Meditation Time

Medication Time.

Medication Time.

Meditation Time?

Louise Fletcher as Kai Winn and Nurse Ratched. Two very similar high priestesses; one for the Cult of the Prophets, one for the Cult of Psychiatry

Ivan Karamazov and the Pah-Wraiths

I just couldn't watch the episode "The Covenant" and listen to Gul Dukat lecture (now colonel) Kira on how the Prophets have abandoned the people of Bajor without thinking of the chapter "The Grand Inquisitor" from Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov".  Ivan, one of the Karamazov brothers, tells the story of an inquisitor who denies Jesus Christ because he believes that, though God is most definitely real, he has done harm to mankind.  He comments that though God wishes men to live not by bread alone, most men are not strong enough to live without bread. The Inquisitor takes the place of God in building a future for mankind and is motivated, not by power, but by altruistic love.

In this way, Dukat may be something like him (although Dukat's intentions are not quite clear at the point I'm at).  Kira mentions that she believes he has changed. He longs for the Bajorans to love him for what he did to their planet and people; a longing that will never be satisfied.

So he has allied himself with the Pah-Wraiths against the Prophets, as Nimrod challenged Abraham and the Grand Inquisitor challenged Jesus Christ. Perhaps it is because he believes the universe is unjust and sees the Pah-Wraiths as a source of hope. Perhaps, like the Grand Inquisitor, he is truly motivated by love. Or, more likely, he is motivated, like Nimrod, by his own insatiable lust for power. He would rather all men turn to bricks for him to build his own monument with. It matters little to him, as we saw in the occupation, whether or not their bellies are full

KLINGON MINEFIELD NEUTRALISED: BAJOR SAFE

Fantastic explosions of white light spread through space on the Klingon border after a secret mission involving Deep Space Nine federation and Bajoran militia officers. The explosions were the result of the destruction of a Klingon minefield being constructed on their border which would have protected them in the event of a war with either the Bajorans or the Federations.

(Gowron, leader of the Klingon High Coucil, makes an epic face upon hearing that the Federation would stand against his invasion of Cardassia.)

Constructing a minefield is considered by all major powers in the Alpha Quadrant to be an act of war itself and this recent move by the Klingon Empire illustrates a growing trend towards hostility which began with the dissolving of the Federation's treaty with the Klingon Empire. The treaty, which had held the relationship between the Federation and the Klingon Empire in Peace since the days of Ambassador Spock, was dissolved in the wake of the Klingon invasion of Cardassia. When the Federation stood against Klingon attempts to take control of the Cardassian home world, the Klingons declared their former allies to be cowards and formally dissolved all ties to them. Gowron, the leader of the Klingon High Council was originally a friend to the Federation and had significant ties to Lieutenant Worf, who is currently stationed on DS:9, but would not tolerate what he perceived as a betrayal by the Federation and Klingon/Federation relations have suffered in the civilian sector as well as at the negotiation table.

Suspicions of malicious activity were first aroused when explosions were seen on the Klingon border and several Birds of Prey were observed. The ships were reportedly displaying illusive behavior and gained the attention of local officers. A damaged Bird of Prey was towed into the station and the Bajoran and Federation authorities were able to gather more information on the activities while it was being repaired.  

Upon further investigation, the officers of this station discovered that the Klingons were strategically laying mines to prevent Federation and Bajoran access to an entire sector of space. Taking preemptive action, a runabout was sent out to detonate the mines (there is no word concerning damage to Klingon ships or casualties) and at least delay an open confrontation with the Klingon Empire.  

AKOREM DISAPPEARS IN WORMHOLE. SISKO RECLAIMS POSITION AS EMISSARY

(Bajoran poet, Akorem was thought to be

deceased for over two hundred years before his resuce from the wormhole.)

The latest Bajoran religious crisis has come to a close as Commander Sisko reclaimed his place as Emissary to the prophets and revered figure to the Bajoran people. The question considering who the rightful emissary was which have persisted since the poet, Akorem, was found in the wormhole has finally put to rest with his disappearance. Commander Sisko and he journeyed into the wormhole to resolve their dispute over the prophets will by asking the prophets themselves, who are believed to reside in the celestial temple there.

When Akorem first arrived on the station and declared that the prophets had chosen him as their emissary, Commander Sisko offered no objection and conceded the position to the poet from over a hundred years in the past. The struggle between them began when Akorem advocated a return to the D'Jarra system, a move that not only would set Bajoran progress back to a period before the Cardassian occupation but would also render their application to join the Federation moot but was supported by Bajoran religious leadership, including Kai Winn. The Bajoran people followed their relgious leadership as usual and Bajorans throughout the station were considering new lives more appropriate to their D'Jarra. Lower class Bajorans gave up seats to higher class Bajorans at local bars, something which conflicts with the Bajorans' sense of egaligatrainism that has developed after the occupation Neither the Federation's strict adherence to a rule against discriminatory caste systems or the Bajorans' allegiance to the Emissary would be swayed. The people were looking at either a Bajor without the Federation or without the Emissary.

Commander Sisko protested the return to the old ways, claiming they were not right for Bajor or its people at this point in history. The two decided to seek the prophets in the celestial temple and ask the prophets which path was correct for Bajor. According to Commander Sisko, the prophets determined that he was the Emissary, a distinction he has spent much of his career avoiding and that Akorem chose to return to his own time and be with his wife again. The people of Bajor, particularly those on this station, embraced Sisko as the Emissary once again and abandoned the pursuit to return to the old caste system.

UNION STAND-OFF AT QUARK'S ENDS PEACEFULLY

(Quark serves a lone customer at his bar during the downturn brought about by the Bajoran period of cleansing and the recent strike.)

Quark's is back to its usual status as center of activity on the promenade after management and labor have finally come to a settlement just in time for the end of the Bajoran period of cleansing and the spike in business this will create. Both employer and employees were in high spirits today as the droves of customers, Bajorans free from fasting and non-Bajorans, rolled into Quark's ready to relax and enjoy themselves.

The strike began last week after Quark announced that wages would be cut and hours extended in order to accommodate for the lack of revenue brought in by the Bajoran period of cleansing, which is often a bane to local establishments that provide food or drink that is prohibited to Bajorans during this period, including synthahol. Instead of submitting to the authority of management, as is Ferengi tradition, the mostly-Ferengi workforce chose to defy tradition and stand against Quark. The workers formed a union, which are heavily forbidden by Ferengi law, and set demands for higher pay, better hours, and paid sick leave; all of which are virtually unheard of in the Ferengi working environment. The strike was headed by the proprietor's own brother and, by some reports, most abused employee, Rom. Rom's fight against his brother led many to avoid the bar and even inspired a confrontation between three high-ranking star fleet officers on this station which ended in violence causing Commander Sisko to search for a solution to the unrest he had originally supported.

Agents from the FCA (Ferengi Commerce Association) were reportedly sent to quell the strike but operated outside of the public eye. The FCA has a strict policy against either participating in a strike or meeting the demands of one, putting Quark in the difficult position of choosing between angering his Federation landlords or the FCA and suffering severe fines from Ferenginar.

Fortunately, a resolution was made just in time for the end of the period of cleansing. Rom declined to comment on the resolution and Quark has given no hints himself as to what terms were debated or agreed upon during any negotiations between the parties. Whatever they employees got out of the deal, they seemed happy to be back to work and Quark seemed quite relieved to be turning an acceptable profit again.