STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE: THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR {FOURTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of science fiction programs about a twenty-fourth-century space station, Deep Space Nine. Deep Space Nine conducts preparations for a possible Changeling infiltration, although according to Odo they are woefully underprepared. Sisko tries to have a romantic dinner with Kasidy but is interrupted when a large fleet of Klingon warships arrives at Deep Space Nine. Led by the Klingon general Martok, the Klingon soldiers arrive on Deep Space Nine for shore leave, although some are suspicious about the Klingons' true motives. After making certain that Sisko and Kira are not Changelings in disguise, Martok claims that the Klingon fleet is there by order of the Klingon High Council to help fend off a possible Dominion invasion, which the Klingons believe is imminent. Odo and Garak have a drink together and Garak informs him that the uprising on Cardassia has instigated a coup, supplanted the old government with a civilian council. Odo prevents a trio of Klingons from accosting Morn, and manages to get them to back down after a tense confrontation. Later, Garak is confronted by those Klingons and savagely beaten, although he is treated by Dr. Bashir and makes a full recovery. Kasidy's freighter is detained by a Klingon bird of prey soon after it leaves Deep Space Nine, and Sisko takes the Defiant out to render assistance. He finds the freighter in the grasp of the Klingon ship's tractor beam. He attempts to negotiate with Kaybok, the ship's captain, who claims that the Klingon High Council has ordered the Klingon fleet to detain any ship attempting to leave Deep Space Nine and search them for Changelings. Sisko points out that the Klingon Empire has no such jurisdiction in Bajoran space, but when Kaybok refuses to listen he threatens to fire phasers at the bird of prey's engines. Kaybok releases his hold on Kasidy's ship, but promises to inform Chancellor Gowron and the High Council of this act. The Klingon task force withdraws to just beyond the edge of Bajoran space, allowing them to search departing ships unopposed. Martok delivers Kaybok's d'k tahg knife to Sisko before abruptly leaving; Dax explains that this signifies that Martok had Kaybok executed for disobedience. Sisko decides that he needs the help of a Klingon perspective if he is to deal with the Empire. To that end, he brings Lieutenant Commander Worf to Deep Space Nine. Worf has been on extended leave visiting ancient Klingon monasteries following the destruction of the Enterprise-D. He reveals to Sisko that he is considering resigning his commission, feeling that he no longer fits in with humans and their society. However, he agrees to carry out Sisko's assignment without reservation: to assist in dealing with the Klingon Empire by trying to find out more information about Martok's true motives. Chief O'Brien introduces Worf to his fellow crew members. Worf spots Drex, Martok's son, at Quark's bar and gets into a fight with him, easily defeating him and taking his d'k tahg. Later, Martok visits Worf to reclaim the d'k tahg; Worf explains that this was his plan all along in order to draw out Martok. Worf accuses Martok and his troops of acting in a dishonorable fashion and lying about their true motivations, but Martok counters that he is merely following Gowron's orders, and that if the Federation intervenes it could jeopardize the safety of the entire Alpha Quadrant. While sparring in a holosuite, Worf tells Dax about his meeting with Martok. She suggests that he use his family connections to call in a favor, and Worf finds an old friend of his father's among the fleet commanders. The old Klingon reveals Martok's true purpose, and Worf is reluctant to bring the information to Sisko due to its wide-ranging implications. However, Odo convinces him to reveal the truth: that the Klingon Empire is planning to invade Cardassia. He explains that the Klingon High Council believes that the Dominion orchestrated the recent civilian uprising on Cardassia Prime and believes that the new government officials may actually be Changelings looking to take over Cardassia for the Dominion. Sisko and Worf confront Martok about this and he confirms that it is the truth. Sisko asks him to call off the attack since the Klingons have no proof to support their claims, but Martok is unwilling to risk allowing the Founders to gain such a major foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. The Federation is unwilling to support the Klingons in this military action, despite the fact that doing so could endanger the alliance between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. After an argument Martok returns to his ship and the Klingon fleet goes into warp, headed straight for Cardassian space. This leaves Starfleet in a difficult position: they can either do nothing and allow Cardassia to be overrun by the Klingons, or warn the Cardassians and risk the ire of the Klingon Empire. Sisko devises an alternate solution: he "accidentally" allows Garak to overhear sensitive information about the approaching Klingon fleet, and he passes on this information to Gul Dukat, who readies the Cardassian defense fleet. The Klingons immediately overrun many of the outlying Cardassian colonies, but the Cardassian fleet is able to hold them off for the time being. Worf believes that the Klingons are returning to their old expansionist ways and will not stop until they have achieved total victory. Sisko reports that the Federation Council has decided to officially condemn the Klingon attack. In response, Gowron withdraws from the Khitomer Accords, essentially dissolving the treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Gowron arrives at Deep Space Nine and speaks with Worf in person. He asks Worf to redeem himself by accompanying him to Cardassia to take part in the invasion. Worf refuses, unwilling to break his oath to the