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The Siege (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Siege" is the 23rd episode
of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
. It is also the third episode in a three-part story arc
.
and Li Nalas help stop DS9 from being commandeered by the Bajorans, while Kira and Dax try to put an end to the Circle.
assault vessels approach Deep Space Nine
, Sisko announces that he is evacuating
the station's civilian
population and anyone who wishes to leave. The entire crew volunteers to stay with him and fight, and various people react differently: Jake Sisko
and Nog find out they will be on different runabouts but determine to stay friends, Keiko O'Brien urges her husband, Miles
to leave with her, and Quark
decides to broker nonexistent additional seats. Li Nalas calms the resulting flood of passengers by inspiring courage in his fellow Bajorans; Quark is subsequently left on the station when his brother Rom
outdoes him in deviousness and sells Quark's seat to a Dabo girl.
Once the Bajoran forces arrive, there is no sign of Federation
presence but General Krim is highly suspicious. The station's security net is disabled and the Federation crew is unaccounted for, leading him to believe they are still aboard. Jaro orders Krim to capture Li Nalas alive, convinced that he can bribe Li into joining the Circle. When the sensor array is sabotaged, his suspicions are confirmed and the soldiers begin a search of the station. Odo uses his shapeshifting abilities to help the crew avoid detection and capture a number of soldiers during the search.
One of the runabouts drops Kira
and Dax
off on a Bajoran moon where the Bajorans stored a number of small starfighter
s during the Cardassian occupation. They manage to get one of the craft working and Dax is disoriented by the lack of technology, to which Kira tells her they are flying "by the seat of (our) pants". Bajoran fighters intercept them and a dogfight
ensues. Their ship is shot down during the fight and they crash.
Sisko and the crew successfully keep the Bajoran soldiers at bay until a group led by Krim's second-in-command, Colonel Day, discovers Sisko, Li and O'Brien in one of Quark's holosuites
. However, it is a trap and Sisko informs the soldiers about the Cardassian involvement in the Circle. He releases Day to pass the information to Krim, but the colonel instead tells Krim that the Federation is attempting to wrest control of DS9 from the Bajorans. A scan for Federation communicator signals reveals they are somewhere in the conduits and Odo informs Sisko that the soldiers intend to flood the conduits with lethal neurocine gas. Part of the crew distracts the bulk of the Bajoran forces, after which Li and Sisko capture Krim in an attempt to reason with him.
Although Kira was injured in the crash, Dax gets her to Vedek Bareil's monastery
. She and Kira disguise themselves as vedeks to allow them to travel to the Chamber of Ministers. Once there, Jaro attempts to dismiss Kira as a troublemaker. However, she confronts him about the Cardassian involvement, specifically, that they have been supplying the Circle with weapons. Upon hearing this information, Vedek Winn insists on examining the new evidence. Jaro announces that he will cooperate with any investigation.
Upon learning of the Cardassian involvement, Krim gives control of DS9 back to Sisko. However, Colonel Day attempts to assassinate Sisko in revenge; Li Nalas steps in the way of Day's weapon blast and is killed. O'Brien is confused by the way the Bajorans herald Li Nalas as someone who he was not. Sisko tells him Li was a hero of the resistance and that is the way he will remember him.
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
. It is also the third episode in a three-part story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
.
Overview
Benjamin SiskoBenjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
and Li Nalas help stop DS9 from being commandeered by the Bajorans, while Kira and Dax try to put an end to the Circle.
Plot
As the BajoranBajoran
In the Star Trek science-fiction franchise, the Bajorans are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor. They were first introduced in the 1991 episode "Ensign Ro" of Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequently also featured in episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and...
assault vessels approach Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
, Sisko announces that he is evacuating
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
the station's civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
population and anyone who wishes to leave. The entire crew volunteers to stay with him and fight, and various people react differently: Jake Sisko
Jake Sisko
Jacob "Jake" Sisko, played by Cirroc Lofton, is a character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is the son of Deep Space Nine's commanding officer, Benjamin Sisko.-Overview:...
