Star Trek DS9: Season 5
While David and I were making good progress on Season 5 of DS9, I made him a profile on my Netflix account and he has been addicted to it that he began to concentrate on other TV shows. It took us a couple of months to finally watch the final episode of this season! Because it has been a long while, I sort of remember this season as being all right. Here's hoping that we'll work on getting through the series again but with what's been happening lately in both our lives, it looks like it'll take awhile.
"Apocalypse Rising": Having learned from Odo that a Changeling has taken Chancellor Gowron's form and is now in control of the Klingon empire, Captain Sisko is ordered by Starfleet Command to expose the imposter. He, Odo, O'Brien, and Worf must get close enough to the false Gowron to expose him as a Changeling, and must pose as Klingons to do so. Dr. Bashir is called upon to surgically alter them to that end (even Worf is altered so that his cranial ridges are different, to keep him from being recognized). Sisko is also given four metal spheres which, when activated, will emit radiation which will force any nearby Changeling to revert to its natural gelatinous state. Sisko calls upon Gul Dukat, who had previously captured a Klingon Bird of Prey, which Sisko hopes can get them to Ty'Gokor, the heavily guarded headquarters of the Klingon military, undetected. On board the Bird of Prey, Worf trains the humans to behave like Klingons, while Dukat creates Klingon identities for each of the four, adding them to a list of candidates that will receive the Order of the Bat'leth, which is awarded by Gowron himself. Arriving at Ty'Gokor, Dukat transports them to the surface and leaves them to fend for themselves, as they will be able to leave Klingon space freely if they succeed and the war ends, or will be executed as spies if they fail. The four arrive at the Hall of Warriors, where the ceremony has already begun, and try to blend in as best as they can. Soon General Martok, second in command to Gowron, arrives, indicating that Gowron will arrive soon. The four scramble to set up their emitters, not without some difficulty. O'Brien then encounters a problem: Martok seems to recognize him, though he is able to convince Martok that they fought in a battle together. The four finally set up the emitters, and Sisko is called to receive his award. He attempts to activate the emitters, but is knocked to the floor by Martok, who has finally recognized them and has them thrown in a security cell. Once they are alone, Martok confides to Sisko that he too believes that Gowron is an imposter. He says that Gowron ordered that the emitters be destroyed, but still agrees to help, saying that only way to expose Gowron is to kill him. Martok then releases Sisko and his group and leads them back to the Hall of Warriors, but keeps Odo outside, saying he does not trust him. Worf proceeds to attack Gowron who insists on fighting him one on one, just as a real Klingon would. Martok wonders why Sisko does not shoot Gowron outright. Odo realizes that Gowron, in choosing to stand to fight Worf, is showing Klingon honor, and that it is Martok who is the impostor. Odo reveals the false Martok to the crowd, and the Klingons open fire, quickly destroying the Changeling. Gowron then realizes that Odo had been falsely led to believe that Gowron was the Changeling, which would have led to Gowron's assassination by the Federation, thus allowing the fake Martok and the Founders to gain control of the Empire. Gowron also expresses his doubt that the war will end because Klingons do not turn from battle, but he does agree to a cease fire, and Sisko and his men are returned safely back to DS9.
"Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places": Grilka (from the episode "The House of Quark"), the Klingon ex-wife of Quark from a "marriage of convenience", unexpectedly boards DS9. Although her intentions are unknown, Worf is immediately attracted to her, but is dismayed at her friendliness toward Quark. After unsuccessfully attempting to impress Grilka, Worf is admonished by her adviser, Tumek, who says that Worf's dishonor precludes her from mating with him. In pursuing Grilka romantically, Quark finds himself completely unfamiliar with Klingon mating rituals, so he asks Jadzia Dax for help. Worf, eager to prove himself capable of courting a Klingon woman, joins Dax in coaching Quark to win Grilka's affections. Through diligent efforts to learn Klingon culture, including the holosuite reenactment of an ancient Klingon battle scene, Quark is successful with Grilka. However, her bodyguard, Thopok, becomes outraged at the unconventional relationship, and challenges Quark to a fight. Completely unskilled at combat, Quark stands to either lose Grilka or be killed. Worf again helps the Ferengi; using a special device implemented by Dax, Worf is able to control Quark's body movements from an adjacent holosuite and help Quark defend himself with a bat'leth. Although the device temporarily malfunctions, he ultimately defeats the bodyguard. The scene concludes with Grilka and Quark alone and enamored with one another. Worf opines to Jadzia that Quark is unworthy of such a great Klingon woman, and she counters that Worf's interest in Grilka is superficial, asserting that there are better options awaiting him. Observing that Worf still fails to see the subtext in her hints, Dax initiates an aggressive romantic encounter. In the next scene, both couples are shown in the infirmary; Bashir treats their wounds and quickly deduces the source of their injuries (LOL!!!). In a subplot, O'Brien is faced with the increasingly uncomfortable situation of Major Kira carrying his baby and living with him and his wife, Keiko. The two begin to develop feelings of attraction, which are apparent to both Bashir and Odo, though Keiko remains oblivious. O'Brien and Kira try to avoid growing closer, but Keiko insists that O'Brien accompany Kira on a brief retreat to Bajor. As their shuttle is about to depart, Kira reveals that their destination is in a highly romantic setting, which prompts Miles to back out of the trip; Kira also changes her plans and decides to visit her boyfriend, First Minister Shakaar, instead.
"Trials and Tribble-ations": This was an awesome and well-crafted episode that celebrated the near-30th Anniversary of Star Trek: TOS! Blew me away! On board DS9, Sisko is being queried by Department of Temporal Investigations agents Dulmer and Lucsly. The Captain explains that he was on the USS Defiant, returning from Cardassian space with the Bajoran Orb of Time. They had picked up a hitchhiker on the way, a human called Barry Waddle. Suddenly the ship found itself some 200 light years away from its previous location and a hundred years in the past, near Deep Space Station K7 and found the USS Enterprise in orbit. They discover that the hitch-hiker was Arne Darvin, a Klingon agent who had previously been caught by Captain James T. Kirk on K7 whilst trying to poison a shipment of grain. Fearing that Darvin may be attempting to assassinate Kirk, the crew dress in period uniforms and investigate the Enterprise. They attempt to interact with history as little as possible whilst investigating Darvin. The crew does not initially recognize the Klingons of the time period, and when Worf is asked about the difference in appearance, he replies that the matter is not discussed with outsiders (I found out this is further expanded on in the Star Trek: Enterprise episodes "Affliction" and "Divergence"). Bashir and O'Brien (Wow! Bashir looks and blends very well with the TOS crew!) get involved in a bar brawl between the Enterprise crew and a number of Klingons on shore leave. Captain Kirk disciplines them on the Enterprise alongside Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott and Ensign Pavel Chekov. Bashir and O'Brien notice that the ship is covered with tribbles. Worf and Odo trail Darvin as he returns to the Defiant. There, Darvin admits that he planted a bomb in a tribble to kill Kirk. Sisko and Dax (she also blends very well with the TOS crew!) board the Enterprise but can find no trace of a bomb. They travel to K7, and scans indicate that the bomb is in the grain storage compartments. They enter the compartments and discover that the poisoned grain has all been eaten by tribbles, who are now all dead. Suddenly Captain Kirk opens the compartment and is covered in falling tribbles. Dax and Sisko find the bomb before it can kill Kirk and the Defiant transports it into space where it explodes. The crew of the Defiant use the Bajoran Orb to travel back to the present time (not until Sisko gets his chance to meet Captain Kirk), and Sisko finishes explaining the situation to the Temporal Agents. The episode ends with Quark in his bar on DS9's promenade, with numerous tribbles around him. This was a fun tribute episode and the digital effects with recreation of the original sets was pulled off very well!
"The Ascent": This "Odo & Quark" episode was okay. Nog returns to DS9 to do his field studies. He moves in with Jake Sisko, and the two conflict. Nog has become overly neat, has lost his sense of fun, and looks down upon Jake's more relaxed attitudes towards life, cleanliness, and exercise. They eventually reconcile, thanks to the efforts of their fathers.
