Faces in the Crowd (LP episode)

After Gul Dukat placed a Pah-wraith in the Bajoran wormhole, the Bajoran people were cut off from their gods. In this time of uncertainty, a Glenn Beck-inspired news commentator attempts to use the Federation as a scapegoat.

Takes place between the events of DS9: "Tears of the Prophets" and DS9: "Image in the Sand", during a period between 47 and 51 days after the First Battle of Chin'toka.

Memorable quotes

"Please tell me you didn’t break my ship one day into your promotion."

— Limis to Tarlazzi regarding random malfunctions

"Can I assume you view a lot of 21st Century Earth crime dramas where the most argumentative suspect is guilty?"

"That is often the case, but not always. But I have to ask that you swallow your pride and answer my questions as truthfully as you can."

-- Saul Mavik and Tirren Ra Hoth during the sabotage investigation.

"I don’t know if we are turning into a secular society or not, but you need ask yourself one question. Why? And unless you ask why, we’re going to transform into something."

— Bek Gillen's warning about the consequences of the Wormhole's disappearance, based on Glenn Beck's warning that the United States government was becoming an oligarchy.[1]

"This is not military information that must remain classified in order for that military to function effectively. This is the Federation Charter, available for any sentient to read. Always beware of the eye that will not see and the ear that will not hear."

— Bek Gillen's warning that the UFP was not exactly what it appeared to be.[2]

"Although Starfleet’s General Order One now needs to be bent given that Deep Space 9 is critical to the defense of this quadrant, the most fundamental principle behind our Prime Directive still stands."

— Mer Ol'Mev responding to anti-Federation rhetoric on Bajor.

Background information

• The format is similar to that of Keith R.A. DeCandido's A Singular Destiny, which contains transcripts of news programs, news articles, and other primary source documentations in addition to story prose.
• The title is based on the 1957 film A Face in the Crowd, starring Andy Griffith as Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes. The central character in this story is based on Fox News commentator Glenn Beck, whom MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann nicknames "Lonesome Rhodes." [3]
• Opens with the tagline "Propaganda Under the Guise of Entertainment Inc. presents an Enterprise1981 Production". This is a satirical reference to Beck and fellow Fox News host Bill O'Reilly's complaints that a recent episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit misrepresented them.[4]
• The character Mer Ol'Mev, a Tellarite news anchor for the Federation News Service, is based on MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann. The news program Countdown: Cardassia is derived from Olbermann's show Countdown with Keith Olbermann, initially named Countdown Iraq hosted by NBC News anchor Lester Holt.

References

Characters

Bek Gillen • Kelsen Daron • Willis Huckaby • Lenaris Holem • Limis Vircona • Aurellan Markalis • Willem Margose • Goris M'Rev • Mer Ol'Mev • Tirren Ra Hoth • Saul Mavik • Rebecca Sullivan • Erhlich Tarlazzi

Starships and vehicles

USS Lambda Paz

Locations

AR-558 • Bajor • Briar Patch • Monac system • Starbase G-6

Races and cultures

Bajoran • Betazoid • Changeling • Human

States and organizations

Bajoran Provisional Government • Cardassian Union • Dominion • Klingon Empire • Romulan Star Empire • United Federation of Planets

Other references

First Battle of Chin'toka • Monac shipyards

Related Deep Space 9 episodes

• "Rocks and Shoals": Bek Gillen alluded to the late Vedek Yassim's warnings that the Dominion would conquer Bajor little by little rather than all at once.
• "Image in the Sand", "Shadows and Symbols", "The Siege of AR-558": The Federation News Service outlines the difficulties of moving beyond Chin'toka and the initial seizure of the planet designated AR-558. Bek Gillen makes a reference to a Romulan military presence in the Bajoran system.

External links

• Fandom website
• Story on Trekbbs