A Private Little War - Division

[cgervasi]

When Nona attempts to defect to a band of Villagers, the first thing they say is she's Tyree's wife and a Kahn-ut-tu; "we won't trust this division to Apella." I think what they're saying is it seems a leader's wife is unlikely to defect and that Kahn-ut-tus are known for being tricky, which means it's probably a trap, so there's no way they're going to take her straight to their top leader.

But what do way "division"? It just seems like the wrong word. @Christopher posted an early draft of the script in this recent post. It says "division" even there. What could it mean?

• A euphemism for the b-word or other derogatory word inappropriate for TV
• A reference to Apella's earlier comment, which he may have repeated on another occasion when they were present, that it's "hard to divide one woman" - In other words, they all want to assault her, and not leave the decision up to Apella.
  
• A group of Hill People who they imagine may be divided from the rest of the group
  
• The wrong word for matter outside his purview

Now that I write them out, the second one seems most likely. I think the writer is saying they're not only violent criminals but also idiots for thinking the important question is who gets to assault her rather than if she's really defecting and offering them a weapon and potentially other valuable secrets.

 

[drt]

I think you correct in that it's a reference to Apella's earlier comment, but the usage seems to be that the Villagers normally divide up the spoils they capture, so the spoils are termed "divisions" - maybe not the clearest usage of the word, my guess it was an attempt at some alien worldbuilding.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

It has always gone without saying, for me, that the males wanted to gang rape Nona themselves, not give her to Apella for him to rape. It's not even a question.

 

[Ssosmcin]

A reference to Apella's earlier comment, which he may have repeated on another occasion when they were present, that it's "hard to divide one woman" - In other words, they all want to assault her, and not leave the decision up to Apella.

Yes, this one here. That is exactly it. While sometimes the Trek staff would thorw in a word with an obscure or archaic meaning (such as "our portion, Commander, is obedience"), this one was clear.

 

[Henoch]

When Nona attempts to defect to a band of Villagers, the first thing they say is she's Tyree's wife and a Kahn-ut-tu; "we won't trust this division to Apella."

Earilier in the episode between Apella and Krell:

KRELL: You are late, my friend Apella.
APELLA: A quarrel by my people. A division of some skins and a hill woman taken this morning. It's hard to divide one woman.
KRELL: Give her to the man who killed the most of her people. The others will see the profit in bravery. I'll make a Klingon of you yet.
​

Apparently, these guys were part of the quarrel and didn't approve of Apella's earlier decision.

 

[drt]

Earilier in the episode between Apella and Krell:

KRELL: You are late, my friend Apella.
APELLA: A quarrel by my people. A division of some skins and a hill woman taken this morning. It's hard to divide one woman.
KRELL: Give her to the man who killed the most of her people. The others will see the profit in bravery. I'll make a Klingon of you yet.
​

Apparently, these guys were part of the quarrel and didn't approve of Apella's earlier decision.

Ahhh, that's makes the most sense.