Redemption II (episode)

As the House of Duras is nearing victory over Worf and the forces of Gowron, Starfleet, led by Picard, works to expose Romulan interference in the Klingon Civil War. (Season Premiere)

Teaser
Kurn's ship, the Hegh'ta, with Worf now aboard as tactical officer, is narrowly escaping destruction by two other Birds-of-Prey near a sun. Most of the bridge crew lie dead, and the Hegh'ta is losing shield strength fast. With no weapons left to fight, Kurn instead uses a clever technique of engaging warp drive near a star's surface, causing a solar flare which destroys the two pursuers.

Meanwhile, Captain Picard meets with several senior Starfleet flag officers, including Fleet Admiral Shanthi, to discuss the Klingon civil war. Picard notes that all three engagements occurring in the past two weeks were won by ships loyal to the Duras family. Shanthi reminds Picard that those facts are none of which the Federation is concerned because the Klingon civil war is by definition an internal matter of the Empire. Picard agrees with that, however he points out that if the Duras family is being aided by the Romulan Empire then it is very much a concern of the Federation. Picard points out that the Romulans have tried to destroy the Klingon-Federation Alliance for the last 20 years and the Duras family has been secretly conspiring with them at the same time. Picard asks Shanthi if it seems strange that the Duras' are able to overpower Gowron's forces at almost every turn. Shanthi speculates that the Duras family may have better leadership but Picard states it's also possible that they're getting help. Picard reminds the admiralty that the Romulans are willing to take huge risks to gain any advantage they can over the Federation and now, with the future of the Klingon Empire in the balance, can the Federation seriously believe that they will now just stand back and watch?

Convinced of his argument, Shanthi asks Picard what he is proposing; which the captain asks that they send a fleet to the Klingon-Romulan border, engaging in no offensive action, but create a blockade to stop the flow of supplies from the Romulans to the Duras family. Picard further explains that the problem of detecting ships equipped with cloaking devices is solved by his chief engineer, who has developed the tachyon detection grid, in which several ships create a tachyon field and any cloaked vessel that passes through it would be detected. Shanthi tells Picard that she'll have to clear it with the Federation Council first but in the meantime to go ahead and assemble the fleet. Commander Riker smiles at his captain but also wonders if Picard knows what he's doing. A feeling the captain shares himself.

Act One
The plan is approved easily enough, but requires many vessels to cover the entire Romulan/Klingon border. During a briefing, Riker explains to Picard that Starfleet is spread pretty thin over the quadrant, and Picard is only able to round up 23 vessels in total, including the USS Endeavour (NCC-71805), the USS Akagi, the USS Tian An Men, the USS Hermes, the USS Hood (Excelsior class), the USS Excalibur (NCC-26517), the USS Hornet, and the USS Sutherland. La Forge acknowledges that while the nets can work with this many ships, the more ships means they can cover a wider area. Picard adds that the Tian An Men, the Sutherland and the Hermes may not be completely ready as far as the yard superintendent is concerned but they're going anyway. Picard assigns Riker and La Forge to the Excalibur as captain and first officer as their crew was reassigned when the ship put in for repairs. Picard tells them that he wants the fleet ready by 0900 hours and La Forge and Riker then depart. Data remains for a moment and asks Picard why he wasn't assigned a command. Picard tells him that he thought he would need Data still on Enterprise. Data comments on how Picard has mentioned a lack of senior officers that are available for this assignment. At first, Data thinks that Picard may not consider it time for an android to command a starship so as he plans on setting out ways to improve himself, Picard interrupts him and tells him that the Sutherland is in need of a captain and he can't think of anyone better for the job.

Meanwhile, Worf and Kurn celebrate the war by drinking with a number of Klingons, many of whom support the House of Duras. Worf arrives and Kurn introduces him to Captain Larg, who commanded the squadron that tried to destroy them the day before. Larg insults Worf by implying that Worf isn't worthy of wearing a Klingon uniform. Worf is incensed and tries to attack Larg but Kurn restrains him, telling him that the capital city is neutral ground and that Larg's men are all around them, as are Kurn's. Kurn and Larg then both pick up a glass of bloodwine and tell each other to die well, then throw the glasses away and then Larg leaves. Worf asks Kurn if he really is drinking with their enemies. Kurn ask him how many of these warriors are with them and how many with the Duras family. Kurn tells them when they meet in battle they will fight to the death but here in the capital city they are all Klingons, all warriors. Worf starts to give Kurn a status report on the repair of the Hegh'ta, Kurn asks him if only duty is in his heart then tells him that they all have duties and responsibilities but at the same time he reminds Worf that they are all Klingons, all warriors, fighting in a glorious war. Kurn asks Worf to contemplate the fact that they will fight battles soon that others can only dream of and it is time to celebrate, for tomorrow they all may die. Kurn asks Worf to forget the status report and go with him and let them live the night together as if it were their last. Worf agrees and goes into the group of Klingons with Kurn. Over in a corner Lursa and B'Etor notice this and note that Worf is trying to be more like Kurn but that it's not working very well.

