Date: July 20, 2020

Season 4, Episodes 16 and 17

Musical Accompaniment: iTunes on random.

Interstellar News: We had to watch these episodes on DVD because there was an internet outage, which also explains why this is being posted a day late.

Favorite Quotes from “Accession”:

Today is a Good Day to Die: “Now?!” (Worf’s reaction to Keiko’s second pregnancy announcement)

Dax: So you’re off the hook. How does it feel?

Sisko: It feels good. No more ceremonies to attend, no more blessings to give, no more prophecies to fulfill. I’m just a Starfleet officer again. All I have to worry about are the Klingons, the Dominion and the Maquis. I feel like I’m on vacation.

This may sound sarcastic, but if you listen to how it’s delivered… it’s super sincere.

Sincere Sisko: “I don’t doubt I can find someone to fill your post. But to replace you?”

So what had happened in “Accession” was…: O’Brien and Bashir clean up because Keiko’s finally back and, surprise, she’s pregnant. O’Brien was hoping he and Keiko would have more alone time together and it’s hard for him to have to go home each night instead of gallivanting about the station with Bashir. Keiko, seeing how unhappy both men are, arranges for O’Brien and Bashir to spend some time while she is working and Molly is sleeping.

Kira brings a newly wed couple to be blessed by the Emissary and Sisko complies, begrudgingly. A badly damaged ship comes through the wormhole carrying a Bajoran man named Akorem Laan, a famous poet from 200 years ago who claims to be the Emissary. Sisko stands aside but is shocked when Akorem wants Bajor to return to an enforced caste system, one that makes them ineligible for Federation membership. Bajorans meet this with a mixed response but many know it is not their place to question the Emissary. Sisko has a vision of Kai Opaka and, after a man is killed on the station, believes it’s time to visit the wormhole aliens. Akorem and Sisko go and the aliens verify Sisko is the true Emissary and agree to send Akorem back to his own time, just without his memory. A wormhole alien tells Sisko that not only are they of Bajor, but so is he.

“The Sisko is of Bajor”: I always talk about how I wear a lot of hats at work. Sometimes it’s my professor hat, other times it’s my advisor hat, and sometimes it’s my former student hat, and it reminds me of how Sisko has been and what he will continue to do as the Emissary. Sometimes he’s wearing his Starfleet hat and other times it’s his Emissary hat, but he makes sure that he doesn’t mix the two. I understand the fine line he has to walk for the Prime Directive, but to be honest I feel Starfleet’s orders to have him bring Bajor into the Federation is the biggest “fuck you” to the Prime Directive. I did think Sisko should have traveled to see the prophet’s earlier or hell, gone to visit an Orb or even Kai Opaka. I get that we wouldn’t have had an episode if they did that and Sisko was all too willing to find someone else to take the title, but there were three easy ways to tell and it took them 40 minutes of episode to figure it out, sigh. I was also curious how, after 200 years, all of the Bajorans suddenly knew who was in what caste. Also, what about all of the non-Bajorans on Bajor?

Odo and Kira talk just for a brief moment where Odo is trying to make sense of faith and Kira trying to explain everything away and it’s very much like my struggle with organized religion. If there is one entity out there that controls everything, how arrogant are we to think any one religion has figured it out? My thought is if you are a good personal and follow your own moral code (don’t kill people, don’t kick puppies, give when you can, treat others as you wish to be treated, tip well, and love more than you hate) then wherever you go or whoever you become after this life is over can’t be all that bad.

Favorite Quote from “Rules of Engagement”:

Worf: Life is a great deal more complicated in this red uniform.

Sisko: Wait till you get four pips on that collar. You’ll wish you had gone into botany.

Don’t let Keiko hear you say that!

So what had happened in “Rules of Engagement” was…: Worf has a nightmare and wakes up in a holding cell because there’s about to be an extradition trial between the Klingon Empire and the Federation with a Vulcan admiral as a judge. The episode is a mix of testimony mixed in with flashbacks and it’s Dax followed by Sisko and then Quark. Odo is trying to investigate on his end and then O’Brien testifies making things more clear. The Defiant was running protection for a Cardassian medical convoy when the Klingons attacked and Worf fired on a decloaking ship that was apparently filled with civilians. The Klingons want the medical convoys to stop and they believe that Worf was itching to fight and it’s their jurisdiction to try him for his crimes. Odo comes through, however, and the list of those who “died” in Worf’s attack is the same list of passengers that was lost in an accident three months earlier. The admiral dismisses the case, the Klingon advocate is stunned, and Sisko uses this as a teaching moment for Worf.

