The Dogs of War (episode)

Kira, Damar, and Garak are ambushed on Cardassia; Quark receives a message from Grand Nagus Zek appointing him the next leader of the Ferengi Alliance. (Part 8 of 9)

Teaser
Admiral Ross presents Captain Sisko with a new starship, the USS Sao Paulo. On the surface, the ship looks identical to the USS Defiant (2370), recently destroyed in the Second Battle of Chin'toka. However, this new vessel is equipped with cutting-edge Starfleet technology to counteract the Breen energy dampening weapon. As the crew become acquainted with their new "friend," Ross also leaves Sisko special orders to rename the vessel Defiant, in honor of their recently lost ship.

Aboard Damar's attack ship, Kira, Elim Garak and Damar approach Cardassia Prime. Leaving the ship in Seskal's hands, they beam down to the planet to meet with Gul Revok and Legate Goris, both of whom have agreed to join Damar. However, the trio arrive at the beam-down coordinates on a cave ledge, overlooking a massacre: Cardassian resistance fighters are being shot dead by Jem'Hadar troops. Gul Revok has betrayed them. In orbit, Seskal's vessel is destroyed by Breen warships, stranding Kira, Garak and Damar on Cardassia Prime.

Act one
The three decide to stealthily proceed to the Cardassian Capitol, to the house where Garak grew up. His father, he reveals, was the head of the Obsidian Order, who never publicly recognized Garak as his own son. Mila, the head of housekeeping, provides them a safe haven in the basement; they politely ask her for a communication device, and begin cleaning their new headquarters.

In the Infirmary on Deep Space 9, Doctor Bashir certifies Odo fit for duty, however he feels the need to inform him that Section 31 infected him with the morphogenic virus that is plaguing his people, the Changelings, and that Odo had transmitted the virus to them, not the other way around. Odo expresses his disgust with the situation with which Julian is in complete agreement. Odo then asks what the Federation intends to do about it.

In his quarters, Captain Sisko tells Odo that after considering the issue, the Federation Council decided not to give the Founders the cure to their disease. Odo thinks that the Federation is simply abetting genocide, but Sisko reminds Odo that while Section 31 might have been responsible for the virus it was the Founders that started the war, and that giving them the cure would only strengthen their hand, something unacceptable given that millions of people are risking their lives fighting the Dominion. Sisko then asks Odo to promise him he won't cause problems. Odo gives the Captain his word, but before he leaves notes that while the Federation is officially condemning Section 31's ethics and tactics they are more than happy to turn a blind eye when they need dirty work doing. Sisko doesn't like the facts very much, but can't deny the truth of Odo's statement.

As Leeta and M'Pella, another Dabo girl, ask Quark for a pay raise, Quark retires into his office to answer an incoming call from Grand Nagus Zek on Ferenginar. The Nagus, over a shaky, tenuous communications channel, informs Quark that he is retiring to Risa with Ishka, Quark's mother. He then shocks Quark by apparently naming Quark his successor as the next Grand Nagus, in between static breakups of his transmission.

Act Two
Julian and Ezri Dax, who have been tiptoeing on eggshells around one another, finally get a chance to speak to one another openly; they express their common attraction to one another, but agree to remain just friends.

As Quark revels in fantasies of wealthy extravagances, Brunt appears without his usual swagger at Quark's. Quark confirms the rumor of him being the successor to the Nagus. Brunt, completely out of character, kneels and begins kissing Quark's hand, heaping praise upon his new Nagus.

Meanwhile, on Cardassia Prime, Weyoun broadcasts to all the population the news of Damar's "death," even as Damar listens to the message from the basement cellar. Weyoun's report that the Dominion has destroyed all 18 Cardassian rebel bases is a bitter pill for the trio to swallow. With a smile, Weyoun states this is the first step to the Dominion's final victory. Also, the trio are unable to contact the Federation to be retrieved, as a signal strong enough to reach DS9 would be easily traced. The news devastates Damar; Kira, unwilling to spend the rest of the war in a cellar, tries to stir Damar to action, to no avail.

Act Three
Brunt, who is graciously giving Quark a pedicure, shocks Quark by informing him of recent social reforms on Ferenginar, including the introduction of taxes to finance welfare programs such as universal health care and retirement pensions for the elderly. Quark vows to enact sweeping changes, but is informed by Brunt that the position of Nagus is now on equal terms with a "Congress of Economic Advisors," which must ratify any legislation proposed by the Nagus. Quark worries about the future challenges facing the next Nagus.

