SPOILERS (Story): "Image in the Sand"
Wulf
season premiere: "Image in the Sand". 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 1
Title: "Image in the Sand"
Cast Changes:
As most DS9 viewers know Terry Farrell's character (Jadzia Dax) was
murdered by a possessed Dukat in the sixth season's finale.
She is replaced by Nicole deBoer who plays the role of the Trill: Ensign Ezri
Dax. Ezri is the new host for the Dax symbiont.
Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko) is also listed amongst the opening credits,
indicating he will also be a regular to the show for this season.
The rest of the cast (Sisko Odo, Kira, Quark, and Julian) remain
unchanged.
Guest Stars:
Jeffrey Combs as "Weyoun"
Casey Biggs as "Damar"
Barry Jenner as "Admiral Ross"
J.G. Hertzler as "Martok"
Megan Cole as "Senator Cretak"
Aron Eisenberg as "Nog"
Special Guest Stars:
James Darren as "Vic Fontaine"
Brock Peters as "Joseph Sisko"
Written by:
Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler
Events:
----------
As is customary for multi-part Trek episodes "Image in the Sand"
starts with a brief synopsis of events from the sixth season finale.
This includes Captain Sisko receiving orders from Federation Admiral Ross
to formulate a battle plan for taking the offensive against the
Cardassian/Dominion alliance, scenes of the battle itself (which probably
involves more active fighting ships and weapon platforms than has ever
been seen in Trek), the possessed Dukat attacking Jadzia Dax with a
fiery energy field, followed by Jadzia's collapse to the floor,
Dr. Bashir pronouncing that the Dax symbiont was saved but Jadzia was
dying, Worf issuing the Klingon Death Roar over the body of Jadzia, the
possessed Dukat opening the case for the Orb of Meditation and
releasing the Pah Wraith which possessed him against the Orb, the closing of
the Bajoran wormhole, an angry Wayoun (the Vorta in charge of the
Dominion forces allied with Cardassia) talking to Dukat and announcing
that the Federation/Klingon Romulan combined forces have taken the
first Cardassian planet (??) and that the wormhole (and all hope of
Dominion reinforcements from the Gamma Quadrant) is gone, Captain Sisko
standing alone over the photon tube that bears Jadzia's remains
explaining that something has happened to the wormhole and that the
Prophets have turned their backs on Bajor and that he is responsible
and that he doesn't know how to make things right again, and the scene
where Captain Sisko turns over command of Deep Space Nine as he and
Jake Sisko return home.
Following the synopsis the episode begins with a scene of Bajoran members
of the Cult of Pah Wraiths praying outside the temple on Deep Space Nine. Kira
is watching from one of the overhead gantries and Odo joins her. He addresses
her as "Colonel" and we soon learn that she was promoted one month after the
season six finale (two months before this episode begins). She gives us the
impression that she isn't totally comfortable with her new rank. We also notice
she has a new hairdo (her hair is now parted on her right and most of it is
swept over to her left side).
In the conversation between Odo and Kira we learn that the Cult of Pah Wraiths
was very small until the closing of the wormhole and that they are now
appearing all over Bajor. We also learn that they wear red armbands as a token
of their faith. Odo explains that a lot of people feel abandoned by the
Prophets and Kira sympathizes. From her we learn that the Cult promotes "hate
and fear".
Kira and Odo both express concern and hope that Capt. Sisko will return to DS9
but Kira makes it clear that there has been no word from him since he left.
This segues into a touching discussion of the romance between them
(Kira and Odo). Best lines from this scene (talking about their first
kiss in front of Quark's):
Kira: That was some kiss, wasn't it?
Odo: Changed my life.
The scene cuts to a shot of the Defiant, where Worf (commanding), Julian,
Miles, and Nog have been escorting a shipment of stim-bolts to DS9 for more
than ten days.
Nog makes a comment about how convoy duty is safer than being on the front
lines. This leads to Worf giving Nog a lecture about how in wartime it is the
duty of every warrior to fight the enemy in combat.
Worf then leaves the bridge leaving a perplexed Nog to seek reassurance from
Julian and Miles. They explain to him that Worf is still mourning over the loss
of his wife, Jadzia. Both Nog and Miles express a desire for Capt. Sisko's
return to DS9.
Best lines from the scene:
Miles: Pretty soon the Defiant will be going into battle. Worf will be happy
and the rest of us will be miserable.
Nog: It's not that I'm afraid to fight. I just don't want to die.
The scene cuts to Earth and an exterior shot of Sisko's, the restaurant owned
by Capt. Sisko's father, . Sisko's is doing a lively business on this evening
and Joseph Sisko is charming his clients. Benjamin is playing the piano. Both
Joseph and Jake express concern for Benjamin's well-being. Jake
explains to us that Benjamin has done virtually nothing since returning from
DS9.
While Benjamin plays the piano his baseball (which sits atop the piano)
'magically' rolls off and hits the floor. The thump attracts Benjamin's
attention and as he leans forward to pick it up he receives a vision from the
Prophets.
Through later discussion we learn from him that his vision involves him being
on the planet Tyree (a name that is, phonetically, the same as Kirk's old
friend who was killed in TOS' "A Private Little War"). Benjamin is in a desert,
digging in the sand. He uncovers a veil, which when removed shows the face of a
woman. The woman's eyes open and the vision ends.
Benjamin explains the vision to Jake, and tells him that he (Benjamin) has
never seen this woman before, but that he must find her.
The episode breaks here for the credits and a commercial.
The following scene occurs in DS9's Captain's room where Admiral Ross
briefs Kira about the Romulans establishing a military presence on DS9
to help coordinate Romulan participation in the war.
Ross explains that Senator Cretak will head the Romulans and that she
is very cooperative and a strong supporter of the alliance. She and a
few of her officers and a dozen Romulan bodyguards will maintain a
presence on DS9 until the end of the war.
Kira expresses serious doubts about the Romulans being on DS9 and Ross
explains that the decision has already been made to allow this to happen
and that he is only explaining this to her out of courtesy.
Kira expresses a hope that Capt. Sisko will return which Ross does not
respond to.
The scene cuts to Cardassia Prime where Damar and Weyoun are discussing
the latest developments in the war. Damar explains that they have halted
the Klingon advance on the Dominion shipyards on Monak IV, causing the Klingons
to suffer an estimated 30% casualty rate. Weyoun complains that the casualty
rate should have been higher but begrudgingly admits that the
Fed/Klingon/Romulan alliance's forces are bottled up in the Chetoka system.
Even more begrudgingly he admits that Dukat's actions seem to have stalled the
alliance's attack against the Cardassian/Dominion forces.
Damar pulls out a bottle of Kanar (a Cardassian liquor) to celebrate.
Weyoun scornfully gives us the impression he views this as a sign of Damar
having a drinking problem, which Damar good-naturedly sweeps aside.
Damar wonders aloud what it must be like within the wormhole where (he
believes) the Pah Wraith and the Prohets are currently battling each other.
Weyoun warns him that too much imagination can be dangerous.
The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where ben is using a new kind of PADD
to reconstruct an image of the face he saw in his vision. This Padd is
about two feet wide, red, and displays a face in the middle with a selection
bar in the right and left margins of the PADD. The selection bars show various
images of facial features.
Jake enters to invite his father to join Jake and Joseph who are going to
listen to some music in Armstrong Park. Ben declines. Jake asks him what he is
doing and Ben explains he is trying to re-create the face he saw in the vision.
Jake stares intently at the face and announces he's seen her before. Ben
continues to make selections and Jake wanders back into Sisko's to return with
a picture he had found in Joseph's storage room the previous week. Neither of
them know who the woman is but she is shown in the picture leaning against a
young Joseph.
Joseph appears in Sisko's looking for Jake and Ben shows him the picture and
asks who she is. Joseph's demeanour changes radically and he behaves like a man
with a serious secret on the verge of being discovered. He insists she isn't
anyone and he refuses to discuss it as he quickly heads to the living quarters
above the restaurant. He behaves like a man about to panic.
The episode breaks here for a commercial.
The next scene starts with a photograph of Worf and Jadzia in their wedding
outfits. Worf is laying on his bed and lifts the picture, looking at it.
That scene cuts to the holosuite, where the program "The Fontaine" is playing.
The holo-host, Vic Fontaine, greets Worf warmly and suggests they "hit the
craps tables" or play some black jack.
Worf ignores these suggestions and says "Sing the song". Vic hesitates
but Worf strongly insists and so Vic sings "the" song. The song is
"All The Way" by Frank Sinatra, a beautiful love ballad which we
later learn was Jadzia's favourite song.
As the song progresses Worf starts to clench his fist. A little later in the
song he rises and with a Klingon roar brings his fist down on the table,
busting it in two.
Vic stops singing and the band stops playing and looks on in horror as Worf
proceeds to tear up the place off-camera.
This scene cuts to Senator Cretak's office. The Romulans are sttling in and
discovering a few minor problems (a monitor is down and the chairs are
uncomfortable).
Kira arrives and apologizes for not greeting the Senator when she arrived. She
makes an excuse about being busy which the Senator graciously provides. The
Senator is quite solicitous towards Kira. At one point Cretak readily explains
that "My people have a reputation for arrogance. I'm afraid it's "well-earned."
This polite banter continues and it appears that Kira is having second thoughts
about doubting this particular Romulan.
This scene cuts back to "The Fontaine" where Julian and Quark are talking to
Vic about the Worf. The Fontaine is a wreck and we are told Worf was the person
who trashed it.
Vic makes it clear he thinks Worf is having serious problems and needs help
soon. Julian points out that Klingons usually have a shorter mourning period
than humans. Julian appears to agree with Vic's assessment.
Best lines from the scene:
Vic: The band has threatened to quit.
Quark: They can't quit. They're holograms.
Vic: They don't know that !
The scene cuts to Sisko's where Joseph is confronted by Benjamin over
the face in the picture. Joseph is determined to keep it a secret and Ben is
determined to get the truth so that he can understand the vision. This
confrontation leads to Ben shaking Joseph by the shoulders yelling "I need to
know who she is!".
Joseph gives in and explains the woman's name is Sarah. That he married her
within two months of meeting her. And that Sarah is Ben's real mother.
The episode breaks for a commercial.
The scene continues after the commercial. Joseph explains that Sarah
seemed very happy, but that she left him and Ben two days after Ben's first
birthday. Joseph doesn't know why. He went looking for her and eventually found
her three years later in Australia. She had died in a hovercraft accident a
month before Joseph found her.
Ben asked his father why he wasn't told this before. His father explained that
at first he thought Ben was too young. As Ben grew up his father found it
harder to say anything. He felt Ben and Joseph's second wife were
so close that mentioning this fact to him might have created a problem for
them. Ben assured him that it wouldn't have changed things and complains that
he wasn't told about this until now.
Joseph expresses a bit of wisdom:
"Life is full of choices. You make them and hope for the best. Sometimes you're
right. Sometimes you're not. I made a mistake."
Ben agrees that Joseph made a mistake.
