Station log: stardate 47329.4

Mark Gehred-O’Connell, Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe created the teleplay for this episode from a story by Hehred-O’Connell. It first aired on 21 November, 1993.

It’s the fourth anniversary of the battle at Wolf 359, where Sisko’s (Avery Brooks) wife, Jennifer was killed in the Borg attack, and for the first time since then, he encounters a woman that he is attracted to.

He meets Fenna (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) on a stroll around the Promenade. But she keeps disappearing…

Still, having met her, he seems to be a different person, happy, joyous, and his crew are stunned by the changes. It becomes clear to everyone that he seems to be falling in love with this woman, and the pair have a very enjoyable chemistry together.

Meanwhile, a scientist, Seyetik (Richard Kiley) is taking on the massive project of reigniting a star.

And are we really surprised when the two stories combine and Seyetik’s wife is Fenna, calling herself Nidell. What”s going on, and will Sisko find some measure of joy, or at least resolution with the story’s climax?

It’s a rather simple story, but it’s nice to see Sisko have the chance at a romance, it shows his character has grown since the beginning of the series, and while he misses Jennifer, it’s obvious that he will be ready for a relationship somewhere in the near future.

Station log: stardate 47391.2

Frederick Rappaport pens this episode from a story by Gabe Essoe and Kelley Miles, which first aired on 28 November, 1993.

The story follows a group of refugees that arrive on the station from the Gamma Quadrant. They have been beaten, and conquered, there is talk of The Dominion (the seeds continue to be planted), and they have come through the wormhole seeking their fabled homeworld.

And if that fabled homeworld is Bajor?

Additional problems arise for Sisko and Kira (Nana Visitor) when the universal translator can’t decipher their language. The refugees, however, take a shine to Kira, and only wish to interact with her.

But when the language barrier is overcome, and Kira discovers what they are looking for, and that her home of Bajor is their desired destination, what will happen then?

The story looks at refugees, the way they are treated even when humanitarian efforts are applied, and how they are perceived by portions of the indigenous population of an area.

This is a fairly relevant episode for today’s time and political environment, in may be more pertinent now than when it first aired…

The Human Adventure continues next week when Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Complete Series, available from Paramount Pictures continues next week…