Ep 22. Valiant

While the United Federation of Planets is absent due to the ongoing Dominion War, the USS Valiant, a Defiant-class ship, has been tasked with surveying a former Dominion battleship. The majority of its crew are Starfleet cadets, with the exception of the commanding officer, Captain Watters, who was given his commission after his previous ship was destroyed.

The cadets have academic rankings that they believe are just as relevant as their Starfleet Academy senior grades, and as such, they refer to them as their "real" rank. Meanwhile, their inexperience and eagerness to see combat has them chomping at the bit for the chance to pilot the Valiant into battle. Despite protests from Chief Petty Officer Damon Bokar, who doubts that the young crew is ready for such a dangerous mission, Captain Watters presses on.

Their mission changes when they discover a Dominion battleship on their sensors. Watters believes that the Valiant is uniquely capable of taking down the superior Dominion vessel, and makes the decision to engage it. However, during the assault, the Valiant is heavily damaged, and most of the crew is killed. The survivors struggle to keep the ship afloat, and Captain Watters is fatally injured.

The remaining crew, led by cadet Tim Watters, who claims to be the Captain's son, hijack the Valiant's mission to protect key Federation supply lines. Tim is convinced that the Valiant can complete their new mission as "the most powerful ship in Starfleet," despite being a relatively small ship with a skeleton crew. The cadets do their best in trying to live up to their "real" rankings, even though they are now the only crew members left on board, and are set on completing the mission no matter the cost.

As they proceed, they receive guidance from the only other surviving senior officer, Chief Petty Officer Bokar, who realizes that his previous criticisms of the cadets were misplaced. He respects their commitment to their mission, but worries that their inexperience may lead them down a dangerous path. As they begin to run into complications with their mission, including coming into contact with Jem'Hadar ships, tensions rise and the crew begin to second-guess their decision to abandon their original mission in favor of their new one.

"Valiant" raises interesting questions about the Star Trek universe and the ethics of warfare. The cadets' inexperienced enthusiasm, while admirable in their commitment to the mission, ultimately leads to tragedy. Meanwhile, the ship's AI, voiced by Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, reminds us of the importance of honorable sacrifices, regardless of the outcome of any mission. The episode's tense final moments ask whether victory at any cost is really worth it, and whether the Valiant's lost crew members would agree with the cadets' final decision.

Overall, "Valiant" is a compelling episode that explores youth, war, and sacrifice in the Star Trek universe. The young cadets are idealistic, but their lack of experience costs them dearly in the end. The episode serves as a reminder of the human cost of war, and the potential for the best of intentions to lead to tragedy. At the same time, it also highlights the importance of loyalty, ingenuity, and commitment to duty, even in the darkest of situations.