The Adversary (episode)
"The Adversary"
Written by
Directed by
In-universe date
Podcast
A Federation ambassador brings newly-promoted Captain Sisko orders to take theDefiant on a patrol of the Tzenkethi border, where a destabilizing coup has just taken place, but everything is not as it seems. (Season finale)
Summary[]
Teaser[]
- "Commander's log,Stardate 48959.1. It is with mixed emotions that I record this, my final commander's log. The last three years have been the most demanding, and rewarding, of my career. I can only hope that the future will hold even greater challenges."
"Congratulations… CaptainSisko"
"Dad, there's something I've been wanting to say to you for a long time and now that I finally have the chance, I'm going to make it short and simple…"
In thewardroom,Benjamin Sisko's sonJake proudly places a fourthpip on his father'sdress uniform, proclaiming himCaptain Sisko. The two embrace as cheers erupt from the crew; being congratulated by his colleagues and asQuark serves thechampagne,Chateau Cleon,2303,FederationAmbassadorKrajensky informs Sisko that acoup has taken place on theTzenkethihomeworld. Sisko is to take the ambassador and theUSSDefiant to thatsector in two days to remind the Tzenkethi of the Federation's presence on nearbycolony worlds, to "show the flag," as Sisko puts it.
In theDefiant'sengine room, Captain Sisko ordersChiefMiles O'Brien to begin preparing the ship for combat in case the Tzenkethi start looking for trouble. As O'Brien begins his work, he hears a noise in the engine room, but sees no one.
Act One[]
- "My son, the writer, thinks that I should say something profound on this occasion. He even offered to write me a brief statement. I told him I'd take care of it myself, but as it turns out, the only thing I can think of is: BeginCaptain's log, Stardate 48960.9."
In theDefiant'sturbolift,LieutenantJadzia Dax asks Sisko if he has toldKasidy Yates about his promotion. Sisko says he hasn't, and that he barely had time to even tellhis father the news. Dax presses Sisko about his relationship with Kasidy, saying that the whole crew is curious. Sisko tells Dax that the next time he sees Kasidy, he's taking her to the seventh game of the1964World Series in theholosuite. Dax, amused by Sisko's response, concludes that he likes Kasidy.
Arriving on the bridge, Sisko orders theDefiant to get underway. Not long after departingDeep Space 9, O'Brien is working in aJefferies tube. He hears the noise again; then suddenly takes a great fright beforeDoctorJulian Bashir appears from another tube. He asks the doctor why he didn't answer his call; Bashir explains that he was tying a new medical console into the main power grid. After Bashir leaves, a curious O'Brien takes a look at what the doctor has done and seems impressed, saying it wasn't a bad job for an extension course.
In themess hall, Sisko tells hisChief of Starfleet Security,Lieutenant CommanderMichael Eddington, to keep the ambassador out of harm's way in case the Tzenkethi decide to engage theDefiant. Eddington again congratulates Sisko on his promotion, and Sisko tells him that it really doesn't change anything as he already has the assignment and the crew he wants. Eddington notes that when people joinStarfleet, they don't do so to becomecommanders oradmirals but always set their eyes on thecaptain's chair, and laments that he isn't likely to ever do that. Sisko suggests that Eddington could apply for a transfer from security to command, but Eddington reassures Sisko that he's happy where he is.
- "Captain's log, Stardate 48962.5. We are twelve hours from the border. I haven't been in this area since the lastFederation-Tzenkethi War. Being here brings back a lot of memories, most of them bad."
On the bridge,ConstableOdo picks up adistress call fromBarisa Prime. Thecolony reports that it is under attack before theDefiant suddenly loses contact.
Act Two[]
- "Captain's log, supplemental. We've been unable to re-establish contact with Barisa Prime. Therefore, I have no choice but to assume we are at war with the Tzenkethi."
TheDefiant sets course for Barisa Prime, and Sisko asks Odo to notifyStarfleet Command of the situation. Dax tries to contact theUSSUlysses, which is the closest starship, but to no avail. Odo reports that the communication system is malfunctioning. O'Brien and Dax are dispatched to make repairs.
In the Jefferies tube, Dax and O'Brien find several tendril-like devices working their way into theDefiant's systems. They are protected byforce fields, making them difficult to remove. O'Brien reports to Sisko that the devices are all over the ship, attached to almost every critical system. O'Brien states that these devices were not aboard when theDefiant left Deep Space 9, leading to the conclusion that someone on board is a saboteur. O'Brien reluctantly informs Sisko about his encounter with Bashir in the Jefferies tube earlier. Sisko insists that he is not accusing Bashir of sabotage, but still would like to speak with him. However, Dax comes up with an idea to find out for sure who placed the devices.
