

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

A group of refugees come through the wormhole in search of Kentanna, their fabled homeworld.

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Summary

Teaser

Kira Nerys underwent a day of frustrations the previous day with Minister Rozahn fighting bureaucratic excuses concerning the logistics for irrigating the Trilar Peninsula on Bajor. Kira has a sense of urgency, and feels Bajor is really in dire trouble. Unfortunately, she put off gathering next month's duty roster for Commander Sisko, and so Sisko calls her in his office to remind her. He knows what kept her busy, as her frustrated voice carried in Ops. She promises to drop it and get the roster done.

Chief O'Brien then relays a message from Quark, and so Kira goes down to the bar. She finds several Bajorans enjoying a sonata by Varani, but Quark sees customers not ordering any food or drink. Despite agreeing to have Varani play for a month, he would like to see something more upbeat so more people come in and spend latinum. She relays the request to Varani, but wishes there could be a more appropriate venue for him. Varani is passionate about bringing back the Bajorans' artistic heritage. Particularly, he wants to rebuild the Jalanda Forum, and had asked Kira to talk to Minister Bolka about it, but she says Bolka is very busy these days.

All this activity is interrupted by a new ship appearing through the wormhole. The ship is damaged, and four Skrreeans are beamed aboard while their ship is tractored in. Sisko introduces himself, but they are frightened.

Act One

As they attempt to communicate, Sisko and the others realize that the Skrreeans don't appear to understand what they are saying, nor can the crew understand the Skrreeans. They resolve to keep the Skrreeans talking until the universal translator can make sense of the Skrreean language, and decide to bring the group of them, Haneek, Tumak, Gai, and Cowl, down to the infirmary to tend to the wounds of one. This trip, unusually adventurous for a walk to the infirmary, reveals that the single female Skrreean, Haneek, appears to be the leader of the group. She also appears to only trust Kira, the only female so far that has dealt with the Skrreeans.

After Dr. Bashir treats Tumak's hand wound with a dermal regenerator, the Skrreeans arrive at quarters prepared for them, and Sisko gets them some maaza stalks to show them what to do. After some further attempts at communication, the computer begins sporadically, but soon adequately, to translate the Skrreean language. It is revealed that some three million Skrreean refugees are in trouble in the Gamma Quadrant and need the crew's help to inform their people of the wormhole and travel through it.

Act Two

Haneek is now communicating well, and waits with the senior staff for Sisko in Ops. She explains her present and current nervousness is due to the presence of many males, as theirs is a female-dominated society, though she herself is "little more than a farmer." She then goes into their situation: their people have been seeking the Eye of the Universe, as legend says it is the gateway to their new homeworld, Kentanna. They heard about the wormhole and believed it to be the Eye. Sisko, Dax, and Kira resolve to welcome as many Skrreeans on to the station as is possible, and quickly search for a suitable planet for the Skrreeans to colonize. Ominously, Haneek also explains that their race was freed from servitude to the T-Rogorans when that race was in turn conquered by a Dominion member.

Haneek, back in her quarters, receives Kira who wants to have her greet the first group of Skrreeans when they arrive. She is nervous about this, as she's not a leader at all, but it would help to make sure the newcomers know it's safe.

Meanwhile, Jake and Nog talk on the upper level of the Promenade about the dabo girl Jake saw earlier, Mardah, but not quite on a date, as he helped with her homework on entomology. Nog is impressed, and says he couldn't use the excuse of helping someone with their homework to see a girl. They also observe a Skrreean (Tumak) eating leftover food, unaware he can order from the replicators. They wave hello to him, and he runs away.

The arrival of the first large group of Skrreeans is an awesome sight, as many of them fill the Promenade and experience their first taste of freedom.

Act Three

As Skrreeans begin arriving on the station, there is some cultural tension. Haneek earlier had mentioned that the Skrreeans are matriarchal, as they find males too emotional and adversarial to make significant decisions. Nog finds this to be true, as he is pursued and eventually assaulted by several young Skrreeans including Tumak over a practical joke. Odo stops the children, and takes Nog to his office to have him talk to his father Rom. Quark arrives instead and makes Nog apologize. When Nog leaves, Quark looks down on the Skrreeans for loitering "without buying anything," and for the skin flakes they leave around his bar. Later, Nog meets back up with Jake, but runs into the Skrreeans again. Jake has Nog apologise, but the Skrreeans are unimpressed and try to attack Nog, leading all the boys to start brawling in the middle of the Promenade. Quark breaks it up, but makes it clear to the Skrreeans that they have worn out their welcome.

Meanwhile, the Skrreean matriarchs meet and agree that Haneek, as the first to find the wormhole, should lead the Skrreeans to Kentanna. She is nervous, but says she'll do the best she can. Kira encourages her afterward, saying she's not alone. Furthermore, Varani introduces himself, and presents a gift, saying his people know what it's like to be a displaced people. She happily accepts it and returns to her room. The gift inspires her to research Bajor, and finds that it fits the relevant description for the new Skrreean homeworld; it is "a planet of sorrow," and just outside the wormhole.

Dax and Sisko research possible worlds, they settle on Draylon II, a planet with a temperate climate, good soil, and a long growing season. It should be very suitable for them, and they go to meet them with the news. But before they can make the suggestion, Haneek announces they have already found it – Bajor.

