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* The events of this episode (a [[Starfleet]] [[admiral]] attempting a military coup) are similar to the plot of [[Pocket TOS]]: ''[[Dreadnought!]]'', a [[novels|novel]] by [[Diane Carey]], written about a decade prior to [[DS9]]’s production. |
* The events of this episode (a [[Starfleet]] [[admiral]] attempting a military coup) are similar to the plot of [[Pocket TOS]]: ''[[Dreadnought!]]'', a [[novels|novel]] by [[Diane Carey]], written about a decade prior to [[DS9]]’s production. |
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| − | * There are also similarities to the [[TNG]] episode ''[[The Pegasus]].'' In both an admiral is attempting to perform criminal acts to serve what they consider 'the greater good.' In each an officer formerly under their command tries to |
+ | * There are also similarities to the [[TNG]] episode ''[[The Pegasus]].'' In both an admiral is attempting to perform criminal acts to serve what they consider 'the greater good.' In each an officer formerly under their command tries to dissuade them, fails, and forces them to face justice. |
* The title of this episode, much like the graffitti on the entrance to [[Paradise City]], both take their name from a [[Paradise_Lost_(poem)|17th Century poem]] written by the English poet, [[John Milton]]. |
* The title of this episode, much like the graffitti on the entrance to [[Paradise City]], both take their name from a [[Paradise_Lost_(poem)|17th Century poem]] written by the English poet, [[John Milton]]. |
||
Revision as of 10:29, 31 July 2007
- For the poem of the same name, see Paradise Lost (poem).
While Starfleet tightens security measures on Earth, Sisko and Odo discover that Admiral Leyton is deviously plotting to take over the planet. (Part 2 of 2)
Summary
In the aftermath of the planetwide power outage a state of emergency has been declared on Earth, and Starfleet Security has a presence in every neighborhood on the planet. Captain Sisko and Odo are at Starfleet Headquarters, and Sisko remarks on his discomfort with the situation - "the more I read Starfleet's reports on the sabotage of the power relays, the more unanswered questions I have." Odo then comes up with another question in need of an answer: Red Squad was beamed back to Starfleet Academy mere minutes after the state of emergency was declared, unlike the rest of Starfleet. Sisko immediately points out that Red Squad was re-mobilized a short time later.
In New Orleans Joseph and Jake are reopening the restaurant, since Joe's convinced that he's got plenty of customers. There are troops on every block, after all.
Sisko is left with more questions than answers.
Back at Starfleet Headquarters Sisko informs one of his superiors about the transporter record he found, and is told that it was Admiral Leyton's idea to use Red Squad for an unspecified operation related to the state of emergency. Sisko is thence under orders to destroy the transporter records.
Sometime later Sisko goes to New Orleans and is discussing his frame of mind with his father when Nog steps up to his table. It seems that Sisko wants to meet some of the members of Red Squad, and wants Nog to make an introduction. However, Nog says, the names on Red Squad's roster are supposed to be a secret... so Sisko turns his request into an order, which settles that.
It seems Red Squad was ordered to sabotage the power grid.
At Starfleet Academy Sisko holds an interview with one Cadet Riley Shepard. After stating that Red Squad had been briefed to expect that no record would be made of their activity, Shepard explains Red Squad's involvement with the power outage: in brief, they were the ones who did all of the hands-on work to make it happen.
Sisko goes back to New Orleans with Odo and the two of them discuss what Sisko's learned. After some discussion, Sisko reluctantly agrees with Odo's belief that the state of emergency was engineered by a clique of Starfleet officers led by Leyton, with the intent of staging a coup d'etat.
Sisko and Odo take what information they have to Federation President Jaresh-Inyo, who is skeptical and shocked. Jaresh-Inyo wants proof, and Sisko says that if Leyton is ordered to withdraw the troops he's deployed, he'll refuse - thereby providing the proof Jaresh-Inyo wants. However, Jaresh-Inyo says he can't do that, since scaling back security measures would be a political disaster with the potential to start riots. Sisko offers to bring irrefutable evidence of a plot, and Jaresh-Inyo promises that with that, he would certainly put a stop to it.
Back in New Orleans Sisko is waiting in his father's restaurant for Nog and Cadet Shepard. Nog eventually arrives, but without Shepard in tow - apparently Shepard was nowhere to be found, along with the rest of Red Squad. Just after making that announcement, Leyton steps into the restaurant and orders Nog back to the Academy.
