Kennelly

"They're terrorists, dammit! Why would you help them?"

- Kennelly on the Bajorans.

Kennelly was the antagonist of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Ensign Ro.

He was portrayed by Cliff Potts.

After the Cardassians staged an attack on a Federation colony which they framed the Bajoran resistance for, the Cardassians used Kennelly to try to eliminate the resistance fighter Orta.

To that end, Kennelly visited the former Starfleet officer Ro, who had been imprisoned on Jaros II following her court martial for disobeying orders. Kennelly offered to get her out of prison if she would go to Orta and promise him weapons and other supplies. When she agreed he arranged her release form prison and had her work as his agent. Over the strong objections of Captain Picard Kennelly assigned her to the USS Enterprise.

When they arrived at Orta's hideout Ro secretly beamed down to meet with Orta. Learning that Orta's group was not responsible for the attack Ro held off making Kennelly's offer. After the senior staff met with Orta, Picard confined Ro to quarters for the rest of the mission for leaving the ship without authorization. Convinced by Guinan to tell Picard the truth, Ro let him know what was really going on, how Admiral Kennelly was engaging in an illegal conspiracy. Seeing Orta's ships for himself, Picard realized that Ro and Orta were telling the truth, that even if Orta had wanted to attack the Federation it would not have been possible with Orta's ships.

Picard and Ro then arranged for one of Orta's ships to be escorted by the Enterprise back to the refugee camp on Valo II with him and his people apparently on board. Picard informed the Kennelly of the plan. Soon after the two ships left Orta's base, they were intercepted by a Cardassian ship intent on destroying Orta's ship. Kennelly gave Picard a direct order to withdraw. When the Enterprise left, the Cardassians destroyed Orta's ship.

Kennelly then contacted the Enterprise for a report. It was then that Picard revealed his deception, that Orta and his people had never been on the ship, and it was piloted remotely from Orta's base. He told Kennelly to ask his friend the Cardassian liason who had really destroyed the Federation colony.

A short time later, Kennelly was taken in to custody by Starfleet. Picard speculated that at the least he would face a hearing, if not a full court martial.