In 'Firstborn', Riker contacts Deep Space Nine to find information on the whereabouts of the Duras sisters, who were last seen on the station. (As depicted in the DS9 episode 'Past Prologue'.) However, instead of speaking to someone like Sisko, he speaks to Quark instead. Quark clearly isn't at his bar, and there's a Starfleet officer standing nearby, so I assume Quark and Riker's chat was sanctioned by the senior officers of DS9. But still, the question remains; why him? 'Firstborn' did air in between the DS9 episodes 'The Maquis, Part I' and 'The Maquis, Part II', so it's possible the senior officers were just too busy at the time and authorised Quark to speak on their behalf. This, however, can't be confirmed as neither DS9 episode has a stardate. Even if they're assumed to take place at the same time as Firstborn, I find it hard to believe that any official duties would be delegated to Quark. Why not Odo or someone like that? Is there anything I'm missing or is this simply the best explanation?
Why did Riker speak to Quark in 'Firstborn'?
- Thread starter herofhyrule
- Start date
Definitely 3.
There was a cut scene (not sure if it was filmed, but it was in the script) where he speaks to sisko and he suggests to ask quark, this is why he’s not in the bar and there is the guard.
From memory alpha
- In the original script, Riker mentions that he has talked to Benjamin Siskoand that it was Sisko who suggested that Riker ask Quark for information on a possible location of the Duras sisters. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion - A Series Guide and Script Library)
Ah that explains all my questions perfectly, thank you. Next time I should probably check Memory Alpha first. Oddish does also bring up some good points though.
Riker was trying to track down Lursa and B'Etor, who had been at DS9 to sell weapons. Earlier, K'Mtar had said that "No one knows where they went from" DS9. And Data also stated that Starfleet records contained no records of where the Duras Sisters went after they left DS9. It's likely that the senior officers on DS9 didn't have any other information than that. Everybody who was on the "up and up" was in the dark as to their whereabouts.
So it made sense for Riker to see what information he might be available through unofficial channels. The Duras sisters were there at DS9 in the first place trying to sell contraband, and Quark knows all about the underground commerce going on at the station, as we have seen on other occasions.
As for why that Starfleet security officer was there in the room with Quark, perhaps Riker arranged this whole conversation ahead of time through the Starfleet people at DS9, and they were more than happy to assign somebody from security to escort Quark to that communications room (or whatever that was) and ensure that he stayed there and didn't try to weasel his way out of cooperating with Riker's investigation.
Kor
So it made sense for Riker to see what information he might be available through unofficial channels. The Duras sisters were there at DS9 in the first place trying to sell contraband, and Quark knows all about the underground commerce going on at the station, as we have seen on other occasions.
As for why that Starfleet security officer was there in the room with Quark, perhaps Riker arranged this whole conversation ahead of time through the Starfleet people at DS9, and they were more than happy to assign somebody from security to escort Quark to that communications room (or whatever that was) and ensure that he stayed there and didn't try to weasel his way out of cooperating with Riker's investigation.
Kor
As can be seen from episodes such as "The Game", Riker is clearly a man who enjoys having a good time without obeying the limits expected from a typical member of Starfleet. As a high ranking officer, discretion would have to be central to all of Rikers extracurricular activities, lest he be convicted of conduct unbecoming etc. So when in need of inside information in more nefarious circles, reaching out to Quark makes sense as Quark has a pulse on the black market and would have likely facilitated some R&R for Riker during his last trip to the wormhole. After all, they don't call Quark "The Synthehol King" for nothing.
All these answers make a lot of sense, thanks everyone.
I always forget about this crossover.
Well, it wasn’t particularly memorable.
Establishing that if you want the low down dirt of the comings & goings of the quadrant's seedier elements... Quark is the man you talk to
Also... An attempt to up Riker's street cred by showing him to have intimate knowledge of said darker corners of the realm, & who to get that dirt from
Also... An attempt to up Riker's street cred by showing him to have intimate knowledge of said darker corners of the realm, & who to get that dirt from
All we see in The Game is Riker hooking up with a woman on Risa. How puritan do you think Starfleet is?
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