Ron D. Moore Q & A from AOL’s Message Boards
Dated 9808.28
Q: Ron, did you ever write any fanfic? Articles for fanzines? Or read them? I mean, before you were a PTB. Back in the old days.
A: I did read a few pieces of fanfic back in the old days (before the dark times… before the Empire…) but I never wrote any. I did start a Trek novel way back when that I never finished, that would’ve told the story of Tarsus IV (the backstory of “Conscience of the King”) and that was my first attempt at working in this universe.
Q: First of all, has Nog always had blue fingernails? I just noticed it during [“Valiant”]. Do the rest of the Ferengi have them as well, or does Nog wear nail polish?
A: I believe the Ferengi all have fingernail polish, and I’m sure there’s a deep, complex socio-politico explanation why. Please direct your inquiries to Ira Behr on this fascinating issue.
Q: Also, since when do people still take pills? I thought everything was given by hypospray.
A: I had Watters take pills in “Valiant” for a couple of reasons. First, I didn’t want him “shooting up” with a hypospray since that seemed to imply a much heavier drug problem than I was trying to give him. Second, I saw no reason why certain medications could not be taken orally even in the 24th century.
Q: My only real complaint of the episode though, was that during a red alert, Nog, the chief engineer of the ship, went to the bridge. Shouldn’t he be in engineering?
A: Where the Chief Engineer belongs during Red Alert is something we’ve played loose and fast with. I think you’ll find that Geordi, O’Brien — and even Scotty — were sometimes on the Bridge and sometimes in Engineering during an emergency and the choice is almost always made for dramatic rather than technical reasons. If the writer wants a cutaway to the the chaotic engine room during a crisis, then boom — the engineer is down there. If it’s better to have him on the Bridge, then he stays.
Q: Now that Ron is taking questions from an internet newsgroup, what is his future plans for visiting this board? We know longer have him exclusively. Is he going to move every discussion over to the newsgroup? Is that why it takes him so much longer now to drop by and answer ?’s here?
A: I come here first. I’ve been doing this the longest and I’ll continue to do it while I’m on Trek. The newsgroup questions will be forwarded to me by the people running that site and I’ll send them the answers when I get a chance. My schedule always dictates how often I can answer questions, and the past two weeks have been pretty difficult. But I’m back and I’ll answer as many as I can today.
Q: Everyone is always talking about the Alpha Quadrant, but what is happening in the Beta Quadrant? You said you mentioned something about the Beta Quadrant in “Valient” but I heard nothing. So what’s the scoop? Also, is Guinan going to be appearing in DS9 this season?
A: The Beta Quadrant is currently undergoing a long-planning rennovation and remodeling project. The light fixtures need replacing, the carpets are stained, there’re roaches everywhere — trust me it’s a mess. We have no plans to bring back Guinan.
Q: Ron, is it possible for you to give us a hint at what lose ends you will be tying up in DS9’s final season? Will you be tying up any of the TNG-era lose ends in the final season of DS9?
A: I can’t really give you any hints, but I can say that we’re not looking to wrap up any TNG-related threads — we have enough on our plate.
Q: How tall is the new Dax? If she’s under six feet, will she need high heels?
A: Nicole is significantly under six feet and let’s not start the “Great Ezri Heels Debate” just yet, shall we?
Q: When Kai Opaka gave Miles her earing back in ‘Battle Lines’, was there some sort of hidden message behind it? Some sort of future for Molly that would merit a mention or an episode in the 7th season? Or am I inagining something special that was just simply meant as a gift?
A: I don’t know what the intent was at the time that episode was written, but we have talked about following it up many times over the last few years. However, we’ve never landed on a premise that we liked enough to develop. Still could happen.
Q: I’m not sure if it was you who said this, but I’ve heard that the reference by Admiral Bennett in the episode “Doctor Bashir, I Presume” to the Eugenics Wars having taken place “200 years” previous was a mistake, and that in the Trek timeline the Eugenics Wars still occurred in the late 20th Century. When I heard Bennett’s comment, I thought it was a clever way of re-writing Trek history to bring it closer to “reality” — pushing the rise of the genetically-engineered “supermen” out more believably into the 22nd Century. Why not let Bennett’s comments stand as the new “real” continuity, in order to allow Our Present to still be Trek’s Past? Isn’t that the whole idea of the Star Trek vision? That our society, as we know it today, might evolve into the one we see on DS9?
A: I don’t know if we’re ever going to mention the Eugenics Wars again, so I don’t know if this question will come up before the show ends. I can see valid arguments either way on this issue, but my instinct is to preserve the original series backstory even though it obviously conflicts with present-day realities.
Q: Is Sisko a descendant of Admiral Cartwright, from Star Trek IV and VI? I’ve noticed a striking resemblance between Sisko’s father and former Admiral…
A: Or maybe Admiral Cartwright was a Changeling…
Q: I just watched a repeat of “The Bonding” (TNG), your first Trek script, and was wondering: Are you disappointed that the boy with whom Worf bonded did not continue as part of Worf’s story on TNG and/or DS9? Any chance we will ever hear more about him?
A: I was not a big fan of the actor playing Jeremy, so in that sense I wasn’t disappointed at all. It would’ve been interesting to continue the relationship on the Enterprise (with a different kid), but at that point in Trek, no one was even willing to think about continuing storylines, so it never came up. I think that the “Bonding” backstory is too distant now to figure into the DS9 story.
