The Circle (DS9 episode)

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This article is about the DS9 episode. For the group known as the Circle featured in the episode, see The Circle (Star Trek).

"The Circle" is the second episode of the second season of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Together with "The Homecoming" and "The Siege," it was the first three-part story arc in Star Trek history. Original airdate: October 3, 1993. Written by Peter Allen Fields. Directed by Corey Allen.

Quick Overview: The Circle begins a full-scale coup, but there is more to the situation than meets the eye.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The Circle holds a defiant Kira Nerys hostage.

Odo, Dax, Bashir, O'Brien, and even Quark humorously show up at Kira's quarters, each reacting in his or her own way her departure. "Is this a joke? Did you plan this?" she finally exclaims, to which Bashir says, "Nobody could have planned this!" Vedek Bareil is the last to arrive and he invites Kira to come to his monastery on Bajor. She accepts and, reminiscing alone in Ops, realizes both how much she hated her position as liaison officer a year ago and how much she cherishes it now. Li Nalas reassures her and Sisko that he did not want the job and that he knows no one can replace Kira.

On Bajor, Kira and Bareil grow close and Bareil allows Kira to consult one of the Bajoran Orbs for guidance. She has a vision that includes her and Bareil as lovers, which she conceals from him. Meanwhile, on Deep Space Nine Quark panics because he believes the xenophobic Circle is taking over. He has heard that the Kressari are arming the Circle, so Odo blackmails him to find out more. After conducting several searches of a Kressari freighter, Dax and O'Brien conclude that there is no evidence of foul play. The freighter departs with Odo stowing away as a mouse.

Sisko visits to the commander of the Bajoran militia, General Krim, and during their exchange he becomes convinced that the military will not stop the Circle's coup. While on Bajor he also visits Kira. Shortly after he leaves, however, several masked members of the Circle kidnap her. Jarro reveals to Kira that he is the true force behind the Circle and the reason Li Nalas was stationed aboard DS9. He solicits her help, but while she has no love for the provisional government, she tells Jarro votes, not weapons, are the way to change a government. Quark eventually learns where Kira is from his "contacts." Sisko and the others mount a rescue mission and take her back to the station.

Sisko and Kira conclude that they must get Li to the Chamber of Ministers because he is the only person capable of rallying enough support to stop the Circle. They know the Circle will try to stop him, and as Odo informs them upon his return, it will be "courtesy of a Cardassian weapon." Odo has a manifest from the freighter proving that the Cardassians are arming the Circle through the Kressari in an attempt to force the Federation off Bajor and allow them to reconquer it. Unfortunately, by the time this is revealed all communication to and from Bajor has been cut off.

Jarro goes to Vedek Winn, seeking her support as a spiritual leader in order to legitimize his coup. "The Prophets are smiling on you today, Minister," she tells him. Several Bajoran assault vessels approach DS9, ordering all non-Bajorans to evacuate. Sisko seeks Starfleet's help, but the Prime Directive prevents it from interfering. Regardless, Sisko and the crew refuse to give up without a fight.

[edit] Trivia

Admiral Chekote cites the Westphalian sovereignty understanding of the Prime Directive as the reason why the Federation cannot get involved in an internal Bajoran civil war, even though one side is being armed by a foreign power. This reasoning harks back to the Star Trek: The Next Generation two-part episode "Redemption." However, there the Prime Directive was apparently no bar against Federation efforts to expose such outside interference.