Ben speculates that learning about his real mother might be the first step the
Prophets had in mind when they sent him his vision.
Best lines in the scene:
Ben: Are there any other secrets I should know about ?
Joseph: Just my gumbo recipe. But I'm taking that to my grave.
It breaks the ice between them.
The scene cuts to an exterior shot of DS9 showing a Federation cruiser, a
Klingon cruiser, and three Romulan warbirds. This shot cuts to the Promenade
and Kira. She stops when she notices Cretak eating a Jumja stick (a very sweet
confection).
Cretak joins her and they exchange pleasantries, thus developing Kira's trust
in Cretak. Cretak suggests Kira try the Romulan confection "Osol Twist" which
is "very tart". From Cretak we learn that DS9 is now being used as a Romulan
supply point for refitting warbirds.
Cretak then asks Kira if the fourth moon of Bajor, Durna, can be used by the
Romulans for a hospital. Durna is uninhabited. Kira tells Cretak that she will
pass on the request to the Council of Ministers.
The scene cuts to Miles and Julian walking down a hallway towards Worf's
quarters. Miles has a bottle of Klingon Blood Wine (aged since 2301 "a very
good year for Blood Wine" according to Miles).
Julian advises Miles to get Worf to talk about Jadzia.
Julian leaves Miles at Worf's door. Worf opens the door and Miles offers Worf
the Blood Wine and enters uninvited. Asking for glasses Miles learns that none
are clean. Uncorking the bottle Miles takes a swig and offers the bottle to
Worf, who also takes a swig. At that point Worf escorts Miles back to the door.
Miles manages to convince Worf he just wants to visit and talk about the old
days, mentioning Lt. Barclay and his holodeck program "The Three Musketeers".
Best lines from the scene:
Worf (after taking his first swig of Blood Wine): Very smooth. Good night
chief.
Miles: Well hold on. Do you call this a visit?
Worf: I enjoyed it.
The scene cuts to Quark's the next morning. Miles is looking mighty hung-over
Talking to Quark and Julian Miles explains that Worf finally explained his
problem. He doesn't believe Jadzia waits for him in Stovokor (Klingon heaven).
She has never eaten the heart of an enemy and she didn't die in glorious
battle. The only way Worf can ensure Jadzia is allowed into Stovokor is to win
a great battle in her honour. Miles comes up with the idea of asking General
Martok for help with Worf.
Best lines in the scene:
Quark: So, what did you find out?
Miles: That you should never try to match drinks with a Klingon.
Quark: I could let him beat me at Tongo.
Miles: Not good enough, unless he has to carve his way through a hundred
Jem'Hadar to get to the table.
Quark: Why does everything with Klingons have to involve bloodshed?
The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where Ben is polishing clams. Joseph
comes to him and gives him a piece of jewellry which once belonged to Sarah.
On the back of a medallion is ancient Bajoran script.
The episode breaks for commercials.
The next scene occurs in the Sisko's kitchen. Using a PADD Ben translates
the script and discovers it says "The Orb of the Emissary". Neither Jake nor
Ben have ever heard of this Orb. Ben claims there is no mention of it in the
ancient Bajoran texts.
Ben speculates about its existence, that it might not have gone dark like all
the other orbs. Jake suggests it might be used to contact the Prophets.
Ben decides to go to Tyree (the planet in his vision) to try and find this Orb.
The scene cuts to DS9 where Kira and Cretak discuss the establishing of the
hospital on Durna. The Romulans have been given permission and Cretak
continues ingratiating herself to Kira.
The scene cuts to the Promenade where Odo is briefing Kira about a Federation
ship full of injured soldiers, mostly Vulcans, was refused permission
to send their injured to the new Romulan hospital. This prompted Odo to
investigate further and checking the sensor readings found traces of trilithium
around Durna. Kira explains that trilithium is a component used in Romulan
plasma torpedoes (and how long have we waited to hear "Romulan plasma
torpedoes" ?). Kira decides to look into it further.
The scene cuts to the holosuite where Worf is exercising with his bat'leth.
Martok enters the suite with a bat'leth and challenges Worf. While the
challenge proceeds Martok explains he needs a first officer for a dangerous
mission ("dangerous enough to assure Jadzia a place in Stovokor" says Martok).
Until this point the challenge is rather lacklustre, but upon hearing of this
chance to be thrown into the battle Worf puts on a dazzling performance of
skill and disarms Martok and lays him out at Worf's feet. Worf claims the
position of first officer for Martok which Martok had obviously hoped for.
The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where Ben and Jake are throwing out the
trash. Compared to the start of the episode and Ben's sombre mood this scene of
Ben shows him laughing, smiling, animated. A weight has been lifted now that he
knows what he must do and has hope of finding a way of "making things right".
After joking around together Jake leaves Ben at the back door while Ben tidies
the area. Ben stops when he notices a hooded figure in the alleyway. A young
Bajoran in a red travelling robe approaches calling Ben "Emissary" and then
proceeds with a chant which we earlier heard on the Promenade from the members
of the Cult of Pah Wraiths. Catching Ben offguard the Bajoran slashes at Ben's
belly with a dagger and then stabs him in the abdomen. The Bajoran tells the
stricken Ben that Ben will never find the Orb of the Emissary.
Jake, who has just appeared at the door with a sack of clams, uses the clams to
knock out the Bajoran, and then calls for Joseph to get help.
The episode breaks for commercials.
The next scene occurs within Sisko's. Joseph is obviously distracted when Ben
and Jake enter the establishment. Ben has been released from medical care and
has spoken to Star Fleet Security. He's discovered they believe the Bajoran is
from the Cult of Pah Wraiths who believe that with the Prohets gone a new era
for Bajor is about to begin.
The scene cuts to DS9 where there are several Klingon vessels added to the
forces we saw in the earlier scene. Inside Quark's both Miles and Julian drink
a toast to Worf's success. We also learn that Julian is going on the same
mission as Worf to help him get Jadzia into Stovokor. Upon hearing this Miles
decides he's going as well.
This scene cuts to one where Admiral Ross is meeting with Senator Cretak. Ross
is requesting more warbirds for the 3rd fleet and Cretak agrees when Kira
interrupts. She announces her government is demanding the immediate evacuation
of Romulan personnel from Durna. It seems that along with the hospital the
Romulans also installed 7000 plasma torpedoes "for defence" without telling
anyone. Bajor issues an ultimatum that either the Romulans remove them or the
Bajorans will. Ross tries to placate Kira without effect. Bajor views the
torpedoes as an "immediate threat".
The scene cuts to Cardassia Prime where Weyoun meets with Damar to discuss the
news about the Romulan take-over of Durna. Both gloat over what is good news
for the Cardassian/Dominion alliance.
Best line in the scene:
Weyoun: Romulans. They're so predictably treacherous.
The scene cuts to a closed Sisko's where Ben descends the stairs to discover
Joseph and Jake ready to go. Unable to persuade them to stay Ben gives in to
the inevitable.
But before they leave a young woman knocks at the door, looking through Joseph
learns the woman is there to see Ben. Joseph lets her in and we meet for the
first time Star Fleet Ensign Ezri Dax.
End of episode.
Personal reflections:
---------------------------
As noted above there are lots of good lines in this story. Aside from a few
problems (see "SPOILERS (Nits): "Image in the Sand"") I really enjoyed this
story. There are obviously a lot of new storylines being started here. The
search for the Orb of the Emissary, the Romulan presence in the Bajor system,
Worf's mission to secure a place in Stovokor for Jadzia, and Ezri Dax. The
basis for all of these appear in this episode.
I didn't discuss to thoroughly the presence of Ezri Dax. In part because she
only appears in the last thirty seconds of the episode. We have very little to
consider about her at the moment. She only had three lines. So I'll discuss her
appearance since that was all the episode really gave us.
Nicole deBoer is a very lovely young woman. Fans of Kes may notice certain
similarities (youthfulness comes to mind). Nicole has chipmunk cheeks and
beautiful blue eyes. She has a very pleasant voice, higher pitched I think than
any other female Trek regular. I don't think it's too much to say that Nicole
is going to be a major heart-breaker for a significant portion of the male
audience.
I'm looking forward to seeing her first real opportunity to act in DS9 next
episode.
Obviously this is a purely subjective process for each of us. I rate season
premieres differently than other episodes mostly because they must bridge the
gap between last season and this one. How effectively this is done determines
how well I liked the story. "Image in the Sand" handled this very well, in my
opinion. It covered all major developments from last season. The cast convinced
me each character had grown somewhat over the past three months (Trek time).
Odo's awkwardness about his relationship with Kira was not in evidence. Kira
seemed more comfortable with her role as commander of DS9. Miles and Julian
continue their friendship in a manner I consider consistent with the past. They
seem to be including Quark more often as a friend of Jadzia's, which I think is
an interesting development and one that doesn't seem inconsistent with their
nature. Worf has obviously been brooding and chafing over the assignments he's
had. He is certainly moruning the loss of Jadzia more than he mourned K'Ehleyr.
And his concern for her presence in Stovokor is an unexpected yet totally
predictable development for the character.
Ben has obviously been waiting for some sign from the Prophets and when he
receives it he behaves in a manner very consistent with a man feeling
tremendous guilt for his actions who wants to "make things right". Jake and to
a lesser extent Joseph show concern for his well-being as you would expect from
a loving family.
The only down-side to the story is not getting enough time with Ezri Dax. I
think this could have been done at the expense of the time spent identifying
the face in the sand. I'd have preferred five more minutes of Ezri and five
less of Joseph refusing to talk about the picture.
This is, in my opinion, a minor and perhaps understandable complaint. Putting
Ezri in the last thirty seconds creates a huge 'hook' to ensure we watch the
next show. Taking that into account I really can't find fault with the cast,
production values, character development were
all handled remarkably well.
This bodes well for DS9's seventh and final season.
Honourable Mention:
----------------------------
"Tyree": This can spark lots of speculation about how it got its name. Is it
coincidence, or was it named by Kirk, being the first unnamed planet he came
across after the death of his friend, Tyree, in TOS' "A Private Little War" ?
I prefer the latter explanation.
"Romulan plasma torpedoes": Not since their first appearance in TOS' "Balance
of Terror" have those words been spoken by anyone on Trek. The second
appearance of Romulans in TOS ("The Enterprise Incident") had Spock reporting
the Romulans were using Klingon technology. The images shown of the Romulans
firing their weapons at the end of that episode were more consistent with
Klingon disruptor bolts. The Romulan weapons used in TNG's "Reunification" were
more consistent with phasers. That this episode has resurrected the weapon
(7000 of them) is, for this old Trekker, wonderful news. They are without doubt
_the_ deadliest weapon in any arsenal. My fervent hope is that we get a chance
to see a few in action.
Wulf, Keeper of Obscure Trek Trivia.
Dave Roy
Wu...@idirect.com (Wulf) saying:
Cirroc Lofton has always been in the main credits. It's not a change,
and doesn't necessarily mean he'll be more involved this season. I'm
sure he will be (well.....I hope he will be), but it isn't necessarily
so.
