Star Trek 1151: Lightstorm

1151. Lightstorm

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Lightstorm #1, Malibu Comics, December 1994

CREATORS: Mark A. Altman (writer), Rob Davis and Terry Pallot (artists)

STARDATE: Unknown (follows issue #16)

PLOT: A Federation colony in the Gamma Quadrant is attacked by unknown aliens and the sole survivor is brought back to DS9 by a passing Klingon ship. Aboard are Captain Kol and Lt. Koleth (from Hearts and Minds) and Q'uonek operative Katha. Sisko and Dax join them to investigate and they are stopped by a warlike race called the Myvok who claim to be allies of the Klingons, and who destroyed the colony because it was on one of their sacred sites. Now they aim to execute all Starfleet personnel they come across, including Sisko and Dax, as well as Bashir and O'Brien, who are caught on the colony site checking the survivor's claims that Lursa and B'Etor led the attack. Katha was also looking for the Sisters. The Klingons rescue the crew from the Myvok and head for the colony to capture the Duras, and bring the Myvok leader with them. He witnesses first hand the Duras mining operation there and sees one his men as a traitor who would sell out the sacred site for better technology. The Sisters escape, but not before Koleth takes a disruptor hit for Bashir, who once rescued him from captivity.

CONTINUITY: This is a sequel to the Hearts and Minds mini-series. Bashir and O'Brien play racquetball (Rivals). The Duras Sisters appear. Whatever Bashir drinks to Koleth's health, it's green (By Any Other Name, Relics). Katha ends up with Morn.

DIVERGENCES: This is the first I've ever heard of the Q'uonek, what Visionary simply calls Klingon Intelligence.

PANEL OF THE DAY - You could catch cold in space.
REVIEW: Not a sequel to the story in Hearts and Minds, but a call-back for the mini-series' guest characters, not that they were particularly interesting (the new addition, Katha, has more potential), but the death of Koleth gives them weight. Good to see the Sisters of Duras again. The visuals are nice and the action is dynamic. It's not really about the plot (which is ok), but the interactions between the featured characters are the real star. A great last page for Bashir (and Morn). In general, I'm glad Altman could give his Klingons some closure.

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