In drydock, the Sutherland is preparing to depart for the fleet. The ship's senior officer, Lieutenant Commander Chris Hobson oversees preparations for the ship to be ready for the fleet. Data enters the bridge and introduces himself to Hobson, and announces he is taking command of the vessel by order of Starfleet Command. Noting a lack of confidence, Hobson requests a transfer, stating his reasons, with the main one he doesn't think an android would be a good captain. Data sympathizes with Hobson, but denies his transfer.

Manning tactical, Chief O'Brien informs Picard that the last of the ships assigned has arrived and orders the fleet to get underway. The Enterprise heads towards the Klingon-Romulan border, with other Federation starships right behind.

Act Two
B'Etor shows impatience with Commander Sela, the Romulan commander who bears a strong resemblance to the late USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) security chief Natasha Yar. The convoy with supplies is late, but Sela gives them good news that Gowron's forces suffered another defeat in the Mempa system, and will not trouble their forces there. She assures her that the supplies will arrive. Lursa enters the room and informs Sela that a Federation fleet has left Starbase 234 on a course to Klingon territory, led by Picard. Toral becomes panic-stricken as he fears that the Federation might be preparing to help Gowron. Sela hushes him and orders her aide, General Movar, to return to Romulus with all available ships to a set of coordinates she provided. Lursa believes Starfleet is bluffing, since twenty starships are not enough for an invasion, but Sela speculates that Picard has an ulterior motive for this armada.

On Gowron's side, Gowron is given the news about the loss of a key sector. Furious, he says that they destroyed that supply base weeks ago. Kurn says that the Duras must be getting help, but another Klingon warrior steps in and declares non-confidence in his ability to lead, and challenges him. Gowron rises and accepts the challenge, with Worf objecting, stating that the enemy is the Duras. Worf intervenes in the challenge by restraining the warrior, allowing Gowron to run him through with his d'k tahg ending the challenge, and in his words: "Now the war can continue!"

Elsewhere, the Federation fleet arrives at the coordinates. O'Brien picks up unusual patterns on his sensors, which Picard speculates could be cloaked Romulan ships. He hails the Excalibur and orders Riker to deploy the fleet and spread the net.

On the Sutherland, Hobson informs Data they've reached the designated coordinates. Before the crew can play their role, the ship's starboard power coupling overloads, flooding several decks with radiation, a sign that the ship was nowhere near ready for deployment. Hobson takes the phasers and torpedoes off-line, but is countermanded by Data, who reminds him that he cannot suggest a course of action without consulting his commanding officer. Hobson replies that he is trying to save the lives of the people on the decks, but reactivates the weapons, only to have them deactivated again by Data's orders.

With the fleet in position, Picard asks La Forge how long it will take for the Romulans to detect the grid. Since their sensors are as good as theirs, not long. Despite that they will have the grid detected, Picard orders the network to be activated, regardless.

On board the Romulan ship, Sela and her aide picks up the increased in tachyon emissions from the Federation ships, and reminds Sela that they will be detected, cloaked or not. Sela advises her aide that she will have to convince Picard to withdraw.

O'Brien picks up activity, and informs that a Romulan Warbird is decloaking, and asks to raise shields. Picard says no and the Romulan ship hails the Enterprise, which Picard responds. As Sela's image appears, Picard starts and answers with one word. "Tasha?", with Deanna Troi looking on, as if she has just seen a ghost. Sela introduces herself and tells Picard that the woman he knew as Tasha Yar, was her mother.

