Life is all about balance. Which probably explains why I have fallen two episodes behind in my Star Trek Discovery Reviews. Trying to balance my duties for my GVN Talking Comics main gig and keeping up with my beloved Star Trek. Needless to say, I have been failing. So, unlike my normal lengthy ramblings. I’m going to try to narrow these reviews to the “Readers Digest” abridged versions…sort of. Just trying to catch up and put things back in balance. So, a quick recap from Episode 8 and we’ll jump into Episode 9: Rubicon.
As I said, it’s all about balance. Balancing need from desires. Justice and revenge. Peace and war. These are the elemental questions that face our heroes of the Discovery. Last time…ok, two episodes ago, Captain Burnham and Lt. Commander Owosekun were trying to obtain the isolinium that Book and Tarka needed to destroy the DMA. Through an octagon style fight and a high stakes poker game, they unfortunately ended up failing in the end. Not that Michael wasn’t prepared for such an eventuality. Book and Tarka took the isolinium to make Tarka’s weapon. Fortunately, Michael planted a tracker on the isolinium so she and Discovery could follow Book’s ship. Which led to Episode 9: Rubicon.
Episode 9: ‘Rubicon’
After finding out the DMA was actually mining equipment and not a weapon, it became more vital than ever for Ruan Tarka and Book to be stopped. However, both President Rillak and Admiral Vance are concerned that Michael wouldn’t be able to make the tough call as far as Book is concerned. If it became necessary to destroy Book’s ship. With that in mind, they sent along an advisor with Discovery, whose responsibility was to make that call if it became necessary. That is Commander Nhan, who was last seen in Season 3. It was thought that having someone Michael was comfortable with would make it more acceptable if that hard choice arrived. But at first, they attempt to send a cloaked shuttle under the command of Captain Suru to connect with Book’s ship, undetected. Unfortunately, they hadn’t counted on Tarka adding a defense system to the ship without Book’s knowledge. It almost destroyed the shuttle and came close to killing Captain Suru and his shuttle crew.
Cat and Mouse
Book was not pleased with Tarka’s additions to his ship. At least not without telling him. Regardless, they still had a mission to complete and so did Michael. It soon became a game of cat and mouse as Discovery tried to keep itself between the DMA’s controller and Book’s ship. This was made more intriguing due to Book and Michael’s knowledge of each other’s tactics. The wild card in the game was Tarka. Because neither Michael nor Book knew what Ruan Tarka was capable of. That included firing a full spread of photon Torpedoes at Discovery. Up until then, both Book and Michael were really just trying to warn each other off. Although Commander Nhan thought that they were close to having to make that “hard choice.” Especially now that Book’s ship was firing torpedoes at Discovery.
A Weeks Reprieve
Meanwhile, Lt. Commander Stamets and Zora are working out how to determine when the DMA would move on from its present location. They deciphered that because of the way the device mines, it should remain at its present location for about a week. This gave Michael the opportunity to attempt to negotiate with Book. Since they knew the DMA presented no threat at the present time, they wanted Book and Tarka to stand down from their plans for that week. That would give the Federation time to try their diplomatic approach. If they failed, then the Federation would support Tarka and Books plan to destroy the DMA. But they needed that week. Book agreed to this compromise. This middle ground. But Tarka again had other plans. Before Book could stop him, Tarka loaded up his weapon and fired it into the DMA.
All for Nothing
Once again, Book is left trying to resolve the issue that Tarka had put them in. But with the weapon engaged, there was nothing to do but try to escape the area of detonation. But Book would not leave the area until he was sure Discovery was also safe. Once Discovery jumped, Book also did. The device did its job, and the DMA was destroyed. However, Tarka had wanted to obtain the DMA’s power source. But it was not there. He surmised that power source he searched for was in fact across the galactic barrier. In the meantime, in a short span of time, another stronger DMA was back in place of the destroyed one. Despite all of their efforts, the danger still remained. They would now have to enter into first contact with Species 10C’s first encounter with humans being one of violence and destruction. Regardless, the Galactic Barrier awaited.
Thoughts
Part of the fun of this episode was the battle of wits between Michael and Book in space battle. Because they were so familiar how the other thought and the tactics they might use, it was almost like a game between them. Too bad Ruan Tarka didn’t get that memo. It was like the first Rocky when Apollo Creed’s trainer told him that Rocky didn’t know this was a game, he thought it was a damn fight. That would explain why Tarka launched a full spread of torpedoes at Discovery. That rash decision almost made Commander Nhan to take unilateral action against Book’s ship. Good thing that Michael knew Book so well. Although it was just that kind of familiarity that placed Nhan on Discovery in the first place.
I’m pretty sure if Book had it to do over again, he wouldn’t have agreed so readily to work with Tarka. He is much more willing to think things through than Tarka is. While Tarka tends to only think about what is in his own best interest. But unfortunately, Book has made his bed and Tarka is dragging him down with him. Even more regrettable is the fact that the new DMA is as much a threat as ever. Well, THAT didn’t work out, did it? So, it’s off to the Galactic Barrier and hope that Species 10C is open to negotiations. Before Tarka can close all doors for a peaceful resolution…permanently. I give Rubicon a solid 4 out of 5 if for nothing else than the cat and mouse war games between Book and Michael. Star Trek Discovery can be found on Paramount+ with new episodes on Thursdays.
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Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