"Rapture": When Sisko sees a painting, returned by the Cardassians, depicting B'hala, Bajor's legendary lost city, he is inspired to search for the famed site. The painting depicts an obelisk that, according to legend, marked the city's coordinates in the universe. Sisko studies the visible markings, then recreates the obelisk in the holosuite to try to determine what the hidden markings might be. After working until three in the morning, he tries to save his work, but the holosuite system shorts and knocks him unconscious. In the infirmary, Bashir tells Sisko his brain has been overloaded, and his senses will be enhanced for a few days. The doctor lets him go, but warns him to return if he experiences any side effects. That night, during dinner, Sisko absentmindedly cuts his fruit into a series of shapes, then realizes that they are the missing markings from the obelisk. He returns to the holosuite, but is interrupted by a call from Admiral Whatley - Bajor has been accepted into the Federation, and the ceremony will be held on DS9. Back in the holosuite, Sisko has a vision that he is in B'hala. During the vision, he briefly understands all of Bajor's history and can see its future. Afterwards, he continues to study the obelisk, and just as he determines where B'hala should be located, Kasidy Yates, his old girlfriend, returns from prison. He invites her to accompany him to Bajor immediately, and, thrilled to be accepted back into his life, she agrees. On Bajor, Sisko is stricken with a painful headache. He ignores it, and soon finds the lost city of B'hala. The Bajorans regard Sisko's discovery as a miracle and, for the skeptics, confirmation that he is the Emissary. Admiral Whatley, however, is more concerned that Sisko devote his energy to Bajor's admission into the Federation. He visits Sisko at the site on Bajor and asks him to come home. Sisko begs for more time, sensing that the lost city holds answers to some important questions. Reluctantly, the Admiral agrees - provided Sisko submit to a physical when he returns. When Sisko gets home, he seems to have psychic powers. Unfortunately, his headaches are getting worse. Bashir determines that Sisko's headaches are life-threatening and asks to operate immediately. Sisko refuses, unwilling to put a stop to the visions. Jake and Kasidy are crushed, but Sisko is determined to see his visions through. He asks Kai Winn to help him consult the Orb of Prophecy, and while he sits with the powerful orb, the ceremony admitting Bajor to the Federation is put on hold. An angry Admiral Whatley finally begins the ceremony without Sisko, and the captain suddenly appears, weak and in obvious pain. He warns the assembled that if Bajor joins the Federation now, it will be destroyed by "locusts". Sisko is then rushed to the infirmary, where Bashir grimly reports that he must operate immediately to save his life. Since Sisko himself refused the operation, Jake, as the next-of-kin, must decide his father's fate. Unwilling to let his father die, Jake goes against Sisko's wishes and permits the operation. Sisko awakens to anguish at the loss of his visions. However, he was able to convince the Bajorans to put their admission to the Federation on hold. Kasidy gently reminds him that while he has lost something very important to him, what he saved - his life with his son - is even more precious.
"The Darkness and the Light": I was a little sad that Furel and Lupaza were killed. Furel was woofy!
"The Begotten": The station is buzzing with the news that Kira has finally gone into labor. But Odo is surprisingly uninterested, having his own "baby" to deal with. The former Changeling has purchased an ailing infant Changeling from Quark, and, after Bashir heals the creature, begins the task of trying to teach his "child" to shapeshift. He is clearly displeased when Dr. Mora, the Bajoran scientist who "raised" Odo, arrives on the station to help. Dr. Mora and Odo immediately clash over how to best raise the Changeling. Odo, still angry at the invasive methods Dr. Mora employed with him, hopes to reach the infant through encouragement. Mora, however, insists on probing and measuring the little creature, to Odo's horror and disgust. Unfortunately, Odo makes little progress using his own methods, and Mora is quick to point this out. Odo refuses to even consider the doctor's expertise until Sisko informs him that Starfleet Command wants Odo to establish communication with the Changeling as soon as possible - or lose the infant to Starfleet. Unwilling to give his "baby" up, Odo has no choice but to listen to his old nemesis. Using Dr. Mora's equipment, Odo employs electric shocks - the same methods Mora used to teach him to shapeshift, to prod the changeling into holding several basic forms. As he experiences his first success, Odo tries to resist bonding with Mora, who, when he taught Odo, experienced the same sense of pride Odo now feels. However, they are both amazed when the creature forms a face with eyes, and uses them to peer at Odo. The moment brings Odo and Mora together - especially when Mora admits to Odo that his caring seems to have helped him form a connection with the baby. Mora's support helps Odo to finally forgive him and actually thank him for helping him to become more than a simple lump of organic material. He invites Dr. Mora to celebrate their success with a glass of champagne, and Mora happily accepts. Odo winds up at Quark's, where he offers his heartfelt thanks to the Ferengi for changing his life (LOL!). Unfortunately, the happy mood is shattered when Odo receives word that the little creature is dying. Desperate, Odo begs Dr. Bashir to save his "child", but there is nothing that can be done. Odo then takes the goo into his hands and begs the little creature not to die. It does anyway, but as a final "gift" to its mentor, the infant changeling merges into Odo and restores his shapeshifting abilities. The episode comes to a close with Dr. Mora and Odo saying goodbye just before his departure. A more understanding Odo shakes hands with Dr. Mora, telling him he wishes he had included the latter more in his life. Dr. Mora tells Odo it isn't too late and that he can do more in the future. As Odo moves to shake Mora's hand, the Doctor pulls him in for what surely seems to be his first hug. Odo rests his head on Dr. Mora's shoulder and returns the hug. Major Kira sees Odo in the hall and explains her feelings of loss for the child. Odo tells her he knows how she feels and Kira asks Odo if he'd like to go for a walk. The two friends, sharing their mutual loss and feeling of friendship, walk off. Kira puts her arm around Odo in a showing of pure affection and friendship. I actually was surprised that Odo regained his shapeshifting abilities back so early! I thought it would last until at least the whole season and maybe he'd get them back eventually but this early?
"For the Uniform": Sisko encounters Michael Eddington, his former Starfleet Security Chief, who betrayed him and joined the Maquis (last season's episode "For the Cause"). Obsessed with capturing the traitor, Sisko pursues him in the Defiant. But when Sisko gives the order to fire, the Defiant experiences a massive computer failure - caused by Eddington. He leaves Sisko angry and humiliated, and facing a long trip home. The Defiant is towed back to DS9, and O'Brien begins the massive job of bringing the ship back on-line. Adding insult to injury, Sisko learns that Captain Sanders of the Starship Malinche has been assigned to apprehend Eddington since Starfleet feels Sisko hasn't himself been able to do the job in the past eight months. But when he learns that Eddington attacked Cardassian colonies in the DMZ with a biogenic weapon, Sisko sees his chance. Despite the fact that the Defiant is not ready, he prepares to take his ship back into space. The ship lurches out of the station and soon encounters Eddington again, who taunts Sisko. The captain realizes too late that he was baited to false coordinates. As the crew sets off to find Eddington's real location, a distress call is received from the Malinche - Maquis forces ambushed and disabled the starship. Sisko determines Eddington's next planetary target, but is too late to stop him from releasing his biogenic weapon into the atmosphere. The Defiant chases after Eddington's fleeing ship, but he cripples a transport vessel evacuating Cardassian civilians, forcing Sisko to break off his pursuit and rescue the helpless Cardassians. Stumped as to how he's going to get Eddington, Sisko realizes that the renegade sees himself as a noble hero and Sisko as a villain (in the vein of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables). In order to stop Eddington, Sisko decides he must do something truly villainous. He prepares to poison the atmosphere of the Maquis colony in retaliation and reveals his sinister plan to all. Eddington is prepared to call his bluff. Sisko orders the deadly torpedoes launched, and the Maquis scramble to evacuate. Sisko says that he is prepared to eliminate every Maquis colony in the DMZ, and Eddington, realizing Sisko is serious, does the "heroic" gesture of offering himself in exchange. Eddington is captured, and Sisko's vendetta is finally over.
