Plot Synopsis:
While attempting to clear out some leftover Cardassian programs in one of the station's ore processing units, Jake and O'Brien accidentally trip a counter-insurgency protocol written during the Occupation, trapping themselves and Sisko inside the facility. Just before the computer pumps neurocine gas into the processing unit, Jake manages to worm his way through a chute and opens an access panel, allowing Sisko and O'Brien to escape.
This escape, however, triggers the second level of the counter-insurgency protocol: forcefields are activated throughout the station, and Ops is completely cut off. Dax tries to reroute the computer to get an independent console working, but is burned for her trouble. A recording of Dukat then announces that neurocine gas will be pumped into the habitat ring.
At this point, Garak arrives in Ops. Apparently, Garak's old security codes allow him to move about the station freely - though he can do little else, as Dukat did not trust Garak with his highest security clearances. Taking in the current situation, Garak recommends that the crew in Ops disable the life support system. When Kira does this, however, the computer starts the self-destruct sequence.
While Odo and Quark cool their heels in Odo's office - and Jake, Sisko, and O'Brien work on breaking themselves out of the ore loading bay - Garak tries to hack into the computer in Ops in an attempt to shut down the counter-insurgency protocol. Garak's efforts, however, only activate another level of said protocol: a device appears in the replicator and starts firing disruptor beams at any non-Cardassian target it detects.
Just then, an amused Dukat beams into Ops. He offers to shut down the counter-insurgency protocol -- but only if Kira will allow a Cardassian garrison to be headquartered on the station. Kira, naturally, refuses to agree, and Dukat decides to return in twenty-five minutes, certain that the impending destruction of the station will change the major's mind. When Dukat tries to beam out of Ops, however, a recording of another Cardassian official declares him a disgrace for attempting to leave his post. Dukat, hilariously, is stuck.
With Dukat and Garak bickering all the while, the crew in Ops finally succeeds in overloading the power supply grid, thus disabling all the forcefields. Meanwhile, Jake, Sisko, and O'Brien manage, with a little ingenuity, to blow their way through the loading bay door. They proceed, on orders from Ops, to the reactor control junction on level thirty-four. On the way to the junction, they find their path blocked by a cave-in, and Sisko and O'Brien are forced to bypass the obstacle by crawling through a maintenance conduit that is hot with plasma fires. O'Brien is injured and has to be pulled out of the conduit by Jake, but Sisko makes it to the control junction and redirects the reactor overload into the shields, thus ending the crisis.
Overall: 7.0 - This wholly ordinary story benefits from some lively bits of dialogue.
Writing: 7.5
I enjoy this script much more than I probably should. I enjoy watching Odo and Quark attempt to be nice to each other -- in their own unique way. I enjoy watching Dukat arrogantly presume he can use the situation for his own benefit -- only to get knocked down a few pegs when his own program turns against him. I enjoy watching Garak and Dukat waste precious time airing their dirty laundry. And I even enjoy watching Dukat interact with Kira (and getting far too close to her for my stomach). If we were dealing with a lesser cast of characters, this story would be strictly ho-hum. But because DS9's characters have such checkered histories with one another, the writer is able to squeeze a notable amount of humor and human interest out of the drab Peril of the Week.
Acting: 7.5
Marc Alaimo is hysterical in this episode. The way he delivers his lines in his first in-person scene - all amused and cocksure - is absolutely classic. And, of course, his wrangling with Andrew Robinson is a true delight.
Message: 6
This episode is not thematically deep. It is, instead, a light celebration of teamwork and its usefulness in dangerous situations - and that, I think, is just fine.
Highlights:
(After the Dukat recording has been droning on for a while.)
SISKO: You know, I never knew how much this man's voice annoyed me. (Heh.)
DAX: It's no good. We're completely cut off from the rest of the station.
BASHIR: There must be some kind of general dampening field in place. It must be disrupting communications.
KIRA: All right. It's time for a less subtle approach. (And Kira fires her phaser at the door - which is a perfectly Kira thing to do.)
QUARK: What do you mean, we're trapped?
ODO: I mean -- (He touches the door and is zapped by a forcefield.) -- we're trapped. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire station is locked down.
QUARK: But you're a shape-shifter! (Odo gives Quark a Look.) Excuse me, a changeling. So change into something and get us out of here.
ODO: This forcefield isn't just protecting the door. It goes through the bulkheads, the ceiling, the deck -- there's nowhere for me to go.
QUARK: You're telling me I'm stuck here -- with you?
ODO: No, I'm stuck here with you. Believe me, a far worse fate. (Quark starts messing with Odo's console.) And stay away from my computer! (LOL!)
QUARK: I should've listened to my father. He always warned me this was going to happen.
ODO: What? That you'd spend your final hours in jail? I could've told you that.
QUARK: No. He warned me never to leave home. He said there were plenty of business opportunities right outside my door. But no, I had to follow the seventy fifth Rule of Acquisition. 'Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of latinum.' A lifetime of scheming and plotting, wheeling and dealing, and what has it got me? One measly little bar. My uncle Frin owns thirty and my cousin Gaila --
ODO: I know. He owns a moon.
QUARK: I told you that?
ODO: Many times.
