Now, the moment we have all been waiting for…The six season finale begins with Sisko being appointed by Starfleet to lead an invasion of Cardassia in order to destroy the Dominion shipyards and Jem’Hadar breeding factories. The plan runs into two complications. One, the Romulans are not keen on the idea because of the massive casualties expected for such a campaign ad two, the prophets warn Sisko he is not to go.
The first problem is wrapped up so easily, I assume the episode was running short, so they just threw it in to demonstrate the strained alliance the allies are working under. The second is ’resolved’ when Ross demands Sisko either serve as Emissary or captain. He fatefully chooses captain and commits to leading forces to attack the Cardassian Chimtaka system.
Meanwhile, Dukat returns to Cardassia as a religious nut who believes he can win the war for the Dominion by attacking the prophets themselves. In his effort, he becomes possessed by a Pah’Wraith. His plan is to destroy the Orb of the Prophets on DS9.
Prior to leaving for the invasion of Chimtaka, Worf and Dax decide they want to start a family. Declaring such a thing before a battle is the cinematic equivalent of showing your girlfriend’s picture to your army buddy before going into battle. You are definitely going to die in the next reel.
Just to make sure that happens, Dax is placed I command of DS9 instead of kira, who is taking part in the invasion even though she is not Starfleet and DS9 is technically Bajoran. You see, they all want Dax tobite the big one.
She happens to be offering a prayer to the Prophets at the Orb when Dukat attacks. She is mortally wounded. Dukat manages to make the wormhole disappear y destroying the orb ad angering the prophets.
The Orb’s destruction occurs in the middle of the Chimtaka invasion. Sisko is incapacitated because he has been cut off from the Prophets. Kira takes over and successfully destroys the system’s new defenses, but the real damage has been done.
The symbiotnt survives, but Jadzia dies. Bajor is in a panic over losing contact with the prophets. Sisko blames himself for both incidents. He failed Dax as a Starfleet officer. He failed Bajor as the Emissary. He decides he needs time to sort thigs out, so he leaves his command post and heads home to New Orleans. The cliffhanger harkens back to the fifth season version where he left his baseball as a message to Dukat that even though he had lot DS9, he would be back. This time, he took it with him.
It is an exciting episode that lays the groundwork for the alliance going on the offensive in the seventh and final season. It also sets up the final confrontation with Sisko and Dukat. Dukat had considered his vendetta with Sisko personal since he blamed him for his daughter’s death, but now he has offended Sisko both in his role as a Starfleet officer by murdering Dax and as the Emissary by destroying the wormhole. The gautlet has been thrown.
But let us not forget the best part--Jadzia is kaput. Good luck on Becker until you get fired for being a terrible actress, Ms. Ferrell. Rating: *** (out of 5)
