Week Twenty Six

June 23rd - June 29th

Caught up one more day this week. Watched 17 episodes, 5 of which are in my recommendation list (less then usual). There were some episodes where I feel are some of Star Trek's worse, like Sub Rosa where Doctor Crusher gets involved with a ghost, Masks where Data gets possessed by a ghost and Journey's End where Wesley Crusher continues to be annoying.

Recommendations

Whispers: Returning from the gamma quadrant, Chief O'Brien notices that everyone on the station is conspiring against him.
Lower Decks: A story about four junior officers trying to get promoted to the helm position. The inspiration for the upcoming animated comedy by the same name.
Shadow Play: Dax and Odo visit a planet in the gamma quadrant and help in an investigation on why people are disappearing.
Genesis: The crew of the Enterprise begin de-evolving. The episode is ok, but worth watching for suspense.
The Maquis: A terrorist organization the Maquis forms in the demilitarized zone to try to remove the Cardasian presence.

Red Shirts

This week 3 gold shirts died. This includes ensign Sito Jaxa who first was on the episode First Duty where Wesley Crusher and his squad mates were being questioned about the death during a flight exercise. Even with this strike on her record, Captain Picard still accepted her onto the Enterprise. She died during a covert mission into Cardassian space.

One red shirt died too. We see it in the episode Genesis when Captain Picard and Lt. Cmdr. Data return to the enterprise to find everyone de-evolving.

Episodes

TNG S7E14: Sub Rosa
DS9 S2E14: Whispers
TNG S7E15: Lower Decks
DS9 S2E15: Paradise
TNG S7E16: Thine Own Self
DS9 S2E16: Shadowplay
TNG S7E17: Masks
DS9 S2E17: Playing God
TNG S7E18: Eye of the Beholder
DS9 S2E18: Profit and Loss
TNG S7E19: Genesis
DS9 S2E19: Blood Oath
TNG S7E20: Journey's End
DS9 S2E20: The Maquis, Part I
TNG S7E21: Firstborn
DS9 S2E21: The Maquis, Part II
TNG S7E22: Bloodlines

Week Twenty Five

June 16th - June 22nd

Being behind by so much I have decided to focus on watching the content over writing about it, at least until I catch up. So this weekly summary was written in September. But regardless of the written part, I have still been watching 2-3 episodes a day.

This week I was able to get through 16 episodes.

Recommendations

Phantasms: Data starts having dreams. Fun episode, though at times kind of weird.
Dark Page: Lwaxana Troi is on a diplomatic mission when she starts suffering a form of mental breakdown, and the reason is heartbreaking. Kirsten Dunst guest stars in the episode.
Rules of Acquisition: Introduction of Grand Negus Zek, portrayed by Shawn Wallace (inconceivable).
Inheritance: Data meets Dr. Noonian Soong's wife, effectively his mother.
Sanctuary: A nomadic people from the gamma quadrant show up looking to settle on Bajor.
Parallels: Worf "slides" between alternate realities.
Rivals: An El-Aurian (same species as Guinan) shows up to compete with Quark, and changes the luck of the entire station.
The Pegasus: A mystery is revealed about Riker's first assignment.

Red Shirts

No identifiable fatalities this week.

Episodes

TNG S7E6: Phantasms
DS9 S2E6: Melora
TNG S7E7: Dark Page
DS9 S2E7: Rules of Acquisition
TNG S7E8: Attached
DS9 S2E8: Necessary Evil
TNG S7E9: Force of Nature
DS9 S2E9: Second Sight
TNG S7E10: Inheritance
DS9 S2E10: Sanctuary
TNG S7E11: Parallels
DS9 S2E11: Rivals
DS9 S2E12: The Alternate
TNG S7E12: The Pegasus
TNG S7E13: Homeward
DS9 S2E13: Armageddon Game

Inheritance

TNG Season 7 Episode 10
Air Date: November 22nd, 1993

The Enterprise is working with the scientists Pran and Juliana Tainer to restore the core of the planet Altrea IV to a molten state. We quickly learn that Juliana was married to Dr. Noonien Soong and she was there for Lt. Cmdr. Data's creation. Through the episode Juliana spends time to get to know Data treating him as a long lost son. They even play a concert together.

What we don't know until the end, though Data discovered this much earlier is that Juliana is actually an android herself. She gets into an accident on the planet which causes her arm to fall off confirming his suspicions. They are unable to turn her on after the accident but discover a data chip in her head. The chip contains a holographic problem from Soong who tells Data that she was his last creation. The real Juliana had died and he succeeded in transferring her consciousness into a positronic net. Note that this was referenced in the episode The Schizoid Man where Soong's friend had used the technique to transfer his consciousness into Data. She was programmed to shutdown when it is revealed that she is an Android. She is the most advanced android yet with skin that looks real and ages, hair that turns grey. It even has technology that simulates human life signs to sensors and transporters.

The episode also talks about how Dr. Soong made many androids that completely failed before succeeding with Lore. This is a precursor to Star Trek Insurrection where they find another android they call Before that looks like Data but with a malfunctioning positronic net.

Quotes

"Truth is, in every way that matters she is Juliana Soong. I programmed her to terminate after a long life. Let her live out her days and die, believing she was human." - Dr. Noonien Soong

Second Sight

DS9 Season 2 Episode 9
Air Date: November 15th, 1993

Professor Seyetik arrives at DS9 with his ship the USS Prometheus (different then the one in Voyager episode Message in a Bottle). He is described as one of Federations greatest minds and he is tasked with reigniting a star to make one of it's planets habitable. This plot goes as one would expect, leading up to a difficulty, which leads to Seyetik piloting a shuttle on a suicide mission into the star.

The reason for this is due to the other plot. Cmdr. Sisko meets a woman on DS9 named Fenna whom he falls in love with. But she keeps disappearing when he looks away. We eventually learned that Fenna was a second personality of Seyetik's wife Nidell and she is able to astral project the Fenna personality without even knowing it exists. The problem is the Fenna personality when it comes out slowly kills Nidell. Seyetik's suicide is able to oppress Fenna saving Nidell's life.

Quotes

"Personal log, stardate 47329.4. I finally realize why I've had trouble sleeping the last few nights. Yesterday was the 4th anniversary of the massacre at Wolf 359, the fourth anniversary of Jennifer's death. I'm not sure what bothers me more, the date itself, or the fact that it almost passed unnoticed." - Cmdr. Sisko

"I never fail. Well, I did once; but I found it didn't agree with me, so I swore never to do it again, and I never break my word." - Dr. Seyetik

"When I came here, I thought I was looking for a place - somewhere I belong, but I was wrong. I wasn't looking for a place, I was looking for a person. I was looking for you." - Fenna

Force of Nature

TNG Season 7 Episode 9
Air Date: November 15th, 1993

The Enterprise is tasked to track down a missing Federation ship in an unstable region of space known as the Hekaras Corridor. They originally think that the Ferengi were responsible but when they find a disabled Ferengi ship they realize that something else is happening. They encounter a Hekaras ship with a brother sister scientist duo aboard that claim they are researching how warp travel above warp five is destroying the space time continuum. The sister even goes on a suicide mission to prove it creating a tear in space time.

The end result of the episode is the Federation creating a limitation that all ships not exceed warp five unless it is an emergency. This limitation is brought up in a few episodes later on, but never mentioned in DS9 or Voyager.

There is a subplot where Data tries training Spot, which is possible but for anyone who has tried to train a cat would know, it is not an easy task.

Quotes

"Why is Spot under the bed?" - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Probably because she knows if I catch her, I'm gonna kill her." - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge

"I just received this from Commander Kaplan, subspace." - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge
"La Forge. I got the Intrepid's power conversion levels up to 97.1%. Maybe you should try cleaning your plasma grid once in a while". - Cmdr. Kaplan
Can you believe the nerve of that guy?" - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge
"We perform maintenance on the plasma grid at regular intervals." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"I know. He's just trying to get me angry. There, that should do it. Computer, what are the current power conversion levels?" - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge
"Power conversion levels are at 97.2%." - Computer
"Too bad, Mr. Kaplan!" - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge

Necessary Evil

DS9 Season 2 Episode 8
Air Date: November 14th, 1993


Quark is almost killed for a list of names he found that dates back to a murder from 5 years ago. Quark was hired by a Bajoran woman to get the list, but what is not known is the list contains the names of of suspected Cardassian collaborators. The episode bounces back and forth between a time when the Cardassians were in control of DS9 where Const. Odo was investigating the Bajoran woman's husbands death. In the end Odo realizes that it was actually Kira who committed the murder.

