...Nor the Battle to the Strong

Jake Sisko is returning from a medical conference with Dr. Bashir. Although Jake intended to write an article about the doctor, he discovers he's having trouble finding anything interesting to write about. They receive a distress call from a Federation colony which has just been attacked by the Klingons. Jake sees the potential for a good story, and convinces Dr. Bashir to take him along.

Chief O'Brien tries to get Major Kira, who is pregnant serving as surrogate for the Chief's baby, to drink decaffeinated coffee. Then Lt. Commander Worf and Quark side with O'Brien in an argument of concern over Kira's pregnancy, while Lt. Commander Dax sides with Kira. Captain Sisko informs the others of the situation with Bashir and Jake. The USS Farragut is due to arrive at the colony in a couple of days, after which Bashir and Jake will be free to leave.

Jake has trouble handling the chaotic emergency room situation at the hospital, particularly triage. One of the patients, a Starfleet officer, claims to have been shot in the foot by the Klingons. Bashir later discovers that the wound was self-inflicted, intended to get him out of the fighting. Jake is disgusted by the man's cowardice. Everyone expects the Klingons will take over the settlement within days if no reinforcements arrive.

Back on DS9, Constable Odo is still adjusting to being a solid as he was released from the infirmary after a scuffle with a few customers at Quark's; he jumped off the stairs planning to shapeshift and catch the culprits. Dax tells Sisko the Farragut has been destroyed by Klingon forces, so Sisko takes command of the Defiant and sets a course for the colony.

When the power goes out from a Klingon surprise attack, Jake and Dr. Bashir attempt to retrieve a portable generator from the runabout. They come under fire from the Klingons. Terrified, Jake abandons Dr. Bashir and runs. Jake comes across a mortally wounded combat officer and is desperate to help him, but the officer accuses Jake of trying to redeem his cowardice before he dies. When Jake returns to the cavern, he finds everyone relieved to find him. Because no one saw him run, he claims he became disoriented and was knocked unconscious. Bashir blames himself for putting Jake in danger.

Jake talks to the soldier who shot himself in the foot, now more understanding of how he was feeling. The soldier knows his Starfleet career is over and contemplates suicide. Jake is upset at how calm people are acting, especially taking issue with their gallows humor, and has an angry outburst. Bashir tries in vain to make him open up. The Klingons attack while Jake is sleeping. As the medical team tries to evacuate everyone, Jake is attacked by two Klingons. He picks up the phaser of a dead guard and begins firing wildly, which causes a cave-in and knocks himself unconscious.

Because of the cave-in, the patients are able to escape. Jake survives without injury other than a few bruises. He is considered a hero. He writes the truth in the article, concluding that the line between courage and cowardice is much thinner than he had thought. He gives a copy to Bashir and another to his father, who understands how Jake was feeling and tells his son how proud he is.

The title comes from a line in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 9:11, which reads "I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, … but time and chance happen to them all."

In 2015, Geek.com recommended this episode for their abbreviated Star Trek: Deep Space Nine binge-watching guide.[2]

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• "...Nor the Battle to the Strong" on IMDb
• "...Nor the Battle to the Strong" at TV.com

• "...Nor the Battle to the Strong" at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

• "...Nor the Battle to the Strong" at StarTrek.com