In Purgatory's Shadow (10 Feb. 1997)

A coded message from the Gamma Quadrant leads Garak to believe his mentor, Enabran Tain, is still alive. He and Worf seek him out, only to discover something much worse: a Dominion invasion fleet poised to attack the Alpha Quadrant.

Director:

Gabrielle Beaumont

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Rick Berman (creator),

Stars:

Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Michael Dorn

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Avery Brooks	...	Captain Sisko
Rene Auberjonois	...	Odo
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Commander Worf
Terry Farrell	...	Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax
Cirroc Lofton	...	Jake Sisko (credit only)
Colm Meaney	...	Chief O'Brien
Armin Shimerman	...	Quark
Alexander Siddig	...	Doctor Bashir
Nana Visitor	...	Major Kira
Andrew Robinson	...	Garak (as Andrew J. Robinson)
Marc Alaimo	...	Gul Dukat
Melanie Smith	...	Ziyal
J.G. Hertzler	...	Martok
James Horan	...	Ikat'ika
Paul Dooley	...	Enabran Tain

Storyline

A coded message from the Gamma Quadrant leads Garak to believe his mentor, Enabran Tain, is still alive. He and Worf seek him out, only to discover something much worse: a Dominion invasion fleet poised to attack the Alpha Quadrant.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | 24th century

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1997 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Melanie Smith's first appearance as Ziyal, after the character had been portrayed by two different actresses in previous episodes.

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Quotes

Doctor Bashir: [to Garak] Going somewhere?

User Reviews

Prelude to war

When a coded Cardassiam message is received from the Gamma Quadrant Garak is asked to help decode it, it seems as if it was nothing of consistence though when he says it is just a communication from an exploration vessel. This being Garak of course it was far from trivial but a message from his presumed dead mentor Enabran Tain. He attempts to steal a runabout but is caught by Dr. Bashir who takes him to to Captain. Garak manages to persuade him that the signal should be investigated as there are also Federation personnel missing in the Gamma Quadrant. Soon Garak is on his way accompanied by Worf. Approaching Dominion territory they enter a nebula to avoid detection, unfortunately the nebula contains a Jem'Hadar fleet which is so large that it can only be preparing for an invasion of the Alpha Quadrant. Before capture they manage to send a warning which while garbled is clear enough for the people on DS9 to know they must act fast if they are to prevent an invasion; this will entail blocking the wormhole which would trap Garak and Worf on the wrong side. These two find themselves in a Dominion prison where they learn Enabran Tain is alive along with Klingon General Martok, somebody else they know is there too, Doctor Julian Bashir and he has been there for two months, clearly the one on DS9 must be a changeling and there in no guessing what he may have done in those two months.

This was a great episode, which wasn't a surprise as Garak played a major part in the story and Andrew Robinson is great in the role. I was really surprised when the Dr. Bashir was revealed on the station was revealed to be a changeling, it would be interesting to re-watch the preceding episodes to see if there were any clues, I certainly didn't suspect a thing. As this episode ends it is clear that the DS9 story has entered a new phase as the times of relative peace end and the long war with the Dominion begins.