The episode plays a side story about Rom and all the things he does to help Quark with the bar that violates Quark's trust. Things like cracking the combination to his safe, or picking the lock to the store room. Rom realizes that he could inherit the bar if Quark dies but somehow Quark survives.

Rules of Acquisition

Rule 139: Wives serve, brothers inherit.

Quotes

"Commence station security log, stardate 47282.5. At the request of Commander Sisko, I will hereafter be recording a daily log of law enforcement affairs. The reason for this exercise is beyond my comprehension, except perhaps that Humans have a compulsion to keep records and lists and files. So many in fact, that they have to invent new ways to store them microscopically. Otherwise their records would overrun all known civilization. My own very adequate memory not being good enough for Starfleet, I am pleased to put my voice to this official record of this day. Everything's under control. End log."

"Now, when we get to the entrance, you stay flat against the wall. It's a pulsatel lockseal. I can get it to release in twenty five seconds." - Quark
"Twenty five seconds? But somebody will see us. Let me do it." - Rom
"You? We'd be at it all night." - Quark
"All night? No, only about ten seconds." - Rom
"How would you get a pulsatel lockseal to release in ten seconds?" - Quark
"You have one on the storeroom door." - Rom
"So?" - Quark
"Sometimes, when you forget to leave me the desealer, I have to get the storeroom open." - Rom
"You've unsealed the storeroom without my knowledge?" - Quark
"Only to serve a customer's needs." - Rom
"In ten seconds?" - Quark
"You forget fairly often." - Rom
"Ten seconds. We'll see how you handle the desealing rod." - Quark
"That's all right. I have my own." - Rom
"What?" - Quark
"Nog made it for me. The boy's always been clever with his hands." - Rom
"My storeroom." - Quark
"Time this, Brother. You'll be very proud. There, you see?" - Rom
"Thief. Don't deny it. You've been stealing from me." - Quark
"Brother, I'd never" - Rom
"Tomorrow morning, I'm changing my entire lock system. Four in, five up. Here. It's behind this one. Keep an eye on the Promenade while I burn off the panel." - Quark
"The glare could attract attention. I have a better idea." - Rom
"A better idea?" - Quark
"I took the liberty of bringing along a small vial of magnasite drops." - Rom
"Magnasite drops? What are magnasite drops?" - Quark
"A compound that will eat through duranium one on each corner and the panel will fall off." - Rom
"How do you know that?" - Quark
"When you were in the Gamma Quadrant overnight we did very good business. Naturally, I had to keep your profits safe, but you had the only key to the latinum floor vault." - Rom
"You got into my latinum floor vault with that?" - Quark
"I didn't want to tell you because then you'd know I'd burned off your floor plates, but I replaced them out of my own salary, brother." - Rom
"My floor vault." - Quark
"Should I take it out for you?" - Rom
"Don't touch it. Don't you touch anything ever, ever, again." - Quark

"He's dying, isn't he? He's dying! What am I gonna do if my brother dies?" - Rom
"Do? Oh, you'll have a lot to do once this place is yours." - Const. Odo
"But if he dies. Mine?" - Rom
"Wives serve, brothers inherit. Rule of Acquisition number 139, if I'm not mistaken." - Const. Odo
"I hadn't thought of that." - Rom
"Really? I had. Because it's a solid motive for murder." - Const. Odo
"Yes, actually. I have heard of a few untimely deaths, that seemed, wait a minute. You're not suggesting that I" - Rom
"I've had my eye on you for a long time, Rom. You're not as stupid as you look." - Const. Odo
"I am, too!" - Rom

"They're not keeping him alive by artificial means, are they? My brother wouldn't want that." - Rom
"No, he's clinging to life all on his own." - Const. Odo
"Typical." - Rom

"I'm looking for the proprietor of this establishment." - Const. Odo
"Does he owe you money?" - Quark
"No." - Const. Odo
"Are you here to arrest him?" - Quark
"No." - Const. Odo
"Then you've found him. Quark, at your service." - Quark

Attached

TNG Season 7 Episode 8
Air Date: November 8th, 1993

Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher are beaming down to the planet Kesprytt to meat with the Kes. The meeting is to determine if the Kes are ready to join the Federation. It is a unique situation since the Kes share the planet with another group called the Prytt who are a reclusive faction that want nothing to do with outsiders. Normally the Federation wouldn't even consider a planet that hasn't at a minimum created a world government but the Kes are starting to venture out into the stars and are ready to join.

But in mid transport, Picard and Crusher are intercepted by the Prytt who think the Federation is allying themselves with the Kes to take over the Prytt. They install a neural link in Picard and Crusher which seams to be a normal process for prisoners. A Kes spy helps them escape and tells them to head to the Kes border. As they make their way there, they start to hear each other's thoughts through the link. By the end of the episode they are able to communicate fully through thought almost as one entity.

Riker is able to work with the Kes to rescue Picard and Crusher but in doing so learned the the Kes are a paranoid people, always concerned that the Prytt are going to attack and are not ready to join the Federation.

The episode is the first episode that really looks into the relationship between Picard and Crusher. Before hand there was a lot of innuendo but always seemed to be friendly. In this episode we learn that Picard always had feelings for Crusher, even when Jack was still alive but he hid them because of his friendship with Jack. Even after Jack died, he always felt like it would be betraying his friendship. The episode ends with Picard and Crusher kissing but Crusher stopping it.

Quotes

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist." - Doctor Crusher
"I'm beginning to realize that you always seem to have some acerbic remark on the tip of your tongue." - Captain Picard
"Well, at least I've trained myself not to say it anymore." - Doctor Crusher

"This way." - Captain Picard
"You don't really know, do you?" - Doctor Crusher
"What?" - Captain Picard
"I mean, you're acting like you know exactly which way to go, but you're only guessing. Do you do this all the time?" - Doctor Crusher
"No, but there are times when it is necessary for a captain to give the appearance of confidence." - Captain Picard

"We still plan to apply for membership, Commander! We will go directly to the Federation Council, they will listen to us!" - Mauric
"They will also listen to the reports of the Captain of the Enterprise and his First Officer! And I can tell you right now the First Officer's report will go something like this. Kesprytt, a deeply troubled world with social, political, and military problems they have yet to resolve. The Kes, while a friendly and democratic people, are driven by suspicion, deviousness, and paranoia. It is the opinion of this officer they are not ready for membership." - Cmdr. Riker

Rules of Acquisition

DS9 Season 2 Episode 7
Air Date: November 7th, 1993

The Grand Nagus arrives on DS9 in preparation to start trade negotiations with the gamma quadrant. He is convinced that the big profits to be made are in trading tulaberry wine. He enlists Quark to do the negotiation with one of Quark's new bartenders Pel. While it seems that Zek has setup Quark to fail by asking for more vats of tulaberry wine then are available, Pel convinces Quark to not give up and gets him to go into the gamma quadrant to continue negotiations.

What Quark doesn't realize is Pel is actually a female Ferengi who is using prosthetics to pretend to be male. In Ferengi culture, women are not allowed to work, make profit or even wear clothes. But Pel falls in love with Quark which exposes her to him. While Quark falls for Pel too, his lust for profit outweighs his emotions and he exposes her to Zek, knowing that she fooled Zek too so he would be obligated to cover it up.

The episode is the first that really talks about the Dominion. It doesn't give much detail, only that they are a significant power in the gamma quadrant.

Rules of Acquisition

Rule 21: Never place friendship above profit.
Rule 22: A wise man can hear profit in the wind.
Rule 33: It never hurts to suck up to the boss.
Rule 48: The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.
Rule 59: Free advice is seldom cheap.
Rule 62: The riskier the road, the greater the profit.
Rule 103: Sleep can interfere with profit.

