The Assignment (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

"The Assignment"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.	Season 5 Episode 5
Directed by	Allan Kroeker
Teleplay by	David Weddle Bradley Thompson
Story by	David R. Long Robert Lederman
Featured music	Gregory Darryl Smith
Production code	504
Original air date	October 28, 1996 (1996-10-28)
Guest stars
Rosalind Chao - Keiko Hana Hatae - Molly Max Grodénchik - Rom Rosie Malek-Yonan - Tekoa
Episode chronology
← Previous "...Nor the Battle to the Strong" Next → "Trials and Tribble-ations"
List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes

"The Assignment" is the 103rd episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the fifth episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.7/5 on the official Star Trek website.

Overview

Keiko O'Brien is possessed by evil Pah-wraiths with a plan to eliminate the Prophets. The Pah-wraiths force Miles O'Brien to use DS9's systems to fire chroniton radiation at the wormhole — destroying both it and the Prophets — or else he loses his wife and his daughter Molly.

Plot

While on Bajor doing botanical research in the Bajoran Fire Caves, Keiko O'Brien is possessed by a Pah-wraith with a plan to eliminate the Prophets. The Pah-wraith force Miles O'Brien to modify DS9's systems in order to be able to fire chroniton radiation at the wormhole — destroying both it and the Prophets — or else he loses his wife and his daughter Molly.

Being under an impossible time limit, Miles O'Brien tricks Rom to assist him with the modifications. He explains to him that this is a top-secret upgrade , and that he is to tell no one, not Captain Sisko, not Dax, Odo, not ANYONE what he is doing and why. Dax spots the modifications, and thinking there is a saboteur loose alerts the Operations staff.

Miles O'Brien is forced to point Odo in the direction of Rom to divert suspicion from himself. Rom is incarcerated but refuses to divulge anything about what he was doing and why. He explains that he will only speak to Miles O'Brien alone. While they are talking, he asks Miles why he is trying to kill the Wormhole Aliens, and Miles is finally able to understand what is going on, and why.

Odo is still suspicious however, and confronts Miles while he is doing the last modifications, Miles knocks him unconscious, finishes the modifications, and calls Keiko to tell her it is done, and to meet him at a Runabout. However, on the runabout, Miles tricks the Pah-wraith and unleashes the radiation on it, expelling it from Keiko's body, and killing it.

Arc significance

• This is the first appearance of the Pah-wraiths, "false Prophets" who were banished from the wormhole to the Fire Caves on Bajor.

• Miles is impressed with Rom's skill and ability. Rom is promoted from the night shift to the day shift.

References

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine DVD set, volume 5, disc 2, selection 1.

External links

• The Assignment at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Assignment" at TV.com
• The Assignment at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• The Assignment at StarTrek.com