DS9 did well to bring Miles O'Brien over from TNG. There is no way he would have gotten to have such an intense part in any TNG episode, that show was only really about the bridge staff plus Geordi. It is also interesting to see how they are changing the Cardassians from a generic evil bad guy race into an intense police state that cares far more about appearances than it does about truth or anything else. Also, is Starfleet not a thing any more? They mention that the Enterprise has been sent to the border, but don't they have sensor webs to keep Cardassian ships out like they do along the Romulan border?
The episode opens with Miles running around ops trying to get everything ready so he can go on vacation. They eventually get him out of there and he runs into an old friend on the promenade, but can't talk long since he has to go meet his wife. Just after he leaves we see the man from the promenade take out some sort of device ominously. Next Miles and Keiko are on their way to vacation but Miles is having a hard time relaxing. Instead he is reading up on tech manuals and debating himself about whether they should go back for Molly. Keiko eventually distracts him but just then there is a warning tone, another ship is approaching. It is a Cardassian ship and they lock weapons and insist on boarding even though this is Federation space. Once aboard the Cardassians arrest Miles and search the cargo hold for something. He resists and gets shot with a phaser for his trouble.
On Cardassia Miles is processed for trial which includes being drugged and having hair samples taken along with a tooth. Back on the station Keiko is understandably upset. They are contacted by the judge in his trial who informs them he has already been convicted and that his execution is scheduled for the following week. Odo manages to talk his way into being Miles' assistant at the trial since he is still a Cardassian officer of the court. Sisko starts an investigation to try and figure out what Miles has been accused of and if it is possible he could be guilty. Meanwhile Miles meets his "lawyer" whose only job is to try and talk him into confessing. On the station they have discovered that 24 photon warheads are missing and that Miles voice print was used to open the weapons area just before they were stolen.
Odo and Keiko head to Cardassia and Odo manages to calm Miles down a bit. He also tells him what they think the Cardassians are accusing him of. The trial begins and despite everything Odo can do it is clearly a show trial. On the station they have discovered that the voice used to open the locker was altered and Bashir gets a surprise visit from a member of the Maquis who insists the man who Miles talked to wasn't Maquis and that they aren't behind the theft of the warheads. Sisko has the man arrested and eventually they figure out to have a medical exam done. Just as the trial is coming to a conclusion Sisko walks into the courtroom with Miles supposed friend, the judge gets one look at him and orders Miles released to his commanding officer. On the way back he learns his supposed friend had been replaced by a Cardassian 8 years earlier and that he was released to avoid embarrassing the government.
Review: A tense episode with some good twists and turns. Also it was interesting to see how law and order work in another culture. Also, damn I am glad I am not a Cardassian.
8 out of 10
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