Quotes

"The Ferengi reputation speaks for itself." - Major Kira
"A reputation for honesty and decency and reliability. You always know what to expect when you do business with the Ferengi." - Zek
"Which is why, if you're smart, you don't do business with the Ferengi." - Major Kira

"Tell us, Zyree, what is this place? - Quark
"This, this is where opportunities are made." - Zyree
"Really? I thought it was some kind of party." - Quark
"Then you thought wrong. This is all about profit, and like the Ferengi, the Dosi are very serious when it comes to profit. Very serious" - Zyree

"Most of my information consists of little more than hints and whispers, but it's enough to convince me that whoever learns the secret of the Dominion, whatever that may be, will learn the secret of the Gamma Quadrant." - Zek

"Let me remind you that taking business advice from a female is a violation of Ferengi law." - Zek
"I didn't know she was a female." - Quark
"Stupidity is no excuse. Now one more word out of you, and you are going to share her cell." - Zek
"Then you better make sure that it's big enough for three." - Quark
"Are you threatening me?" - Zek
"I wonder what your associates will say when I tell them you allowed a female to represent you in a business negotiation." - Quark
"I didn't know she was a female." - Zek
"Stupidity is no excuse." - Quark

Dark Page

TNG Season 7 Episode 7
Air Date: November 1st, 1993

The final episode we see Lwaxana Troi on TNG. The ambassador is working with a species that communicates solely through telepathy that is in talks to join the Federation. She is teaching them how to communicate vocally so they can work with other planets. Communicating entirely telepathically has a toll on Lwaxana and she ends up slipping into a coma. They use telepathy to enter into Lwaxana's mind where they eventually discover that she had been keeping a secret. Deanna Troi had an older sister who drowned when Deanna was very young.

The episode hit me harder then I remember it did. The thought of a parent losing a child is a haunting thought, and with Lwaxana feeling like it was her fault, that she had looked away and wasn't paying close enough attention. The episode ends with Deanna asking her mother to tell her about her sister.

Kirsten Dunst was a guest star in this episode. It was her sixth role shortly before her breakout role in Interview with the Vampire.

Quotes

"Help me. Help me, Papa." - Kestra
"Here." - Cmdr. Ian Troi
"Please, don't make me go through this again." - Lwaxana Troi
"Now hold on to him. Don't let him run off." - Cmdr. Ian Troi
"I will. Mommy, can we go play by the water?" - Kestra
"No, Kestra, stay here with us." - Lwaxana Troi
"Please." - Kestra

"I remember the day I took this." - Lwaxana Troi
"Mr. Homn said he saved it, in case someday you wanted to remember her." - Counselor Troi
"I wish you could have known her, Deanna. I wish you two could've grown up together." - Lwaxana Troi
"Tell me about her. I want to know everything." - Counselor Troi

Melora

DS9 Season 2 Episode 6
Air Date: October 31st, 1993

Ensign Melora, a stellar cartographer arrives on DS9 but she has special requirements. She is the first of her species to leave her home planet, mostly due to the gravitational differences. Her planet has a very low gravitational pull so she requires a special chair and her quarters needs to have the gravity plating disabled.

Doctor Bashir takes a liking to her and tries to get around her emotional defenses. She believes in depending on nobody even with her difficulties, which throughout the episode does have an affect on her. Bashir comes up with a medical procedure that is able to enhance Malora's muscles, but it means she would never be able to go home again. She takes the first round of treatments but in the end realizes that the prices is too high.

A subplot of the episode revolves around Fallit Kot who threatens to kill Quark. Quark had been the reason he went to prison years ago and now that he is out he wants revenge. But Quark offers him a deal that will make him a lot of money. Kot agrees but uses it as a ploy to kidnap Quark. In the end, Malora is able to disable the gravity on the ship Kot and Quark took and is able to defeat Kot.

Rules of Acquisition

Rule 16: A deal is a deal.

Quotes

"There's nothing worse than half-dead racht." - Malora

"I suggest you carry a combadge with you at all times. Call me at the first sign of trouble." - Const. Odo
"What if the first sign is the last sign?" - Quark
"You people sell pieces of yourself after you die, don't you?" - Const. Odo
"Yes." - Quark
"I'll buy one." - Const. Odo

Phantasms

TNG Season 7 Episode 6
Air Date: October 25th, 1993

Lt. Cmdr. Data starts having dreams that are twisted and weird. Things like Doctor Crusher drinking blood out of Cmdr Riker's head or Counselor Troi being represented as a cake that everyone is eating. During the episode we start to learn that the dreams are Data's subconscious telling him that there is a threat, a parasitic creature that lives in another phase of existence. He realizes that the dream is also indicating their weakness which he uses to get rid of all the parasites before everyone dies. This episode is one I was looking forward to seeing since starting TNG.

Quotes

"Something wrong, sir?" - Cmdr. Riker
"I just got a message from Starfleet Command." - Captain Picard
"Bad news?" - Cmdr. Riker
"You could say that. I've been invited to the annual Starfleet Admirals banquet." - Captain Picard
"My condolences." - Cmdr. Riker

"Bridge to Engineering. Mr. La Forge, why isn't my ship moving?" - Captain Picard

"I believe you are experiencing a classic dismemberment dream. Or in your case, being a mechanical man, a dismantlement dream." - Dr. Sigmund Freud

"Data, you must be the first person who's come into my office and been excited at the prospect of a new neurosis." - Counselor Troi

"You must provide him with a sandbox, and you must talk to him. Tell him he is a pretty cat, and a good cat" - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"I will feed him." - Lt. Worf
"Perhaps that will be enough." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"I wonder. What would Dr. Freud say about the symbolism of devouring oneself?" - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Data, sometimes a cake is just a cake." - Counselor Troi

Week Twenty Four

June 9th - June 15th

This was a good week for watching, but a bad week for writing my blog posts on the episode. I was able to get through 20 episodes. I finished both Season 6 of The Next Generation and Season 1 of Deep Space Nine.

Recommendations

If Wishes Were Horses: Aliens appear on DS9 appearing as characters from people's imagination.
Rightful Heir: The return of Kahless.
Second Chances: Cmdr. Riker has a doppelganger.
Duet: A Cardassian war criminal is captured, but there is more then meets the eye.
Timescape: The Enterprise gets trapped in a time bubble.
In the Hands of the Prophets: The finale of season 1.
Descent: Lore leads the Borg who are now individuals thanks to Hugh.
The Homecoming, The Circle and The Siege: Three part season premier of DS9. Develops story lines that will be important for the rest of the series regarding Bajoran politic

Red Shirts

5 people died in episodes this week, most in the episode with the Borg. They all wore gold uniforms.

Episodes

TNG S6E22: Suspicions
DS9 S1E15: If Wishes Were Horses
TNG S6E23: Rightful Heir
DS9 S1E16: The Forsaken
TNG S6E24: Second Chances
DS9 S1E17: Dramatis Personae
DS9 S1E18: Duet
TNG S6E25: Timescape
DS9 S1E19: In the Hands of the Prophets
TNG S6E26: Descent, Part I
TNG S7E1: Descent, Part II
DS9 S2E1: The Homecoming
TNG S7E2: Liaisons
DS9 S2E2: The Circle
TNG S7E3: Interface
DS9 S2E3: The Siege
TNG S7E4 & S7E5: Gambit
DS9 S2E4: Invasive Procedures
DS9 S2E5: Cardassians

Cardassians

DS9 Season 2 Episode 5
Air Date: October 24th, 1993

A Cardassian teenager arrives on Deep Space Nine accompanied by his adoptive father, a Bajoran. Garek takes interest and after he is attacked by the boy, he informs the Cardassian command of the situation. Gul Dukat shows up and asks the boy is returned to Cardassia. They discover his father was a Cardassian senator.

The episode largely follows the relationship between Doctor Bashir and Garek. Garek uses metaphors to try to help Bashir understand the interstices of politics and espionage eventually leading Bashir to the conclusion that Gul Dukat purposefully left the Cardassian boy behind when evacuating Bajor.