"In Purgatory's Shadow Part 1": When the station picks up a mysterious coded message from inside the Gamma Quadrant that appears to be Cardassian, Garak is asked to analyze it. He reports that the message is insignificant, but is later caught trying to sneak off the station in a runabout. He then admits that the message is some sort of distress call from his mentor Enabran Tain, the former head of the Obsidian Order. Garak convinces Sisko to allow him to travel to the Gamma Quadrant to search for Tain (and possible Starfleet, Bajoran, Romulan, and Cardassian survivors from Dominion attacks), but Sisko sends Worf along as a "chaperone". Garak and Worf bicker constantly and find nothing. Finally, Worf announces that they can go no farther and takes the ship out of warp, explaining that the source of Tain's signal is deep in Dominion space. Garak, however, is unwilling to give up, and pushes Worf to travel through the nebula to avoid detection. Worf reluctantly agrees, and almost immediately upon entering the nebula, they wind up in the midst of the Jem'Hadar fleet. Worf realizes that the entire fleet can only be assembled for one reason - they intend to invade the Alpha Quadrant. He immediately sends a warning message to the station, but is not confident it will get through. Moments later, four Jem'Hadar soldiers materialize on the ship and take Worf and Garak prisoner. Back on DS9, the crew is able to decipher enough of Worf's signal to realize the Dominion is coming. Sisko sends Kira to find Worf and Garak, but they are already imprisoned in a Dominion detention center, where they are told they will remain until they die. Inside the camp, Worf meets Martok, the Klingon general who was replaced by a Changeling (from the episode "Apocalypse Rising"). Martok leads Worf and Garak to Tain, himself a prisoner, who is dying. Instead of being thankful to Garak for coming, Tain chastises him for allowing himself to be taken prisoner. Meanwhile, Kira returns with grim news that at least 50 Dominion ships are headed their way. With reinforcements at least two days away and only Gul Dukat on hand to help out, Sisko sees only one choice - sealing the wormhole. If Worf and Garak don't escape in 36 hours, they will be trapped. Meanwhile, Worf and Garak are introduced to another prisoner: Bashir ...meaning that the Bashir at the station is a Changeling. On the station, the Bashir Changeling begins making himself useful to Dax and O'Brien while they work out the technology that will seal the wormhole. In the internment camp, Garak meets with Tain again, desperate for a kind word from his mentor before the old man passes on. When Tain makes Garak promise to escape as a final request, Garak makes a request in return - that Tain acknowledge him as his son. He does, and father and illegitimate child share a memory before Tain dies peacefully. His mission complete, Garak is ready to find a way out. But he may be too late. On DS9, the crew shoots a particle beam at the wormhole using the emitter array, intending to close it. However, something goes wrong. The emitter array has been sabotaged, and the wormhole remains open, allowing a fleet of Jem'Hadar ships to begin pouring through.
"By Inferno's Light Part II": The Dominion fleet momentarily pauses and faces off with DS9, the USS Defiant, several runabouts, and Gul Dukat aboard a Bird of Prey. The fleet then heads to Cardassian space, with Dukat's Bird of Prey following them. Thinking that he is trying to make a heroic stand against the entire fleet, Kira tells him to stand down, but Dukat informs her that he has been secretly negotiating with the Dominion for several months now, and that the Dominion has accepted Cardassia as a member, with Dukat as the leader of the new government. At the internment camp, the prisoners are told of Cardassia's new allegiance, and all Cardassian prisoners at the camp are set free. As Garak walks off with the other Cardassians, he is told that he is to remain in prison, at the personal request of Dukat. Dukat himself appears in a video transmission to all of Cardassia, and pledges to expel Klingons and Maquis from Cardassian space and reclaim "all that was lost". Garak begins work on modifying the transmitter to contact the runabout in orbit over the internment camp, and Worf is selected as an opponent for Jem'Hadar to practice hand-to-hand combat. He is matched first against the youngest and least experienced of them, who scores an initial knockdown, but is eventually defeated. Meanwhile, Dukat has kept his promise to expel the Klingons, and they end up at DS9, where Gowron comes aboard to meet with Sisko. Sisko suggests that they join to fight the real enemy - the Dominion - and Gowron agrees to reinstate the Khitomer Accords (YAY!). At the camp, Worf's subsequent Jem'Hadar opponents become successively older and more experienced, yet he continues to be victorious. Garak begins to suffer from claustrophobia, and Bashir suspects that he will be unable to complete the transmitter modifications. Worf returns to the cell from a day of fighting, and Bashir tells him he has several broken ribs and, along with Martok, encourages him to stop fighting. Worf's refusal to give up inspires Garak to overcome his fears and return to work. Meanwhile, the station crew are awaiting reinforcements and trying to locate the Changeling in their midst. Dukat contacts Sisko and encourages him to persuade the Federation to join the Dominion. Sisko refuses, and Dukat reminds him that when he said he wanted to reclaim all lost Cardassian territory, which includes DS9, as it was built by Cardassians (although Sisko points out that it was built by Bajoran slave labour). Ignoring Dukat, Sisko deploys the Defiant and the runabouts to fight the incoming joint Cardassian/Dominion fleet. The Changeling Bashir is on one of the runabouts, having incapacitated the crew. O'Brien detects a fleet of ships decloaking, and the crew is shocked to discover Romulan warbirds instead of the expected Dominion fleet. The Romulans ask for permission to join the Federation/Klingon fleet, and Sisko grants it (Cool!). Back at the internment camp, as Worf is fighting the Jem'Hadar commander, three Jem'Hadar enter the cell and question the prisoners about the whereabouts of Garak, who has not been seen in some time. They discover the loose wall panels, and come close to discovering Garak when the prisoners successfully overpower their guards. In the combat ring, Worf is clearly defeated, but refuses to yield. Ikat'ika, the Jem'Hadar commander, is impressed by Worf's determination to fight to what ultimately would be his death; Ikat'ika himself yields the fight, saying that he can't defeat Worf - only kill him - and Ikat'ika is uninterested in that. This enrages the Vorta, who orders Ikat'ika's immediate execution. As the troops turn their guns to Worf, Garak manages to engage the transmitter, and they are beamed away to the orbiting runabout at the last second along with a Romulan captive. Once on the runabout, the real Bashir sends an urgent message to DS9. The crew realizes that the Changeling Bashir is on a runabout and is carrying a bomb that he intends to detonate inside the sun, which will cause a supernova and incinerate DS9, Bajor, and the combined Starfleet, Klingon, and Romulan forces. The Defiant takes the risky maneuver of engaging warp drive within a solar system, and pulls up alongside the runabout and engages the tractor beam, pulling the runabout away from the sun at the last minute. The bomb explodes, destroying the runabout and the Changeling Bashir. Suddenly, the approaching Dominion fleet disappears from the sensors, and the crew realizes the fleet never left Cardassia - the Changeling had been broadcasting fake warp signatures. Garak, Worf, Bashir, and Martok are reunited with their friends and loved ones on the station, and Sisko finalizes the new peace treaty with the Klingons (Double YAY!). The revised version calls for a permanent Klingon presence on DS9, and Sisko selects Martok to command those troops.
"Doctor Bashir, I Presume?": Dr. Lewis Zimmerman ('The Doctor" from Star Trek: Voyager) comes to DS9 with the intent of using Bashir's physical and personality likeness as a template for a long-term medical hologram (as opposed to the short-term Emergency Medical Hologram installed on such ships as the USS Voyager and the Enterprise-E), which will provide medical care on distant and isolated outposts. In order to make the hologram as robust as possible, Zimmerman needs a complete personality profile on Bashir. In addition to questioning Bashir himself, Zimmerman interviews Bashir's colleagues and makes arrangements - against Bashir's wishes - to invite Julian's estranged parents, Amsha and Richard Bashir, to the station. Julian is embarrassed by his father's tendency toward hyperbole, for example referring to the time he "ran shuttles" when, in fact, Richard was merely a steward who was fired shortly into his career. Bashir implores his parents at dinner not to reveal to Zimmerman anything about a secret from his childhood. Later, his parents go to the infirmary to try to assuage their son's fears, stating emphatically that they will not tell Zimmerman that they had Julian genetically modified when he was a child. They point out that they have kept the secret since he was a child, and that because such modification is illegal in the Federation, they, too, are criminally culpable. However, Bashir's parents are unaware that rather than speaking to their son, they are speaking to Zimmerman's new hologram; Zimmerman and Chief O'Brien, who is assisting Zimmerman, are right around the corner. O'Brien informs Julian about what he heard and Julian confirms that he had been genetically modified. As a child, he reveals, he was a poor student, with some form of learning disability and possibly mental retardation, and seemed destined to failure. His parents took him to Adigeon Prime for DNA resequencing, greatly improving his intelligence and dexterity. With the secret out, Bashir sees no alternative but to resign from Starfleet. However, before Bashir can file his resignation, his parents take matters into their own hands. Richard strikes a deal with the Starfleet Judge Advocate General's Rear Admiral Bennett: Richard will spend two years in prison for illegal genetic engineering, and Bashir is allowed to retain his commission. In the midst of all this, Zimmerman pursues Leeta's affections, to the point of asking her to accompany him back to Jupiter Station to open her own bar. Shy Rom is too scared to say anything to convince her to stay, despite it being clear that Leeta would welcome any reason to stay with him. She is on the verge of getting onto a transport with Zimmerman when Rom careens around the corner, in one long yell for her to wait (until he gets there). He finally gives her the long-awaited reason to stay: "I love you." Leeta reciprocates, and agrees to stay. It doesn't take long for Zimmerman to find another woman to pursue...
