DS9 Stories/News: Bajoran Life Part (1)

BAJORAN LANGUAGE

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The Bajoran language family is a group of both extinct and existing languages and dialects used on Bajor.

Site: http://bajoran.wordpress.com/

The Bajoran script is possibly the most complex phonetic script encountered by the federation. The Bajoran written language is thought to have been developed from a logo syllabic script used in the B’hala region on Bajor. The characters are sometimes described as being ideographic (each symbol represents an idea) this is not the case. Although the Bajorans consider each symbol to represent the idea of language, the script is primarily a syllabary, although it has some unusual spelling conventions.

Site: http://celestialtemple.wikispaces.com/Bajoran+Language

The Bajoran written language consists of square symbols which are composed of thick lines. There are a large number of different symbols which can be used in any of eight rotations (flipped and rotated each and every way). Bajoran tends to be written in horizontal lines, although it can be written vertically. (DS9: “Shadows and Symbols“)

Bajoran writing is said to be ideographic, that is, each character represents a single thought or word pictured. Most forms of written Bajoran share some root ideograms, as evidenced by the Reckoning Tablet. Each ancient Bajoran symbol translated into a pair of nearly identical modern Bajoran symbols. (DS9: “The Reckoning“)

Keiko O’Brien‘s classroom featured a chart depicting the English, the Ferengi, the Cardassian, and the Bajoran alphabet. The chart listed some twenty-five Bajoran language symbols. (DS9: “The Nagus“, “In the Hands of the Prophets“, “Cardassians“)

Site: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Bajoran_language

Pagh- Bajoran word for life energy or soul. [Emissary]

Peldar Joy – Bajoran greeting used during the Gratitude Festival. [Fascination]

Balik (am) – Shouted by Keeve Falor to children. Possibly “go away”or “get out of here”. [Ensign Ro]

(Beli) Clavian – Bajoran musical instrument. Most likely wind instrument similar to a Clarinet. [Pre-emptive Strike]

Boryhas – Bajoran term for ghosts or spirits of the dead. [The Next Phase]

D’jarras – Ancient Bajoran caste system. [Accession]

Deranya- Lamp for the dead. Candle suspended by chains from four pillars. [Shakaar]

Itanu- Cerimony carried out when a child reaches the age of fourteen. [Accession]

Tessipate, Decipate, Kellipate – Bajoran measures of distance and area.

“Ah – kay – ah. A – ya Va – suu. Ko – van – ha. E – kay – ha.” – Bajoran Death Chant. Repeated over and over again for excess of 3 hours. [Battlelines]

“Tesra Peldar Impadre Bren. Bentel Veytan Olan Sten.” – Presiders address at the Gratitude Festival. [Fascination]

“Raka Ja Hoot. Shalla Moralla. Emma Buru Kana. Uranak Rana Non (Person’s Name).Propay Va Nara Eh Suuk. Shalla Com…” – Bajoran chant for recent deaths. Used with the Deranya lamp. [Shakaar]

“Shakala tie unsyor. Tevan akares kova antana kel.” – Marriage blessing by the Emissary. [Accession]

DS9 Stories/News: Deep Space Nine Celebrity Guest Pictures (17)

Mary Kay Adams as Grilka in Two Deep Space Nine Episodes “The House of Quark” & “Looking for par’Mach in all the Wrong Places”

Grilka was a Klingon woman from the Mekro’vak region and the widow of Kozak. Her most trusted adviser was Tumek.

After Kozak died in Quark’s in early 2371, Quark took credit for killing her husband, even though Kozak actually fell onto his own knife. She forced Quark to marry her so she could retain control of her house. Despite Grilka’s aversion to matters of finance, she allowed Quark to inspect her family ledgers where he discovered that D’Ghor, Kozak’s enemy, had been systematically attacking the House of Kozak for five years in order to weaken it.

Courtesy of Memory Alpha.org

Grilka was played by Mary Kay Adams.

Mary Kay Adams (born 12 September 1962; age 49) played Grilka in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes “The House of Quark” and “Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places“. She is a descendant of US Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

Adams also played the role of Na’Toth on Babylon 5 during that show’s second season, taking over the role from fellow DS9 guest star Julie Caitlin Brown. Although she was listed in the show’s opening credits for the entire season, she only appeared in two episodes. Mostly, she worked with Andreas Katsulas on the show.