Also, I guess this episode will end the "What was Sisko scrubbing?"
arguments that raged in these parts all summer.
Dave Roy
Wulf
}
}I just got back from saving the universe, when I overheard
}Wu...@idirect.com (Wulf) saying:
}
}and doesn't necessarily mean he'll be more involved this season. I'm
}sure he will be (well.....I hope he will be), but it isn't necessarily
}so.
Thanks for the clarification, Dave. I didn;t pay as much attention to that
detail last season and from what I recalled of the episodes I thought Cirroc
had stopped being a regular. I like his "Jake Sisko" character a lot and I too
hope he will be seen more often.
}Also, I guess this episode will end the "What was Sisko scrubbing?"
}arguments that raged in these parts all summer.
There was an argument about that ???
I wish I'd known, I could have told you all it was clams: water, light
brushing, the clattering sound when he dropped one clam onto another. What else
could it be?
Sure couldn;t have been potatoes.
}Dave Roy
Dave Roy
Wu...@idirect.com (Wulf) saying:
>In article <36131261...@enews.newsguy.com>, his...@istar.ca wrote:
*SPOILERS REMOVED*
>}Also, I guess this episode will end the "What was Sisko scrubbing?"
>}arguments that raged in these parts all summer.
>
>There was an argument about that ???
Oh, yeah....use a keyword search on Dejanews from mid-June....it raged
for awhile. I've even seen a few posts right after the repeat of the
finale in the last week or so. "What was Sisko scrubbing at the end
of the finale.....rocks?"
>I wish I'd known, I could have told you all it was clams: water, light
>brushing, the clattering sound when he dropped one clam onto another. What else
>could it be?
>Sure couldn;t have been potatoes.
clams and potatoes were the two that most decided on, but even these
two camps argued for awhile. :-)
Dave Roy
Wulf
}
}I just got back from saving the universe, when I overheard
}Wu...@idirect.com (Wulf) saying:
}
}>In article <36131261...@enews.newsguy.com>, his...@istar.ca wrote:
}
}*SPOILERS REMOVED*
}
}>}Also, I guess this episode will end the "What was Sisko scrubbing?"
}>}arguments that raged in these parts all summer.
}>
}>There was an argument about that ???
}
}Oh, yeah....use a keyword search on Dejanews from mid-June....it raged
}for awhile. I've even seen a few posts right after the repeat of the
}finale in the last week or so. "What was Sisko scrubbing at the end
}of the finale.....rocks?"
Yep. I can hear Joseph talking to a patron right now:
"The rocks are mighty fresh today. I've had my son scrubbing them since dawn.
Oh you know my son, the captain of Deep Space Nine who used to be an
Emissary. He's a fine rock scrubber now. Will that be one lump or two?"
}>I wish I'd known, I could have told you all it was clams: water, light
}>brushing, the clattering sound when he dropped one clam onto another. What
}>else could it be?
}
}>Sure couldn;t have been potatoes.
}
}clams and potatoes were the two that most decided on, but even these
}two camps argued for awhile. :-)
"Benjamin...ooh Bennnnjamin...come here boy...You've been shellacking them
taters again, haven't you boy...? Poor Mrs. DuPuis just fractured her dentures
on those taters of yours."
<my apologies to those whose cherished beliefs I just offended...but if you'd
been listening to the clatter as he dropped one onto the basket of those he'd
already cleaned you'd have realized taters don;t sound like that and rocks just
aren;t part of anyone's dietary source of fibre.>
My thanks Dave. I had no idea such a discussion had occurred.
Seems a little silly to spend all summer arguing about it though, doesnt't it ?
Dave Roy
Wu...@idirect.com (Wulf) saying:
>My thanks Dave. I had no idea such a discussion had occurred.
Happy to oblige.
>Seems a little silly to spend all summer arguing about it though, doesnt't it ?
Well, *all* summer may have been an exxageration.....
Dave Roy
Antony Alonso
>This post contains explicit descriptions of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
>season premiere: "Image in the Sand". 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.
>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
>Season 7, Episode 1
>Title: "Image in the Sand"
>Cast Changes:
>As most DS9 viewers know Terry Farrell's character (Jadzia Dax) was
>murdered by a possessed Dukat in the sixth season's finale.
>She is replaced by Nicole deBoer who plays the role of the Trill: Ensign Ezri
>Dax. Ezri is the new host for the Dax symbiont.
>Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko) is also listed amongst the opening credits,
>indicating he will also be a regular to the show for this season.
>The rest of the cast (Sisko Odo, Kira, Quark, and Julian) remain
>unchanged.
Oh --- maybe in terms of actors, but jeez --- that _hair_ of Kira's ---
UGH!
>Guest Stars:
>Jeffrey Combs as "Weyoun"
Satisfactory, but way too limited exposure here.
>Casey Biggs as "Damar"
Relegated to a cartoonish alcoholic here.
>Barry Jenner as "Admiral Ross"
Sufficient, but lacking a personality (and backbone).
>J.G. Hertzler as "Martok"
Insufficient exposure, only to offer Worf a position as First Officer on a
suicide run. As another poster would say, Trek's Welfare check of the week.
>Megan Cole as "Senator Cretak"
Interesting in that it's a departure different (and the same) compared to
the norm. She's got potential...
>Aron Eisenberg as "Nog"
Who only existed for Worf to vent himself on as you said, yeah.
>Special Guest Stars:
>James Darren as "Vic Fontaine"
Gratuituous as hell and unnecessary. More of that Trek Welfare check of
the week syndrome.
>Brock Peters as "Joseph Sisko"
Historically, sufficient, complex, and interesting. He definitely overacted
in the relevation of Benjamin's parentage.
>Written by:
>Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler
At least Ira didn't make it one of his typical pro-Ferengi stupid eps.
>Events:
>----------
>As is customary for multi-part Trek episodes "Image in the Sand"
>starts with a brief synopsis of events from the sixth season finale.
(Padding by any other name).
[snipped said padding]
>Following the synopsis the episode begins with a scene of Bajoran members
>of the Cult of Pah Wraiths praying outside the temple on Deep Space Nine.
Which only goes to show: Bajorans are easily influenced and manipulated.
Remember "The Circle" and say this? The least little crisis and we're
introduced to another alternative lifestyle that seems proliferant to the
population.
>Kira is watching from one of the overhead gantries and Odo joins her. He
>addresses her as "Colonel" and we soon learn that she was promoted one
>month after the season six finale (two months before this episode begins).
Another "missing" three months, much like the previous season premiere.
Also, I find it difficult to think "Colonel Kira" and not "Colonel Klink"
as well (not for her portrayal, but the title with her name evokes the
reference nonetheless; even Cronan commented on this as I had when the
story broke a couple months ago about her new rank this season).
>She gives us the impression that she isn't totally comfortable with her
>new rank. We also notice she has a new hairdo (her hair is now parted on
>her right and most of it is swept over to her left side).
I hated her hair. Mind you, typically I'm a sucker for long hair but her
short 'do suited her and I liked it surprisingly so.
>In the conversation between Odo and Kira we learn that the Cult of Pah
>Wraiths was very small until the closing of the wormhole and that they
>are now appearing all over Bajor. We also learn that they wear red arm-
>bands as a token of their faith.
Translation: Bajorans are easily manipulated and led by the nose.
>Odo explains that a lot of people feel abandoned by the Prophets and Kira
>sympathizes. From her we learn that the Cult promotes "hate and fear".
Hmmm... gee and the Prophets sustained many a Bajoran militia member
(or rather their intrinsic faith) during Cardassian Occupation prior to
earning it's freedom. You'd have thought with things being all on the down
side the Pagh Wraith's would've been the dominant influence using this
erroneous rationale (stupid writers again).
>Kira and Odo both express concern and hope that Capt. Sisko will return to
>DS9 but Kira makes it clear that there has been no word from him since he
>left.
You know he will, though :)
>This segues into a touching discussion of the romance between them (Kira
>and Odo). Best lines from this scene (talking about their first kiss in
>front of Quark's):
>Kira: That was some kiss, wasn't it?
>Odo: Changed my life.
I _like_ the changes I've seen in Odo (letting O'Brien steal the Runabout
in "Time's Orphan" and letting Quark conduct his illicit deal in "His
Way"). They were interesting changes in a personality rigid until recently.
However, the nature of his relationship seems stilted, one-dimensional, and
has an air of artificiality about it.
>The scene cuts to a shot of the Defiant, where Worf (commanding), Julian,
>Miles, and Nog have been escorting a shipment of stim-bolts to DS9 for
>more than ten days.
Maybe we have stim-bolts and stem-bolts in the Trek universe, eh? Either
that or the Closed Captioning weasels misspelled it :)
>Nog makes a comment about how convoy duty is safer than being on the front
>lines. This leads to Worf giving Nog a lecture about how in wartime it is
>the duty of every warrior to fight the enemy in combat.
If he said warrior, I'd have objected strongly here (in terms of it being
inapplicable and rather Klingonish). Instead he thankfully said "soldiers."
[snip]
>While Benjamin plays the piano his baseball (which sits atop the piano)
>'magically' rolls off and hits the floor. The thump attracts Benjamin's
>attention and as he leans forward to pick it up he receives a vision from
>the Prophets.
Ya know, I like the continuity given to the baseball (and Sisko's apprecia-
tion for it). It's served many a time as a plot device, too (when he leaves
it for Dukat as a message "he'll be back" and here in "Image" as well).
>Through later discussion we learn from him that his vision involves him
>being on the planet Tyree (a name that is, phonetically, the same as
>Kirk's old friend who was killed in TOS' "A Private Little War").
It's the same spelling and Kirk's friend didn't die but rather his friend's
wife, Nona. I'm sure it was meant as a homage to TOS (and I appreciated the
in-joke by the reference as a fan).
>Benjamin is in a desert, digging in the sand. He uncovers a veil, which
>when removed shows the face of a woman. The woman's eyes open and the
>vision ends.
I didn't take it as a "veil" per se --- but rather a fine layer of sand
covering the image. Not that it really matters...
Also, it's inferred the vision didn't exactly end there --- Sisko was still
in a trance for several seconds after we're cut away from the imagery to
see Jake shaking him back to reality.
[snip]
>Ross explains that Senator Cretak will head the Romulans and that she
>is very cooperative and a strong supporter of the alliance. She and a
>few of her officers and a dozen Romulan bodyguards will maintain a
>presence on DS9 until the end of the war.
Not really a "biggie" but the dialogue indicated a *total* of about a
dozen Romulans, dignitaries and bodyguards included.
>Kira expresses serious doubts about the Romulans being on DS9 and Ross
>explains that the decision has already been made to allow this to happen
>and that he is only explaining this to her out of courtesy.
Which in some ways, invalidates the precept that DS9 is Bajoran property
being administered by the Federation. She could've said "no," but in
fairness maybe that'd alienate her world as beneficiary to eventual
Federation inclusion.
>Kira expresses a hope that Capt. Sisko will return which Ross does not
>respond to.
Which I took it he didn't expect him back, yeah.
