The Siege of AR-558 (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
The Siege of AR-558 is an episode from the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
. The number 558 is also the production code of the episode. First aired November 18, 1998. It was written by Ira Steven Behr
and Hans Beimler, and directed by Winrich Kolbe
. The episode has an average rating of 4.7/5 on the official Star Trek
website (as of August 21, 2007).
communications relay. It has already been seized by Starfleet
soldiers, and paid for in blood; of the 150 sent to the planet, 43 still live, and they have not been rotated off-duty for over five months. This is in contradiction of Starfleet regulations, which insist that infantry be rested every 90 days.
The USS Defiant
arrives carrying supplies and replicator rations. Captain Benjamin Sisko
commands, with Worf
as executive officer, Ezri Dax
and Dr. Julian Bashir
along as tech and medical support, Ensign Nog as a crewmember, and Quark
, sent on a "fact-finding mission" by the Grand Nagus.
After an abortive error involving friendly fire, Sisko lands on the planet and begins to assess the situation. The Jem'Hadar
are very interested in regaining their communications relay; Lt. Nadia Larkin, ranking officer, is just as insistent that Starfleet keep it, but with the Dominion supplying fresh troops and Starfleet doing no such thing, the odds are poor. Furthermore, Bashir's professional medical opinion is that the soldiers are in bad need of being replaced, a fact simply not logistically possible. Ezri becomes an ad hoc assistant to the garrison's engineer, Kellin, in helping him decode and decipher the comm relay. Nog looks up to the battle-hardened veterans as heroes, to Quark's consternation; the elder Ferengi
has seen the brutal, nastier side of these "hew-mans," and he warns Nog not to become too enamored of them. Finally, Sisko is pushed into a decision when the Defiant comes under attack. He orders Worf to take the ship to safety; he and his men are staying to fight.
Sisko begins by fortifying the garrison's defenses. The Dominion have left a set of booby-traps: "Houdini" anti-personnel mines that can pass in and out of subspace
at random. Kellin and Dax work out a way to force them into normal space, so that they can be moved out of the camp and used to stop attacking Jem'Hadar. He also sends out a scouting party to locate the Jem'Hadar base; Lt. Larkin leads, with Reese as survival expert and Nog as talent: his Ferengi ears will work where jammed tricorder
s will not. Quark naturally objects. The party gains the needed intelligence but is ambushed; Larkin is killed, and Nog loses his leg.
The remaining Starfleet personnel prepare for the upcoming fight. Quark guards Nog in sickbay. Bashir sets up an audio broadcast of holosuite singer Vic Fontaine as Houdinis begin exploding. Vargas and Kellin die. Quark kills a soldier threatening Nog.
Most of the Federation personnel are dead but the station is held and the relay is tapped. New supplies of troops arrive via the USS Vera Cruz, as well as a dedicated tech crew to commandeer the relay station; the Vera Cruz is also evacuating the wounded, including Nog, who will be fitted with a prosthetic limb (Nog's recovery is detailed in the episode "It's Only a Paper Moon"). With control of the comm relay, Starfleet will be able to tap into Dominion communications throughout the entire sector.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
. The number 558 is also the production code of the episode. First aired November 18, 1998. It was written by Ira Steven Behr
Ira Steven Behr
Ira Steven Behr born 23 October 1953, in New York City, New York, USA is an American television producer and screenwriter, most known for his work on Star Trek, especially Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, on which he served as showrunner and executive producer...
and Hans Beimler, and directed by Winrich Kolbe
Winrich Kolbe
Winrich Kolbe is a German-born American television, film director and television producer, best known for his work in various Star Trek television series during which time he dated Star Trek Voyager's Kate Mulgrew...
. The episode has an average rating of 4.7/5 on the official Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
website (as of August 21, 2007).
Plot
The planet AR-558 is notable only for being the site of a major DominionDominion (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...
communications relay. It has already been seized by 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...
soldiers, and paid for in blood; of the 150 sent to the planet, 43 still live, and they have not been rotated off-duty for over five months. This is in contradiction of Starfleet regulations, which insist that infantry be rested every 90 days.
The 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...
arrives carrying supplies and replicator rations. Captain 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:...
commands, with 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...
as executive officer, Ezri Dax
Ezri Dax
Ezri Dax , played by Nicole de Boer, is a counselor aboard Deep Space Nine in the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Casting:The role of Ezri Dax was created when Terry Farrell decided to leave the show and her character was subsequently killed by Dukat.When Nicole de Boer read for the...
and Dr. Julian Bashir
Julian Bashir
Lieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
along as tech and medical support, Ensign Nog as a crewmember, and Quark
Quark (Star Trek)
Quark is a fictional character in the American television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The character, which was played by Armin Shimerman, was depicted as a member of an extraterrestrial race known as the Ferengi, who are stereotypically ultra-capitalist and only motivated by...
, sent on a "fact-finding mission" by the Grand Nagus.
After an abortive error involving friendly fire, Sisko lands on the planet and begins to assess the situation. The 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...
are very interested in regaining their communications relay; Lt. Nadia Larkin, ranking officer, is just as insistent that Starfleet keep it, but with the Dominion supplying fresh troops and Starfleet doing no such thing, the odds are poor. Furthermore, Bashir's professional medical opinion is that the soldiers are in bad need of being replaced, a fact simply not logistically possible. Ezri becomes an ad hoc assistant to the garrison's engineer, Kellin, in helping him decode and decipher the comm relay. Nog looks up to the battle-hardened veterans as heroes, to Quark's consternation; the elder Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
has seen the brutal, nastier side of these "hew-mans," and he warns Nog not to become too enamored of them. Finally, Sisko is pushed into a decision when the Defiant comes under attack. He orders Worf to take the ship to safety; he and his men are staying to fight.
Sisko begins by fortifying the garrison's defenses. The Dominion have left a set of booby-traps: "Houdini" anti-personnel mines that can pass in and out of subspace
Hyperspace (science fiction)
Hyperspace is a plot device sometimes used in science fiction. It is typically described as an alternative region of space co-existing with our own universe which may be entered using an energy field or other device...
at random. Kellin and Dax work out a way to force them into normal space, so that they can be moved out of the camp and used to stop attacking Jem'Hadar. He also sends out a scouting party to locate the Jem'Hadar base; Lt. Larkin leads, with Reese as survival expert and Nog as talent: his Ferengi ears will work where jammed tricorder
Tricorder
In the fictional Star Trek universe, a tricorder is a multifunction handheld device used for sensor scanning, data analysis, and recording data.Three primary variants of the tricorder are issued in Star Trek's Starfleet...
s will not. Quark naturally objects. The party gains the needed intelligence but is ambushed; Larkin is killed, and Nog loses his leg.
The remaining Starfleet personnel prepare for the upcoming fight. Quark guards Nog in sickbay. Bashir sets up an audio broadcast of holosuite singer Vic Fontaine as Houdinis begin exploding. Vargas and Kellin die. Quark kills a soldier threatening Nog.
Most of the Federation personnel are dead but the station is held and the relay is tapped. New supplies of troops arrive via the USS Vera Cruz, as well as a dedicated tech crew to commandeer the relay station; the Vera Cruz is also evacuating the wounded, including Nog, who will be fitted with a prosthetic limb (Nog's recovery is detailed in the episode "It's Only a Paper Moon"). With control of the comm relay, Starfleet will be able to tap into Dominion communications throughout the entire sector.