Quotes

"There's nothing quite so depressing as a winning streak that won't stop streaking." - Quark

"So, you deduced that Garak thinks Dukat is lying about something you're not sure of, and you proceeded to interrupt my conversation to confront him about whatever that might be." - Cmdr Sisko
"I'm sorry, Commander. It just seemed an opportune" - Doctor Bashir
"Don't apologize. It's been the high point of my day. Don't do it again." - Cmdr. Sisko

Invasive Procedures

DS9 Season 2 Episode 4
Air Date: October 174th, 1993

Deep Space Nine is evacuated during a plasma storm and left with a skeleton crew. During this time, a ship shows up, attacks and takes over the station. The goal, to take the symbiont Dax and put it in a Trill host named Verad. Verad had failed in his training to be joined and wanted the Dax symbiont. Once Verad has the Dax symbiont, Cmdr. Sisko uses his knowledge of Dax to distract him while Quark is able to free Odo who stops them from escaping. Dax is returned to Jadzia.

Tim Russ who is known as Lt. Tuvok in Star Trek Voyager played a Klingon and John Glover played Verad.

Quotes

"I know, I know. He couldn't find a cup of water if you dropped him in a lake, but even if he is an idiot, he's still my brother." - Quark
"And you'd betray him in a second if it suited your interests." - Const. Odo
"That doesn't mean I don't love him." - Quark

"We are still friends, aren't we, Benjamin?

"I hope so. Come with me down to the infirmary and prove it." - Cmdr. Sisko
"I can't do that." - Verad Dax
"Then you're not the Dax that I know. Our friendship is over!" - Cmdr. Sisko

Gambit

TNG Season 7 Episode 4 and 5
Air Date: October 11th and 17th, 1993

The senior staff of the Enterprise start looking for Captain Picard who went missing. They learn that he died, killed by some mercenaries that had been looting archaeological sites. Cmdr. Riker is given command of the Enterprise (not the first time Picard has died to give Riker the chair) but Riker refuses to accept Picards death and takes the Enterprise to find his killers. They track them to another archaeological site where Riker gets abducted leaving Lt. Cmdr Data in command.

We learn that Picard didn't die but is under cover on the ship trying to figure out what it is they are looking for. Eventually they find a Vulcan artifact that can amplify negative emotions. One of the crew of the mercenaries is Vulcan and she was wanting the artifact to take over Vulcan and return them to a time where they had emotion. Only Picard figures out that the device only works when a person is experiencing a negative emotion such as fear or anger and by taking no aggressive action towards her, is safe from the weapon.

Quotes

"This is not about revenge. This is about justice. The Captain died in a bar fight, for nothing. Somebody has to answer for that. Then I can mourn." - Cmdr Riker

"Do you think you're the only one in pain? That you have a monopoly on loss? Well, I've got news for you. We're all hurting, we're all angry. And like it or not, you've got a responsibility to this crew. And you can't just indulge your personal desire for revenge." - Counselor Troi

"He's all right. He's only stunned." - Counselor Troi
"I must admit, I am experiencing a similar sensation." - Lt. Cmdr Data

"Number One, will you set a course for Starbase 227, I'll join you on the bridge shortly." - Captain Picard
"Wait a minute, you've been declared dead. You can't give orders around here." - Cmdr. Riker
"If we are to adhere to the exact letter of Starfleet regulations, then technically, sir, you have been declared a renegade. In fact, I believe you are facing twelve counts of court martial offenses. You cannot give orders either, sir." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"That's quite right. And as I am supposed to be dead, I'll go and get some sleep, and Mr. Data, I suggest that you escort Commander Riker to the brig." - Captain Picard
"Aye, sir. This way, sir." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Data, he was joking. You know that, right? Data?" - Cmdr. Riker

The Siege

DS9 Season 2 Episode 3
Air Date: October 10th, 1993

The third part of the season premier. Cmdr. Sisko orders the Federation evacuation of Deep Space Nine, save for a handful of volunteers. They use their knowledge of the station to hold out against the Bajoran forces while Major Kira and Lt. Dax try to sneak onto Bajor with the information that the Cardassians are supplying The Circle.

Rules of Acquisition
Rule 31: Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother.

Quotes

"Rom, do you actually believe that I would sacrifice my own brother's life? For personal profit? It would have to be the deal of a lifetime." - Quark
"Yes, my lifetime!" - Rom

"Hey, Odo! You'll miss me. You know you will, say it." - Quark
"I'll miss you, Quark." - Const. Odo
"You said it!" - Quark
"I'll miss the aggravation, the petty theft, the bad manners." - Const. Odo
"Odo, take care of yourself." - Quark

"My ship, the Rio Grande, my brother's on it. He's got my ticket." - Quark
"That ship is full, sir, I checked the list myself, and Quark's name wasn't on it. His brother Rom did go aboard, but he was with a dabo girl." - Doctor Bashir
"A dabo girl? What?" - Quark
"Looks like he sold your seat." - Cmdr. Sisko

"Quark, leave it!" - Doctor Bashir
"I can't leave it, it's all that I have. My personal mementos, my family album" - Quark
"It's full of gold-pressed latinum, and you know it." - Doctor Bashir
"Who told you?" - Quark
"Your mother did, the day you were born." - Doctor Bashir
"Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother! Rule of Acquisition Number 31!" - Quark

"You Starfleet types are too dependent on gadgets and gizmos. You lose your natural instincts for survival." - Major Kira
"My natural instincts for survival told me not to climb aboard this thing. I'd say they were functioning pretty well." - Lt. Dax

Interface

TNG Season 7 Episode 3
Air Date: October 4th, 1993

Lt. Cmdr. La Forge is testing a new probe that is able to interface directly with his visor allowing him to see, feel what the probe sees and he can control the movement of the probe as easy as it is to walk. While learning to use the probe's interface, he gets bad news that the ship his mother captains has disappeared and most likely is destroyed.

Meanwhile the Enterprise receives a distress call from the USS Raman caught in the upper atmosphere of a gas giant. They decide to use the probe to see if they can rescue the ship but find everyone on board dead. But La Forge sees his mother on the ship. He becomes convinced that her ship is trapped deeper in the gas giant and tries to rescue her, even against his captains orders.

It turns out that the vision of his mother was actually an alien that lives in the gas giant that got trapped on the USS Raman. La Forge moves the ship lower in the atmosphere to let them escape.

Quotes

"I was just passing by. I was wondering what you were up to." - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge
"I am using the time to catch up on my study of poetry." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Data, there's nothing on the screen." - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge

The Circle

DS9 Season 2 Episode 2
Air Date: October 3rd, 1993

Part II of the premier, with Major Kira reassigned to Bajor she spends it looking at her spiritual size with Vedek Bareil. We can see they start having feelings for each other. She then gets kidnapped by the Circle. Cmdr. Sisko talks to the Bajoran military who won't help so he has to rescue Kira on his own. They discover that Minister Essa is the leader behind the Circle.

Const Odo investigates how the Circle is getting it's weapons and discovers that the Cardassians are behind it, but when Cmdr. Sisko tries to get the info to the Bajoran government, all communications between the station and Bajor are blocked. Bajor sends their fleet, even though small still effective to take DS9 from the Federation who they ask to leave.

At the end of the episode we learn that Minister Essa promises Vedek Winn that he will support her in becoming the next Kai when he takes power.

Quotes

"You're not just leaving, Major, you're surrendering." - Const. Odo
"You break the rules, you pay." - Major Kira
"Wait a minute, I wanna be sure I heard that correctly. Because it doesn't sound like the Kira Nerys who has made a career out of breaking the rules." - Const Odo
"Well, I guess I broke one too many." - Major Kira
"Major, you've been breaking one too many for fourteen and a half years! Cardassian rules, Bajoran rules, Federation rules, they're all meaningless to you. Because you have a personal code, that's always mattered more. And I'm sorry to say, you're in slim company." - Const. Odo
"I'll miss you too, Odo." - Major Kira

"Quark, I hate to do this, but I guess I'll have to" - Const Odo
"That's not fair!" - Quark
"I haven't done anything yet." - Const Odo
"Whatever you're going to do, it's not fair!" - Quark
"You're a deputy." - Const Odo
"It's not, what?" - Quark
"You're a deputy. I want you to find out where the weapons are going on Bajor. Meanwhile, I'm going to find out exactly where they're coming from." - Const Odo
"You and me, a team?" - Quark
"That's right." - Const Odo
"Uh, goodbye." - Quark
"Either that or I'm putting you in a cell." - Const Odo
"That's not fair. On what charge?" - Quark
"Impeding an investigation. Unless you want to reveal the identities of the people you've been talking to." - Const Odo
"You know I can't do that." - Quark
"It's your choice. You're a deputy or you're a prisoner." - Const Odo
"I'm a deputy." - Quark

Liaisons

TNG Season 7 Episode 2
Air Date: September 27th, 1993

The Enterprise is visited by two Iyaarian ambassadors while Captain Picard is taken by an Iyaarian pilot to visit their home planet. The ambassadors had other goals though. They have never had the experiences love, pleasure and antagonism.

