Defiant

DVD, DS9 S3 (Defiant)

The Maquis threat had been rather eclipsed by the might and spectacle of the Dominion, and their little struggle against the Cardassians began to look a bit small fry if it was thought about at all. This episode defiantly redresses the balance, presenting the terrorists as an ambitious group that aren't going to be ignored, by their bold plot to steal the most powerful starship in the area. It was only natural for Riker to appear, beating his Captain's record of being in other series' (Picard is seen in 'DS9', but Riker in some form is seen in 'DS9', 'Voyager' and 'Enterprise'. Picard wins on meeting the other Captain's however as he had contact with Kirk, Sisko and Janeway!). Since Jonathan Frakes had already directed two episodes that season, and had completed work on 'TNG' and that first film it was just the right moment for him to reprise his character, and for there to be repercussions beyond the Maquis plot.

According to the Star Trek Chronology the episode occurs just after 'Star Trek: Generations' which would give credence to Riker's choice to take some leave, but Sisko doesn't mention the destruction of the Enterprise (as he later does to Worf), it's merely that Dr. Crusher told 'Riker' to take leave, so it would indicate this was before the events of the film unless they were happening so close together that news of the Enterprise's fate hadn't reached outposts like DS9. Anyone who missed 'Second Chances', the story of Riker's transporter duplicate, was catered for in the briefing given to Dukat, who clearly hadn't bothered to watch 'TNG' at all.

Starfleet should have thought to add an extra security measure to be alerted any time Riker's DNA scan showed up in case of the duplicate's loyalties shifting. I know it was only recently that he left Starfleet to join the Maquis, but they should have prepared for every contingency. Then again they prefer to have a bit more trust in people and if they began acting like that they may as well be the Obsidian Order! The Order features effectively in the story, reigniting the distrust between them and the military by their mystery ship-building project in the Orias system. What can it mean when even Dukat doesn't know what's going on?! This is a really good episode for him, showing him in a good light - he's allied with Sisko who has arrived on Cardassia in a reverse of their last encounter when Dukat came to defuse the situation on DS9, and he's shown to be as much in the dark about the Order's secrets as the Commander, while sharing common ground in that priceless exchange: Sisko leaning on a console, Dukat reclining in a chair, both discussing fatherhood. It's an eddy of understanding in a fast-flowing river towards enmity. At this point the river's slowed to a gentle ripple and Dukat becomes a more rounded man because of it, but we all know there are torrents and waterfalls to come.

The gruff manner with which Riker greets O'Brien is all a bluff as Will never had any quarrel with the Chief. It was to keep him off-balance so he wouldn't realise this wasn't Will Riker. He does a good job of ducking and weaving when he's put on the spot - the same thing happens when he's benignly confronted by Dax. We learn that Riker visited the station a year ago, though sadly we didn't get to see it. At least Tom gets one thing over on Will - he gets in his "Tough little ship" comment long before Will says the same thing in 'Star Trek: First Contact' - they do think alike! It was a little melodramatic to have Tom pull of his sideboards, but I can't think of a better way of 'revealing' himself as an imposter aside from the fact he'd just phasered Kira and nicked off in the Defiant.

There are plenty of links to other Trek's with Bashir wanting a Runabout to visit Vulcan, Kira eating a Jumja stick, the Badlands and Risa both mentioned by Riker and one of the soldiers Dukat mentions being Gul Toran. It must be a guy with the same name, because the last time we heard of a Gul Toran he was killed by Garak in 'Profit and Loss'! Fittingly for an episode named after it the Defiant gets some added importance - we learn more of Sisko's earlier career on the Mars Utopia Planitia shipyards and that the Commander had a hand in designing the Defiant, no doubt in reaction to his wife's death in the Borg attack. It means more that he now gets to command her as no other Captain has been responsible for the genesis of their ship. Jonathan Archer comes closest since his Dad was partly responsible for the NX-01.

Kira's so adamant that she'll get Tom out that a sequel should have been a cert. It should have happened, it didn't happen and I think I know why. With the whole Eddington thing taking over the Maquis storyline Tom Riker was one too many balls to juggle, that's my theory. Tom Riker's biggest problem is his personal need to prove himself a separate person to Will, but although he's willing to go on a terrorist mission to do that he proves that he has the same genes as Will when he shows himself to be an honourable man who gives himself up in exchange for the other Maquis' freedom.

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