[DS9] "The Siege of AR-558"
Wulf
eighth episode from the seventh season: "The Siege of AR-558". If you haven't
seen the episode and you want to watch the program before reading a description
of it then do not read this post.
The rest of you are invited to scroll down a few lines.
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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Season 7, Episode 8
Title: "The Siege of AR-558"
Guest Stars:
Raymond Cruz as "Vargas"
Patrick Kilpatrick as "Reese"
Aron Eisenberg as "Nog"
Annette Helde as "Lt. Nadia Larkin"
Max Grondechik as "Rom"
Special Guest Stars:
Bill Mumy as "Kellin"
James Darren as "Vic Fontaine"
Written by:
Ira Steven Behr & Hans Beimler
Events:
----------
The episode begins in The Fontaine, a holographic lounge from the 1950's. Rom
is auditioning to be the opening act for Vic Fontaine. Singing "The Lady is a
Tramp" (off-key) Rom shows much enthusiasm for the opportunity. Unfortunately
Vic thinks two singers on the same bill isn;t such a good idea and suggests
comedy. Rom is willing to change his act to comedy since, as he puts it, "My
brother tells me people are always laughing at me."
Vic is forced to admit that Rom can't work for him because Rom's not a
hologram. Rom declares "Life can be so unfair."
Julian walks in as Rom leaves. At Julian's request Vic has audio-recorded a
number of his favourite songs for the troops at the front line. Vic expresses
some doubts about how popular 400 year old songs would be and Julian assures
him they'll be well-received. Encouraged Vic suggests he come along on the
supply run to put on a "USO Show" but Julian points out there are no holosuites
at the front. Vic echoes Rom's sentiments about life being unfair and then
delivers a good line.
Vic: "You know, pally, sometimes being a hologram can be a real pain in the
ass-o-metric photons."
Julian smiles and leaves The Fontaine.
The scene cuts to another lounge on DS9. Ben is reviewing the latest casualty
reports on a large monitor. Odo walks in to present the latest security
protocols. Ben talks about what he will remember most about the war. He
explains that when the war started he would read every name as a way of
honouring the sacrifice of the dead. But now the names have begun to "blur
together".
Nerys calls Ben through the intercom to tell him the Defiant is ready to leave
for its supply run to the front. Ben leaves Odo in the lounge and the scene
cuts to the Defiant underway.
Inside the officer's mess Quark is griping that the Grand Nagus chose to send
him to the front to get a first hand look at the fighting. He points out that
the Grand Nagus already gets Star Fleet Intelligence reports and that Nog could
provide the information, but Ezri, who is sitting behind him, points out that
the Nagus trusts Quark. She reminds him of the 34th Rule Of Acquisition: "War
is good for business". Quark points out that the closer you are to the front
line the less profitable business becomes.They're conversation is interrupted
by the ship rocking to weapons fire. Red Alert sounds and Ezri leaves for her
post. Quark decides to follow as the ship is rocked repeatedly. Staggering as
best he can through the halls Quark bumps into Worf.
Quark cmplains that he thought the Federation held the Chetokah system but Worf
points out it is contested by the Dominion and the whole area "is a
battleground". Worf repeatedly helps Quark stay on his feet as the ship is
buffeted again and again.
The scene cuts to the main viewscreen on the bridge where we are just in time
to watch the Defiant rip apart a lone Jem'Hadar ship. Ben orders Miles to keep
an eye out for more Jem'Hadar and Quark arrives to say "Hello" to his nephew,
Nog. Nog is embarassed, pointing out he is working. Ben interrupts the little
discussion and Quark gets the message he shouldn;t be on the bridge. He invites
everyone to join him in the mess hall for a Rat'a'jeno and ends up leaving the
bridge alone. Nog reassures Ben this won;t happen again but Ben stares back
impassively. Ezri points out that Quark is just nervous because he's not used
to being in battles but Nog isn;t mollified.
The scene cuts to the Defiant entering orbit around AR-558, a non-descript
planetoid, orange and heavily-cratered with a breathable atmosphere. Julian and
Quark arrive on the bridge. Julian produces a list of the supplies that are
ready for transport. Worf informs Ben that the Federation forces on AR-558 are
awaiting the arrival of the supplies and the away team.
Ben takes the away team (Julian, Ezri, Nog, Quark) leaving Worf in command of
the Defiant. The away team beams onto the night-side of the planet and
immediately weapons start being fired at them. They barely manage to avoid
being hit by hiding behind the rocks around them.
The scene cuts to opening credits and commercials.