Adams also guest starred in the Dark Skies episode “Moving Targets” with fellow Deep Space Nine guest stars Stephen James Carver, the late William Frankfather, and Leon Russom.

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Mary_Kay_Adams

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Shannon Cochran as Sirella in Deep Space Nine Episode “You Are Cordially Invited…”

Lady Sirella, daughter of Linkasa, was Martok‘s wife and Mistress of the House of Martok.

Sirella was of noble descent, tracing her maternal lineage back to Shenara, daughter of Emperor Reclaw of the Second Dynasty. However, her 23rd maternal grandmother was actually named Karana, a concubine. (DS9: “You Are Cordially Invited“)

Courtesy of Memory Alpha.org

Although she was completely different from the woman Martok thought he would marry (he thought of her as a mercurial, arrogant, prideful woman who didn’t have sex with him as much as he wanted to), his love for her was very deep. (DS9: “You Are Cordially Invited“)

A proud and headstrong woman, Sirella was originally opposed to the marriage between Worf and Jadzia Dax, believing that by allowing aliens to join her house would threaten their identity as Klingons. Since as mistress she had the duty of approving all marriages into the family, she came to Deep Space 9 to evaluate Dax’s worthiness. Sirella’s views led her to set Dax’s standards impossibly high, eventually causing a clash between them and to her canceling the wedding. Dax eventually begged her forgiveness, changing Sirella’s mind about her. Sirella later performed the wedding ceremony. (DS9: “You Are Cordially Invited“)

She was played by Shannon Cochran.

Shannon Cochran (born 7 August 1958; age 53) from Greensboro, North Carolina is an actress who has guest-starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She also appeared in Star Trek Nemesis. She has also guest-starred in ER, Frasier, NYPD Blue, Seinfeld and The Office (where the father of the man her character’s daughter was played by Robert Pine – though another actress would take over the role in that episode). In a StarTrek.com interview, she mentions that she married her “Defiant” co-star Michael Canavan, and that he was the only person, aside from Jonathan Frakes and Nana Visitor, she filmed the episode with.

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Shannon_Cochran

Shannon Cochran (born August 7, 1958) is an American actress. While she has numerous credits to her name, she is particularly recognizable as having played the mysterious Anna Morgan in the popular 2002 film The Ring.

Cochran played Pam Beesly‘s mother in The Office episode Sexual Harassment (later replaced by Linda Purl).

She also had a guest role in the Deep Space Nine Episode “Defiant”

As Kalita, a member of the Maquis

DS9 Stories/News: The Best of the Trek BBS DS9 Conversations (1): Deep Space Nine FAQ

Source: http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=28304

Deep Space Nine What We Left Behind, we will always have here.

Deep Space Nine FAQ

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1.) Introduction:This FAQ is targeted towards people who haven’t seen the show before. Therefore it only contains a minimum number of spoilers. For example the character descriptions contain the characters’ initial positions but don’t reveal their development throughout the show. Nonetheless there is also information for people who saw all episodes. Because we didn’t want to severely reduce the number of discussions in the forum, we didn’t go into too much detail and cut down the questions to ones that either come up often or that appeal to first time viewers.

Fairly Odd Trek by Frenchie 1941

2.) Characters and actors:

Q: Who are the characters and what are their positions?

Main cast:
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko: Commander and later Captain of DS9 and the Defiant
Kira Nerys: Executive Officer, liaison to the Bajoran provisional government
Jadzia Dax: Science Officer, pilot of the Defiant
Miles Edward O’Brien: Chief of Operations
Julian Subatoi Bashir: Chief Medical Officer
Worf: Strategic Operations Officer and First Officer of the Defiant
Jake Sisko: Benjamin Sisko’s son, aspiring writer and journalist
Odo: Chief of Security
Quark: owner of “Quark’s Bar, Grill, Gaming House and Holosuite Arcade”, president of the Promenade Merchant Association

