Spoiler
The Doctor begins instructing the cadets on debate in preparation for an upcoming competition. Jay-den, finds the task especially difficult due to a fear of public speaking. News arrives that a Klingon transport, carrying the 8 remaining Houses, has crashed, and Jay-den's family may have been aboard. Turns out, Qo'noS was rendered uninhabitable when the dilithium reactors on the planet exploded during the Burn, and the remaining Klingons have become nomadic hunters. Jay-den remembers how his brother was the only one who understood his desire not to be a warrior, and would acquire Starfleet technology for him. Eventually he was killed when he tried to get a dermal regenerator. After failing to make his first kill during a hunt, and his father angerly failing to hit his mark, the family abandoned Jay-den.
The cadets decide they want to debate on the topic of the Klingon refugee crisis, which the Doctor is apprehensive about, but ultimately agrees, warning the cadets to keep to the facts of the situation, given the recent tragedy. Meanwhile, the Federation has a planet, Faan Alpha, that matches all the conditions as Qo'noS, which would be perfect for a new Klingon homeworld. But the leader of the remaining Houses, Obel Wochak, refuses, as the Klingons don't want Federation charity. Darem shows Jay-den a Khionian breathing technique to help him calm for the debate, but the debate still doesn't go well for the Klingon when things get personal between him and Caleb. Lura Thok talks to Jay-den, and tells him his father wouldn't have missed the shot just because he was angry, and that it was his way of allowing him to follow his own path. Jay-den retakes the debate stage, arguing if they want to help the Klingon's, they need to do it in a way that respects their culture.
Inspired by the cadet's argument, several Starfleet starships warp to Faan Alpha, where they inform Obel Wochak the Klingons are trespassing into Federation territory. Realizing the ploy, Obel calls in the Klingon fleet to battle Starfleet. Despite only causing a 5% drain to their shields, the Stafleet ships retreat, and the Klingons claim the planet for their "victory". Obel gives Jay-den a Klingon bow to symbolize his role in the conflict making him a Klingon warrior and tells him his family is still alive. Jay-den and Caleb reconcile.
The cadets decide they want to debate on the topic of the Klingon refugee crisis, which the Doctor is apprehensive about, but ultimately agrees, warning the cadets to keep to the facts of the situation, given the recent tragedy. Meanwhile, the Federation has a planet, Faan Alpha, that matches all the conditions as Qo'noS, which would be perfect for a new Klingon homeworld. But the leader of the remaining Houses, Obel Wochak, refuses, as the Klingons don't want Federation charity. Darem shows Jay-den a Khionian breathing technique to help him calm for the debate, but the debate still doesn't go well for the Klingon when things get personal between him and Caleb. Lura Thok talks to Jay-den, and tells him his father wouldn't have missed the shot just because he was angry, and that it was his way of allowing him to follow his own path. Jay-den retakes the debate stage, arguing if they want to help the Klingon's, they need to do it in a way that respects their culture.
Inspired by the cadet's argument, several Starfleet starships warp to Faan Alpha, where they inform Obel Wochak the Klingons are trespassing into Federation territory. Realizing the ploy, Obel calls in the Klingon fleet to battle Starfleet. Despite only causing a 5% drain to their shields, the Stafleet ships retreat, and the Klingons claim the planet for their "victory". Obel gives Jay-den a Klingon bow to symbolize his role in the conflict making him a Klingon warrior and tells him his family is still alive. Jay-den and Caleb reconcile.
Not a fan of the idea that the Klingons were nearly wiped out by the Burn. The writers are basically doing the same thing they did to the Romulans having their homeworld destroyed by a super nova, while forgetting both of these races had vast Empires that rival the Federation. And also somewhat reminiscent of Star Trek 6. Only, the Klingons were willing to talk and accept help in that situation... Anyway, the loss of their homeworld would be a big deal, but it shouldn't make them an endangered species given all the colonies and whatever else they'd have throughout their territory.
Daniels told Archer in an episode of Enterprise that the Klingons had joined the Federation by the 26th century. This episode would seem to indicate they remained their own separate Empire...
I don't understand why the Klingons in this episode reject any and all Federation technology. Sure, it plays into this episodes theme of the Klingons not wanting it to appear they are taking any charity... but a communication device (which simply plays a recording that Starfleet Academy is recruiting) and a dermal regenerator aren't exactly they most advanced of items. What happened to the Klingon's technology? They still have ships capable of warp, yet this episode makes it seem like they've regressed technologically. I think this is the first time we've seen a Klingon bow and arrow. Seemed odd we don't see a bladed weapon, although Jay-den's brother apparently got stabbed by a poisoned blade off screen.
Klingon families generally share the same forehead ridges, but all the members of Jay-den's family had different patterns. Apparently Klingons have also adopted last names. I wasn't sure before, with Jay-den being somewhat of an outsider, but this episode confirms it.
The episode makes a big deal about this one Klingon ship that crashes, which apparently had the last 8 Klingon Houses. I'm assuming they meant the last 8 Great Klingon Houses, given a whole Klingon fleet shows up at the end of the episode.
Lura Thok tells Jay-den her father is a member of the free Jem'Hadar. I'm hoping they continue to develop her backstory, because that sounds like an interesting development with the Dominion.
The USS Athena can separate the inner top section of the saucer from the rest of the ship, which apparently has its own warp drive, despite only having a visible impulse engine. So, why do they need nacelles?
I liked the solution they came up with at the end, but I wish they had dressed it up a bit more. It was too easy, and I don't think the Klingons would have been satisfied with such an easy victory.
This was the best episode of Starfleet Academy so far. A bit simple with the plot at times, but it felt like the most Star Trek-like story they've done.