Act Three
Sela threatens Picard, telling him that deploying a fleet of this nature along their border is an act of aggression, and that he has 20 hours to take the fleet back to Federation space or risk a Romulan attack. In the conference room, Troi senses no deception and believes Sela's claim of being Tasha's daughter. Beverly Crusher, on the other hand, has no medical records of Yar ever being pregnant. Picard suspects she may be a clone or was surgically altered to look Romulan. Picard decides to maintain the blockade and leave the next move to the Romulans. As soon as Troi and Crusher leave, Guinan arrives and converses with Picard about Sela. She then asks him if he remembers what happened to the previous starship Enterprise. Picard recalls the Enterprise-C defending a Klingon outpost on Narendra III from the Romulans. He even acknowledges hearing stories about survivors being taken prisoner on Romulus, but believes they're only rumors. Guinan confirms that there were survivors and Tasha Yar was one of them. Furthermore, since Picard allowed Yar to transfer to the Enterprise-C, Guinan believes he may be responsible for the birth of Sela in the first place. Just as with the Narendra III massacre, Picard insists that what Guinan is suggesting is impossible, but Guinan simultaneously acknowledges the impossibility of what happened and insists that it did in fact happen. As a result, Picard then decides to arrange a meeting with Commander Sela.

Worf argues with Kurn, saying that Gowron should forbid anymore challenges until the war is ended, but Kurn states that it's their way, and asks if he would challenge Gowron, which Worf flatly refuses. Kurn also tells him not to speak of it and reminds him that he convinced him to follow Gowron, and suggests that if it doesn't seem right, then he made the wrong choice to wear the uniform. Kurn stomps out of the room, while supporters of the Duras capture Worf.

Act Four
Sela meets with Picard in the conference room and reminds him that time is short. Picard assures her that Starfleet has no hostile intentions, which is real comfort to Sela, and mocks that she can tell her superiors that a Federation fleet is at their border for humanitarian assistance. Picard baits her to try to run the blockade, but Sela knows he didn't bring her here to discuss their military situation and answers the one question on his mind: "How could Tasha Yar be [her] mother?"

She explains that a Romulan general saw Tasha, who was about to be executed along with other survivors of the Enterprise-C, and became enamored with her. He offered Tasha an agreement: the others' lives would be spared if she would become his consort. A year later, Sela was born. Then, four years afterward, on one fateful night, Tasha attempted to take Sela away from her home. As a result, she was executed, even after she was given a home and a child. Everything human about Sela died that day with her mother. Now she's only Romulan. However, Picard doesn't believe her story and it will not influence his judgment the next time they meet. Sela then warns him he has fourteen hours to leave the border, and returns to her ship.

Meanwhile, Lursa and B'Etor offer Worf to join them so that together, they could rule the Klingon Empire, but he refuses, knowing the Duras family never cared about honor or loyalty, only power. A moment later, Sela appears on the viewscreen, demanding to know the strengths and capabilities the Federation fleet has. She then has one of her officers take Worf away for interrogation.

Picard devises a new strategic plan, considering the options to either withdraw from the border, or fight the Romulan fleet is unacceptable: if Gowron were to launch a full attack on the forces of Duras, the Romulans would have no choice but to cross the line to grant assistance. He tells Gowron of this, and he cooperates, but closes the communique by telling Picard that Worf was captured and hopes "he dies well".

Riker is brought on board from the Excalibur and Picard explains Starfleet's part in the plan: The Excalibur will fall back with engine problems while taking the Akagi and the Hornet to a position chosen by Picard. This will allow a small hole in the network, which would create a window opportunity for Sela's forces to move in. Once they come across, the Enterprise and the Tian An Men will swoop in and close the gap, exposing the Romulan connection. Riker smiles at the plan and returns to the Excalibur to execute it.

In the meantime, Sela is informed that Gowron's loyalist forces have attacked three Duras controlled sectors and the sisters are nearing defeat. Annoyed, she asks if there's a way to circumvent Starfleet's detection grid, and her aide tells her that by flooding a point in the grid, they could disrupt that portion of the grid. Just then, they see one of the starships leave the blockade line, which Sela sees that Picard is struggling with the net, thus creating a window to allow the ships to go through. Picard's window to be exact, as Sela sees through the tactics, and doesn't take it. Instead, she directs the pulse at the weakest spot: the point location of the Sutherland, which is commanded by an "android captain".

Act Five
The attack on Duras works, and the Romulans cross the line with 15 cloaked ships. Picard signals the fleet to standby, smiling triumphantly that his strategy worked. But that triumph is stopped by Sela as she disrupts the network. O'Brien points to the Sutherland and Picard informs Data about the situation. The resulting disruption makes the network ineffective in a radius of ten million kilometers around the Sutherland. Realizing that's where the Romulans will go, Picard orders the fleet to fall back and regroup at Gamma Eridon.

