Apocalypse Rising (episode)

"Apocalypse Rising"
DS9, Episode 5x01
Production number: 40510-499
First aired: 30 September 1996
←  97th of 173 produced in DS9  →
←  97th of 173 released in DS9  →
←  427th of 911 released in all  →

Sisko leads a commando team into Klingon headquarters in an attempt to expose the Changeling impersonating Gowron. (Season Premiere)

Summary

With war declared between the Klingon Empire and the Federation, Starfleet summons Captain Benjamin Sisko and Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax back to Earth to discuss Odo's dire belief that Gowron, the chancellor of the high council, has been replaced by a Changeling and is pressing forth the war.

Starfleet equips Sisko with modified poloron emitters with a mission to infiltrate Klingon military headquarters on Ty'Gokor to expose Gowron to polaron radiation; if he is a changeling, exposure to the radiation will make it impossible for him to retain his humanoid shape.

Surgically altered to look like Klingons, Sisko, Odo, Chief O'Brien and Lt. Commander Worf set course for Ty'Gokor in Gul Dukat's bird of prey. En route, however, Dukat's holographic filter malfunctions and they are forced to destroy a Klingon bird of prey in order to avoid detection. With the filter off-line, Dukat has no choice but to leave the DS9 officers on Ty'Gokor and leave Klingon space. When Sisko protests, Dukat assures him that if he is successful, the war will be over and they won't need his ship to return. (And if he fails, he won't need transport, since he'll very likely be executed as a spy and a saboteur.)

Beaming into Ty'Gokor, the "Order of the bat'leth" ceremony is underway with hundreds of drunken Klingons intending to celebrate all night in anticipation of Gowron's arrival. Waiting until morning to set up their emitters, the DS9 officers begrudginly partake in the festivites in order to blend in. When Martok arrives, Sisko fears he may recognize them. Although Martok feels he recognizes O'Brien, he does not disrupt their plans.

As Gowron arrives, the DS9 crew set-up their emitters and prepare to activate them when Sisko is summoned by Gowron to join the Order of the bat'leth. Sisko accepts the commendation. As he turns, he begins to activate the emitters, when he is attacked from behind by Martok, who now recognizes him.

Thrown into a holding cell, Sisko presses Martok, as he believes that Martok thinks that Gowron is a changeling, as well. Martok cannot hide his feelings and agrees to help the DS9 officers kill Gowron. As they press forward, Worf challenges Gowron to a fight to the death, while Martok holds Odo at gunpoint, unwilling to trust a former changeling. When Martok wonders why Sisko doesn't simply shoot Gowron, Odo realizes that a true Klingon wouldn't cowardly shoot someone and deduces that Gowron isn't the changeling, but Martok is.

As Worf and Gowron continue to fight, Odo and Martok brawl their way into the Hall of Warriors. Knocked to the ground, Odo exclaims "Martok is the changeling!" Exposed, the Martok changeling begins to choke Odo with a tendril of his shapeshifting body, but, he is blasted by Sisko's disruptor. As the other Klingons see Martok for what he really is, they begin firing as well, resulting in the changeling's death.

With the dust settled, Gowron realizes that the Founders had led Odo to believe that he was a changeling hoping that Starfleet would try to eliminate him. With Gowron out of the picture, the Martok changeling would be able to rule the Klingon Empire, pressing for war with the Federation and the Cardassian Union, destablizing the Alpha Quadrant and leaving it wide open for a Dominion invasion. Sisko informs him that the best way to strike a blow against the Founders would be to end the war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, but Gowron informs Sisko he can't if the Federation refuses to allow the Empire to annex Archanis. Sisko belives that the Federation won't agree, but, believes there's room for negotiation. Satisfied, Gowron arranges for the DS9 officers to return home.

Memorable Quotes

"Captain, you're just in time for Happy Hour."
"Do I look happy, Quark?"

- Quark and Sisko

"This is not going to work. It is not enough to look like a Klingon, one must act like one. Perhaps it would be better if I went by my–"
(Sisko backhands Worf across the face)
"Are you questioning the validity of my plan?!"
"Very convincing, Captain. But was it your intention to challenge me to a battle to the death?"
"Not at all."
"Then next time do not strike me with the back of your hand. Use your fist."

- Worf and Benjamin Sisko

(Dukat fires disruptors, destroying a patrolling Klingon Bird-of-Prey)
"Was that really necessary?!"
"It was either that or trust in Mister Worf's ability to lie. Frankly I have more faith in my weapons."

- Sisko and Dukat

"Brag all you want! But don't get between me and the bloodwine!"