Q: Have you seen Saving Private Ryan? I’m curious about your thoughts on this movie.
A: I have seen it and I was very impressed with it. I felt it broke new ground in the depiction of combat on screen and I found Tom Hanks’ performance very moving. I didn’t care for the framing device (the modern-day scenes at the cemetary) and think the film would’ve been better off without it, but it’s an excellent film and I highly recommend it.
Q: Have you already announced who will play the new Dax host? It seems to be a poorly kept secret if you have not. Can you tell us anything more about the character? It seems that she can not continue her marriage to Worf because of Trill taboos. But I don’t think it’s true she can not associate with former friends, since Jadzia remained good friends with Ben Sisko. Is this an example of a glitch in continuity or is it a new plot development?
A: Paramount has officially announced that Nicole de Boer will be playing Ezri Dax this season. She’s an Ensign in Starfleet and a Counselor by training. We’ve all fallen in love with Nicole and I think you’re going to as well. Ezri will not be resuming her marriage with Worf, but how this has affected their relationship will be explored in the first few episodes.
Q: We haven’t seen Gowron since the Dominion 2-parter back in season 5. Any plans, concrete or otherwise, to see him before DS9 bows off the stage?
A: I think we might see Gowron once last time this year, but we don’t have it planned yet.
Q: So what happened to Kira’s threat that “The next time I see Dukat I’m gonna kill him!” Also- is it true she is being promoted???
A: We’re talking about your first question right now and the answer to the second is “yes.”
Q: Ron, is there a posibility(even a remote one) that we may see any of the TNG cast and/or the Enterprise in the DS9 series finale?
A: I don’t think so.
Q: A Question about “Tears of the Prophets”: What exactly is the negative side of the wormhole being sealed? Wasn’t that something they’ve tried to do, unsuccessfully, in “In Purgatory’s Shadow”? I guess I’m not seeing how that’s a problem, since it’s opening has only seemed to bring suffering and death in the form of the Dominion.
A: The negative impact was almost entirely on the Bajoran people, who were suddenly cut-off from their gods. The Orbs, which had guided them and enlightened them for so long have now gone out and the thought that the Prophets themselves may actually be dead is certainly a dark one for the Bajorans.
Q: There is a rumor floating about that Chief O’Brien is going to be promoted this season which begs the question what rank exactly is he currently? I always thought he was a noncommissioned officer who attained, as chief engineer of DS9, the highest rank he could.
A: Although we don’t have a promotion planned for O’Brien, I imagine he could go from Chief Petty Officer to Master Chief Petty Officer.
Q: In the episode “Rules of Acquisition,” we were left with Quark’s obvious interest in Pel. Will this thread come up this season – with a reoccurrence of the Pel character?
A: We have no plans to bring back Pel.
Q: With all the loose ends you have to tie up, are you still planning to do anything more with Section 31?
A: Yes.
Q: For the love of Roddenberry, please tell me you WON’T be using the new “Snooty Waiter” dress uniforms (as appearing in ST: Insurrection aug13-1.jpg at www.st-insurrection.com (Keyword to: http://www.st-insurrection.com/aug13-1.jpg) ) on DS9 next season…
A: The what….?
Q: I just picked up the “premiere” issue of Amazing Stories magazine (on sale now) with the Star Trek crossover, and I was curious as to the level of involvement you folks had with this special issue?
A: Nothing.
Q: Will anything positive happen to O’Brien this season??
A: Why should this season be any different?
Q: What can a new actor do to make myself look presentable when auditing for Star Trek roles??
A: Comb your hair.
Q: Will there be any episode that deals with the re-taking of Betazed? What ever happened to Lawaxana Troi during this?
A: We’re talking about both subjects right now, but have made no decisions.
Q: Will Worf be promoted?
A: No.
Q: Will Kurn/Rodeck be making an appearence this season?
A: Maybe.
Q: Will Worf be accepted back into the Klingon Empire?
A: Not until he settles with Klingon IRS.
Q: Will Worf and Kurn be rejoined and bring back the House of Mogh?
A: The House of Mogh is currently being used as a restaurant/dance hall and has no plans to expand its operations.
Q: I was watching a season two TNG rerun tonight, and saw mean Ferengi. Will we ever be seeing any mean ferengi again?
A: Brunt’s a pretty mean guy if you ask me.
Q: I thought “In the Pale Moonlight” had the most interesting storyline for Garak since “Improbable Cause.” Will there be any followup to Garak’s (and Sisko’s ) actions from that episode ? Will we finally see an episode that deals with Garak’s past when he was working for the Obsidian Order, and why he was forced to leave Cardassia?
A: Sorry to give the same answer again, but both subjects are under discussion right now, but we haven’t firmed up our plans yet.
Q: Do you think you’re going to be able to wrap up all the story threads that have been unfurled during DS9’s run in these last 26 episodes?
A: I’m sure that we won’t. We’re picking and choosing what to deal with and what to leave hanging.
Q: Is there a possibility that not all of the main characters will make it to the series finale?
A: Anything’s possible.
Q: Mr. Moore are we going to learn anything about the Dominion’s origins this year ? Will we learn exactly why, how and when the Dominion was formed ? Will we learn of other members of the Dominion and will you reveal whether or not the Dominion controls the entire gamma quadrant ?
A: You will definitely learn more about all of the above topics this season.