On Cardassia, Kira, Garak and Damar lament recent events to Mila when she brings them food. They consider themselves to have been stupid to have ever believed that they had a chance of toppling the Dominion and that everyone will be glad they're dead. Mila tells them that the citizens of the capital don't believe they're dead, and there are whispers going around of their survival. While Damar doesn't think this amounts to much, Kira realizes they still have a chance. The resistance might be gone, but they can create something far more powerful... a revolution! Kira and Garak attempt to stir Damar to action.

Weyoun introduces Legate Broca, the new leader of the Cardassian people. He pledges his loyalty to the Founders and the Breen. The Female Changeling announces that Starfleet has developed a countermeasure against the Breen weapon, and thus a new strategy is required. She orders a fighting withdrawal, insisting to the Breen Thot Pran that it is not a surrender, just a chance to regroup and eventually redouble their shipbuilding and replenishment efforts.

Act Four
Quark spontaneously sells his Bar to Rom for 5,000 bars of latinum, without haggling over the price. When he realizes this fact, and the fact that he has been considering Leeta's request for a raise, Quark suddenly realizes his own leniency, and how soft he has become. He compares this to the reforms which have "come to ail" Ferenginar, pledging a return to the old, traditional ways once he gains power.

Garak plants an explosive device in a Jem'Hadar barracks, but he is detained by Jem'Hadar guards while attempting to leave.

Act Five
With a three-minute fuse delay, Damar and Kira come to Garak's rescue, killing one guard; Garak quickly slips a knife through the other Jem'Hadar guard's throat. The blast from the explosion draws a crowd, who quickly recognize Damar... the man the Dominion couldn't kill! He unites the throng with a speech, stirring them to join the rebellion against the Dominion.

Julian and Ezri, still agreeing to remain friends, both board the turbolift for Ops; but by the time they reach Ops, they are locked in a passionate embrace, obviously disregarding their friends-only stance. As heads turn throughout Ops to watch Ezri and Bashir making out, Worf cuts the spectacle short by pressing a button at his console, sending the turbolift back down to the Habitat Ring.

When Grand Nagus Zek and Ishka arrive at Quark's, they are befuddled by Quark's statements; disregarding him, they turn to Rom, and announce him as the next Nagus. (Zek, in the garbled transmission a few days earlier, had mistakenly thought he was speaking to Rom, not Quark.) Rom is to be the next Nagus–and Ishka takes the credit for the idea, reminding Quark how he has always underestimated his brother. It seems her influence over Zek has spread to more than just social reform.

Quark is astounded at the sudden turn of events, even more so when Rom happily gives Quark the bar back for free. Quark realizes that Rom is the perfect leader for the new Ferengi society, and that his bar will stay exactly the same. The drinks will continue to be watered down, the dabo tables will still be rigged, the staff will continue to be underpaid and overworked. Quark's will be the last outpost of the old Ferenginar. Nevertheless, Quark cannot help but be delighted for his brother.

While Quark returns to running the bar, the unassuming Rom begins his new tenure as Grand Nagus. His son Nog escorts the unabashed Brunt away from him, to stave off Brunt's corrupting influence. As his loving wife Leeta embraces him and wishes him good luck, Rom is left pondering his uncertain future as he tries out the Cane of the Grand Nagus for the first time, offering only a soft-spoken "wow".

In the DS9 briefing room, Sisko, Ross, Romulan Subcommander Velal, and Klingon Chancellor Martok discuss the Dominion's pullback and their new defensive perimeter. While Velal believes that containment will weaken the Dominion, Martok counters that the Dominion now has less territory to defend, and retreating allows them to shorten supply lines, while the Allies would have to lengthen theirs. Sisko also argues that the Dominion can sit happily behind their borders, building vessels and cloning soldiers for the next few years, until they eventually launch a new offensive that would spell certain defeat for the Alliance. Starfleet and the Klingon Empire vote to attack, and Velal, in light of the argument, agrees despite the cost that a full-scale invasion will incur. After the briefing, Benjamin returns to his quarters to find his wife Kasidy still awake on the couch. She is pregnant, she announces. While happy, she is unsure of the future, given the Bajoran Prophets' warning to Benjamin, the Emissary of the Prophets, to walk his path alone. The loving couple comforts one another, while on the horizon is the end of the Dominion War, and the release of the Pah-wraiths...

