As O' Brien prepares to leave the station to go on a long overdue vacation with Keiko, he is surprised - and delighted - to run into Raymond Boone, an old comrade from the Rutledge who fought beside him at Setlik III. After O'Brien and Boone exchange brief pleasantries, O'Brien hurries to meet his wife - and Boone ducks into his quarters to play back a recording of their conversation.
The significance of Boone's strange behavior becomes clear when, in the middle of their flight to the lagoon, O'Brien and Keiko are stopped by a Cardassian patrol ship and O'Brien is arrested over his and Keiko's vociferous protests. O'Brien is then taken to Cardassia Prime, where he is "processed" in a very degrading manner and placed in a holding cell
Back on the station, Keiko demands that the Federation response to O'Brien's arrest be vigorous, as she is certain her husband is being tortured, a fear that Odo cannot in good conscience assuage. Just then, Makbar contacts DS9, informing Sisko and the others that O'Brien's trial will be held in a few days - and that his execution is scheduled for the following week. Odo, inspired, steps up to the plate and asks that he be named O'Brien's nestor (adviser), and, after some argument, Makbar agrees. Odo and Keiko leave DS9 for Cardassia, and Sisko sets the others to work investigating O'Brien's recent activities in the hopes that they can uncover the crime for which O'Brien has been found guilty.
On Cardassia Prime, O'Brien is visited by his conservator (lawyer), an older Cardassian by the name of Kovat. Kovat explains to O'Brien that his role is to persuade O'Brien of the wisdom of submitting to the state and lauds the Cardassian justice system for its efficiency, which, he claims, has allowed all Cardassians to live in perfect safety. Kovat urges O'Brien to confess, but O'Brien, who still doesn't know what crime he is being charged with, scoffs at the whole business and refuses to cooperate. Kovat is pleased - he believes O'Brien's unrepentance will result in a nice show for the people.
On DS9, Kira and the others report that a number of photon warheads have been stolen right out from under their noses. Kira reluctantly points out that such a heist could only have been pulled off by someone with O'Brien's level of transporter expertise. She then presents evidence that O'Brien himself accessed the weapons locker in which the photon warheads were stored and theorizes that those warheads could've been delivered to the Maquis. Sisko orders his people to find out who was supposed to receive the warheads on the other end of the transaction.
When Odo arrives on Cardassia Prime, he questions O'Brien about the incriminating evidence the crew on the station has found. Hurt that his loyalty to the Federation is being questioned, O'Brien again insists that he is innocent. Odo tells O'Brien not to lose his confidence. Meanwhile, just before O'Brien's trial begins, Dax manages to uncover that the voice recorded in the weapons locker access logs was doctored. Kira then reports that three witnesses saw O'Brien talking to Raymond Boone on the Promenade before he left. Sisko tells his crew to round Boone up for questioning.
On the day of the trial, Odo tries to persuade the Archon to admit the new evidence uncovered by the crew on DS9, but he is rebuffed and the trial proceeds. Subsequently, in his position as nestor, Odo does everything he can to prolong the trial and buy time for Sisko and the others to produce enough evidence to prove O'Brien's innocence.
Back on DS9, Sisko and Kira question Boone, but Boone refuses all knowledge of O'Brien's frame-up. In the meantime, Bashir is contacted by a member of the Maquis who claims that the Maquis know nothing of the torpedo theft. Boone, the Maquis operative states, is working for someone else entirely. Sisko and Bashir then collar Boone and subject him to a thorough medical examination - an examination which uncovers that Boone is in fact a Cardassian agent.
Sisko takes Boone to Cardassia Prime and interrupts O'Brien's trial. Upon seeing Boone, the Archon immediately remands O'Brien to his Federation superiors. On the runabout later, Sisko explains that O'Brien was framed by the Cardassians in an attempt to embarrass the Federation and prove that the Maquis had the Federation's official sanction. Happy to be free, O'Brien heads off to continue his interrupted vacation with Keiko.
Overall: 8.5 - And the string of strong episodes continues with this nod to George Orwell.