"A Simple Investigation": Odo makes love to woman... 'nuff said!
"Ties of Blood and Water": Two years earlier (from the episode "Second Skin") Kira had been abducted and told she was the long-lost daughter of a Cardassian Legate named Tekeny Ghemor, disguised as a Bajoran for a top-secret mission. Although Kira never truly believed it, Ghemor did, and as he attempted to reestablish a bond between them, Kira developed a sympathy for him. When the truth came out and Ghemor realized she was not really his daughter, he told Kira he cared for her anyway. Now Ghemor is dying. He wishes to participate in the ritual of shri-tal, a Cardassian tradition in which a dying person reveals their secrets to the rest of the family for use against their enemies. He chooses Kira, since, as he told her before, she is the closest thing he has to family. Sisko encourages her to participate, as this could help the Federation and Bajor. Kira joins in. The ritual is later interrupted by Gul Dukat who takes a series of steps to attempt to prevent Ghemor from sharing his wealth of knowledge with Kira and the Federation. Finally, employing a 'divide and conquer' tactic, Dukat tells Kira about a massacre of Bajoran monks that Ghemor had participated in. Infuriated, Kira leaves Ghemor. She soon learns Ghemor would have only been nineteen at the time of the murders. While he was a part of the Cardassian military, and did take part in the raid, he was simply a soldier whose unit had been told that the monks at the Bajoran monastery had been stockpiling weapons that were being used to kill Cardassians. Also, Kira recalls when she could not have been there for her real father, who died while she was fighting the Cardassians. Moved, she stays by Ghemor's side until the end. After Ghemor dies, Kira arranges to have his body buried on Bajor - next to her biological father, Kira Taban.
"Ferengi Love Songs": Depressed over his lot in life - especially being blacklisted by the Ferengi Commerce Authority - Quark goes to his homeworld of Ferenginar for some comfort from his mother, Ishka. The free-thinking Ishka is sympathetic, but clearly uneasy over his declaration that he will be "living" with her for an unspecified period of time. Quark soon learns the reason behind her uncertainty. When he enters his old bedroom, he finds Grand Nagus Zek - the Ferengi leader - hiding in the closet! It turns out that Ishka and Zek are in love (LOL!). Back on DS9, Leeta and Rom decide to get married and begin to discuss their marriage details, with Rom agreeing to wear a Bajoran earring, but Leeta refusing to sign a Ferengi document that says she will give up all claim to money and properties. Zek demands Quark keep their affair a secret, and Quark agrees, thrilled that his mother is now the beloved of the most powerful man on his homeworld. But when Quark hints that he would like Zek to reinstate his revoked business license, Zek refuses, reminding Quark that it is up to the FCA. Quark returns to his room, where Liquidator Brunt, the FCA agent who revoked his license, confronts him. Brunt offers to give Quark a new business license if he breaks up Zek and Ishka. Quark agrees, and soon places doubts in Zek's head about Ishka's motives. The plan works - his mother is left heartbroken. Quark feigns sympathy, then contacts Brunt, who keeps his word and gives him the business license. Zek offers Quark the position of First Clerk. Quark happily accepts - then discovers the Nagus is not the profit-making whiz he once was. By day's end, the Ferengi market exchange has experienced a drastic slide due to the Nagus's failing memory. A stunned Quark returns home, where Ishka reveals that she had been helping Zek. Quark realizes that his mother was more than Zek's lover - she was the power behind the throne. Ishka, in turn, realizes that Quark turned Zek against her, and may have destroyed the Ferengi economy in the process (whoops! LOL!). Quark encounters Brunt, who reveals that the entire plan was a set-up designed to help him become the new Grand Nagus. Quark is free to return to DS9, but feels too guilty over what he has inadvertently done. The next day, Quark saves Zek by supplying him with enough brilliant advice to turn around the economic situation, but then reveals that the advice actually came from Ishka. After Quark admits to breaking them up, Zek and Ishka happily reunite.
"Soldiers of the Empire": The episode opens with Dr. Bashir caring for a badly injured General Martok. Martok then receives a message from the Klingon government stating that he has been assigned to retrieve a missing Klingon vessel lost several days ago. The Klingon High Council assigns the General a ship of his own, the Rotarran to accomplish the mission. He departs DS9 along with his newly appointed First Officer, Worf who has signed on to the mission at Martok's request. To Worf's surprise Dax joins them as the ship's Science Officer. The Rotarran is Martok's first command since his escape from the Dominion prison camp, and he is dismayed to find that the crew are anything but happy; instead, it is an embittered ensemble whose morale has been destroyed by a series of punishing losses at the hands of the Jem'Hadar. The morale situation aboard ship is only made worse by Martok's overly cautious nature and unwillingness to go into battle and because of this he misses a chance for an easy victory. Dax, acting as a Klingon would, challenges Worf about the General's behavior which Worf will hear none of. In the mess hall, Dax is forced to stun a Klingon officer with her phaser when a pair of officers get into violent argument, almost causing the death of one of them. After this, Dax angrily confronts Worf about it and tells him that he needs to deal with the General by challenging him for command. The B'Moth is found just across the Cardassian border, but Martok, fearing that the Jem'Hadar left it behind as a trap, refuses to enter Cardassian territory. Worf realizes Martok is paralyzed by fear. Reluctantly, he decides to challenge Martok for control of the ship. A knife fight ensues for control. Worf sees that Martok's fear is gone and allows him to win the fight, sustaining a nasty wound just as a Jem'Hadar ship approaches. The revitalized crew defeats the enemy, rescues the survivors, and returns to DS9 as victors for the first time. Martok is forever grateful to Worf for reminding him of his duty as a Klingon warrior, and offers him a place in the House of Martok.
"Children of Time": This episode was okay. The DS9 crew meet their descendants on a planet stuck in some "bubble" and if the crew leaves the planet - correcting the original past in which their ship crashed and Kira eventually dying - their descendants would disappear. An older Odo meets them and seeing Kira alive, finally admits his love for her the entire time. At the end of the episode, the meeting of Kira and the original Odo is awkward to say the least!
"Blaze of Glory": This episode was okay too but had some good action. Michael Eddington returns but is killed in a firefight at the end of the episode (we also find out he was married before his arrest in "For the Uniform").
"Call to Arms": Upon learning that the Romulans and other major powers have signed non-aggression pacts with the Dominion, Starfleet Command orders Sisko to prevent further Dominion reinforcements from reaching Cardassia, their first foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. A plan by Rom is devised to block the entrance to the wormhole with a field of self-replicating mines, but the mines cannot be activated until they are entirely deployed; this task will take several hours to complete. Shortly after deployment begins, Weyoun declares that DS9 will be attacked unless the mines are removed. Knowing that Starfleet reinforcements are unavailable, Sisko asks Martok to patrol the border while the Defiant continues deployment. Sisko also notifies Kira that he will endorse the non-aggression pact offered to Bajor by the Dominion, in the hope that it will keep Bajor out of the coming fight and in turn, war. Rom and Leeta are married by Sisko in his capacity as the Emissary and a Starfleet captain. As the Dominion fleet approaches, Sisko orders a civilian emergency evacuation of DS9. Starfleet and Bajoran militia personnel remain to defend the station until the mines are completely deployed. Dominion forces attack and are met by DS9's armaments and Martok's vessel, the Rotarran. After the minefield is activated, Sisko orders the Starfleet personnel to evacuate as well. The Bajoran militia remains aboard the station, as do Quark, Rom, Morn, and Jake, who intends to serve as a reporter for the Federation News Service while the station is occupied by the Dominion. Before surrendering DS9, Kira disables the station's systems by activating a pre-set computer program. Sisko informs the Starfleet personnel that while the station was being captured, a combined Starfleet/Klingon task force had wiped out the Dominion ship yards in the Alpha Quadrant. Weyoun reveals that it cost over 50 ships to take the station. Aboard the Defiant, Sisko is informed that Jake is not aboard and must still be on DS9. O'Brien asks whether or not they should go back for him. An angered Sisko responds that he can't risk the ship and its crew for one person, even if he is his son. "He is a man" Sisko reasons as he slumps back into his seat and says "Maintain current course". On DS9, Kira, Odo, and Quark welcome the Dominion aboard the station. Afterwards, Gul Dukat reclaims his old office in Ops, where he notes the baseball left behind - a message to him that Sisko will return. As Sisko faces the viewscreen with a defiant glare, the Defiant and Rotarran circle around to join the massive Federation/Klingon task force.
