A Matter of Honor

Under an officer exchange programme, the Enterprise welcomes Ensign Mendon, a Benzite, while Riker volunteers to serve as first officer of the Klingon ship Pagh under Captain Kargan. Riker soon earns the crew's respect, not least by beating the ambitious second officer, Klag, in a fight. Before Riker leaves, Mendon spots an unusual organism on the Pagh's hull but does not report it, because Benzites do not present a problem until they have solved it. The organism begins eating through the hulls of both ships, and Kargan, believing the Federation has attacked him with a weapon, orders an assault on the Enterprise. Torn between his oath and his own crew, Riker uses an emergency transponder to have Kargan beamed off the Pagh, takes command himself and demands the Enterprise's surrender, which Picard accepts. Once the Pagh is cleaned, Riker lets Kargan strike him and order him off the ship, restoring the humiliated captain's honour.