Season Seven

The Siege Of AR-558

TECH SPECS
Production #			558
RATINGS DATA
Iotia:DS93 Rating (/5):
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AIRDATE DATA
Aired Week Of:		16 November, 1998
Order in Season 7:	8	Order in DS9:	158
Order for all Star Trek series:			__
STARDATE DATA
Original Stardate:		Unknown
Order in Season 7:	*__	Order in DS9:	*__
Order for all Star Trek series:			*__

Synopsis - On a supply run to a captured Dominion relay station, Sisko elects for his panding party to remain and help the tired, over-worked soldiers fend off a detail of Jem'Hadar troops; while Ensign Nog must face the biggest ordeal of his life.

The Siege Of AR-558 is a fascinating look at expressing all the diffrent viewpoints of war, and especially the front lines. I have heard some express their disappointment in this episode at it's failure to follow strict military procedure. While I don't doubt this may be true, I feel that those who dislike the episode because of it are missing the point of the episode. This episode is not meant to illustrate a military operation; that's merely the setting. What the episode does illustrate is how diffrent people can feel so differently about war. You have Nog who represents the "eager soldier", still wet behind the ears and on the front lines for the very first time. You have his uncle Quark who's like an over-protective parent, and also doesn't really see the need for war. You have Vargas who's itchy about having been stuck on the front lines two months longer than Starfleet requirements and also about having friends die before his eyes; both ones he loved and loved to hate. You also have Reese, who seems to be a veteren. Next there's Ezri, who has memories of being in battle, but no first-hand experience. There's also Kellin, a simple engineer. Then there's Larkin, a lieutenant forced to take command when her two superiors were killed. And then Bashir, one took an oath and, "joined Starfleet to save lives", as he put it, forced to pick up a weapon and take it. And finally there's Sisko, the commander who must care, really care about every single person under his command equally, regardless of close friend or mere aquaintance; for he didn't, he could compromise their position.

This episode is very well written, with extremely well-developped characters, who are all well-acted. To me the format of the episode is also excellent; kind of a slowing down the speed of war, for a chance to glimpse into just what everybody is thinking as they prepare to become heroes.

Cast
Series' Regulars
Captain Benjamin Sisko™ -	Avery Brooks
Major Kira Nerys™ -	Nana Visitor
Lt. Cmdr. Worf™ -	Michael Dorn
Constable Odo™ -	René Auberjonois
Ezri Dax™ -	Nicole DeBoer
Dr. Julian Bashir™ -	Alexander Siddig
Chief Miles Edward O'Brien™ -	Colm Meany
Quark™ -	Armin Shimmerman
Semi-Regulars
Nog -	Aron Eisenberg
Rom -	Max Grodènchik
Vic Fontaine -	James Darren
Guest Cast
Vargas -	Raymond Cruz
Reese -	Patrick Kilpatrick
Lt. Nadia Larkin -	Annette Helde
Kellin -	Bill Mumy
Written by:	Ira Steven Beher & Hans Beimler
Directed by:	Winrich Kolbe

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