Empok Nor
Encyclopedia
"Empok Nor" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, the twenty-fourth episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.4/5 on the official Star Trek website as of September, 2009 and primarily takes place on the Cardassian
space station Empok Nor, which has been abandoned for about a year.
and Cadet Nog playing a game of kotra, a Cardassian strategy game. Garak is on the verge of victory, chastising Nog for playing defensively when the game rewards grand offensive maneuvering. Chief O'Brien
interrupts and verifies Garak's strategy, who in turn comments how interesting it is the station chief would know so much about a Cardassian game. O'Brien rebuffs Garak and the reference to his past as the "Hero of Setlik III".
O'Brien reveals one of the station's plasma distribution manifolds has broken down, and a team is to be sent to Deep Space Nine
's abandoned sister space station, Empok Nor, to salvage components. The team consists of O'Brien, Garak, Nog, engineers Pechetti and Boq'ta, and security officers Stolzoff and Amaro. Garak is brought along to help disarm booby trap
s targeted at non-Cardassians, such traps being routinely left behind when space stations are abandoned by the Cardassians.
There are no life signs, but in the infirmary they discover two recently deactivated stasis tubes and a third one with a dead Cardassian soldier: a member of the 3rd battalion, 1st order (one of the most dedicated in the Cardassian military - their motto is "Death To All"). Suddenly, the away team's runabout detaches from the station and explodes, stranding them inside.
The recently awoken Cardassian soldiers attack the away team, killing Pechetti, Boq'ta and Stolzoff. Fighting back, the remaining away team members manage to eliminate the two soldiers thanks to the direct aid of Garak. As the team continues the scavenge for station parts, they remark on Garak's ruthlessness, wondering how a tailor could be such a vicious and efficient killer. As they search for a way home, Garak begins to act oddly, as the natural Cardassian tendency for xenophobia begins to be compounded and intensified. This is confirmed when the team discovers the members of the 3rd Battalion: 1st Order had been subjected to a treatment that enhanced their natural aggression toward other races and the treatment had permeated the station.
Garak eventually loses all self-control (due to the drug) and kills Amaro, then proceeds to playing a real life game of kotra with O'Brien. Garak captures Nog and the only means of contacting Deep Space Nine for a chance of rescue. By this time his xenophobia has reached a fevered pitch. While waiting for O'Brien to appear, Garak comments to Nog how it's taking all his willpower to not kill him right then and there.
Eventually, O'Brien confronts Garak, and, after a quick exchange, O'Brien knocks Garak unconscious, rescues Nog, and contacts the station. The three are rescued with the salvaged part--but at a terrible price. The episode ends with O'Brien visiting Garak, who's being treated in sick bay. Garak expresses his sincere regret for his actions to the dead crew members as well as to O'Brien and Nog. He asks O'Brien to relay his condolences to the family members of the dead Starfleet crew members and O'Brien solemnly agrees. O'Brien says there will need to be a hearing but that he will make sure the board knows that Garak was not responsible for what happened.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, the twenty-fourth episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.4/5 on the official Star Trek website as of September, 2009 and primarily takes place on 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...
space station Empok Nor, which has been abandoned for about a year.
Plot
The episode begins with GarakElim Garak
Elim Garak is a fictional character from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J. Robinson. In the series, Garak is an exiled spy from the Cardassian empire and a former member of a prestigious Cardassian intelligence group called the Obsidian Order...
and Cadet Nog playing a game of kotra, a Cardassian strategy game. Garak is on the verge of victory, chastising Nog for playing defensively when the game rewards grand offensive maneuvering. Chief O'Brien
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...
interrupts and verifies Garak's strategy, who in turn comments how interesting it is the station chief would know so much about a Cardassian game. O'Brien rebuffs Garak and the reference to his past as the "Hero of Setlik III".
O'Brien reveals one of the station's plasma distribution manifolds has broken down, and a team is to be sent to 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...
's abandoned sister space station, Empok Nor, to salvage components. The team consists of O'Brien, Garak, Nog, engineers Pechetti and Boq'ta, and security officers Stolzoff and Amaro. Garak is brought along to help disarm booby trap
Booby trap
A booby trap is a device designed to harm or surprise a person, unknowingly triggered by the presence or actions of the victim. As the word trap implies, they often have some form of bait designed to lure the victim towards it. However, in other cases the device is placed on busy roads or is...
s targeted at non-Cardassians, such traps being routinely left behind when space stations are abandoned by the Cardassians.
There are no life signs, but in the infirmary they discover two recently deactivated stasis tubes and a third one with a dead Cardassian soldier: a member of the 3rd battalion, 1st order (one of the most dedicated in the Cardassian military - their motto is "Death To All"). Suddenly, the away team's runabout detaches from the station and explodes, stranding them inside.
The recently awoken Cardassian soldiers attack the away team, killing Pechetti, Boq'ta and Stolzoff. Fighting back, the remaining away team members manage to eliminate the two soldiers thanks to the direct aid of Garak. As the team continues the scavenge for station parts, they remark on Garak's ruthlessness, wondering how a tailor could be such a vicious and efficient killer. As they search for a way home, Garak begins to act oddly, as the natural Cardassian tendency for xenophobia begins to be compounded and intensified. This is confirmed when the team discovers the members of the 3rd Battalion: 1st Order had been subjected to a treatment that enhanced their natural aggression toward other races and the treatment had permeated the station.
Garak eventually loses all self-control (due to the drug) and kills Amaro, then proceeds to playing a real life game of kotra with O'Brien. Garak captures Nog and the only means of contacting Deep Space Nine for a chance of rescue. By this time his xenophobia has reached a fevered pitch. While waiting for O'Brien to appear, Garak comments to Nog how it's taking all his willpower to not kill him right then and there.
Eventually, O'Brien confronts Garak, and, after a quick exchange, O'Brien knocks Garak unconscious, rescues Nog, and contacts the station. The three are rescued with the salvaged part--but at a terrible price. The episode ends with O'Brien visiting Garak, who's being treated in sick bay. Garak expresses his sincere regret for his actions to the dead crew members as well as to O'Brien and Nog. He asks O'Brien to relay his condolences to the family members of the dead Starfleet crew members and O'Brien solemnly agrees. O'Brien says there will need to be a hearing but that he will make sure the board knows that Garak was not responsible for what happened.