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Defiant (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"Defiant" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, the ninth episode of the third season. It maintains a fan rating of 4.7 out of 5 on the official Star Trek Website.
shows up on Deep Space Nine
and proceeds to charm the crew, especially Major Kira
. She takes him on a tour of the station and its new ship, the Defiant
. Once aboard, he pulls a phaser on her, stuns her, fakes a warp-core breach and steals the ship.
Back on the station the crew realizes it is not Will Riker but his duplicate Thomas Riker
. Tom Riker had been created in a transporter accident and stranded on a planet nine years earlier and was rescued about two years previously. He is now suspected to be a member of the Maquis
, and thus wanted by the Cardassian
s. Riker has stolen the powerful Defiant to strike a heavy blow on Cardassian forces in the name of the Maquis.
Commander Sisko
is placed in a difficult position. He wants the Defiant taken back and returned to his station without having to destroy her. He eventually travels to Cardassia Prime to oversee and assist the operation led by Gul Dukat
to hunt Riker down.
After doing considerable damage, the Defiant heads for the Orias system in order to destroy a secret shipbuilding facility of the Obsidian Order. Gul Dukat has a conflict with Korinas, an Obsidian Order officer, who threatens to destroy any ship that would approach the system.
Suddenly, Defiant is trapped by unknown Cardassian starships
coming from the Orias system. Gul Dukat is wondering what is taking place there, because the ships are clearly not members of the regular Cardassian fleet - and the Obsidian Order is strictly forbidden from possessing military equipment of any kind.
Eventually, Sisko arranges a deal: In exchange for the Defiants sensor logs of the Orias system, Dukat will allow the Defiant and crew to return to the Federation and Riker will be sentenced to a Cardassian labor camp rather than to death. Major Kira persuades Riker to accept the terms; she promises to get him out one day. He accepts in order to save the crew, and is taken to Cardassia.
Much of the tension created in this episode comes from the moral dilemma that Sisko has to deal with. Much of the combat is seen on a display screen, similar to the Next Generation
episode "The Wounded", wherein Captain Benjamin Maxwell had to be stopped from destroying Cardassian ships and stations, which would have upset the delicate peace.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, the ninth episode of the third season. It maintains a fan rating of 4.7 out of 5 on the official Star Trek Website.
Plot
William T. RikerWilliam Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
shows up on 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...
and proceeds to charm the crew, especially Major 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...
. She takes him on a tour of the station and its new ship, the Defiant
USS Defiant
The USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
. Once aboard, he pulls a phaser on her, stuns her, fakes a warp-core breach and steals the ship.
Back on the station the crew realizes it is not Will Riker but his duplicate Thomas Riker
Thomas Riker
William Thomas "Tom" Riker is a fictional character from the Star Trek universe, played by actor Jonathan Frakes. He is a duplicate of William Riker, a regular character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, also played by Frakes, who was created by a transporter accident when Riker served as second...
. Tom Riker had been created in a transporter accident and stranded on a planet nine years earlier and was rescued about two years previously. He is now suspected to be a member of the Maquis
Maquis (Star Trek)
In the American Star Trek science-fiction franchise, the Maquis are a 24th Century paramilitary organization or terrorist group first introduced in the 1994 episode "The Maquis" of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who subsequently also appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation and...
, and thus wanted by the Cardassian
Cardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
s. Riker has stolen the powerful Defiant to strike a heavy blow on Cardassian forces in the name of the Maquis.
Commander Sisko
Benjamin 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:...
is placed in a difficult position. He wants the Defiant taken back and returned to his station without having to destroy her. He eventually travels to Cardassia Prime to oversee and assist the operation led by Gul Dukat
Dukat (Star Trek)
Gul Dukat is the main antagonist of the fictional television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is a member of the fictional Cardassian species, and leader in the Cardassian Union. At times he is an enemy, whilst at others an ally of the series' protagonist Benjamin Sisko. He was played by actor...
to hunt Riker down.
After doing considerable damage, the Defiant heads for the Orias system in order to destroy a secret shipbuilding facility of the Obsidian Order. Gul Dukat has a conflict with Korinas, an Obsidian Order officer, who threatens to destroy any ship that would approach the system.
Suddenly, Defiant is trapped by unknown Cardassian starships
Cardassian starships
This is a list of starship classes in use by the Cardassian Union in the Star Trek fictional universe.- Galor class :The Galor class is a group of starships used by the Cardassian Union. Galor class destroyers have a low profile, are long and narrow and are usually painted in a burnt orange color...
coming from the Orias system. Gul Dukat is wondering what is taking place there, because the ships are clearly not members of the regular Cardassian fleet - and the Obsidian Order is strictly forbidden from possessing military equipment of any kind.
Eventually, Sisko arranges a deal: In exchange for the Defiants sensor logs of the Orias system, Dukat will allow the Defiant and crew to return to the Federation and Riker will be sentenced to a Cardassian labor camp rather than to death. Major Kira persuades Riker to accept the terms; she promises to get him out one day. He accepts in order to save the crew, and is taken to Cardassia.
Much of the tension created in this episode comes from the moral dilemma that Sisko has to deal with. Much of the combat is seen on a display screen, similar to the Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
episode "The Wounded", wherein Captain Benjamin Maxwell had to be stopped from destroying Cardassian ships and stations, which would have upset the delicate peace.
Arc significance
- Sisko reveals that the Defiant's cloaking device was lent by the Romulans on the condition that it only be used in the Gamma Quadrant.
- Thomas Riker discovers that the Obsidian Order is building a secret fleet of ships in the Orias system, despite being strictly forbidden to possess military equipment of any kind.