The Big Game (Star Trek)

infobox Book |
name = The Big Game
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Sandy Schofield (Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch)
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Pocket Books
release_date = November 1993
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 276 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-671-88030-6 (first edition, paperback)
preceded_by = Bloodletter
followed_by = Fallen Heroes

"The Big Game" is a "" novel written by Sandy Schofield (Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch).

Quark hosts a Seven-Card Hold-em poker tournament on Deep Space Nine, inviting one hundred of the sector's best poker players. As the game begins however, the station is plagued by seemingly random violent subspace distortions, which cause numerous malfunctions around the station.

During a blackout, one of the poker players is murdered; Odo pressures Quark into letting him into the poker game to catch the unknown murderer. Quark protests because Odo has never played poker before, and Odo refuses to bluff to win. Meanwhile, the subspace distortions continue to disrupt the station and its operations. Soon afterwards, the Cardassians appear and demand to know why they are under attack, likewise, a small group of Bajoran ships appears complaining about a Cardassian attack. Commander Sisko attempts to keep the peace and explain the 'attacks' are a result of the unknown subspace distortions, but both groups refuse to listen.

During the card game, a human player, Klar, accuses a Ferengi of cheating; when the lights go out again, the Ferengi is stabbed repeatedly. Odo apprehends Klar and throws him in the brig. Klar attempts to negotiate with Commander Sisko, offering information regarding the disortions in exchange for a chance to return to the poker game. Sisko agrees, gets the information from Klar, then reneges on his promise and keeps Klar locked up. According to Klar, the subspace distortions are caused by a group known as the Ghost Riders, who are a loose group of hunters that are hunting energy creatures. The Ghost Riders operate ships that operate out of phase from the normal world, using a technology from the Star Trek: Next Generation Episode "The Next Phase". The use of their phasing technology and the hunt of the energy creatures is responsible for the distortions.

The subspace distortions have been causing major damage to the station's fusion reactors, nearly causing the reactors to overload and destroy the station. To end the distortions, Commander Sisko orders Chief O' Brien to modify a runabout that can shift out of phase so he can confront the Ghost Riders in their phase. Meanwhile, a Cardassian fleet approaches DS9, claiming the distortion/attacks have provoked a war between Cardassia and the Federation. Commander Sisko shifts his runabout out of phase and forces the Ghost Riders to return to normal space. The Riders are jailed and a pair of Federation starships arrive to de-escalate the situation.

Odo continues playing poker and reaches the final table. He faces off against Grand Nagus Zek of the Ferengi and finally defeats him with a straight flush over the Nagus' full house. Quark demands that Odo turn over the winnings to him, because Odo was playing as Quark's ringer, but Odo refuses, instead donating the considerable winnings to charity. Quark bemoans his fate as life on DS9 returns to normal.

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