Best of Star Trek: DS9---Past Prologue

"Past Prologue" is the 3rd episode of the 1st season. It was written by Katharyn Powers.

SUMMATION

A vessel is under attack by Cardassians. The DS9 crew rescues the occupant and we learn he's a renegade from a group known as the Kohn Ma. He's a Bojoran called Tahna and the Cardassians accuse him of committing high crimes on their homesoil and seek his return to stand justice.

We also learn "justice" according to the Cardassians isn't something one would wish on their worst enemy. We get a glimpse of this in TNG in the episode "Chain of Command" where Captain Picard is tortured by a Cardassian prison guard. Tahna requests asylum and Commander Sisko grants it for the time being.

The station also has two less than distinguished guests--the Duras sisters. They show up to the station to seek out Tahna who owes them payment for a transaction.

Meanwhile, Tahna informs Major Kira that he intends to take a ship into space rather than stay for amnesty hearings Kira had arranged for him. And Dr. Bashir overhears the deal between Tahna and and the Duras sisters brokered in the tailor shop of Cardassian Garak, who had insisted Bashir be present to hear it. The deal was the selling of a volatile substance bilitrium to be used in an explosive.

Kira must choose sides---should she remain loyal to her post as security of DS9 under the jurisdiction of the Federation, or help Tahna. She decides to reveal Tahna's plans to Sisko.

Kira boards the ship with Tahna and thwarts his plans by getting the ship off course and fighting with Tahna and beams the destructive device into space. Sisko gives Tahna the option---either come back to Federation space and receive justice there, or allow the Cardassians to take him into custody. Tahna chooses the former option.

This episode offeres suspense and intrigue. There's a great scene where Tahna meets in secret with the Duras sisters in a cargo area followed by a rat. After the meeting, the "rat" changes (back) into the form of the "Constable" Odo.

It was rather nice seeing the creepy Duras sisters again. They always manage to add a little spice to any episode. And we also meet the charming Garak for the first time.

We also learn a bit more about Major Kira, a woman who has seen suffering and hardship under Cardassian infiltration which gives her character more dimension. She wants the best for Bajor but is tired of the violence, preferring the more peaceful solutions offered by the Federation. She is called a "traitor" by Tahna, a man she once called a friend and ally. She maintains her composure.