Hobson receives the orders and Data signals the acknowledgment and orders the helmsman to engage at warp 9.3. While the ship is en route, Data heads to a nearby LCARS terminal, and begins searching through the database. A curious Hobson sits beside him and asks questions. The resulting disruption may have caused the Romulan ships to be tagged with a residual tachyon signature - a theory that the Sutherland can't prove, according to Hobson. Data then orders all stop and returns to his command chair. Hobson protests, reminding him that the fleet was ordered to Gamma Eridon. Data explains to the commander that those signatures won't last long and it will be too late once the fleet is deployed, and orders him to reconfigure the sensors to detect ionized particle traces, which Hobson says that the entire area's been flooded with tachyon particles, making it impossible to find whatever they're looking for. Data acknowledges the difficulty, and also adds an order to bring the phasers back online. That draws another protest by Hobson, indicating that doing so will flood three decks with radiation. Data says when necessary, they will initiate radiation protocol. That's when Hobson angrily objects to the orders, saying that Data "doesn't give a damn about the lives he's throwing away". Data snaps back at Hobson, threatening to relieve him of duty if he doesn't carry out his orders. Hobson reluctantly agrees to carry them out.

Back on the Enterprise, O'Brien informs Picard about the Sutherland, which seems to annoy Picard. He orders the chief to open a channel to the Sutherland.

Hobson asks Data if he's going to answer the Enterprise, but Data ignores the hail, and instead orders a sensor sweep of the area, and focuses on the tachyon signatures. This task seems pointless according to Hobson, who says it "could be anything", and that they have no way of knowing if the Romulans are out there. Determined, Data orders the photon torpedo warhead yields reconfigured to high energy burst level six. According to Hobson, this level won't do any damage, but Data orders him to do it. Once the torpedoes are ready, they receive a message from Picard, reminding him he was ordered to rendezvous with the fleet at Gamma Eridon. Data asks the captain to standby, and orders Hobson to fire. The commander ignores his orders, but Data sharply turns and demands Hobson to fire. Annoyed, the commander complies.

The Sutherland fires three photon torpedoes and scores a hit on three cloaked Romulan Warbirds, causing them to reveal themselves before the Nebula-class starship. The connection is revealed! Defeated, Sela orders the fleet to return to Romulan territory. Distressed, Movar asks what he is supposed to tell the Duras sisters. Sela curtly replies, "They're on their own."

Data looks over Hobson's console and finds the Romulans are heading back to Romulus. Data orders a full report to the flagship, and the phasers off-line for radiation cleanup. Hobson complies.

The Duras' stronghold is under bombardment as an anxious Toral wonders what is keeping them. The Duras sisters barge in and admit defeat, indicating the Romulans never came. The Romulan soldier brings in Worf, coughing and weakened from his interrogation. B'Etor spits in his face, and Lursa orders the Romulan to kill him. Unexpectedly, Worf attacks the guard and the enduring struggle forces B'Etor and Lursa to transport out before they are captured by Gowron's forces, leaving Toral stranded and at the mercy of Kurn, who is the first Klingon to break through the door, seeing both Worf and the unconscious Romulan lying beside him.

While the Enterprise is en route to Qo'noS, after sending the rest of the fleet back to Federation space, Data presents himself for disciplinary action in Picard's ready room, stating that, while his actions ultimately won the day, he is still guilty of disobeying a direct order. However, Picard says that Starfleet is not interested in officers who blindly follow orders - such officers have caused too many tragedies in history. Data made a careful analysis of the situation in front of him, and acted on it; his actions were appropriate, and Picard has noted as much in Data's record. He also congratulates Data by saying "nicely done".

In the High Council chamber, Picard presents a full report to the High Council about Starfleet's encounter with the Romulans. Gowron thanks him for his help, then asks him to stay and witness a rare event. Toral is brought into the chamber, and grants Worf the "honor" of killing him, in revenge for his family's crimes against the House of Mogh. But Worf stuns the chamber by refusing to kill a boy who, despite his other failings, is innocent of his father's crimes. Kurn asks him what is wrong, "it's the Klingon Way!" Worf replies, "I know, but it is not my way."  Gowron says that Kurn may do it instead, and Kurn appears all too eager to, before Worf interjects that Gowron gave him Toral's life, and Worf has chosen to spare it. Gowron, stunned, accepts Worf's wishes, and Toral is allowed to go free. He then turns to Picard and asks to return to duty. Picard happily grants the request, and the two beam out of the Great Hall.

