Empok Nor

"Empok Nor" is the 122nd episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 24th episode of the fifth season. It episode aired on television on May 19, 1997.[1] The screen play was written by Bryan Fuller and Hans Beimler, and it was directed by Mike Vejar.[1]

"Empok Nor"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 24
Directed byMike Vejar
Story byBryan Fuller
Teleplay byHans Beimler
Featured musicJay Chattaway
Production code522
Original air dateMay 19, 1997 (1997-05-19)
Guest appearance(s)

In this episode, Chief O'Brien leads a team to the abandoned Cardassian space station Empok Nor, to salvage equipment for Deep Space Nine.[2] To accomplish this mission it is necessary to overcome booby traps, including two Cardassian soldiers lying in wait on the station to eliminate intruders.[3]

Plot

Chief O'Brien needs to replace a failing component of the space station Deep Space Nine's machinery. The only way to obtain a replacement is by salvaging it from Empok Nor, an abandoned Cardassian space station built to the same design as Deep Space Nine. The salvage team consists of O'Brien, Cardassian ex-spy Garak, cadet Nog, engineers Pechetti and Boq'ta, and security officers Stolzoff and Amaro. As Cardassians routinely booby-trap abandoned facilities against non-Cardassian intruders, Garak is brought along to help disarm the security measures.

On the abandoned station, the team discovers two empty and recently deactivated stasis tubes and a third one with a dead Cardassian soldier, whose uniform marks him as a member of an elite and ruthless battalion. Suddenly, the away team's runabout detaches from the station and explodes, stranding them inside with no means to send for help and at under threat from the two recently-awoken Cardassians. The team splits into groups to continue the salvage and attempt to establish communications.

The Cardassian soldiers methodically ambush and eliminate Pechetti and Stolzoff. Garak decides to go on the offensive and track down the enemy soldiers himself. He returns after killing one of them, and relays his discovery that the soldiers had been subjected to psychotropic drugs which amplify their natural xenophobic tendencies. The second soldier ambushes Boq'ta, but Garak emerges and kills him before he can kill Amaro, only to then stab Amaro himself.

O'Brien and Nog discover Amaro, who tells them what happened, before dying from his injuries. O'Brien realizes Garak has been affected by the same drug as the soldiers, and sets out to stop him. Garak captures Nog, using him to draw O'Brien out. O'Brien consents to lay down his weapons and face Garak in hand-to-hand combat, but disables him with his own trap, having rigged his phaser to explode.

The three are rescued after collecting the parts they needed. Back on DS9, O'Brien visits Garak in the infirmary. Garak expresses his sincere regret over his actions; O'Brien informs him there will be an inquest, but it will be made clear that Garak wasn't responsible for what he did. Garak remarks that he is lucky the phaser blast didn't kill him, and O'Brien replies that it was intended to do exactly that.

Cast

In addition to the regular Deep Space Nine cast, this episode features recurring characters Garak, played by Andrew J. Robinson, and Nog, played by Aron Eisenberg. Guest stars include Tom Hodges as Pechetti, Andy Milder as Boq'ta, Marjean Holden as Stolzoff, and Jeffrey King as Amaro.

Reception

In 2017 this episode was noted as featuring scary and/or eerie Star Trek content.[4] In 2018, TheGamer ranked this one of the top 25 creepiest episodes of all Star Trek.[5] They categorized this episode as a psychological thriller and slasher genre.[5] It features the characters Chief O'Brien, Garak, Nog, and various extras on an abandoned Cardassian space station, of the same overall type as the titular Deep Space Nine.[5]

In 2019, ScreenRant ranked this the tenth best episode for the character Nog, noting how he helps O'Brien despite being a hostage.[6]

References
  1. DeCandido, Keith R. A. (2014-07-25). "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Rewatch: "Empok Nor"". Tor.com. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  2. The Star Trek Encyclopedia By Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Debbie Mirek
  3. https://tv.avclub.com/star-trek-deep-space-nine-blaze-of-glory-empok-nor-1798177098
  4. "18 eerie, disturbing and downright scary Star Trek episodes". H&I. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
  5. "Star Trek Episode Index", Live Long and Evolve, Princeton University Press, 2018-09-18, pp. 181–184, doi:10.2307/j.ctvc777xr.15, ISBN 9780691184111
  6. "Star Trek: 10 Best Nog Episodes, Ranked". ScreenRant. 2019-09-29. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
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