Act Four

Haneek insists that the Bajoran Provisional Government be petitioned to let the Skrreeans immigrate there. After a debate to consider the Skrreeans' request, the government in the end denies them, for fear that Bajor's problems will both worsen due to and spread to the Skrreeans. Minister Rozahn and Vedek Sorad travel to DS9 to give the response in person. Varani catches up with Kira beforehand, presuming to know the response, and asks Kira to relay his regret at the eventual denial to Haneek.

In Sisko's office, Rozahn diplomatically explains that, despite Haneek's assurance that they don't need the Bajorans' help, and that their projections on their future growth could be wrong, the government states the risk is too high. Should the Skrreeans need help, the Bajorans cannot deny them, and they simply don't have the resources to do so. Furthermore, the land is not guaranteed to be able to be farmed. Haneek is disheartened, and turns to Kira for support, but Kira states she agrees with the government.

Meanwhile, Jake finds Tumak at the Replimat and tries to be friendly, suggesting icoberry torte. Tumak insults Nog, but Jake shakes it off. Tumak is curt with him, disappointed in the decision to go to Draylon II and his overall experiences on the station.

Haneek considers the situation in her quarters when Kira arrives to talk. Haneek feels betrayed by a supposed friend, but Kira believes it is the right decision. Just then, Sisko calls in to inform Kira that Tumak has taken a Skrreean ship for Bajor, attempting to immigrate by force.

Act Five

Kira and Haneek arrive in Ops to get more information and communicate with Tumak. He, unfortunately, is unaware that his ship is suffering from a plasma leak, and he also resists communication. While Sisko and Haneek are attempting to warn him, a pair of Bajoran interceptors move in to keep him off Bajor. The Bajorans are under direct orders from General Hazar not to let them land, so they contact him directly to stand them down. He does so, but both parties have already exchanged enough fire for Tumak's ship to explode all by itself from the damage of the phaser fire igniting the radiation leak.

In the end, the rejected Skrreeans reluctantly leave for Draylon II. Kira meets up with Haneek at the airlock to wish her luck, and that she still thinks Draylon is the best choice for them and Bajor. Haneek responds she believes it's a terrible mistake the Bajorans are making, insisting that the two races could have helped each other through their troubles. She pities the Bajorans for the suspicion and mistrust gained from the Occupation, and leaves without any parting words save for one last cutting remark: "You were right [Kira]: Bajor is not Kentanna."

Log entries

Memorable quotes

"It's hard to keep a secret in Ops, especially when you've been shouting at a monitor for the past two days."

"Thought I kept it down to an angry whisper."

"Let's just say your voice carries."

- Benjamin Sisko and Kira Nerys



"Ahh, Major! Get everything settled with Quark?"

"That little toad is this far from doing a 360 out an airlock!"

"I'm glad to hear everything went OK."

- Benjamin Sisko and Kira Nerys



"Heh, there's no doubt who the boss is."

- Odo, after observing Haneek giving orders to the three men with her



"This will be your quarters while you're here at the station. I'm sure you wanna rest and clean up and you don't understand anything I'm saying, do you?"

- Kira Nerys to the Skrreeans



"What's that smell?"

"Ask him!"

"Me? You're the one who stinks!"

- Jake Sisko, Tumak and Nog



"Are all your leaders women?"

"Yes.

"All of them?

"You heard her, Julian."

"Men are far too emotional to be leaders. They're constantly fighting amongst themselves. It's their favorite thing to do." [off looks from O'Brien, Odo and Bashir] "I'm sorry, I hope I haven't offended anyone."

- Jadzia Dax, Haneek, and Julian Bashir



"Mardah's studying entomology. She asked me to help her out."

"A dabo girl who studies entomology! Hah! Sure."

"It's true!"

"Yeah! What is entomology?"

"The study of bugs."

"Oh, you mean she wants to be a chef!"

- Jake and Nog



"It's going to get awfully crowded around here, Commander."

"I know, Constable, but it's worth it. Just look at them. They're experiencing their first taste of freedom."

- Odo and Benjamin Sisko



"This isn't over yet, Big Ears!"

- Tumak



"I think you've made a terrible mistake. All of you. Maybe we could have helped you. Maybe we could have helped each other. The Skreeans are farmers, Kira. You have a famine on your planet. Perhaps we could have made that peninsula bloom again. We'll never know, will we? Fifty years of Cardassian rule have made you all frightened and suspicious. I feel sorry for you. You were right. Bajor is not Kentanna."

- Haneek, to Kira Nerys



"Nog, have you been causing mischief again?"

"No uncle, it's all a misunderstanding."

"He sprayed several Skrreean boys with a foul smelling vapor."

[Smiles] "Did he?"

[Turns to Nog] "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I'm sorry?"

"See the boy is beside himself with guilt!"

- Quark, Nog, and Odo

Background information

Story and script

Production

Reception

Ira Steven Behr liked the dark conclusion to this episode, especially Kira's involvement in it; " It was a bold episode. It really walked the line with Kira, and pushed her into a very unattractive place. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion )

" ( ) Behr also commented that the ending "had the impact of a physical blow. It was really well done. I liked doing the stuff with the language and the weird stuff with the two husbands who serviced her. It was a great show." (Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages, p 67)

Trivia

Remastered version

Remastered footage from the episode is featured in the documentary What We Left Behind.

Video and DVD releases

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

And

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

References

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