Important recurring characters:
Morn: Quark’s most loyal customer, owner of a shipping business
Rom: Quark’s brother
Nog: Rom’s son
Zek: Grand Nagus (leader) of the Ferengi
Ishka: mother of Quark and Rom, nicknamed Moogie
Brunt: liquidator for the Ferengi Commerce Authority (FCA)
Leeta: dabo girl
Garak: tailor with a questionable background, exiled from Cardassia
Gul Dukat: former commander of the space station, Prefect over Bajor during the Occupation
Damar: Dukat’s adjutant
Martok: Klingon General
Weyoun: Vorta field commander
Gowron: Klingon Chancellor
Winn Adami: a religious leader on Bajor
Bareil Antos: Bajoran monk
Shakaar Edon: leader of the Shakaar resistance cell during the Bajoran Occupation
Vice Admiral William J. Ross: Starfleet field commander along the Cardassian border
Lt.Cmd. Michael Eddington: Starfleet security officer
Joseph Sisko: Benjamin Sisko’s father
Keiko O’Brien: Chief O’Brien’s wife, schoolteacher, botanist
Kasidy Yates: freighter captain
Vic Fontaine: A holographic program of a Las Vegas lounge singer

Q: What is the order of the hosts of the Dax symbiont?
Lela, Tobin, Emony, Audrid, Torias, Joran, Curzon, Jadzia Q: Which actors had multiple roles?
The two most prominent recurring actors on DS9 are Jeffrey Combs and J.G. Hertzler.

Combs is best known as Brunt and Weyoun. He also played Tiron in “Meridian” and Mulkahey in “Far Beyond the Stars”. On the other Star Trek shows he can be seen as Penk in VOY’s “Tsunkatse”, Krem in ENT’s “Acquisition” and Shran – a recurring character on ENT.

J.G. Hertzler’s most prominent role is Martok. Additionally he played the Vulcan Captain of the Saratoga in “Emissary”, Laas in “Chimera” and Roy in “Far Beyond the Stars”. Outside of DS9 he can be seen as a Hirogen in VOY’s “Tsunkatse” and as Kolos in ENT’s “Judgment”.

To see Casey Biggs (Damar) and Robert O’Reilly (Gowron) out of makeup watch “Shadows and Symbols” and “Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang”. Biggs plays Dr. Wycoff in the former, and O’Reilly is the one who drinks the poisoned martini in the latter episode.

Q: Which characters were played by multiple actors?
Ziyal was played by Cyia Batten in “Indiscretion” and “Return to Grace”, by “Tracy Middendorf in “For the Cause”, and Melanie Smith in all other episodes. Batten was replaced because the writers wanted an older actress and Middendorf couldn’t handle the makeup.Senator Cretak was played by Megan Cole in “Image in the Sand” and “Shadows and Symbols”, and by Adrienne Barbeau in “Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges”. This time the change was necessary because Cole wasn’t available for the third episode.Ishka was played by Andrea Martin in “Family Business”, and by Cecily Adams in “Ferengi Love Songs”, “The Magnificent Ferengi”, “Profit and Lace”, and “The Dogs of War”.

3.) TV, DVDs and books:

Q: Which TNG episodes relate to Deep Space Nine?
Several TNG episodes set up backstory for DS9:

- Benjamin Sisko:
Best of Both Worlds, Parts I & II
- Maquis:
Journey’s End
Preemptive Strike
- Bajorans:
Ensign Ro
- Cardassians:
The Wounded (also O’Brien)
Chain of Command, Part II
- Trill:
The Host (largely contradicted by DS9)
- Klingons/Worf:
Sins of the Father
Reunion
Redemption, Parts I & II
- Crossovers:
Birthright, Part I (Bashir)
Firstborn (Quark)

However watching these episodes isn’t required to understand DS9. All necessary information is repeated.

Q: Is there a difference between the one-part and two-part versions of the pilot and the finale?
Yes. “Emissary”, “The Way of the Warrior” and “What You Leave Behind” were shot as one episode each. For the reruns in syndication they were split into two parts. This made it necessary to cut material to make room for a second credit sequence. The cuts are as follows:Emissary
A last visit by O’Brien to the Enterprise and his farewell to Picard
Cardassians scanning the station and detecting unexpected weapons
The Way of the Warrior
O’Brien and Bashir play around with beans in Quark’s
A holodeck scene with Dax and Kira in swimsuits
What You Leave Behind
The rebels are laughing and joking because they can’t enter Dominion HQ
The farewell between Bashir and Garak
Additionally several scenes around the middle are rearranged to end the two-part version on a cliffhanger

Q: What are the differences between the Region 1 and Region 2 DVD sets?
The R2 sets include several bonus features, which are only available as extra DVDs from BestBuy affiliated shops in R1.
Additionally two episodes are cut in R2. Season 4’s “To the Death” has 6 seconds cut from the neck breaking scene (the actual twisting can’t be seen). In Season 6’s “Sons and Daughters” 25 seconds were cut from the blood sharing scene at the end.
The R2 DVDs also come with a “Virtual Space Station” CD-ROM set; one CD per season. It’s a reference guide to events, characters, episodes and other items.
Other changes like different case designs or booklets are only cosmetic.