Leyton relieves Sisko.
A conversation ensues in which Leyton admits to what he is doing, and that he involved Sisko because the credibility of the latter's field experience was vital to Leyton's plan. Leyton goes on to lecture Sisko about the importance of the chain of command, and point out that he still needs Sisko's cooperation. Sisko refuses, and Leyton orders him back to Deep Space 9.
...Even the Changelings have an opinion about that, apparently.
Sometime later Sisko's outside with his thoughts when a man appearing to be O'Brien (but who is actually a Changeling) approaches him and claims that there are only four Changelings on Earth. Just as quickly as he arrived, O'Brien's doppleganger leaves.
After getting some advice from his father, Sisko contacts Kira and starts putting a plan into motion.
It appears that Leyton's been busy cutting reassignment papers.
At Starfleet Headquarters Odo and Sisko start reviewing records of personnel transfers, and discover that "Leyton's been a busy man", reassigning "over 400 officers in the past three weeks." Further examination of the records reveals that another batch of transfers will take effect just days hence, not long before Jaresh-Inyo is due to make an important speech.
Leyton is far from playing his last card.
When Sisko goes to Jaresh-Inyo to deliver his evidence of the plot, he finds Admiral Leyton waiting for him. Sisko's given a blood screening, and it turns up a false positive. Sisko is sent back to Starfleet Headquarters and placed in detention, and from the other side of his holding cell's force field Leyton declares that the President's speech will never take place.
Later, when a Security tech comes through the brig to take blood screenings, Odo appears and disables the guards, as well as the tech whose cart he'd hitched a ride on in some other form. While hotwiring the forcefield controls Odo explains that the random opening and closing of the Bajoran wormhole, which precipitated the current phase of the crisis, was the direct consequence of sabotage on the part of one Lieutenant Arriaga stationed on DS9 - and that the Defiant is on its way to Earth with Arriaga aboard. Sisko orders Odo to warn Jaresh-Inyo, and goes to Leyton's office carrying a phaser.
On learning of Arriaga's impending arrival, Leyton is amused but unimpressed. As it turns out the USS Lakota is ordered to intercept the Defiant - its crew has been told that the Defiant is crewed by Changelings.
Leyton's plans for a coup are done for, and he doesn't like it a bit.
Near Earth, the Lakota and the Defiant join battle. The ships are evenly matched, and with Sisko looking on Admiral Leyton amends his orders to the destruction of the Defiant, if that's what it will take to keep the Defiant from reaching Earth. However, both ships ultimately break off rather than finish the engagement. Knowing he's beaten, Leyton leaves his combadge and rank insignia on his desk, and walks out of his office.
The Sisko men say their goodbyes.
The state of emergency is lifted. Sisko, Odo, and Jake beam up to the Defiant and head back to the station.
Memorable Quotes
"All I see are security officers."
"And I bet not one of them has had a good meal in four days. Now, you do your grandfather a favor and and start chopping up the okra!"
- - Jake Sisko and Joseph Sisko
"Cadet, you are obviously under the mistaken impression that I'm asking a favor. I want a name, and I want it now, and that is an ORDER, understood, Mr. Nog?"
"Yes, sir."
- - Benjamin Sisko and Nog
"Are you sure that this cadet is telling the truth?"
"He admitted to committing acts of treason against the Federation. If he was going to lie, I think he would have made up a better story."
- - Odo and Sisko, about Cadet Shepard's report
"Admiral Leyton may be somewhat grating and inflexible at times, but for a man of his accomplishments, a man of his distinguished record, to commit treason?"
"I'm sure the Admiral doesn't see it as treason! He would probably defend it as a desperate act of patriotism."
- - Jaresh-Inyo and Sisko
"If what you say is true, I'll have [Leyton's] resignation. Bring me the evidence, I promise I'll use it."
- - Jaresh-Inyo
"I never knew it was so easy to break into classified Starfleet files."
"Everything I know I learned from Quark."
- - Sisko and Odo
"What if I were to tell you that there are only four Changelings on this entire planet. Not counting Constable Odo, of course. Think of it - just four of us, and look at the havoc we've wrought."
"How do I know that you're telling me the truth?"
