-cloaked in the Pentath system. Now a Klingon prosecutor, Ch'Pok (Ron Canada) has arrived on DS9--looking to prosecute Worf for his heinous act. Admiral T'lara will preside over a tribunal, Ch'Pok will prosecute and Captain Sisko will defend Worf. However, there is far more to the case--and Ch'Pok freely admits outside of court that he doesn't care if Worf is guilty or not!
This is an odd episode in that this is the only plot. Usually, shows have two concurrent plots--but not this one. Overall it's well worth seeing and shows a tricky side of the Klingons that seems very unusual to say the least!