On the bridge, Sisko notifies his crew of the situation. Dax scans the crew fortetryon particles with atricorder, since the saboteur would have been exposed to them when the devices were installed. Dax points out that she and O'Brien's scans have tested positive since they were exposed to the particles when they discovered the devices. Eddington points out that if no-one else tests positive then they'll be the prime suspects, and O'Brien responds they're aware of this. The senior staff tests negative, including Bashir, much to O'Brien's relief. As Dax scans Ambassador Krajensky, O'Brien talks with Bashir about their encounter in the Jefferies tube, but Bashir denies he was there.
Krajensky's test is positive – and suddenly he changes form and escapes the bridge through theventilation system, revealing himself to be aChangeling.
Act Three[]
Thesenior staff of theDefiant strategize on how to stop the Changeling
TheDefiantcloaks and Sisko orders Dax to bring the ship out ofwarp, but she cannot. O'Brien cannot uncloak the ship andMajorKira Nerys reports that the ship'sphasers andphoton torpedoes are armed. The crew has lost control of theDefiant. Sisko orders Odo and Eddington to begin a search for the Changeling before he can do any more damage, but they are unable to locate him. In theDefiant's mess hall, Odo is confident that the Changeling is still on board, saying that he will not leave until his mission is completed. Sisko believes that the Changeling's goal is to start a war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi, speculating that the distress call from Barisa Prime was faked, and goes so far as to suggest that, depending on how long the Changeling was impersonating Krajensky, the entire basis for their mission may have been an invention of theDominion.
Knowing that the Changeling can impersonate anyone on board, Sisko orders all non-essential personnel to be confined to quarters and sealed in with force fields, and that no one be left alone. After issuing weapons to the security officers, Odo does not take one himself. He tells Eddington he has never found it necessary to fire a weapon or take a life throughout his security career; he also notes that no Changeling has ever harmed another. In the middle of their conversation, O'Brien calls for a security team to be sent to the engine room. Odo and Eddington arrive to find Dax unconscious. Bashir reports that she has a severeconcussion and takes her tosickbay.
On the bridge, Bashir tells Sisko that Dax will be unconscious for the next couple of days, leaving O'Brien alone in his attempts to regain control of the ship. Sisko tells Kira that he cannot allow the Changeling to start a war with the Tzenkethi, and that if O'Brien can't regain control of the ship, he'll have to destroy theDefiant.
Act Four[]
Sisko briefs the crew on their assignments: They will break into two-person teams, each one equipped withphaser rifles, and systematically sweep the ship for the Changeling. ABolian security officer voices his suspicions that the Changeling could be any one of them, and Sisko reminds everyone to keep their partner in sight at all times for that very reason, and orders that anyone spotted alone be escorted to thebrig.
The crew begins searching the ship. Eddington asks Odo where he thinks the Changeling might be, but Odo is unsure, unable to put himself in the Changeling's position since he does not know his own people that well. Meanwhile, while Sisko and another security officer are searching a Jefferies tube, the Changeling suddenly attacks them. The security officer is knocked out, leaving Sisko to pursue alone. Having been alerted to the Changeling's position, the crew moves to intercept. Arriving in thetransporter bay, theBolian security officer fires in Sisko's direction, believing that he has spotted the Changeling. Kira arrives from the opposite direction and insists that she is who she says she is, despite the fact that she and her partner have been separated for several seconds. The Bolian continuously accuses Kira of being a Changeling and is paranoid to the point of ignoring a direct order from Sisko to lower his weapon. Just then, Odo appears and knocks out the Bolian. Eddington appears a split second later from Kira's direction, leading Sisko to conclude that any one of them could be the Changeling. Odo notes however, that Sisko is bleeding and therefore could not be the Changeling, as material removed from a Changeling reverts to its natural form, and his blood is just that – blood. Sisko calls Bashir and orders him to meet them in the mess hall.
The real Bashir reveals himself
In the mess hall, Bashir begins performingblood screenings of the crew. Kira and the Bolian security officer prove to be themselves, but when Bashir tests Eddington, his blood reverts to a gelatinous state. He is escorted tocrew quarters, maintaining that he is not the Changeling. As Eddington is about to be forced inside the room, the adjacent door suddenly bursts open to reveal thereal Doctor Bashir yelling for help. The Changeling that took Bashir's place morphs into the ventilation system and Odo pursues. A call comes in from the bridge notifying Sisko that theDefiant has entered Tzenkethi space.
