- For other uses, see Rules of Acquisition.
"Rules of Acquisition" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It is the 27th episode overall and the seventh episode of the show's second season. It first aired during the week of 6 November 1993. The episode was written by Hilary J. Bader and Ira Steven Behr, and directed by David LivingstonMA.
Quark's business partner is a female in disguise and the revelation threatens to derail his trade talks in the Gamma Quadrant.
Summary[]
During a late night game of tongo, Quark is impressed by a suggestion from Pel, one of his waiters, that serving Gramilian Sand Peas in the bar is a good way to make patrons thirsty and buy more drinks. They discuss the Rules of Acquisition, but are interrupted by a transmission from Grand Nagus Zek. Zek is moving forward with plans to start Ferengi business in the Gamma Quadrant and he appoints Quark as his chief negotiator. The Dosi, a race from the Gamma Quadrant, will shortly arrive on the station and Quark is to negotiate with them for tulaberries to start not only a lucrative tulaberry wine business, but to give the Ferengi their foot in the door in the Gamma Quadrant.
Pel warns Quark that if the negotiations fail, Zek will blame him. Quark appoints Pel as his assistant, to Rom’s outrage. Pel, however, has a secret, “he” is actually a woman in disguise. The Dosi arrive and the negotiations begin. The Dosi consider Quark’s offer for tulaberry vats, but when Zek tells Quark to ask for more, the Dosi leave the station and return to the Gamma Quadrant. To calm Zek down, Pel suggests that “he” and Quark go to the Gamma Quadrant to reopen negotiations. Rom discovers Pel’s secret.
In the Gamma Quadrant, Quark and Pel grow closer, but the Dosi remain cool to Quark’s offer. One of the Dosi, Zyree, offers to put Quark in contact with the Karemma, an important power in the Dominion, as they will have more vats than the Dosi. Quark realises that this is what Zek wanted all along; he has obviously heard rumors of the Dominion, but needed more information on who to approach.
Back on DS9, Quark tells Zek what he found out, to Zek’s great delight. Quark’s victory is short lived, as Rom tells him Pel’s secret. Pel decides to start a new life in the Gamma Quadrant, but reveals her secret to Zek to prove a Ferengi woman can be as capable as a man. Zek has no choice to keep the whole affair secret, or he will suffer a public humiliation, but takes Quark’s newly gained profits. Despite this, Quark will truly miss Pel.
References[]
Characters[]
- Julian Bashir • Broik • Jadzia Dax • Inglatu • Kira Nerys • Maihar'du • Morn • Miles O'Brien • Odo • Pel • Quark • Rom • Benjamin Sisko • Rita Tannenbaum • Zek • Zyree
- Referenced only
- Curzon Dax
Locations[]
- Deep Space 9 (habitat ring • operations center • Promenade • Quark's • Replimat • station commander's office) • Gamma Quadrant • Rexlar-D
- Referenced only
- Bajor • Ferenginar • International Space Station • Northern peninsula • Gramilia
Starships[]
Races and cultures[]
States and organizations[]
- Referenced only
- Dominion
Science and technology[]
- brizeen nitrate • holosuite • optical data processor • subspace • subspace communication • subspace field modulator • thumbscan
Other references[]
- Ferengi Rules of Acquisition • flaked blood flea • Gramilian sand pea • Grand Nagus • Grand Nagus' staff • Hupyrian beetle snuff • Kibberian fire diamond • latinum • lobe • lokar bean • saliva • tongo • troll • tube grub • tulaberry • tulaberry wine
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- This episode features the first mention of the Dominion. The Karemma are also mentioned.
- Pel laters appears in the novella Reservoir Ferengi and the eBook Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found).
- The Ferengi business venture in the Gamma Quadrant is later referenced in “The Jem'Hadar”, “The Search” and “Starship Down”.
Cast[]
- Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko
- Nana Visitor as Kira Nerys
- Rene Auberjonois as Odo
- Terry Farrell as Jadzia Dax
- Alexander Siddig as Julian Bashir
- Armin Shimerman as Quark
- Max Grodénchik as Rom
Images[]
Connections[]
Chronology[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous episode: Melora |
DS9 episode produced | Next episode: Necessary Evil |
| Previous episode: Melora |
DS9 episode aired | Next episode: Necessary Evil |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: Possession |
Next Adventure: Fallen Heroes | |
External links[]
- Rules of Acquisition (episode) article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Rules of Acquisition (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.