DVDs from different regions are incompatible for technical reasons. You need a region-free DVD player that can be switched between PAL and NTSC to watch them

Q: What features can be found on the Best Buy discs?

Season 1:
The Deep Space Nine Scrapbook – A look at the creation and launch of Deep Space Nine. Features archival cast and crew interviews and behind-the scenes-footage.
Season 2:
Quark’s Story – A look at the character Quark and the origin of the Ferengi.
Season 3:
The U.S.S. Defiant – An in-depth look at the “tough little ship” that debuted in Season 3
Season 4:
Bob Blackman’s Designs of the Future – Veteran Costume Designer Bob Blackman discusses the wide range of costumes he created for the series – from Bajorans, Cardassians, and Ferengi to a constant stream of aliens visiting the station. Includes behind-the-scenes footage of rarely seen sketches.
Sketchbook: Jim Martin – Illustrator Jim Martin reveals the meaning and evolution of many of his artistic designs used for DS9. Includes rarely seen drawings of Ferengi props, starships, and alien worlds.
DS9 Chronicles: Short introductions to selected episodes from seasons 1-4, narrated by Deep Space Nine actors
Season 5:
DS9 Sketchbook: John Eaves – A look at original and unused designs created for Season 5 of DS9.
Ferengi Culture – Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr explains how the Ferengi evolved from their debut on The Next Generation through the end of Deep Space Nine.
Season 6:
Inside “One Little Ship” – Visual Effects wizard Gary Hutzel provides an in-depth look at filming and designing the shrunken shuttlepod featured in “One Little Ship”
Ferengi Rules of Acquisition: The Beginning – Armin Shimerman and Ira Steven Behr discuss the cultural impact of the “Rules” on society.
Ferengi Rules of Acquisition: The Sequel – Armin Shimerman and Max Grodenchik explore the Ferengi rules accompanied by clips played back to back in numerical order.
Season 7:
Special Crew Profile: Ezri – A special profile of Nicole deBoer, a new cast member added in the final season.
Morn Speaks! – Mark Allen Shepherd talks about his unique role on the series and reveals dialogue that was written but never made the final cut.
Sketchbook: John Eaves – Illustrator John Eaves covers several designs created for the final season of DS9, including the Breen Ship.

Q: Are there special Asian editions of the DS9 DVD Boxed Sets?

No, those DVDs you see on EBay are pirated versions of the official sets. There are no Paramount liscenced Asian versions of the DVDs.

Q: How is the quality of the Asian DVD sets?

Pretty low quality. They’re grainy, and have a bad tendency to break up, much resembling the errors you get when a disk is dirty. Also, many episodes cut off prematurely.

Q: Do the movies make references to Deep Space Nine?
Yes

First Contact:
The Defiant is featured extensively in the Borg battle
Worf is thus brought to the Enterprise
Riker mocks Worf if he can still fire phasers, referring to his absence from the ship
Insurrection:
Picard wonders about discipline on DS9 when Worf oversleeps
Picard mentions that the diplomatic corps is busy with Dominion negotiations
The Son’a are known as producers of Ketracel White (also mentioned in “Penumbra”)
Ru’afo mentions the Dominion among powers that challenged the Federation
Nemesis:
Remans were used by the Romulans as cannon fodder during the Dominion War
Shinzon commanded a ship during the war

Q: What is the Deep Space Nine Companion?
A book with episodes synopses, interviews with writers and actors, and behind the scenes information. The Companion is a very good source for background information on Deep Space Nine, as well as the writing and production of a weekly television series in general.
It is out of print but still available from Amazon.com either used or new.
The book is not to be confused with the CD-ROM of the same name. The CD contains episode scripts, pictures, and trailers.