One of the ambassadors learns about pleasure through guidance of Counselor Troi, specifically in the consumption of food and chocolate. The other learns about antagonism with Lt. Worf, where he constantly is rude and aggressive towards Worf until they get into a fight. And it turns out Picard is used to learn about love by crashing the shuttle onto a dangerous planet and the pilot uses a holo device to turn himself into a woman who courts Picard.

Quotes

"I do not see why it is necessary to wear these ridiculous uniforms." - Lt. Worf
"Protocol." - Cmdr. Riker
"They look like dresses." - Lt. Worf
"That is an incredibly outmoded and sexist attitude! I'm surprised at you. Besides, you look good in a dress." - Cmdr. Riker

"I have heard that, in moments of diplomatic tension, it is often helpful to find elements of commonality." = Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Ambassador Byleth is demanding, temperamental and rude!" - Lt. Worf
"You share all of those qualities in abundance. Perhaps you should try to build on your similarities!" - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"Even if I were cheating, how would a plodding animal like you know it?" - Ambassador Byleth
"You are an insulting, pompous fool! And if you were not an ambassador, I would disembowel you right here!" - Lt. Worf
"Do not let my title inhibit you, Klingon!" - Ambassador Byleth

The Homecoming

DS9 Season 2 Episode 1
Air Date: September 26th, 1993

The season premier of the DS9 and the first of a three part episode. Quark receives an earring from a freighter captain he has a relationship with and gives it to Major Kira (odd for Quark to do something for free). The earring belongs to Li Nalas, a Bajoran hero during the Cardassian occupation who was believed to be dead. She learns that he is alive and in a Cardassian mining planet. She mounts a rescue mission and brings him back to Bajor.

Meanwhile, tension between Bajor and the Federation rises with a new Bajoran faction vandalizing parts of the station, known as the Circle. When Nalas returns, he just wants to disappear. He explains to Cmdr. Sisko that his heroism is overrated. But none the less, the Bajoran provisional government decides to give him a new made up title of Navarch and makes him the new Bajoran liason officer to the Federation, relieving Major Kira of her post.

Rules of Acquisition

Rule 76: "Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies."

Quotes

"One for you and six for me, one for you and six for me. Would you stop looking so glum? Pay day is supposed to be a time of joy!" - Quark
"I know, brother. But every week it's the same thing. Six for you and only one for me. It's not fair!" - Rom
"You're right." - Quark
"I am?" - Rom
"Yes. It's not fair." - Quark
"It's not?" - Rom
"Absolutely not! One for you, and seven for me." - Quark

"Really Odo, sometimes I think there's no pleasing you! I help you crack a notorious smuggling ring, and yet you still insist on treating me like the enemy?" - Quark
"You are the enemy." - Const. Odo

"We made our way to a ridge overlooking a small lake. As I was the only one still carrying a phaser, I went on ahead to scout for the enemy. Halfway down the embankment, I slipped, went sprawling on my back down to the edge of the lake, just as a huge Cardassian emerged from the water. He must have just finished bathing. He stood there, frozen in surprise, dressed only in his underwear, shivering in the cold. I lay there, looking up at him, too stunned to even move, and it was only when he reached for a phaser rifle that was lying across his clothes on a nearby rock, that I realized that I was still holding my own phaser, and I shot him. His body fell on top of me, and that's how my companions found us a moment later. Soon every victory won by the resistance was attributed to my leadership. Stories of my brilliance, my daring, my courage, grew more and more unbelievable; yet the people insisted on believing them. My reputation even followed me into the labor camp, where my mere presence seemed to inspire my fellow prisoners. And I had done nothing, but shoot an unarmed Cardassian in his underwear! I'll never forget the look on his face when he died . He was so, embarrassed." - Nalas
"I saw you, in front of the crowd on the promenade. They look at you, and they see strength, and honor, and decency. They look at you and they see the best in themselves." - Cmdr. Sisko
"But it's all based on a lie." - Li Nalas
"No, it's based on a legend. And legends are as powerful as any truth." - Cmdr. Sisko

Descent, Part II

TNG Season 7 Episode 1
Air Date: September 20th, 1993

Lore and Data, brothers working together. We learn that Lore has been experimenting with the Borg trying to create more artificial life. But instead of creating a positronic net like his and Data's he is trying to replace neurons in organic life with machine replicas. His experiments with the Borg go poorly so he decides to try to use Lt. Cmdr. La Forge's visor implant as another way to do the change. While Geordi undergoes "treatment", Captain Picard and Counselor Troi try to create a device that will restart Data's ethical program.

Meanwhile Cmdr. Riker and Lt. Worf remain on the planet to search for the captain's team telling the Enterprise to leave orbit and get away from the attacking Borg. They eventually find Hugh leading a resistance force and convince him to help them rescue his friend Geordi. They arrive just in time to stop Lore from killing Picard. Lore tries to escape but Data ends up disabling him and ultimately disassembling him.

The Enterprise itself was playing a cat and mouse game with the Borg ship. Doctor Crusher was left in command and was able to use the metaphasic shielding technology to hide the Enterprise in a nearby star and using a solar flare to destroy the perusing Borg ship.

Quotes

"Data, all I'm sensing from you is anger and hatred. Have you felt any other emotions?" - Counselor Troi
"There are no other emotions." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"The reign of biological life forms is coming to an end. You, Picard, and those like you, are obsolete!" - Lore

"I, love you, brother." - Lore
"Goodbye, Lore." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"I am pleased to say it was damaged when I was forced to fire on Lore." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Pleased? Data, you've wanted emotions your whole life." - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge
"Yes. But emotions were responsible for what I did to you. I would never risk letting that happen again. My friendship with you is too important to me." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Data, I wouldn't be very much of a friend if I let you give up on a lifelong dream, now would I? Maybe someday, when you're ready." - Lt. Cmdr. La Forge

The Next Generation: Season Six

Season Six did not disappoint. There were episodes that as a teenager I enjoyed but never truly understood. This time around I was able to appreciate some of the messages the show was trying to convey. Watching it in parallel with DS9 gave me an interesting perspective as well since the DS9 premier was right after the episode Chain of Command where Captain Picard was captured and tortured by the Cardassians.

The characters of the show didn't have much in the way of character development. The most notable ones was Data getting angry in the finale and the change of clothes for Counselor Troi. In the episode Chain of Command, the Enterprise gets a new captain and he makes a comment to Troi that he wants her in uniform when she is on the bridge. Other then in casual scenarios we almost exclusively see her wearing a uniform from that episode til the series finale.

Red Shirts

This season did not follow the red shirt meme, though red is gold in TNG so it could be argued that the meme holds true. The tally is 1 red, 1 blue and 4 gold.

Descent, Part I

TNG Season 6 Episode 26
Air Date: June 21st, 1993

In the season finale, the Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Starfleet Outpost. When they arrive they find all the people aboard killed, and they encounter the Borg. Only these Borg act oddly, specifically they use pronouns like I and seem to show emotion when their comrades are killed. During the phaser battle on the outpost, Lt. Cmdr. Data experiences his first emotion (excluding the laugh that Q gave as a gift), but the emotion was anger and pleasure once he killed the Borg. This was the first time we ever see Data kill anything.

After the crew beam back, they have a minor fight with the Borg vessel that retreats into a transwarp conduit, something the Federation has never seen before. During the battle, a few Borg transport to the Enterprise and one survives. They hold him in the brig, but somehow he is able to give Data emotions, disable his ethics chip and use him to escape.