“There is nothing honorable about killing those who cannot defend themselves.”: I will say I think this is the first admiral that hasn’t completely sucked, but then again everyone else did the work for her. I loved the way they interspersed the flashbacks with the testimony, and Quark’s was clearly a moment of levity that was needed in such a heavy episode. Of course it’s front heavy looking like Worf is just a bloodthirsty Klingon but we all know he’s just not. No matter what the Klingon advocate did it was never going to be enough to prove that Worf just lost his temper… oh wait, there was the scene where Worf totally punched him out, whoopsies. I also loved the ending where Sisko uses this as a teachable moment to help Worf become a better officer. All that being said, I’m not sure I understand why this episode happened in the first place. Maybe the Federation was trying to get the Klingons back to their side by playing nice? I also don’t understand why Sisko yells at Worf for the decision he made, because in the heat of battle I can see Sisko or anyone making that same decision… but it is always good to check what you’re firing at I guess? I give 5 months of probation to Worf for this one.

TA Out!

Date: July 19, 2020

Season 4, Episodes 14 and 15

Musical Accompaniment: Finishing Blues Spoken Here (I started it yesterday) and then I moved on to other things on my iTunes.

Interstellar News: The backyard and front yard look SO MUCH NICER. Just ignore the side yard and everything will be okay. Also, I completed four loads of laundry today.

Favorite Quote from “Sons of Mogh”:

Kira: They’re getting close to violating Bajoran space but they’re never crossing the line.

O’Brien: I’ve never known Klingons to be this fastidious when it comes to respecting borders.

Kira: Especially when they’re cloaked. Something’s wrong here.

O’Brien making use of his vocabulary and Kira agreeing with him.

So what had happened in “Sons of Mogh” was…: Kurn shows up, super drunk, and demands Worf perform Mauk-to’Vor because Kurn has lost everything because of Worf’s actions. Dax figures out what’s happening just as Worf plunges the dagger so she beams Kurn to the Infirmary and Odo brings Worf to Sisko. Sisko tears Worf a new one, he’ll only go so far to appease cultural differences, and Worf helps Kurn become a Bajoran security officer.

Kira and O’Brien are returning on a runabout when there’s an explosion, but Klingons dismiss her and they return to DS9 with suspicions but no proof. They take the Defiant and realize the Klingons are setting up cloaked mines in unclaimed space on the way to DS9, they can’t be detected and can be armed at any time. Kurn and Worf steal information from a Klingon ship that’s undergoing repairs so they can steal the codes and detonate the minefield. Kurn gets shot because he has no will and he’s also a true Klingon so Worf decides to use the Federation version of WITSEC by having Bashir wipe Kurn’s memory, alter his genetic code, and give him a new life as Rodek, son of Noggra.

“I have no family.”: So the thing I don’t get is who actually is a part of the “House of Mogh”? Worf and Kurn aren’t married and never talk about cousins or other extended family. Putting that aside this episode confuses me. When Worf accepted his discommendation it was for the Empire and against his personal honor, but then when Gowron wants him to join the Empire Worf cites he cannot because of Starfleet and his personal honor. WHICH ONE IS IT WORF? At this this time there’s a real world consequence for an action and it was one Worf probably didn’t really think through. I am glad, however, that this happened for Worf because he finally realizes he’s been around humans for too long and he could never really go back “home”, too much has happened. It’s also nice that O’Brien and Kira’s side mission also has Klingons so Kurn and Worf can work together. 7 quails a-flying for Work and Kurn.

Favorite Quote from “Bar Association”:

O’Brien: You’re going to live on the Defiant?

Worf: I have already discussed it with Captain Sisko.

O’Brien: And he said yes?

Worf: As long as it doesn’t interfere with my duties.

O’Brien: But you’ll be living out there all by yourself.

Worf: I know.

Worf says that last line so blissfully, or as blissful as a Klingon can get.