I have no idea when Season 6 will be done. I'll let you guys know my progress in my monthly entries.
"Apocalypse Rising": Having learned from Odo that a Changeling has taken Chancellor Gowron's form and is now in control of the Klingon empire, Captain Sisko is ordered by Starfleet Command to expose the imposter. He, Odo, O'Brien, and Worf must get close enough to the false Gowron to expose him as a Changeling, and must pose as Klingons to do so. Dr. Bashir is called upon to surgically alter them to that end (even Worf is altered so that his cranial ridges are different, to keep him from being recognized). Sisko is also given four metal spheres which, when activated, will emit radiation which will force any nearby Changeling to revert to its natural gelatinous state. Sisko calls upon Gul Dukat, who had previously captured a Klingon Bird of Prey, which Sisko hopes can get them to Ty'Gokor, the heavily guarded headquarters of the Klingon military, undetected. On board the Bird of Prey, Worf trains the humans to behave like Klingons, while Dukat creates Klingon identities for each of the four, adding them to a list of candidates that will receive the Order of the Bat'leth, which is awarded by Gowron himself. Arriving at Ty'Gokor, Dukat transports them to the surface and leaves them to fend for themselves, as they will be able to leave Klingon space freely if they succeed and the war ends, or will be executed as spies if they fail. The four arrive at the Hall of Warriors, where the ceremony has already begun, and try to blend in as best as they can. Soon General Martok, second in command to Gowron, arrives, indicating that Gowron will arrive soon. The four scramble to set up their emitters, not without some difficulty. O'Brien then encounters a problem: Martok seems to recognize him, though he is able to convince Martok that they fought in a battle together. The four finally set up the emitters, and Sisko is called to receive his award. He attempts to activate the emitters, but is knocked to the floor by Martok, who has finally recognized them and has them thrown in a security cell. Once they are alone, Martok confides to Sisko that he too believes that Gowron is an imposter. He says that Gowron ordered that the emitters be destroyed, but still agrees to help, saying that only way to expose Gowron is to kill him. Martok then releases Sisko and his group and leads them back to the Hall of Warriors, but keeps Odo outside, saying he does not trust him. Worf proceeds to attack Gowron who insists on fighting him one on one, just as a real Klingon would. Martok wonders why Sisko does not shoot Gowron outright. Odo realizes that Gowron, in choosing to stand to fight Worf, is showing Klingon honor, and that it is Martok who is the impostor. Odo reveals the false Martok to the crowd, and the Klingons open fire, quickly destroying the Changeling. Gowron then realizes that Odo had been falsely led to believe that Gowron was the Changeling, which would have led to Gowron's assassination by the Federation, thus allowing the fake Martok and the Founders to gain control of the Empire. Gowron also expresses his doubt that the war will end because Klingons do not turn from battle, but he does agree to a cease fire, and Sisko and his men are returned safely back to DS9.
"Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places": Grilka (from the episode "The House of Quark"), the Klingon ex-wife of Quark from a "marriage of convenience", unexpectedly boards DS9. Although her intentions are unknown, Worf is immediately attracted to her, but is dismayed at her friendliness toward Quark. After unsuccessfully attempting to impress Grilka, Worf is admonished by her adviser, Tumek, who says that Worf's dishonor precludes her from mating with him. In pursuing Grilka romantically, Quark finds himself completely unfamiliar with Klingon mating rituals, so he asks Jadzia Dax for help. Worf, eager to prove himself capable of courting a Klingon woman, joins Dax in coaching Quark to win Grilka's affections. Through diligent efforts to learn Klingon culture, including the holosuite reenactment of an ancient Klingon battle scene, Quark is successful with Grilka. However, her bodyguard, Thopok, becomes outraged at the unconventional relationship, and challenges Quark to a fight. Completely unskilled at combat, Quark stands to either lose Grilka or be killed. Worf again helps the Ferengi; using a special device implemented by Dax, Worf is able to control Quark's body movements from an adjacent holosuite and help Quark defend himself with a bat'leth. Although the device temporarily malfunctions, he ultimately defeats the bodyguard. The scene concludes with Grilka and Quark alone and enamored with one another. Worf opines to Jadzia that Quark is unworthy of such a great Klingon woman, and she counters that Worf's interest in Grilka is superficial, asserting that there are better options awaiting him. Observing that Worf still fails to see the subtext in her hints, Dax initiates an aggressive romantic encounter. In the next scene, both couples are shown in the infirmary; Bashir treats their wounds and quickly deduces the source of their injuries (LOL!!!). In a subplot, O'Brien is faced with the increasingly uncomfortable situation of Major Kira carrying his baby and living with him and his wife, Keiko. The two begin to develop feelings of attraction, which are apparent to both Bashir and Odo, though Keiko remains oblivious. O'Brien and Kira try to avoid growing closer, but Keiko insists that O'Brien accompany Kira on a brief retreat to Bajor. As their shuttle is about to depart, Kira reveals that their destination is in a highly romantic setting, which prompts Miles to back out of the trip; Kira also changes her plans and decides to visit her boyfriend, First Minister Shakaar, instead.
"Trials and Tribble-ations": This was an awesome and well-crafted episode that celebrated the near-30th Anniversary of Star Trek: TOS! Blew me away! On board DS9, Sisko is being queried by Department of Temporal Investigations agents Dulmer and Lucsly. The Captain explains that he was on the USS Defiant, returning from Cardassian space with the Bajoran Orb of Time. They had picked up a hitchhiker on the way, a human called Barry Waddle. Suddenly the ship found itself some 200 light years away from its previous location and a hundred years in the past, near Deep Space Station K7 and found the USS Enterprise in orbit. They discover that the hitch-hiker was Arne Darvin, a Klingon agent who had previously been caught by Captain James T. Kirk on K7 whilst trying to poison a shipment of grain. Fearing that Darvin may be attempting to assassinate Kirk, the crew dress in period uniforms and investigate the Enterprise. They attempt to interact with history as little as possible whilst investigating Darvin. The crew does not initially recognize the Klingons of the time period, and when Worf is asked about the difference in appearance, he replies that the matter is not discussed with outsiders (I found out this is further expanded on in the Star Trek: Enterprise episodes "Affliction" and "Divergence"). Bashir and O'Brien (Wow! Bashir looks and blends very well with the TOS crew!) get involved in a bar brawl between the Enterprise crew and a number of Klingons on shore leave. Captain Kirk disciplines them on the Enterprise alongside Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott and Ensign Pavel Chekov. Bashir and O'Brien notice that the ship is covered with tribbles. Worf and Odo trail Darvin as he returns to the Defiant. There, Darvin admits that he planted a bomb in a tribble to kill Kirk. Sisko and Dax (she also blends very well with the TOS crew!) board the Enterprise but can find no trace of a bomb. They travel to K7, and scans indicate that the bomb is in the grain storage compartments. They enter the compartments and discover that the poisoned grain has all been eaten by tribbles, who are now all dead. Suddenly Captain Kirk opens the compartment and is covered in falling tribbles. Dax and Sisko find the bomb before it can kill Kirk and the Defiant transports it into space where it explodes. The crew of the Defiant use the Bajoran Orb to travel back to the present time (not until Sisko gets his chance to meet Captain Kirk), and Sisko finishes explaining the situation to the Temporal Agents. The episode ends with Quark in his bar on DS9's promenade, with numerous tribbles around him. This was a fun tribute episode and the digital effects with recreation of the original sets was pulled off very well!
"The Ascent": This "Odo & Quark" episode was okay. Nog returns to DS9 to do his field studies. He moves in with Jake Sisko, and the two conflict. Nog has become overly neat, has lost his sense of fun, and looks down upon Jake's more relaxed attitudes towards life, cleanliness, and exercise. They eventually reconcile, thanks to the efforts of their fathers.
