The Assignment (''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'')
| "The Assignment" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 5 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Allan Kroeker |
| Story by |
David R. Long Robert Lederman |
| Teleplay by |
David Weddle Bradley Thompson |
| Featured music | Gregory Darryl Smith |
| Production code | 504 |
| Original air date | October 28, 1996 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
"The Assignment" is the 103rd episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the fifth episode of the fifth season.
Keiko O'Brien, possessed by an evil Pah-wraith, plans to eliminate the Prophets. The Pah-wraith forces Miles O'Brien to use DS9's systems to fire chroniton radiation at the wormhole — destroying both it and the Prophets — or else he loses his wife and his daughter Molly.
Plot
While on Bajor doing botanical research in the Bajoran Fire Caves, Keiko O'Brien is possessed by a Pah-wraith with a plan to eliminate the Prophets. The Pah-wraith forces Miles O'Brien to modify DS9's systems in order to be able to fire chroniton radiation at the wormhole — destroying both it and the Prophets — or else he loses his wife and his daughter Molly.
Being under an impossible time limit, O'Brien tricks Rom into assisting him with the modifications. He explains to him that this is a top-secret upgrade, and that he is to tell no one about what he is doing and why. Dax spots the modifications, and thinking there is a saboteur loose alerts the Operations staff.
O'Brien is forced to point Odo in the direction of Rom to divert suspicion from himself. Rom is incarcerated but refuses to divulge anything about what he was doing and why. He explains that he will only speak to O'Brien alone. While they are talking, he asks Miles why he is trying to kill the Wormhole Aliens, and Miles is finally able to understand what is going on, and why.
Odo is still suspicious, however, and confronts Miles while he is performing the last modifications. Miles knocks him unconscious, finishes the modifications, and calls Keiko to tell her it is done, and to meet him at a Runabout. However, on the runabout, Miles tricks the Pah-wraith and unleashes the radiation on it, expelling it from Keiko's body and killing it.
As a reward for figuring out what "Keiko" was up to Chief O'Brien promotes Rom to the day shift.
Reception
Star Trek episode are often recognized as morality plays[1] and the episode may be about spousal abuse, where the person is nice to outsiders keeping up appearances but plays cruel tricks on the family in private
AVTV Club described the episode as a hostage situation in its 2013 review of the episode.[2] They noted as a "fantastic" bad O'Brien day type of episode and also praised Rosalind Chao's acting performance as fake Keiko.[3]
Releases
"The Assignment" is on disc 2 of the Season 5 DVD box set.[4]
References
See also
External links
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Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Assignment |
- The Assignment at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)