So what had happened in “Bar Association” was…: Rom passes out because of a nasty ear infection and Quark’s is empty because of a Bajoran abstention holiday, so he decides to make pay cuts. This becomes the straw that broke the camel’s back for Rom who forms a (shhhh dirty word ahead) union with the other workers. The FCA (read: Brunt) intervenes, beats up Quark, and Quark eventually gives in as long as Rom promises to drop the union. Rom agrees but also quits as a waiter to join the station’s repair crew as a technician. Elsewhere on the station, Worf is having trouble adjusting and decides to move his quarters to the Defiant.

“Now get me my snail juice, brother.“: Let me start with the Worf plot because it’s actually quite awesome. Worf says, at least twice, “it was never like this on the Enterprise” and Odo actually calls his bullshit and begins to read the litany of security breaches that occurred during Worf’s tenure as Security Chief. I wonder how long Odo had that waiting for Worf, it was beautiful. O’Brien, as the enlisted man, offers a different side because as a transporter chief not too much went wrong as he was bored, he’s finally seeing the upside of the station. Dax and Worf’s relationship is adorable and I’m glad that Dax can make Worf stumble over his words, though it shows Worf has a type… women who are of two worlds (K’Ehleyr, Ba’el, Troi, and Dax). It makes sense as he is a child of two worlds, even if he is genetically a full Klingon.

Quark’s story shows just how much of a true Ferengi Quark is, all he’s worried about is profit. There are times where he shows he cares for Rom in his own way, but it’s certainly not the way us hu-mans would agree to. This is a great episode that highlights Rom’s aptitude for all things non-Ferengi as he’s a wonderful engineer type person as well as a good union leader. The bits about a union were great, from Bashir’s advice to O’Brien’s ancestor, to Brunt trying to use every trick in the book to get Rom to back down. What I don’t understand is why the non-Ferengi’s were even bothered by the FCA and why Brunt wasn’t horrified that Leeta was wearing clothes. This is also yet another episode where Sisko gets to yell and dress down someone, though the way he dispenses with Quark is awesome. Five years of back rent, repair bills, and power use… ouch, I’m surprised Quark didn’t faint. 8 holographic waiters for Quark, of Quark, and by Quark.

TA Out!

Date: July 18, 2020

Season 4, Episodes 12 and 13

Musical Accompaniment: Listening to the albums TKB and Blues Spoken Here by The Don’t Quit Your Day Job Players. I always find bands 20 years after they’ve last played, sigh.

Interstellar News: Today I made a pineapple upside down cake, listened to people geeble about Klingons, watched my backyard become a much more hospitable place, and got to play with two wee tiny kittens. Also, this is my 200th post!

Favorite Quote from “Crossfire”:

Odo: I’ll tell you what else to do. Make sure everyone knows they can’t just drop by your quarters to say hello. If someone does, whatever happens, don’t make them feel welcome.

Worf: Of course not. That would only invite subsequent visits.

Odo: Precisely.

Worf and Odo realizing they have a lot more in common than they thought.

So what had happened in “Crossfire” was…: Odo thinks all is well in the world until First Minister Shakaar comes aboard DS9. Not only is someone trying to assassinate the minister but Shakaar is clearly also in love with Kira. Shakaar, unlike Odo, makes a move and Kira geebles about her new love. Odo hulks out, Quark (of all people) helps him through, and Odo decides to forget about his feelings for Kira. As a thank you to Quark, Odo installs soundproof flooring in his quarters.

“I’ll try to keep my problems more quiet next time.”: Man oh man do I feel this episode. I absolutely know what it’s like to see someone I am very much in love have a certain type of feelings for someone else instead those particular feelings aimed at me. You can’t help but feel for Odo while, at the same time, also yell at him for not having the courage to tell her about it. Odo loves his order but he also loves the moments he gets with Kira and he realizes that he has to choose because it’s affecting his job. The scenes between Quark and Odo are fantastic every damn time and they work so well together regardless of if they’re snarking at each other or having a tender moment (for them).