>The scene cuts to Cardassia Prime where Damar and Weyoun are discussing
>the latest developments in the war. Damar explains that they have halted
>the Klingon advance on the Dominion shipyards on Monak IV, causing the
>Klingons to suffer an estimated 30% casualty rate. Weyoun complains that
>the casualty rate should have been higher but begrudgingly admits that the
>Fed/Klingon/Romulan alliance's forces are bottled up in the Chetoka sys-
>tem.
I would assume Weyoun's statement meant certain other part of the Alpha
Quadrant were ripe for the pickings, yeah.
>Even more begrudgingly he admits that Dukat's actions seem to have stalled
>the alliance's attack against the Cardassian/Dominion forces.
At least they didn't pull a welfare check with Dukat here. I'd rather have
him as a focus than a bit player (as Weyoun and Damar came off as).
>Damar pulls out a bottle of Kanar (a Cardassian liquor) to celebrate.
>Weyoun scornfully gives us the impression he views this as a sign of Damar
>having a drinking problem, which Damar good-naturedly sweeps aside.
I'd say the reference to "alcoholism" (Kanar) was rather blatant in terms
of the significant role it's taken in Damar's life (one wonders if it
isn't his fatalistic side in being allied with those who don't have
Cardassia's ideals or goals to the forefront without benefit of being
rectified in the long run).
>Damar wonders aloud what it must be like within the wormhole where (he
>believes) the Pah Wraith and the Prohets are currently battling each
>other.
Which I found an interesting observation coming from him (a bit
philosophical for him; maybe it's the booze :)
>Weyoun warns him that too much imagination can be dangerous.
Open-ended statement, but definitely not portending anything good.
>The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where ben is using a new kind of
>PADD to reconstruct an image of the face he saw in his vision. This Padd
>is about two feet wide, red, and displays a face in the middle with a
>selection bar in the right and left margins of the PADD. The selection
>bars show various images of facial features.
"Etch-a-Sketch" 24th century style :)
>The next scene starts with a photograph of Worf and Jadzia in their wed-
>ding outfits. Worf is laying on his bed and lifts the picture, looking at
>it.
Worf's such a sorry sentimentalist. As I've said before, the character is
quite different from TNG. In a lot of ways, he's been labotimized and
ruined in the sense of we can say "TNG Worf" and "DS9 Worf."
>That scene cuts to the holosuite, where the program "The Fontaine" is
>playing. The holo-host, Vic Fontaine, greets Worf warmly and suggests
>they "hit the craps tables" or play some black jack.
I've often wondered if it isn't Ira Behr who's behind this concoction.
Fontaine has gotten a lot of use (overuse, actually) that it strongly
reminds me of a similar way to the Ferengi-centered episodes proliferate
DS9 on ocassion.
>Worf ignores these suggestions and says "Sing the song". Vic hesitates
>but Worf strongly insists and so Vic sings "the" song. The song is "All
>The Way" by Frank Sinatra, a beautiful love ballad which we later learn
>was Jadzia's favourite song.
A nice bit of information, but tepid.
[snip]
>Kira arrives and apologizes for not greeting the Senator when she arrived.
>She makes an excuse about being busy which the Senator graciously pro-
>vides. The Senator is quite solicitous towards Kira. At one point Cretak
>readily explains that "My people have a reputation for arrogance. I'm
>afraid it's "well-earned." This polite banter continues and it appears
>that Kira is having second thoughts about doubting this particular
>Romulan.
Yeah, I like the potential for chemistry seen here in the byplay. Whether
they'll continue to explore it is another question (especially seeing the
preview for the second part of the season opener).
>The scene continues after the commercial. Joseph explains that Sarah
>seemed very happy, but that she left him and Ben two days after Ben's
>first birthday.
Which indicates Joesph must've remarried ASAP for Benjamin to have no
memory of being without a mother figure.
>Joseph doesn't know why. He went looking for her and eventually found her
>three years later in Australia. She had died in a hovercraft accident a
>month before Joseph found her.
Because here Sisko would've been four years old and most likely have some
recollection of being motherless otherwise.
[snip]
>The scene cuts to Miles and Julian walking down a hallway towards Worf's
>quarters. Miles has a bottle of Klingon Blood Wine (aged since 2301 "a
>very good year for Blood Wine" according to Miles).
I found it odd that O'Brien seemingly disputed Bashir's assertion or
wonderment if "one" bottle would be enough. O'Brien has seen how Klingons
like to drink when they get on a tear ("Apocalpyse Rising"). Apparently
since they ultimately drank more than three bottles, he must've had some
available (or Worf provided them).
[snip]
>Miles manages to convince Worf he just wants to visit and talk about the
>old days, mentioning Lt. Barclay and his holodeck program "The Three
>Musketeers".
I liked the fact we had two characters from TNG reflecting on events from
the other show. A nice move, continuity-wise.
[snip]
>The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where Ben is polishing clams.
And yes, we finally got an admission from TPTB --- he *was* cleaning clams
(not rocks or other things that have been suggested here on and off for
months between seasons :)
[snip]
>The scene cuts to the holosuite where Worf is exercising with his
>bat'leth. Martok enters the suite with a bat'leth and challenges Worf.
>While the challenge proceeds Martok explains he needs a first officer for
>a dangerous mission ("dangerous enough to assure Jadzia a place in
>Stovokor" says Martok).
I thought this entire scene was rather contrived. Not in idea, but in
_execution_. Far too artificial in nature...
>The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where Ben and Jake are throwing out
>the trash. Compared to the start of the episode and Ben's sombre mood this
>scene of Ben shows him laughing, smiling, animated. A weight has been lif-
>ted now that he knows what he must do and has hope of finding a way of
>"making things right". After joking around together Jake leaves Ben at
>the back door while Ben tidies the area. Ben stops when he notices a
>hooded figure in the alleyway. A young Bajoran in a red travelling robe
>approaches calling Ben "Emissary" and then proceeds with a chant which we
>earlier heard on the Promenade from the members of the Cult of Pah
>Wraiths. Catching Ben offguard the Bajoran slashes at Ben's belly with a
>dagger and then stabs him in the abdomen. The Bajoran tells the stricken
>Ben that Ben will never find the Orb of the Emissary.
Again, rather contrived and not well developed --- almost came across as
an afterthought. Especially the reference given after the deed had been
done in a later scene.
[snip]
>The scene cuts to DS9 where there are several Klingon vessels added to the
>forces we saw in the earlier scene. Inside Quark's both Miles and Julian
>drink a toast to Worf's success. We also learn that Julian is going on the
>same mission as Worf to help him get Jadzia into Stovokor. Upon hearing
>this Miles decides he's going as well.
Nice to see the O'Brien-Bashir relationship still going strong. Now if
they'd just get back to Garak-Bashir, too...
>This scene cuts to one where Admiral Ross is meeting with Senator Cretak.
>Ross is requesting more warbirds for the 3rd fleet and Cretak agrees when
>Kira interrupts. She announces her government is demanding the immediate
>evacuation of Romulan personnel from Durna. It seems that along with the
>hospital the Romulans also installed 7000 plasma torpedoes "for defence"
>without telling anyone. Bajor issues an ultimatum that either the Romulans
>remove them or the Bajorans will. Ross tries to placate Kira without
>effect. Bajor views the torpedoes as an "immediate threat".
Good for Kira (in placing her planet's welfare ahead of politics), bad for
the alliance (due to the politics). They'll probably kiss and make up by
the end of the conclusion of the two parter, I'd imagine.
>The scene cuts to Cardassia Prime where Weyoun meets with Damar to discuss
>the news about the Romulan take-over of Durna. Both gloat over what is
>good news for the Cardassian/Dominion alliance.
Which demonstrates they utilize some dependable and capable spies, yeah :)
>Best line in the scene:
>Weyoun: Romulans. They're so predictably treacherous.
[snip]
>But before they leave a young woman knocks at the door, looking through
>Joseph learns the woman is there to see Ben. Joseph lets her in and we
>meet for the first time Star Fleet Ensign Ezri Dax.
I like Cronan's description: impish. It fits :)
>End of episode.
>Personal reflections:
>---------------------------
>As noted above there are lots of good lines in this story. Aside from a
>few problems (see "SPOILERS (Nits): "Image in the Sand"") I really enjoyed
>this story. There are obviously a lot of new storylines being started
>here. The search for the Orb of the Emissary, the Romulan presence in the
>Bajor system, Worf's mission to secure a place in Stovokor for Jadzia, and
>Ezri Dax. The basis for all of these appear in this episode.
Ultimately, I found the whole episode rather convoluted. *NOT* the strong
showing (as season opener's go, and with that the weak leg of last season)
we'd hoped for IMO.
[snip]
>The only down-side to the story is not getting enough time with Ezri Dax.
>I think this could have been done at the expense of the time spent identi-
>fying the face in the sand. I'd have preferred five more minutes of Ezri
>and five less of Joseph refusing to talk about the picture.
To me, it tried to do too many things, hence most of the elements came off
rather artificial, convoluted, or out of character.
[snip]
>This bodes well for DS9's seventh and final season.
Not in my book. Consider the 3rd episode --- "Take Me Out to the Holosuite"
in which a team of Vulcans play baseball (presumably against the
inhabitants of DS9).
>Honourable Mention:
>----------------------------
>"Tyree": This can spark lots of speculation about how it got its name. Is
>it coincidence, or was it named by Kirk, being the first unnamed planet he
>came across after the death of his friend, Tyree, in TOS' "A Private
>Little War" ?
Except he didn't die --- only his wife did, Nona.
[snip]
>Wulf, Keeper of Obscure Trek Trivia.
--
*ATTENTION*
==========
Do NOT auto-reply to this message. The return address has been purposefully
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Antony Alonso
>}Also, I guess this episode will end the "What was Sisko scrubbing?"
>}arguments that raged in these parts all summer.
>There was an argument about that ???
Yes, there was.
>I wish I'd known, I could have told you all it was clams: water, light
>brushing, the clattering sound when he dropped one clam onto another. What
>else could it be?
>Sure couldn't have been potatoes.
Rocks, clams, potatoes, and one or two other things we bandied about.
>}Dave Roy
>Wulf, Keeper of Obscure Trek Trivia.
Wulf
}
}Hello Wulf, on 30-Sep-98 13:02:38, you said,
}
}>This post contains explicit descriptions of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
}>season premiere: "Image in the Sand". 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.
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}>Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler
}
}At least Ira didn't make it one of his typical pro-Ferengi stupid eps.
I happen to like the Ferengi stories. They're hilariously funny and usually
provide a good deal of information on Ferengi customs. For me they predict with
a certain amount of accuracy what can happen when capitalism runs wild and
unchecked.
}>She gives us the impression that she isn't totally comfortable with her
}>new rank. We also notice she has a new hairdo (her hair is now parted on
}>her right and most of it is swept over to her left side).
}
}I hated her hair. Mind you, typically I'm a sucker for long hair but her
}short 'do suited her and I liked it surprisingly so.