Memorable Quotes
"You are lucky, Kurn, but luck always runs out. Someday I will stand over your broken corpse and drink to the victory of the Duras!"
 * - Captain Larg

"The time for glory is here. It is not a time to worry about stabilizers.  It is a time to celebrate, for tomorrow, we all may die!"
 * - Kurn, to Worf

"I understand your concerns... request denied."
 * - Data, refusing Christopher Hobson's request for transfer because of Data being an android

"What is it you propose, Captain?"
 * -Fleet Admiral Shanthi, to Captain Picard (4:35)

"Silence the child, or send him away!"
 * - Sela, on Toral

"Some would call it good leadership." (4:16)
 * - Fleet Admiral Shanthi, to Captain Picard

"Maybe they have better leaders! I say you have failed as our leader, Gowron!"
 * - Kulge

"The enemy is the Duras! We are at war!"

(Worf enters the fight, Gowron stabs his opponent)

"Now the war...can continue!"
 * - Worf and Gowron

"Everything in me that was human died that day with my mother. All that's left now is Romulan.  Never doubt that."

(smiling) "Doubts? I'm full of them."
 * - Sela and Picard

"Mr. Hobson! You will carry out my orders or I will relieve you of duty!"

"...Yes, sir."
 * - Data reprimanding Hobson for challenging his authority.

"Another message coming in; it's Captain Picard."

(Picard over speakers)"Mr. Data, you were ordered to rendezvous with the fleet at Gamma Eridon. Acknowledge."

"Stand by, Captain. Mr. Hobson, prepare to fire."

"Didn't you hear?! Captain Picard wants us–"

"Fire."

(Hobson stares at Data. Data looks expectantly back at him)

"Fire!"
 * - Hobson, Picard, and Data

"The claim, 'I was only following orders' has been used to justify too many tragedies in our history. Starfleet does not want officers who will blindly follow orders without analyzing the situation.  Your actions were appropriate for the circumstances, and I have noted that in your record."

(Data turns to leave)

"And Mr. Data? Nicely done!"
 * - Captain Picard, to Data

"One day the House of Duras will rules the Empire!"

"Perhaps... but not today.''"


 * - Toral and Gowron

"Kill him!"

"No!"

"But it is our way! It is the Klingon way!"

"I know. But it is not my way."
 * - Kurn and Worf on the latter's refusal to kill Toral

"This boy has done me no harm, and I will not kill him for the crimes of his family!"

"Then it falls to Kurn!"

"No! No, you gave me his life, and I have spared it."

"As you wish."
 * - Worf and Gowron

Story and production

 * The conclusion to the cliff-hanger created by was only written after the staff returned from hiatus. Writer Ronald D. Moore recalled, "I had more fun writing Part II than I. We knew there were a lot of stories to tell but I didn't want to lose any of those threads, and the Data thing was the most fun of all of them. I wish there were a couple more minutes because you watch it and it blazes along, [but] it was a little constrictive. The parallels to the coup in the Soviet Union was very ironic. It was something that resonated around in my mind. Part II had a little more life than part I." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * Michael Piller remarked, "I've come to think of Part One as Shakespearean-style royal drama, -type intrigue at the highest levels. Here we add[ed] Data's command dilemma and the subplot of Sela that Denise Crosby had come to us with." (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
 * According to Crosby, "The part of Sela sort of came about from me sitting around in my house one day thinking about how much fun it was for me to go back and do, and it was so much fun that I thought what else can I do? I thought it was pretty well established that Lt. Yar and Lt. Castillo on "Yesterday's Enterprise" had something going so perhaps they had a child or Yar was pregnant when she went back into the past to fight her final battle. And I sort of thought it out and it seemed to really make sense, and there were no flaws."
 * "So my original intention was that Lt. Yar would have a daughter that was raised by Romulans and would grow up to try to actually be a Romulan. So I brought this up and the producers really liked the idea and they sort of toyed with it for a while. A few months went by and I got a call and they said we like your idea but we just can't make sense of that Lt. Yar got pregnant by Castillo. We'll have it so that Yar was captured, they didn't all die in the battle, the ship was captured and she was taken by a Romulan general." (Trek: The Next Generation Crew Book)


