Station log: stardate 50712.5

Debuting on 14 April, 1997, Avery Brooks directs this episode that was penned by Robert Hewitt Wolfe from a story by Edmund Newton and Robbin L. Stocum. Serving as a follow up to the episode, Second Skin, Tekeny Ghemor (Lawrence Pressman) arrives on the station.

Because of the events of Second Skin, Ghemor sees Kira (Nana Visitor) as a daughter, and when he arrives on the station Kira believes he can help with the dissident movement within the Cardassian government.

While he agrees to share the information he has with her, he also reveals he cannot help lead… he’s dying.

Events are complicated by the arrival of Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) on the station – his first appearance since the reveal of the Cardassians siding with The Dominion – and demands to extradite Ghemor as he is a threat to the current rule.

In fact he may be so much of a threat, that the Jem’Hadar arrive, joined by a familiar face… a Vorta clone of Weyoun (Jeffrey Combs).

Unfortunately, all of this brings up Kira’s memories about her own father, and his death. The events start to wear on her, even as the Cardassian/Jem’Hadar presence on the station drives tensions higher.

She is tired, worn out, and struggling to do what is right, even as Dukat attempts to manipulate her into returning Ghemor to him. And the best way to manipulate her is with the truth.

This is a great episode for Kira, and really gives Visitor a chance to shine in her role.

Station log: stardate unknown

Rene Auberjonois directs this episode that was written by Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler. It first aired on 21 April, 1997. This Quark (Armin Shimerman) story isn’t quite as strong as the Kira story above, but it is fun.

The poor Ferengi bar owner doesn’t know what to do when he learns that his mother, Ishka (Cecily Adams replacing Andrea Martin) and the Grand Nagus, Zek (Wallace Shawn) have fallen in love.

Jeffrey Combs is in this episode as well, reprising his role as the Ferengi, Brunt, and we also get to see Rom (Max Grodenchik) and Leeta’s (Chase Masterson) developing relationship when they announce their impending nuptials (although seeds of doubt are sown in the poor guy’s mind).

This one is played pretty broad and humorous. It’s funny, silly, and a little unique. It shows that Trek can do humor, even if it doesn’t work all the time. There are moments in this I love, and others that are just, well… silly.

Quark can get his business licence back of he breaks up the Nagus and his mother, but what if the Nagus has come to rely on Ishka more than anyone realizes, and Zek has become increasingly forgetful.

The Human Adventure continues as I explore more of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine The Complete Series on DVD.

Boldly go…