By Inferno's Light (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"By Inferno's Light" is an episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, the fifteenth episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.6/5 on the official Star Trek website as of September 2009.
The second half of a two-part episode, it is most notable for featuring the beginning of the Dominion
invasion of the Alpha Quadrant. It features the return of several familiar faces, drawing on plot lines from the third-season's "Improbable Cause" and "The Die is Cast", the body of the fourth season, and fifth-season opener "Apocalypse Rising
".
fleet momentarily pauses and faces off with DS9
, USS Defiant
, several runabouts, and Gul Dukat
aboard a Bird of Prey. The fleet then heads to Cardassian
space, with Dukat's Bird of Prey following them. Thinking that he's trying to make a heroic stand against the entire fleet, Kira
tells him to stand down, but Dukat informs her that he has been secretly negotiating with the Dominion for several months now, and that the Dominion has accepted Cardassia as a member, with Dukat as the leader of the new government.
At the internment camp, the prisoners are told of Cardassia's new allegiance, and all Cardassian prisoners at the camp are set free. As Garak walks off with the other Cardassians, he is told that he is to remain in prison, at the personal request of Dukat. Dukat himself appears in a video transmission to all of Cardassia, and pledges to expel Klingons and Maquis from Cardassian space and reclaim "all that was lost".
Elim Garak
begins work on modifying the transmitter to contact the runabout in orbit over the internment camp, and Worf
is selected as an opponent for Jem'Hadar
to practice hand-to-hand combat. He is matched first against the youngest and least experienced of them, who scores an initial knockdown, but is eventually defeated. Meanwhile, Dukat has kept his promise to expel the Klingons, and they end up at DS9, where Gowron
comes aboard to meet with Benjamin Sisko
. Sisko suggests that they join to fight the real enemy - the Dominion - and Gowron agrees to reinstate the Khitomer Accords.
At the camp, Worf's subsequent Jem'Hadar opponents become successively older and more experienced, yet he continues to be victorious. Garak begins to suffer from claustrophobia
, and Bashir suspects that he will be unable to complete the transmitter modifications. Worf returns to the cell from a day of fighting, and Bashir tells him he has several broken ribs and, along with Martok, encourages him to stop fighting. Worf's refusal to give up inspires Garak to overcome his fears and return to work.
Meanwhile, the station
crew are awaiting reinforcements and trying to locate the Changeling
in their midst. Dukat contacts Sisko and encourages him to persuade the Federation to join the Dominion. Sisko refuses, and Dukat reminds him that when he said he wanted to reclaim all lost Cardassian territory, which includes Deep Space 9, as it was built by Cardassians (although Sisko correctly points out that it was built by Bajoran slave labour). Ignoring Dukat, Sisko deploys the Defiant and the runabouts to fight the incoming joint Cardassian/Dominion fleet. The Changeling Bashir is on one of the runabouts, having incapacitated the crew. O'Brien
detects a fleet of ships decloaking, and the crew is shocked to discover Romulan warbirds instead of the expected Dominion fleet. The Romulans ask for permission to join the Federation/Klingon fleet, and Sisko grants it.
Back at the internment camp, as Worf is fighting the Jem'Hadar commander, three Jem'Hadar enter the cell and question the prisoners about the whereabouts of Garak, who has not been seen in some time. They discover the loose wall panels, and come close to discovering Garak when the prisoners successfully overpower their guards. In the combat ring, Worf is clearly defeated, but refuses to yield. The Jem'Hadar commander is impressed by Worf's determination to fight to what ultimately would be his death, and instead the commander himself yields the fight. This enrages the Vorta
, who orders the Jem'Hadar troops to shoot both their commander and Worf. The commander is shot, and as they turn their guns to Worf, Garak manages to engage the transmitter, and they are beamed away to the orbiting runabout at the last second along with a Romulan captive.
