Defiant (DS9 episode)

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Star Trek: DS9 episode
"Defiant"

Episode no.
Prod. code	55
Airdate	1994-11-21
Writer(s)	Ronald D. Moore
Director	Cliff Bole
Year	2371
Stardate	48467.3
Episode chronology
Previous	"Meridian"
Next	"Fascination"

"Defiant" is the title of a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, from the third season.

In this episode, Tom Riker shows up unannounced and uses Major Kira’s interest in him to steal the USS Defiant.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Once aboard the Defiant, Tom Riker takes the captain's chair (and removes his false sideburns) and sets course for Cardassian space. As a member of the freedom fighter group the Maquis, Riker intends to strike a blow against the Cardassians who have occupied numerous worlds after their war with the Federation in the Demilitarized Zone.

Deep Space Nine's Commander Sisko is placed in a difficult position. He wants the Defiant captured and returned to his station, but would prefer that the ship would not be destroyed. He eventually travels to Cardassia Prime to oversee and assist the operation to hunt Riker down. After doing considerable damage, the Defiant is eventually located by Cardassian Keldon-class starships, and Riker surrenders the ship to them.

Much of the tension created in this episode comes from the moral dilemma that Sisko has to deal with. Much of the combat is seen on a display screen, similar to the Next Generation episode “The Wounded”, wherein Captain Benjamin Maxwell had to be stopped from destroying Cardassian ships and stations, which would have upset the delicate peace.