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Customer Reviews of Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 53: Civil Defense

A trapped crew fights to save the station from self-destruction when an automated Cardassian security program is accidentally activated.

While working in the station's ore processing unit, O'Brien and Jake accidentally activate an automated Cardassian security program, which traps the pair and Sisko in the room. Throughout the station, monitors display an old message from Gul Dukat warning of a Bajoran "worker revolt" in the unit. Dax tries to beam out the three, but the computer requests an access code, which the Cardassians never revealed when they abandoned the station four years ago. Jake crawls through a pipe and opens the hatch to the ore chute, allowing Sisko and O'Brien to get out just as lethal neurocine gas is released. Dukat's image reappears, announcing that the "workers" have escaped, after which the doors to Ops all slam shut!

Sisko, O'Brien, and Jake are now trapped in an ore processing bay. A force field keeps Dax, Bashir, and Kira stuck in Ops, while another one holds Odo and Quark in the Security Office. Dax inadvertently activates the security program's second level, a program designed to release neurocine gas through most of the station in five minutes. Garak suddenly arrives at Ops, using his Cardassian access code â€" which only works for him â€" to enter through the force field. At his suggestion, Kira destroys the life support system, which stops the gas and gives them twelve hours to regain control before the oxygen is depleted. Unfortunately, Kira's phaser blast has activated the third phase of the program. Dukat's recorded message now declares that the station is programmed to self-destruct in two hours.

Garak tries to make the computer think he is Dukat, but ends up initiating level four of the program â€" a series of phaser blasts which forces everyone to take cover. Then, to everyone's surprise, Gul Dukat transports into Ops to taunt the officers. But he can't leave the station when he tries, then a recorded message from his old superior, Legate Kell, appears. Dukat won't be allowed to flee his post during the "revolt," states the message â€" and his code won't stop the self-destruct.

They determine that the only option would be to reach a control junction and disengage the laser fusion initiator, but can't do anything while trapped in Ops. Meanwhile, Sisko, O'Brien, and Jake blast open the bay doors by detonating the unstable ore left inside, but are stopped from going far by more force fields. Back in Ops, Dax suggests creating a power surge to short out the force fields all over the station. The plan works, and Kira informs Sisko they have ten minutes before self-destruction. Sisko, O'Brien, and Jake have the only chance of reaching the control junction. Realizing they may not have time to disable the fusion initiator, Sisko decides instead to direct the explosion into the deflector shields. He crawls through a burning conduit, makes the adjustments, and as the destruct command is initiated, the shields absorb the blast and the station is saved.

Top notch!
I love this episode because it is well written and (as someone already said) to see the look on Dukat's face. Well, I can stop the station from blowing up... *smiles* think again. Garak get's a good laugh from the whole thing. What else is new, right? They hate each other, and here is your enemy, being embarassed. Top notch!

An old Cardassian security program wants to blow up DS9
It might be the third season of DS9 but there are still some interesting leftovers from the Cardassian occupation as Sisko, Jake and O'Brien discover when the Chief accidentally triggers a Cardassian security program. The trio escapes from an ore-processing unit on the station, but the program thinks the Bajoran workers are revolting and shuts down the station. When the crew tries to help from Ops, the program decides the Bajorans have taken over the station and initiates the autodestruct sequence. That is when Gul Dukat beams on board to see what all the fun is about. He offers to help Kira disable the program if she will let him station a Cardassian security team on DS9. She refuses and Dukat is ready to beam away and leave the Starfleet gang to their fate when the program decides he is a coward for running away from the situation (with those rebelling Bajoran ore workers, remember?) and disables all of his security codes.

"Civil Defense" is a first-rate DS9 episode. The Dominion is going to be coming through that wormhole at any time and now their own space station is trying to kill Sisko and crew. I think what I love about this episode is that everyone is just so annoyed that this is happening. Kira keeps giving in to her frustrations by shooting things but at least Garek is having some fun, which makes sense since he enjoys irony more than the others. Besides, the look on Dukat's face when he realizes he is trapped along with everybody else is priceless. I usually disdain episodes where the Enterprise starts acting up, but given the history of DS9 the scenario works a lot better this time around.