Nits for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
The Siege of AR-558

1. Holographic Jem'Hadar.

While this is an interesting tactic I doubt the effect would be what we saw.

Holosuite holographs have substance, thanks to the force-field emitters. The force-field takes the shape of the object and the holosuite projects a holographic image over the force field to give it the appearance of an object (such as a wall or a person).

Holograms on their own can't stop phaser fire and would require an unusual amount of sophistication to light up with sparks erupting from the image when struck by phasers. How would the programmer know when they were targeted and hit, when the placement of the defenders is unknown? Even an interactive interface would give the controller serious difficulties.

Nit Value: 0.50


2. Houdinis.

I liked this concept too. It was an ingenious plan. But I have a small problem with the idea of solid people walking right through them repeatedly. When the Houdinis appear they are all over the place, including places where people would expect to walk. If a sub-space field was being generated what would it do to the flesh of someone who walked though it? If they are actually in another dimension and thus not tangible wouldn't that mean a ship surrounded by a sub-space field could penetrate a planet or the sun unscathed?

Granted that sounds like the Pegasus and its 'phased cloak' but I don't recall other situations where ships have used a sub-space bubble to protect themselves from enemy fire, etc. In theory it would be possible to form a sub-space field around the ship, thus letting photon torpedoes etc. pass harmlessly through the ship.

Nit Value: 0.25


3. Uncloaked Jem'Hadar.

When the battle actually takes place we see the Jem'Hadar screaming and running at their foes without the use of the personal cloaks. The holographs showed them dropping their cloaks. This discrepancy is unfortunate, though it led to a powerful scene. It would have been better had the holographic Jem'Hadar not used cloaks.

Nit Value: 0.25


4. Star Fleet Strategists.

We are told the Dominion communications array could tap into the entire Dominion communications network in the sector. No doubt the technology, once analyzed, could produce even more far-reaching developments.

Yet AR-558 is guarded by no more than 150 soldiers and is left unrelieved for five months. Presumably the work on the array has continued all of this time, yet Star Fleet seems to show no interest in any developments for five months or feels they cannot afford to protect this vital piece of equipment properly. No ships or weapons platforms are in orbit to protect the installation and prevent Jem'Hadar troops from landing. No air cover exists on the surface. And despite the value of the installation no reinforcements are sent to help hold it.

This looks to me like a major glitch in strategy and tactics.

Has the Federation/Klingon/Romulan alliance reached such an impoverished state that it cannot put together a force greater than 150 soldiers and no ships or air power to defend a potential source of vital intelligence?

Nit Value: 1.00


Summary:
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Nit Value for "The Siege of AR-558": 2.00

Wulf's Nitpicker Rating: 8.00
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10 - Nit Value = Wulf's Nitpicker Rating



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