Episode complete credited cast: | |||
Avery Brooks | ... | Cmdr. Benjamin Sisko | |
Rene Auberjonois | ... | Odo | |
Alexander Siddig | ... | Doctor Bashir (as Siddig El Fadil) | |
Terry Farrell | ... | Lt. Jadzia Dax | |
Cirroc Lofton | ... | Jake Sisko | |
Colm Meaney | ... | Chief Miles O'Brien | |
Armin Shimerman | ... | Quark | |
Nana Visitor | ... | Major Kira | |
Andrew Robinson | ... | Garak | |
Marc Alaimo | ... | Gul Dukat | |
Danny Goldring | ... | Legate Kell |
O'Brien and Jake are preparing one of the old ore processing units to convert it for use as a deuterium refinery. Sisko checks up on them, just as Jake finds a strange file in the database which can't be deleted. O'Brien accidentally trips a Cardassian security alert, and must enter a password, but fails. Suddenly, the room's locked down, and a recorded message from Gul Dukat appears on view screens, warning the 'Bajoran workers' to surrender, or face consequences. But their troubles, and that of the station's, are far from over. Written by Arnoud Tiele (imdb@tiele.nl)
The premise to this is fine and it is fun up to a point. The problem is that Gul Dukat shows up and begins to extort people. He is the face of the computer which is programmed to keep miners from shirking their duties and rebelling against their masters. This program was left in place when the Cardassians left the station. It is well set up, but it devolves into a silly "we've only got so much time" and how can we get there" episode with several deus ex machina moments. There is some humor which would not be a part of a serious episode. So while the byplay is fun, it really doesn't work very well. I also have a question: What happens to Gul Dukat at the end?