I'm not a fan of it either. Whether she was male or female that kind of hair
makes me think "greasy", as in unwashed. It needs body.
}>In the conversation between Odo and Kira we learn that the Cult of Pah
}>Wraiths was very small until the closing of the wormhole and that they
}>are now appearing all over Bajor. We also learn that they wear red arm-
}>bands as a token of their faith.
}
}Translation: Bajorans are easily manipulated and led by the nose.
Perhaps you've never had a physical manifestation of your god destroyed. It's
much more than if the Vatican was blown up. Their magical orbs have gone dark
and like most people a lot of Bajorans have turned to the only god-like power
they see left standing.
}>Odo explains that a lot of people feel abandoned by the Prophets and Kira
}>sympathizes. From her we learn that the Cult promotes "hate and fear".
}
}Hmmm... gee and the Prophets sustained many a Bajoran militia member
}(or rather their intrinsic faith) during Cardassian Occupation prior to
}earning it's freedom. You'd have thought with things being all on the down
}side the Pagh Wraith's would've been the dominant influence using this
}erroneous rationale (stupid writers again).
I don;t think so. The revolt against Cardassia was a higher cause led by the
Kai. Hate and fear were obvious temptations but not the goal.
}>This segues into a touching discussion of the romance between them (Kira
}>and Odo). Best lines from this scene (talking about their first kiss in
}>front of Quark's):
}
}>Kira: That was some kiss, wasn't it?
}>Odo: Changed my life.
}
}I _like_ the changes I've seen in Odo (letting O'Brien steal the Runabout
}in "Time's Orphan" and letting Quark conduct his illicit deal in "His
}Way"). They were interesting changes in a personality rigid until recently.
}However, the nature of his relationship seems stilted, one-dimensional, and
}has an air of artificiality about it.
I didn;t feel that _this_ time. Someone pointed out that the Odo/Kira
relationship is showing maturity compared to the scenes shown last season and I
agree with that assessment. This felt warm and alive and I am looking forward
to the development of the relationship.
}>The scene cuts to a shot of the Defiant, where Worf (commanding), Julian,
}>Miles, and Nog have been escorting a shipment of stim-bolts to DS9 for
}>more than ten days.
}
}Maybe we have stim-bolts and stem-bolts in the Trek universe, eh? Either
}that or the Closed Captioning weasels misspelled it :)
I don;t get CC, so I can only guess at the spelling based on the sound of the
spoken word. I paid close attention to such things and it certainly sounded
like "stim" to me and I heard several people use the word.
I take it "Pagh" as in "Pagh Wraiths" also comes from the closed captioning.
I suppose I should put in a little note that all spellings are phonetic ;-)
}>Nog makes a comment about how convoy duty is safer than being on the front
}>lines. This leads to Worf giving Nog a lecture about how in wartime it is
}>the duty of every warrior to fight the enemy in combat.
}
}If he said warrior, I'd have objected strongly here (in terms of it being
}inapplicable and rather Klingonish). Instead he thankfully said "soldiers."
If he had said "warrior" I would have accepted it as pure Worf.
}>While Benjamin plays the piano his baseball (which sits atop the piano)
}>'magically' rolls off and hits the floor. The thump attracts Benjamin's
}>attention and as he leans forward to pick it up he receives a vision from
}>the Prophets.
}
}Ya know, I like the continuity given to the baseball (and Sisko's apprecia-
}tion for it). It's served many a time as a plot device, too (when he leaves
}it for Dukat as a message "he'll be back" and here in "Image" as well).
And when he took it during last season's finale. The ball is a useful prop to
be sure.
}>Through later discussion we learn from him that his vision involves him
}>being on the planet Tyree (a name that is, phonetically, the same as
}>Kirk's old friend who was killed in TOS' "A Private Little War").
}
}It's the same spelling and Kirk's friend didn't die but rather his friend's
}wife, Nona. I'm sure it was meant as a homage to TOS (and I appreciated the
}in-joke by the reference as a fan).
Oops.
That memory of mine playing tricks again. My apologies.
}>Benjamin is in a desert, digging in the sand. He uncovers a veil, which
}>when removed shows the face of a woman. The woman's eyes open and the
}>vision ends.
}
}I didn't take it as a "veil" per se --- but rather a fine layer of sand
}covering the image. Not that it really matters...
He removes a piece of coloured cloth from the face and then we see the fine
layer of sand you speak of (glad to see my memory isn't always bad ;-)
}Also, it's inferred the vision didn't exactly end there --- Sisko was still
}in a trance for several seconds after we're cut away from the imagery to
}see Jake shaking him back to reality.
I grant that is possible. But combined with the sound effects I;ve always
thought the vision ended when we return to real (DS9) life. He could just as
easily be stuck in a contemplative moment staring out to space recalling the
vision.
}>Ross explains that Senator Cretak will head the Romulans and that she
}>is very cooperative and a strong supporter of the alliance. She and a
}>few of her officers and a dozen Romulan bodyguards will maintain a
}>presence on DS9 until the end of the war.
}
}Not really a "biggie" but the dialogue indicated a *total* of about a
}dozen Romulans, dignitaries and bodyguards included.
It wasn't clear who he was including so I used Kira's most recent statement
statement about bodyguards and Ross' response as my guide on this.
}>Kira expresses serious doubts about the Romulans being on DS9 and Ross
}>explains that the decision has already been made to allow this to happen
}>and that he is only explaining this to her out of courtesy.
}
}Which in some ways, invalidates the precept that DS9 is Bajoran property
}being administered by the Federation. She could've said "no," but in
}fairness maybe that'd alienate her world as beneficiary to eventual
}Federation inclusion.
I didn;t read Ross' statement as one that excluded Bajorans in the
decision-making process. To be honest I'm surprised at those who thought
otherwise. Considering the chain of command it makes sense that any decision on
this issue would be passed on by Ross.
}>Kira expresses a hope that Capt. Sisko will return which Ross does not
}>respond to.
}
}Which I took it he didn't expect him back, yeah.
His answer was certainly ambigous on the issue, which is why I didn;t make any
conjectures here.
}>The scene cuts to Cardassia Prime where Damar and Weyoun are discussing
}>the latest developments in the war. Damar explains that they have halted
}>the Klingon advance on the Dominion shipyards on Monak IV, causing the
}>Klingons to suffer an estimated 30% casualty rate. Weyoun complains that
}>the casualty rate should have been higher but begrudgingly admits that the
}>Fed/Klingon/Romulan alliance's forces are bottled up in the Chetoka sys-
}>tem.
}
}I would assume Weyoun's statement meant certain other part of the Alpha
}Quadrant were ripe for the pickings, yeah.
Interesting. This isn;t necessarily so as any invasion usually leaves a picket
line to protect flanks and home territory. To bottle up the counter-attack the
Cardassians and Dominion would have to throw in a lot of resources and may not
have much left to grab those ripe pickings.
}>Even more begrudgingly he admits that Dukat's actions seem to have stalled
}>the alliance's attack against the Cardassian/Dominion forces.
}
}At least they didn't pull a welfare check with Dukat here. I'd rather have
}him as a focus than a bit player (as Weyoun and Damar came off as).
I agree there was no need for Dukat in that scene.
}>Damar pulls out a bottle of Kanar (a Cardassian liquor) to celebrate.
}>Weyoun scornfully gives us the impression he views this as a sign of Damar
}>having a drinking problem, which Damar good-naturedly sweeps aside.
}
}I'd say the reference to "alcoholism" (Kanar) was rather blatant in terms
}of the significant role it's taken in Damar's life (one wonders if it
}isn't his fatalistic side in being allied with those who don't have
}Cardassia's ideals or goals to the forefront without benefit of being
}rectified in the long run).
There were no obvious signs of alcholism in the scenes I saw. Weyoun suggesting
it may well be yet another attempt to assert Vorta superiority over anything
and everything that moves.
}>The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where ben is using a new kind of
}>PADD to reconstruct an image of the face he saw in his vision. This Padd
}>is about two feet wide, red, and displays a face in the middle with a
}>selection bar in the right and left margins of the PADD. The selection
}>bars show various images of facial features.
}
}"Etch-a-Sketch" 24th century style :)
That thought crossed my mind and I believe Cronan used the term as well. Must
be that the bright red colour reminds us of our bright red "Etch-a-Sketch"s.
}>The next scene starts with a photograph of Worf and Jadzia in their wed-
}>ding outfits. Worf is laying on his bed and lifts the picture, looking at
}>it.
}
}Worf's such a sorry sentimentalist. As I've said before, the character is
}quite different from TNG. In a lot of ways, he's been labotimized and
}ruined in the sense of we can say "TNG Worf" and "DS9 Worf."
"Lobotomized" ? "Ruined" ?
Ahem. I was one of those who pointed out in this group just how poorly Worf was
being handled in "The Sons of Mogh" when it aired (yep, I've been around
awhile, just not posting).
I was _furious_ with the writers for the way they cut Worf's ties to TNG in
that episode.
That being said I see Worf today as a more mature and settled character.
Decisive and powerful and quite moving. The DS9 development of his character
hasn;t tamed him, but it has civilized him more than TNG (for those whom I've
just confused, I mean "tame" as in "obedient" and I mean "civilized" as "more
aware of the bigger picture and consequences").
I really like the DS9 Worf, even more than I liked Worf in TNG. I wish the
writers hadn;t made such brutal work of the transition (and I still see no need
for it) but once they'd finished that hatchet job they developed Worf along the
lines I wanted to see in him.
}>That scene cuts to the holosuite, where the program "The Fontaine" is
}>playing. The holo-host, Vic Fontaine, greets Worf warmly and suggests
}>they "hit the craps tables" or play some black jack.
}
}I've often wondered if it isn't Ira Behr who's behind this concoction.
}Fontaine has gotten a lot of use (overuse, actually) that it strongly
}reminds me of a similar way to the Ferengi-centered episodes proliferate
}DS9 on ocassion.
I can;t say I'm a big fan of Vic's. I really dislike a holodeck program that
returns to 20th century earth mainly because they keep coming and coming and
coming...
I think we've all seen more than enough of 20th century earth being the sole
interest of every character who enters a holo-deck (except Worf, bless him).
}>Worf ignores these suggestions and says "Sing the song". Vic hesitates
}>but Worf strongly insists and so Vic sings "the" song. The song is "All
}>The Way" by Frank Sinatra, a beautiful love ballad which we later learn
}>was Jadzia's favourite song.
}
}A nice bit of information, but tepid.
Corny as it was, listen to the words and it adds a lot of poignancy to the
scene. Unfortunately Worf (or perhaps Michael Dorn) doesn;t do "slow-boil" very
well. The growing reaction of the band to Worf's behaviour was done _much_
better.
}>Kira arrives and apologizes for not greeting the Senator when she arrived.
}>She makes an excuse about being busy which the Senator graciously pro-
}>vides. The Senator is quite solicitous towards Kira. At one point Cretak
}>readily explains that "My people have a reputation for arrogance. I'm
}>afraid it's "well-earned." This polite banter continues and it appears
}>that Kira is having second thoughts about doubting this particular
}>Romulan.
