“For the Uniform” is the seccod part of the unofficial Michael Eddigton Joins the Maquis Trilogy that will end with next season’s “Blaze of Glory.” The general purpose of the trilogy is to tweak the utopian ideals of Trek, not only by making Eddington a traitor to Federation philosophy, but also to show how Sisko will abandon his own moral code when he deems it necessary. His motivation is a lot more dubious here than will be in, say “In the Pale Moonlight” when he rationalizes his immoral acts as for the greater good. In “For the Uniform,” it is personal. Sisko has spent the last eight months pursuing Eddington and the stolen replicators that were meat for Cardassia. The Maquis have been using the replicators to create biological weapons which render Cardassian planets uninhabitable. The Maquis have taken advantage of the weakened state of the Cardassian Union thanks to the Klingon invasion to put them on the run. The former Federation colonies in the DMZ are on the verge of declaring independence.
But that is the big picture. The smaller one is the most important.: Sisko v. Eddington. Sisko’s beef is obvious: someone under his command etrayed him and is currently beating him at every step. Eddington has not only eluded capture and used his stolen materiel, but he has sabotaged Sisko’s search for him and taunted for good measure. His actions reveal Eddington’s beef: heats to be a hero. He remarked to Sisko in “The Search, Part I” that he envied Sisko’s promotion to captain. Eddington is stuck as a security officer. They never become captain. So Eddington is playing out a fantasy here of being what he never could be.
The point is driven home when he sends sisko a copy of Les Miserables By Victor Hugo. Sisko takes it as a message Eddington views himself as Jean Valjean to his Javert. Javert pursued Valjean for twenty years because he stole a loaf of bread to feed his starving family. Valjean is a folk hero, pursuing what he believes is a moral cause against all odds. Sisko that to catch Eddington, he must become Javert.
Which hedoes with reckless abandon. Sisko was taken off the Eddington pursuit because of his continued failure, but volates orders to chase after him anyway. Sisko threatens to use a biological weapon on a Maquis planet if Eddington does not surrender the replicators. Eddington insists he is bluffing--until he uses the weapon and the Maquis have to scramble for their lives. Sisko threatens to do it aain unless Eddington surrenders both the replicators and himself, which he does I pure drama queen fashion.
Interestingly enough, Sisko gets away with disobeying orders, destroying a Maquis ship with all hands aboard, and employing a biological weapon to render a planet uninhabitable, presumably killing some in the process there, too. The Federation is obviously eager to wash their hands of the Maquis problem.
“For the Uniform” is one of the best examples of exposing the folly of Gene Roddenberry’s silly idealism. It goes way over the top, particularly with Sisko’s behavior, but is a refreshing change from the bulk of Trek. Neither Sisko, nor Eddington are particularly right or wrong in their actions. They are both so blinded by their own egos, they care very little who gets hurt in their personal vendetta. The surprising part is that Sisko truly does take o the villainous role of Javert--and wins.
Rating; *** (out of 5)