Act Five[]
Kira reports that theDefiant is twelve minutes away from a Tzenkethi settlement onM'kemas III. With this news, Sisko and Kira activate theauto-destruct sequence and set the timer for ten minutes. Sisko calls O'Brien in engineering and asks if he has had any progress in regaining control of the ship. O'Brien thinks he may have found a way to shut down the force fields and deactivate the devices. As O'Brien works, Odo and the Changeling – who is disguised as Odo – make their way into the engine room and each one tries to prove to the chief that the other is the saboteur. O'Brien refuses to play "Choose the Changeling" and has the other officer in engineering keep his phaser pointed on both of them while he deactivates the force fields. As the force fields deactivate, the Changeling drops his disguise and attacks O'Brien and the engineering officer, leaving Odo to face the Changeling alone. As the two struggle, the Changeling forcibly merges with Odo trying to convince him to escape and return toGreat Link with him. Odo refuses and pushes the Changeling onto thewarp core, fatally wounding it. Odo approaches and apologizes to the Changeling, who whispers something to Odo before he dies, turning into ash.
O'Brien regains control of the ship. After Sisko and Kira abort the auto-destruct sequence, theDefiant leaves Tzenkethi space and heads back to Deep Space 9.
- "Captains log, supplemental. We've returned to the station without further incident. However, I'm concerned about my chief of security, who hasn't said a word since we left Tzenkethi space."
In the wardroom, Sisko tells thesenior staff that the real Ambassador Krajensky was on his way toRisa for an extended vacation, but he never arrived.Starfleet Security believes that he has been either kidnapped, or possibly killed. Bashir asks about thecoup on the Tzenkethi homeworld, to which Sisko responds that it never happened, and that Starfleet wants a detailed report from each the senior officers. Odo joins the meeting and informs Sisko of the Changeling's dying words: "You're too late. We're everywhere."
Memorable quotes[]
"Dad, there's something I've been wanting to say to you for a long time and now that I finally have the chance, I'm going to make it short and simple. Congratulations,Captain Sisko!"
- -Jake Sisko, at his father's promotion
"Well, now that you have another pip on your collar, does that mean I can't disagree with you anymore?"
"No, it just means I'm never wrong."
"Oh, we'll see about that."
- -Kira andSisko
"Curzon would've been proud of you, but not as proud as I am."
"That means a lot to me, Dax."
- -Dax andSisko
"Though I don't fully understand this humanoid obsession with rank and title, if anyone deserves to be promoted, it's you."
"Thank you, Constable."
- -Odo andSisko
"This calls for a toast!"
"That better not be from a replicator, Quark."
"Chateau Cleon, 2303 – I already put it on your account."
- -Quark andBashir
"Here's to the newest and best captain in Starfleet, and all I can say is, it's about time."
- -O'Brien's toast to the newly promoted Captain Sisko
"Getting jumpy in your old age, O'Brien."
- -Miles O'Brien, to himself
"Oh,JULIAN!"
- -O'Brien, after the Changeling impersonating Bashir surprises him in a Jefferies tube
"You'd be surprised. People don't enter Starfleet to become commanders. Or admirals, for that matter. It's thecaptain's chair everyone has their eye on. That's what I wanted when I joined up, but you don't get to be aCaptain wearing agold uniform."
- -Michael Eddington
"Don't you trust me?"
"No, I don't."
"I knowexactly how you feel."
- -Kira and aBolian security officer
[O'Brien is faced with two Odos]
"Look. I've got more important things to do than play 'Choose the Changeling'." (to an Ensign) " Keep the phaser on both of them."
- -O'Brien, when faced with deciding which shapeshifter is thereal Odo
"Why are you protecting these solids? You don't belong with them. You belong with us. Let go. Don't you see? You've lost. It's too late for you to help them, but it's not too late to help yourself. Link with me, Odo. We can escape together."
"I… don't… think … so!!"
- -Changeling saboteur andOdo
"Captain, there's something you need to know. The Changeling, before he died, he whispered something to me."
"Go on."
"He said, 'You're too late. We're everywhere'."
- -Odo andSisko
Background information[]
Story and script[]
- The working title of this episode was "Flashpoint". In theDeep Space Nine Chronicles intro, it is stated that the episode was untitled until a contest was held and "The Adversary" was selected.
