"Dramatis Personae" is the 18th episode of season 1 and was written by Joe Menosky.
It's trouble from the get-go here when a Klingon vessel en route to the station, after conducting a survey,
explodes. A Klingon officer is beamed over and he utters "Victory" before dying of severe trauma from weapons fire.
Then there's the matter of a Valerian ship waiting to dock. Major Kira has an issue with the Valerian's whom she claims aided the Cardassians against Bajor and supplied them with weapons. Kira wants their ship
inspected by Commander Sisko orders her to allow them to dock without interference.
Meanwhile, Odo is questioning Quark to see if he has any information about the true nature of the Klingon
vessel. As Odo is leaving, he is struck by an invisible shock that manipulates his shape and he passes out.
In Dr. Bashir's office, Odo awakens and Julian is warning him to choose sides carefully in a power struggle between Kira and Sisko.
On a shuttlecraft to investigate the explosion, O'Brien warns Dax to choose sides and choose carefully. Anyone who is against Sisko is against me, he informs her.
Dax behavior is peculiar as well. She becomes daydreamy, lackadaisical and forgetful.
Odo downloads the recorder from the Klingon vessel and discovers they encountered an alien composed of
telepathic energy containing information of a power struggle that destroyed their civilization. Could this be
what's causing this strange behavior of the crew and their wanton struggle for loyalty and power?
With the help of Dr. Bashir, after charming persuasion, Odo convinces him that saving the space station is within his best interest. Odo unleashes a pulsing burst of energy that releases the entity's control of the crews brains in a cargo bay area where the infected crew had gathered in a showdown.
This sort of reminded me of the TNG episode "Conspiracy," although not quite as creepy. But it was just as suspenseful and this time, unlike in "The Passenger," El Fadil managed playing one influenced by an alien presence to satisfaction. Auberjonois got to be the hero this time, another reason why this episode is a winner! He played it cool, calculating, and diplomatic.
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