History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E21SoldiersOfTheEmpire

* BecomingTheMask: The whole crew becomes the Klingon ProudWarriorRace mask toward the end.
* BeneathTheMask: We are given a glimpse of what Klingons are like under their swaggering and find that they are grumbling soldiers who hate their job [[MirroringFactions as much as humans do.]]

--> '''Dax:''' On this trip Leskit, my bed is as empty as yours. [[DeadpanSnarker But mine is]] [[PunctuatedForEmphasis empty by choice.]]

* [[TheDrunkenSailor Drunken Spacer]]: Klingons, whenever they get a chance.
* DuelToTheDeath: Averted. Both Martok and Worf survive.

* EyepatchOfPower: Martok. He rejects Bashir's offer to replace his eye.

* {{Flynning}}: Worf swings his knife wide during the fight, which is dramatic but leaves him wide-open for a stab. It turns out this was deliberate, as Martok brings it up at the end.

* FutureSlang: Par'Mach'Ai which is Klingon for LoveInterest.

* PlanetOfHats: Discussed. Some of the [=DS9=] crew are incredulous at the thought of cowardly Klingons, but Dax explains that Klingons are like any other race, and not all of them live up to their own ideals. And as we later see, the crew of the ''Rotarran'' are pretty far from the ProudWarriorRace Worf exemplifies.
* ProudWarriorRace: Klingons obviously. However something of a reconstruction. Klingons have to be inspired to remember that they are a proud warrior race before they act like it.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Martok [[KeepingTheHandicap refuses to give up]] his [[EyepatchOfPower Skinflap of Power]]. "I-do-not-want-an-artificial eye!"

* ShellShockedVeteran: Martok, also the crew of the ''Rotarran''.
* SliceOfLife: Much of this is really about showing life aboard a Klingon ship.

* TheWorfEffect: {{Invoked}} by [[TropeNamer Worf]] himself--he lets Martok win their duel to help him get his groove back.

Upon returning from captivity Martok is given a new command, the run-down bird of prey ''Rotarran''. His mission is to rescue a Klingon ship lost patroling the border. As they set out Worf is asked to come along as first officer, and Dax volunteers to come along as well.

They soon find that the crew's spirits are down through lack of victory and lack of, well, [[IncrediblyLamePun spirits]]. The second ailment at least is solved when Dax provides a large supply of blood-wine for the crew, but that hardly solves the problem. And being Klingons, low morale can easily lead to violence.

Another problem comes up when they find Martok's morale is down; indeed he seems to have had his courage crushed by his captivity. The first indication is when they spot a Jem'Hadar ship and Martok refuses to pursue. Worf rationalizes this by saying they needed to continue on their mission. Whereupon Dax points out that that would be true on a Starfleet vessel but here on a Klingon ship that is almost cause for mutiny. A chance for a token victory absolutely cannot be thrown away and Martok's judgment if not his courage must be questioned.

They continue their voyage until they reach the border and find the distressed ship. Whereupon Martok again refuses battle. This time is enough. Worf challenges Martok for command. During the fight Worf deliberately lets his guard down. Whereupon Martok wins the fight but spares Worf's life. In his excitement at his victory, Martok gathers himself together and leads the ''Rotarran'' to victory completing his mission and destroying a nearby Jem'Hadar ship in the process. When they return, Martok is grateful to Worf for helping him regain his courage and offers to adopt him into his clan which Worf accepts.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: While Worf is away, Julian has the job of Intelligence Officer.

* BeneathTheMask: We are given a glimpse of what Klingons are like under their swaggering and find that they are grumbling soldiers who hate their job [[NotSoDifferent as much as humans do.]]

* KlingonPromotion: A conversation between Miles and Dax clarifies that this rule is ''not'' intended for personal advancement, but the good of the ship. Any Klingon may challenge his superior officer if he believes he's not fit for duty.

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Martok reads out the crew's disciplinary reports in disgust, naming things like inattention to detail, tardiness, dereliction of duty, and ''insufficiently aggressive''.

* WorthyOpponent: One of the Klingons wears a necklace of Cardassian neck bones and speaks admirably of the Cardassian foes he killed.

* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Martok refuses to give up his [[EyepatchOfPower Skinflap of Power]]. "I-do-not-want-an-artificial eye!"

* KlingonPromotion: Any Klingon may challenge his superior officer if he believes he's not fit for duty.

* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Martok refuses to give up his EyepatchOfPower. "I-do-not-want-an-artificial eye!"

* ChekhovsLecture: Worf tells Sisko that back at [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E15ByInfernosLight the Dominion prison camp]], he and Martok had a moment of ''tova'dok'', or understanding, that gave Worf the will to keep fighting. They share another such moment on the ''Rotarran'' during their DuelToTheDeath.

* BreadEggsMilkSquick: Martok reads out the crew's disciplinary reports in disgust, naming things like inattention to detail, tardiness, dereliction of duty, and ''insufficiently aggressive''.

* EyepatchOfPower: Martok

* FieryRedhead: Tavana

* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The ''Rotarran''

* TakeAThirdOption: Worf does this when faced with the choice of not challenging Martok and letting the crew descend into bloodlust and kill each other, or challenging Martok and killling him. He challenges Martok and deliberately throws the fight, to both remind Martok of what it's like to be a warrior and to let him keep his honor. Martok rewards Worf by admitting him into the House of Martok at the end.

* BattleCouple: Worf and Jadzia, Also two Klingon crew members, Tavana and Ortakan.

* EveryoneComesBackFantasyPartyEnding: What do Klingons do when they win a battle? Do they [[WarriorPoet write poetry or philosophical musings about the whole thing?]] Do they pay tribute to their [[WorthyOpponent vanquished foes]]? Well they may do these things. But the first thing Klingons do when they return from battle is to get ''rip-roarin' drunk'' together.

** ''On this trip Leskit, my bed is as empty as yours. [[DeadpanSnarker But mine is]] [[PunctuatedForEmphasis empty by choice.]]''

* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: The ''Rotarran'' at the end. Earlier not so much.

* HowDidYouKnowIDidnt