Station log: stardate 47573.1

Jeff King, Richard Manning and Hans Beimler penned this episode from a story by Jim Trombetta and James Crocker. It first aired on 13 February, 1994.

Commander Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Chief O’Brien (Colm Meaney) are on an exploratory mission on the farside of the wormhole on the runabout Rio Grande, when they come across a human colony that shuns all technology. And with the use of a duonetic field it renders all electronics inoperable, Sisko and O’Brien may be trapped there… indefinitely.

The human colony has survived without technology for ten years, and they are now less, than eager to embrace the 24th century again.

As colonists fall ill, and brutal laws are administered Sisko and O’Brien are troubled by what they are seeing, and seek a way to access the runabout which remains in orbit. They also come in to conflict with the woman, Alixus (Gail Strickland), who seems to have been prepared for them being marooned there since their arrival…

Kira (Nana Visitor) and Dax (Terry Farrell) come in pursuit of their fellow crew, and come across a strange mystery of their own when they come across the Rio Grande.

It’s no real surprise to find out what is really going on in the colony, but when the truth is revealed, the colonists finally realise what their leader has done to them.

Sisko and O’Brien are rescued by Dax and Kira, and the colony will never be the same, as they return to Deep Space Nine.

Station log: stardate 47603.3

Robert Hewitt Wolfe wrote this episode that had its debut on 20 February, 1994. This episode finds Dax and Odo (Rene Auberjonois) on a mission through the wormhole in the Gamma Quadrant.

Dax is on an exploratory mission, and Odo is looking for connections to his past.

They come across a planet where they become involved in an investigation in a village where its inhabitants are disappearing. It may have something to do with a large matter/anti-matter reactor at the heart of the village.  The village itself is tucked in a remote valley, from which none of them ever leave.

The pair try to discover what is going on, though the villagers remain suspicious of them.

Meanwhile, back on the station, Kira is trying to make sure a visit from Vedek Bareil (Philip Anglim) goes off smoothly, with a nice surprise for her. And young Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) takes on a job working with O’Brien, a seed that was planted in the previous episode. Jake, however, is not sure that he wants a career in Starfleet.

The planet-side mystery is interesting, but it’s the character beats for all the regular characters that actually make this episode shine. The characters are being layered, built upon, and expanded, on an almost episode by episode basis now, and it lends the series an enjoyable reality.

Next week the Human Adventure continues as I continue to explore Deep Space Nine – The Complete Series on DVD available now from Paramount Pictures.