When It Rains...

As with the final ten or so episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space 9", this particular episode is part of a HUGE arc--sort of like a 10- part series instead of the usual self-contained episodes. And, because of this, rating these episodes individually is NOT easy.

The show begins with Colonel Kira being offered an unenviable mission--to travel to the Cardassian underground and teach them how to be resistance fighters. To assist her is Garak and Odo. However, Odo soon begins to show signs of the same disease that is effecting the Founders and his effectiveness is compromised. At the same time, Bashir is working on discovering a cure for the illness and he realizes that the medical records provided to him by Starfleet are fake. Further, there are indications that Odo might have been the first infected...and the dreaded Section 31 could be behind it.

Chancellor Gowron arrives on the station to give Martok the Empire's highest honor. However, this is a ruse--he's actually there because he fears Martok's power and he intends to take over control of the fleet--even if it costs many more lives.

Finally, Dukat is blinded when he tries to read the sacred and evil texts. Interestingly, Kai Winn has him cast out into the streets and seems to have no further need of him in learning how to unleash the Pah-Wraiths.

Overall, a lot happens in this show and the quality, like the rest of these later shows, is excellent--making them well worth seeing.