Once on the runabout, the real Bashir sends an urgent message to DS9. The crew realizes that the Changeling Bashir is on a runabout and is carrying a bomb that he intends to detonate inside the sun, which will cause a supernova and incinerate DS9, Bajor, and the combined Starfleet, Klingon, and Romulan forces. The Defiant takes the risky maneuver of engaging warp drive within a solar system, and pulls up alongside the runabout and engages the tractor beam
, pulling the runabout away from the sun at the last minute. The bomb explodes, destroying the runabout and the Changeling Bashir. Suddenly, the approaching Dominion fleet disappears from the sensors, and the crew realizes the fleet never left Cardassia - the Changeling had been broadcasting fake warp signatures.
Garak, Worf, Bashir, and Martok are reunited with their friends and loved ones on the station, and Sisko finalizes the new peace treaty with the Klingons. The revised version calls for a permanent Klingon presence on DS9, and Sisko selects Martok to command those troops.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, the fifteenth episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.6/5 on the official Star Trek website as of September 2009.
The second half of a two-part episode, it is most notable for featuring the beginning of the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
invasion of the Alpha Quadrant. It features the return of several familiar faces, drawing on plot lines from the third-season's "Improbable Cause" and "The Die is Cast", the body of the fourth season, and fifth-season opener "Apocalypse Rising
Apocalypse Rising
"Apocalypse Rising" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the first episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.1/5 on the official Star Trek website.-Plot:...
".
Summary
Gul Dukat aligns Cardassia with the Dominion; meanwhile, the station must deal with a Changeling infiltrator.Plot
Having just come through the wormhole in the closing moments of the previous episode, the DominionDominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
fleet momentarily pauses and faces off with DS9
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
, USS Defiant
USS Defiant
The USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
, several runabouts, and Gul Dukat
Dukat (Star Trek)
Gul Dukat is the main antagonist of the fictional television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is a member of the fictional Cardassian species, and leader in the Cardassian Union. At times he is an enemy, whilst at others an ally of the series' protagonist Benjamin Sisko. He was played by actor...
aboard a Bird of Prey. The fleet then heads to Cardassian
Cardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
space, with Dukat's Bird of Prey following them. Thinking that he's trying to make a heroic stand against the entire fleet, Kira
Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys , played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Backstory:Per Bajoran custom, her family name, Kira, precedes her given name, Nerys. She has two brothers , and her parents' names are Kira Taban and Kira Meru...
tells him to stand down, but Dukat informs her that he has been secretly negotiating with the Dominion for several months now, and that the Dominion has accepted Cardassia as a member, with Dukat as the leader of the new government.
At the internment camp, the prisoners are told of Cardassia's new allegiance, and all Cardassian prisoners at the camp are set free. As Garak walks off with the other Cardassians, he is told that he is to remain in prison, at the personal request of Dukat. Dukat himself appears in a video transmission to all of Cardassia, and pledges to expel Klingons and Maquis from Cardassian space and reclaim "all that was lost".
Elim Garak
Elim Garak
Elim Garak is a fictional character from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J. Robinson. In the series, Garak is an exiled spy from the Cardassian empire and a former member of a prestigious Cardassian intelligence group called the Obsidian Order...
begins work on modifying the transmitter to contact the runabout in orbit over the internment camp, and Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
is selected as an opponent for Jem'Hadar
Jem'Hadar
In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Jem'Hadar are the shock troops of the powerful Dominion located in the Gamma Quadrant. Genetically engineered for strength and resolve, they are also short-lived and believe that "victory is life." They are bred to perceive the Founders, enigmatic...
to practice hand-to-hand combat. He is matched first against the youngest and least experienced of them, who scores an initial knockdown, but is eventually defeated. Meanwhile, Dukat has kept his promise to expel the Klingons, and they end up at DS9, where Gowron
Gowron
Gowron is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. Portrayed by Robert O'Reilly and featured in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine...
comes aboard to meet with Benjamin Sisko
Benjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
. Sisko suggests that they join to fight the real enemy - the Dominion - and Gowron agrees to reinstate the Khitomer Accords.