and Nog find out they will be on different runabouts but determine to stay friends, Keiko O'Brien urges her husband, Miles
Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)
Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
to leave with her, and Quark
Quark (Star Trek)
Quark is a fictional character in the American television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The character, which was played by Armin Shimerman, was depicted as a member of an extraterrestrial race known as the Ferengi, who are stereotypically ultra-capitalist and only motivated by...
decides to broker nonexistent additional seats. Li Nalas calms the resulting flood of passengers by inspiring courage in his fellow Bajorans; Quark is subsequently left on the station when his brother Rom
Rom (Star Trek)
Rom is a recurring character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is played by Max Grodénchik.Rom is a Ferengi, the son of Keldar and Ishka. He is Quark's younger brother, and the father of Nog.-Overview:...
outdoes him in deviousness and sells Quark's seat to a Dabo girl.
Once the Bajoran forces arrive, there is no sign of Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
presence but General Krim is highly suspicious. The station's security net is disabled and the Federation crew is unaccounted for, leading him to believe they are still aboard. Jaro orders Krim to capture Li Nalas alive, convinced that he can bribe Li into joining the Circle. When the sensor array is sabotaged, his suspicions are confirmed and the soldiers begin a search of the station. Odo uses his shapeshifting abilities to help the crew avoid detection and capture a number of soldiers during the search.
One of the runabouts drops Kira
Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys , played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Backstory:Per Bajoran custom, her family name, Kira, precedes her given name, Nerys. She has two brothers , and her parents' names are Kira Taban and Kira Meru...
and Dax
Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell, was a main character during the first six seasons of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine....
off on a Bajoran moon where the Bajorans stored a number of small starfighter
Starfighter
"Starfighter" is a science fiction term used to describe small, fast, usually one-manned craft designed for armed combat .The appearance and use of fictional starfighters is often modeled on fighter aircraft, with little regard for the actual physics of spaceflight...
s during the Cardassian occupation. They manage to get one of the craft working and Dax is disoriented by the lack of technology, to which Kira tells her they are flying "by the seat of (our) pants". Bajoran fighters intercept them and a dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
ensues. Their ship is shot down during the fight and they crash.
Sisko and the crew successfully keep the Bajoran soldiers at bay until a group led by Krim's second-in-command, Colonel Day, discovers Sisko, Li and O'Brien in one of Quark's holosuites
Holodeck
A holodeck, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is a simulated reality facility located on starships and starbases. The first use of a "holodeck" by that name in the Star Trek universe was in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Encounter at Farpoint", although a conceptually...
. However, it is a trap and Sisko informs the soldiers about the Cardassian involvement in the Circle. He releases Day to pass the information to Krim, but the colonel instead tells Krim that the Federation is attempting to wrest control of DS9 from the Bajorans. A scan for Federation communicator signals reveals they are somewhere in the conduits and Odo informs Sisko that the soldiers intend to flood the conduits with lethal neurocine gas. Part of the crew distracts the bulk of the Bajoran forces, after which Li and Sisko capture Krim in an attempt to reason with him.
Although Kira was injured in the crash, Dax gets her to Vedek Bareil's monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. She and Kira disguise themselves as vedeks to allow them to travel to the Chamber of Ministers. Once there, Jaro attempts to dismiss Kira as a troublemaker. However, she confronts him about the Cardassian involvement, specifically, that they have been supplying the Circle with weapons. Upon hearing this information, Vedek Winn insists on examining the new evidence. Jaro announces that he will cooperate with any investigation.
Upon learning of the Cardassian involvement, Krim gives control of DS9 back to Sisko. However, Colonel Day attempts to assassinate Sisko in revenge; Li Nalas steps in the way of Day's weapon blast and is killed. O'Brien is confused by the way the Bajorans herald Li Nalas as someone who he was not. Sisko tells him Li was a hero of the resistance and that is the way he will remember him.
Arc significance
- The Cardassians' involvement in the Circle's coup is revealed, and the circle is broken. This revelation (and the failure of the Cardassians' plot) leads to Gul Dukat's falling out of favor with the Cardassian Central Command (see "The Maquis, Part II").
- Li Nalas is accidentally killed by a member of the Circle, sacrificing his life to save Sisko's.