Star Trek 1141: Masters of War

1141. Masters of War

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Hearts and Minds #4, Malibu Comics, September 1994

CREATORS: Mark A. Altman (writer), Rob Davis and Terry Pallot (artists)

STARDATE: 47295.9 (follows the last issue)

PLOT: In the region of the Gamma Quadrant called the Abyss, Dax, Bashir and their Klingon escort have run afoul of a secret Romulan base and been captured. They've destroyed the K'Tang and blamed the Cardassians to create problems for the Federation et al. Back on Deep Space 9, the Seltari is accused of having killed a Federation mediator, and when she escapes, those suspicions turn out to be founded. Sisko does his best to keep the Klingons and Cardassians from starting a firefight in Bajoran space. Odo, having hidden aboard the Seltari ship, finds his way to the Romulan base and breaks Dax and Bashir out, and they then help the Klingon escape. The Romulans pursue through the Wormhole and are revealed to the assembled forces who destroy it immediately, dispelling the tension between them. Odo thinks about not returning the bar to Quark, but that's only so much teasing.

CONTINUITY: See previous issues (Dukat, Morn, Rom). The "honorable" Romulans of the TOS era (Balance of Terror) are invoked in a flashback.

DIVERGENCES: See previous issues (spelling). A male Dax seems to have served in Starfleet during the TOS era, but at the time, Dax was a female gymnast (Trials and Tribble-a-tions). It's not just the cover - the runabouts are way oversized compared to Romulan warbirds, Klingon cruisers and Galor-class ships.

PANEL OF THE DAY - Speaking of the Abyss...
REVIEW: A lot happens in this issue and it's mostly good. The Romulans are a little stupid for flying through the Wormhole guns blazing and showing their hand, in a scene that makes you think the Abyss is on DS9's doorstep, and Dax and Bashir's Klingon friend doesn't get to do anything except vouch for them. Otherwise, it finishes as strongly as it started, leaving you with an impression of the large canvas that would become a staple of DS9 in its later seasons.