The Big Game

   

The Big Game

Quark hosts a poker game with deadly results, while Deep Space 9 is threatened with destruction.

Description[]

WhenQuark holds apoker tournament onDeep Space 9, someone from almost every sentientrace—Klingons,Cardassians,Romulans,Vulcans,Ferengi—shows up for what is sure to be the highest-stakes game of all time. But when one player is killed, the stakes get higher than even these big-money players had counted on.

With thestation rocked bysubspace waves that threaten its destruction,CommanderSisko andSecurity ChiefOdo must hunt down the killer in time to save the players, a killer who has information that can save those onboard Deep Space 9 from the invisible enemy they do not even know they face. A killer who holds all the cards…

Summary[]

DS9 has been hit by several power fluctuations and the situation only gets worse, with the station soon being hit by damaging shockwaves from an unknown source. Also damaged by the shockwaves is a Ferengi ship carryingGrand NagusZek, but Major Kira is able to transport Zek, Maihar'du and Zek's son Krax aboard the station.

Meanwhile, Quark is about to hold a poker tournament on the station. The players are not exactly known for their respect for the law, with their number includingBerlinghoff Rasmussen,Lursa andB'Etor and theKtaran operativeEtana Jol. Also among the players are Romulans, several more Klingons, Humans and other alien races. During a blackout caused by the power fluctuations, the Romulan womanNaralak is murdered.

The commander of a Cardassian ship that was also damaged by the shockwaves soon contacts the station, alleging that DS9 was the source. Sisko tells the commander they were not responsible and are investigating, the Cardassian warns more shockwaves will bring a military response.

References[]

Characters[]

Julian Bashir •Baun •B'Etor •Carter •Danar •Darak •Sergei Davidovich •Jadzia Dax •Elim Garak •Grouk •Harding •Haurk •Etana Jol •Cynthia Jones •Kinsak •Kira Nerys •Krax •Litna •L'sthwan (Klar) •Lursa •Maihar'du •Morn •Nam •Naralak •Nog •Keiko O'Brien •Miles O'Brien •Odo •Pera •George Primmin •Quark •Berlinghoff Rasmussen •Rom •Sarlak •Benjamin Sisko •Jake Sisko •Teppo •Xator •Xiao •Zek •unnamed Freepery •unnamed Grabanster •unnamed Irits •unnamed Meepod •unnamed Sligiloid •unnamed Totozoid

Referenced only

Gral •Paul Higginbotham •Jim Kiser •Geordi La Forge •Molly O'Brien •William T. Riker •Jennifer Sisko •Zind

Starships and vehicles[]

Galor-class •USSGanges (Danube-classrunabout) •USSRio Grande (Danube-classrunabout)

Referenced only

USSEnterprise-D (Galaxy-class) •USSIdaho •USSMadison •USSSaratoga

Locations[]

Deep Space 9 •Operations center •Promenade •Quark's •Replimat •Station commander's office

Referenced only

Bajor •Bajoran wormhole •Earth •Hoffman colonies •Howen Desert •Miridious Belt •Oltion IV •Patterson Belt •Risa •Sifts IV •Starbase 5 •Titanias III •Tokyo •Vukcevich sector •Vulcan

Races and cultures[]

Bajoran •Cardassian •Changeling •Espiritu •Ferengi •Freepery •Grabanster •Human •Hupyrian •Irits •Klingon •Ktarian •Meepod •Romulan •Sligiloid •Totozoid •Trill •Vulcan

Referenced only

Borg •Ktaran •Oltonion •Pletanion •Risan •Tharethian

States and organizations[]

Bajoran Militia •Bajoran Planetary Defense •Bajoran Provisional Forces •Ferengi Alliance •Ghost Riders •House of Duras •Starfleet •Starfleet Security •United Federation of Planets

Referenced only

Bajoran Children's Fund •Bajoran Resistance •Klingon High Council •Starfleet Academy Medical School

Science and technology[]

anionic beam •caffeine •cloaking device •environmental control •holosuite •interphase cloaking device •operations situation table •phase shifter •photon torpedo •replicator •solitrium wave •starship •subspace •tractor beam •turbolift

Ranks and titles[]

commander •dabo girl •Grand Nagus •security chief

Other references[]

beer •cappuccino •chess •chocolate •chocolate cake •coffee •dabo •Davesian goose •Deluvian coffee •Evarian beer •Falconian Licorice Slimmer •Ferengi cigar •Federation-Cardassian Treaty of 2366 •Ferengi Rules of Acquisition •The First Annual Deep Space Nine Poker Tournament •grub beetle •Japanese •latinum •liccie bug •lingerie •logic •Norellian twist bread •Occupation of Bajor •poker •Romulan ale •Ruthvian salad •saki •sherry •solitrium wave •spaghetti •stout •Sturgan vulture •tobacco •tribble •tuxedo •Ulian wine •Zileanian Wars

Appendices[]

Related media[]

• The events of "The Game", "A Matter of Time", "The Next Phase", "Past Prologue" and "The Nagus" are mentioned.
• The Big Game features the first appearances of the Klingons and Romulans in aStar Trek: Deep Space Nine novel.

Images[]

Original cover image.

Original cover art byKeith Birdsong.

Japanese release cover image

German language edition cover image.

Re-releaseGerman language edition cover image.

Benjamin Sisko.

Odo.

Romulan warbird.

Cardassian warship.

Deep Space 9.

USSDefiant.

Connections[]

Timeline[]

Publication history[]

November1993

First released byPocket Books. (ISBN 0671880306)

1995

Young reader novel adapted byJoanne Suter is released. (Globe Fearon,ISBN 0-8359-1490-9)

Translations[]

1994

German :Das grosse Spiel, translated by Andreas Brandhorst. (Heyne,ISBN 978-3453079564)

1999

French :Le Grand Jeu, translated by Bruno Guévin. (Ada,ISBN 978-2921892698)

2001

Japanese :究極のゲーム, translated by Masayuki Niwa. (Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko,ISBN 978-4044237059)

External link[]

• The Big Game article atMemory Alpha, the wiki for canonStar Trek.