When the show returns the weapons' fire continues. Ben recognizes the weapons
as Federation phasers and calls for a cease fire and names himself and his
ship. A female voice on the other side of the battle calls out cease fire as
well and the weapons stop. Ben and the away team step out from their cover and
a motley crew of Star Fleet soldiers rise from their positions. An angry Lt.
Nadia Larkin steps forward, chewing out Vargas, the soldier who had opened
fire. Nadia claims she'd given the order to hold fire because Star Fleet
officers and supplies were beaming down but Vargas claims he never heard the
order.
Nadia apologizes to Ben for the screw up and Ben let's the matter drop. Ben
asks for the Captain Lumas and is told that he and Commander Parker died ten
days earlier. She assigns Vargas the task of showing where the supplies should
be sent. Vargas reveals he is dealing with a -lot- of rage. Star Fleet troops
are supposed to be rotated off the front lines every 90 days but their unit has
been left on AR-558 for five months.
Nadia gives Ben a tour of the area, showing him the "largest Dominion
communications array in the sector" ( a sector is about 20 light-years across).
Ben claims if they can figure out how it works they can listen in on all the
Dominion communications. This is the reason the Jem'Hadar keep attacking
AR-558. Nadia points out that Star Fleet may not know their situation. They've
lost 107 out of 150 personnel assigned to hold this position in the five months
they've been there. Ben sympathizes and promises to bring Star Fleet up-to-date
but explains Star Fleet forces are spread very thin int he system.
The scene cuts to Kellin who is working on the array. He asks for a duonetic
coupler and Ezri hands him one. She then notices some minor malfunction and
points it out. Kellin asks if she's an engineer and she explains that Tobin,
one of her previous hosts, had been an engineer. kellin settles for what he can
get and assigns her a task.
The scene cuts to Nog who is skulking about, trying to get a better look of
Hook without being seen. Quark comes up and they discuss the situation. Nog
views these Star Fleet officers as heroes, pointing out Reese keeps the
Ketracel White containers of the Jem'Hadar he kills. Quark points out that
these soldiers are not the Star Fleet officers Nog has known. Quark explains
that humans are wonderful people as long as their "bellies are full and their
holosuites working". But when they lose those "creature comforts" over an
extended period of time they become as brutal "as the most bloodthirsty
Klingon".
He asks Nog to look into their faces and eyes and tell him he's right. Nog
looks around and says "I feel sorry for the Jem'Hadar" and then walks away.
The scene cuts to a field aid station where Julian is treating the wounded
Vargas. He takes care of some minor problems and then wants to examine a
bandaged injury. He touches the blue bandage and vargas grabs him and holds a
phaser to his chin and explains "No one touches the bandage" and won;t let go
of Julian till he agrees. To answer Julian's question "why" Vargas explains
that someone named McGrady had ripped up his own uniform to make the bandage.
Vargas hated him because he wouldn;t stop talking, was an expert on everything.
And no sooner had he bandaged the wound than McGrady had died with a hole in
his chest. Vargas then removes the bandage for Julian who proceeds to work on
the wound.
The scene cuts to Nadia's command post where ben is reviewing the security
arrangements, complimenting her on her perimeter defenses but pointing out a
weakness in one flank. Julian interrupts and takes Ben aside to plead for the
need to evacuate the soldiers. Their conversation is interrupted by a bang in
the compound. They come across a prone wounded/dying/dead soldier and Ben asks
if they've scanned for anti-personnel devices. Nadia claims they've done so a
hundred times but its no use against "Houdinis". Julian asks what is a Houdini
and they explain a Houdini is an anti-personnel mine hidden in sub-space. They
pop up at random, explode, and kill or injure someone.
Reese points out that Vargas is wasting his time on the Ben since Ben is
leaving the outpost. ben tries to reassure Nadia but is interrupted by Worf.
The Defiant is under attack by two Jem'Hadar ships. Worf wants to beam the away
team back to the Defiant. Miles points out that enemy troops are beaming down 9
kilometres away from the outpost. Ben gives orders for the Defiant to take
evasive action and declares the away team will stay with the outpost.
This galvanizes the soldiers and sensing herself being replaced as commanding
officer Nadia asks Ben what are his orders.
Ben: "There is only one order, Lieutenant. We hold."
The scene cuts to commercials.
The show returns to the perimeter of the defenses. Ben is trying to assess the
enemy's disposition and numbers but discovers all sensor scans are jammed by
both sides. Nadia points out they have the advantage of knowing where to find
the Star Fleet soldiers (defending the communications array).
