30th Anniversary DS9 Discussion Marathon

[Nate the Great]

November 29th, 1993, "Sanctuary"

Fiver by Sa'ar Chasm

The Episode

KIRA: I know, but I just spent the whole day yesterday
SISKO: Talking to Minister Rozahn about irrigating the Trilar Peninsula.

Why is Kira involved in the day to day operations on Bajor? She's supposed to be the liaison between Bajor and Starfleet. Bajor tells her what they need from Starfleet, she coordinates with Sisko about getting it to them. She should be more worried about how station trade affects Bajor.

KIRA: Every time I talk to one of the ministers I promise myself I'm not going to lose control. But then they give me some stupid bureaucratic excuse for why something isn't getting done, and I get so, so
SISKO: Frustrated.
KIRA: Oh Commander, I am way beyond frustrated. Bajor is in trouble.

Still? You'd think after the attempted military coup a formal constitution and government would be in the works by now. For that matter, why isn't Sisko more involved in the rebuilding effort? Wouldn't that be part of the "do everything short of violating the Prime Directive to get Bajor ready for Federation membership" mission that Picard gave him?

QUARK: So while they're being mesmerized, they're not gambling, they're not eating, they're barely drinking. Profits are down across the board.
KIRA: He just started yesterday.
QUARK: I monitor my gross income hourly. My hourly figures become my indicators. My indicators become my projections. And my projections based on the last twenty six hours show an unprecedented decline in profits.

So kick him out. You'll never convince me that the station doesn't have room for a proper performance hall.

VARANI: Have you spoken to Minister Bolka about my idea to rebuild the Jalanda Forum?
KIRA: I mentioned it to him. He's got a lot on his mind.
VARANI: You must keep trying. Bajorans must reclaim their artistic heritage if they ever hope to regain their sense of self-worth.
KIRA: Next time I talk to the Minister I'll bring it up again, but I can't promise anything.

This is a valid point, too bad it won't be explored any more.

O'BRIEN: Commander, sensors are picking up elevated neutrino readings. A ship's coming through the wormhole.

I'm feeling really petty today. If a ship coming through the wormhole always creates elevated neutrino reasons, why say the same thing twice?

SISKO: Something must be wrong with the Universal Translator. Chief?
O'BRIEN: It's working, Commander, but for some reason it's having a hard analyzing their language patterns. Their syntax and their grammatical structure must be completely unlike anything in our database.

Ugh. If it can translate the Companion and Tamarian, I jolly well hope that it can translate any humanoid speech. This plot point is accomplishing absolutely nothing.

HANEEK: (pointing at the dress) Intaowa. Intaowa.
SISKO: Dress. It's called a dress.
HANEEK: Intaowa.
KIRA: Intaowa?
(Tumak picks up an item and walks away with it)
ODO: I'm afraid you'll have to put that back.

And one again our heroes are idiots. Until you can talk to these people, you don't let them on the Promenade. Furthermore any unknown Gamma Quadrant species should get a once-over by Bashir before they're allowed on the Promenade anyway.

(Tumak recoils from Bashir, so Haneek gives the regenerator to Kira)
KIRA: I'm sorry. I'm not the doctor.

Kira's not a doctor, but I expect any freedom fighter to be able to work a dermal regenerator. Once again time is being wasted.

HANEEK: Men are much too emotional to be leaders. They're always fighting among themselves. It's their favourite thing to do. I'm sorry. I hope I haven't offended anyone.

We already have too much to cover here, overcoming misandry just won't fit in the allotted time.

ODO: And when we find them, what then? This station only holds seven thousand people.

I was going to raise a fuss about how small this number is, but when I remembered it's size compared to the E-D and how much is cargo holds and stuff that you can't convert to quarters I guess it's not so bad. In any case, we're too early in the series for full capacity to be supported. There would still be parts of the station that are being renovated. Remember that "Civil Defense" is a year from now and they act like that portion of the station wasn't touched until now.

NOG: What is entomology?
JAKE: The study of bugs.
NOG: You mean she wants to be a chef?

We needed this joke in this episode.

VARANI: Please tell her my heart goes out to her and her people. Tell her how much Bajorans everywhere regret having to refuse their request.
KIRA: Aren't you being a little premature?
VARANI: Am I? You know what the provisional government's answer is going to be.
KIRA: These are people who've lost everything, Varani.

This is a HUGE misstep. The episode started with Kira talking about how Bajor is still in crisis. They can't even help themselves yet, much less an influx of refugees.

Furthermore Bajor isn't the only M-class planet in the system. The planet we call Bajor is more formally Bajor XI. We know that Bajor VIII has colonies with a few thousand people, plenty of room for immigrants.

And even if there were a dozen empty M-class planets in the system, Bajor still has the right to not let the Skrreeans immigrate here.

SORAD: What is Bajor to do if your people start dying?
HANEEK: I thought I made that clear. We are not expecting your help.
ROZAHN: Do you really think we could stand by and do nothing? We would feel obligated to help with food, with clothing, with whatever it would take.
SORAD: And where would that aid come from? Our resources are already depleted. To help you would mean depriving our own people.

Exactly. There is no way that the Skrreeans can live on their own without external support. At least not before A LOT of resources are devoted to setting up a city, treat all of their medical ailments, educating them as to how economics work in the Alpha Quadrant, etc.

JAKE: My dad says you're probably going to Draylon Two.
TUMAK: Does he?
JAKE: Yeah. Sounds like a nice place.
TUMAK: Do you want to move there?
JAKE: No.
TUMAK: Neither do I.

That's not a fair question. Jake is not a refugee. You are. Take what is offered to you and don't complain unless you're also being exploited.