There are a couple of things that don’t sit with me well here. Kira doesn’t thank Odo for her coffee at their first meeting and later when she comments that the belt suited him and he makes it appear, she barely registers a compliment and then leaves. The thing is, though, that we know Odo is in love with her and Kira has no fucking clue… so it seems harsh to us and I’m still devastated for Odo. I wish he hadn’t chickened out but instead explained he had feelings for her and, if she decided to stay with Shakaar, just continue to be her friend because he wanted her happiness more than anything. Instead this episode reinforces the belief that men and women can’t be just friends, that all of the things Odo does for Kira is because he’s hoping that she’ll love him back and – when she doesn’t – he decides his pain is more important to him. I still stand by my first statement that it is agonizing to not have those feeling returned, and it’s not easy, but you can still choose friendship. In Odo’s case, though, he realized that Kira’s burgeoning relationship caused a critical distraction and that he’s replaceable because he runs a tight ship. This was a wonderful and heartbreaking episode that highlighted just how awesome Rene Auberjonois was as an actor and how amazing Odo’s character is. 8.5 hours of oozing around for Odo.

Favorite Quote from “Return to Grace”:

Dukat: Major, why are you so reluctant to face the obvious? We make an excellent team.

Kika: We are not a team, Dukat, and we have nothing in common. The only reason I’m helping you is because those Klingons killed fifteen Bajoran diplomats.

Dukat spending 80% of the episode hitting on Kira and she is having none of it.

So what had happened in “Return to Grace” was…: Kira is heading to a Cardassian outpost for a conference and is being escorted by Dukat, who is now a lowly freighter captain because of the events of “Indiscretion“, though he’s still smug as ever. Unfortunately Klingons attack Korma before they can get to it and Dukat wants revenge. Kira helps him make alterations to the ship and they set a trap for the Klingons which allow them to swap ships. Dukat blows up his old ship with the Klingons on board, but the new Cardassian government wants a diplomatic solution – though they do offer him his old post back. Dukat wants Kira to join him in the Cardassian Resistance, but Kira isn’t interested. She does, however, take Ziyal back to DS9 to live.

“What is the point of being a Military Advisor to a government that won’t fight?”: Dukat lays it on thick this episode, showing his preference for Bajoran women despite being married and also having his child on board. The beginning of the episode makes such a big deal about the conference that never happens and then everyone forgets about it. Yeah Kira makes mention to it once but why didn’t they alert their governments, tell them they were okay, or at least what happened? I’m really glad Kira is consistently resisting Dukat’s advances, but I noticed something different this time. Yes he’s passionate and creepy and comes on strong, but he’s ultimately the most passionate about Cardassia and what he thinks is best for his planet. He’s not wrong, though, what’s the point of being a military advisor if the government doesn’t want to use the military? I think we see that Cardassia is over-correcting, though, where they are actively trying to not use their military instead of finding a balance. The things I liked most about this episode where the scenes between Kira and Ziyal, because Kira is an excellent big sister type, and then all the times Kira improvised because she lived that life for so long. Dukat is such an interesting character but I don’t want to like him because he’s still mostly out for himself and has done many questionable things. 6 boxes of cargo out the airlock for this episode.

TA Out!

Date: July 14, 2020

Season 4, Episodes 10 and 11

Musical Accompaniment: Flute covers are apparently a thing.

Interstellar News: This was a two-part episode that, again, did not say “Part 1” and “Part 2”. That’s really annoying, by the way.

Favorite Quotes:

Dax: It seems to be opening and closing completely at random. No unusual readings, no ships coming through. For all we know, the Bajorans are right. Maybe it is a message from the Prophets.

Sisko: If it is, they didn’t tell me.

Dax: Maybe the Prophets don’t recognize you with the new beard.

Dax being sassy and I love it.

Sage Sisko: “We’re not looking to destroy paradise, Mister President. We’re looking to save it.”

Kira: I suppose your gods aren’t as cryptic as ours.

Worf: Our gods are dead. Ancient Klingon warriors slew them a millennia ago. They were more trouble than they were worth.

Every time I think I can’t love Klingons more, Worf opens his mouth.

Sisko: That is the bottom line, isn’t it? What am I going to do? These aren’t evil people, Odo. These are people I’ve worked with. They’re my friends, people I respect. How can I turn against them?

Odo: It seems to me, if they have committed treason against the Federation, the Federation that you swore to protect, you won’t be turning against them. They will have turned against you.

Odo being super wise and helping Sisko during his time of distress.

