Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - 10 Best Episodes Not About The Main Cast

10. Soldiers Of The Empire

General Martok had been introduced to Deep Space Nine in stages. First, there is the Changeling version of him that encourages Chancellor Gowron to go to war with both the Cardassians and the Federation. When this copy is later killed, he is reintroduced as a prisoner at Internment Centre 375. This version of the man is grizzled and bashed but very much the honourable Klingon he is expected to be.

Soldiers of the Empire sees him given command of a vessel, the IKS Rotarran. This ship is ordered to search for the B'moth, a Klingon battlecruiser that may have drifted into enemy territory. Then, Martok's struggle is revealed: he is dealing with the PTSD of having been imprisoned and beaten by the Jem'hadar, daily, for months. They have, in effect, broken him.

Worf sees this, struggling with loyalty to his friend and the growing discontent of the Klingon crew. As Dax puts it, the ship needs a big victory, or a mutiny may be on their hands. Worf challenges Martok, correctly assuming that direct confrontation is what is needed to shake the General from his doldrums. Reenergized, the B'moth is saved, the crew rejoice and the episode ends with a wonderful Klingon sing-along.