Station log: stardate unknown

Ronald D. Moore pens this episode that debuted on 11 November, 1998.

Kor (John Colicos) returns and wants to die as a warrior, so he seeks an opportunity in the latest skirmishes of the Dominion War. There are difficulties in the ancient warrior’s death wish because General Martok (J.G. Hertzler), who is overseeing a large potion of the Klingons’ involvement seems to be holding a grudge against the aging icon.

Worf (Micheal Dorn) who attempts to champion Kor’s request with Martok is shocked by the vitriol the general has, but is also determined to help his old friend die well – and maybe find out why Martok hates him so in the process.

Worf gives him a commission, and learns that Marok was seen as part of a lower class when he first applied as an officer to the academy and was rejected by Kor.

They find themselves on a mission together, and battle, disaster and revelations play out, Kor is ill, and just wants a last blaze of glory to go out on, but at what risk to those around him?

In the b-story, Quark (Armin Shimerman) finally lays out his feelings for Ezri (Nicole de Boer), and there is some setup for the main body of the story with O’Brien (Colm Meaney) and Bashir (Alexander Siddig) discuss the history of the Alamo, an event they just played out in a holosuite.

How does it turn out? Fantastically, and it ends up being a grand goodbye not only to Kor, but to Colicos, as this was his last performance before his death.

Station log: stardate unknown

Ira Steven Behr and Hams Beimler wrote this episode that first aired on 18 November, 1998.

The Defiant makes a supply run to a remote station, AR-558, and discover that most of the troops there are dead from a Dominion attack. Morale is low, and they believe the end is almost inescapable (another nod to the Alamo), and when the Defiant comes under attack, Sisko (Avery Brooks), Bashir, Ezri Dax, Quark and Nog (Aron Eisenberg) elect to stay and fight.

The episode includes a couple of recognizable guest stars, Bill Mumy and Raymond Cruz, both as members of the worn down outfit that has been assigned to this location, and suffering under the wear of the constant attacks.

It’s tense, well-penned episode that puts a face on the face of war in a way that we haven’t seen in the series before, and it doles out a cost on those in the fight, with Nog being the most obvious.

The journey to the end of the series continues next week as we explore the final season and enjoy Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Complete Series on DVD, now available from Paramount Canada.

Boldly go…