- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [after Worf has refused to meeting K'Ehleyr with regard to his dishonor] Lieutenant, you are a member of this crew, and you will not go into hiding whenever a Klingon vessel uncloaks!
- Lieutenant Worf: [agrees] I withdraw my request, sir.
- [Worf has to answer to Picard for his act of vengeance on Duras]
- Lieutenant Worf: Sir, I have acted within the boundaries of Klingon law and tradition.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The High Council would seem to agree; they consider the matter closed. I don't. Mister Worf, the Enterprise crew currently includes representatives from thirteen planets. They each have their individual beliefs and values, and I respect them all, but they have all chosen to serve Starfleet. If anyone cannot perform his or her duty because of the demands of their society, they should resign. Do you wish to resign?
- Lieutenant Worf: No, sir.
- Duras: I'm the only one, Worf - the only one who can prove your innocence. Kill me and you're a traitor forever.
- Lieutenant Worf: Then that is how it shall be!
- [Worf has branded Duras a traitor, due to Duras' father's collaboration with the Romulans]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Klingon tradition may hold the son responsible for his father's sin. I cannot. Treason was his father's crime. Duras' crime was to lay that blame on your father. I will not forget that. But you should not forget that you chose to accept the consequences of that lie.
- Lieutenant Worf: [agrees] To preserve the Empire.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: This is not just a case of simple mediation. You are asking me to choose the next leader of the Klingon Empire.
- K'mpec: No. By tradition, the two strongest challengers fight for the right of succession. As mediator, only you can designate those challengers.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: But you have just said there are only two challengers arriving. What is the point?
- K'mpec: I want you to discover which one of them has killed me - Gowron... or Duras. Yes, Duras. I thought you would find that interesting.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Interesting? You could say that, since he tried to have me killed, and conspired to strip Worf of his good name.
- K'mpec: And... I approved - all for the glory of the Empire. Heh! That should be my epitaph. Find the assassin. The Klingon who kills without showing his face has no honor. He must not lead the Empire. Such a man would be capable of anything - even war with the Federation.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Very well. I accept.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Mister Worf - isn't it time for the truth about your father's innocence to be told? After all, you only accepted this dishonor to protect the name of Duras and hold the Empire together. Now that he has died in disgrace, what is gained by further silence?
- Lieutenant Worf: Each member of the Klingon High Council has shared in that lie. They will not be so willing to admit their own dishonor. But the day will come when my brother and I will... convince them to speak the truth.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Mister Worf, we have a conspiracy on our hands that could be a direct threat to the security of the Federation.
- Lieutenant Worf: Yes, sir.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: As Chief Security Officer, I want you to accompany me to the next proceeding.
- Lieutenant Worf: Captain, they will be incensed. My presence will be disruptive.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Yes. It will.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: We will begin the ja'chuq.
- Gowron: [incredulous] What?
- Duras: This woman has been giving you bad advice, Picard! The ja'chuq is obsolete.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: It is my choice to respect the ancient rituals. Each of you will have to prove your worthiness to lead the High Council.
- Gowron: That will take hours.
- K'Ehleyr: Or days - depending on your cooperation.
- K'Ehleyr: A few minutes ago, you looked like someone with a question to ask.
- Lieutenant Worf: Must I ask the question?
- K'Ehleyr: Yes. You must.
- K'Ehleyr: Were you concerned about me?
- Lieutenant Worf: As Head of Security, it is my duty to be... concerned.
- K'Ehleyr: Is that it? Just "official" concern for my well-being?
- Lieutenant Worf: [referring to his dishonor] Respect my wishes in this matter. I cannot take the oath with you. Nor can I claim your son.
- K'Ehleyr: If you cannot be his father... at least be his friend.
- Lieutenant Worf: I know little of Gowron - only that he is an outsider who has often challenged the Council. But Duras... I know *him*! His heart is *not* Klingon.
- Commander William T. Riker: It's considered an honorable way for a Klingon to die - a suicide that takes an enemy with it.
- Alexander Rozhenko: Where are the other Klingons?
- Lieutenant Worf: There are no others on board.
- Alexander Rozhenko: Why?
