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ABOUT THE
SHOW |
SHIPS & CHARACTERS
SEASON
1 |
SEASON 2 |
SEASON
3 |
SEASON 4 |
SEASON
5 |
SEASON 6 |
SEASON
7 |
 Kira is intrigued when Quark
presents her with an earring he claims was delivered from
Cardassia IV. She immediately recognizes the earring as that of
Li Nalas, who according to legend is the greatest Bajoran
resistance fighter ever. Li has been missing and presumed dead,
but the earring indicates that he is alive, and Kira believes it
was smuggled out as a cry for help. She asks Sisko for a
Runabout to rescue Li, telling him that Li is exactly the sort
of leader the increasingly factionalized Bajoran people need.
Sisko is skeptical about the dangerous mission, but promises to
think about it, when Odo and O'Brien approach Sisko with another
problem. Graffiti bearing the insignia of "The Circle," an
extremist group that wants to rid Bajor of all non-Bajorans, has
appeared around the station. Sisko is troubled by this reminder
that tensions on Bajor are definitely growing.
With this in mind, and with encouragement from Dax, Sisko agrees
to let Kira have the Runabout on one condition — O'Brien must
accompany her on her mission into Cardassian territory. At
first, Kira objects, worried that the presence of a Federation
officer will only complicate things. However, Sisko is unwilling
to bend, so Kira reluctantly agrees and the two head off.
After near-detection by the Cardassian forces, Kira and O'Brien
land inside a prison camp where Bajorans break rocks in the sun.
Kira flirts with an overseer in order to get inside the prison
forcefield, then she and O'Brien make a surprise assault and get
to the prisoners. Li is confused, unsure why these strangers
have come for him. His friend Borum reveals that he smuggled the
earring out in order to get Li rescued. The group prepares to
leave as Cardassian guards come at them with phasers blazing. Li
is hit, and the group makes the grim realization that they
cannot escape with all of the other prisoners. Borum orders Kira
to take Li back to Bajor and insists that he and three other
prisoners will hold off the Cardassian troops. Reluctantly, Kira
allows Borum and the others to sacrifice themselves in order to
save Li.
Back on the station, Li is given medical attention while Kira
inadvertently steps in on a message from Cardassian leader Gul
Dukat. She is shocked to hear Dukat apologize for the existence
of the prison camp, and is skeptical when he announces that all
of the remaining prisoners will be released. Sisko also has
trouble believing Dukat's words, but encourages Kira to be
pleased with what has been achieved. The sudden arrival of Li
has caused a tremendous commotion on the station, as Bajorans
openly stare at him in awe. Li, however, seems strangely
uncomfortable with the attention. He politely stands by while
Minister Jaro from Bajor makes a speech publicly welcoming him
home, and only relaxes when Sisko finally escorts him to his
quarters. There, Sisko hints at the trouble on Bajor and asks Li
for help in bringing stability to the planet. Meanwhile, at the
counter of his closed bar, Quark is attacked by three masked,
hulking figures who force him to the floor and burn his flesh
with a sort of branding iron.
While Dr. Bashir aids Quark, Li is told that Quark's assailants
are members of The Circle. Li is shocked that Bajorans have done
such a thing, and Sisko explains that many Bajorans are turning
to The Circle because they have grown impatient with their
government. Kira adds that the Bajorans need a leader who will
speak out against extremist groups, at which point all eyes turn
to Li. He, however, wants no part of it. A short while
afterward, the Bajoran hero Is caught trying to secretly leave
the station for the faraway Gamma Quadrant.
Forced to explain himself, Li painfully reveals that the bravery
he is so famous for is based entirely on rumors. He killed an
unarmed, unclothed Cardassian, and when the Bajorans learned
that this dead Cardassian was a great fighter, Li's encounter —
and everything he did that followed — grew to reach mythic
proportions. Because the stories that made him a legend are
false, Li feels unworthy of leading the Bajorans. But Sisko
disagrees. He explains that the Bajoran people need a legend,
and that they look to Li as a symbol of what is best in
themselves. Realizing that Sisko is right, Li agrees to assume
whatever role is needed, which soon results in a surprising
development. Minister Jaro announces that Li has been named
Bajoran Liaison Officer to Deep Space Nine — the position
currently held by Kira. Over Sisko's objections, Jaro states
that Kira has been dropped from the station and has been called
back to Bajor.
See Also: Image Captures |
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