I guess I didn't know where the show was headed when I first watched this episode, plus it was hard back then to not directly compare Sisko to Picard, but honestly this comes across as another solid episode. I had honestly forgotten about how distrustful of each other Kira and Sisko were to start with but this episode has already started them on the path of understanding one another. It also introduces probably my favorite character of the series, the simple tailor Garak. Garak is one of those guys you never really know where he actually stands on things, but you get the feeling his heart is in the right place never the less.
The episode opens with Garak introducing himself to Bashir at the replimat. Bashir is openly uncomfortable being so close to someone he assumes is a dangerous spy. After he leaves Bashir rushes to ops to tell everybody about it but they are unimpressed. Also they have a more pressing matter, a Bajoran ship is fleeing from and being fired upon by a Cardassian warship. The Cardassians refuse to cease firing and O'Brien is only just able to get the single passenger off with the transporter before the ship explodes. The man is considered a terrorist by the Cardassians but Kira insists the Bajorans will grant him amnesty. After a meeting in Bashir's office Kira is unconvinced Sisko won't turn Tahna over to the Cardassians so she calls the admiral who is Sisko's boss. The admiral calls Sisko back immediately, but we already know he is planning on not turning the guy over the the Cardassians. Kira meets with Tahna who she knows from her days in the resistance and he is still full of revolutionary fury. He can't stand that the Federation is running DS9 even though Sisko just granted him asylum.
Bashir and Garak are hanging out at Quarks watching Lursa and B'Etor who have just arrived. Tahna shows up and the three leave. They meet in some dark alley (DS9 seems to have a lot of those) and discuss a transaction. When they leave we see Odo transform from pretending to be a rat listening in on them. Lursa and B'Etor then go to Garak's shop and offer to sell Tahna out as soon as their deal is done. Kira goes to Sisko to thank him and tell him two more former terrorists will be arriving soon to surrender as well. Sisko tells her she is done if she ever goes directly to his boss over something like this again. Garak finds Bashir and tells him to go to his shop late that evening for a new suit. Not taking the hint Bashir goes to Sisko who tells him he would look good in a new suit.
Bashir makes it just in time and is rushed into a changing room. He hears Lursa and B'Etor talking with Garak and discussing how they are going to sell material for a bomb to Tahna. Kira also learns something is up and goes to Odo for advice. After listening to her he calls for Sisko to come down since he knows that she already knows what the right choice is. They come up with a plan: Kira will go with Tahna while Sisko and O'Brien wait in another runabout on the other side of the moon. The deal goes down but Kira realizes Tahna may be trying to blow up DS9. He draws a weapon and makes her set a course for the station, but at the last minute has her turn towards the wormhole. She manages to struggle with him long enough that the bomb goes off harmlessly on the other side. Sisko shows up and offers to either accept his surrender now or wait for the Cardassians to show up in about a minute and take his chances with them. Tahna surrenders after calling Kira a traitor.
Review: A tense character driven story where you don't know if the characters will make the right decisions. I am seeing Sisko are more of a political animal that a traditional captain, but it is the role his job demands. A solid episode that sets up many of the stories to come.
7 out of 10
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