Paradise Lost (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

"Paradise Lost" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the eleventh episode of the fourth season.

Plot

Earth has been placed under martial law due to a seemingly imminent Dominion invasion, but Benjamin Sisko believes that there is more going on than meets the eye. With the aid of Cadet Nog and Odo, Sisko gathers evidence and goes to Federation President Jaresh-Inyo. Politics and lack of definitive evidence tie his hands. Around this time Sisko is confronted by a shapechanger in the guise of Chief O'Brien. He tells Sisko there are a few other Changelings on Earth and then escapes. . Admiral Leyton, the suspected ringleader of the conspiracy, has Sisko framed as being a Changeling. Odo breaks him out of prison. Contact with the Defiant is made, as it is learned that Leyton's reach even extends to the station. A Starfleet officer there had affected the wormhole, starting the entire crisis. Unfortunately Leyton has convinced the USS Lakota the Defiant is crewed by changelings and the two ships are forced into battle. Sisko confronts Leyton at phaser point. The plan falls apart when the DS9 conspirator talks and the captain of the Lakota refuses orders to kill the Defiant crew. Leyton resigns.

Cultural References

• This episode's title is, of course, based on Paradise Lost by John Milton.
• When Captain Sisko breaks into the computer to find information, he mentions the names of some Starfleet officers: Daneeka, McWatt, Snowden, Orr, and Moodus. These names are all characters from Joseph Heller's satirical war novel Catch-22.

External links

• Paradise Lost article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki
• Paradise Lost article at STARTREK.COM, the official Star Trek website