Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2x08 - "Under the Cloak of War"

[Unique]

I don't actually vote on any of the episodes or rate them in posts. I just like yakkin' about them with you guys.

I’ve only rated 3 episodes. Unless I overwhelmingly love or hate something it’s hard to put a number on it.
This one, I’m totally conflicted, especially because so many things felt implausible. That guy being an ambassador in the first place, not having a security detail, being killed quickly and with relative ease, and M’Benga not even being relieved of duty until an investigation was completed.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't actually vote on any of the episodes or rate them in posts. I just like yakkin' about them with you guys.

We know. That's what worries us

That guy being an ambassador in the first place, not having a security detail, being killed quickly and with relative ease, and M’Benga not even being relieved of duty until an investigation was completed.

This is something that is very much a part of Star Trek.

 

[Unique]

We know. That's what worries us


This is something that is very much a part of Star Trek.

I never said Star Trek isn’t full of implausible and convenient plot devices. I just can’t grade this one because I’m conflicted by the things I like and dislike about the episode.

 

[Mudd]

Dak'Rah was not sincere. Not even close. He was a smarmy douche who was just trying to cover up the fact that he was a coward who ran away from a battle.

Let me just say that again: Rah escaped. He ran away. A real Klingon would stay and fight to the bitter end. The mere fact that Rah got away from J'Gal at all means he wasn't a true Klingon. I suspect that if his overall war record was examined in more detail, it would be found full of lies as well.

And...?

 

[fireproof78]

I never said Star Trek isn’t full of implausible and convenient plot devices. I just can’t grade this one because I’m conflicted by the things I like and dislike about the episode.

I did not say that you needed to grade.

Just that my conflicts over this episode are eased slightly by remembering Worf and Dax.

 

[Farscape One]

Regarding the question of why diplomats are always using Starfleet ships to ferry them...

Probably a three-fold reason.

First, Starfleet ships are mostly pretty fast, as opposed to freighters and the like. You want to get there before more people die in a fight.

Second, defense. Lightly armed transports for diplomats are easy pickings for any faction who doesn't want peace in their system or world.

Third, a show of how serious the Federation is about a peaceful settlement. Especially when you have the flagship doing the ferrying.

 

[AresB]

The key line of this episode was spoken by Dr M'Benga: Sometimes, you pretend something long enough, becomes the truth.

Rah pretended to be an ambassador and a peacemaker, and that's what he became. An accepted and celebrated hero, who successfully negotiated deals with different groups, including the Klingons. He loved his new life and all the adulation. Unfortunately it was all based on a huge lie of his atrocious past.

He was desperate to forget it and have it forgotten, with the excuse that what he was doing now was greater good than being punished for his old crimes. That's why he wouldn't give up on trying to get M'Benga on his side, especially as he learned he knew the whole ugly truth, and pushed him over the limit.

 

[DaveyNY]

I think the moment that Rah learned that it was M'Benga that killed his generals and almost killed him, Rah decided that this human could no longer be allowed to live.
It would completely disrupt his new found glory if M'Benga were to tell anyone else.

The D'k Tahg suddenly becoming available was just a coincidence that Rah decided to take advantage of.
To his detriment, since M'Benga was more skilled with weapons at close quarters.

 

[Farscape One]

I think the moment that Rah learned that it was M'Benga that killed his generals and almost killed him, Rah decided that this human could no longer be allowed to live.
It would completely disrupt his new found glory if M'Benga were to tell anyone else.

The D'k Tahg suddenly becoming available was just a coincidence that Rah decided to take advantage of.
To his detriment, since M'Benga was more skilled with weapons at close quarters.

Agreed completely.

Putting it into a criminal's context, he wanted to eliminate the only thing (in this case, person) that could destroy his alibi.

 

[cooleddie74]

I think the moment that Rah learned that it was M'Benga that killed his generals and almost killed him, Rah decided that this human could no longer be allowed to live.
It would completely disrupt his new found glory if M'Benga were to tell anyone else.

The D'k Tahg suddenly becoming available was just a coincidence that Rah decided to take advantage of.
To his detriment, since M'Benga was more skilled with weapons at close quarters.

I can go with this. Rah wanted to preserve his unearned reputation. But he picked a fight with the wrong human.

And, well, he f'd around and found out.

