Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) Soldiers of the Empire (1997) User Reviews

Another chance to see what it's like to serve on a Klingon vessel.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 18 January 2015]

A while back, Worf and General Martok became the best of friends and Martok invited Worf to join his family to regain his honor. In turn, Worf thinks the world of Martok so it's not surprising when he jumps at the chance to serve along side of him on a Klingon ship. After all, the new Cardassian/Dominion alliance is almost unstoppable and the Empire needs good officers. Unexpectedly, however, Jadzia Dax also wants to come along and serve aboard this ship. What follows SHOULD have been an honor-filled adventure where the ship blew the crap out of anything that came near it--it IS the Klingon way. However, unexpectedly Martok seems to be very hesitant to engage the enemy and the crew begins grumbling loudly. By tradition, it's up to the First Officer (Worf) to challenge his superior and fight him to the death--so what is Worf going to do?

Like most of the Klingon episodes, this one is exciting and full of manly action and violence. And, it manages to work very well at the end--making it one of the better episodes of the year.

Honour regained

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 16 July 2010]

When General Martok is given command of a bird of prey and ordered to investigate the disappearance of another Klingon ship near the Cardassian border. He invites Worf to join him as his first officer, Dax also joins the crew as the ship's science officer which doesn't please Worf too much. Once on board it becomes clear that that their is a severe moral crisis; they have been up against the Jem'Hadar several times but have never won. It doesn't help that Martok isn't keen to engage the enemy and when they find the lost ship he decides not to attempt to rescue the crew as the ship has drifted across the border. Realising that the crew is on the point of mutiny Worf challenges Martok for control of the ship; he loses deliberately but the taste of combat shows Martok what he needs to do and by the time they are back at DS9 they are covered in glory.

This was a good episode, given that it was centred on a Klingon ship it came as quite a surprise that the leading character turned out to be Dax, she noticed the problems amongst the crew and alerted Worf, she even threw a Klingon out of the chair she wanted to sit in to show that she was capable of following Klingon traditions as well as those of Star Fleet... in fact I got the impression that she preferred them. Terry Farrell was great in the role, Michael Dorn also put in a fine performance as Worf.

Lots of Energy

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 31 October 2018]

Worf accompanies a man he shared time with on the asteroid, a Klingon captain who has lost his drive. This man was a hero but being held for two years by the Kem'Hadar has diminished his resolve. He is sent on a rescue mission to the Cardassian border. During that time, the resolve of an already defeated crew is lowered. Worf and Dax are on board, Worf as first officer. He and Dax must tread lightly as it seems a mutiny may be at hand. This is a strong episode with the Klingons presented as more sophisticated types than the brawlers they usually are.

Hov Trek: TlhIngan

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 22 August 2012]

This is an Episode of "Star Trek: Klingon" as it takes place almost wholly on the Ro'Tarran, a Klingon Bird-of-Prey. But there is trouble brewing on this little ship - They've been getting their butts kicked by the Jem Ha'Dar and they have not had a victory for a long time.

General Martok is the leader of the 9th Fleet based out of Deep Space Nine. As good a general as he is, he had been a prisoner of the Jem Ha'Dar for two years while his Doppelganger set the Empire on a War-Tangent.

Martok was rescued by Worf and Garak in the excellent two-parter "In Purgatory's Shadow/By Inferno's Light," but this is the first Command given to Martok after that harrowing experience which they narrowly escaped. Is he up to it?

Worf agrees to be Martok's first officer, and Jadzia-Dax tags along, as science officer. As good a Klingon Worf is, he does not recognize the danger signals brewing on the Ro'Tarran, it takes Dax to confront him with it, and now it is up to Worf to Assassinate Martok if Martok cannot command the ship. Can he do it, and will he do it?

This was an excellent look into Life on a Klingon Ship. We saw a little of this in the Season 2 Next Generation Episode "A Matter of Honour" and a little more when Worf and Kurn pilot a Bird of Prey in "Redemption" and Kurn kills a flock of Bird of Prey using a sun.

But those were just quick glimpses of Klingon Ships: We never got any elongated visits to a Klingon Bridge. Here, we begin as Worf accepts the Ro'Tarran's Battle Record and we stay on The Ro'Tarran while Worf and Dax learn to deal with the low spirits of the Ro'Tarran crew.

Dax as Curzon was an "expert" in all things Klingon, Jadzia claims she has nothing but a passing interest. But here, it is shown she may as well have a bumpy forehead rather than Trill Spots, because she blends right in with the Ro'Tarran crew. She was the one who showed Worf the trouble the crew was in, and Worf eventually makes a decision designed to ultimately get Martok off of his passive bIng pItlh and into Battle!

Worf succeeds brilliantly. Martok initially thinks Worf is a Traitorous Patak, but in pItlh-sight, realizes that Worf had given him incentive to properly command his Ship.

Martok joins Worf to his own house in gratitude for this.

This episode gives us something we had never before seen in Trek: Life on a Klingon Ship. This was done so well here, a show could have been designed around it.

As Deep Space Nine progressed, we got to see several more shows which took place on The Ro'Tarran: Tough Little Ship. This episode also is another first: Sandra Nelson as "Tavana" is the first Red-Haired Klingon Woman ever seen.

How Mortok got his groove back.

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 29 July 2021]

An interesting glimpse into the fragilities of Klingon's who have suffered defeat and failures. This is a good character study on Martok who had to endure being beaten as a klingon practice dummy as a prisoner of the Jem 'Hadar. His experiences have weakened his sense of courage and the episode is a well paced journey of Worf and Jadzia's attempt to help him reclaim it.

You have to be a extremely close friend to challenge your friend for leadership of a ship and then let him stab you in the gut. What good are friends if you can't depend on them to non fatally stab you?

Good episode but...

[swiitchhfw-26543 · 7/10 · 31 July 2022]

Dax is an annoying Klingon know-it-all, she's such a damn try-hard, she might as well ask Dr Bashir to transform her into a Klingon permanently! She spends more time talking about Klingons than her own people, the Trill. And what the hell, Kira said she needs Dax to take over Worf's duties while he's gone, so what's Dax do? Goes to her friend Benjamin to get permission to go with Worf, leaving Kira even more short-handed.

Qapla'

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 8 February 2023]

General Martok leads a mission with Worf as his first officer.

This is a solid Klingon adventure with strong character moments.

I am a fan of Klingon stories as the characters are generally very entertaining and the stories have good tension. This is another example with both lead characters having great moments to shine and develop. Some of it feels slightly contrived to fit the drama but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

The highlight for me is the acting of J. G. Hetzler and his chemistry with Michael Dorn. Together they elevate the material with their performances.

I like the mix of characters that make up the crew of the Rotarran, but it feels nowhere near as intimidating as Riker's experience in 'A Matter of Honour', which inevitably is what I judge it by.

For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.