Rules of Acquisition (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

"Rules of Acquisition" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It is the 27th episode overall.

"Rules of Acquisition"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 7
Directed byDavid Livingston
Story byHilary J. Bader
Teleplay byIra Steven Behr
Featured musicDennis McCarthy
Production code427
Original air dateNovember 7, 1993 (1993-11-07)
Guest appearance(s)

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures on Deep Space Nine, a space station located near a stable wormhole between the Alpha and Gamma quadrants of the Milky Way Galaxy, in orbit of the planet Bajor. In this episode, Quark acts as the Grand Nagus' representative in what appears to be a plot to establish a Ferengi business presence in the Gamma Quadrant.

Plot

Grand Nagus Zek plans to establish a Ferengi business presence in the Gamma Quadrant and wants to purchase a large amount of tulaberry wine from a species called the Dosi. Zek enlists Quark as his representative and Quark asks Pel, one of his Ferengi waiters, to be his assistant. Unbeknownst to Quark, Pel is a female. Ferengi females are not allowed to wear clothing, earn money, or leave Ferenginar, so she is forced to keep her identity a secret. However, Pel proves to be a valuable assistant.

At the meeting with the Dosi, Quark and Pel request 10,000 vats of wine, but the Dosi offer them half that. They are close to making a deal when Zek informs Quark that he now wants 100,000 vats. When Quark tells the Dosi what Zek said, they leave the station. Zek is furious but Pel steps in and informs him that she and Quark plan to follow the Dosi back to the Gamma Quadrant. The two of them travel to the Dosi homeworld and find that the Dosi have a Ferengi-like desire for profit and Klingon-like tempers.

The Dosi from whom Quark and Pel were originally going to buy the wine still refuses their offer. Another Dosi informs them that the entire planet does not have 100,000 vats of tulaberry wine, but she offers to put them in contact with another race she calls the Karemma, for a price. The Karemma are a powerful member of what the Dosi calls "The Dominion," and when Quark and Pel hear the name, they realize Zek's true intentions. He has no interest in tulaberry wine; he wants to find out more about the Dominion.

Although they return to the station empty-handed, Zek tells Quark and Pel that he intentionally requested more wine than the Dosi could provide in order to make contact with someone from the Dominion. Unfortunately, while Quark and Pel were gone, Rom discovered Pel's true identity. He tells Quark, who instantly faints. When he wakes up, Quark orders Rom not to tell anyone, knowing his own career would be ruined. Pel later reveals her identity to Zek herself, but when Zek threatens to put Quark and Pel in prison, he realizes that he too did business with Pel. The group decides to keep Pel's identity a secret and she leaves to make a new life in the Gamma Quadrant.

Reception

In 2015, Geek.com recommended this episode as "essential watching" for their abbreviated Star Trek: Deep Space Nine binge-watching guide.[1]

In 2018, SyFy included this episode on their Jadzia Dax binge-watching guide for this character.[2]

Notes
  • At one point, Pel asks Quark if he knows what the 103rd Rule of Acquisition is. Pel begins it by saying, "Sleep can interfere with ..." and is then interrupted by Quark. Rules of Acquisition 103 "Sleep can interfere with opportunity". In the book, "The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition" (ISBN 0-671-52936-6), Rule 103 does not appear at all.
  • This episode marks the first mention of the Dominion.

References
  1. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine condensed: How to watch the most story-driven Trek". Geek.com. 2015-01-19. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  2. Lane, Carly (2018-02-05). "A binge-watching guide to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Jadzia Dax". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine DVD set, volume 2, disc 2, selection 3.
  • I. S. Behr, The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition New York: Bantam (1995)
  • P. Farrand, Nitpicker's Guide for Deep Space Nine Trekkers New York: Dell (1996): 115 - 116
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