In Purgatory's Shadow (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"In Purgatory's Shadow" is an episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, the fourteenth episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.7/5 on the official Star Trek website as of September 2009. The first half of a two-part episode, it is most notable as the beginning of the Dominion
invasion of the Alpha Quadrant. It features the return of several familiar faces, drawing on plot lines previously established in the third, fourth and fifth seasons. It was dedicated "In memory of Derek Garth".
is asked to analyze it. He reports that the message is insignificant, but is later caught trying to sneak off the station in a runabout. He then admits that the message is some sort of distress call from his mentor Enabran Tain, the former head of the Obsidian Order. Garak convinces Sisko
to allow him to travel to the Gamma Quadrant to search for Tain (and possible Starfleet, Bajoran, Romulan, and Cardassian survivors from Dominion attacks), but Sisko sends Worf
along as a "chaperone."
Garak and Worf bicker constantly and find nothing. Finally, Worf announces that they can go no farther and takes the ship out of warp, explaining that the source of Tain's signal is deep in Dominion
space. Garak, however, is unwilling to give up, and pushes Worf to travel through the nebula to avoid detection. Worf reluctantly agrees, and almost immediately upon entering the nebula, they wind up in the midst of the Jem'Hadar
fleet.
Worf realizes that the entire fleet can only be assembled for one reason — they intend to invade the Alpha Quadrant. He immediately sends a warning message to the station, but is not confident it will get through. Moments later, four Jem'Hadar soldiers materialize on the ship and take Worf and Garak prisoner. Back on Deep Space Nine
, the crew is able to decipher enough of Worf's signal to realize the Dominion is coming. Sisko sends Kira
to find Worf and Garak, but they are already imprisoned in a Dominion detention center, where they are told they will remain until they die.
Inside the camp, Worf meets Martok
, the Klingon
general who was replaced by a Changeling. Martok leads Worf and Garak to Tain, himself a prisoner, who is dying. Instead of being thankful to Garak for coming, Tain chastises him for allowing himself to be taken prisoner. Meanwhile, Kira returns with grim news that at least 50 Dominion ships are headed their way. With reinforcements at least two days away and only Gul Dukat
on hand to help out, Sisko sees only one choice — sealing the wormhole
. If Worf and Garak don't escape in 36 hours, they will be trapped. Meanwhile, Worf and Garak are introduced to another prisoner: Bashir
... meaning that the Bashir at the station is a Changeling.
On the station, the Bashir Changeling begins making himself useful to Dax
and O'Brien
while they work out the technology that will seal the wormhole. In the internment camp, Garak meets with Tain again, desperate for a kind word from his mentor before the old man passes on. When Tain makes Garak promise to escape as a final request, Garak makes a request in return — that Tain acknowledge him as his son. He does, and father and illegitimate child share a memory before Tain dies peacefully. His mission complete, Garak is ready to find a way out. But he may be too late. On Deep Space Nine, the crew shoots a particle beam at the wormhole using the emitter array, intending to close it. However, something goes wrong. The emitter array has been sabotaged, and the wormhole remains open, allowing a fleet of Jem'Hadar ships to begin pouring through.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, the fourteenth episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.7/5 on the official Star Trek website as of September 2009. The first half of a two-part episode, it is most notable as the beginning of the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
invasion of the Alpha Quadrant. It features the return of several familiar faces, drawing on plot lines previously established in the third, fourth and fifth seasons. It was dedicated "In memory of Derek Garth".
Plot
When the station picks up a mysterious coded message from inside the Gamma Quadrant that appears to be Cardassian, 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...
is asked to analyze it. He reports that the message is insignificant, but is later caught trying to sneak off the station in a runabout. He then admits that the message is some sort of distress call from his mentor Enabran Tain, the former head of the Obsidian Order. Garak convinces 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:...
to allow him to travel to the Gamma Quadrant to search for Tain (and possible Starfleet, Bajoran, Romulan, and Cardassian survivors from Dominion attacks), but Sisko sends Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
along as a "chaperone."
Garak and Worf bicker constantly and find nothing. Finally, Worf announces that they can go no farther and takes the ship out of warp, explaining that the source of Tain's signal is deep in Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
space. Garak, however, is unwilling to give up, and pushes Worf to travel through the nebula to avoid detection. Worf reluctantly agrees, and almost immediately upon entering the nebula, they wind up in the midst of the Jem'Hadar
Jem'Hadar
In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Jem'Hadar are the shock troops of the powerful Dominion located in the Gamma Quadrant. Genetically engineered for strength and resolve, they are also short-lived and believe that "victory is life." They are bred to perceive the Founders, enigmatic...
fleet.
Worf realizes that the entire fleet can only be assembled for one reason — they intend to invade the Alpha Quadrant. He immediately sends a warning message to the station, but is not confident it will get through. Moments later, four Jem'Hadar soldiers materialize on the ship and take Worf and Garak prisoner. Back 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...
, the crew is able to decipher enough of Worf's signal to realize the Dominion is coming. Sisko sends 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...
to find Worf and Garak, but they are already imprisoned in a Dominion detention center, where they are told they will remain until they die.
Inside the camp, Worf meets Martok
Martok
Martok is a recurring character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, played by actor J. G. Hertzler.-Overview:Little backstory is given regarding the early life of Martok, except for a brief history sketched by himself in the Deep Space Nine episode "Once More Unto the Breach"...
, the Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
general who was replaced by a Changeling. Martok leads Worf and Garak to Tain, himself a prisoner, who is dying. Instead of being thankful to Garak for coming, Tain chastises him for allowing himself to be taken prisoner. Meanwhile, Kira returns with grim news that at least 50 Dominion ships are headed their way. With reinforcements at least two days away and only 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...
on hand to help out, Sisko sees only one choice — sealing the wormhole
Wormhole
In physics, a wormhole is a hypothetical topological feature of spacetime that would be, fundamentally, a "shortcut" through spacetime. For a simple visual explanation of a wormhole, consider spacetime visualized as a two-dimensional surface. If this surface is folded along a third dimension, it...
. If Worf and Garak don't escape in 36 hours, they will be trapped. Meanwhile, Worf and Garak are introduced to another prisoner: Bashir
Julian Bashir
Lieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
... meaning that the Bashir at the station is a Changeling.
On the station, the Bashir Changeling begins making himself useful to 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....
and 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...
while they work out the technology that will seal the wormhole. In the internment camp, Garak meets with Tain again, desperate for a kind word from his mentor before the old man passes on. When Tain makes Garak promise to escape as a final request, Garak makes a request in return — that Tain acknowledge him as his son. He does, and father and illegitimate child share a memory before Tain dies peacefully. His mission complete, Garak is ready to find a way out. But he may be too late. On Deep Space Nine, the crew shoots a particle beam at the wormhole using the emitter array, intending to close it. However, something goes wrong. The emitter array has been sabotaged, and the wormhole remains open, allowing a fleet of Jem'Hadar ships to begin pouring through.
Arc significance
- Garak receives a message from Enabran Tain, proving that the Female Changeling was lying when she claimed that there were no survivors from the attack (cf. "The Die Is Cast", "Broken Link").
- Garak and Worf are captured and imprisoned by the Dominion. While there, they meet the real General Martok (cf. "Apocalypse Rising") and also Julian Bashir, who was abducted over a month ago and replaced by a Changeling impostor.
- A Dominion invasion is imminent. The crew tries to seal the wormhole, but their attempts are sabotaged. The fleet comes through the wormhole.
- Tain acknowledges that Garak is his son before he dies.