"Under the Cloak of War" is by far the strongest writing in SNW thus far. Despite various flaws - the M*A*S*H undertones, hints to the TOS episode "Conscience of the King," the obvious folly of land war in the age of space war, a Klingon with straight human teeth who walks with a cane but can do Klingon Judo just fine - what the episode has to say is what's poignant here.
We learn the history behind Chapel's bond with M'Benga and their apparent super-human abilities exhibited in the season opener "The Broken Circle." It's not pretty.
The story telling here is very good, told in flash-back and tight dialog, with an ending that is both tragic and ambiguous - we will never know the truth.
The only complaint I have (there had to be one) was with the casting (or perhaps directing) of Robert Wisdom as Dak'Rah. He's just too Tony Robbins for a Klingon. His lack of prosthetic teeth was distracting.
Also interesting is the use of the STD "klingons" in the recap, an
abhoration thankfully ignored thus far in SNW in favor of the TMP/TNG Klingons. Please please please keep it this way.
All in all a solid episode with above-average writing and competent acting.
Well done.