Station log: stardate 49170.65

ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe pen this episode that first aired on 1 January, 1986. Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) returns to Earth after a terrorist bombing that occurs there is believed to have been the act of Changelings, which would mean the Dominion have completely infiltrated Starfleet, and pose an increasingly dangerous threat to the Federation and the entire Alpha Quadrant.

Brock Peters joins the 24th century (after having caused trouble in the 23rd in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) as Sisko’s father, Joseph, who runs a restaurant in New Orleans.

Sisko is joined by Odo (Rene Auberjonois) and his Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton). The captain and his security officer begin their investigation, which includes Sisko being temporarily assigned as Head of Starfleet security.

This is a great episode, balancing the Dominion Arc with some great character development and moments. We get to check in with Nog (Aron Eisenberg) and learn about his time at the Academy, and learn how much of a threat the Changelings and the Dominion pose to the Federation.

The tension and conspiracy even affects the Sisko family, and adds some stress to their interactions, which is compounded by the fact that Sisko and Jake are worried about Joseph’s health.

The guest cast includes Susan Gibney, which is a little odd, as she is playing a captain assigned to assist Admiral Leyton (Robert Foxworth), and not her established character of Dr. Brahms. But that doesn’t detract from this being an exemplary episode!

It ends on a To Be Continued card, as the Stafleet coup arc really couldn’t be told in only one episode.

Station log: stardate 49364

Ronald D. Moore comes up with the story for the conclusion of the Dominion Starfleet coup, and it was penned for the screen by Behr and Wolfe. This episode first aired on 8 January, 1996.

Conspiracy and trouble continue as Sisko investigates Starfleet, and there are hints that the Dominion have seeped deeper into the Academy and Headquarters deeper than was initially thought.

Sisko is tenacious and unstoppable in finding out what is going on at Starfleet, and how the Dominion figures into it, and realizing how deadly things are going to get.

I like seeing Sisko and Odo paired together, they make a good team, and in an episode like this, everything that happens is important, not just for the episode, but for the season and series arc.

Sisko can’t play the game the way his superiors want him to, and he’s relieved of his temporary command, and told to go back to the station. But that won’t stop the captain from still investigating and attempting to save the Federation. But there are allies, and enemies… everywhere.

The reveal of what is really going on is stunning, well thought out, and makes for a great story!

This pair of episodes are wonderfully written, expanding on the Dominion story as well as letting Brooks do some new things with Sisko.

The Human Adventure continues Thursday as I travel with Voyager, and then next week as the fantastic fourth season of Deep Space Nine journeys onward as I continue to explore The Complete Series for each of them. Both are currently available from Paramount Pictures now!