Writing: 8.5
You have to suspend your disbelief a bit to accept that Boone would remain on DS9 after obtaining O'Brien's voice pattern and planting the photon warheads (therefore leaving himself conveniently vulnerable to capture) - and the episode's shades of Orwell are written just a little too straighforwardly to merit feature marks. Even with these flaws, however, Tribunal remains an effective portrayal of a totalitarian show trial. The writer - working in tandem with the production team, which provides us with the imposing sets and stark lighting that set the mood - does an excellent job conveying both the oppressive presence of the Cardassian state and the helplessness and frustration of its victims.
Particularly interesting is the character of Kovat. Because Kovat is so thoroughly convinced of the superiority of the Cardassian judicial system, we are provided, through his dialogue, with the Cardassians' rationale - and it is a rationale that seems eminently plausible. The Western system of law enforcement - represented by the Federation codes of justice here - is susceptible to type one errors; genuine criminals do go free on technicalities, and, as a result, we are a little less "safe." Which is preferable: that an innocent man be unjustly punished or that guilty men go free? We who live in liberal democracies have selected the second option - but it is certainly not outside the realm of possibility that another society - particularly one as focused on the collective as is Cardassian society - to choose the first. Are the Cardassians right? No, of course not. But their motives are understandable - and that's a sign of solid writing.
(Also interesting are the roles Kira and Odo play. I haven't seen this highlighted in other reviews, so I'll mention it here: it reflects well on Kira that she is not willing to settle for blind loyalty to her comrade in this episode - that she is willing to do her job no matter where the evidence might take her. This is a quality that was also demonstrated in the previous episode, and I think said willingness is indicative of her overall integrity. Meanwhile, I also appreciate Odo's openness with Keiko - and his equally admirable willingness to step up and use his knowledge of Cardassian society to help O'Brien make it through his ordeal. Odo at times comes off a proto-fascist, but in this episode, the writer thankfully highlights the benefits of Odo's adherence to principle.)
Acting: 8.5
The regular and semi-regular cast offers up good work. Colm Meany suffers well - a skill he has ample opportunity to demonstrate throughout the course of the series, I'm afraid - and while I'm not sure I'm completely satisfied with how Rosalind Chao handles the initial arrest scene, I find nothing wrong with the rest of her performance. The guests, meanwhile, were also respectable, though I don't think I agree with Avery Brooks' direction of Fritz Weaver, as Kovat is sometimes portrayed a little more pathetically than I prefer, particularly in the courtroom scenes.
Message: 8.5
The writer, to this episode's credit, avoids cultural relativism entirely. Refreshingly, there is no talk of "respecting Cardassian customs" emanating from any of our heroes; instead, everyone is allowed to display open contempt for the Cardassians' manner of executing "justice." And it's a good thing, too, because if Sisko or anyone else had handed to the Cardassians any sort of moral authority, the result would've been a travesty. If only our current world leaders could embrace such moral clarity!
Highlights:
O'BRIEN: And I've downloaded the new docking procedure checklist for bay six into the BayProd D nine file. That's the only bay that's using the new criteria.
DAX: Got it.
O'BRIEN: And be sure to monitor the power fluctuations in the secondary fusion core. It's got some little kinks in there I don't like the look of.
DAX: I will care for the secondary fusion core like it was my own child.
O'BRIEN: As soon as I get back I'm going to run a full diagnostic to be sure -
KIRA: Chief, we are perfectly capable of running this place by ourselves for a week.
O'BRIEN: Well, if you have any problems you can reach me on subspace.
KIRA: Would you please go on vacation and get out of our hair?
DAX: Miles?
O'BRIEN: Yes?
DAX: Have a good time.
O'BRIEN: Oh right. Thanks. I feel relaxed already.
(O'Brien gets on the turbolift, and Sisko emerges from his office.)
SISKO: Is he gone?
KIRA: Finally.
SISKO: Good. He's been driving me crazy all day. You'd think that I was -
(O'Brien has reversed the turbolift.)
O'BRIEN: Commander. I forgot to tell you. I added a new subroutine to the environmental control in the habitat ring.
SISKO: Chief O'Brien -
O'BRIEN: Yes, sir?