- Lieutenant Worf: The Federation and the Klingon Empire were enemies for many years. No other Klingons have asked to serve in Starfleet.
- Alexander Rozhenko: Why?
- Lieutenant Worf: A warrior does not ask so many questions!
- Lieutenant Worf: [of Alexander] He knows nothing of our ways!
- K'Ehleyr: *Our* ways? You mean Klingon ways, don't you?
- Lieutenant Worf: He *is* Klingon!
- K'Ehleyr: He is also my son and I am half Human. He will find his own ways. Why the sudden concern? You won't even acknowledge that he's yours.
- Gowron: Have you never wondered about serving the Klingon Empire?
- K'Ehleyr: I serve in my own way.
- Gowron: As a Federation ambassador. A few rewards - but little glory.
- K'Ehleyr: What do you want?
- Gowron: What do YOU want? Command of a ship? A seat on the Council? There are many opportunities for you in the Empire.
- K'Ehleyr: Opportunities that will present themselves only if YOU come to power. You talk like a Ferengi.
- Gowron: K'mpec was also stubborn; he, too, refused to listen. *Now*... he is gone. You need not make the same mistake.
- K'Ehleyr: K'mpec was old and weak! I am not!
- Lieutenant Worf: [about the bat'leth] Do not think of it as a weapon. Make it part of your hand - part of your arm. Make it part of you.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: What do you want of me?
- K'mpec: After I die, you will act in my name, to arbitrate the struggle for power.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [incredulous] *I* will?
- K'mpec: No one on the Council can be trusted, and I have my reasons for wanting an outsider.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: K'mpec, you cannot possibly be serious. A Federation officer has no business...
- K'mpec: Nonsense. You are an accomplished mediator. This is no different than any other dispute requiring your services.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: On the contrary, I think this is very different. And I must, respectfully, decline.
- K'mpec: If you refuse the dying request of the Klingon Supreme Commander, it will be an insult by the Federation to all Klingons.
- [smiles]
- K'mpec: Besides, I've already sent the order. The leaders of the opposing two factions are on their way.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You had no right to involve me in this without my permission!
- K'mpec: [eyes twinkling] If I had asked, you would have said no.
- Lieutenant Worf: [to the candidates] What did your investigations reveal about the explosion?
- Duras: [impudently] It was a bomb.
- Lieutenant Worf: [irritated] And was your analysis just as... INSIGHTFUL?
- Gowron: [a little bored] It was a common explosive.
- Lieutenant Worf: [sharply] What type?
- Gowron: Triceron.
- Lieutenant Worf: What about the detonator?
- Duras: [fuming] This is pointless! Findings were inconclusive!
- Lieutenant Worf: [pointedly] Fortunately, OUR investigation was more THOROUGH! The bomb used a molecular decay detonator!
- Duras: I have been informed of your attempt to access restricted Council records.
- K'Ehleyr: I have been investigating what happened at Khitomer. Not at all an easy task, considering that most of the records are sealed.
- Duras: Worf's father was a traitor!
- K'Ehleyr: No. The evidence was altered to make it appear that way. I found it interesting to read that your father was also at Khitomer, and you are the one who sealed the records.
- Duras: You dare insult my father's name?
- K'Ehleyr: Don't play the wounded Klingon for me, Duras. You don't do it very well. What happened in that Council chamber? How did you get Worf to take the blame for you?
- Duras: Do not pursue this matter further!
- K'Ehleyr: The son betrays his people to the Romulans, just as his father did - Duras.
- Lieutenant Worf: You have never seen death...?
- [Alexander shakes his head]
- Lieutenant Worf: Then look - and always remember.
- K'Ehleyr: The Klingon Empire is at a critical juncture. We may be facing civil war.
- Commander William T. Riker: War over what?
- K'Ehleyr: The usual excuses: tradition, duty, honor...
- Lt. Commander Data: The word "excuses" implies alternative reasons for a conflict.
- K'Ehleyr: I won't bore you with the intricacies of Klingon politics. Suffice it to say, two factions are trying to seize power.
- [first lines]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [voiceover] Captain's log, stardate 44246.3. We're investigating radiation anomalies reported in the Gamma Arigulon system by the Starship LaSalle. Preliminary readings are inconclusive.