- Sisko, masquarading as a Klingon

"It's a pity it doesn't have any bubbles."

- Odo

"Glory to you... and your house."

- Gowron

(Referring to her pregnancy) "But don't forget, this... is still your fault."
"My fault?"
"You performed the transfer from Keiko to me."
"After you volunteered."
"After you put the idea in my head."
"After you flew the runabout into the asteroid field."
"After you insisted we check on those anomalous bio-scans."
"That was Keiko."
"That's right. It was. But I'd rather blame you."

- Kira Nerys and Julian Bashir

"Since when has it been treasonous to act in the best interests of the Empire?"

- Worf

Background Information

• Tora Ziyal was to appear in this episode. However, as she only had one line, it was decided there was no point in filming the scene with Dukat.

• In a humorous in-joke, Kira blames Julian Bashir for her pregnancy. In real life, Nana Visitor was pregnant with Alexander Siddig's child at the time.

• It is strange that Jadzia Dax was not a part of the mission, given her intimate knowledge of Klingon culture. This was due to the fact that Terry Farrell's skin would have been allergic to the excessive Klingon make-up.

• It is interesting to note that Gowron tells Worf that he will not get another chance to try to kill him. Worf does kill Gowron, to stop his reckless attacks against the Dominion in the seventh season episode "Tacking Into the Wind".

• When we see Worf alongside Sisko, O'Brien, and Odo in Klingon Make-up, his full goatee is missing.

• This is not the first time Rene Auberjonois has played a character who disguises himself as a Klingon. Colonel West, his character in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, did the same. Their intentions are precisely the opposite though: West was attempting to prevent peace with the Klingons, while Odo was attempting to prevent war with the Klingons.

• According to the Deep Space Nine Companion, Michael Dorn looked forward to seeing his co-stars being subjected to the same heavy Klingon make-up he was forced to endure for several years. Colm Meaney was so uncomfortable in the make-up that Dorn asked the producers that he never be placed in a situation where he had to wear it again. Conversely, Rene Auberjonois said he found the Klingon make-up much easier than his typical Odo make-up since it covered less of his face.

• The Companion also reveals it was writer Ronald D. Moore who suggested making Martok, rather than Gowron, turn out to be the Changeling, to as not to upset TNG fans. As it turns out, however, the producers were so pleased with J.G. Hertzler's performance in this episode, they made it a point to have the real Martok return in a later episode and become a much more prominent character in the series, while Moore himself would write Gowron's demise in the episode "Tacking Into the Wind".

Awards

• This episode was nominated for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Jonathan West) and Outstanding Makeup for a Series.

Links and References

Guest Stars

• Robert O'Reilly as Chancellor Gowron
• J.G. Hertzler as General Martok (Changeling)
• Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat
• Casey Biggs as Damar

Co-Stars

• Robert Budaska as Burly Klingon
• Robert Zachar as Head Guard
• John L. Bennett as Towering Klingon
• Tony Epper as Drunken Klingon
• Ivor Bartels as Young Klingon

Uncredited Co-Stars

• Mark Allen Shepherd as Morn
• Gene LeBell as Wrestling Klingon
• Elle Alexander as Klingon warrioress Huss
• Tom Morga as stunt double for J.G. Hertzler

References

47; Alpha Quadrant; Archanis; USS Armstrong; asteroid field; A'trom; Barot; Bajoran; Bajoran ale; Benzenite; blood; bloodwine; bubble; Ceasefire; Changeling; Deep Space 9; USS Defiant; Dominion; USS Drake; Dukat's Bird-of-Prey; Edon, Shakaar; Fangs; Founder; General; H'ta; Hall of Warriors; happy hour; House of Konjah; holo-filter; Human; Huss; Jodmos; Kahmar; Klingon; Klingon Bird-of-Prey; Klingon Empire; Klingon High Command; Klingon High Council; Kobor; Kodrak; Laporin; Battle of Mempa; optronic relay; Order of the Bat'leth; Pahash; Photon torpedo; Polaron; polaron emitter; polaron radiation; Radiation poisoning; raiding party; Rio Grande; Runabout; Rurik the Damned; Second Federation-Klingon War; shore leave; space station; Starfleet; Starfleet Academy; Starfleet Command; Starfleet Intelligence; Starfleet Science; targ; tooth; Trill; T'vis; tachyon detection grid; Tajtiq; Tellarite; tinghamut; Ty'Gokor; Vilix'pran; Vor'cha class; Vrax; Yan-Isleth; Yndar; Zora Fel

Previous episode: "Broken Link"

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 5

Next episode: "The Ship"