Tribunal
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 6 June 1994
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- 47944.2
- DIRECTED BY
- Avery Brooks
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 445
WRITTEN BYWritten by Bill Dial
Chief O'Brien's long-awaited holiday ends before it begins when the Cardassians arrest him and put him on trial, in a system where the verdict always comes first.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
Setting off on holiday with Keiko, O'Brien runs into Raymond Boone, a former crewmate. Soon afterwards Cardassians arrest O'Brien without explanation and take him to Cardassia Prime. His appointed conservator, Kovat, explains that under Cardassian law the verdict is decided before the trial begins: O'Brien has already been found guilty and sentenced to death, and the hearing exists only to show the justice of the state. The charge is helping the Maquis obtain stolen warheads, backed by a fabricated recording. While Sisko's crew investigate, they discover that Boone is not who he seems: he is a surgically altered Cardassian agent, planted to frame O'Brien and discredit the Federation. Sisko exposes the plot in court and the judge releases O'Brien, who finally gets his holiday with Keiko.
- 01Avery Brooks's first episode as director, and the first Deep Space Nine episode directed by a cast member. He went on to direct nine.
- 02The first episode to air after The Next Generation's final episode.
- 03O'Brien's past aboard the Rutledge and the Setlik III massacre, from The Next Generation's “The Wounded”, are referenced.