Ben checks in with Nog to see if he hears anything. Nog can hear several things
in his area but not Jem'Hadar. He notices Hook sharpening a non-rgulation knife
and asks to see it but Reese isn;t interested in Nog's curiousity.
Finally the Jem'Hadar start arriving, walking in, weapons lowered, appearing
from within their personal cloaks. The Star Fleet soldiers start firing, taking
down one Jem'Hadar after another without any of them making a noise.
Reese notices the Jem'Hadar aren;t firing and points this out to Ben. Ben
orders a cease fire and the Jem'Hadar vanish. They figure out that they were
simply holograms being used to pinpoint the positions and determine the
strength of the defenders.
Another Houdini explodes and another defender drops.
The scene cuts to the communications array where Ben re-assigns Ezri and Kellin
to the task of finding and disarming the Houdinis. Kellin has serious doubts
about their ability to fulfill the task but Ezri compliments him by saying
Miles would be proud to have Kellin on his engineering team. Reassured Ben
leaves the two to work on their task.
Back on the perimeter Quark scampers up to Nog to deliver a food ration. Nog
isn;t pleased with his uncle. he points out he's a Star Fleet officer. Quark
reminds him he's a Ferengi and wishes he'd act like one. Nog says "You mean
hiding under a rock whenever trouble starts".
Quark explains to us what the Ferengi Alliance had proposed at the beginning of
the war. Negotiate and come to an accomodation both sides can live with. Nog
points out that strategy is simplistic and Quark quotes the 125th Rule of
Acquisition: "You can't make a deal if you're dead."
Ben interrupts this discussion to send Nog, Nadia, and Reese on a recon
mission. Quark asks why Nog and Ben explains that with sensors/scanners being
jammed Nog's hearing is the next best thing to locate the Jem'Hadar and
determine their strength.
The recon team sets out and Quark protests. Ben emphasizes that Nog has his
orders. After the team have left Quark points out Ben wouldn't send Jake on
such a mission and Ben points out Jake isn;t a Star Fleet officer.
The scene cuts to commercials.
When the show returns we are with the recon team. The scene cuts to work area
where Kellin and Ezri are trying to solve the Houdini problem. Ezri manages to
cut through the jamming and isn;t sure whether she should give credit to Tobin
or Jadzia. They begin working on calibrating the tricorder to detect the
Houdinis in subspace.
Kellin kids her about being an engineer and Ezri admits that with nine lives
she's been a bit of everything. She explains that Torias, Kurzon, and Jadzia
have all been in battle and she has their memories of the events and emotions,
but she herself has never been in battle.
Kellin reassures her that she'll do fine.
The scene cuts back to the recon team. They've reached the Jem'Hadar encampment
and having assessed the situation prepare to leave. Nog hears something and
stops the team, they begin to back away from the noise he heard and are soon
fired upon. Nadia and Nog are both hit, Nog begins to scream the Ferengi scream
of pain.
The scene cuts to the Federation perimeter where Reese stumbles in, carrying
Nog over his shoulders. He reports to Ben that Nadia is dead, but that they
found 2 columns 3 kilometres south of the Federation position. Vargas wants to
know how they are going to fend off 2 columns and Ben answers they'll have to
even the odds. Reese wants to know how and Ben states he's working on that.
Then Reese tells Ben that Nog did alright and Ben acknowledges the
commendation.
Ben walks to the field aid station and Quark stops him, saying Julian doesn;t
want anyone in the area. Ben asks Quark about Nog's condition and Quark
responds it's a little late for that. When Ben persists Quark tells him Nog
will lose his leg.
The scene cuts to commercials.
When the show returns Julian is explaining Nog's condition to Quark. Nog can be
fitted for an artificial leg once they return to a hospital. But Julian isn;t
sure whether the burns to Nog's leg will allow him to stimulate the leg
sufficiently to walk normally. Julian admits he won;t know until the operation
is completed.
Julian returns to the aid station and Quark starts in on Ben. He states that if
Ben had cared for Nog he would never have sent him out on patrol. This angers
ben who turns to Quark and says:
Ben: "Now you listen to me, Quark because I'm only going to say this one time.
I care about Nog and every soldier under my command. Do you understand? Every
single one!"
Ben leaves Quark to see Nog. Nog apologizes for losing Nadia. Ben reassures him
that he did well, followed orders, and found the Jem'Hadar camp. Then Ben looks
at the missing leg, obvious under the blanket. Nog reassures him he'll be
alright.
