Sacrifice of Angels (DS9 episode)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
"Sacrifice of Angels"
Scene from the Battle of Bajor
Episode no.	127
Prod. code	530
Airdate	November 3, 1997
Writer(s)	Ira Steven Behr Hans Beimler
Director	Allan Kroeker
Guest star(s)	Andrew J. Robinson Jeffrey Combs Marc Alaimo Max Grodenchik J.G. Hertzler Melanie Smith Casey Biggs Chase Masterson Salome Jens
Year	2374
Stardate	Unknown
Episode chronology
Previous	"Favor the Bold"
Next	"You Are Cordially Invited..."

Sacrifice of Angels was an episode from the sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and was directed by Allan Kroeker. It was written by Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler. It originally aired in syndication November 3, 1997 in the United States. The episode's plot details the efforts of the United Federation of Planets to retake space station Terok Nor from the forces of the Dominion (Star Trek).

1 Synopsis
2 Fan Reaction
3 Criticism
4 Trivia
5 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Sacrifice of Angels is the final episode of the six-part story arc that kicks off the show's sixth season. At the end of season five, Dominion forces led by Gul Dukat and Weyoun invaded Bajoran space, forcing the Starfleet crew manning Deep Space Nine to abandon the station.

The episode opens with shots of the Dominion and Federation fleets, as Captain Sisko, aboard the starship Defiant, orders his fleet to drop to half impulse. The fleet has been ordered to retake Deep Space Nine before the Dominion can destroy a massive minefield blocking the Bajoran wormhole, the primary conduit linking the Alpha Quadrant to the Dominion stronghold in the Gamma Quadrant. If the minefield is lowered, a task force of thousands of Dominion ships will be able to join their brethren in the Alpha Quadrant, sealing the fate of the Federation.

Sisko orders several wings of Federation fighters to begin bombarding the Cardassian warships that make up a significant portion of the Dominion fleet, hoping that the more emotional Cardassians will give chase to the Federation ships and allow the Federation fleet to punch through the Dominion lines.

Meanwhile, aboard Deep Space Nine (rechristened Terok Nor by the Dominion), Gul Dukat is aware of Sisko's ruse. He explains his plans to the other Dominion leaders, saying that once the bulk of the Federation fleet is allowed to penetrate behind Dominion lines, he'll use superior numbers to surround the enemy ships completely. The Female Shapeshifter is wary of this plan, noting that Dukat's boasting has not led to the destruction of the Federation minefield, which is several weeks behind schedule.

Once the Dominion leaders leave, Damar asks Dukat's permission to detain several station personnel, including Major Kira, Jake Sisko and Leeta. Damar believes the trio to be behind a recent sabotage attempt by Rom, a Ferengi technician working aboard the station. Dukat grants Damar's request, warning him that Major Kira is not to be hurt in any way. Damar also advises Dukat to keep his daughter, Tora Ziyal, confined to quarters "for her own safety." Damar adds that he does not trust Ziyal, as she is a close friend of Major Kira. Dukat refuses to listen to Damar's advice.

On the station's Promenade, Jake, Kira, Leeta and Quark are discussing rumors of the Federation fleet's demise at the hands of the Dominion. With the destruction of the minefield just hours away, the group must find a way to sabotage the station's weapons systems. Before they can reach a consensus, Damar's troops takes Jake, Kira and Leeta into custody, leaving Quark to come up with a plan on his own.

Meanwhile, Sisko continues to throw wave after wave of Federation fighters against the Cardassian's Galor and Hideki-class cruisers. Dukat finally allows some of his ships to go after the fighters, seemingly opening a hole in the Cardassian lines. Knowing that Dukat is setting a trap for his fleet, Sisko nonetheless orders his larger warships to "make for that opening," in a desperate attempt to reach Deep Space Nine before it is too late.

As the Federation fleet moves in, several Galaxy, Excelsior and Akira-class starships lay down heavy phaser fire, decimating many Dominion ships. The Dominion retaliates, severely damaging several starships and jamming the Federation communications frequencies.

As Sisko's efforts devolve into chaos, Odo is confronted by the Female Shapeshifter, who informs him that Major Kira has been arrested and will be executed for planning a terrorist act against the Dominion. This news shocks Odo, who still has deep feelings for his friends aboard the station, despite the Female Shapeshifter's efforts to turn him to the Dominion's side.

The battle continues to go badly for the Federation. Sisko continues to lose ship after ship, including the two Miranda class starships escorting the Defiant. As Jem'Hadar warships surround the Defiant, Sisko orders the crew to divert power to the weapons in an attempt to fight their way out.