The Enterprise tracks Data's shuttle to a planet and start a hunt. Captain Picard, Lt. Cmdr. La Forge and a security officer get captured by none other then Lore.

Red Shirts

During the initial fight with the Borg, two security officers get killed and at the end the security officer that is with Captain Picard is also killed. They all wear gold uniforms.

Quotes

"Data, are you all right?"- Cmdr. Riker
"Yes, sir." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"What happened?" - Cmdr. Riker
"I got angry." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"I don't think that an exploration of anger need necessarily lead to hatred or malice." - Counselor Troi
"But what if it does, Counselor? What if those are the only emotions I am capable of experiencing? Would that not make me a bad person?" - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"We've served together for a long time; and I think I've come to know you pretty well. I have to believe, if you ever reach your goal of becoming human, you won't become a bad one." - Counselor Troi

"Stop it! Stop! Stop, Stop, Stop, Stop!" - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"Data? Do you have a friend?" - Crosis
"Yes. His name is Geordi." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"If it meant that you could feel emotions again, the way you did on Ohniaka III, would you kill your friend? Would you kill Geordi?" - Crosis
"Yes, I would." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

Deep Space Nine: Season One

One season of DS9 down. There were some highlights of this season but it definitely doesn't start strong. Most people attribute the great episodes to later seasons with the war against the Dominion. I feel the biggest difference between DS9 and it's predecessors TOS and TNG is that in the other two the captain was the main character with the show revolving around his decisions.

In DS9, while Commander Sisko is still the leader of the station, I find there are a lot more stories that are detached from the strict military ranking system. Characters like Quark and his brother Rom. Or Constable Odo, a shapeshifter who doesn't know where he came from. The religious aspects of the Bajoran people but also the Cardassian occupation.

Looking back to this series, my favorite characters was Quark and Doctor Bashir. While Quark is a favorite this season, the Doctor doesn't really shine yet. He starts to have some interactions with Garek, which hints at some great episodes to come.

In the Hands of the Prophets

DS9 Season 1 Episode 19
Air Date: June 20th, 1993

The season finale of DS9. Compared to the season finale of the first season of TNG, this one was worth watching. Vedek Winn arrives on the station and confronts Keiko about her curriculum, specifically how she is teaching the science around the wormhole which goes against the Bajoran religion. This starts to create controversy that results in Bajoran parents pulling their kids from the school and even results in the school being bombed, though no injuries.

We then learn that Vedek Winn had turned one of Chief O'Brien's Bajoran technicians and tried to use her to assassinate Vedek Bereil, her biggest adversary in becoming the next Kai. O'Brien figures out what is happening and Cmdr. Sisko stops the assassination. But the season ends with a lot of tention between the Bajoran people and the Federation.

Rules of Acquisition

Rule 7: Keep your ears open.

Red Shirts

One engineer was killed off screen in this episode. Engineers generally wear gold so I will mark this on the tally.

Quotes

"I'm a teacher. My responsibility is to expose my students to knowledge, not hide it from them." - Keiko

"Keep your ears open." - Const. Odo
"Are you kidding? That's the Seventh Rule of Acquisition." - Quark

"You live without a soul, Commander. You and your Federation exist in a universe of darkness, and you would drag us in there with you. But we will not go!" - Vedek Winn
"You have just made your first mistake, Vedek." - Cmdr. Sisko
"Have I?" - Vedek Winn
"The Bajorans who have lived with us on the station, who have worked with us for months, who helped us move this station to protect the wormhole, who joined us to explore the Gamma Quadrant, who have begun to build the future of Bajor with us, these people know that we are neither the enemy nor the devil. We don't always agree. We have some damn good fights in fact. But we always come away from them, with a little better understanding and appreciation of each other. You won't succeed here. The school will reopen, and when your rhetoric gets old, the Bajoran parents will bring their children back." - Cmdr. Sisko
"We'll see." - Vedek Winn

"Commander... I heard what you said to Vedek Winn at the school. I just wanted you to know, you were right what you said about the Bajorans, at least about me. I don't think that you're, the devil." - Makor Kira
"Maybe we have made some progress after all." - Cmdr. Sisko

"I'm sorry, Commander; the Vedek assembly will not see you." - Vedek Bareil
"Why not?" - Cmdr. Sisko
"Some fear you as the symbol of the Federation they view as godless. Some fear you as the Emissary who walked with the Prophets. And some fear you because Vedek Winn told them to. Oh, we're all very good at conjuring up enough fear to justify whatever we want to do." - Vedek Bareil

Timescape

TNG Season 6 Episode 25
Air Date: June 14th, 1993

The Enterprise responds to a Romulan distress call but they get caught in a time distortion bubble. Captain Picard, Lt. Cmdr. La Forge, Lt. Cmdr Data and Counselor Troi are returning from a conference when they start encountering these distortions. When they get back to the Enterprise they find it frozen in time, at least from their perspective.

Data and La Forge figure out a way to use a personal shield to keep them in their time frame while transporting aboard the Enterprise. When they arrive they find Romulan's on the bridge, sick bay and Engineering, in what looks like an attack. Even the warp core on the Enterprise is in the middle of a breach.

But when they go to the Romulan ship they find some kind of temporal creature inside the Romulan warp drive. They figure out they can send a signal from a tricorder to reverse time for a few minutes and are able to give instructions to the Enterprise on how to prevent the warp core breach. They also discover that the Enterprise wasn't under attack by the Romulans, but rather they were helping in stopping these temporal creatures.

Quotes

"You've gotta stop playing parrises squares as if you're twenty-one years old. One of these days, you're gonna fall and break your neck, and I'm not gonna be able to heal that as easily." - Doctor Crusher
"I wasn't playing parrises squares." - Cmdr. Riker
"Worf's calisthenic program?" - Doctor Crusher
"No." - Cmdr. Riker
"I give up. What was it?" - Doctor Crusher
"I was trying to feed Spot." - Cmdr. Riker

"I have been testing the aphorism, A watched pot never boils. I have boiled the same amount of water in this kettle sixty-two times. In some cases I have ignored the kettle. In others, I have watched it intently. In every instance, the water reaches its boiling point in precisely 51.7 seconds. It appears I am not capable of perceiving time any differently than my internal chronometer." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Why don't you turn it off?" - Cmdr. Riker
"Sir?" - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Data, people do not have internal chronometers. Why don't you see what happens if you turn yours off?" - Cmdr. Riker
"Thank you, sir. I will try that." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Just don't be late for your shift!" - Cmdr. Riker

Duet

DS9 Season 1 Episode 18
Air Date: June 13th, 1993

A freighter arrives at DS9 carrying a passenger that has a rare disease that one can only get if they were at the a disaster at a specific mine on Bajor. At first everyone expects it to be a Bajoran but it turns out to be a Cardassian. The first half of the episode is about trying to find the truth about who this Cardassian is. He claims to be a file clerk that worked at the mines but later is discovered to be Gul Darhe'el. But Gul Darhe'el is listed as dead.

We later discover that he wasn't Gul Darhe'el after all but rather that file clerk Marritza. He had altered his appearance and traveled to DS9 because he felt that just being in that labor camp was crime enough and his guilt led him to wanting to be punished. Only Major Kira couldn't justify crucifying a man who was not responsible. In the end as Marritza is being escorted to a airlock to be sent back to Cardassia, he is stabbed in the back by a Bajoran.

This episode deals with the Bajoran labor camps and describes how people were treated. The way Marritza describes it reminds me a lot of the things I read about how the Nazi's treated the Jews. While in past episodes this parallel was hinted at, this episode drives home just how bad the Cardassian occupation of Bajor was.

