In this episode, Vern and Bob break down Deep Space Nine's thrilling Season 3 story "Civil Defense." When a forgotten Cardassian security program springs to life, the station is thrown into chaos. Trapped behind force fields and facing a deadly self-destruct sequence, Sisko and the crew must outsmart Gul Dukat's old failsafe systems—while Dukat himself shows up with his own twisted agenda.We discuss the episode’s clever writing, its exploration of DS9’s dark history under Cardassian rule, and how the tension builds in true Trek fashion. Plus, we look at what this story reveals about Dukat, Garak, and the simmering resentments between Bajorans and Cardassians.