The Way of the Warrior (''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'')

"The Way of the Warrior" is the first episode from the fourth season of the American syndicated science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 74th episode overall. Michael Dorn joins the series as Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation.^[1]

In terms of the fictional Star Trek Universe, this takes place later than the events of Star Trek: Generations for the Character Worf, which had been released to theaters in late November of 1994. This is why Sisko and Worf discuss the destruction of the Enterprise-D. In turn later films such as First Contact discuss Deep Space Nine and that Worf is away from his normal mission on that Station.

A new spacecraft design model is shown in the episode, the very large Negh'Var, which is the flagship of the Klingon fleet.^[2] Other ships shown include the Vor'cha, which was first seen in "Reunion" on TNG.^[3] The Vor'Cha was designed by Rick Sternbach and the physical model was built by Greg Jein according to The Star Trek Encyclopedia by Okuda and others.^[4] Although the shots are often brief, there are spacecraft from the Cardassian, Klingon, and Federation shown in this episode, especially a wide range of Klingon spaceships

"The Way of the Warrior" achieved the 3rd spot in its time slot with a Nielsen rating of 8.5.^[5]

Plot

Deep Space 9 prepares for a Dominion invasion. The crew trains for encountering Changelings by hunting for Security Chief Odo throughout the station. Later Captain Sisko is hailed by General Martok. Martok asks for shore leave with his men, which Sisko grants. An entire armada of Klingon ships de-cloaks.

Martok wants his ships to stay at DS9 to help counter a Dominion attack. As the Klingon soldiers spread throughout the station, they cause disruptions, and beat up Garak. Later a Klingon ship stops Kasidy Yates's freighter to make sure there are no Changelings on board. Fed up with these issues, Sisko contacts Starfleet who sends Lieutenant Commander Worf to the station to help. Once on the station, Worf learns that the Klingon Empire plans on attacking Cardassia. Worf informs Sisko, who holds a meeting with Martok. Martok claims they need to attack Cardassia because it has been taken over by the Dominion. His proof is that Cardassian Central Command has been overthrown. Martok tells Sisko he will consult with Chancellor Gowron, instead he instructs the Klingon ships to begin their invasion of Cardassia.

Sisko is unable to warn Cardassia of the invasion because of the Federation-Klingon alliance. Instead Sisko lets slip to Garak the news of the invasion, who in turn warns Cardassia of the invasion. Once the Federation condemns the invasion, the Klingon Empire withdraws from the Khitomer Accords, ending the alliance with the Federation. Sisko contacts the new Cardassian government, and speaks with Dukat. Sisko convinces Dukat that he and the Council should evacuate Cardassia and meet with the Defiant to seek refuge at DS9. At the rendezvous point, the Klingon ships attack and the Cardassians are forced to join the Defiant. The Klingon ships follow the Defiant back to DS9. Gowron urges Sisko to surrender; however, unknown to Gowron, DS9 has been equipped with more than 5,000 photon torpedoes. The Klingon fleet attacks DS9, and is countered by several rounds of torpedoes. Many Klingon ships are destroyed, and Gowron orders his ships to target the shield generators. Klingon boarding parties beam into DS9, and after a hand-to-hand battle, the crew regains control of the situation.

Chief O'Brien is able to restore the shields to the station, and Starfleet reinforcements are on their way. This leaves the Klingon ships no choice but to retreat. Gowron warns Sisko that he has sided against them in battle, and he will not forget. Worf decides to stay aboard DS9, and he joins the crew as a Strategic Operations Officer, a command role.

Arc significance

• Worf joins the crew of Deep Space 9.^[1](This takes place for that character in between the loss of the Enterprise-D in Generations, but before First Contact)
• The Klingon Empire abandons the Khitomer Accords, from the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (December 6, 1991)
• Gowron was made Klingon Chancellor in Reunion (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (November 5, 1990)
• Negh'Var warship is also seen, albeit in modified from in All Good Things... (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (May 23, 1994)
• Miles O'Brien and Worf are re-united having served together on the Enterprise-D under Picard (Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994 TV show))

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: "The Way of the Warrior"

• "The Way of the Warrior" on IMDb

• "The Way of the Warrior" at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)