“Take Me Out to the Holosuite” is episode four of season seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Sisko is in his office when Kira tells him that Captain Solok of the T’Kumbra is waiting to see him. Sisko does not look happy about this. The two do not get along, as is clear from the conversation that follows. Solok, a Vulcan, has not seen Sisko in a decade – down to the second. Solok seems to have a superiority complex when it comes to Vulcans over humans. Solok refers to the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor that Sisko received in “Tears of the Prophets”; Sisko congratulates Solok on his own, and the latter mentions that it’s his second. Captain Solok seems almost emotional for a Vulcan.
Captain Solok wants use of a holosuite, as he’s developed a programme and his senior staff are eager to try it out again. It’s based on an Earth sport, one that Solok thinks that Sisko would be interested in.
Sisko leaves the office with Solok, and the former asks the senior staff to assemble. Sisko says that Solok thinks that his all-Vulcan crew are the best in the fleet. The captain thinks that his are the best in the quadrant, and has accepted on his staff’s behalf a sporting challenge. Baseball.
This is a deliberate choice by Solok, as it’s a sport he knows holds a close place in Sisko’s heart. He and Jake are the only people on the station who are familiar with the game. The reason for the rivalry is explained by Sisko later.
The staff have only two weeks to learn to play the game. Leeta and Rom want to try as well, and Quark is essentially guilted into volunteering as well. Sisko asks Odo to be the umpire, as he’s the most impartial person Sisko knows.
The first training session does not go well, with several injuries – two at Rom’s hands. Chief O’Brien is out permanently with a damaged shoulder – he has regularly had problems with it. So Sisko gets a replacement – Kassidy Yates. O’Brien gets into the spirit of things by replicating some chewing gum. Scotch-infused chewing gum.
Sisko’s team are not terribly good and the game does not go well. Vulcans are faster and stronger than humans. Although the constant glimpses of the scoreboard don’t mean much if you aren’t familiar with baseball. Sisko gets a bit emotional.