“The Emissary” is episode twenty of season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Data, Geordi, Riker, Worf and Dr Pulaski are playing poker again. Data thinks Worf is only winning through random chance; a temporary situation. Said temporary situation is continued by Worf having a full house, Aces over Queens. Before they can play the next hand, Commander Riker is contacted by the bridge; there’s been a class 11 emergency signal from Starfleet Command. Data and Worf accompany the commander to the bridge. The message says that they are to divert to new coordinates immediately; further orders will be forthcoming. That’s it. Captain Picard says that, when Starfleet is being enigmatic, they are about to face a challenge.
The system was colonised recently. The first Federation outpost was settled 34 years ago. Since then, several more outposts and planets have been colonised. The coordinates are actually outside the system. Starfleet hails them and Admiral Gromek says they will soon be joined by a Federation special emissary. The rendezvous is tricky and they are to cooperate with the envoy. No more details; Starfleet considers this a top security matter. Once the envoy has briefed them, the admiral thinks they will understand. The envoy is being sent in a converted probe, just 2m long. There were no starships available and this would save 6.1 hours.
The probe is encountered, tractored and then transported onboard. Riker and O’Brien open the probe and Dr Pulaski checks the occupant, though she says ‘Hmm.’ The readings are interesting. The occupant is a Klingon woman, K’Ehleyr, and Pulaski says her vital signs are atypical for as Klingon. That’s because she’s only half Klingon; her father was Klingon, her mother human. K’Ehleyr is escorted to see the senior staff and it appears that she and Worf are familiar with each other. Awkwardly so as well.
According to K’Ehleyr, two days ago an automated transmission was received from a Klingon ship, the T’Ong, sent out over 75 years ago, whilst the Federation and the Klingon Empire were still at war. The transmission says they ship is about to reach the wakening point, suggesting that the crew are in cryo. Which means a ship full of Klingons who think the war is still going on is about to wake up. A Klingon ship might be a better choice to intercept, but the closest is two days out and there are 13 colonies in this sector with minimal defences. K’Ehleyr says diplomacy won’t work; they need to destroy the T’Ong. Picard refuses to accept that. He assigns Worf to help K’Ehleyr find another solution. Afterwards, Worf suggests to the captain that Riker or Data might be a better choice. Does Worf have personal reasons? Yes. Professional? No… he withdraws his request.
Troi escorts K’Ehleyr to her quarters; she didn’t know Klingons and humans could have offspring. K’Ehleyr says their DNA is compatible, with a fair amount of help. Just like her parents. Troi, also being half human, understands some of what K’Ehleyr feels, though K’Ehleyr thinks she got the worst of both worlds. Her mother’s sense of humour gets her into trouble and her temper scares her.
K’Ehleyr heads to see Worf. She tells him she doesn’t bite. Well, that’s wrong; she does bite. He wasn’t so aloof six years ago. K’Ehleyr thinks they have unfinished business. Worf doesn’t agree. He wants to concentrate on the mission of the T’Ong. There are no records; K’Ehleyr thinks this is deliberate, Worf suggests they could be lost. As far as K’Ehleyr is concerned, the Klingons think the Federation, and humans, are the enemy and will attack. Attacking first is the only option. Worf says there are always other options; his time on the Enterprise has taught him that.
K’Ehleyr leaves Worf, a little narked, and heads to her quarters and smashes a table. Troi arrives and says that K’Ehleyr is upset. Thank you, Captain Obvious. K’Ehleyr, making a point of this asks if Troi’s finely-tuned Betazoid senses told her that. Well, those and the table. Troi suggests, not counselling, but that K’Ehleyr head to the holodeck and work out her frustrations with an exercise program. Which will help keep the Enterprise intact. The exercise program K’Ehleyr picks is one of Worf’s.
The situation between Worf and K’Ehleyr is rather belligerent. Well, they are Klingons, but belligerence and Klingons can lead in a different direction to that of other species. There’s also the problem of the T’Ong; how to stop a Klingon warship from rampaging through unprotected colonies without destroying it.