Then Nog asks Ben if the communications array is worth it. Ben answers "I hope
to God it is.".
Their conversation is interrupted by Ezri. They're ready to try and expose all
the Houdinis. Ben smiles at Nog and follows Ezri.
Ezri and Kellin work on their tricorder. Ben gives the general order that no
one moves until he permits it. Then tells Ezri to go ahead.
Dozens of small spherical Houdinis appear, black with orange lights pulsating
from within. One appears inches from Vargas' head. Kellin states they now have
to figure out how to disarm them. Ben corrects him and says they're going to
use them, not disarm them.
The scene cuts to Reese who uses the sand to sketch out the locations of the
significant terrain and forces. He explains that to get to the Federation
position the Jem'Hadar must pass through a ravine between two sets of
mountains. A perfect place to lay their trap. kellin assures them that moving
the mines is possible though "delicate". Ben tells kallin and Ezri to reprogram
them to go off when movement is detected. Reese suggests lots of movement to
ensure the most Jem'Hadar are in the trap when it goes off.
Reese figures the mines can take out a third of the Jem'Hadar.
Ezri is looking nervous, sweaty. Ben asks her what's wrong and she explains
that awhile ago they looked upon the mines as a ruthless weapon only the
Jem'Hadar would use. Reese points out the mines have become a "whole lot
friendlier". Ben points out the obvious. Eventually the Jem'Hadar will attack
and the more casualties they suffer to the mines the better the odds are the
federation post will hold.
The scene cuts to the perimeter sometime later. Everyone available is on the
line. Reese distributes power packs for the phasers.
Everyone is nervous to some degree, Ben being the exception.
The silence is interrupted by the sound of Vic Fontaine singing "I'll Be Seeing
You".
Julian decided to play some music to take the edge off. He joins the line with
a phaser rifle in hand. Reese notices that Julian seems to know his way around
the rifle and Julian admits he's had to use one too many times.
The horizon starts lighting up with flashes as the Jem'Hadar run into the
mines. Muffled explosions in the distance are heard. The troops tense up.
The song and explosions end, and silence reigns for a short space. Vargas hopes
they got all the Jem'Hadar and then we start to hear the battle cries of the
approaching enemy. The line sets their sights and the Jem'Hadar start storming
the perimeter. Ben gives the order to fire.
The scene cuts to commercials.
When the show returns carnage reigns. For awhile the Jem'Hadar are prevented
from penetrating the line, but soon fighting breaks down to hand to hand
combat. The screams of the wounded and dying mingle with the battle cries and
phaser fire of those who remain.
Julian is wounded.
While the battle rages outside Quark tends to his nephew, hearing the screams.
Vargas dies, stabbed in the back.
Ezri is struck to the ground by a Jem'Hadar, but is saved by Kellin.
Then Kellin is killed by a Jem'Hadar weapon.
Quark notices a sound behind him and manages to shoot a Jem'Hadar who had
penetrated the post.
A Jem'Hadar prepares to bayonet Julian, but is killed by Ben, who is himself
knocked to unconsciousness by a Jem'Hadar. Ben's last vision is that of a
Jem'Hadar pointing his weapon at him.
When Ben comes to he sees Reese's face, asking him if he's alive.
He awakens to a hellish sight. Federation troops dead or wounded strewn about.
The moaning of the injured. Ezri, cradling Kellin's head in her lap.
Ben: "We held."
Reese: "Those were our orders, Sir."
The scene cuts to the communications array, which is now showing signs of
operating. Worf, having returned from his encounter with the Jem'Hadar ships,
approaches Ben and informs hi the USS Veracruz has arrived bringing troop
replacements and an engineering crew. Julian and the wounded will be evacuated
to a hospital on Starbase 371.
Worf: "This was a great victory. One worthy of story and song."
Ben: "It cost enough."
They walk outside where the replacements are arriving, grim faced.
Reese watches them walk past.
Reese: "Children."
Ben: "Not for long."
Reese throws his dagger to the sand, and the three of them beam to the Defiant.
Back on DS9 Ben is at his desk. Nerys walks in to report the latest casualty
list has been posted. The list contains 1730 names.
Nerys: "It's a lot of names."
Ben: "They're not just names. It's important we remember that. We have to
remember."
End of episode.
Personal reflections:
---------------------------
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 World
War I ended. Ever since that hour of that day of that month has commemorated
the deaths of all the soldiers who died in that war and all wars since.
Here in Canada it's called Remembrance Day. A day when old soldiers and young,
family and friends, and all of us who have never known war think of those who
never survived the wars. memorial services are held in all of the major
theatres of the Great War.
