Station log: stardate 49556.2

Ronald D. Moore pens this Klingon heavy episode that first aired on 12 February, 1996.

While things seem to be developing between Worf (Micheal Dorn) and Dax (Terry Farrell), trouble arrives on the station in the form of his older brother, Kurn (Tony Todd).

To a Klingon, honor is everything, and because of the way things have played out behind the scenes of the Empire, Kurn feels the only way he can regain his lost honor is by having Worf kill him in the traditional death rite.

Something Dax and Odo (Rene Auberjonois) stop, and something that simply infuriates Sisko (Avery Brooks).

Meanwhile, O’Brien (Colm Meaney) and Kira (Nana Visitor) are investigating a Klingon fleet that claims to be conducting war games near Bajoran space.

Kurn’s situation causes stress on the station, while Worf tries to find a way for his brother to survive and regain some of his honor. It makes for a truly interesting story, because you see the sibling relationship, and how the Klingons differ from us. All of it playing against the backdrop of the nearby Klingon fleet.

Which, in turn, fives Kurn and Worf a mission to take on, for the Empire, and the Federation. But it is another radical idea that Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Worf come up with that can help save Kurn.

It’s a powerful and poignant moment for Worf as he lets go of his family once and for all.

Station log: stardate 49565

LeVar Burton directs this episode that was penned by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe from a story by Barbara J. Lee and Jennifer A. Lee. It first aired on 14 February, 1996.

Quark (Armin Shimerman) is having trouble with the bar, and treats them roughly. Rom (Max Grodenchik) is sick, Leela (Chase Masterson) is berated by Quark and all of it spins out of control until Rom tries to organize a union to protect the workers of the bar.

The other story follows Worf who, apparently, is still trying to get settled on the station.

The Quark story is actually increasingly relevant to today’s society, as Quark, like a lot of big business, is more concerned with their own bottom line and profit than with the welfare of their employees.

The episode sees the continuing blossoming of the relationship between Dax and Worf, a hint of something developing between Rom and Leela, and Rom quitting the bar to work as a diagnostic engineer on the station.

This one was a fun one, and gives us a nice, probably deserved respite from The Dominion arc because I am sure that is about to kick into high gear!

The Human Adventure continues Thursday as I journey with Voyager, and next week when I continue to explore Deep Space Nine. Both shows are currently available in Complete Series sets on DVD from Paramount Pictures.

Boldly go.