Memorable quotes
"I hate the carpet. I do."
 * - Bashir giving his verdict of the new Defiant

"I don't get it. He's interested, she's interested... what's the problem?"

"He is an overgrown child and she is very... confused."

"It could still work."
 * - O'Brien and Worf, discussing Ezri and Bashir

"The glamour of being a revolutionary."
 * - Garak, while hiding as a fugitive in a basement, after Kira tosses him a cloth to do some cleaning

"My greed has to be a shining light to everyone, a testament to the rewards of avarice."
 * - Quark, if he were to become the next Nagus

"Hello, ship."
 * - Benjamin Sisko, getting acquainted with the new USS Defiant (2375)

"Interesting, isn't it? The Federation claims to abhor Section 31's tactics, but when they need their dirty work done they look the other way. It's a tidy little arrangement, wouldn't you say?'"
 * - Odo, commenting upon the Federation's refusal to cure the Founders

"It's never too early to suck up to the boss!"
 * - Brunt

"You should hear the stories. "Damar's alive, my cousin saw him on Kelvas Prime.' 'He faked his own death.' 'He's plotting a new offensive from his secret mountain hideaway.' "

"You never told me you had a secret mountain hideaway."

"I was going to surprise you."
 * -Mila, Garak, and Damar

"Perish the thought; the Dominion has never surrendered in battle since its founding 10,000 years ago."
 * - Weyoun

"Once the new perimeter is established, we will redouble our shipbuilding efforts and increase production of Jem'Hadar troops. Retreat may prolong the war, but in the end, we will emerge stronger, and in a far better position to take the Alpha Quadrant once and for all."
 * - Female Changeling

"Taxes go against the very foundation of free enterprise! That's why it's called 'free'!"
 * - Quark

"Whatever happened to the survival of the fittest? Whatever happened to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer? Whatever happened to pure, unadultered greed?"

"Greed." (spoken in unison with Quark)
 * - Quark and Brunt

"I won't preside over the demise of Ferengi civilization! ... The line has to be drawn here! This far, and no further!"
 * - Quark (A joke reference to Picard's famous line from )

"Citizens of Cardassia, hear me! The Dominion told you that the rebellion has been crushed. What you have seen here today proves that that is yet another lie. Our fight for freedom continues! But it will take place here in the streets. I call on Cardassians everywhere to rise up, rise up and join me!  I need you to be my army!  If we stand together, nothing can oppose us.  Freedom is ours for the taking!"
 * - Damar

"This is insane. You ACTUALLY want Rom to be Nagus?"
 * - Quark

"I didn't know we were getting another Defiant-class ship."

"That's what happens when you miss staff meetings."
 * - Ezri and Sisko, a reference to a similar line in

"In fact, as far as I'm concerned, the Ferenginar that I knew doesn't exist anymore. No, I take that back, it WILL exist: right here in this bar. This establishment will be the last outpost of what made Ferenginar great: the unrelenting lust for profit!"
 * - Quark (Less-than-coincidentally, the first appearance of the Ferengi was in, where Armin Shimerman played another Ferengi, Letek.)

"You're my brother."

"And YOU'RE an idiot! But I love ya."
 * - Rom and Quark

"If we do nothing the Dominion could sit behind that perimeter for the next five years rearming themselves. And when they're ready to come out...God help us all."
 * - Captain Sisko

The Final Chapter

 * Although this episode was relatively unaffected by any of the last minute changes made over the course of the previous seven episodes (such as moving the wedding from to, or having Kira and Odo become involved with the Cardassian Rebellion plot), it was still not an easy show to put together. As René Echevarria explains, "Writing it was very complicated because we were simultaneously breaking the final two-hour show and certain things needed to be in place." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)

"The Dogs of War"