"Rapture": When Sisko sees a painting, returned by the Cardassians, depicting B'hala, Bajor's legendary lost city, he is inspired to search for the famed site. The painting depicts an obelisk that, according to legend, marked the city's coordinates in the universe. Sisko studies the visible markings, then recreates the obelisk in the holosuite to try to determine what the hidden markings might be. After working until three in the morning, he tries to save his work, but the holosuite system shorts and knocks him unconscious. In the infirmary, Bashir tells Sisko his brain has been overloaded, and his senses will be enhanced for a few days. The doctor lets him go, but warns him to return if he experiences any side effects. That night, during dinner, Sisko absentmindedly cuts his fruit into a series of shapes, then realizes that they are the missing markings from the obelisk. He returns to the holosuite, but is interrupted by a call from Admiral Whatley - Bajor has been accepted into the Federation, and the ceremony will be held on DS9. Back in the holosuite, Sisko has a vision that he is in B'hala. During the vision, he briefly understands all of Bajor's history and can see its future. Afterwards, he continues to study the obelisk, and just as he determines where B'hala should be located, Kasidy Yates, his old girlfriend, returns from prison. He invites her to accompany him to Bajor immediately, and, thrilled to be accepted back into his life, she agrees. On Bajor, Sisko is stricken with a painful headache. He ignores it, and soon finds the lost city of B'hala. The Bajorans regard Sisko's discovery as a miracle and, for the skeptics, confirmation that he is the Emissary. Admiral Whatley, however, is more concerned that Sisko devote his energy to Bajor's admission into the Federation. He visits Sisko at the site on Bajor and asks him to come home. Sisko begs for more time, sensing that the lost city holds answers to some important questions. Reluctantly, the Admiral agrees - provided Sisko submit to a physical when he returns. When Sisko gets home, he seems to have psychic powers. Unfortunately, his headaches are getting worse. Bashir determines that Sisko's headaches are life-threatening and asks to operate immediately. Sisko refuses, unwilling to put a stop to the visions. Jake and Kasidy are crushed, but Sisko is determined to see his visions through. He asks Kai Winn to help him consult the Orb of Prophecy, and while he sits with the powerful orb, the ceremony admitting Bajor to the Federation is put on hold. An angry Admiral Whatley finally begins the ceremony without Sisko, and the captain suddenly appears, weak and in obvious pain. He warns the assembled that if Bajor joins the Federation now, it will be destroyed by "locusts". Sisko is then rushed to the infirmary, where Bashir grimly reports that he must operate immediately to save his life. Since Sisko himself refused the operation, Jake, as the next-of-kin, must decide his father's fate. Unwilling to let his father die, Jake goes against Sisko's wishes and permits the operation. Sisko awakens to anguish at the loss of his visions. However, he was able to convince the Bajorans to put their admission to the Federation on hold. Kasidy gently reminds him that while he has lost something very important to him, what he saved - his life with his son - is even more precious.
"The Darkness and the Light": I was a little sad that Furel and Lupaza were killed. Furel was woofy!
"The Begotten": The station is buzzing with the news that Kira has finally gone into labor. But Odo is surprisingly uninterested, having his own "baby" to deal with. The former Changeling has purchased an ailing infant Changeling from Quark, and, after Bashir heals the creature, begins the task of trying to teach his "child" to shapeshift. He is clearly displeased when Dr. Mora, the Bajoran scientist who "raised" Odo, arrives on the station to help. Dr. Mora and Odo immediately clash over how to best raise the Changeling. Odo, still angry at the invasive methods Dr. Mora employed with him, hopes to reach the infant through encouragement. Mora, however, insists on probing and measuring the little creature, to Odo's horror and disgust. Unfortunately, Odo makes little progress using his own methods, and Mora is quick to point this out. Odo refuses to even consider the doctor's expertise until Sisko informs him that Starfleet Command wants Odo to establish communication with the Changeling as soon as possible - or lose the infant to Starfleet. Unwilling to give his "baby" up, Odo has no choice but to listen to his old nemesis. Using Dr. Mora's equipment, Odo employs electric shocks - the same methods Mora used to teach him to shapeshift, to prod the changeling into holding several basic forms. As he experiences his first success, Odo tries to resist bonding with Mora, who, when he taught Odo, experienced the same sense of pride Odo now feels. However, they are both amazed when the creature forms a face with eyes, and uses them to peer at Odo. The moment brings Odo and Mora together - especially when Mora admits to Odo that his caring seems to have helped him form a connection with the baby. Mora's support helps Odo to finally forgive him and actually thank him for helping him to become more than a simple lump of organic material. He invites Dr. Mora to celebrate their success with a glass of champagne, and Mora happily accepts. Odo winds up at Quark's, where he offers his heartfelt thanks to the Ferengi for changing his life (LOL!). Unfortunately, the happy mood is shattered when Odo receives word that the little creature is dying. Desperate, Odo begs Dr. Bashir to save his "child", but there is nothing that can be done. Odo then takes the goo into his hands and begs the little creature not to die. It does anyway, but as a final "gift" to its mentor, the infant changeling merges into Odo and restores his shapeshifting abilities. The episode comes to a close with Dr. Mora and Odo saying goodbye just before his departure. A more understanding Odo shakes hands with Dr. Mora, telling him he wishes he had included the latter more in his life. Dr. Mora tells Odo it isn't too late and that he can do more in the future. As Odo moves to shake Mora's hand, the Doctor pulls him in for what surely seems to be his first hug. Odo rests his head on Dr. Mora's shoulder and returns the hug. Major Kira sees Odo in the hall and explains her feelings of loss for the child. Odo tells her he knows how she feels and Kira asks Odo if he'd like to go for a walk. The two friends, sharing their mutual loss and feeling of friendship, walk off. Kira puts her arm around Odo in a showing of pure affection and friendship. I actually was surprised that Odo regained his shapeshifting abilities back so early! I thought it would last until at least the whole season and maybe he'd get them back eventually but this early?
"For the Uniform": Sisko encounters Michael Eddington, his former Starfleet Security Chief, who betrayed him and joined the Maquis (last season's episode "For the Cause"). Obsessed with capturing the traitor, Sisko pursues him in the Defiant. But when Sisko gives the order to fire, the Defiant experiences a massive computer failure - caused by Eddington. He leaves Sisko angry and humiliated, and facing a long trip home. The Defiant is towed back to DS9, and O'Brien begins the massive job of bringing the ship back on-line. Adding insult to injury, Sisko learns that Captain Sanders of the Starship Malinche has been assigned to apprehend Eddington since Starfleet feels Sisko hasn't himself been able to do the job in the past eight months. But when he learns that Eddington attacked Cardassian colonies in the DMZ with a biogenic weapon, Sisko sees his chance. Despite the fact that the Defiant is not ready, he prepares to take his ship back into space. The ship lurches out of the station and soon encounters Eddington again, who taunts Sisko. The captain realizes too late that he was baited to false coordinates. As the crew sets off to find Eddington's real location, a distress call is received from the Malinche - Maquis forces ambushed and disabled the starship. Sisko determines Eddington's next planetary target, but is too late to stop him from releasing his biogenic weapon into the atmosphere. The Defiant chases after Eddington's fleeing ship, but he cripples a transport vessel evacuating Cardassian civilians, forcing Sisko to break off his pursuit and rescue the helpless Cardassians. Stumped as to how he's going to get Eddington, Sisko realizes that the renegade sees himself as a noble hero and Sisko as a villain (in the vein of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables). In order to stop Eddington, Sisko decides he must do something truly villainous. He prepares to poison the atmosphere of the Maquis colony in retaliation and reveals his sinister plan to all. Eddington is prepared to call his bluff. Sisko orders the deadly torpedoes launched, and the Maquis scramble to evacuate. Sisko says that he is prepared to eliminate every Maquis colony in the DMZ, and Eddington, realizing Sisko is serious, does the "heroic" gesture of offering himself in exchange. Eddington is captured, and Sisko's vendetta is finally over.