As the Defiant weaves its way through the Dominion lines, a hail of disruptor fire destroys the Jem'Hadar pursuers. The Klingon fleet, led by Worf and Martok, has arrived to tilt the odds in the Federation's favor.

The Klingons clear a path for the Defiant, destroying a large Dominion battlecruiser in the process. The Defiant finally breaks through the Dominion lines, though the rest of the Federation and Klingon fleets are still tied up in the battle. Sisko orders Jadzia Dax to set course for Deep Space Nine, maximum warp.

Aboard the station, Quark corners Ziyal in her father's quarters, asking for her help in freeing Jake, Kira, Rom and Leeta. She agrees, and the two are able to free the group using a pair of phasers and a hasperat souffle.

Kira immediately sets to work organzing the sabotage of the station's weapons, as the minefield's destruction will take place at any moment. She and Rom set off for the station's core section, pursued by Jem'Hadar forces. The pair are cornered in a cargo bay when their attackers' phasers are mysteriously silenced. It is Odo, whose own Bajoran security forces have arrived to lend assistance. Odo's men cover Kira and Rom as they enter a maintenance shaft to performe the necessary modifications to the weapons systems.

While Rom is successful in sabotaging the weapons, his victory comes seconds too late. Dukat orders the destruction of the minefield, which is witnessed by Sisko aboard the just-arrived Defiant. Knowing he has no alternative, Sisko orders the Defiant into the Wormhole, where the crew encounters a massive Dominion fleet. As Sisko directs O'Brien to lock weapons onto the Dominion ships, he experiences a vision from the Bajoran Prophets, who are upset that he is willing to sacrifice himself before fufilling their purposes. Sisko pleads with the aliens to help the Bajoran people, who created an entire religion around them. He is returned to the Defiant, but just as he gives the order to open fire, the Dominion ships vanish. The Prophets have saved Bajor, but warn Sisko that a penance will be exacted at a later date.

When Dukat sees the Defiant exit the wormhole alone, he goes mad with rage. The Defiant opens fire on the station, which cannot respond thanks to Rom's sabotage. Meanwhile, the Dominion fleet is defeated by the Federation-Klingon alliance, more than 200 ships are making their way to the station. As the Dominion begins to evacuate, Dukat goes off in search of his daughter. He locates Ziyal, who refuses to accompany him during the evacuation, admitting that she helped Kira and her friends to escape. Dukat is stunned, but is willing to forgive his daughter. As they embrace, Ziyal is struck from behind by phaserfire; Damar heard her confession and executed her as an enemy of the state. Dukat sinks to the floor in grief as Damar makes his exit.

Sisko and company make their triumphant entrance onto the Promenade, where he's reunited with Jake after several long months. Garak, meanwhile, learns of Ziyal's death; the two had grown close prior to the war. As the episode ends, Dukat is seen in a holding cell, sobbing over the loss of his daughter.

[edit] Fan Reaction

Fan response to the episode was largely positive, thanks in part to the outstanding special effects during the battle scenes. Many fans still cite the episode as the epitome of Star Trek battle sequences. Others enjoyed the culmination of the six-part Occupation story arc, which to that time, had been the longest in Star Trek history.

[edit] Criticism

Some fans have questioned why Sisko chose to fly the Defiant into the wormhole, instead of simply destroying its Alpha Quadrant end, thereby keeping the Dominion reinforcements from entering the Alpha Quadrant. However according to Star Trek canon the wormhole's entrance would not have been mined in the first place were it not for the events that transpired in In Purgatory's Shadow and By Inferno's Light where a Changling infiltrator had sabotaged the crew's attempt to collapse the entrance to the wormhole, as a result it's spatial matrix was made even more stable to the point where even trilithium explosives could not destroy it--therefore, little if anything could have been done by the Federation to collapse the wormhole.

[edit] Trivia

The episode marks the first time large-scale computer effects were used in a Deep Space Nine episode.
The on-screen 'death count' for Federation ships is as follows: Two starfighters, three Miranda-class starships (U.S.S. Sitak, U.S.S. Majestic and one other unnamed ship), and one Steamrunner class starship.
Several of the Galaxy-class starships seen in the episode do not have registry numbers or ship names displayed on their hulls.
Several fans have pointed out that a Klingon Bird-of-Prey is seemingly destroyed by 'friendly fire' as the Defiant makes its run past the Dominion Battlecruiser.