Once More Unto the Breach

"Once More Unto the Breach"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.	Episode 155
Directed by	Allan Kroeker
Written by	Ronald D. Moore
Production code	557
Original air date	November 11, 1998
Guest stars
John Colicos J.G. Hertzler Neil C. Vipond Nancy Youngblut Blake Lindsley
Episode chronology
← Previous "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River" Next → "The Siege of AR-558"
List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes

For the speech written by William Shakespeare, see Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.

Not to be confused with the 1988 album by Blondie, Once More into the Bleach.

"Once More Unto the Breach" is an episode from the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The title is taken from one of the more famous speeches in Shakespeare's play Henry V. The episode has an average rating of 4.3/5 on the official Star Trek website (as of August 20, 2007).^[1]

Plot

Kor comes to DS9 to ask Worf for a favor. Kor says he has no influence left within the Klingon Empire and fears that he will die of old age, far from battle. He wants command of a ship and the chance to prove himself in battle one last time.

Meanwhile, Martok tells Benjamin Sisko of his plan to take five cloaked Birds of Prey deep into Cardassian space to quickly strike at several important Dominion targets and then disengage. Sisko recalls from Earth history that the plan sounds like a cavalry raid. He explains how soldiers on horseback would be strong enough to disrupt activities behind enemy lines but still be too swift to get caught. He approves the plan and helps with preparations, including having a number of starships standing by in case the returning Klingon ships bring company back with them.

Worf tries talking to Martok about Kor, but Martok angrily refuses to listen. Martok eventually explains why he doesn't want to give Kor a ship. As a young man, Martok aspired to be an officer, but the decision rested with Kor, who rejected Martok's application because Martok came from a lower class Klingon family. Though Martok eventually overcame this obstacle, he's not inclined to help Kor now.

Despite not being what Kor wanted, Worf appoints him third officer on the Ch'tang and urges him to stay out of Martok's way. This proves difficult as Kor is treated as a living legend by the crew, given that he is the famous Dahar master and thus a focus for idolization. In the mess hall, the crew listens entranced as Kor regales them with the tale of his victory against the Federation at Caleb IV.

Martok outlines the plan of attack for their strike against the Cardassian starbase at Trelka V. Two Birds of Prey will decloak and make a single strafing run before heading out of the system. When the Cardassian repair crews begin assessing the damage, the remaining ships will continue the assault. The attack proceeds perfectly, even though one of the first ships is destroyed by a Cardassian warship as it retreats. During the second part of the raid, both Martok and Worf are knocked unconscious. Kor takes command, but with a sudden display of senility, he orders a boarding party despite the starbase's ten-thousand strong garrison. Kor rants that "The Federation will rue the day they dared to challenge the might of the Klingon Empire! We will take Caleb IV, and raise our banner over the smoking ruins of their own post!" The bridge crew is bewildered and unsure of what to do. Martok realizes what's going on and takes out his D'k tahg to throw it at Kor and kill him. Worf comes to and realising Martok's intent, catches the d'k tahg in mid-flight, before knocking Kor to the ground and ordering all ships to retreat.

In the mess hall, the crew mocks Kor mercilessly. Martok does too, but later admits he took no satisfaction from it. At that point, long range sensors show that 10 Jem'Hadar ships are tracking the Klingons despite their being cloaked. The Klingons realise that the Jem'Hadar will catch up with them before they reach the rendezvous with the Federation starships. The only way to shake them, Worf says, is by sacrificing one ship, which will stay behind and disable the warp drives of the Jem'Hadar vessels. Worf volunteers to command that ship with a minimal crew, the remaining Klingons to be beamed off first as it will almost certainly be a suicide mission.

Kor learns of the plan and realizes what he must do in order to die the warrior's death he longs for. Worf is on his way to the transporter when he is ambushed by Kor with a hypospray; the Dahar master sedates his friend and then takes his place. Before transporting out; Kor assures Worf that when he enters the halls of the honored dead, he will find Jadzia and tell her that Worf loves no one but her and that Worf is a valiant warrior who brings her honor every day. The crew watch their sensors as Kor disables all of the Jem'Hadar ships and then engages them in battle. It is reported that the Jem'Hadar's entire formation has collapsed. The last sensor data received before the Klingon ships move out of range is that Kor's ship is taking heavy fire as it manoeuvres rapidly in order to do as much damage as possible. The Jem'Hadar have been delayed long enough for the Klingons to safely reach the Federation ships. The episode closes with Martok and his crew singing of Kor's victory over the enemy's superior forces.

References

1. ^ STARTREK.COM : Episode

External links

• Once More Unto the Breach at the Internet Movie Database
• "Once More Unto the Breach" at TV.com
• Once More Unto the Breach at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• Once More Unto the Breach at StarTrek.com