Station log: stardate 51948.3

Ronald D. Moore pens the teleplay for this episode from a story by Pam Pietroforte. It first aired on 10 June, 1998.

The Defiant races towards an inhospitable planet after receiving a distress call from a Starfleet captain. It seems, the captain, Lisa Cusak (Debra Wilson) crashed in an escape pod, and Sisko (Avery Brooks) and the rest are determined to save her.

The b-story sees Jake (Corroc Lofton) following Quark (Armin Shimerman) through his latest scheme for a good story. This makes for some light, of occasionally dramatic moments, that balances nicely with the quest to lave Cusak, especially O’Brien (Colm Meaney) who is working on establishing contact with the stranded captain.

Once contact is established, we get great character moments, because each member of the crew spends time talking with Lisa. Revealing thoughts, worries, concerns, and stories, and all of them feel a connection with the lost captain.

And the entire episode has a ticking clock as the Defiant needs to get there before Lisa runs out of the medical supplies that help her stay alive in the environment. You know of course, with the connections that the crew has made with the captain that the end of the episode is going to be a hard one to face, but it’s done so well.

And the reveal about her, heartbreaking… Great ep!

I also like the fact that Kassidy Yates (Penny Johnson Jerald) makes an appearance. It’s always nice to see her and Ben Sisko together.

Station log: stardate unknown

Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler pen the conclusion to season six, and make sure it gits us right in the feels. Airing on 17 June, 1998 the story sees Sisko being assigned a mission to lead an assault in Cardassian space.

The Prophets appear to the captain in a vision and warn him that there will be dire consequences should he leave the station. He ignores the warning, and there are disastrous results for one of the crew that will affect those who remain behind.

Seeing as the episode is some twenty-one years old, I suppose we can spoil some of the story… the crew member to fall is Sisko’s oldest friend, and Worf’s wife, Dax (Terry Farrell).

The symbiote within her survives…

The episode has lots of moments, lots of story threads, and lots going on. If you weren’t paying attention throughout the season, not to mention previous seasons, you have no idea what is going on.

In a nice nod to continuity, Sisko is awarded the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor, and the Cardassian plan is inspired taking their assault to the wormhole, and severing the Prophets from Bajor.  Leading to a new mission for Sisko when the next season begins, but he heads back to Earth for some self-imposed exile first.

The episode is bog, bold, brassy, (the fleet battle is amazing!) and leaves us at the end of the episode broken as we worry about the Dominion, the loss of a friend, and what the last season will hold for us.

The Human Adventure continues as we begin the final season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Complete Series on DVD from Paramount Canada Thursday!

Boldly go…