When Star Trek Reminded Us of the Cost of War
Originally posted to Thinkspot on July 5th, 2021.
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 has some of the best science fiction stories ever committed to the small screen. One of my favorites may legitimately be the darkest Star Trek episode ever made, The Siege of AR-558.
The DS9 crew is sent out to deliver supplies to a remote outpost during the Dominion War. When they arrive, they find 43 Starfleet officers who are... broken. The officers were sent to hold the outpost against an overwhelming enemy that never stops coming and landmines that appear out of nowhere. The ranking officer informs Captain Benjamin Sisko that there were 150 of them when they arrived. Starfleet regulations required them to be rotated off of the front lines after 3 months. By this time, they had been there 5 months.
Sisko's attitude is intentionally cold. He knows these men and women need help. He knows they will die. He also knows there is nothing he can do for them.
What separates The Siege of AR-558 from every other episode of Star Trek-- even the other episodes set during wartime-- is that it isn't a story about heroes. Its a story about the reality of warfare. In fact, the difference between the myth of soldiers fighting in war and the reality they live through is one of the themes of the episode. A beloved side character, Nog sees the officers of AR-558 as warriors and heroes. He idolizes them and the hardships they've endured. His uncle, Quark whispers cynicism in his ears. Nog refuses to hear any word against them. He views Quark as a coward and these grizzled, war-torn officers as the epitome of what he wants to be. The thing is, for all his selfishness, Quark is mostly right.
The episode is a character piece. You get to know and love these new characters in short order. An engineer trying desperately to break the encryption on the enemy's communication relay- the thing they're all dying to protect. A disrespectful junior officer named Vargas who keeps a bleeding bandage on his arm in remembrance of a man he didn't even like. Their commander, who came to her field promotion because her superior officers were killed first. One by one, you see them cut down. Even poor Nog becomes disillusioned of his notions of heroism as the Doctor removes a leg wounded in battle.
The crux of the story is a group of soldiers asked to be brave, knowing that there is no hope. They have their orders: hold. And they hold until they are killed. There is no glory, just the ugly truth of warfare.
It is an idea to which fiction usually anesthetizes us.
War looks cool in television and movies. The hero never dies. They kill the bad guys and get the girl. It doesn't feel real unless you're a soldier or one of their loved ones.
Today, we celebrate our independence with barbecue and fireworks. Its a good time. And sure, it is a very good reason to celebrate. But too often we forget the sacrifices that were made to get us here. The Founders and their troops-- not soldiers--- farmers and locksmiths and cooks-- went into battle against hopeless odds against an enemy with superior forces and firepower.
Maybe that's something to think about.
The Siege of AR-558 is a seventh season episode of Deep Space 9.
#startrek #ds9 #warfare #unintendedcost
