Code of Honor (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Code of Honor" is the 4th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
is abducted by the leader of a people, who abide by a strict code of honor, for use as a pawn to increase his own personal power.
arrives at Ligon II to acquire a vaccine needed to combat an outbreak of Anchilles fever on Styris IV. The crew, having little information on the Ligonian culture, finds it to be similar to that of ancient Africa following strict customs of status. Specifically, while the men in their culture rule society, the land itself is controlled by the women. Beaming onto the Enterprise with their own transporter technology to provide a sample of the vaccine for inspection, Lutan, the Ligonian leader, is impressed by Tasha Yar
's status as a security officer. Yar further demonstrates her combat skills for Lutan on the holodeck
. After a tour of the ship, Lutan and his party prepare to depart, but abduct Yar as they transport back to the surface. Captain Picard
demands that Lutan return Yar, considering the kidnapping an act of war, but receives no response from the planet. After consultation with his officers, Picard determines that Lutan took Yar in a "counting coup
" as a show of heroism. Upon communicating with Lutan in a more peaceful means, Lutan gives the crew permission to beam down to the planet and promises to return Yar after a banquet in his honor.
Lutan announces at the banquet that he will make Yar his "first one", surprising not only the Enterprise crew but also Yareena who believed she was already chosen to be Lutan's "first one". Yareena challenges Yar to a fight to the death to claim back the title of "first one"; Picard objects to the fight, but Lutan refuses to give the Enterprise the rest of the vaccine unless Yar participates. The crew investigates the combat ritual and find that the weapons used are coated with a lethal poison, and also that it is Yareena's wealth to which Lutan owes his position. Picard prepares to have Yar beamed to the Enterprise should she be harmed in the battle. As the match progresses, both Yareena and Yar are equally skilled, but Yar eventually lands a strike on Yareena. Yar quickly covers Yareena and orders the transport of both of them to the Enterprise against the demands of Lutan. Aboard the ship, Dr. Crusher
reaches Yareena moments after death, but is able to counteract the poison and revive her. When Lutan demands to know the fate of Yareena, Crusher reveals that Yareena died, thus ceding the match to Yar and breaking the "first one" bond. Yareena is now free to select a new mate; she chooses Hagon, one of Lutan's bodyguards, and effectively strips Lutan of his position of power. Hagon lets Yar go and gives the Enterprise their full supply of vaccine.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Overview
Lt. YarTasha Yar
Lieutenant Natasha "Tasha" Yar, played by Denise Crosby, is a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the fictional series, the character served as chief of security aboard the USS Enterprise-D for the first season....
is abducted by the leader of a people, who abide by a strict code of honor, for use as a pawn to increase his own personal power.
Plot
The EnterpriseUSS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
arrives at Ligon II to acquire a vaccine needed to combat an outbreak of Anchilles fever on Styris IV. The crew, having little information on the Ligonian culture, finds it to be similar to that of ancient Africa following strict customs of status. Specifically, while the men in their culture rule society, the land itself is controlled by the women. Beaming onto the Enterprise with their own transporter technology to provide a sample of the vaccine for inspection, Lutan, the Ligonian leader, is impressed by Tasha Yar
Tasha Yar
Lieutenant Natasha "Tasha" Yar, played by Denise Crosby, is a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the fictional series, the character served as chief of security aboard the USS Enterprise-D for the first season....
's status as a security officer. Yar further demonstrates her combat skills for Lutan on the holodeck
Holodeck
A holodeck, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is a simulated reality facility located on starships and starbases. The first use of a "holodeck" by that name in the Star Trek universe was in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Encounter at Farpoint", although a conceptually...
. After a tour of the ship, Lutan and his party prepare to depart, but abduct Yar as they transport back to the surface. Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
demands that Lutan return Yar, considering the kidnapping an act of war, but receives no response from the planet. After consultation with his officers, Picard determines that Lutan took Yar in a "counting coup
Counting coup
Counting coup refers to the winning of prestige in battle, rather than having to prove a win by injuring one's opponent. Its earliest known reference is from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" where Laertes and Hamlet conduct a mock swordfight before King Claudius and Queen Gertrude...
" as a show of heroism. Upon communicating with Lutan in a more peaceful means, Lutan gives the crew permission to beam down to the planet and promises to return Yar after a banquet in his honor.
Lutan announces at the banquet that he will make Yar his "first one", surprising not only the Enterprise crew but also Yareena who believed she was already chosen to be Lutan's "first one". Yareena challenges Yar to a fight to the death to claim back the title of "first one"; Picard objects to the fight, but Lutan refuses to give the Enterprise the rest of the vaccine unless Yar participates. The crew investigates the combat ritual and find that the weapons used are coated with a lethal poison, and also that it is Yareena's wealth to which Lutan owes his position. Picard prepares to have Yar beamed to the Enterprise should she be harmed in the battle. As the match progresses, both Yareena and Yar are equally skilled, but Yar eventually lands a strike on Yareena. Yar quickly covers Yareena and orders the transport of both of them to the Enterprise against the demands of Lutan. Aboard the ship, Dr. Crusher
Beverly Crusher
Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D. , played by actress Gates McFadden, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent spinoff films...
reaches Yareena moments after death, but is able to counteract the poison and revive her. When Lutan demands to know the fate of Yareena, Crusher reveals that Yareena died, thus ceding the match to Yar and breaking the "first one" bond. Yareena is now free to select a new mate; she chooses Hagon, one of Lutan's bodyguards, and effectively strips Lutan of his position of power. Hagon lets Yar go and gives the Enterprise their full supply of vaccine.
External links
- Code of Honor reviewed by Wil WheatonWil WheatonRichard William "Wil" Wheaton III is an American actor and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me and Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers...
(Wesley CrusherWesley CrusherWesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
) - Code of Honor rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido