What was Picard and Co. doing during the Dominion War?

[Timo]

OTOH, there would also be a need to gather allies after the war had ended. The defeated enemy would probably largely retreat, as his home turf would be far away (although we never hear in DS9 or NEM whether the Dominion really did retreat). But the Alpha Quadrant victors would squabble about what they had won, just like the Allies after WWII, and the Federation would certainly need all the allies it could get.

And as said, the allies would be more willing to join if the UFP were victorious, rather than in the process of being crushed by the Dominion. And for most of the war, the Feds indeed were the distinct underdogs.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Vanyel]

Random factors in favor of INS being during the war:

-Worf hasn't become a diplomat, as he supposedly does at the end of the war
-Worf supposedly is reinforcing defenses in some colonial system, a likelier wartime rather than peacetime task
-Our heroes negotiate for new UFP allies, presumably for support against the Dominion

Timo Saloniemi

Doesn't Worf oversleep and get a mild scolding from Picard who say something like: I don't know how things are done on Deep Space 9, but here you are expected to be at your post on time.

If that scene did happen as I remember it, it would place INS during a lull in the war. INS happens after FC, and in FC we see the Defiant in battle against a Borg Cube. The Defiant was given to DS9 in response to the incident with the Odyssy. Worf came to DS9 in the 4th season, just before the Klingon War started. Picard and crew make no mention of the Klingon War, so that could also mean that INS takes place during the Dominion War. Maybe it took place after the retaking of DS9 which would have given the Federation some more bargaining power to entice other worlds to join the Federation, and not look like it was its death bed.

 

[Timo]

That is quite possible. It's also possible, though, that Picard was merely referring to Worf's previous, now terminated assignment in his humorous comment.

As for ST:FC, we know the opening stardate of that movie is 50893, which would be after the Klingon war was over ("By Inferno's Light" is SD 50564) and Klingons were once again allies to the Alpha cause. So it might be bad form to speak much of the past war...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[jgdst]

Starfleet probably wouldn't have sent the Enterprise into any major battles. If the ship had gotten destroyed during the war it would have been a huge blow for many of the officers.

Yes. They'd be dead.

Sorry... I couldn't resist that one

In answer to the original question though, I'm of the opinion Insurrection takes place during the war, early in DS9's seventh season.

The evidence I use for this is, as mentioned, Worf is not yet ambassador, he mentions that he doing tactical work at Manzar colony and Picard says "I don't know how they do things on Deep Space Nine". Not "did".

Picard's complaint in the turbolift in response to being sent on a diplomatic mission for a race that's barely warp capable about putting out one more brushfire against the Dominion, and "does anyone remember when we used to be explorers?"

Worf's absence in some episodes early on in DS9 season 7 (Prodigal Daughter and the majority of It's Only A Paper Moon).

And TNG films have always quietly slotted into the ongoing DS9/VOY timeline. Worf is still unsure of what to do after the destruction of the E-D in Way of the Warrior, leading him to join DS9. And despite an inaccuracy with stardates, DS9 change to the FC uniform after the film was released, and Sisko makes direct mention to "the recent Borg attack". I'd use that as reason to assume that Insurrection wasn't set after the war - as the film would already have implied that the war was won by the Federation with nearly 20 episodes of DS9 to go.

Even with them trying to ease back on the DS9/TNG relationship, that would've been a bit inconsiderate to DS9 fans.

So what exactly was the Enterprise doing? Probably taking part in defense patrols, fortification, and going by the novels, getting directly involved with things like the Battle of Betazed.

 

[Timo]

On the issue of facts dropped on us, Worf not being an Ambassador is something that I wouldn't sweat much. Worf just isn't cut for that sort of work; he probably withdrew his acceptance to the nomination a few hours after the end credits of "WYLB" rolled. There's no evidence in his later appearances that he would ever have held that position, at any rate.

The whole mood of ST:INS is IMHO enough of an indication that there is no war going on. Our heroes do not mention a single combat mission or casualty, even when they gripe about archaeological expeditions and monsoon seasons. There is no urgency, there is no sense of dread. The Dominion is name-dropped, but in a manner that suggests it no longer is a threat.

OTOH, if the movie does take place during the war, then we know for certain what our heroes were doing in the war: staying the hell out of it.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[jamestyler]

On the issue of facts dropped on us, Worf not being an Ambassador is something that I wouldn't sweat much. Worf just isn't cut for that sort of work; he probably withdrew his acceptance to the nomination a few hours after the end credits of "WYLB" rolled. There's no evidence in his later appearances that he would ever have held that position, at any rate.

There's no real evidence to suggest he doesn't. Which only bugs me as a few people have pointed it out as a plot hole in Nemesis when he could ave just been there for the ceremonies and joined the fun as he's not the type to sit about and relax.

In Insurrection the Enterprise was working behind the lines, there wouldn't be any need to rush around unless they were ordered to the front line. Besides, right in the middles of the war Sisko was happy enough to drop it all and play baseball for a couple of weeks

 

[Timo]

But really, none of the competing missions of the E-E after the ceremony had anything to do with the war. There was a carefully scheduled, months-long archaeological assignment, for example - and Picard griped about being assigned elsewhere! He and all of his crew should have been shot for desertion and cowardice if they really went digging for old pottery in the middle of the war. Especially since they were taking their badass warship with them!

Timo Saloniemi

 

[WillsBabe]

I might have dreamed it, but does Deanna offer Worf her sympathies for Jadxia's death in Insurrection?

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

i think there was a mild attempt to have it set during the Dominion War. The healing effects of the Ba'ku planet could help turn the tide of the war (i guess i'm thinking of more conventional war, not 'starship blows up with no survivors' war, but maybe the writers thought the audience would think in 'conventional' terms).

Also, INS was released in 1998, while WYLB aired in 1999. would the writers 'spoil' the Dominion War for us by showing the Federation wins/survives (including Worf)?

And no, I don't believe Jadzia was ever mentioned in INS, but I could be wrong.

 

[Dane_Whitman]

I've always placed Insurrection round about It's Only a Paper Moon. This was a time when the war seemed to have calmed down a bit, which goes well with Riker's line about diplomats being involved in negotiations. I figure the negotiations amounted to nothing and the war heated up again in DS9's Final Chapter arc.

An ongoing war also explains Starfleet's eagerness to gather new allies and Ru'afo's line about many of the major powers recently having attacked the Federation. If this had been after the war, Ru'afo's line about "they all smell the scent of death on the Federation" wouldn't have been so powerful, because the Federation/Klingon/Romulan Alliance did ultimately prevail.

 

[WillsBabe]

And no, I don't believe Jadzia was ever mentioned in INS, but I could be wrong.

I wish I could remember. I might have to go and rewatch it.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Anybody know? Were they involved in battles, diplomacy, patrolling, all of the above?

They were kept far away from the battle so Picard wouldn't feel the urge to help the other side as he did with the Borg..

Rob

 

[Dane_Whitman]

And no, I don't believe Jadzia was ever mentioned in INS, but I could be wrong.

I wish I could remember. I might have to go and rewatch it.

Jadzia's death was most certainly not mentioned in INS.

 

[Cyke101]

I might be wrong on this as I've had very little motivation to watch the movie in recent years - but the party Picard was hosding... I'm sure they mention the war on the way there, something about rushing the random new species into the Federation as they need all the allies they can get?

Even if I've misheard something and twisted it years later, it makes good sense that Picard, who had a career of diplomacy over combat, would be sent to make new allies and reinforce bonds with Federation worlds, doing all the behind the scenes handshaking, as a priority before being sent to the front lines.

It wouldn't match the 'This is the most advanced ship in the fleet' argument Geordie has in First Contact, but I assume they'd need a Picard flying the flag of hope back home.

I think that makes sense. As much as I'd love to see the Enterprise kick some Dominion booty, having one of the Federation's best diplomats flying around in one of Starfleet's most heavily armed vessels up and down the galaxy trying to get as much help as possible seems sensible.

 

[Sci]

I always assumed that INS took place between the Dominion's surrender and the actual signing of the peace treaty on DS9.

 

[Finn]

^That wouldn't make sense considering Riker and Troi's discussion about White K... (sp?) that the Son'a could make for the Jem Hadar.

 

[little_chris]

With Stewart and Frakes saying they are up for more Trek, I think a TNG Dominion War mini series would be pretty cool.

 

[Finn]

No, it wouldn't. If they came back for other "TNG" gig, it would work best if it was set after Nemesis, especially since we know the Federation won the war which would ruin most of the suspense in a TNG dominion war mini series.

 

[BillJ]

Brushing each others hair and telling each other how 'morally' superior they are to everyone else that is fighting for the Federation.

Man, The Destiny book trilogy left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[WillsBabe]

I always assumed that INS took place between the Dominion's surrender and the actual signing of the peace treaty on DS9.

This was my take on it, too.