Quotes

"Marritza says, I don't care about the truth, that all I want is vengeance." - Major Kira
"Are you worried that maybe he's right?" - Lt. Dax
"All I want is to see him punished." - Major Kira
"Even if he is just a file clerk?" - Lt. Dax
"That's just it, I don't want him to be just a file clerk. I want him to be, I don't know, something worse." - Major Kira
"You want him to be guilty." - Lt. Dax
"As far as I'm concerned, if he was at Gallitep, he is guilty. They're all guilty. His punishment will let Bajor feel some, satisfaction." - Major Kira
"It sounds like you're trying too hard to believe what you're saying. You already know, if you punish him without reason, it won't mean anything. And you already know, vengeance isn't enough." - Lt. Dax

"Nothing justifies genocide." - Major Kira
"What you call genocide, I call a day's work." - Marritza

"I am alive. I will always be alive! It's Marritza who's dead! Marritza, who was good for nothing but cowering under his bunk and weeping like a woman. Who every night covered his ears because he couldn't bear to hear the screaming, for mercy, of the Bajorans." - Marritza

"Why? He wasn't Dar'heel! Why?" - Major Kira
"He's a Cardassian! That's reason enough!" - Kainon
"No! It's not." - Major Kira

Dramatis Personae

DS9 Season 1 Episode 17
Air Date: May 30th, 1993

A Klingon ship comes through the worm hole months ahead of schedule and explodes. One Klingon makes it to DS9 but dies shortly after transport. Then a power struggle starts to happen. Major Kira starts thinking that DS9 should be run by Bajorans and tries to get Cmdr. Sisko killed, while Chief O'Brien fights tries to stop her. Eventually Odo figures out that the power struggle is from an external influence and it also happened on the Klingon ship. He is able to convince Doctor Bashir that if he could stop this influence that his side would win, but in reality he uses it to neutralize both sides.

Quotes

"You know what they say, put the shoe on the right foot first, but put the left foot first into the bathtub." - Lt. Dax

"Just don't be surprised if the uneasy alliance on this station starts to show a few cracks." - Doctor Bashir
"What uneasy alliance?" - Const. Odo
"Commander Sisko and Kira. Mark my words, there's going to be trouble." - Doctor Bashir

"So, this is how it all ends!" - Cmdr. Sisko
"For you." - Major Kira
"You know what disturbs me? The ingratitude. I offered you my kindness, my help, my leadership, and how do you repay me? With betrayal. But you won't get rid of me so easily. You see, unlike you, I understand history. My name will blaze across the stars long after your petty treacheries have been forgotten." - Cmdr. Sisko
"But you won't be here to see it." - Major Kira

Second Chances

TNG Season 6 Episode 24
Air Date: May 24th, 1993

Cmdr. Riker returns to the planet Nervala IV where he barely escaped when the planet's atmosphere changed preventing transporter and shuttle use. Only on the return they discover that a transporter accident occurred that caused a duplicate of Riker to rematerialize on the planet surface during the evacuation. Over the past 8 years this version of Riker survived.

The episode is about using Lt. Riker to try to recover data from the station below but the real plot was about Cmdr. Riker dealing with a duplicate of himself and Lt. Riker dealing with the decisions his alternate made while he was trapped. Things like letting the relationship with Counselor Troi slip away. In the end they did get a mutual respect for each other but you can still see there was tension. Lt. Riker takes on his middle name Thomas and gets a new assignment on the USS Gandhi.

Quotes

"If you met a double of yourself, would you have difficulty interacting with him?" - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"I think so." - Lt. Worf

"Why?" - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"I am not easy to get along with." - Lt. Worf

"Ever since he came on board, I find myself thinking about the choice that you and I made." - Cmdr. Riker

"Me too." - Counselor Troi

"Do me a favor. Be careful." - Cmdr. Riker

"Will, I know you and he have had some problems." - Counselor Troi

"That's not what I'm talking about. If he had gotten off the planet instead of me, don't you think he would've made the same choices that I made? I just don't want you to be hurt again." - Cmdr. Riker

"I practiced in the mirror too long to be fooled by that face. You're bluffing." - Cmdr. Riker

The Forsaken

DS9 Season 1 Episode 16
Air Date: May 23rd, 1993

A probe comes through the wormhole while a delegation of Federation ambassadors are visiting, including Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House, holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. When they scan the probe, it downloads a program into DS9's computer. The crew is unaware of this but the station starts suffering failures and Chief O'Brien suspects it is trying to keep his attention much like a child or puppy would. Once confirmed, they attempt to find a way to get the program off the computer with little success. O'Brien finally figures out the best way to deal with it is to put it in a figurative dog house.

While all this is happening, Lwaxana gets infatuated with Odo and they end up stuck in a turbolift for hours. Normally I find episodes with Lwaxana hard to watch, but in this one we learn more about who she really is, not the facade she wears.

Quotes

"Quark has plenty of reason to feel guilty, but he usually doesn't have to resort to petty theft to fleece his clients." - Const. Odo
"Thank you." - Quark

"Constable, you can handle thieves and killers, but not one Betazoid woman?" - Cmdr. Sisko
"I understand thieves and killers. I don't understand, her." - Const. Odo

"Frankly, in my humble opinion, most of you humanoids spend far too much time on your respective mating rituals." - Const. Odo
"It does help the procreation of one's species." - Cmdr. Sisko
"Procreation does not require changing how you smell, or writing bad poetry, or sacrificing various plants to serve as tokens of affection." - Const. Odo

"My daughter and I were once trapped aboard a Ferengi cargo ship, and it was dreadful. Well, all right, it wasn't actually dreadful. It was mildly lamentable, and it was all because of that loathsome DaiMon. Well, actually he wasn't altogether loathsome. He was just slightly repulsive. But he did have a certain charm, in an insufferable kind of way. Of course, he was totally at the mercy of his uncontrollable passion for me, which means he wasn't all bad, now, doesn't it? You know it wasn't all passion. There was some negligible commercial interest involved. But, oh, the passion, oh, that was perfectly real, and kind of, um, kind of sweet in a way. He was so helpless. At first it was totally a question of expediency when I made love with him." - Lwaxana

"No one's ever seen me like this." - Lwaxana
"Why? It looks fine." - Const. Odo
"It looks ordinary. I've never cared to be ordinary. So you see, Odo, even we non-shapeshifters have to change who we are once in a while." - Lwaxana
"You are not at all what I expected." - Const. Odo
"No one's ever paid me a greater compliment." - Lwaxana Troi

"How did you beat that thing in the computer, Chief?" - Cmdr. Sisko
"I didn't." - Chief O'Brien
"He adopted it." - Lt. Dax
"Adopted it?" - Cmdr. Sisko
"I was able to get our friend out of the main command pathways and into a sub-program." - Chief O'Brien
"You're suggesting we leave it in there?" - Chief O'Brien
"I don't see why not. It's happy. It's not bothering us any more. It seems the humane thing to do." - Chief O'Brien
"It's just another new life form visiting the station." - Lt. Dax
"I'll take care of it, make sure it gets enough attention and all." - Chief O'Brien
"Keep it off the furniture." - Cmdr. Sisko

Rightful Heir

TNG Season 6 Episode 23
Air Date: May 17th, 1993

Lt. Worf misses his bridge shift and when Cmdr. Riker realizes something is wrong he shows up in Worf's quarters to find him in a trance in front of a fire he made. Captain Picard confronts Worf who says he has felt empty ever since he found those Klingons in the Romulan camp. Picard tells Worf to take a leave but when he returns he has to get back to his duties and not let this effect his work again.

Worf goes to a planet that is rumored to be the location where Kahless will return. He starts his meditations and after a few weeks when he is ready to give up, Kahless appears. Of course everyone is skeptical that he is really Kahless but he shows knowledge that only Kahless would know and even passes a DNA test. But there are things that seem wrong. He doesn't remember details that he should and he loses in a fight with Chancellor Gowron, which shouldn't happen since he is the greatest Klingon warrior.

Worf learns that that Kahless is a clone, but with some advice from Lt. Cmdr. Data, he realizes that it doesn't matter. The Klingon empire needs someone to unite under, even if it is a clone of Kahless. He even convinces Gowron to declare him Emperor, a figure head for the Klingon Empire.