}
}Yeah, I like the potential for chemistry seen here in the byplay. Whether
}they'll continue to explore it is another question (especially seeing the
}preview for the second part of the season opener).
tut tut...you'll notice I avoided suggestions based on those previews ;-)
}>The scene continues after the commercial. Joseph explains that Sarah
}>seemed very happy, but that she left him and Ben two days after Ben's
}>first birthday.
}
}Which indicates Joesph must've remarried ASAP for Benjamin to have no
}memory of being without a mother figure.
Actually I can tell you with certainty that at least to the age of eight it is
possible to forget a parent.
}>Joseph doesn't know why. He went looking for her and eventually found her
}>three years later in Australia. She had died in a hovercraft accident a
}>month before Joseph found her.
}
}Because here Sisko would've been four years old and most likely have some
}recollection of being motherless otherwise.
Nope. Not true. So far as I know ten is the minimum age for those kinds of
recollection. Nine possibly. But an eight year old can forget. I know someone
in real life who did forget a parent who passed away when the child was eight.
}>The scene cuts to Miles and Julian walking down a hallway towards Worf's
}>quarters. Miles has a bottle of Klingon Blood Wine (aged since 2301 "a
}>very good year for Blood Wine" according to Miles).
}
}I found it odd that O'Brien seemingly disputed Bashir's assertion or
}wonderment if "one" bottle would be enough. O'Brien has seen how Klingons
}like to drink when they get on a tear ("Apocalpyse Rising"). Apparently
}since they ultimately drank more than three bottles, he must've had some
}available (or Worf provided them).
I considered mentioning it as a nit but decided either Worf had some or they
trotted down to Quark's to get some. Somehow Miles and Worf doing a "beer-run"
seemed quite appropos.
}>Miles manages to convince Worf he just wants to visit and talk about the
}>old days, mentioning Lt. Barclay and his holodeck program "The Three
}>Musketeers".
}
}I liked the fact we had two characters from TNG reflecting on events from
}the other show. A nice move, continuity-wise.
It also shows that Barclay's program story made the rounds on the Enterprise
gossip circuit. Miles wasn;t involved in the relevant TNG scenes.
Shall we guess about who tattled on him ;-) ?
}>The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where Ben is polishing clams.
}
}And yes, we finally got an admission from TPTB --- he *was* cleaning clams
}(not rocks or other things that have been suggested here on and off for
}months between seasons :)
So I heard. I was amazed that there was any debate about this.
}>The scene cuts to the holosuite where Worf is exercising with his
}>bat'leth. Martok enters the suite with a bat'leth and challenges Worf.
}>While the challenge proceeds Martok explains he needs a first officer for
}>a dangerous mission ("dangerous enough to assure Jadzia a place in
}>Stovokor" says Martok).
}
}I thought this entire scene was rather contrived. Not in idea, but in
}_execution_. Far too artificial in nature...
Worf's heart wasn't in it. He would normally be doing this with Jadzia. I read
the scene to suggest that Worf was going through the motions because he knew he
should, not because he particularly wanted to. I know how old routines shared
with a loved one can lose their meaning and joy when the loved one isn;t
around.
}>The scene cuts to the back of Sisko's where Ben and Jake are throwing out
}>the trash. Compared to the start of the episode and Ben's sombre mood this
}>scene of Ben shows him laughing, smiling, animated. A weight has been lif-
}>ted now that he knows what he must do and has hope of finding a way of
}>"making things right". After joking around together Jake leaves Ben at
}>the back door while Ben tidies the area. Ben stops when he notices a
}>hooded figure in the alleyway. A young Bajoran in a red travelling robe
}>approaches calling Ben "Emissary" and then proceeds with a chant which we
}>earlier heard on the Promenade from the members of the Cult of Pah
}>Wraiths. Catching Ben offguard the Bajoran slashes at Ben's belly with a
}>dagger and then stabs him in the abdomen. The Bajoran tells the stricken
}>Ben that Ben will never find the Orb of the Emissary.
}
}Again, rather contrived and not well developed --- almost came across as
}an afterthought. Especially the reference given after the deed had been
}done in a later scene.
This was a necessary scene to convince Joseph to come along (I think jake would
go regardless). I suspect Joseph has a role in the next episode, perhaps some
closure with Sarah (and that is just a guess, not based on previews or anything
else not provided by "Image in the Sand").
}>The scene cuts to DS9 where there are several Klingon vessels added to the
}>forces we saw in the earlier scene. Inside Quark's both Miles and Julian
}>drink a toast to Worf's success. We also learn that Julian is going on the
}>same mission as Worf to help him get Jadzia into Stovokor. Upon hearing
}>this Miles decides he's going as well.
}
}Nice to see the O'Brien-Bashir relationship still going strong. Now if
}they'd just get back to Garak-Bashir, too...
Garak/Bashir was a fun duo. Miles seems to be taking Garak's place but as a
junior member of the team (the little brother who has to tag along).
I agree with those who say Keiko should have been mentioned. To be honest I'd
like a final resolution for Keiko and kids as she is not my favourite character
and ignoring her needs affects Miles' believability. Unfortunately there is no
way to handle this with finality that wouldn't ruin Miles persona that we've
come to know and love. I'm not suggesting death. But being captured and not
freed till the end of the season would resolve this problem nicely.
}>This scene cuts to one where Admiral Ross is meeting with Senator Cretak.
}>Ross is requesting more warbirds for the 3rd fleet and Cretak agrees when
}>Kira interrupts. She announces her government is demanding the immediate
}>evacuation of Romulan personnel from Durna. It seems that along with the
}>hospital the Romulans also installed 7000 plasma torpedoes "for defence"
}>without telling anyone. Bajor issues an ultimatum that either the Romulans
}>remove them or the Bajorans will. Ross tries to placate Kira without
}>effect. Bajor views the torpedoes as an "immediate threat".
}
}Good for Kira (in placing her planet's welfare ahead of politics), bad for
}the alliance (due to the politics). They'll probably kiss and make up by
}the end of the conclusion of the two parter, I'd imagine.
_That_ would be unusual ;-)
I'm not making any bets on Cretak. Up until her last scene I'd have agreed with
you. But in that last scene she shows she knew about the base and tries to
cover it's installation with an excuse that is really lame ("we forgot to tell
you and we're sorry but we aren;t going to remove it")
Them's fighting words for the Bajorans and Cretak's previous politeness doesn;t
explain that hardline approach.
I'm not suggesting Cretak will be kicked off the station for the remainder of
the season or anything. But I think we've just been introduced to another
conflict that will re-surface through the season (Cretak replacing Garak and
Dukat as the devil we must deal with).
}>The scene cuts to Cardassia Prime where Weyoun meets with Damar to discuss
}>the news about the Romulan take-over of Durna. Both gloat over what is
}>good news for the Cardassian/Dominion alliance.
}
}Which demonstrates they utilize some dependable and capable spies, yeah :)
Or have some conspiracy going with the Romulans to overthrow the Fed/Klingon
alliance ;-))
}>But before they leave a young woman knocks at the door, looking through
}>Joseph learns the woman is there to see Ben. Joseph lets her in and we
}>meet for the first time Star Fleet Ensign Ezri Dax.
}
}I like Cronan's description: impish. It fits :)
"Impish" suggests to me one who plays practical jokes, etc. We'll have to see
what they do with Ezri's character before I assign that term.
She is certainly child-like from my point of view, even more than Kes.
}>Honourable Mention:
}>----------------------------
}>"Tyree": This can spark lots of speculation about how it got its name. Is
}>it coincidence, or was it named by Kirk, being the first unnamed planet he
}>came across after the death of his friend, Tyree, in TOS' "A Private
}>Little War" ?
}
}Except he didn't die --- only his wife did, Nona.
Ouch.
I still think Kirk named it ;-P
Wulf
}Hello Wulf, on 01-Oct-98 05:57:19, you said,
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}>}Also, I guess this episode will end the "What was Sisko scrubbing?"
}>}arguments that raged in these parts all summer.
}
}>There was an argument about that ???
}
}Yes, there was.
}
}>I wish I'd known, I could have told you all it was clams: water, light
}>brushing, the clattering sound when he dropped one clam onto another. What
}>else could it be?
}
}>Sure couldn't have been potatoes.
}
}Rocks, clams, potatoes, and one or two other things we bandied about.
Rocks serve no purpose and potatoes don;t sound like that. I'm still surprised
people argued over it.
Heinlein
<
Damn, now that I think about it, this NG is as fragmented and as
easily manipulated as the Bajorans.<
Prodigal
Wulf wrote in message <6vd9q9$3mg...@ns.idirect.com>...
>In article <19004.583T1...@Clarksburg.com>, "Antony Alonso"
<Night...@Clarksburg.com> wrote:
>}
>}Hello Wulf, on 30-Sep-98 13:02:38, you said,
>}
>}>This post contains explicit descriptions of the Star Trek: Deep Space
Nine
>}>season premiere: "Image in the Sand". 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.
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}>Weyoun scornfully gives us the impression he views this as a sign of
Damar
>}>having a drinking problem, which Damar good-naturedly sweeps aside.
>}
>}I'd say the reference to "alcoholism" (Kanar) was rather blatant in terms
>}of the significant role it's taken in Damar's life (one wonders if it
>}isn't his fatalistic side in being allied with those who don't have
>}Cardassia's ideals or goals to the forefront without benefit of being
>}rectified in the long run).
>
>There were no obvious signs of alcholism in the scenes I saw. Weyoun
suggesting
>it may well be yet another attempt to assert Vorta superiority over
anything
>and everything that moves.
Damar's response when Weyoun asked him if he bothered with a bottle when
others weren't around convinced me that Damar has a major drinking problem.
But then, given everything the Jack Pack said about him in "Statistical
Probabilities," and given how much he dislikes being the next best thing to
Weyoun's puppet leader, seeing Damar hitting the bottle comes as no suprise.
>}>This scene cuts to one where Admiral Ross is meeting with Senator Cretak.
>}>Ross is requesting more warbirds for the 3rd fleet and Cretak agrees when
>}>Kira interrupts. She announces her government is demanding the immediate
>}>evacuation of Romulan personnel from Durna. It seems that along with the
>}>hospital the Romulans also installed 7000 plasma torpedoes "for defence"
>}>without telling anyone. Bajor issues an ultimatum that either the
Romulans
>}>remove them or the Bajorans will. Ross tries to placate Kira without
>}>effect. Bajor views the torpedoes as an "immediate threat".
>}
>}Good for Kira (in placing her planet's welfare ahead of politics), bad for
>}the alliance (due to the politics). They'll probably kiss and make up by
>}the end of the conclusion of the two parter, I'd imagine.
>
>_That_ would be unusual ;-)
>
>I'm not making any bets on Cretak. Up until her last scene I'd have agreed
with
>you. But in that last scene she shows she knew about the base and tries to
>cover it's installation with an excuse that is really lame ("we forgot to
tell
>you and we're sorry but we aren;t going to remove it")
>
>Them's fighting words for the Bajorans and Cretak's previous politeness
doesn;t
>explain that hardline approach.