 * Moore noted some problems in incorporating the Sela plot into the show. "It was tough to write and I knew it would be confusing and that, in essence, is the difficulty with doing continuity on the show. It's fun and gives us the sense of being a real place, but you have to explain it to people who haven't seen all those other episodes. It was not an easy explanation – that all came from Denise. She came up with the concept, which I rolled my eyes at the first time I heard. But as we started to get into story on 'Redemption II,' I needed some sort of Romulan thing to actually happen this time since we kept saying they're doing this stuff. It just seemed natural. It fit and we did it." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * For director David Carson, one of the highlights of the show was creating the bar scene. He recalled, "Rick Berman encouraged me to invent new ways of behaving, which is why they banged their heads together as a game; or arm wrestling with pointed daggers attached to their wrists. It was totally Klingon and it's an interesting world to work in. When you have the good fortune to have an episode like 'Redemption,' you are able to make this wonderful contrast between the clean, optimistic world of the Enterprise, and the down and dirty world of the Klingons. That's just great for a story-teller." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * Christopher Hobson was named for a longtime friend of Ronald D. Moore, while the "Keith" and "Terry" aboard the USS Sutherland were named for Moore's brothers. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion)
 * "Redemption II" was filmed between Monday and Wednesday  on Paramount Stage 5, 8, 9, and 16. The scenes involving Gates McFadden and Whoopi Goldberg in the observation lounge were filmed later and were not part of the principal photography. 2nd Unit insert shots of the hand doubles were filmed on Monday  on Paramount Stage 16. The visual effects unit at Image G filmed the solar surface and effects scenes on . The detailed effects creation was decribed by Robert Legato in the TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Five" ("Visual Effects").
 * First UK airdate: 21 December 1994

Continuity

 * At the end of, it was stated that Worf was to be tactical officer aboard Gowron's ship, but here he appears serving aboard Kurn's ship, the . Ronald D. Moore commented, "A lot of time had passed between the events in Part I and Part II, so we felt there was enough of a time cut there to justify Worf having switched assignments. What really happened was that we didn't even come up with the story for Part II until after hiatus... and we didn't have the idea for putting Kurn and Worf on the same ship until then."
 * Sela's origins, revealed here, arise from the events of.
 * This is the only episode of the Sela arc where she is referred to by name.
 * This and are the only two-part episodes that do not use the traditional "Part II" suffix on its title. In this case, the episode is known simply as "Redemption II" instead of "Redemption, Part II."
 * Footage of the Klingon Bird-of-Prey flying towards the Sun is reused from.
 * Footage of the USS Excalibur along with the Enterprise-D was reused from "Yesterday's Enterprise".
 * The Duras sisters are not seen again until the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode.
 * Tony Todd makes his next and final appearance as Kurn in the DS9 fourth season episode.
 * The Deep Space Nine fifth season opener reveals that Martok fought on Gowron's side at the Battle of Mempa.
 * Toral is next seen in the Deep Space Nine fourth season episode (played by Rick Pasqualone), where he tries to take over the Empire by attempting to steal the Sword of Kahless from Worf, Kor and Jadzia Dax.
 * Having served as Captain Benjamin Maxwell's tactical officer aboard the USS Rutledge, Chief O'Brien appropriately fills the same role on the Enterprise during Worf's absence.
 * Data claims to have 26 years of Starfleet service.

Reception

 * Rick Berman remarked, "It was a terrific episode. We've played out our Klingon political trilogy to a point where we can take a rest for a while. But I thought it was delightful and David [Carson] did a marvelous job." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * Regarding the introduction of Sela, Michael Piller commented, "Sela was not created to be a new regular character on the show. I would disagree that her [Denise Crosby's] return was botched. I found it quite effective, I found Sela's backstory to be quite emotionally touching. The only objection that I had to the show was that in the critical moment of the fifth act, exposure of the Romulan's charge, we missed one important shot that didn't sell the remarkable nature of what Data had accomplished. Otherwise, I rather liked the opening episode of the season." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * Actor Michael Dorn noted, "I thought it was a good opportunity for me. But they also packed a lot of things into one episode...a lot of things. It was too much. I thought the Data story should have been a whole episode; it was an interesting story in which he encounters prejudice and that's a really strong point that needed more time, but they chose not to. There was also the story of how I get back to the Enterprise and the whole thing about Denise Crosby. That's three big stories for one episode, but they're the people who write it and are in charge." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * Brent Spiner recalled, "Some fans wrote and said they thought Data was really emotional in 'Redemption'. I didn't think so at all. What I was playing was a character who was in a command situation for the first time and the only model he had was the man he served under, Captain Picard. So when he yelled, 'Do it!', it wasn't because he was emotional but because he thought it would engender a response because that's what Picard would have done." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)
 * A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 18, pp. 7-10.

