Odo..traitor???

[RobertScorpio]

When ODO was spending those several episodes with the lady Founder, and allowing himself to 'merge' with her, was he actually just being stupid? Because I totally agreed with Kira at the time when he asked for forgiveness and she says 'we are long past sorry' or something like that...

I am not sure if it is ever said, but is it possible that in those times when Odo was 'merged' with the Founder that she learned of sensitive information that she then used for tactical advantage? And if so, did Odo get off with only a slap on the wrist??

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Navaros]

I love Odo but I'm gonna have to go with yes he was a traitor in this regard and that needed to be dealt with in the show.

Odo messed up big time and there are no consequences for it. Not even so much as an explanation for his actions. All that makes for a big fubar in the series.

 

[JM1776]

We do get the impression, though, that the merging of form does not preclude the concealment of information.

It's possible Odo betrayed no confidences whilst linked. I'd prefer to think Odo was too cagey to allow the Changeling equivalent of a great blowjob/screw to persuade him into betraying his friends.

Bad enough he lost track of time, though. That caused enough heartache, and constituted negligence on his part.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I think he was a borderline traitor. Assuming he did not give away any security secrets which would make the Federation more vulnerable (which we don't know one way or the other, by the way), there is still the issue of his abandonment of his post...and his betrayal of his friends.

I especially think that this would have impacted much more seriously his relationship with Kira. After Odo's actions during this period, I cannot even begin to imagine how that friendship could have been repaired, let alone bloomed into love.

Kira was a former freedom fighter who understood more than anyone the value of loyalty toward one's friends - especially when those friends are in an 'underdog' sort of position fighting for their very survival. And from her POV, Odo was a collaborator, at the very least in this series of episodes.

And yet, all apparently is forgotten after DS9 is taken back by the Federation.

Sorry...but this is one point about DS9 which I must call bullshit on.

Kira is not the sort of character that can forgive a betrayal of this kind.

 

[Michael]

And yet, all apparently is forgotten after DS9 is taken back by the Federation.

Sorry...but this is one point about DS9 which I must call bullshit on.

Kira is not the sort of character that can forgive a betrayal of this kind.

Yeah, I have to agree. The way they handled the issue off-screen was just ridiculous. They were much too fast in reinstating the status quo.

 

[Rex Racer]

Odo got a little carried away, that's for sure. But I credit that more to finally being amongst one of his own people again and feeling accepted by them than actually turning traitor.

 

[Mr. Fergy]

^Agreed. Odo was under serious "Persuasion" by the Female Founder.

 

[JM1776]

I think he was a borderline traitor. Assuming he did not give away any security secrets which would make the Federation more vulnerable (which we don't know one way or the other, by the way), there is still the issue of his abandonment of his post...and his betrayal of his friends.

I especially think that this would have impacted much more seriously his relationship with Kira. After Odo's actions during this period, I cannot even begin to imagine how that friendship could have been repaired, let alone bloomed into love.

Kira was a former freedom fighter who understood more than anyone the value of loyalty toward one's friends - especially when those friends are in an 'underdog' sort of position fighting for their very survival. And from her POV, Odo was a collaborator, at the very least in this series of episodes.

And yet, all apparently is forgotten after DS9 is taken back by the Federation.

Sorry...but this is one point about DS9 which I must call bullshit on.

Kira is not the sort of character that can forgive a betrayal of this kind.

Insightful post.

I think we have to assume he didn't give any pertinent secrets away, PKTrekGirl, as the fighting seems to take a brief turn in the Alliance's favor during the weeks after "Sacrifice of Angels." On the other hand, I'm not sure he had many secrets that could have damaged Starfleet specifically.

If I recall correctly, it was his intention to aid the conspirators, but the Female Founder kept him in be– ... er, the Link, for a period of time that, when revealed, left him astonished and dismayed.

Could he be not guilty by reason of temporary insanity—that while speaking to Kira he was still experiencing the aftereffects of constant exposure to the female Founder's philosophical bent ... and that such had left him temporarily ambivalent as to his friends' fate? Is it really characteristic of Odo to be indifferent in the face of Rom's impending execution? He seemed more than a bit addled during that exchange, and was firmly in the Federation's camp as the storyline progresses—both before and after this isolated aberration.

You may be underestimating Kira's capacity for forgiveness, too. The woman used to kill Cardassians with relish, and yet she eventually takes a number of them as friends. Considering the extraordinary context in which it occurs, I don't find it impossible that she could forgive Odo his transgressions.

What I can't forgive is how we were denied access to said conversation.

 

[scorpius1701]

I have a question. Why didnt the Female Shapeshifter realize HERE that the solids really werent going to exterminate the Founders?

