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Honor Among Thieves (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"Honor Among Thieves" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, in which Miles O'Brien
is tasked by Starfleet Intelligence to infiltrate the Orion Syndicate, an organized crime
gang that spans the Alpha Quadrant. His goal is to find the identity of the person in Starfleet
that is leaking information about their undercover operatives to the Syndicate, who is eliminating them one by one. To successfully penetrate the secretive organization, he must become one of them.
of a planet called Farius Prime where law and order come from the barrel of a phaser. His assignment leads him to a bar that a local chapter of the Syndicate call home. Waiting for an opportunity, he sits atop a bar stool and diligently works on various gadgets from day to day. Starfleet Intelligence has given him the cover of a "fix-it-man" hard on his luck, knowing full well that the Syndicate is actively recruiting people with such skills.
Opportunity strikes and Miles makes the most of it: he gets noticed by saving one of the master criminals who was attempting to hack into a computer belonging to a local restaurant. The criminal is not seriously hurt, but his expensive equipment is damaged. Miles offers to fix it and his relationship with Liam Bilby, the leader of the group, grows from then on.
An unexpected meeting in the middle of the night from Bilby's boss, Raimus, leads to the former "witnessing" for Miles, making the new recruit's relationship with the organization official and taking responsibility should anything go wrong. Raimus comes to the meeting joined by a Vorta
, implying that the Orion Syndicate and the Dominion
are working together towards their mutual gain.
The Vorta later explains to Bilby that three Klingon
disruptors are needed to assassinate the local Klingon ambassador. Unlike Chancellor Gowron
, this Klingon is deeply opposed to the Klingon alliance with the Federation
. By having the ambassador killed by Klingon disruptors, it will appear that his assassination was ordered by Gowron. The Dominion believes that he will be branded a martyr
, furthering his cause and therefore weakening the alliance from within.
O'Brien later informs his contact with Starfleet Intelligence of the assassination plot. Rather than arrest the men involved, he opts to alert the Klingons and let them deal with it. At this point O'Brien has gotten close to Bilby, as instructed, and hates the idea of being responsible for his death. He decides to break with Starfleet Intelligence and tell Bilby the truth. Broken with the news, Bilby has little option but to head straight into the trap as there is no running from the Syndicate. By dying before it becomes obvious that O'Brien is working for Starfleet, he hopes that Raimus will spare his family. Before leaving, he asks O'Brien to deliver a birthday present to his daughter, and to take care of his pet cat
Chester.
This show is significant in that it shows a side of the galaxy rarely seen in most Star Trek series and episodes. Gene Roddenberry
's vision of the future showed that cold blooded murder, treachery, gambling, prostitution, drugs, poverty, and crime are no longer characteristic of humans but they all play a prominent role in this episode. This continues the Deep Space Nine tradition of bringing reality to a franchise built on utopia
n grounds.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, in which Miles 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...
is tasked by Starfleet Intelligence to infiltrate the Orion Syndicate, an organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
gang that spans the Alpha Quadrant. His goal is to find the identity of the person in Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
that is leaking information about their undercover operatives to the Syndicate, who is eliminating them one by one. To successfully penetrate the secretive organization, he must become one of them.
Episode Summary
O'Brien gets sent to a dark corner of the Alpha Quadrant, a forgotten industrial parkIndustrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
of a planet called Farius Prime where law and order come from the barrel of a phaser. His assignment leads him to a bar that a local chapter of the Syndicate call home. Waiting for an opportunity, he sits atop a bar stool and diligently works on various gadgets from day to day. Starfleet Intelligence has given him the cover of a "fix-it-man" hard on his luck, knowing full well that the Syndicate is actively recruiting people with such skills.
Opportunity strikes and Miles makes the most of it: he gets noticed by saving one of the master criminals who was attempting to hack into a computer belonging to a local restaurant. The criminal is not seriously hurt, but his expensive equipment is damaged. Miles offers to fix it and his relationship with Liam Bilby, the leader of the group, grows from then on.
An unexpected meeting in the middle of the night from Bilby's boss, Raimus, leads to the former "witnessing" for Miles, making the new recruit's relationship with the organization official and taking responsibility should anything go wrong. Raimus comes to the meeting joined by a 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:...
, implying that the Orion Syndicate and 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...
are working together towards their mutual gain.
The Vorta later explains to Bilby that three Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
disruptors are needed to assassinate the local Klingon ambassador. Unlike Chancellor 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...
, this Klingon is deeply opposed to the Klingon alliance with the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
. By having the ambassador killed by Klingon disruptors, it will appear that his assassination was ordered by Gowron. The Dominion believes that he will be branded a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
, furthering his cause and therefore weakening the alliance from within.
O'Brien later informs his contact with Starfleet Intelligence of the assassination plot. Rather than arrest the men involved, he opts to alert the Klingons and let them deal with it. At this point O'Brien has gotten close to Bilby, as instructed, and hates the idea of being responsible for his death. He decides to break with Starfleet Intelligence and tell Bilby the truth. Broken with the news, Bilby has little option but to head straight into the trap as there is no running from the Syndicate. By dying before it becomes obvious that O'Brien is working for Starfleet, he hopes that Raimus will spare his family. Before leaving, he asks O'Brien to deliver a birthday present to his daughter, and to take care of his pet cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
Chester.
This show is significant in that it shows a side of the galaxy rarely seen in most Star Trek series and episodes. Gene Roddenberry
Gene Roddenberry
Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry was an American television screenwriter, producer and futurist, best known for creating the American science fiction series Star Trek. Born in El Paso, Texas, Roddenberry grew up in Los Angeles, California where his father worked as a police officer...
's vision of the future showed that cold blooded murder, treachery, gambling, prostitution, drugs, poverty, and crime are no longer characteristic of humans but they all play a prominent role in this episode. This continues the Deep Space Nine tradition of bringing reality to a franchise built on utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
n grounds.