 

[jackoverfull]

I think the moment that Rah learned that it was M'Benga that killed his generals and almost killed him, Rah decided that this human could no longer be allowed to live.
It would completely disrupt his new found glory if M'Benga were to tell anyone else.

The D'k Tahg suddenly becoming available was just a coincidence that Rah decided to take advantage of.
To his detriment, since M'Benga was more skilled with weapons at close quarters.

Would make sense, but one wonders if M’Benga at this point has decided is finally time for him to come forward with the truth and why he kept silent all these years.

 

[Brightside-16]

This episode was extremely compelling, especially after I just finished a rewatch of DS9. Fits right in.

The physical way they showed PTSD was very interesting. There's new research and treatment around the idea of trauma being experienced as physical pain, so it felt really authentic.

 

[DaveyNY]

Would make sense, but one wonders if M’Benga at this point has decided is finally time for him to come forward with the truth and why he kept silent all these years.

Not having any personal experience with war, I can't make a judgement as to his reasons for doing so, but one could imagine that PTSD would have had a very big part in determining that.
It might also be because of the personal shame as a Doctor who killed another living being on purpose.

 

[NX_01]

I mean...I would. I serve with him and trust him. I'm sure not likely to jump at the chance to believe the side of a former Klingon military commander who ordered the deaths of untold numbers of my fellow citizens.

And this is a big issue in the military and police, this kind of cover up culture.

I would actually rather see S3 picking up on that thread, instead of revealing what really happend.

 

[cooleddie74]

 

[Charles Phipps]

I think the moment that Rah learned that it was M'Benga that killed his generals and almost killed him, Rah decided that this human could no longer be allowed to live.
It would completely disrupt his new found glory if M'Benga were to tell anyone else.

The D'k Tahg suddenly becoming available was just a coincidence that Rah decided to take advantage of.
To his detriment, since M'Benga was more skilled with weapons at close quarters.

I don't think that M'Benga and he fought.

M'Benga killed a mass murderer and asked Pike to condemn him for it, all but confessing.

Chris would have arrested him but for the fact that Chris' argument was that murder was less important than the good a person can do. Plus, M'Benga was his friend.

 

[DaveyNY]

I don't think that M'Benga and he fought.

M'Benga killed a mass murderer and asked Pike to condemn him for it, all but confessing.

Chris would have arrested him but for the fact that Chris' argument was that murder was less important than the good a person can do. Plus, M'Benga was his friend.

That confession was under duress and therefore not really reliable.
M'Benga was already in the process of determining that he should report his actions about what happened before Rah came to him.
It was during their conversation that Rah realized this fact and he instigated the scuffle with the knife for the reason I laid out above.
M'Benga had no intention to really kill Rah, by then he was already at the point of just wanting the whole thing to be behind him.

 

[Mudd]

Actually, M'Benga answered directly, "I didn't start the fight. But I'm glad he's dead."

The question isn't what M'Benga's asking Pike to believe, but whether we believe M'Benga.

 

[Crazyewok]

Dude no one deserves to be stabbed just for hounding someone. Lol

I think the key here is did M'benga generally believe his life was In danger ?

A case for self defence could be made. Even if Dakrah never intended to kill him, if M'benga thought he posed a life threatening risk, even if that became his PTSD was triggered then yeah I would say self defence. And Starfleet officers are allowed to use lethal force in self defence.

If M'benga jus decided to kill him in cold blood then yeah....... not so great.

If I was pike I would for the sake of my friend and crew morale just stick down to self defence.

 

[Crazyewok]

It's also pretty interesting to see how Klingon combat changed little from this episode to DS9 nor the battle to strong with the complete disregard of klingons for medical personnel and civilians.

The kitamer accords might have kept the Klingon in check but it didnt change their savage nature.

You can kind of see why Kirk in undiscovered county at first was "let them die! The death of his son was proof of their savage nature. Also why a cable of Starfleet officers tried to sabotage the peace conference. It's clear the klingons did a lot of bad shit. I could see veterans like M'Benga or Ortega at least sympathizing with such a group. If you had been on the front lines and experienced Klingon atrocities against civilians first hand then you would be less likely to trust any peace and view the klingons empire's disintegration and possible Klingon extinction as a safer option for the galaxy.