“Homefront” – “Fear is a powerful and dangerous thing.”: The wormhole is acting funny, Odo is upset that Dax moved his furniture while he was regenerating, and a conference between the Federation and the Romulans was sabotaged and a changeling was spotted on video at the scene. Sisko and Odo head to Earth where Sisko is made acting Head of Security. We meet Sisko’s dad in New Orleans and Nog shows up because there are fresh tube grubs, yum, and he wants some help and advice from Sisko. The Federation President doesn’t want to increase security (much like 45 who is pretending Covid isn’t a thing, but I digress) but Odo materializes in front of him and he agrees to some items. Odo discovers Admiral Leyton is a changeling, hypothesizes the wormhole randomness was a cloaked Dominion attack, and a planet-wide blackout happens so the real Leyton uses that as fuel to ask for a State of Emergency, just like when the Borg threat happened.

“Paradise Lost” – “Don’t make anyone else pay for your mistakes.”: Sisko has more questions than answers as things aren’t adding up. When Odo finds a transporter log that connects some Starfleet cadets everything starts to fall in place as Leyton engineered the fake Dominion threat so as to be the one in charge of the defense of Earth. Leyton shows up to dinner and orders Sisko back to DS9 since he won’t get on board just as a shapeshifter who appears as O’Brien shows up and tells him there are four other changelings on Earth. Sisko is framed for being a shapeshifter but Odo breaks him out of jail and the Defiant is on the way with Lieutenant Arriaga who can attest to Leyton ordering him to make the wormhole appear unstable. Benteen is told the Defiant has all changelings on board but won’t actually destroy the ship, so Leyton has no more supporters and he resigns in a huff.

My Thoughts and Impressions: One thing I don’t understand is why people keep asking other people where someone else is. Odo asks Quark where Dax is, but Odo could have just as easily asked the damn computer where Dax was… come on! Another thing I didn’t quite understand is how easily everyone from Starfleet got used to currency. On TOS and TNG they were always surprised when things cost stuff, but no one here seems to be hard up for money or confused by having to pay Quark for food and drink. It’s something obviously handled off camera but it was such a big deal in the first two series that I’m sad they didn’t address it in some way. A big thing that struck me about Part 1 is the shock of Sisko realizing he was seeing changelings everywhere, because that’s how Covid 19 is panning out here in America. Every time someone isn’t wearing a mask or practicing social distancing I wonder if I’ve been exposed, and it’s terrible on my anxiety level.

“Homefront” was so much better than “Paradise Lost” which is weird because a lot of Part 1’s are usually just the set up and it’s kind of meh and then the Part 2’s (where all the action happens) are pretty fantastic, but here I find that I wasn’t as satisfied with the conclusion. Maybe because I know just how ugly humans can be and know that Starfleet Admirals in particular are just the biggest bunch of douchebags, or maybe it’s because the climax just wasn’t as spectacular as the set up was. Sisko is amazing, as always, when he’s actually ordering Nog and the other cadet… he does very good “bad cop” and commanding officer voice in order to get what he wants, though it’s also because he was talking to the children rather than his colleagues. Worf shows he has the chops for commandings a starship and he’s not afraid to fight but also doesn’t use that as a first option either. O’Brien as the changeling is fantastic because it really shows the depth of Colm Meany’s acting ability, but Bashir and Kira don’t have much to do in these two parts. Odo, as always, is the outcast but he doesn’t let that stop him from doing his job. As I’m rating both parts as one big giant episode, this gets 7 slices of BBQ chicken pizza and a side of garlic knots for good measure.

TA Out!

Date: July 16, 2020

Season 4, Episodes 8 and 9

Musical Accompaniment: A new set of cello covers I found

Interstellar News: I went to the eye doctor today and my eyes are just as shitty as they always have been, sigh. Good news is I’m getting TWO new pairs of glasses, hooray!

Favorite Quote from “The Sword of Kahless”:

Worf: The Sword of Kahless.

Dax: You told me not to tell anybody.

Kor: He guessed.

Worf being a good guess, Dax being outraged, and Kor technically keeping his secret.

So what had happened in “The Sword of Kahless” was…: Kor is back and regaling the customers at Quark’s with a tall tale. Afterward Dax introduces Worf to Kor and Kor lets spill their secret mission: to find the bat’leth that once belonged to Kahless. Several drinks later Kor is attacked outside of his room by a Lethean, but he only wakes up with a hangover. Worf, Dax, and Kor head into the GQ where Dax makes short work of a forcefield, and then another where they find the bat’leth.

