The Best of Star Trek: Deep Space 9 "Emissary"

"Emissary" was the first episode and a two-parter of Star Trek: Deep Space 9.  It was written by Michael Piller and Rick Berman.

SUMMATION

It begins after the Federation takes control of a deep space outpost formerly occupied by the Cardassians, who have been in conflict with the Bajorans. The space station is still recovering from the looting the Cardassians did to it upon their leaving. The space station is hovering above the planet of Bajor and the Federation is working on forming a treaty and relations with them.

Commander Benjamin Sisko takes command of the station, reluctantly. He still harbors resentment of Captain Picard because of the battle involving Picard, who had been assimilated into the Borg collective and was waging war on the federation. Sisko's wife Jennifer had been killed during the conflict.

The second half of the episode deals with the Bajoran religion and their regaining possession of 8 orbs that they claim were stolen by the Cardassians. These orbs are believed to be gifts from their prophets. While investigating the location of a sacred temple, Sisko and newly arrived old friend of Sisko, a species known as a Trill named Dax, inadvertently discover a wormhole and enter. They meet aliens who live there and try to understand this corporal species known as human. Dax is sent back to the space station while Sisko is trapped in the wormhole and probed by the aliens.

There is a back and forth between this part of the show and the conflict the space station is having with Cardassians who accuse them of destroying their leader Gul Dukat's ship . Major Kira, a Bajoran, tries to tell them about the wormhole, of which they already know about, but pretend at first not to believe them. Kira, with the help of Chief O'Brien, figures out a way to send the station on a mission to investigate Sisko's disappearance in the wormhole and fool the Cardassians into believing they have weapons capability.

The aliens, convinced by now that the corporal species is not a threat, sends Sisko, along with Dukat's ship,
back into Federation space. During the time in the wormhole, Sisko has come to terms with his wife's death and tells Captain Picard he is ready to accept his assignment at DS9.

It had been years since I saw this episode for the first time and I look forward to watching the remaining episodes. This series includes three of my favorite Star Trek characters---Odo (the station security chief played by Rene Auberjonois), Dr. Bashir (the stations chief medical officer played by Siddig El Fadil AKA Alexander Siddig), and Quark (Ferengi bar owner played by Armin Shimerman).

And kudos to the great performance of Avery Brooks as Commander Sisko, particularly when he realizes that he has not moved on in linear time as he told the aliens, but is actually still existing on the ship three years before when he "lost" his wife. This was the turning point he needed to begin again his path in life and take up the responsibility of raising his son and doing his duty as a Starfleet officer.