 * This episode takes its title from the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. In, General Chang quoted the same line; "And Caesar's spirit ranging for revenge, with Ate by his side, come hot from hell, shall in these confines, with a Monarch's voice, cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war, that this foul deed, shall smell above the earth, with carrion men, groaning for burial."
 * Prior to beginning The Final Chapter, the writers had discussed the possibility of having Quark become Grand Nagus, but as Ira Steven Behr explains, "That was wrong. Quark had to be in that bar at the end of the show. I felt that the audience needed that continuity even more than whoever was going to run the station. Quark is the center of the station – and I needed that center. So we wouldn't make Quark Nagus. And I didn't feel that we could leave Zek in the office, because we'd put him through all kinds of changes in the past few years." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
 * As such, it was decided to have Rom become the new Nagus. However there was more to it than simply 'making' him the new Nagus and moving on; as Behr says, "We had to figure out what would happen to Ferengi society that would enable Rom to become the Nagus. We were in love with the idea, but Rom wasn't up to being the Nagus of the old Ferenginar. They'd eat him alive. But to oversee a new Ferenginar that had a heart and compassion and was trying to be more progressive, well Rom has those qualities." As René Echevarria elaborates, "To some extent, we'd laid some pipe in that direction with Moogie's influence on the Nagus. The audience had accepted the leap Moogie had accomplished for females, so we figured they'd be able to make this leap too." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
 * Originally, after deciding that Rom was to become Nagus, the first draft of the script had Quark wanting the job but not getting it. However, this was subsequently altered to him thinking he has gotten the position only to subsequently realize he hasn't. In the original version, there was nothing about the new Ferengi society, and when Quark turns down the job, Rom simply gets it by default. Both Armin Shimerman and Max Grodénchik hated this idea as they felt making Rom the leader of the Ferengi without somehow contextualizing how he could actually lead was preposterous. As Shimerman says, "The decision was kind of akin to making Jake the head of the Federation." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
 * No one was happier than actor Armin Shimerman that Quark didn't become Nagus, but instead, stayed exactly where he was seven years previously; "Quark is the station. He is as much a part of the station as the carpets, the pylons, and the transporters. Everybody goes through Quark's. Everybody deals with Quark." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
 * Quark's speech about Ferengi values and how "the line has to be drawn here. This far and no further" was a deliberate imitation of Patrick Stewart in . Ronald D. Moore, who co-wrote both the film and this episode, remarked, "I take great glee at mocking my own work."
 * Quark's line "This establishment will be the last outpost of what made Ferenginar great" is a reference to, the first episode to feature the Ferengi.
 * Sisko's line to Dax, "That's what happens when you miss staff meetings," is an homage to Kirk's line to McCoy, "That's what you get for missing staff meetings, Doctor," in.
 * Quark's claim that he is the last great Ferengi in this episode echoes Dukat's claim in that he is the last great Cardassian.
 * Rom's final word ("Wow") was an adlib.
 * The USS Sao Paulo was named after the ship San Pablo in the 1966 movie, . Sisko's line "Hello ship" is an homage to 's salute to his new ship in that film.
 * Some fans questioned the wisdom of destroying the USS Defiant (2370) in only to effectively bring it back a few episodes later. The reason for the destruction of the ship was simple; producers felt that something was needed to show the audience just how dangerous the Breen were, and it was agreed that nothing could convey this message quite as well as the destruction of the Defiant. As Behr says, "We wanted to kill the Defiant as a statement on how tough the Breen were. We thought that would rock the characters and the audience." The reason the ship was subsequently brought back was because it was felt that to have the final battle of the War without it seemed preposterous. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
 * The dedication plaque of the USS Sao Paulo has a launch stardate of 52889.3, yet the stardate of the episode is 52861.3. The plaque also includes the names of 46 Star Trek executives including Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Ira Steven Behr, David Livingston, Ronald D. Moore, Peter Lauritson, René Echevarria, Steve Oster, and "Chief of Staff" Gene Roddenberry.  It also quotes : "Give me liberty or give me death..."
 * The Sarah Prophet's warning that Sisko will "Know nothing but sorrow", which issued in, finally pays off in this episode – Kasidy is pregnant, and Sisko is going to have to leave his new child behind without ever having seen him/her.
 * This episode reintroduces the character of Mila, Enabran Tain's housekeeper and confidant, who was first seen in the episode.
 * Although the stars of a series will occasionally play dual roles, this episode features a guest star (Jeffrey Combs) playing the dual roles of Weyoun and Brunt. This is evidenced plainly when the scene suddenly transitions from Quark's Bar (with Brunt kissing Quark's hand, lavishing him with praise) to Cardassia Prime (with Weyoun addressing the entire population with a speech extolling the Dominion).
 * In a deleted scene, Garak, Damar and Kira get drunk in Tain's basement.
 * This was the only episode of Star Trek to show the Breen logo.
 * Footage from, , , , and was used to depict the destruction of various Cardassian resistance bases destroyed by the Dominion.
 * This episode marks the final appearances on the show of several recurring actors and their characters: Max Grodénchik (Rom), Chase Masterson (Leeta), Wallace Shawn (Zek), Cecily Adams (Ishka), Tiny Ron (Maihar'Du) and Jeffrey Combs (Brunt, although he plays Weyoun in ). David B. Levinson and Cathy DeBuono also make their last appearances as their background characters Broik and M'Pella. For their last episode they were all given the honor of being able to speak.
 * Stephen Yoakam reprises his role as Velal from . His character was named in the script of this episode.
 * Seskal is killed in this episode, having previously appeared in.
 * Like Avery Brooks, Patrick Stewart also directed the penultimate episode of his series, Star Trek: The Next Generation;.
 * This is the last episode of the series to have music composed by David Bell.
 * Cirroc Lofton does not appear in this episode.