"In Purgatory's Shadow Part 1": When the station picks up a mysterious coded message from inside the Gamma Quadrant that appears to be Cardassian, Garak is asked to analyze it. He reports that the message is insignificant, but is later caught trying to sneak off the station in a runabout. He then admits that the message is some sort of distress call from his mentor Enabran Tain, the former head of the Obsidian Order. Garak convinces Sisko to allow him to travel to the Gamma Quadrant to search for Tain (and possible Starfleet, Bajoran, Romulan, and Cardassian survivors from Dominion attacks), but Sisko sends Worf along as a "chaperone". Garak and Worf bicker constantly and find nothing. Finally, Worf announces that they can go no farther and takes the ship out of warp, explaining that the source of Tain's signal is deep in Dominion space. Garak, however, is unwilling to give up, and pushes Worf to travel through the nebula to avoid detection. Worf reluctantly agrees, and almost immediately upon entering the nebula, they wind up in the midst of the Jem'Hadar fleet. Worf realizes that the entire fleet can only be assembled for one reason - they intend to invade the Alpha Quadrant. He immediately sends a warning message to the station, but is not confident it will get through. Moments later, four Jem'Hadar soldiers materialize on the ship and take Worf and Garak prisoner. Back on DS9, the crew is able to decipher enough of Worf's signal to realize the Dominion is coming. Sisko sends Kira to find Worf and Garak, but they are already imprisoned in a Dominion detention center, where they are told they will remain until they die. Inside the camp, Worf meets Martok, the Klingon general who was replaced by a Changeling (from the episode "Apocalypse Rising"). Martok leads Worf and Garak to Tain, himself a prisoner, who is dying. Instead of being thankful to Garak for coming, Tain chastises him for allowing himself to be taken prisoner. Meanwhile, Kira returns with grim news that at least 50 Dominion ships are headed their way. With reinforcements at least two days away and only Gul Dukat on hand to help out, Sisko sees only one choice - sealing the wormhole. If Worf and Garak don't escape in 36 hours, they will be trapped. Meanwhile, Worf and Garak are introduced to another prisoner: Bashir ...meaning that the Bashir at the station is a Changeling. On the station, the Bashir Changeling begins making himself useful to Dax and O'Brien while they work out the technology that will seal the wormhole. In the internment camp, Garak meets with Tain again, desperate for a kind word from his mentor before the old man passes on. When Tain makes Garak promise to escape as a final request, Garak makes a request in return - that Tain acknowledge him as his son. He does, and father and illegitimate child share a memory before Tain dies peacefully. His mission complete, Garak is ready to find a way out. But he may be too late. On DS9, the crew shoots a particle beam at the wormhole using the emitter array, intending to close it. However, something goes wrong. The emitter array has been sabotaged, and the wormhole remains open, allowing a fleet of Jem'Hadar ships to begin pouring through.
"By Inferno's Light Part II": The Dominion fleet momentarily pauses and faces off with DS9, the USS Defiant, several runabouts, and Gul Dukat aboard a Bird of Prey. The fleet then heads to Cardassian space, with Dukat's Bird of Prey following them. Thinking that he is trying to make a heroic stand against the entire fleet, Kira tells him to stand down, but Dukat informs her that he has been secretly negotiating with the Dominion for several months now, and that the Dominion has accepted Cardassia as a member, with Dukat as the leader of the new government. At the internment camp, the prisoners are told of Cardassia's new allegiance, and all Cardassian prisoners at the camp are set free. As Garak walks off with the other Cardassians, he is told that he is to remain in prison, at the personal request of Dukat. Dukat himself appears in a video transmission to all of Cardassia, and pledges to expel Klingons and Maquis from Cardassian space and reclaim "all that was lost". Garak begins work on modifying the transmitter to contact the runabout in orbit over the internment camp, and Worf is selected as an opponent for Jem'Hadar to practice hand-to-hand combat. He is matched first against the youngest and least experienced of them, who scores an initial knockdown, but is eventually defeated. Meanwhile, Dukat has kept his promise to expel the Klingons, and they end up at DS9, where Gowron comes aboard to meet with Sisko. Sisko suggests that they join to fight the real enemy - the Dominion - and Gowron agrees to reinstate the Khitomer Accords (YAY!). At the camp, Worf's subsequent Jem'Hadar opponents become successively older and more experienced, yet he continues to be victorious. Garak begins to suffer from claustrophobia, and Bashir suspects that he will be unable to complete the transmitter modifications. Worf returns to the cell from a day of fighting, and Bashir tells him he has several broken ribs and, along with Martok, encourages him to stop fighting. Worf's refusal to give up inspires Garak to overcome his fears and return to work. Meanwhile, the station crew are awaiting reinforcements and trying to locate the Changeling in their midst. Dukat contacts Sisko and encourages him to persuade the Federation to join the Dominion. Sisko refuses, and Dukat reminds him that when he said he wanted to reclaim all lost Cardassian territory, which includes DS9, as it was built by Cardassians (although Sisko points out that it was built by Bajoran slave labour). Ignoring Dukat, Sisko deploys the Defiant and the runabouts to fight the incoming joint Cardassian/Dominion fleet. The Changeling Bashir is on one of the runabouts, having incapacitated the crew. O'Brien detects a fleet of ships decloaking, and the crew is shocked to discover Romulan warbirds instead of the expected Dominion fleet. The Romulans ask for permission to join the Federation/Klingon fleet, and Sisko grants it (Cool!). Back at the internment camp, as Worf is fighting the Jem'Hadar commander, three Jem'Hadar enter the cell and question the prisoners about the whereabouts of Garak, who has not been seen in some time. They discover the loose wall panels, and come close to discovering Garak when the prisoners successfully overpower their guards. In the combat ring, Worf is clearly defeated, but refuses to yield. Ikat'ika, the Jem'Hadar commander, is impressed by Worf's determination to fight to what ultimately would be his death; Ikat'ika himself yields the fight, saying that he can't defeat Worf - only kill him - and Ikat'ika is uninterested in that. This enrages the Vorta, who orders Ikat'ika's immediate execution. As the troops turn their guns to Worf, Garak manages to engage the transmitter, and they are beamed away to the orbiting runabout at the last second along with a Romulan captive. Once on the runabout, the real Bashir sends an urgent message to DS9. The crew realizes that the Changeling Bashir is on a runabout and is carrying a bomb that he intends to detonate inside the sun, which will cause a supernova and incinerate DS9, Bajor, and the combined Starfleet, Klingon, and Romulan forces. The Defiant takes the risky maneuver of engaging warp drive within a solar system, and pulls up alongside the runabout and engages the tractor beam, pulling the runabout away from the sun at the last minute. The bomb explodes, destroying the runabout and the Changeling Bashir. Suddenly, the approaching Dominion fleet disappears from the sensors, and the crew realizes the fleet never left Cardassia - the Changeling had been broadcasting fake warp signatures. Garak, Worf, Bashir, and Martok are reunited with their friends and loved ones on the station, and Sisko finalizes the new peace treaty with the Klingons (Double YAY!). The revised version calls for a permanent Klingon presence on DS9, and Sisko selects Martok to command those troops.
"Doctor Bashir, I Presume?": Dr. Lewis Zimmerman ('The Doctor" from Star Trek: Voyager) comes to DS9 with the intent of using Bashir's physical and personality likeness as a template for a long-term medical hologram (as opposed to the short-term Emergency Medical Hologram installed on such ships as the USS Voyager and the Enterprise-E), which will provide medical care on distant and isolated outposts. In order to make the hologram as robust as possible, Zimmerman needs a complete personality profile on Bashir. In addition to questioning Bashir himself, Zimmerman interviews Bashir's colleagues and makes arrangements - against Bashir's wishes - to invite Julian's estranged parents, Amsha and Richard Bashir, to the station. Julian is embarrassed by his father's tendency toward hyperbole, for example referring to the time he "ran shuttles" when, in fact, Richard was merely a steward who was fired shortly into his career. Bashir implores his parents at dinner not to reveal to Zimmerman anything about a secret from his childhood. Later, his parents go to the infirmary to try to assuage their son's fears, stating emphatically that they will not tell Zimmerman that they had Julian genetically modified when he was a child. They point out that they have kept the secret since he was a child, and that because such modification is illegal in the Federation, they, too, are criminally culpable. However, Bashir's parents are unaware that rather than speaking to their son, they are speaking to Zimmerman's new hologram; Zimmerman and Chief O'Brien, who is assisting Zimmerman, are right around the corner. O'Brien informs Julian about what he heard and Julian confirms that he had been genetically modified. As a child, he reveals, he was a poor student, with some form of learning disability and possibly mental retardation, and seemed destined to failure. His parents took him to Adigeon Prime for DNA resequencing, greatly improving his intelligence and dexterity. With the secret out, Bashir sees no alternative but to resign from Starfleet. However, before Bashir can file his resignation, his parents take matters into their own hands. Richard strikes a deal with the Starfleet Judge Advocate General's Rear Admiral Bennett: Richard will spend two years in prison for illegal genetic engineering, and Bashir is allowed to retain his commission. In the midst of all this, Zimmerman pursues Leeta's affections, to the point of asking her to accompany him back to Jupiter Station to open her own bar. Shy Rom is too scared to say anything to convince her to stay, despite it being clear that Leeta would welcome any reason to stay with him. She is on the verge of getting onto a transport with Zimmerman when Rom careens around the corner, in one long yell for her to wait (until he gets there). He finally gives her the long-awaited reason to stay: "I love you." Leeta reciprocates, and agrees to stay. It doesn't take long for Zimmerman to find another woman to pursue...
"A Simple Investigation": Odo makes love to woman... 'nuff said!