Video and DVD releases

 * Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 51, 
 * In feature-length form, as part of the UK VHS release Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Full Length TV Movies: Volume 3, catalog number VHR 4103,
 * UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 5.1,
 * As part of the TNG Season 5 DVD collection
 * As part of the Star Trek: Fan Collective - Klingon collection
 * In feature-length form, as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Complete TV Movies collection

Starring

 * Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
 * Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker

Also starring

 * LeVar Burton as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
 * Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
 * Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
 * Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
 * Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

Guest stars

 * Denise Crosby as Sela
 * Tony Todd as Kurn
 * Barbara March as Lursa
 * Gwynyth Walsh as B'Etor
 * J.D. Cullum as Toral
 * Robert O'Reilly as Gowron
 * Michael G. Hagerty as Larg
 * Fran Bennett as Shanthi
 * Nicholas Kepros as Movar
 * Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien
 * Timothy Carhart as Christopher Hobson


 * And

Special guest star

 * Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan

Co-stars

 * Jordan Lund as Kulge
 * Stephen James Carver as Helmsman
 * Majel Barrett as Computer Voice (credit only)

Uncredited co-stars

 * Acerno as Klingon warrior
 * Majel Barrett as Narrator
 * Karen Baxter as operations division ensign
 * Beckett as
 * Dead Klingon officer
 * Klingon warrior
 * Bently as Romulan officer
 * Thomas J. Booth as Klingon warrior
 * Chuck Borden as Klingon kidnapper
 * Michael Braveheart as Klingon officer
 * R. Bruce as Klingon warrior
 * Cooper as Reel
 * Tony Cruz as Terry
 * de Haan as Romulan officer
 * Hal Donahue as Starfleet Rear Admiral
 * L. Ferarda as USS Sutherland technician
 * Gina Gallante as USS Sutherland science division officer
 * Keith Gearhart as science division officer
 * M. Gonzalez as USS Sutherland technician
 * Clifton Jones as Craig
 * Arvo Katajisto as Klingon warrior
 * Mark Lentry as Klingon officer
 * Tim McCormack as Bennett (stock footage)
 * Moore as Klingon warrior
 * Michael Moorehead as Klingon warrior
 * Tom Morga as Romulan guard
 * Moriarty as
 * Dead Klingon officer
 * Klingon warrior
 * O'Mara as Romulan officer
 * Rex Pierson as Klingon kidnapper
 * Greg Poole as Klingon warrior
 * Keith Rayve as
 * Command division ensign
 * Klingon warrior
 * D. Schwartz as USS Sutherland technician
 * Ben Slack as K'Tal
 * R. Swain as USS Sutherland command division officer
 * Watts as Klingon warrior
 * Young as Klingon warrior
 * Unknown performers as
 * Female operations division ensign (stock footage)
 * Female ops ensign

Stunt double

 * Rusty McClennon as stunt double for Michael Dorn

Stand-ins and photo doubles

 * David Keith Anderson - stand-in for LeVar Burton
 * Cameron - stand-in for Gwynyth Walsh & photo double for Denise Crosby
 * Candace Crump - stand-in for Whoopi Goldberg
 * Wendy Davies - stand-in for Denise Crosby
 * Elliot Durant III - stand-in for Nicholas Kepros
 * Michael Echols - stand-in for Tony Todd
 * Krista - stand-in for Gwynyth Walsh
 * Nora Leonhardt - stand-in for Marina Sirtis
 * Tim McCormack - stand-in for Brent Spiner, Colm Meaney, J.D. Cullum, Ben Slack & Nicholas Kepros
 * Lorine Mendell - stand-in for Gates McFadden & Barbara March
 * Greg Poole - stand-in for Tony Todd
 * Joyce Robinson - stand-in for Fran Bennett
 * Richard Sarstedt - stand-in for Jonathan Frakes, Stephen James Carver, Michael G. Hagerty, Timothy Carhart, Robert O'Reilly & photo double for Nicholas Kepros
 * Dennis Tracy - stand-in for Patrick Stewart
 * James Washington - stand-in for Michael Dorn