- The intention behind this episode was to create a thrilling installment. "It was meant to be a paranoid, tension-producing show," saidIra Steven Behr. (Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages, p. 80)
- The producers had initially planned to do a show that had a cliff-hanger ending involvingChangelings onEarth. The story was set to introduceJoseph Sisko and would take place inStarfleet Headquarters, with the end to revolve aroundBenjamin Sisko saying that theFounders had infiltrated the very heart of… and that was the end of the show. However, for reasons still unknown, Paramount nixed the idea, saying they didn't want acliffhanger ending, and so the writers came up with a story about a Changeling wreaking havoc on theDefiant instead. AsRobert Hewitt Wolfe puts it, "That's when the idea of theDefiant heading inexplicably toward destruction, like the death machine that she really is, being all locked down and going like a runaway train, became the basic hook that everyone really liked." However, the Changelings-on-Earth story later served as the basis for the episodes "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost"the following season. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. ?)
- The scene in theDefiant's mess hall where the senior officers are taking blood samples of each other to determine which one of them is the Changeling is very reminiscent of one in the1938 short story "Who Goes There?" byJohn W. Campbell, Jr. (under the pseudonym of Don A. Stuart), and its1982John Carpenter film adaptationThe Thing. However, the writers cite neither the original story nor the Carpenter film as their primary inspiration for this episode, but ratherThe Thing From Another World,Christian Nyby's1951 adaptation of the same story, which omitted the element of a shapeshifting enemy. Paranoia was something the writers were interested in exploring, as it was something rarely seen in theStar Trek universe. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. ?)
- The writers decided to use the line "No Changeling has ever harmed another" as an important element in this episode. This line had been heard a few times already (in "The Search, Part II", "Heart of Stone" and "The Die is Cast"), and its importance would return in thefourth season finale, "Broken Link", whereOdo receives his punishment for killing a fellowChangeling.
- The character ofMichael Eddington was deliberately set up as ared herring in this episode. The writers felt that the way actorKenneth Marshall had portrayed the character in "The Search, Part I", "The Search, Part II" and "The Die is Cast" had always implied some kind of underlying threat, so they decided to use that to their advantage in this episode. Indeed, after the episode aired, the word around the internet was that Eddingtonwas a Changeling infiltrator, and that this was obviously going to have a bearing on the upcoming season. Upon hearing this, the writers decided that they wouldnever make Eddington a Changeling. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. ?) Later on, it would be revealed that Eddington was a threat, but not in the manner people expected: he was a member of theMaquis who would eventually betray Starfleet.
- Sisko's opening log entry was not in the final draft shooting script.
Production[]
- The fight between Odo and the Changeling at the end of the episode was extremely complicated to put together due to all the morphing effects. ProducerSteve Oster points out that there are more morphing effects in this short scene than in the entirethird season. According to actorRene Auberjonois, after principal photography was completed, all the cast were allowed to leave except himself andLawrence Pressman. He explains that during the main shoot, he and Pressman had filmed the scene as normal, but to make sure the effects would work properly, each of them then had to re-enact the scene separately, looking at a monitor and matching their movements exactly. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. ?) There are actually some clips of both actors shooting the fight without the other present in theDeep Space Nine Chronicles intro to this episode.
- In the episode's trailer, the energy bolt that knocks Odo away after he pushes the Changeling against the warp core is omitted, leaving Odo seemingly knocked away by nothing.[1][2]
- The scene whenKrajensky morphs into a Changeling and escapes through the vent is one of visual effects supervisorGlenn Neufeld's favorite shots from the entire seven years ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- Kenneth Marshall commented that the episode was: "technically one of the more interesting shows I've done. It's fascinating how they do the morph sequences. I haven't seen them do the actual special FX, but they shoot it three different ways on the set. In the last shot, everyone tiptoes off the set so as to not disturb anything even a fraction of an inch." (The Official Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Magazine issue 15)
Reception[]
- Ronald D. Moore was a big fan of this episode, particularly due to how it portrayed the Founders. "It[…] represented an interesting way to use the Changelings, making them more of a threat," he said. (Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages, p. 80) Another reason Moore approved of this episode was that he considered it to be very un-Star Trek. "It really appealed to me on this sort of visceralJohn Wayne level," he remarked. "There's a monster on the ship, it's after us, and we're gonna hunt it down and kill it. We're not gonna negotiate with it, we're not gonna worry about whether it's sentient, we're not gonna play any of the usualStar Trek games with it. It's just, 'Find and kill the monster.' There was something very pure about that show." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 250)
- Ira Steven Behr sees this episode as an important step in the show's movement towards serialization, which would reach a peak in the six-episode arc which openedseason six and the nine-episode, ten-hour arc which acted as the finale of the series itself; ""The Adversary" was the first one where we really knew we were going to be starting to get the S-word, serialized, just a tad. In spite of all the finger-wagging and knowing we weren't supposed to, it was just a little bit, a little bit." (The Birth of the Dominion and Beyond,DS9 Season 3 DVD special features)
- InStar Trek Monthly issue 46, James Swallow listed this episode as the best episode from the third season.