SISKO: You're on leave. Please disembark the station. (LOL!)
MAKBAR [on viewscreen]: My name is Makbar. I am the Archon representing the Cardassian Empire in its case against Miles O'Brien.
SISKO: May I speak with him?
MAKBAR [on viewscreen]: That is not possible.
SISKO: May I see him?
MAKBAR [on viewscreen]: Commander -
SISKO: May I be assured that he is well and being treated properly?
MAKBAR [on viewscreen]: Mister O'Brien is being treated with great care and respect.
SISKO: Good. Because if he is not, I will hold you personally responsible. And if that sounds like a threat, it is. (Yes!)
O'BRIEN: I've been told that I've already been charged, indicted, convicted and sentenced. What would I need with a lawyer?
KOVAT: Ah, Mister O'Brien, if it seems immodest of me, I apologise, but the role of Public Conservator is key to the productive functioning of our courts. I'm here to help you concede the wisdom of the state, to prepare you to accept the inevitable with equanimity. There is an old Cardassian expression. Confession is good for the soul. But it's also good for the populace to see people like you confess. It makes them feel better about themselves. It makes their lives more bearable.
O'BRIEN: So that's what this is all about? Making the people of Cardassia feel better, huh?
KOVAT: No, no, no, but that's not a bad side effect. Now then, I have your biographical extract and your Starfleet record. All this will be very useful.
O'BRIEN: What am I being charged with?
KOVAT: No need to worry about that at this point.
O'BRIEN: This is insane.
KOVAT: Whatever you've done, whatever the charges against you, none of that really matters in the long run.
O'BRIEN: What does matter?
KOVAT: This trial is to demonstrate the futility of behaviour contrary to good order. Everyone will find it most uplifting.
O'BRIEN: Not everyone.
KOVAT: Once again, justice will be done. Our lives will be reaffirmed, safe and secure. Here on Cardassia, all crimes are solved, all criminals are punished, all endings are happy. Even the poorest of our subjects can walk the streets in the dead of night in perfect safety. You're only one man, but your conviction will be a salutary experience for millions. Now then, the trial opens tomorrow. Do you have any questions, anything you want to tell me?
O'BRIEN: Only that I am not guilty of any crime, and that I hold this whole procedure with nothing but contempt.
KOVAT: That's good, that's good. Maintain that level of arrogance in the courtroom and we should put on a very good show indeed. (Chilling - especially since Kovat is so utterly accepting of what passes for justice on Cardassia.)
ODO: Commander Sisko informed me a few hours ago that twenty four photon warheads are missing from the station. We believe they may have been in your runabout's cargo bay intended for the Maquis.
O'BRIEN: The Cardassians did find something in the hold, it's true.
ODO: But you know nothing about it?
O'BRIEN: Nothing.
ODO: And you didn't transport them from weapons locker four just before you left the station?
O'BRIEN: No.
ODO: Were you in weapons locker four before you left the station?
O'BRIEN: No.
ODO: Then why does the log say that you were? Why was it your voice releasing the security lock?
O'BRIEN: My voice?
ODO: Your voice.
O'BRIEN: I don't know. You don't know me very well, Constable, but I... I've been in service to the Federation, Starfleet, all my adult life. No one has ever questioned my loyalty. No one in my entire life has ever had cause to ask, "Miles O'Brien, are you a criminal?" I took an oath to defend the Federation and what it stands for. I don't steal from them. I don't lie to them. I'm no angel, but I try to live every day as the best human being I know how to be. I need my little girl to wake up in the morning and look up at me and see a man she can respect. Until now, she always could.
ODO: Being accused of a crime is not a disgrace, Chief. Some of the great figures of history have shared the honour with you.
O'BRIEN: I didn't figure on dying a martyr.
ODO: Not all of them were martyrs, not all of them died. Some of them were just innocent men like you. Now, I've managed to get myself named to your defence team. I'll be there tomorrow. Your wife will be there as well, but she won't be weeping and neither will you. I want the Archon to see the clear, unwavering eyes of an innocent man. (Good scene.)
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