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Destiny (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"Destiny" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, the fifteenth episode of the third season.
Quick Overview: A joint Federation-Cardassian mission to establish a communications relay on the other side of the wormhole is complicated by an ancient Bajoran prophecy of doom.
, a team of Cardassian
scientists plans to deploy a subspace
relay to allow communication through the Bajoran wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant for the first time. Soon afterwards, Vedek Yarka arrives to tell Commander Sisko
that Trakor's Third Prophecy warns that this would bring catastrophe. The prophecy reads: When the river wakes, stirred once more to Janir's side, three vipers will return to their nest in the sky. When the vipers try to peer through the temple gates, a sword of stars will appear in the heavens. The temple will burn, and its gates will be cast open.
Sisko is more than a little skeptical, and establishing communication with the Gamma quadrant is too important to stop. Furthermore, there are only two Cardassians, not "three vipers" as foretold. Then, one of them mentions that a third scientist will be joining them. Sisko remains unfazed, but Major Kira
begins to worry. Next, a comet
is detected headed their way -- "the sword of stars" according to Kira. Nonetheless, the relay is deployed and testing begins.
The second test causes trouble. The wormhole's gravity increases threefold, drawing the comet toward it. The silithium in the core of the comet will cause a cascade reaction if it enters the wormhole and destroy it forever. Trakor's prophecy seems to be coming true.
Sisko has the Defiants modified phasers fire on the comet in an attempt to destroy it, but that only splits it into three pieces, all still on course for the wormhole. One of the scientists suggests creating a subspace field around the fragments to isolate the silithium. The plan nearly works, but some of it leaks out and reacts with the wormhole. However, this turns out to be unexpectedly beneficial. A subspace filament forms along the entire length of the wormhole, establishing a communications link.
Kira realizes that the entire prophecy actually came true. The three vipers were the three comet fragments, not the Cardassians. The silithium ignited the wormhole, burning the temple gates—so they'd never close again. Sisko finally agrees: Trakor saw it all and wrote it down three thousand years before. Back on the station, at the very last moment of the show, Vedek Yarka partially reveals to Commander Sisko Trakor's Fourth Prophecy where the Emissary will eventually "face a fiery trial", a foreshadow of what is to come.
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 third season.
Quick Overview: A joint Federation-Cardassian mission to establish a communications relay on the other side of the wormhole is complicated by an ancient Bajoran prophecy of doom.
Plot
Working from Deep Space NineDeep 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...
, a team of 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...
scientists plans to deploy a subspace
Subspace (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek fictional universe, subspace is a feature of space-time which facilitates faster-than-light transit, in the form of interstellar travel or the transmission of information. Subspace obeys different laws of physics...
relay to allow communication through the Bajoran wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant for the first time. Soon afterwards, Vedek Yarka arrives to tell Commander 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:...
that Trakor's Third Prophecy warns that this would bring catastrophe. The prophecy reads: When the river wakes, stirred once more to Janir's side, three vipers will return to their nest in the sky. When the vipers try to peer through the temple gates, a sword of stars will appear in the heavens. The temple will burn, and its gates will be cast open.
Sisko is more than a little skeptical, and establishing communication with the Gamma quadrant is too important to stop. Furthermore, there are only two Cardassians, not "three vipers" as foretold. Then, one of them mentions that a third scientist will be joining them. Sisko remains unfazed, but Major 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...
begins to worry. Next, a comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
is detected headed their way -- "the sword of stars" according to Kira. Nonetheless, the relay is deployed and testing begins.
The second test causes trouble. The wormhole's gravity increases threefold, drawing the comet toward it. The silithium in the core of the comet will cause a cascade reaction if it enters the wormhole and destroy it forever. Trakor's prophecy seems to be coming true.
Sisko has the Defiants modified phasers fire on the comet in an attempt to destroy it, but that only splits it into three pieces, all still on course for the wormhole. One of the scientists suggests creating a subspace field around the fragments to isolate the silithium. The plan nearly works, but some of it leaks out and reacts with the wormhole. However, this turns out to be unexpectedly beneficial. A subspace filament forms along the entire length of the wormhole, establishing a communications link.
Kira realizes that the entire prophecy actually came true. The three vipers were the three comet fragments, not the Cardassians. The silithium ignited the wormhole, burning the temple gates—so they'd never close again. Sisko finally agrees: Trakor saw it all and wrote it down three thousand years before. Back on the station, at the very last moment of the show, Vedek Yarka partially reveals to Commander Sisko Trakor's Fourth Prophecy where the Emissary will eventually "face a fiery trial", a foreshadow of what is to come.
Arc significance
- Bajor and Cardassia undertake the first joint operation since the signing of the peace treaty (cf. "Life Support") by constructing a communications relay in the Gamma Quadrant which will, among other things, provide warning of a Dominion attack.
- Trakor's Fourth Prophecy states that "the Emissary will face a fiery trial".