It's a time when courage and self-sacrifice is honoured and the memory of the
dead is most poignant.
"Once More Unto the Breach" and "The Siege of AR-558" commemorate the spirit
that led to the end of that war, perhaps the end of each war. The tragedy of
young men dying or maimed for the sake of protecting home and hearth from
tyranny.
Where "Once More Unto the Breach" started with a discussion of Davy Crockett
and the Alamo, "The Siege of AR-558" ends with an Alamo-like battle which the
Federation won at the cost of many lives. The casualty lists show names but
cannot do service to the memory of flesh-and-blood people who lived, loved and
were loved, knew fear and humour and took comfort from hearing a song. They
talked and laughed and looked at stunning sunsets with awe and listened to the
sounds of their friends dying around them.
A list of names can never do their memory justice. But all too often it is all
that remains except the memories of those who survived.
These two episodes deserve each other. I think DS9 is going to be hard-pressed
to surpass the impact for me.
Credit is owed to the music of Paul Baillargeon. His sensitive choice of music
for the actual battle scenes was -very- moving and contributed to the impact of
those scenes tremendously.
On a trivial note, this episode saw the coming together of four science fiction
legacies.
Bill Mumy, famous as the youngest Robinson from the ancient TV series "Lost in
Space" and more recently famous as Lennier from "Babylon 5".
James Darren from another TV sci-fi series, "The Time Tunnel".
Both appearing on Star Trek, which benefitted from "Lost in Space" and
contributed to the success of "Babylon 5" and "The Time Tunnel".
Not often do you get to see such camraderie between heroes of diverse shows.
Nits:
-----
1. Holographic Jem'Hadar.
While this is an interesting tactic I doubt the effect would be what we saw.
Holosuite holographs have substance thanks to the force-field emmitters. The
force-field takes the shape of the object and the holosuite projects a
holographic image over the force field to give it the appearance of an object
(such as a wall or a person).
Holograms on their own can't stop phaser fire and would require an unusual
amount of sophistication to light up with sparks erupting from the image when
struck by phasers. How would the programmer know when they were targetted and
hit when the placement of the defenders is unknown? Even an interactive
interface would give the controller serious difficulties.
Nit Value: 0.50
2. Houdinis.
I liked this concept too. It was an ingenious plan. But I have a small problem
with the idea of solid people walking right through them repeatedly. When the
Houdinis appear they are all over the place, including places where people
would expect to walk. If a sub-space field was being generated what would it do
to the flesh of someone who walked though it ? If they are actually in another
dimension and thus not tangible wouldn;t that mean a ship surrounded by a
sub-space field could penetrate a planet or the sun unscathed?
Granted that sounds like the Pegasus and it's 'phased cloak' but I don;t recall
other situations where ships have used a sub-space bubble to protect themselves
from enemy fire, etc. In theory it would be possible to form a sub-space field
around the ship, thus letting photon torpedoes etc to pass harmlessly through
the ship.
Nit Value: 0.25
3. Uncloaked Jem'Hadar.
When the battle actually takes place we see the Jem'Hadar screaming and running
at their foes without the use of the personal cloaks. The holographs showed
them dropping their cloaks. This discrepancy is unfortunate, though it led to a
powerful scene. It would have been better had the holographic Jem'Hadar not
used cloaks.
Nit Value: 0.25
4. Star Fleet Strategists.
We are told the Dominion communications array could tap into the entire
Dominion communications network in the sector. No doubt the technology, once
analyzed, could produce even more far-reaching developments.
Yet AR-558 is guarded by no more than 150 soldiers and is left unrelieved for
five months. Presumably the work on the array has continued all of this time
yet Star Fleet seems to show no interest in any developments for five months or
feels they cannot afford to protect this vital piece of equipment properly. No
ships or weapons platforms are in orbit to protect the installation and prevent
Jem'Hadar troops from landing. No air cover exists on the surface. And despite
the value of the installation no reinforcements are sent to help hold it.
This looks to me like a major glitch in strategy and tactics.
Has the Federation/Klingon/Romulan alliance reached such an impoverished state
that it cannot put together a force greater than 150 soliders and no ships or
air power to defend a potential source of vital intelligence?
Nit Value: 1.00
Summary:
--------------
Nit Value for "The Siege of AR-558": 2.00
Wulf's Nitpicker Rating: 8.00
---------------------------------------
10 - Nit Value = Wulf's Nitpicker Rating
Wulf, Keeper of Obscure Trek Trivia.
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