Season 4 has had a lot of Chief O'Brien and that isn't a bad thing. This episode about not being able to let go of the hate and mistrust developed in war is good both as a story and for what it does to expand the Chief's character. It also introduces the Cardassians and along with them the idea that they aren't to be trusted. It also introduces and marks the final appearance of Cardassian facial hair and that is probably for the best for everyone. Picard is amazing as always with two dramatic backturnings, both to disgraced captains.
The story opens with the Enterprise peacefully mapping a sector near the border with the Cardassians who only recently signed a peace treaty with the Federation. We also get to see Miles and Keiko attempting to enjoy breakfast together but Miles doesn't seem to find the idea of rice and seaweed to be enough to count as breakfast. Suddenly the ship rocks and red alert sounds and Miles has to rush to his station. A Cardassian ship has appeared and opened fire. Picard manages to out maneuver them and knocks out their weapons. The Cadassian captain hails them and explains a Federation ship just destroyed a Cardassian science station. After some negotiation Gul Macet agrees to come over to the Enterprise to observe the investigation. Starfleet has figured out it was the USS Phoenix under the command of captain Maxwell. They don't know why he attacked but the Enterprise is to investigate and stop him.
It turns out Miles served with Maxwell during the Cardassian war so he gets to come to the briefing and explain that Maxwell is a good captain but he lost his family in a Cardassian raid. You don't need to be empathic to tell O'Brien still isn't comfortable around the Cardassians and he refuses to share a drink with one of their engineers. They locate the Phoenix and it is closing on a Cardassian transport ship. Picard reluctantly gives its transponder codes to Gul Macet but Maxwell out maneuvers the intercepting Cardassian ship and destroys it. O'Brien finally has that drink with the Cardassian and explains how he had to kill a Carsassian soldier at close range to defend civilians once and how he hates what that made him into.
The Enterprise intercepts the Phoenix and Maxwell beams over and tries to explain to Picard that the Cardassians are building military bases, one of which he destroyed. Picard however is only there to tell him to follow the Enterprise to starbase where he will face charges. Maxwell agrees but of course runs off after another transport ship as soon as he gets back to his ship. He insists Picard board the transport ship or he will destroy it, but Picard tells him he will destroy the Phoenix rather than do that. It gets tense and O'Brien even beams to the Phoenix and finally convinces Maxwell to surrender. The closing is a meeting between Gul Macet and Picard which seems cordial at first, but Picard explains he knows Maxwell was right about the bases and to cut that shit out.
Review: Not a top ten of all time episode, but tense with good character pieces. Picard is both a man of peace and a firm diplomat. And the O'Brien family food struggles somehow is more interesting it seems like it should be.
7 out of 10
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