QUARK: It's a small moon, but it's enough to live on.
ODO: Oh, come on, Quark, you've done all right for yourself.
QUARK: Oh, what do you know?
ODO: Quark, I've met a lot of Ferengis in my time and the truth is, although some of them may have been more wealthy, I've never met one more devious.
QUARK: Really?
ODO: Would I lie?
QUARK: I guess not. Thank you, Odo. That means a lot to me. (I love how backwards this relationship is. Insults equal praise!)
GARAK: Tell me, Doctor, what is it exactly about this situation that's making you smile?
BASHIR: You, Garak. Just wondering how many other tailors can rewrite Cardassian security protocols.
GARAK: I wouldn't even venture a guess. Which reminds me, those pants you wanted altered are ready to be picked up. (And here's another relationship that is infinitely enjoyable.)
DUKAT: Let me guess: someone tried to duplicate my access code.
KIRA: Dukat, what the hell are you doing here?
DUKAT: A short time ago, I had a very strange experience. There I was, patrolling the Demilitarized Zone, when I received a distress signal -- from me. Or at least a recording of me. It seems the Bajoran workers were rioting on Terok Nor. I must admit, it piqued my curiosity. (He looks down at one console.) I see the auto-destruct program has begun. Well, well, well. You are in trouble. Where's Commander Sisko? I trust he wasn't vaporized while asking for one of those raktajinos he's so fond of.
DAX: No. Last we heard, he was trapped in the ore processing unit.
DUKAT: Hmm. I wish him well. (Dukat's role in this episode is an absolute scream.)
KIRA: What do you want, Dukat?
DUKAT: You'll find I don't react well to that tone of voice, Major. (He catches sight of Garak hiding behind one computer and laughs.) Garak grovelling in a corner! That alone makes my trip worthwhile.
(Garak stands up.)
BASHIR: Garak!
GARAK: Easy, Doctor. It would appear that the computer is only targeting non-Cardassians.
DUKAT: If you had been on the station when I designed this program, I would have made an exception in your case.
GARAK: Well, you've always been shortsighted. It's held you back over the years. As I recall, your father had the same flaw.
DUKAT: My father's only flaw was trusting you.
GARAK: Funny, at his trial your father said his biggest flaw was that his ambition outweighed his patriotism.
KIRA: Maybe you two could settle this at another time! (LOL!)
KIRA: Dukat, you and I both know neither Bajor nor the Federation will ever honor an agreement negotiated under a death threat.
DUKAT: I don't expect them to be happy about it, but once my troops are in place I think you'll find it very difficult to get them to leave.
KIRA: Well let me put this another way. I will destroy this station before I ever give it back to the Cardassians.
DUKAT: Yes, I'm sure you would. But would you allow two thousand people aboard this station to die simply because you don't like us? (Dukat is such a magnificent bastard.)
DUKAT: Computer, abort the self-destruct sequence. This is a priority one override. Clearance level nine. Authorization Dukat five one one six green.
COMPUTER: Request denied. All authorization codes are void. Time to self-destruct, twenty-five minutes.
GARAK: Even your own computer program turns against you. I always knew your shortsightedness would be your downfall.
DUKAT: I don't see you coming up with any ideas, tailor.
KIRA: Look, if you two are finished with the insults, we could use some help here. (Garak and Dukat bickering like five-year-old boys is part of what makes this episode surprisingly worthwhile.)
DUKAT: I set up this program, and I assure you, Major, I will find a way to defeat it. There's no dilemma that cannot be solved by a disciplined, Cardassian mind.
GARAK: It's not going to work, you know.
DUKAT: What are you babbling about now?
GARAK: I'm talking about Major Kira
KIRA: What about her?
GARAK: She's much too busy trying to save this station to be impressed with your incessant posturing.
DUKAT: Garak!
GARAK: And even if she weren't, she has much better taste than to be attracted to you. (Kira straightens, disgusted.) You, a married man!
DUKAT: I should've had you executed years ago.
GARAK: You tried, remember?
BASHIR: Garak, this isn't helping. (See what I mean?)
DUKAT: Tell me something, Major. The Cardassian neutralization emitters that were under here -- I assume you deactivated them when you took control of the station?
KIRA: That's right. We prefer our containment fields to be non-lethal. (LOL!)
QUARK: Are you telling me we're the only ones still locked in?
ODO: This forcefield must be on a separate system from the others.
QUARK: But why go to so much trouble to keep people out of the Security office?
ODO: It's not to keep people out, it's to keep me in. I suppose during the occupation the Cardassians considered their security chief a security risk.
QUARK: And I know why.
ODO: Oh, do you?
QUARK: It's because they knew you were an honorable man. The kind of person who would do the right thing regardless of the circumstances. And now your integrity is going to get us both killed. I hope you're happy. (LOVE IT!)
ODO: It's about time. All right, Quark. You can leave now.
QUARK: (reading) A self-important con artist who's nowhere near as clever as he thinks he is. That's your official security evaluation of me?
ODO: Quark, I told you to stay away from the computer.
QUARK: Two hours ago you told me I was the most devious Ferengi you ever met.
ODO: I thought we were going to die. I was trying to be nice. (Hee!)
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