Trivia[]
- In the teaser for the episode, Sisko is promoted tocaptain; however, in the opening credits of the show he is still credited as "Commander Sisko". This is the last episode to credit Sisko as a commander. It is also the last time Sisko is seen with hair and it is the last episode to have the original opening credits fromSeason 1, which were both first seen in the premiere episode, "Emissary". In thenext episode onward, Sisko is now bald and a new opening credits sequence is used.
- This episode marks the first appearance of several new sets aboard theDefiant, namelymain engineering, themess hall and the extendedcorridor set.
- According to theStar Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. ?, the rifles used in this episode are the first rifles ever seen inStar Trek which actually have a trigger.
- This episode marks the last timeAlexander Siddig is credited as "Siddig El Fadil" as an actor. As a director, however, he remains credited as Siddig El Fadil for "Business as Usual".
- According toJadzia Dax, there are47 people on board theDefiant in this episode.
Video and DVD releases[]
- UK VHS release (two-episode tapes,CIC Video): Volume 3.13,25 September1995
- As part of theDS9 Season 3 DVD collection
Links and references[]
Starring[]
Also starring[]
- Rene Auberjonois asOdo
- Siddig El Fadil asDoctorBashir
- Terry Farrell asLieutenantDax
- Cirroc Lofton asJake Sisko
- Colm Meaney asChiefO'Brien
- Armin Shimerman asQuark
- Nana Visitor asMajorKira
Guest stars[]
Co-star[]
Uncredited co-stars[]
- Sam Alejan asStarfleet sciences officer
- Ivor Bartels asStarfleet operations officer
- Ivy Borg asRita Tannenbaum
- Jeff Cadiente asStarfleet operations ensign
- Tory Christopher asStarfleet sciences lieutenant
- Kathleen Demor asStarfleet operations officer
- Terry Green asoperations lieutenant
- Randy James asJones
- Mark Lentry asStarfleet command lieutenant
- Dennis Madalone asStarfleet operations officer
Stand-ins and stunt doubles[]
- Tom Morga asstunt double for Jeff Austin
- Unknown stunt performers as
- Stunt double for Rene Auberjonois
- Stunt double for Nana Visitor
- Photo double for Rene Auberjonois
References[]
1964;2303;2368;accusation;Alpha Quadrant;ambassador;Autarch;Barisa Prime;blood;Bolian;career;centimeter;Chateau Cleon;combat mission;command chair;concussion;cortical analeptic;coup d'etat;Dax, Curzon;deflector shield generator;distress caller;distress signal;Dominion;Dominion cold war;duridium;engineering extension course;extension course;Entebe;evacuation pod;expanding energy pulse;Federation;Federation-Tzenkethi border;Federation-Tzenkethi War;Flag of the Federation;Founder;gelatinous state;Helaspont Nebula;holosuite;Jefferies tube;kayaking;M'kemas III;non-essential personnel;ore;power grid;prime suspect;priority one;promotion;radiation poisoning;replicator;Risa;sabotage;sector (unnamed);security officer;security team;sense of humor;shuttlebay doors;Sisko, Joseph;Solais V;Starfleet;Starfleet Command;Starfleet Security;tetryon;toast;tricorder;Tzenkethi;Tzenkethi autarch;Tzenkethi homeworld;Tzenkethi space;Tzenkethi warship;Ulysses, USS;warp plasma conduit; "wide berth";World Series;Yates, Kasidy
Other references[]
Deep Space 9 schematic:cargo turbo subsystem;crew quarters;crossover bridge;defense sail;defense systems monitor;deflector emitter;docking clamp;docking control cabin;docking pylon;docking ring;docking ring airlock;environmental purge/fill station;exhaust cone;fusion reactor assembly;habitat ring;ops module;ore processing center;phaser strip;photon torpedo launcher;power transfer conduit;promenade;radiator;reaction control thruster;runabout pad;sensor array;structural assembly;subspace antenna farm;tractor emitter;tug tractor emitter assembly
External links[]
- "The Adversary" atMemory Beta, the wiki for licensedStar Trek works
- "The Adversary" atWikipedia
- "The Adversary" atMissionLogPodcast.com
- "The Adversary" script atStar Trek Minutiae
- "The Adversary" at theInternet Movie Database
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