Federation. Gowron is outraged, believing that the Federation is "without honor" and pointing out that he has done much for Worf, such as restoring the honor of his family name. Worf still refuses to support the invasion, even after Gowron threatens to expel him from the Empire permanently. Worf counters that he will still retain his honor and denies Gowron's request. At Quark's bar Worf laments his situation, finding himself unable to fit in to either Starfleet or the Klingon Empire. He tells Chief O'Brien that he is once again considering resigning his commission and taking a posting with a faraway space alliance. However, Sisko feels that he needs Worf to help him resolve the Klingon-Cardassian conflict. The Klingon fleet breaks through the Cardassian defenses and will reach Cardassia Prime in two days. Worf estimates that once there, the Klingons plan to kill all their government officials and replace them with an imperial overseer. Sisko gets in contact with Gul Dukat, who is now the chief military advisor of the civilian council ruling Cardassia. Together they devise a plan for Dukat to evacuate the civilian council and rendezvous with Sisko to get them to safety before the Klingons can kill them. Sisko shares a last kiss with Kasidy before leaving on the Defiant. While Chief O'Brien finishes upgrading Deep Space Nine's weapons array, Sisko and the Defiant crew arrive at the rendezvous point to find Dukat's ship under attack by Klingon birds of prey. The Defiant rushes in to save Dukat's ship, and Sisko is forced to engage the Klingon vessels, thus formally opening hostilities with the Klingon Empire. Aided by Worf's tactical expertise, Sisko is able to hold off the Klingon ships long enough to beam Dukat and the council members over to the Defiant and warp back to Deep Space Nine. However, the Defiant sustains heavy damage in the process, and its cloaking device becomes inoperable. Dr. Bashir runs blood scans on Dukat and the council members to make sure they are not Changelings. The Klingon vessels follow the Defiant, intending to pursue them all the way back to Deep Space Nine. Once Sisko gets into communications range he informs Kira and O'Brien of the approaching Klingon warships and calls for battlestations aboard Deep Space Nine. Everyone on the station prepares for the Klingon attack. The Defiant and the Klingon ships arrive at Deep Space Nine, and a large number of additional Klingon ships decloak just outside of the station. Martok demands that Sisko give up the Cardassian council members to him, but Sisko explains that the blood tests revealed that the Cardassians are not Changelings, and that the Klingons' suspicions were misplaced. However, Gowron is now convinced that a Klingon-controlled Cardassia will help to secure the Alpha Quadrant from the Dominion, even if it means risking war with the Federation. The Klingon fleet begins an attack on Deep Space Nine and both sides exchange heavy fire. A number of Klingon ships are destroyed, but they manage to destroy several shield generators and send soldiers aboard to engage the crew in combat. Sisko and the operations crew manage to defeat some of the Klingons but many more remain on the station engaging the security forces. More Klingon ships approach, as well as a Federation force sent to reinforce Deep Space Nine. Sisko pleads with Gowron and Martok to call off the attack, pointing out that fighting amongst themselves will make them easier targets for the Founders. Realizing that Sisko is right, Gowron decides to stand down. However, he warns that the Federation opposed the Klingon Empire in battle, and the Empire will not easily forgive them. Gowron and his fleet return to Qo'nos and repairs begin on Deep Space Nine. Worf prepares to leave Starfleet, but Sisko talks about his own absence from Starfleet after he lost his wife at Wolf 359. He posits that neither he nor Worf can truly run away from their pain, and that while Starfleet is a reminder of his loss, it also has much to offer him. This convinces Worf to take an assignment on Deep Space Nine as their new strategic operations officer. Dukat and the Cardassian civilian council return to Cardassia Prime safely. However, Deep Space Nine receives news that the Klingon Empire has refused to relinquish control of the Cardassian colonies it seized during the invasion. Sisko, however, appears to be undaunted by the upcoming challenges faced by him and his people. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: October 7, 1995 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:33:02
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:50216
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SERIES RUN: Syndicated - TV series, 1993-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rick Berman … Executive Producer, Created by
- Ira Steven Behr … Executive Producer, Writer
- Peter Lauritson … Supervising Producer
- Ronald D. Moore … Supervising Producer
- Steve Oster … Producer
- René Echevarria … Producer
- Robert Hewitt Wolfe … Co-Producer, Writer
- Terri Potts … Associate Producer
- Robert della Santina … Line Producer
- James L. Conway … Director
- Michael Piller … Created by
- Gene Roddenberry … Based on "Star Trek" created by
- Dennis McCarthy … Music by, Theme Music by
- Avery Brooks … Cast, Captain Sisko
- Rene Auberjonois … Cast, Odo
- Michael Dorn … Cast, Worf
- Terry Farrell … Cast, Lieutenant Dax
- Cirroc Lofton … Cast, Jake Sisko
- Colm Meany … Cast, Chief O'Brien
- Armin Shimerman … Cast, Quark
- Alexander Siddig (See also: Siddig el Fadil) … Cast, Doctor Bashir
- Nana Visitor … Cast, Major Kira
- Penny Johnson (See also: Penny Johnson Jerald) … Cast, Kasidy Yates
- Marc Alaimo … Cast, Gul Dukat
- Robert O'Reilly … Cast, Gowron
- J.G. Hertzler … Cast, Martok
- Obi Ndefo … Cast, Drex
- Christopher Darga … Cast, Kaybok
- William Dennis Hunt … Cast, Huraga
- Andrew Robinson … Cast, Garak
- Patricia Tallman … Cast, Weapons Officer
- Mark Allen Shepherd … Cast, Morn
- Judi Durand … Voice, Station Computer