They exit only to find that Toral sent the Lethean to find what Kor knew and their plan is to escape with the weapon. The trio kick some ass and escape but Worf is wounded and there’s a jammer so they can’t get back to the ship. They wander around the caves and it’s clear that Worf and Kor have different ideas about the Klingon future and they begin to distrust each other so Dax has to be the mediator and uses the bat’leth as a pillow. The others attack again, are beaten again, but then Kor and Worf start fighting so she shoots them both. Back on the runabout they decide to space the bat’leth and hope someone else will find it when the time is right.

“Lots of people die and nobody makes any profit.”: I may be biased because I love Klingons so much, but this was a fantastic story about the power of mythical objects and how everyone would run the zoo differently. This was the Klingon version of Indiana Jones except there were no Nazis to punch, only the House of Duras. I also got strong Lord of the Ring vibes as Dax wasn’t affected by the bat’leth like the other two were. I would also argue that there’s a bit of Harry Potter as the bat’leth seemed to act like the horcrux locket whenever one of them held it.

I’m reminded of the quote “absolute power corrupts absolutely” and we see it here threefold. Toral sees it as a way to bring his house back to its former glory and then some. Kor sees it as a way to live forever in the memory of the Klingon people and also as a way to make sense of being the last of his warrior friends to still be alive since he didn’t have the good fortune to die in battle as they did. Worf, at first, is selfless and believes it his duty to return it to the Emperor. Later he is corrupted by the power and believes it is his destiny to rule the Klingons. Thankfully Dax shoots them both and that seemed to knock some sense into them. While it’s not the best Klingon episode, not the best DS9 or Trek episode, it’s still damn good and it gets 8 ancient bat’leths from me.

Favorite Quotes from “Our Man Bashir”:

Kick-Ass Kira: “Who is Dax?”

Eddington: Where’s the core memory interface?

Rom: Oh it’s right behind the spatula.

Eddington: The spatula?

Rom: It’s made of a copper-ytterbium composite, the perfect plasma conductor.

I’ll have to remember that the next time I’m cooking and need a plasma conductor.

So what had happened in “Our Man Bashir” was…: Bashir is wearing a tux and it’s clear he’s in the holosuite living out his James Bond fantasy when Garak, also in a tux, interrupts and decides to stay for a while. The Orinoco is sabotaged but the beam out doesn’t work quite right so Eddington and Odo purge all memory on the station in order to transfer the neural patterns trapped in the transporter. The neural patterns were moved successfully but the physical body patterns went to the holosuite and each character now resembles a member of the senior staff.

Kira is a Russsian spy who’s in love with Bashir. Dax is Professor Honey Bare, a seismologist who’s been captured by Dr. Noah. O’Brien is Falcon, the henchman and the muscle. Worf is Duchamps, an associate of Dr. Noah… who winds up being played by Sisko. Bashir gambles with Duchamps who roofies them and takes them to Dr. Noah where Dr. Noah shares his evil plan which is turning Earth into Waterworld with Mount Everest as his personal island. Garak and Bashir are trapped but Dax’s character helps them out and this allows Bashir to stall long enough for Rom and Eddington to get the patterns back together and through the transporter.

“Actually, my character is far more disreputable. I’m a spy.”: This was DS9’s take on James Bond right down to the misogyny and music and it was absolutely delightful. Where Austin Powers was pure comedy this episode was comedy with a science-fiction twist and it really worked. There were a couple of things that stopped this episode from being great, but it’s most because it was too close to Bond. Falcon’s hired thugs totally forget they’re holding guns and go into hand-to-hand combat with Bashir and Garak and it’s totally ridiculous. Dax’s character is in the room where the lava is about to flow just minutes before FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. She could be killed if she doesn’t get out of there and there’s also no reason for her to give Bashir the key.

One excellent part is that Garak never stops being himself and he is constantly telling Bashir, the unflappable optimist, that they’ve got to get the hell our of dodge. Garak and Gul Dukat are very much alike, the ultimate survivors. It was also a nice touch that Bashir’s speech at the end was very much what Garak said to him minutes earlier and it proves to be so captivating that the bad guys forget to shoot. I also enjoyed Bashir shooting Garak and Garak once again claiming that “there’s hope yet” for Bashir. ROm and Eddington were super star engineers and it was wonderful to hear O’Brien’s first words be the ones Eddington feared, because no one likes when you out-McGuvyer them on their own starship. 9 martinis, shaken and not stirred, thank you very much.

TA Out!