‘FOR THE CAUSE’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This is a ‘DS9’ episode that changes the fate of two reoccurring characters in the series. It also sees Sisko’s Federation values be challenged when the love of his life becomes involved with the Maquis.
In the story, the Federation are planning to deliver several replicators through DS9 to Cardassia. This is following the attacks made by the Klingons on Cardassia that began in ‘The Way of the Warrior’. 😐
It’s also feared that the renegade group known as the Maquis might intercept the shipment from the Federation to Cardassia. Kenneth Marshall as Lt Cdr. Michael Eddington briefs the crew regarding it.
Eddington and Odo also inform Sisko that they have circumstantial evidence concerning Penny Johnson as Kasidy Yates in that she might be working with the Maquis. Sisko is reluctant to believe it.
But as the episode progresses, Sisko starts to have his doubts about Kasidy. This is especially when she refuses to allow her cargo be inspected for medical reasons. It gets hard for Sisko in this episode.
Sisko soon instructs Worf to follow Kasidy’s ship, the Xhosa, by travelling in the Defiant. Worf agrees and soon the Defiant crew see the Xhosa delivering supplies to a Maquis ship within the Badlands. 😮
This must be a mighty blow for Sisko since he grew to trust her once they began having a relationship together. It also must be a blow for audience who grew to like Kasidy Yates in the series.
As Sisko and the DS9 crew prepare to catch Kasidy out in her activities, Eddington tells Sisko that he’s unwilling to take responsibility of arresting Kasidy. Sisko instead commands the Defiant ship himself.
But as the Defiant follows the Xhosa again to the Badlands, they find no Maquis ship waiting there. Odo gets suspicious as he suspects this operation might’ve been a ruse to lure Sisko away from DS9.
After waiting some time, Sisko and some DS9 crew confront Kasidy aboard the Xhosa. She claims she’s only been delivering medical supplies to the Maquis and was told the latest supply was urgent.
Sisko works out what’s been going on and he and the Defiant crew let Yates go before they set course back to DS9. In Sisko’s absence, it turns out that Eddington has been a Maquis agent all along.
He orders DS9’s security crew to transfer the replicators to a waiting ship before he renders Major Kira unconscious with a phaser. He removes his badge and he flees the station on the waiting ship. 😮
Sisko and the others return to find Eddington gone before Eddington contacts him in his office. Eddington admits his defection to the Maquis as he demands for Starfleet to leave the Maquis alone.
Eddington makes it clear that the Maquis will promise further trouble if the Federation aids the Cardassians. Despite Eddington’s firm beliefs, Sisko vows to capture and arrest him for his betrayal. 😐
Later on, Kasidy Yates returns to DS9 alone, having left her crew in the Badlands. She allows herself to be turned in after she and Sisko have an emotional embrace which must be very heartbreaking. 🙁
It’s sad that Sisko and Kasidy’s relationship has turned out this way, especially since the two seemed to be getting on so well together. Hopefully we will see Kasidy again as she’s promised to come back.
There’s a side plot that goes on in this episode where Gul Dukat’s half-Bajoran daughter, Tora Ziyal, befriends Andrew J. Robinson as Garak. Ziyal however is played by a different actress in this episode.
In the previous two episodes she was, Ziyal was played by Cyia Batten. Here she’s played by Tracey Middendorf. I’m not sure why Ziyal’s casting was changed here. Maybe Cyia Batten was unavailable.
Garak becomes suspicious of Ziyal wanting to befriend him as he fears she might try to kill him, due to being Dukat’s daughter. Major Kira even threatens Garak’s life once being around Ziyal in the tale.
Thankfully, Ziyal persuades Garak that she’s merely interested in being his friend since he’s the only other Cardassian aboard DS9. Hopefully this will be the start of a beautiful friendship between them.
‘For the Cause’ is a good episode featuring Sisko’s relationship with Kasidy Yates once she’s revealed to be working with the Maquis. It was also so interesting when Eddington turned out to be a traitor.
‘For the Cause’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
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