TREKCORE > DS9 > EPISODES > HARD TIME > DS9 Chronicles

These are 1-minute intros that were taped by several of the regular cast members. 40 episodes were chosen by the producers, and the intros were included in the reruns shown by some TV stations that run DS9 in a strip syndication package (i.e., five days a week). These intros, however, were only made for episodes in the 1st through 4th seasons.

Here are transcripts of the intros, for those of you who may not have a chance to see them. Each one is done with "Okudagram"-style graphics around the actor as he/she speaks, with a rotating image of the station, and the DS9 theme music playing in the background. The paragraphs in italics describe clips that were shown.

Narrated by Michael Dorn

This episode features Miles O'Brien, who made his first appearance in the two-hour premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation, along with yours truly.

Scene of Colm Meaney as a bridge officer in "Encounter at Farpoint"

It was such a small role that he only had a title, no name. But over time, that would change. In fact, it was the fans, bless their hearts, that begged the show to give him a full name. When he came aboard Deep Space Nine, he soon became the character the writers loved to torture.

Scenes of O'Brien; a shot of him in the Cardassian detention center in "Tribunal"; shots of him in the Argrathi prison in "Hard Time"

From "Tribunal" in the second season to this episode, "Hard Time", O'Brien has met his share of personal anguish.

O'Brien screams when the Argrathi mind probe is taken off his head

The idea for "Hard Time" had been around since the first season, and each time the premise was suggested, it got rejected.

Scene of O'Brien being tossed into the Argrathi prison cell, and Ee'char bending over him

But thanks to the persistence of the writers, the idea of a character being punished for a crime he didn't commit with implanted memories of incarceration was finally presented in the fourth season, and after seeing this episode, you'll be glad it was. This is Michael Dorn, for the Deep Space Nine Chronicles.