DS9 S03E15 & S03E16

In this installment:
(viewed Saturday, September 20th)

Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine, S03E15 - "Destiny"
Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine, S03E16 - "Prophet Motive"

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"Destiny"

• The 34th Rule of Acquisition:  "War is good for business."
• The 35th Rule of Acquisition:  "Peace is good for business."
• "There'll be no live vole fights on the Promenade, Quark."
• Another day, another crazy Bajoran vedek bearing a "warning from the Prophets".
• Constable Odo states the obvious:  Cmdr. Sisko is suuuuuper uncomfortable with the fact that (most) Bajorans consider him to the be Emissary of the Prophets.
• Three Cardassian scientists come to the station.  What are the odds that one of them is working for the Obsidian Order?  Pretty much 100%.
• Although Dejar seems to like it just fine, Ulani and Gilora apparently don't care for Cardassian cuisine.
• Apparently Starfleet "code" requires that all systems aboard a space station (and presumably a starship) include a primary, a back-up and a secondary back-up.
• One person's rogue comet is another person's "Sword of Stars".
• "Do you really believe that I'm the Emissary?"
  
  "I guess I always have.  I never wanted to admit it to myself.  It's hard to work for someone who's a religious icon."
  
  "I hope I don't offend your beliefs, but I don't see myself as an icon--religious or otherwise.  I'm a Starfleet officer."
• It's cool, O'Brien.  She doesn't think you're a crappy engineer because your a human.  She thinks you're a crappy engineer because you're a dude.
• The "wormhole relay station" model is a reuse of (most) of the miniature used for the Amargosa Observatory from Star Trek:  Generations.
  
  
  
  (images from Ex Astris Scientia & Memory-Alpha)
• "Something's wrong.  I'm picking up a neutrino surge from the Wormhole."
  
  That's never good.
• "You have very steady hands."
  
  "They...uh, get the job done I guess."
  
  Apparently being a hyper-competent engineer and a bit of a jerk is a serious turn-on for (some) Cardassian women.  Seems like O'Brien married into the wrong race :P
• "You're married?!?"
  
  "Yes, happily!"
  
  "Happily?"  That's the word you're going with?  Ehhh...
• Yeah, you totally didn't screw up your modifications dude.  One of the Cardassians is...an Obsidian Order operative.
  
  Raise your hand if you're surprised.
  
  No one?  I didn't think so.
• "A shuttlepod could maneuver between them, and its warp drive should be able to generate a large enough subspace field."
  
  Another scrap of on-screen evidence that even the smallest shuttlecraft (and the Defiant's tiny Type 18 shuttlepods are certainly among the smallest in service) are warp-capable, despite other on-screen evidence to the contrary.
• And the morale of our story?  Even if you're the sort to be influenced by prophecy, be very careful.  Because you're totally, totally going to misinterpret them.
• The whole storyline with O'Brien and Gilora is insignificant, but somewhat interesting given the Chief's established prejudice against Cardassians.  It would appear that, as the character grew and developed, the writers allowed that aspect of his personality to recede a bit.

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"Prophet Motive"

• Oo-mox:  Never not-creepy.
• Self-sealing stem bolts:  Nobody will ever know what they do.  Aside from sealing themselves, that is.
• "What does Zek what with me?"
  
  "It looks like he's moving in with you, brother."
• Dr. Bashir finds out that he's nominated for a Carrington Award, which is a sort of lifetime achievement award in the field of medicine, handed out by the Federation Medical Council.
• Ah, this is the episode where Zek goes bonkers and re-writes the Rules of Acquisition.
  
  Some of Zek's new/altered rules, published in The Rules Of Acquisition:  Revised for the Modern Ferengi...
• "If they want their money back, give it to them."
• "Greed is dead."
• "Never place profit before friendship."
• "Latinum tarnishes, but family is forever."
• "Money can never replace dignity."
• "A good dead is its own reward."
• "IF...NEVER...KEEP...PROFIT...A...GOOD...SMILE...HONESTY."
• "Actually, I've lost my taste for beetle snuff.  It may be fun for you and me, but it's no fun for the beetles!"
• "Rom, what's all this?"
  
  "You're looking at the sector headquarters for the Ferengi Benevolent Association."
• Oh, goodie.  An orb.  And the Prophets.  Yawn.
• The entire sub-plot with Dr. Bashir and the Carrington Award is a fairly amusing distraction, but when the main plot of the episode (Zek's Excellent Adventure) is also somewhat amusing...the whole episode comes off a little goofy.  It's not a bad episode, but it lacks weight.
• That being said, it's pretty funny when they stuff the Nagus in a sack and he's still humming and laughing :)
• Oh, I guess there is one bit of canon knowledge picked up here:  At some point in the distant past, the Ferengi were not as aggressively capitalistic as they are now.
• And no Carrington Award for you this year, Julian :P
• "You embezzled money...from the Nagus?"
  
  "Surprise!"
  
  "Father would be proud..."