"Ties of Blood and Water": Two years earlier (from the episode "Second Skin") Kira had been abducted and told she was the long-lost daughter of a Cardassian Legate named Tekeny Ghemor, disguised as a Bajoran for a top-secret mission. Although Kira never truly believed it, Ghemor did, and as he attempted to reestablish a bond between them, Kira developed a sympathy for him. When the truth came out and Ghemor realized she was not really his daughter, he told Kira he cared for her anyway. Now Ghemor is dying. He wishes to participate in the ritual of shri-tal, a Cardassian tradition in which a dying person reveals their secrets to the rest of the family for use against their enemies. He chooses Kira, since, as he told her before, she is the closest thing he has to family. Sisko encourages her to participate, as this could help the Federation and Bajor. Kira joins in. The ritual is later interrupted by Gul Dukat who takes a series of steps to attempt to prevent Ghemor from sharing his wealth of knowledge with Kira and the Federation. Finally, employing a 'divide and conquer' tactic, Dukat tells Kira about a massacre of Bajoran monks that Ghemor had participated in. Infuriated, Kira leaves Ghemor. She soon learns Ghemor would have only been nineteen at the time of the murders. While he was a part of the Cardassian military, and did take part in the raid, he was simply a soldier whose unit had been told that the monks at the Bajoran monastery had been stockpiling weapons that were being used to kill Cardassians. Also, Kira recalls when she could not have been there for her real father, who died while she was fighting the Cardassians. Moved, she stays by Ghemor's side until the end. After Ghemor dies, Kira arranges to have his body buried on Bajor - next to her biological father, Kira Taban.
"Ferengi Love Songs": Depressed over his lot in life - especially being blacklisted by the Ferengi Commerce Authority - Quark goes to his homeworld of Ferenginar for some comfort from his mother, Ishka. The free-thinking Ishka is sympathetic, but clearly uneasy over his declaration that he will be "living" with her for an unspecified period of time. Quark soon learns the reason behind her uncertainty. When he enters his old bedroom, he finds Grand Nagus Zek - the Ferengi leader - hiding in the closet! It turns out that Ishka and Zek are in love (LOL!). Back on DS9, Leeta and Rom decide to get married and begin to discuss their marriage details, with Rom agreeing to wear a Bajoran earring, but Leeta refusing to sign a Ferengi document that says she will give up all claim to money and properties. Zek demands Quark keep their affair a secret, and Quark agrees, thrilled that his mother is now the beloved of the most powerful man on his homeworld. But when Quark hints that he would like Zek to reinstate his revoked business license, Zek refuses, reminding Quark that it is up to the FCA. Quark returns to his room, where Liquidator Brunt, the FCA agent who revoked his license, confronts him. Brunt offers to give Quark a new business license if he breaks up Zek and Ishka. Quark agrees, and soon places doubts in Zek's head about Ishka's motives. The plan works - his mother is left heartbroken. Quark feigns sympathy, then contacts Brunt, who keeps his word and gives him the business license. Zek offers Quark the position of First Clerk. Quark happily accepts - then discovers the Nagus is not the profit-making whiz he once was. By day's end, the Ferengi market exchange has experienced a drastic slide due to the Nagus's failing memory. A stunned Quark returns home, where Ishka reveals that she had been helping Zek. Quark realizes that his mother was more than Zek's lover - she was the power behind the throne. Ishka, in turn, realizes that Quark turned Zek against her, and may have destroyed the Ferengi economy in the process (whoops! LOL!). Quark encounters Brunt, who reveals that the entire plan was a set-up designed to help him become the new Grand Nagus. Quark is free to return to DS9, but feels too guilty over what he has inadvertently done. The next day, Quark saves Zek by supplying him with enough brilliant advice to turn around the economic situation, but then reveals that the advice actually came from Ishka. After Quark admits to breaking them up, Zek and Ishka happily reunite.
"Soldiers of the Empire": The episode opens with Dr. Bashir caring for a badly injured General Martok. Martok then receives a message from the Klingon government stating that he has been assigned to retrieve a missing Klingon vessel lost several days ago. The Klingon High Council assigns the General a ship of his own, the Rotarran to accomplish the mission. He departs DS9 along with his newly appointed First Officer, Worf who has signed on to the mission at Martok's request. To Worf's surprise Dax joins them as the ship's Science Officer. The Rotarran is Martok's first command since his escape from the Dominion prison camp, and he is dismayed to find that the crew are anything but happy; instead, it is an embittered ensemble whose morale has been destroyed by a series of punishing losses at the hands of the Jem'Hadar. The morale situation aboard ship is only made worse by Martok's overly cautious nature and unwillingness to go into battle and because of this he misses a chance for an easy victory. Dax, acting as a Klingon would, challenges Worf about the General's behavior which Worf will hear none of. In the mess hall, Dax is forced to stun a Klingon officer with her phaser when a pair of officers get into violent argument, almost causing the death of one of them. After this, Dax angrily confronts Worf about it and tells him that he needs to deal with the General by challenging him for command. The B'Moth is found just across the Cardassian border, but Martok, fearing that the Jem'Hadar left it behind as a trap, refuses to enter Cardassian territory. Worf realizes Martok is paralyzed by fear. Reluctantly, he decides to challenge Martok for control of the ship. A knife fight ensues for control. Worf sees that Martok's fear is gone and allows him to win the fight, sustaining a nasty wound just as a Jem'Hadar ship approaches. The revitalized crew defeats the enemy, rescues the survivors, and returns to DS9 as victors for the first time. Martok is forever grateful to Worf for reminding him of his duty as a Klingon warrior, and offers him a place in the House of Martok.
"Children of Time": This episode was okay. The DS9 crew meet their descendants on a planet stuck in some "bubble" and if the crew leaves the planet - correcting the original past in which their ship crashed and Kira eventually dying - their descendants would disappear. An older Odo meets them and seeing Kira alive, finally admits his love for her the entire time. At the end of the episode, the meeting of Kira and the original Odo is awkward to say the least!
"Blaze of Glory": This episode was okay too but had some good action. Michael Eddington returns but is killed in a firefight at the end of the episode (we also find out he was married before his arrest in "For the Uniform").
"Call to Arms": Upon learning that the Romulans and other major powers have signed non-aggression pacts with the Dominion, Starfleet Command orders Sisko to prevent further Dominion reinforcements from reaching Cardassia, their first foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. A plan by Rom is devised to block the entrance to the wormhole with a field of self-replicating mines, but the mines cannot be activated until they are entirely deployed; this task will take several hours to complete. Shortly after deployment begins, Weyoun declares that DS9 will be attacked unless the mines are removed. Knowing that Starfleet reinforcements are unavailable, Sisko asks Martok to patrol the border while the Defiant continues deployment. Sisko also notifies Kira that he will endorse the non-aggression pact offered to Bajor by the Dominion, in the hope that it will keep Bajor out of the coming fight and in turn, war. Rom and Leeta are married by Sisko in his capacity as the Emissary and a Starfleet captain. As the Dominion fleet approaches, Sisko orders a civilian emergency evacuation of DS9. Starfleet and Bajoran militia personnel remain to defend the station until the mines are completely deployed. Dominion forces attack and are met by DS9's armaments and Martok's vessel, the Rotarran. After the minefield is activated, Sisko orders the Starfleet personnel to evacuate as well. The Bajoran militia remains aboard the station, as do Quark, Rom, Morn, and Jake, who intends to serve as a reporter for the Federation News Service while the station is occupied by the Dominion. Before surrendering DS9, Kira disables the station's systems by activating a pre-set computer program. Sisko informs the Starfleet personnel that while the station was being captured, a combined Starfleet/Klingon task force had wiped out the Dominion ship yards in the Alpha Quadrant. Weyoun reveals that it cost over 50 ships to take the station. Aboard the Defiant, Sisko is informed that Jake is not aboard and must still be on DS9. O'Brien asks whether or not they should go back for him. An angered Sisko responds that he can't risk the ship and its crew for one person, even if he is his son. "He is a man" Sisko reasons as he slumps back into his seat and says "Maintain current course". On DS9, Kira, Odo, and Quark welcome the Dominion aboard the station. Afterwards, Gul Dukat reclaims his old office in Ops, where he notes the baseball left behind - a message to him that Sisko will return. As Sisko faces the viewscreen with a defiant glare, the Defiant and Rotarran circle around to join the massive Federation/Klingon task force.
I have no idea when Season 6 will be done. I'll let you guys know my progress in my monthly entries.