Remember Cretak's reference to the Romulans' reputation for arrogance? Her
behavior in "forgetting" to mention the weapon emplacements, then defending
her government's choice to install them, perfectly suited that particular
angle of the Romulan culture.
Wulf
} <Night...@Clarksburg.com> wrote:
}> }Hello Wulf, on 01-Oct-98 05:57:19, you said,
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }
}> }>}Also, I guess this episode will end the "What was Sisko scrubbing?"
}> }>}arguments that raged in these parts all summer.
}> }
}> }>There was an argument about that ???
}> }
}> }Yes, there was.
}> }
}> }>I wish I'd known, I could have told you all it was clams: water, light
}> }>brushing, the clattering sound when he dropped one clam onto another. What
}> }>else could it be?
}> }
}> }>Sure couldn't have been potatoes.
}> }
}> }Rocks, clams, potatoes, and one or two other things we bandied about.
}>
}> Rocks serve no purpose and potatoes don;t sound like that. I'm still
} surprised
}> people argued over it.
}>
}<
} Damn, now that I think about it, this NG is as fragmented and as
}easily manipulated as the Bajorans.<
Actually, I did consider oysters as a possibility. But watching Sisko clean
them during the finale made me decide that the proportions are wrong for
oysters (oysters are broader and slimmer whereas clams are short and thick).
Ahem, that wouldn;t have been a "Blue" oyster cult, now would it ;-) ?
Wulf
}
}Wulf wrote in message <6vd9q9$3mg...@ns.idirect.com>...
}<Night...@Clarksburg.com> wrote:
}>}
}>}Hello Wulf, on 30-Sep-98 13:02:38, you said,
}>}
}>}>This post contains explicit descriptions of the Star Trek: Deep Space
}>}>Nine
}>}>season premiere: "Image in the Sand". 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.
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}
}>}>Weyoun scornfully gives us the impression he views this as a sign of
}>}>Damar
}>}>having a drinking problem, which Damar good-naturedly sweeps aside.
}>}
}>}I'd say the reference to "alcoholism" (Kanar) was rather blatant in terms
}>}of the significant role it's taken in Damar's life (one wonders if it
}>}isn't his fatalistic side in being allied with those who don't have
}>}Cardassia's ideals or goals to the forefront without benefit of being
}>}rectified in the long run).
}>
}>There were no obvious signs of alcholism in the scenes I saw. Weyoun
}>suggesting
}>it may well be yet another attempt to assert Vorta superiority over
}>anything and everything that moves.
}
}others weren't around convinced me that Damar has a major drinking problem.
Maybe that's a cultural thing. Drinking from the bottle may show a lack of
class but doesn;t show a drinking problem, in my opinion.
}>}>This scene cuts to one where Admiral Ross is meeting with Senator Cretak.
}>}>Ross is requesting more warbirds for the 3rd fleet and Cretak agrees when
}>}>Kira interrupts. She announces her government is demanding the immediate
}>}>evacuation of Romulan personnel from Durna. It seems that along with the
}>}>hospital the Romulans also installed 7000 plasma torpedoes "for defence"
}>}>without telling anyone. Bajor issues an ultimatum that either the
}>}>Romulans
}>}>remove them or the Bajorans will. Ross tries to placate Kira without
}>}>effect. Bajor views the torpedoes as an "immediate threat".
}>}
}>}Good for Kira (in placing her planet's welfare ahead of politics), bad for
}>}the alliance (due to the politics). They'll probably kiss and make up by
}>}the end of the conclusion of the two parter, I'd imagine.
}>
}>_That_ would be unusual ;-)
}>
}>I'm not making any bets on Cretak. Up until her last scene I'd have agreed
}>with
}>you. But in that last scene she shows she knew about the base and tries to
}>cover it's installation with an excuse that is really lame ("we forgot to
}>tell you and we're sorry but we aren;t going to remove it")
}>
}>Them's fighting words for the Bajorans and Cretak's previous politeness
}>doesn;t explain that hardline approach.
}
}Remember Cretak's reference to the Romulans' reputation for arrogance? Her
}behavior in "forgetting" to mention the weapon emplacements, then defending
}her government's choice to install them, perfectly suited that particular
}angle of the Romulan culture.
Exactly, which is why I have big doubts about the politeness we saw earlier in
the show. Don;t forget Selok played a logical Vulcan ambassador convincingly
enough to fool the Federation for a period of time before she was retrieved by
the Romulans in TNG's "Data's Day".
Hiding their arrogance isn't something they have difficulty doing if properly
prepared for a mission.
Dave Roy
Wu...@idirect.com (Wulf) saying:
>In article <877.583T26...@Clarksburg.com>, "Antony Alonso" <Night...@Clarksburg.com> wrote:
>}Hello Wulf, on 01-Oct-98 05:57:19, you said,
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}
>}Rocks, clams, potatoes, and one or two other things we bandied about.
>
>Rocks serve no purpose and potatoes don;t sound like that. I'm still surprised
>people argued over it.
This is a newsgroup where people try to figure out if an Imperial Star
Destroyer is a match for the Enterprise.....and this surprises you?
:-)
Dave Roy
Prodigal
Wulf wrote in message <6vdmkk$1es...@ns.idirect.com>...
>In article <#4eRcmU89GA.234@upnetnews05>, "Prodigal"
<eoin_m...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>}
>}Wulf wrote in message <6vd9q9$3mg...@ns.idirect.com>...
>}<Night...@Clarksburg.com> wrote:
>}>}
>}>}Hello Wulf, on 30-Sep-98 13:02:38, you said,
>}>}
>}>}>This post contains explicit descriptions of the Star Trek: Deep Space
>}>}>Nine
>}>}>season premiere: "Image in the Sand". 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.
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}
>}>}>Weyoun scornfully gives us the impression he views this as a sign of
>}>}>Damar
>}>}>having a drinking problem, which Damar good-naturedly sweeps aside.
>}>}
>}>}I'd say the reference to "alcoholism" (Kanar) was rather blatant in
terms
>}>}of the significant role it's taken in Damar's life (one wonders if it
>}>}isn't his fatalistic side in being allied with those who don't have
>}>}Cardassia's ideals or goals to the forefront without benefit of being
>}>}rectified in the long run).
>}>
>}>There were no obvious signs of alcholism in the scenes I saw. Weyoun
>}>suggesting
>}>it may well be yet another attempt to assert Vorta superiority over
>}>anything and everything that moves.
>}
>}others weren't around convinced me that Damar has a major drinking
problem.
>
>Maybe that's a cultural thing. Drinking from the bottle may show a lack of
>class but doesn;t show a drinking problem, in my opinion.
Damar's dialogue showed a definite fondness for drinking that went beyond
mere enjoyment.
Your milage may vary, but from wherer I was sitting, Damar looked like a
candidate for Kanaraholics Anonymous.
>}Remember Cretak's reference to the Romulans' reputation for arrogance? Her
>}behavior in "forgetting" to mention the weapon emplacements, then
defending
>}her government's choice to install them, perfectly suited that particular
>}angle of the Romulan culture.
>
>Exactly, which is why I have big doubts about the politeness we saw earlier
in
>the show. Don;t forget Selok played a logical Vulcan ambassador
convincingly
>enough to fool the Federation for a period of time before she was retrieved
by
>the Romulans in TNG's "Data's Day".
I had forgotten that episode, but you're right!
I do believe we have a winer here- Cretak was acting friendly in order to
allay Kira's initial suspicions long enough to get a toehold on Bajoran
soil, whereupon she reverted to type as soon as there was no longer any need
(in her opinion) to continue sucking up to the Bajorans.
Wulf
}
}I just got back from saving the universe, when I overheard
}Wu...@idirect.com (Wulf) saying:
}
} <Night...@Clarksburg.com> wrote:
}>}Hello Wulf, on 01-Oct-98 05:57:19, you said,
}>}
}
}>}Rocks, clams, potatoes, and one or two other things we bandied about.
}>
}>Rocks serve no purpose and potatoes don;t sound like that. I'm still surprised
}>people argued over it.
}
}This is a newsgroup where people try to figure out if an Imperial Star
}Destroyer is a match for the Enterprise.....and this surprises you?
}:-)
You notice I don;t participate in the "Defiant vs ..." threads ;-))
Wulf
}
}Wulf wrote in message <6vdmkk$1es...@ns.idirect.com>...
}>In article <#4eRcmU89GA.234@upnetnews05>, "Prodigal"
}<eoin_m...@hotmail.com> wrote:
}>}
}>}Wulf wrote in message <6vd9q9$3mg...@ns.idirect.com>...
}>}<Night...@Clarksburg.com> wrote:
}>}>}
}>}>}Hello Wulf, on 30-Sep-98 13:02:38, you said,
}>}>}
}>}>}>This post contains explicit descriptions of the Star Trek: Deep Space
}>}>}>Nine
}>}>}>season premiere: "Image in the Sand". 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.
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}
}>}>}>Weyoun scornfully gives us the impression he views this as a sign of
}>}>}>Damar
}>}>}>having a drinking problem, which Damar good-naturedly sweeps aside.
}>}>}
}>}>}I'd say the reference to "alcoholism" (Kanar) was rather blatant in
}>}>}terms
}>}>}of the significant role it's taken in Damar's life (one wonders if it
}>}>}isn't his fatalistic side in being allied with those who don't have
}>}>}Cardassia's ideals or goals to the forefront without benefit of being
}>}>}rectified in the long run).
}>}>
}>}>There were no obvious signs of alcholism in the scenes I saw. Weyoun
}>}>suggesting
}>}>it may well be yet another attempt to assert Vorta superiority over
}>}>anything and everything that moves.
}>}
}>}others weren't around convinced me that Damar has a major drinking
}problem.
}>
}>Maybe that's a cultural thing. Drinking from the bottle may show a lack of
}>class but doesn;t show a drinking problem, in my opinion.
}
}Damar's dialogue showed a definite fondness for drinking that went beyond
}mere enjoyment.
}
}Your milage may vary, but from wherer I was sitting, Damar looked like a
}candidate for Kanaraholics Anonymous.
Maybe I'm just out of touch with the drinking habits of today. A liquer at
Christmas and on my birthday is plenty for me. But I do recall my youth where
drinking played a more significant role.
For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in Damar.
}>}>
}>}>Them's fighting words for the Bajorans and Cretak's previous politeness
}>}>doesn;t explain that hardline approach.
}>}
}>}Remember Cretak's reference to the Romulans' reputation for arrogance? Her
}>}behavior in "forgetting" to mention the weapon emplacements, then
}defending
}>}her government's choice to install them, perfectly suited that particular
}>}angle of the Romulan culture.
}>
}>Exactly, which is why I have big doubts about the politeness we saw earlier
}>in the show. Don;t forget Selok played a logical Vulcan ambassador
}>convincingly
}>enough to fool the Federation for a period of time before she was retrieved
}>by the Romulans in TNG's "Data's Day".