DS9 Stories/News: So You Want To Watch Star Trek: DS9? – Season 1

Source: http://directgeek.com/2011/11/so-you-want-to-watch-star-trek-ds9-season-1/

So You Want To Watch Star Trek: DS9? – Season 1

Gabby Nicasio 11/03/2011 5

It’s come to my attention that there are several people in the world, a not-insignificant number of people, a handful of lonely, sad, socially isolated people, who have never seen Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

I’m here to help.

The plan is this: this post will serve as a primer on the series. I’ll then follow up with one post per each of the seven seasons, and these will detail which episodes are essential viewing. Any not listed can, in theory, be skipped. If you’re a jerk who doesn’t care enough.

You may ask what will constitute “essential viewing”. The answer is: my completely biased opinion. This post should also serve as a primer for what my particular biases are. Believe me, it’ll become very, very clear.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a show in which everyone makes horrible decisions, and then tons of people die. It is my favorite show. The series takes place in and around the space station Deep Space Nine. (Hey! That’s the name of the show! ) The station is Cardassian-built, Bajoran-owned, and Federation-run, and if that sounds like a mess, then you’re already following along quite nicely.

This fixed location for the series allows the show to delve immediately and deeply into the local politics of the region. There are three main players in local politics. Guess who they are. Go, on, I’ll wait. Okay here:

The Cardassian Union

Also and more accurately known as the Cardassian Empire. Cardassians are Space Russians. They have crocodilian scales, slicked-back hair, and are given swagger lessons in grade school. At the time when the first season begins, they’ve long been living under a fiercely-enforced military leadership. Their civilian government employs a brutal and crafty intelligence service, the Obsidian Order, who make it their business to know what you ate for dinner three Tuesdays ago. They keep a file on your bowel movements. They have read your fanfiction, and they’re not impressed.

Cardassians are passionate about durable fabrics, pointy architecture, saunas, and oppression. They are the best. They are the absolute best.

At the start of the series, the Cardassians have just pulled out of their 60-year-long occupation of Bajor.

Bajor

A pool filled entirely with Bajoran tears.

Is a lovely planet filled with sad people who look a lot like Ensign Ro.

During the Cardassian occupation, Bajor was strip-mined, its people forced into slave labor, and upwards of 10 million of its citizens were killed.  Which explains the sadness. The Bajoran Resistance used guerrilla warfare tactics to oppose the occupation, and eventually the pressure was too much. The Cardassian civilian government called for a military withdrawal.

Bajorans love earrings, religion, armed rebellion, and shoulder pads.

At the start of the series, Bajor has a wobbly provisional government and a militia that is largely made up of former Resistance members. Because of their tenuous political and agricultural situation, they’ve accepted some help from the Federation.

The United Federation of Planets

If you don’t know who these people are, then I’m not sure what you’re doing here. For the purposes of watching DS9, just think of them as NATO. Think of them as Space NATO.

The Federation is very fond of paperwork, jumpsuits, ignoring its own Prime Directive, and maintaining an enduring, naive sense of smug superiority. But mainly jumpsuits. They just cannot get enough of jumpsuits.

Here is one of Jake Sisko’s least garish jumpsuits.

Characters

In this space I was going to talk about all the main characters, of whom there are many. But then I remembered I was supposed to let my bias run free, so instead this will just be about Garak.

Elim Garak

Dat ass.

Is a tailor. Although word on the Promenade is that he used to be a spy. Or is still a spy. Word in Garak’s shop of tailored fineries is that he used to be a gardener. Then again, maybe he’s a political exile. Or a political refugee. Or an exiled spy. Or an exiled gardener? Maybe he’s with the Fashion Police. Maybe he’s a Romulan Princess. These are all distinct possibilities.

Garak is the only remaining resident Cardassian aboard DS9. He is the best. Cardassians are the best and Garak is the best Cardassian, so he is extra best. This is very important. You should write this down. There is not an un-fabulous scale on Garak’s grayscale body.

Let’s look at him again, shall we?

Oh yeah and there’s a wormhole.

This will cause no trouble whatsoever.

It connects one side of the galaxy to the other. No big deal. You shouldn’t be worried about that old thing at all.

So! To sum up! If you like:

• Genocide
• Russians
• Guerrilla tactics
• NATO
• and interspecies romance

…then you should watch Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. And I, dear reader, will help you along.

In the next post: unmissable episodes from DS9 season 1.