Quotes

"Have you lost your faith in Stovokor?" - Captain Picard
"To lose something, one must first possess it." - Lt. Worf

"Long ago, a storm was heading toward the city of Quin'lat. The people sought protection within the walls, all except one man who remained outside. I went to him and asked what he was doing. I am not afraid, he said. I will not hide my face behind stone and mortar. I will stand before the wind and make it respect me. I honored his choice and went inside. The next day, the storm came, and the man was killed. The wind does not respect a fool. Do not stand before the wind, Gowron." - Kahless

"I went to Boreth to find my faith. For a time, I thought I had, but my heart is empty again. I do not know what to believe." - Lt. Worf

"I once had what could be considered a crisis of the spirit." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"You?" - Lt. Worf
"Yes. The Starfleet officers who first activated me on Omicron Theta told me I was an android, nothing more than a sophisticated machine with human form; however, I realized that if I was simply a machine, I could never be anything else. I could never grow beyond my programming. I found that difficult to accept, so I chose to believe that I was a person, that I had the potential to be more than a collection of circuits and subprocessors. It is a belief which I still hold." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"How did you come to your decision?" - Lt. Worf
"I made, a leap of faith." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

If Wishes Were Horses

DS9 Season 1 Episode 15
Air Date: May 16th, 1993

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If turnips were watches, I'd wear one by my side.
If "if's" and "and's" were pots and pans,
There'd be no work for tinkers' hands.

This is a nursery rhyme that suggests that if everyone could get what they wished everyone would be happy. In this episode of DS9, the imagination of the people on DS9 start coming true. Chief O'Brien is telling a story or Rumpelstiltskin to his daughter and Rumpelstiltskin appears. Doctor Bashir is fantasying about Lt. Dax and a version of Dax shows up romantically attracted to him. Captain Sisko's baseball hero Buck Bokai is able to leave the holosuite.

Meanwhile, a rupture in space that threatens to destroy the entire Bajoran sector. They then realize that even this rupture is just based on imagination and they all imagine that everything is fine and the rupture closes. They then learn that the incarnations of their imaginations are actually a race from the gamma quadrant that use this technique for first contact.

Quotes

"I have no time for fantasies." - Const. Odo
"Yeah no imagination, huh?" - Quark
"A waste of time. Too many people dream of places they'll never go, wish for things they'll never have, instead of paying adequate attention to their real lives." - Const. Odo

"Jadzia, I find this difficult to say, but I want you to know, I would" - Doctor Bashir
"Julian, there's really no need to apologise. In a way, I feel as if we've invaded your privacy. We all have fantasies and dreams we keep to ourselves, thoughts that should remain private." - Lt. Dax
"I'm glad you understand." - Doctor Bashir
"Of course I do. I was a young man, once." - Lt. Dax
"So we can put all this behind us?" - Doctor Bashir
"Of course." - Lt. Dax

"This imagination of yours, we have never seen anything like it. It's very real to all of you, but yet it's not. At first, it seemed to us to be a curse, an irritation. That Odo fellow even called it a 'waste of time'." - Const. Odo
"I disagree with him." - Cmdr. Sisko
"I knew you would. I learned that about you, that you can have such an affection for someone you never even met. I wonder if you appreciate how unique that imagination of yours really is." - Buck Bokai
"Not always." - Cmdr. Sisko

Suspicions

TNG Season 6 Episode 22
Air Date: May 10th, 1993

Doctor Crusher learns about a Ferengi scientist that has made a revolutionary breakthrough, metaphasic shielding which would let a ship enter the corona of a star. But nobody believes that a Ferengi could make such a discovery. But Doctor Crusher believes it is sound research and convinces some scientists to come to the Enterprise to look at his research.

They eventually test it out with Jo'Bril, the Takaran as pilot. But things go wrong, and the air becomes toxic in the shuttle. They are able to get Jo'Bril out but he dies in sickbay. Shortly after the Ferengi scientist is found dead, he committed suicide. But Doctor Crusher believes he was murdered. She disobeys orders and does an autopsy which reveled no useful information.

Because of her disobedience she is relieved of duty. But Guinan shows up and convinces her to keep looking. She realizes that the metaphasic shields do work and they were sabotaged. She steals the shuttle and goes back into the star's corona and everything works. But then Jo'Bril appears. Turns out the Takaran can stop their bodily functions and simulate death. He wanted to steal the metaphasic shield technology.

I believe this technology does get used in a future episode where the Enterprise is able to enter the corona to hide.

Quotes

"You know, I've never been to a formal inquiry." - Guinan
"Well, I'll see if I can arrange one for you. All you have to do is disobey orders, violate medical ethics and cause an interstellar incident." - Doctor Crusher

"Jean-Luc, I want to tell you something that you need to know, but you're not going to like it. I did an autopsy on Doctor Reyga." - Doctor Crusher
"What did you find?" - Captain Picard
"Nothing. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have done it." - Doctor Crusher
"You most certainly should not. I made it clear to you that the family would not allow it. Not only have you disobeyed my orders, but you've interfered in the burial rituals of another culture. You've put both of us in a very difficult position. The family will have to be notified. I don't doubt that they will react strongly. If the Ferengi government becomes involved, as I'm certain they will, this could have very significant repercussions. I'm not sure how much I can protect you." - Captain Picard
"You don't have to, Jean-Luc. I knew what I was doing and I'm prepared to accept the consequences." - Doctor Crusher

Week Twenty Three

June 2nd - June 8th

I fell behind this week which is a bit frustrating. I was out of town for a day to go to see Galaxies Edge at Disneyland which was a lot of fun. Saturday is usually my catch up day but I had two hockey games in the afternoon which took that time. So I was only able to watch 9 episodes this week. Next week I hope to get through a 20+ episode week to make up for this week.

Recommendations

The Nagus: Quark becomes the Grand Nagus for a day
Starship Mine: While the Enterprise is having it's baryon sweep, pirates try to steel trilithium resin.
Lessons: Picard enters a relationship with the leader of the stellar cartography.
The Chase: Picard chases down the origin of all intelligent life in the galaxy.
The Storyteller: O'Brien is given the responsibility of defending a Bajoran village by telling stories.
Frame of Mine: Riker acts in a play that becomes reality.

Episodes

DS9 S1E10: The Nagus
TNG S6E18: Starship Mine
TNG S6E19: Lessons
DS9 S1E11: Vortex
DS9 S1E12: Battle Lines
TNG S6E20: The Chase
DS9 S1E13: The Storyteller
TNG S6E21: Frame of Mind
DS9 S1E14: Progress

Progress

DS9 Season 1 Episode 14
Air Date: May 9th, 1993

Major Kira is tasked to evacuate the remaining people from a Bajoran moon. The moon is going to be mined for energy that will help heat hundred of thousands of Bajoran homes but will make the moon uninhabitable. Only one elderly man, Mullibok refuses to leave. The episode creates conflict for Kira since Mullibok represents everything she fought for during the Cardassian occupation. In the end she is forced to burn down Mullibok's house and force him off the planet but it eats her up inside.

There is a side plot I enjoyed in this episode. Nog and Jake acquire yamok sauce from Quark. Quark doesn't want it since it is Cardassian food and he would never be able to use it all. Nog and Jake then start trading the yamok sauce for stem bolts (self-sealing) and eventually land. At the end of the episode Odo tells Quark that the land is needed by the Bajoran government and he is trying to find out who the Noh-jay consortium is, and Nog is able to sell the land to Quark for 5 bars of gold pressed latinum.

Quotes

"Jake, I'm getting that tingling in the lobes. And when a lobe tingles, it means only one thing, opportunity!" - Nog

"I'm going to tell Minister Toran that she's remained temporarily on Jerrado, at your request." - Cmdr. Sisko
"But sir, that isn't true." - Doctor Bashir
"Make it true, Doctor. Now, please." - Cmdr. Sisko
"Commander, I'd advise that Major Kira remain on Jerrado for humanitarian reasons" - Doctor Bashir
"How long?" - Doctor Bashir
"The next day or two." - Cmdr. Sisko
"for the next day or two, sir." - Doctor Bashir
Commander Sisko: Thank you, Doctor. I'll consider that request. Dismissed." - Cmdr. Sisko

"Look, I understand you're used to sympathizing with the underdog. You spent your life fighting to overcome impossible odds, just like he's doing. But you have to realize something Major, you're on the other side now. Pretty uncomfortable, isn't it?" - Cmdr. Sisko
"It's awful." - Major Kira