At the camp, Worf's subsequent Jem'Hadar opponents become successively older and more experienced, yet he continues to be victorious. Garak begins to suffer from claustrophobia
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms...
, and Bashir suspects that he will be unable to complete the transmitter modifications. Worf returns to the cell from a day of fighting, and Bashir tells him he has several broken ribs and, along with Martok, encourages him to stop fighting. Worf's refusal to give up inspires Garak to overcome his fears and return to work.
Meanwhile, the station
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
crew are awaiting reinforcements and trying to locate the Changeling
Changeling
A changeling is a creature found in Western European folklore and folk religion. It is typically described as being the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other legendary creature that has been secretly left in the place of a human child. Sometimes the term is also used to refer to the child who...
in their midst. Dukat contacts Sisko and encourages him to persuade the Federation to join the Dominion. Sisko refuses, and Dukat reminds him that when he said he wanted to reclaim all lost Cardassian territory, which includes Deep Space 9, as it was built by Cardassians (although Sisko correctly points out that it was built by Bajoran slave labour). Ignoring Dukat, Sisko deploys the Defiant and the runabouts to fight the incoming joint Cardassian/Dominion fleet. The Changeling Bashir is on one of the runabouts, having incapacitated the crew. O'Brien
Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)
Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
detects a fleet of ships decloaking, and the crew is shocked to discover Romulan warbirds instead of the expected Dominion fleet. The Romulans ask for permission to join the Federation/Klingon fleet, and Sisko grants it.
Back at the internment camp, as Worf is fighting the Jem'Hadar commander, three Jem'Hadar enter the cell and question the prisoners about the whereabouts of Garak, who has not been seen in some time. They discover the loose wall panels, and come close to discovering Garak when the prisoners successfully overpower their guards. In the combat ring, Worf is clearly defeated, but refuses to yield. The Jem'Hadar commander is impressed by Worf's determination to fight to what ultimately would be his death, and instead the commander himself yields the fight. This enrages the Vorta
Vorta
Vorţa is a commune in Hunedoara County, Romania. It is composed of seven villages: Certeju de Jos, Coaja, Dumeşti, Luncşoara, Valea Poienii, Visca and Vorţa.-References:...
, who orders the Jem'Hadar troops to shoot both their commander and Worf. The commander is shot, and as they turn their guns to Worf, Garak manages to engage the transmitter, and they are beamed away to the orbiting runabout at the last second along with a Romulan captive.
Once on the runabout, the real Bashir sends an urgent message to DS9. The crew realizes that the Changeling Bashir is on a runabout and is carrying a bomb that he intends to detonate inside the sun, which will cause a supernova and incinerate DS9, Bajor, and the combined Starfleet, Klingon, and Romulan forces. The Defiant takes the risky maneuver of engaging warp drive within a solar system, and pulls up alongside the runabout and engages the tractor beam
Tractor beam
A tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
, pulling the runabout away from the sun at the last minute. The bomb explodes, destroying the runabout and the Changeling Bashir. Suddenly, the approaching Dominion fleet disappears from the sensors, and the crew realizes the fleet never left Cardassia - the Changeling had been broadcasting fake warp signatures.
Garak, Worf, Bashir, and Martok are reunited with their friends and loved ones on the station, and Sisko finalizes the new peace treaty with the Klingons. The revised version calls for a permanent Klingon presence on DS9, and Sisko selects Martok to command those troops.
Arc significance
- Dukat reveals that he has negotiated Cardassia's membership in the Dominion. He is now Cardassia's sole leader.
- With the Dominion's help, Dukat vows to regain all that Cardassia has lost, including colonies held by the Maquis and the Klingons (cf. "The Way of the Warrior") and Deep Space Nine itself.
- Garak, Worf, Bashir and Martok escape and return to the station.
- The Bashir Changeling is killed.
- The Federation-Klingon peace treaty is re-signed, and Gowron agrees to keep a Klingon presence on the station, commanded by Martok.