“Redemption” is episode twenty-six of season four of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the season finale.
The Enterprise is en route for the Klingon homeworld to participate in the ceremony which will install Gowron as the new head of the High Council. The captain also hopes it will allow one officer the opportunity to correct a grave injustice. Worf is practicing in his quarters when the captain arrives. Not as his captain but as his cha’DIch. The captain thinks it’s time for Worf to confront the council and regain his family name. Let the truth be known. Worf has been told that patience is sometimes a more effective weapon than the sword. The captain agrees, but that’s a human response and Picard feels that this situation requires a Klingon one.
Riker then contacts the captain from the bridge; they’ve been intercepted by the Klingon vessel Bortas. It claims to be their escort. Worf says no escort was scheduled. The captain heads to the bridge and the Bortas is contacted. Onboard is Gowron, who says they have to move quickly to be successful. In preventing a Klingon civil war.
On the Enterprise, Gowron says the family of Duras is amassing support with many allies on the council. That Duras died in disgrace is being ignored. His sisters, Lursa and B’Etor speak for his family. They may not serve on the council, but are plotting and have the loyalty of three fleet commanders. The captain can’t see how he can assist. Gowron says he was chosen as the arbiter of succession, because no Klingon was trusted. Picard will see that through to the end, but will not step outside the traditional role of arbiter. He will deal with any challenges according to Klingon law. Gowron fears that may not be enough.
Worf escorts Gowron to the transporter room as the captain returns to the bridge and asks that Romulan activity along the Neutral Zone be monitored. There’s too much history between the Romulans and the Duras family to discount. In the transporter room, Worf dismisses the operator so he can talk to Gowron. Gowron will not hear the words of a traitor. Worf says he admitted guilt to protect the empire. Duras’s father was the traitor. Now, Gowron wants to listen. Worf explains what happened; he wants Gowron to restore his family name for proof. Killing Duras was a great favour for Gowron, but he says what Word asks is impossible. Too many of the council are still loyal to Duras, and Gowron needs the council’s support to survive.
Worf is doing target practice when Guinan joins him. She can come down to his level for a bit (Guinan is significantly older than Worf and is far better than he expected). She continues talking about him laughing. Klingons laugh; it’s Worf who doesn’t. The talk leads to Worf heading to see Captain Picard and requesting a leave of absence. The captain grants it without question.
Worf heads to see his brother, Kern. Kern does not have a great opinion of Gowron and the family of Duras must never be allowed to lead the council. Kern things the council should be swept away. He has the support of four squadron commanders. Worf should join them. Worf declines. They will support Gowron. He is the elder; it is his decision. However, they won’t back Gowron now. They will wait until he feels the grasp of his enemies around his throat. Then offer support. The price will be the restoration of their family name.
Captain Picard has headed to the great hall of the Klingon High Council. Gowron is asked if he wishes to claim leadership of the council. He does. Before Picard can put the coat on Gowron, a boy comes in and challenges him for leadership. He is Toral. Son of Duras. A son that wasn’t known. Captain Picard will consider the validity of the claim.
Lursa and B’Etor report to a Romulan. Toral wants to kill Captain Picard and gets a slap for that idea. They don’t want the Federation for an enemy. Not yet, according to a female Romulan. But at the right time, they deal with Captain Picard and the Federation. It’s the same Romulan who was heard in “The Mind’s Eye” and she still sounds familiar. There’s a good reason for that.
Both Worf and Captain Picard have to deal with a conflict of interests between their duties under Klingon law and their position as Starfleet officers. Lursa and B’Etor see the captain privately. He compliments them, with a compliment that is an insult, of having manipulated things with the skill of a Romulan.
The story continues in season five and “Redemption, Part II”.