Plot
As part of an officer exchange program, Commander Riker is to be temporarily assigned to the Klingon ship, the Pagh, while the Benzite Ensign Mendon is brought aboard the Enterprise. As the Enterprise rendezvous with the Pagh, Wesley mistakes Mendon for Mordock, another Benzite who took the Starfleet entrance examine with him in the episode "Coming of Age". Wesley is quick to apologize and makes friends with Mendon. Riker, who has learned some of Klingon tradition from Worf, readily accepts his role as the Klingon First Officer, using a show of force when his authority is challenged, pleasing the Pagh captain, Kargan. Before the ships move away, Mendon discovers a patch of strange material on the Klingon ship, but does not bring it to Captain Picard's attention.
Worf soon discovers a similar patch on the Enterprise hull, identifying it as a lifeform reacting with the hull. Mendon reveals that he knew of the same material on the Klingon ship. When asked why he didn't mention this before, he reveals that on Benzite ships, it is considered improper to bring up a problem before you have a solution. Picard chastises him for withholding the information, and orders the Enterprise to find the Pagh, as the organism will be more damaging to the older ship. Mendon, Wesley, and the rest of the crew discover the means to dislodge the organism safely while en route.
Aboard the Pagh, Kargan's crew discovers the patch, and Kargan accuses Riker of it resulting from a Federation weapon, noting that the Enterprise had heavily scanned the area during their rendezvous. The Pagh cloaks and remains in communication silence as the Enterprise nears. Even when the Enterprise sends a message with how to remove the organism, Riker is unable to convince Kargan to disengage, leading to a power struggle aboard the Pagh, and a standoff between the Enterprise and the Pagh. Riker prepares to use a transponder he got from Worf before being brought aboard, but Kargan takes it from him, believing it to be a weapon. When Kargan activates it, he finds himself transported aboard the Enterprise's bridge and held at bay by Worf. The Pagh, now under Riker's command, decloaks and demands for the Enterprise to surrender, which Picard agrees to and serving to disgrace Kargan further. The Enterprise cleans the organism from the Klingon ship, and Kargan is returned. Riker allows Kargan to hit him and order him off the ship to allow the Klingon to regain some of his dignity before the Pagh departs.
Read more about this topic: A Matter Of Honor
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