A Matter Of Honor ( episode ) Riker serves as an exchange officer on a Klingon warship . Summary . Teaser . The is passing Starbase 179 , where some replacement crew are due to come aboard . Riker and Wesley go down to the transporter room to meet the new arrivals . Among them is a Benzite who is participating in an Officer Exchange Program . At first Wes thinks it is his friend Mordock that he met on Relva VII , but he calls himself Mendon , telling Wes that they would look the same as they come from the same geostructure . He tells Riker he requested the assignment and that he feels he will be a great help to the " Enterprise " . Riker goes to the phaser range , where he and Captain Picard get in some phaser practice . Picard comments that Starfleet thinks it would be a good idea for someone from the " Enterprise " to participate in the exchange program . He also notes that there is a Klingon vessel , the IKS Pagh , in the area . Riker gets the idea , and volunteers to be the one to participate in the exchange because " nobody ' s done it before " . Act One . Riker talks to Worf about the assignment , asking him if it is true that one of the duties of the first officer is to assassinate his captain when he becomes weak or unfit . Worf confirms this , saying the system has worked successfully for the Klingons for centuries . On the bridge , Mendon walks around commenting on what the crew are doing and suggesting he has a more efficient way in a pompous manner . He mentions to Wesley that he intends to mention these observations to the captain . Later , Mendon notices something in a scan of the " Pagh " s hull . From the initial scan , it appears to be some form of subatomic life unknown to the computer . He decides to continue his analysis . In Ten Forward , Riker is testing out Klingon food such as pipius claw , heart of targ and " gagh " , watched by Katherine Pulaski . Picard arrives to wish him well , but isn ' t tempted by the Klingon food . Riker seems to enjoy it and the reactions of his crewmembers . The time has come to leave . On his way to the transporter room , Worf gives Riker an emergency transponder , just in case he gets into trouble . The " Pagh " arrives , commanded by Captain Kargan . As Riker prepares to beam over , Miles O ' Brien wishes him good luck and that he would not be interested in going . Act Two . The " Pagh " leaves and Picard heads for the observation lounge . Mendon catches him and tries to tell him about his procedural changes , but Picard brushes him off , telling him to report to Worf . Meanwhile , Riker is brought to meet Kargan on the bridge of the " Pagh " . He asks Riker if he can trust him in the same way he trusts the rest of his crew . Riker replies that he will serve the ship and obey his orders . , the second officer says that he doesn ' t believe Riker and that he challenges his authority . Riker beats up Klag in a fight , after which he accepts Riker ' s position . On the " Enterprise " , Worf reports an unknown substance on the hull . It is a subatomic bacteria that doubles in size every fifteen minutes and feeds on the materials in the skin . Mendon interjects , saying he noted it before on the " Pagh " , and Picard admonishes him that he should have immediately reported it . Mendon is surprised , saying Benzite regulations would have him wait until he has a full analysis . Picard tells him he should have followed Starfleet protocol instead and to continue with the analysis . Act Three . On the " Pagh " , Riker is in the mess hall , eating the very Klingon delicacies he studied for the assignment . One of the female Klingons , Vekma , eyes him up , while he eats bregit lung and rokeg blood pie . Klag offers him some " gagh " , which is still alive . Riker didn ' t expect that , and Klag teases him , saying that perhaps he would prefer to be breast - fed . They joke for a while , before Riker says that the Klingons were not as he expected , having a sense of humor , for example . The Klingons say the same thing about him . Starting a more serious conversation , one of them says they are alike – he also has a father and mother . His mother is still alive , but his father was killed gloriously in battle at Tranome Sar . Riker asks about Klag ' s parents , and he tells him ashamedly that his father was captured by the Romulan s and not allowed to die with honor . However he escaped and will die an old man on Qo ' noS , weakened , useless and without honor . He tells Riker he doesn ' t talk to him anymore , but Riker urges him to try , as nothing is impossible . On the " Enterprise " , Data says that the organisms feed on the compounds in the hull , and that the " Pagh " is more susceptible than they are . Picard orders an intercept course with the " Pagh " . Meanwhile , Kargan calls Riker to the " Pagh " s bridge , showing him a hole in the hull . He tells him it ' s due to a space organism . They have no way to repair it , and in eight hour s too much of the hull will have been lost for the ship and its crew to survive . He questions Riker why the " Enterprise " conducted an intensive scan of the area for two minutes , but Riker doesn ' t know why . Kargan orders the ship cloak ed and an intercept course set to destroy the " Enterprise " . Act Four . Wes talks to Mendon , who feels he made an error and failed in his task . Wes cheers him up , saying that he discovered the organism and that it wasn ' t his fault , he just made an error in protocol . He reminds Mendon his main goal is to take what he has learned about the " Enterprise " to his own government . Mendon goes back and eventually isolates the organisms , concluding they can be removed using a tunneling neutrino beam . Picard orders this information be added to the hail being broadcast . The " Enterprise " still has not found the " Pagh " , and Data concludes that it is either cloaked or destroyed . The hole in the " Pagh " has become bigger and Kargan sends Riker to engineering to check on the situation . Klag tells him he thinks that Riker does not know anything about a plot . He may be a spy , but he ' s no coward . When Riker returns , the tactical officer reports that the " Enterprise " is on an intercept course . This convinces Kargan that it is hostile , and he orders a full battle alert and the photon torpedo es armed . Riker tries to convince Kargan that the " Enterprise " is trying to help them . He won ' t listen , and tells Riker that since he gave his word he should tell him the best way to attack . Riker refuses point blank , saying he has also sworn an oath to Starfleet , which he won ' t break . Kargan pressures him , and Riker says he will obey his orders , but won ' t break the oath . Kargan then admits that if he had told him the " Enterprise " s secrets he would have killed him where he stood . When the " Pagh " notes the new message about the organisms , Kargan still doesn ' t believe the " Enterprise " and orders weapons ready . Act Five . Due to the lack of debris , Data says the Klingon ship must be cloaked , so Picard raises the shields . Kargan orders the torpedoes readied , and Riker tells him to wait until the distance to the " Enterprise " is 40 , 000 kilometer s . Klag comments that Riker is honoring his promise . Riker says he still questions Kargan ' s judgment . Then he takes out the emergency transponder and switches it on . He gives it to Kargan when he asks to see it . Worf detects the signal , and Picard orders O ' Brien to lock on to the signal and beam Riker out as soon as possible . He decides to wait until they are within 40 , 000 kilometers . Kargan is beamed off before the order to fire can be given . He materializes on the bridge , and pulls out his disruptor , whereupon Worf stuns him with " his " phaser and Data disarms him . On the " Pagh " , Riker tells a bemused Klag that he has relieved Kargan of his command . Now he is the captain . He orders the ship to be decloaked , and hails the " Enterprise " . He demands that Picard surrender , and Picard agrees with a smile . Picard orders that O ' Brien beam a very angry Kargan back to the " Pagh " , and repairs started on its hull . When Kargan returns , he tells Riker he is back in command . He tells Riker to return to his station , but Riker stands silently with his chin out . Kargan sends him flying with a punch , regaining some of his dignity in the process . He tells Klag to get him off his ship . As Klag helps him up , he concedes that Riker may know more about Klingons than he thought . As the " Enterprise " finishes repairing the hole in the " Pagh " with the neutrino beam , Riker returns . Picard congratulates him , and tells him to go to sickbay . As Worf escorts him there , he welcomes Riker home . Memorable quotes . " " He is not very attractive , but I will have him . " " " " Actually , I just welcomed Ensign Mendon on board . He certainly seems eager to please . " " " " Well , that ' s a Benzite trait . " " " " What is " that " ? " " " " It ' s a Klingon delicacy : pipius claw . This is heart of targ . This , of course , is " gagh " . " " " Gagh ? " " " Yeah , serpent worms . You ' d like some ? " " " " No thanks . " " " " Will . . . I ' m familiar with the practice of the feast before the transfer . I ' ve done it dozens of times . However , I usually made more palatable choices . " " " " Well , these " are " the more palatable choices . " " " " Ensign Mendon . . . you may impress me . " " " " Good luck , commander . " " " " Thanks , O ' Brien . " " " " You ' re not afraid , are you ? " " " " No , I ' m not . " " " " I would be . " " " " If Klingon food is too strong for you , perhaps we can get one of the females to breast - feed you . " " " " Uhhh . . . it ' s still " moving " . " " " Gagh " is always best when served live . " " " " They are inquisitive . They wonder how you would endure . " " " " Endure what ? " " " " Them . " " " " One , or both ? " " " " I will not see him ! " [ his disgraced father ] " " " He ' s your father ! " " " " A Klingon is his work , not his family ; " that " is the way of things ! " " " " He ' s your father ! " " " " Klingons do not express . . . . . . " feeling " the way you do ! " " " " Perhaps you should . " " " " We would not know how ! " " " " Yesterday , I did not know how . . . to eat " gagh " ! " " " Enterprise , " this is Captain William Riker of the Klingon vessel " Pagh " . I order you to lower your shields and surrender . " " " " Lower shields . Surrender as ordered . " " " " I may be back for you . " "