"Oh, four is more than enough. We're smarter than solids. We're better than you. And most importantly, we do not fear you the way you fear us. In the end, it's your fear that will destroy you."
- - O'Brien Changeling and Sisko
"I only wish I'd taught you more about the importance of loyalty."
"You want to talk to me about loyalty? After you broke your oath with the Federation! Lied to the people of Earth?! Ordered one of our own starships to fire on another! You don't have the right!"
"You don't understand me at all, do you?"
"I used to think I did. I used to think that you were a man of principles, a man of honor! I see that I was mistaken!"
"I'm sorry you feel that way."
"So am I!"
- - Leyton and Sisko
"It's not over! I have enough loyal officers to make a fight of it!"
"Who will you fight? Starfleet? The Federation? Don't you see, Admiral! You're fighting the wrong war! And as for your loyal officers, Benteen's already abandoned you. And she was closer to you than anyone. You've lost! Don't make anyone else pay for your mistakes."
"I hope... you're not the one making the mistake."
- - Leyton and Sisko
"Would you be happier if they'd stayed?"
"Oh, if they'd stayed, it wouldn't be Earth anymore, would it? It didn't seem right, all those phasers everywhere."
- - Odo and Joseph Sisko
"If the Changelings want to destroy what we've built here, they're going to have to do it themselves. We will not do it for them."
- - Benjamin Sisko
"Is he always such a mother hen?"
"He means well."
- - Joseph Sisko and Odo, about Ben
Background Information
- The events of this episode (a Starfleet admiral attempting a military coup) are similar to the plot of Pocket TOS: Dreadnought!, a novel by Diane Carey, written about a decade prior to DS9’s production.
- There are also similarities to the TNG episode The Pegasus. In both an admiral is attempting to perform criminal acts to serve what they consider 'the greater good.' In each an officer formerly under their command tries to dissuade them, fails, and forces them to face justice.
- The title of this episode, much like the graffitti on the entrance to Paradise City, both take their name from a 17th Century poem written by the English poet, John Milton.
- This is the last episode to be directed by Reza Badiyi.
- René Echevarria, via the Deep Space Nine Companion, describes the episode as “an attempt to make the audience complicit in believing that a threat is imminent, and that by any means necessary it must be dealt with… Martial law — yes! Clamp down on rights — yes! Blood tests — yes! No civil rights — yes! And then in Part II we find out that the real point of the story is how dangerous this feeling is.”
- The names of the former members of the Okinawa are all named after characters from Joseph Heller's famous novel Catch 22.
Links and References
Guest Stars
- Robert Foxworth as Admiral Leyton
- Herschel Sparber as Jaresh-Inyo
- Susan Gibney as Erika Benteen
- Aron Eisenberg as Nog
- David Drew Gallagher as Riley Aldrin Shepard
- Mina Badie as Security Officer
- Rudolph Willrich as Bolian Starfleet Academy Commandant
- And
Co-Star
Uncredited Co-Stars
- Shannon Thornton as Sisko's Creole Kitchen waitress
- David B. Levinson as Sisko's Creole Kitchen waiter
- Jack Janda as Sisko's Creole Kitchen waiter
References
ablative armor; Antwerp Conference; asteroid; authorization code; Bajor; Bartlett; Julian Bashir; Neffie Beaumont; beer; Erika Benteen; Bolian tonic water; civil war; cloaking device; coffee; Commander in Chief; computer network; CTS-47; Daneeka; Jadzia Dax; darts; deflector shield; Division of Planetary Operations; Dominion; Excelsior class; executive officer; Federation-Tzenkethi War; Ferengi; furniture; invasion; Lisbon; McWatt; Mignaccia, G.; Moodus; Moore, B.; oath; Miles O'Brien; okra; USS Okinawa; Orr; Pacific Standard Time; PADD; Pandora's Box; Paris; pasta boudin; Zoey Philips; Promenade; quantum torpedo; Quark; Ramsey (Crewman); ready room; replicator; resignation; restart sequencer; restaurant; satellite; Sector 001; security lockout; sick bay; Snowden; Starfleet Operations; subspace modulator; terrorism; treason; tube grubs; United Federation of Planets; vacation; USS Valiant; vampire; warp drive; Worf
Other references
| Previous episode: "Homefront" |
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 4 |
Next episode: "Crossfire" |