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Well it's a little a both.

 

[SeerSGB]

Yeah, he's a bit of a traitor. But 'Trek seems to adopt a "Forgive and forget" approach to officers that are a major security risk, so it's all good.

 

[Anthony Sabre]

Odo was definitely a collaborator temporarily. While he was in bed in the female shapeshifter, Rom was captured due to Odo not doing his part in the sabotage op. It would be just like Kira being in bed with Dukat during the resistance, meanwhile there is a mission going on she's supposed to be part of. She wouldn't have to tell Dukat anything. But getting that close to the enemy during a time of occupation while being derelict in one's duties is collaboration.

Of course he made good on it in the end. Just chalk it up to a weakness he has when it comes to his people.

 

[Tralah]

Yeah, I think it was a misstep of DS9 not to have Odo face harsher consequences for what happened.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Yeah, I think it was a misstep of DS9 not to have Odo face harsher consequences for what happened.

Hey...I know there are a few TREK novel writers on this site...GET to it...I have given you your next best seller!! (you know who I'm talking about)

Rob
Scorpio

 

[smeos]

I don't even think he could have been. Odo was a member of the Bajoran militia, not Starfleet. Bajor had a non-aggression pact with the Dominion. If anything, it would be up to Bajor and not the Federation to decide whether or not he was a traitor.

Technically, Kira was the traitor by attempting to violate that treaty. If anything, Odo could have been charged for helping her at the end.

 

[Tralah]

I hadn't thought of it that way, Smeos! I do find it hard to believe that the Federation would trust him to be Chief of Security on the station when they returned though. At the very least he should have lost his job, and I'm sure DS9's talented writers could have found something else for Odo to do.

 

[smeos]

If Odo had not helped Kira at the end, then I agree. The fact that he did relegates the entire thing to "no harm, no foul".

 

[JM1776]

Actually, I always got the impression that Odo was meant to be something of an independent contractor employed by the Bajorans vis-a-vis an actual full-fledged and official member of their militia. He worked neither for the Cardassians nor the Bajorans, in his own mind, but instead for justice. [There may be something canonical that disproves that, of course.]

Kira's treachery began in "Call to Arms," when she manned a post in ops during the Dominion's assault on the station. Then, she implemented the program designed to cripple DS9, before welcoming Dukat, Weyoun and Damar aboard. I'm sure if you asked her, she'd assert she was remaining loyal to the Emissary, which at least has some justification behind it. She was always most comfortable as a terrorist. On some level, she enjoyed wreaking havoc.

Odo, on the other hand, ignored his instinctual Changeling reverence for order by plotting with Kira and the others. I think he was remaining loyal to her—at least until bedazzled by the female Founder's bed-link eyes ... ooze ... whatever.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Actually, I always got the impression that Odo was meant to be something of an independent contractor employed by the Bajorans vis-a-vis an actual full-fledged and official member of their militia. He worked neither for the Cardassians nor the Bajorans, in his own mind, but instead for justice. [There may be something canonical that disproves that, of course.]

Kira's treachery began in "Call to Arms," when she manned a post in ops during the Dominion's assault on the station. Then, she implemented the program designed to cripple DS9, before welcoming Dukat, Weyoun and Damar aboard. I'm sure if you asked her, she'd assert she was remaining loyal to the Emissary, which at least has some justification behind it. She was always most comfortable as a terrorist. On some level, she enjoyed wreaking havoc.

Odo, on the other hand, ignored his instinctual Changeling reverence for order by plotting with Kira and the others. I think he was remaining loyal to her—at least until bedazzled by the female Founder's bed-link eyes ... ooze ... whatever.

Perhaps, but I think just like when Worf got a slap on the wrist for murdering Durass, Odo got a slap on the wrist for betraying our trust in him...

And when people say "Oh,well Worf is from a society that allows revenge murder, so Picard did the right thing" I can only laugh..either laws apply to everyone, or they don't. And certainly Worf got away with Murder...revenge or not.

Rob
scorpio

 

[JM1776]

And when people say "Oh,well Worf is from a society that allows revenge murder, so Picard did the right thing" I can only laugh..either laws apply to everyone, or they don't. And certainly Worf got away with Murder...revenge or not.

Worf is a Klingon, though ... and he did not attempt to implement Klingon justice on a Federation starship or with one of its citizens. He attacked an armed foe prepared to meet him in battle.

Guilty, yes, in the technical sense ... but guilty with extreme extenuating circumstances, even according to Federation law, I would imagine.

[By the way ... did that murder take place within the bounds of Klingon space? I don't recall. If that were so, would not local law take precedence over Starfleet regulations when involving a pair of Klingon nationals, on a Klingon vessel, within Klingon borders?]