In Blood Oath did sisko have no middle option?

[Farscape One]

In a way, Sisko's dressing down of Worf, and by extension Dax because she was there too, in "SONS OF MOGH" fully explains his attitude.

When you are wearing the uniform, you abide by Starfleet regulations. He's right in that it wasn't a Klingon station and those aren't Klingon uniforms they wear.

"I have given you both a lot of leeway when it comes to following Klingon traditions." He clearly remembers what happened here in "BLOOD OATH", even if he didn't say it outright.

Sisko will respect their traditions and codes, but only up to the point of not being defendable, like going off on a murder hunt or killing your own brother in a ritual. Picard took a similar stance with Worf in "Reunion" when he took off his combadge and went and killed Duras. He gave him a permanent reprimand on his record, even though fully understanding the situation and with the Klingons considering it a closed matter. I don't think Picard would have even done that had Worf not taken off his combadge and essentially gone AWOL. That is when he broke Starfleet protocol and could not have his actions defended.

(By the way, I only called it a 'murder hunt' because I know there are those who think what Dax was trying to do was go and commit murder. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd call it that. Revenge, I can see many calling it that. But the Albino killed children. What Dax, Kang, Koloth, and Kor were doing... I call it justice. And it was Dax's godson. That's family. In that situation, same circumstances... I'd go and do the exact same thing. The Albino had it coming, though I'm glad she let Kang deliver the death blow.)

 

[Watersluis]

I agree with your second paragraph. If Sisko wrote up a letter of reprimand, some admiral would probably read it and investigate why Dax wasn't court martialed for murder and desertion. Sisko didn't want that, but he knew Dax was taking advantage of him and didn't like that much either.

I would imagine that covering for an officer who deserts to commit præmeditated murder out of friendship is itself an offence.

But then again, Deep Space Nine is quite well known for it's officers committing numerous illegalities and somehow walking with it — Is Sisko not the man who once poisoned an entire planet to apprehend one man in what was but certainly a stake of personal pride?

 

[kkt]

I would imagine that covering for an officer who deserts to commit præmeditated murder out of friendship is itself an offence.

But then again, Deep Space Nine is quite well known for it's officers committing numerous illegalities and somehow walking with it — Is Sisko not the man who once poisoned an entire planet to apprehend one man in what was but certainly a stake of personal pride?

Covering for a subordinate to that extent is likely an offense too, yes. I can't imagine a CO having that much discretion about who to let off with confinement to quarters for a week and a really stern look.

Starfleet might well have been fine with Sisko's actions in "For the Uniform". He did capture Eddington, who by that time had disabled both the Defiant and the Malinche and left a lot of DS9 temporarily unusable and poisoned the Cardassian planet.

 

[Tosk]

I can't imagine a CO having that much discretion about who to let off with confinement to quarters for a week and a really stern look.

No? When Worf murdered Duras, Picard gave him a stern talking-to and put a reprimand on his file. Dax went AWOL and seemingly murdered zero people. Should Sisko not be afforded the same latitude in her punishment?

 

[kkt]

If it wasn't a TV show, neither Picard nor Sisko would have that much latitude...

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The murder would probably be considered legal by Klingon law and not under Federation jurisdiction so I think she's clear on that front.

On the subject of going AWOL, she got away with that because of the special treatment Sisko gives his close personal friends.

Duras of another case of it not being illegal int he jurisdiction it was committed under.