}
}I had forgotten that episode, but you're right!
Thanks :-)
}I do believe we have a winner here- Cretak was acting friendly in order to
}allay Kira's initial suspicions long enough to get a toehold on Bajoran
}soil, whereupon she reverted to type as soon as there was no longer any need
}(in her opinion) to continue sucking up to the Bajorans.
That's my theory.
If that's not the case, imagine just how hard it's going to be for Cretak to
get back in Kira's good books. A lot longer than the remainder of the season I
would think.
That's why I think they showed so many coincidental occassions where Cretak was
being nice to Kira. They only had one episode to fool us and at the end of it
we would see the real meaning behind Cretak's behaviour.
TC
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
> }>}>}
>
> Maybe I'm just out of touch with the drinking habits of today. A liquer at
> Christmas and on my birthday is plenty for me. But I do recall my youth where
> drinking played a more significant role.
>
> For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in Damar.
I think that they are attempting to set it up that way - that he has a
drinking problem. He did reveal the plans to bring down the minefield to
Quark after downing a few. At the very least his drinking has impaired
his judgement.
>
>
> If that's not the case, imagine just how hard it's going to be for Cretak to
> get back in Kira's good books. A lot longer than the remainder of the season I
> would think.
I don't know. Kira seems to be quite forgiving. A friend she's had for
years betrayed her and all it took for them to bury the hatchet was a
conversation in a bathroom one night.
tc
>
> That's why I think they showed so many coincidental occassions where Cretak was
> being nice to Kira. They only had one episode to fool us and at the end of it
> we would see the real meaning behind Cretak's behaviour.
>
Lars P Ormberg
> At the very least his drinking has impaired
> his judgement.
I'm sorry...it it supposed to do something else?
--
Lars Ormberg ICQ#:8827066
(oh you didn't know? Your ass better caaaaall somebody) (___)
(o o)
- I'm a genuine, certified, dixie fried, full of /-------\ /
pride, 'til I die pure bred redneck! / | ||O
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mailto:commodo...@geocities.com ^^ ^^
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Wulf
}
}Wulf wrote:
}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}> }>}>}
}>
}> Maybe I'm just out of touch with the drinking habits of today. A liquer at
}> Christmas and on my birthday is plenty for me. But I do recall my youth where
}> drinking played a more significant role.
}>
}> For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in
} Damar.
}
}I think that they are attempting to set it up that way - that he has a
}drinking problem. He did reveal the plans to bring down the minefield to
}his judgement.
}
}> If that's not the case, imagine just how hard it's going to be for Cretak to
}> I would think.
}
}I don't know. Kira seems to be quite forgiving. A friend she's had for
}years betrayed her and all it took for them to bury the hatchet was a
}conversation in a bathroom one night.
}
Because this is the spoiler for the first episode and I've seen the second I
can't go into this here. Take a look at my spoiler for the second show which
I'll be writing later today (Wednesday) for my thoughts on these questions.
TC
without allowing themselves to be plied with alcohol and give away
military secrets.
Lars P Ormberg wrote:
>
> TC wrote:
>
> > At the very least his drinking has impaired
> > his judgement.
>
Prodigal
Wulf wrote in message <6vduta$1es...@ns.idirect.com>...
>In article <e#CEvGW89GA.190@upnetnews05>, "Prodigal"
<eoin_m...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>}
>}Wulf wrote in message <6vdmkk$1es...@ns.idirect.com>...
>}>In article <#4eRcmU89GA.234@upnetnews05>, "Prodigal"
>}<eoin_m...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>}>}
>}>}Wulf wrote in message <6vd9q9$3mg...@ns.idirect.com>...
>}>}<Night...@Clarksburg.com> wrote:
>}>}>}
>}>}>}Hello Wulf, on 30-Sep-98 13:02:38, you said,
>}>}>}
>}>}>}>This post contains explicit descriptions of the Star Trek: Deep Space
>}>}>}>Nine
>}>}>}>season premiere: "Image in the Sand". 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.
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}
>}>}>}terms
>}>}>}of the significant role it's taken in Damar's life (one wonders if it
>}>}>}isn't his fatalistic side in being allied with those who don't have
>}>}>}Cardassia's ideals or goals to the forefront without benefit of being
>}>}>}rectified in the long run).
>}>}>
>}>}>There were no obvious signs of alcholism in the scenes I saw. Weyoun
>}>}>suggesting
>}>}>it may well be yet another attempt to assert Vorta superiority over
>}>}>anything and everything that moves.
>}>}
>}>}others weren't around convinced me that Damar has a major drinking
>}problem.
>}>
>}>Maybe that's a cultural thing. Drinking from the bottle may show a lack
of
>}>class but doesn;t show a drinking problem, in my opinion.
>}
>}Damar's dialogue showed a definite fondness for drinking that went beyond
>}mere enjoyment.
>}
>}Your milage may vary, but from wherer I was sitting, Damar looked like a
>}candidate for Kanaraholics Anonymous.
>
>Christmas and on my birthday is plenty for me. But I do recall my youth
where
>drinking played a more significant role.
>
>For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in
Damar.
We only saw him in what, one or two scenes? Whereas Weyoun has been seeing
him drinking often enough in the 3-month gap between last season and this to
make references to how often he's drinking Kanar.
This is admittedly inference, but it's inferred from Weyoun's dialogue.
>}I do believe we have a winner here- Cretak was acting friendly in order to
>}allay Kira's initial suspicions long enough to get a toehold on Bajoran
>}soil, whereupon she reverted to type as soon as there was no longer any
need
>}(in her opinion) to continue sucking up to the Bajorans.
>
>That's my theory.
>
>If that's not the case, imagine just how hard it's going to be for Cretak
to
>get back in Kira's good books. A lot longer than the remainder of the
season I
>would think.
>
>That's why I think they showed so many coincidental occassions where Cretak
was
>being nice to Kira. They only had one episode to fool us and at the end of
it
>we would see the real meaning behind Cretak's behaviour.
I completely agree with you here. Kinda nice to see somebody on "our" side
who's a match with the old Dukat...
Wulf
}
}Wulf wrote in message <6vduta$1es...@ns.idirect.com>...
}>
}>For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in
}Damar.
}
}We only saw him in what, one or two scenes? Whereas Weyoun has been seeing
}him drinking often enough in the 3-month gap between last season and this to
}make references to how often he's drinking Kanar.
}
}This is admittedly inference, but it's inferred from Weyoun's dialogue.
You can see how much faith I put in Weyoun's dialogue ;-)
}>That's why I think they showed so many coincidental occassions where Cretak
}>was
}>being nice to Kira. They only had one episode to fool us and at the end of
}>it we would see the real meaning behind Cretak's behaviour.
}
}I completely agree with you here. Kinda nice to see somebody on "our" side
}who's a match with the old Dukat...
Why thank you. That was a compliment directed my way, wasn't it ;-) ?
Prodigal
Wulf wrote in message <6vgmja$17g...@ns.idirect.com>...
>In article <eelGC8f89GA.201@upnetnews05>, "Prodigal"
<eoin_m...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>}
>}Wulf wrote in message <6vduta$1es...@ns.idirect.com>...
>}>
>}>For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in
>}Damar.
>}
>}We only saw him in what, one or two scenes? Whereas Weyoun has been seeing
to
>}make references to how often he's drinking Kanar.
>}
>}This is admittedly inference, but it's inferred from Weyoun's dialogue.
>
>You can see how much faith I put in Weyoun's dialogue ;-)
Since it's all we have to judge by, Damar's inept justifications aside, I'm
putting enough faith in Weyoun to take his word here.
(My dislike of Damar may, I admit, be coloring my perceptions here. But I
still say Damar's a saucehead.)
>}>That's why I think they showed so many coincidental occassions where
Cretak
>}>was
>}>being nice to Kira. They only had one episode to fool us and at the end
of
>}>it we would see the real meaning behind Cretak's behaviour.
>}
>}I completely agree with you here. Kinda nice to see somebody on "our" side
>}who's a match with the old Dukat...
>
>Why thank you. That was a compliment directed my way, wasn't it ;-) ?
I actually meant Cretak.
she's a treacherous witch, but I like what I've seen, so far. *g*
Antony Alonso
>Don't forget ... we also had an oyster cult too. Damn, now that I think
>about it, this NG is as fragmented and as easily manipulated as the
>Bajorans.
Yes, one does get the impression they're easily misled as I've said.
Antony Alonso
>For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in
>Damar.
I think Weyoun's statement is based on seeing him drink "more than
average." We don't _see_ Damar much at all of late. To suggest drinking
straight out of the bottle was a reference to an underlying allegation
that it's become somewhat dominant in Damar's lifestyle of late...
(rest snipped, as it was agreeable and no need for comments)
>Wulf, Keeper of Obscure Trek Trivia.
Antony Alonso
>}>For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in
>}>Damar.
>}I think Weyoun's statement is based on seeing him drink "more than
>}average." We don't _see_ Damar much at all of late. To suggest drinking
>}straight out of the bottle was a reference to an underlying allegation
>}that it's become somewhat dominant in Damar's lifestyle of late...
>I just needed a little more than Weyoun's word for it.
Well, we had our own observations available concerning Damar's loosened
tongue when Quark provided enough Kanar (to establish how the minefield
was going to be disassembled) from season 6.
>Wulf
Wulf
}
}Hello Wulf, on 08-Oct-98 18:08:41, you said,
}
}>}>For me an alcoholic is drinking much more regularly than what we see in
}>}>Damar.
}
}>}I think Weyoun's statement is based on seeing him drink "more than
}>}average." We don't _see_ Damar much at all of late. To suggest drinking
}>}straight out of the bottle was a reference to an underlying allegation
}>}that it's become somewhat dominant in Damar's lifestyle of late...
}
}>I just needed a little more than Weyoun's word for it.
}
}Well, we had our own observations available concerning Damar's loosened
}tongue when Quark provided enough Kanar (to establish how the minefield
}was going to be disassembled) from season 6.
I had forgotten that fact. Good point, Antony.
Timothy Bruening
>
> The scene cuts to Sisko's where Joseph is confronted by Benjamin over
> the face in the picture. Joseph is determined to keep it a secret and Ben is
> determined to get the truth so that he can understand the vision. This
> confrontation leads to Ben shaking Joseph by the shoulders yelling "I need to
> know who she is!".
>
> Joseph gives in and explains the woman's name is Sarah. That he married her
> within two months of meeting her. And that Sarah is Ben's real mother.
Why didn't the identity of Sisko's real Mom come to light when he applied for Starfleet? I expect that when Benjamin Sisko was born, Sara would have been listed on his birth certificate as his Mom. But Ben's father Joseph told him that his Mom was someone else (his Dad's 2nd wife). When Ben applied for Starfleet, he would have listed his Mom as Joseph's 2nd wife. When Starfleet did a background check, it would have discovered that Ben Sisko's real Mom was Joseph's first wife Sara. Starfleet should then have confronted Ben about the discrepancy. Why didn't that happen?
BTW, where is everyone?