Awards

 * This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup for a Series.

Video and DVD releases

 * UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 7.12, catalogue number VHR 4822,.
 * This is the final DS9 volume released by CIC Video. The last volume, 7.13, was distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment after the dissolution of CIC.


 * As part of the DS9 Season 7 DVD collection.

Starring

 * Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko

Also starring

 * Rene Auberjonois as Constable Odo
 * Nicole de Boer as Counselor Ezri Dax
 * Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Commander Worf
 * Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko
 * Colm Meaney as Chief Miles O'Brien
 * Armin Shimerman as Quark
 * Alexander Siddig as Doctor Julian Bashir
 * Nana Visitor as Colonel Kira Nerys

Guest stars

 * Penny Johnson as Kasidy Yates
 * Andrew J. Robinson as Elim Garak
 * Jeffrey Combs as Weyoun and Brunt
 * Max Grodénchik as Rom
 * Casey Biggs as Damar
 * Barry Jenner as William Ross
 * Cecily Adams as Ishka
 * J.G. Hertzler as Martok
 * Chase Masterson as Leeta
 * Aron Eisenberg as Nog
 * Julianna McCarthy as Mila
 * Tiny Ron as Maihar'Du
 * Salome Jens as Female Changeling

Special guest star

 * Wallace Shawn as Zek

Co-stars

 * Mel Johnson, Jr. as Broca
 * Vaughn Armstrong as Seskal
 * Stephen Yoakam as Velal
 * Paul S. Eckstein as Jem'Hadar
 * David B. Levinson as Broik
 * Cathy DeBuono as M'Pella
 * Leroy D. Brazile as Lonar
 * Majel Barrett as the Federation Computer Voice

Uncredited co-stars

 * Sam Alejan as a Starfleet medical officer
 * Elle Alexander as a Cardassian civilian
 * Stephen Blackehart as
 * Cardassian civilian
 * Starfleet officer
 * Bill Blair as a Cardassian officer
 * George Colucci as a Cardassian civilian
 * Brian Demonbreun as a science division officer
 * Henry Kingi, Jr. as a Cardassian civilian
 * Henry Kingi, Sr. as a Jem'Hadar
 * Ken Lesco as a Cardassian civilian
 * Shauna Lewis as a dabo girl
 * Cliff McLaughlin as a Jem'Hadar
 * Dan McGee as an operations division lieutenant
 * Max Omega as Pran
 * Mark Riccardi as a Cardassian civilian
 * Denise Lynne Roberts as a Cardassian civilian
 * Chuck Shanks as an operations division officer
 * Mark Allen Shepherd as Morn
 * Unknown performers as
 * Cardassian officer
 * Revok
 * Scaly alien
 * Three Cardassian civilians

Stunt doubles

 * Chuck Borden as stunt double for Paul S. Eckstein
 * Dennis Madalone as stunt double for Casey Biggs
 * Chester E. Tripp III as stunt double for Andrew Robinson
 * Unknown stunt performer as stunt double for Vaughn Armstrong