DECIPHER.com > Star Trek > Expansions > Necessary Evil

The Enemy of My Friend is... My Friend?

by Mike Girard
Game Developer

"Think what you must. But I believe the time will come when Cardassia and Bajor will grow to be not only allies, but also... close friends." – Dukat

"Cardassia and Bajor... maybe. You and me... I doubt it." – Kira

Will Major Kira Nerys and Gul Dukat ever get along? Do they just tolerate each other to get the mission accomplished? Could they ever go in a deck together? I know they are as different as night and day, but Necessary Evil shows us that sometimes, alliances are needed, even if it's with your hated rival.

The following deck is based around the Dissident keyword. Not too many personnel have the keyword and let's face it, there weren't many that were part of that group on Terok Nor. The majority of the dissidents can be found in either the Cardassian or Romulan affiliation. There are two very prominent dissidents already in print, Kira and Odo. These two, however, are not enough to build a deck around. Enter Jake Sisko. He is a reporter. There is a war going on and Terok Nor was where he belonged. Another of that dissident group on Terok Nor was my favorite Dabo girl, Leeta. With the discard theme built around the dissident strategy, Leeta will be able to take advantage of all those cards hitting your Discard Pile. These two with a few other Terok Nor dissidents can form a strong core group of personnel (both Leeta and Jake have Anthropology, always a good thing when then Antedean Assassins show up).

The problem is, the dissidents are not strong enough to stand on their own. The Cardassians have always been there to help out rebel groups that are in need, this is who we will pair with the dissidents. To make things more cohesive, there is a new Kira Nerys in Necessary Evil. Kira never believed once that she was Illiana Ghemor. Personally, after I saw the card, I thought she made a great Cardassian. I know what you are thinking, what about our Reformed Collaborator. I must admit, that Kira was very tempting to play, especially since she gets an attribute bonus and is able to "dig-deep" for a skill that her compatriots might need. Kira Nerys, Illiana Ghemor goes a long way to help setting up the proper personnel at your headquarters in order to make the new dissident strategy work. The dissidents get another great set up tool in Necessary Evil as well. Allies on the Inside is an interrupt that can download a dissident. The drawback is you have to discard cards from hand equal to the dissident's cost. With Jake and Kira only costing one and Leeta being free, this isn't much of a drawback for not having to rely on drawing a Jake, Kira, or Leeta.

Kira isn't alone though. Including Kira, there are 5 more Cardassian dissidents in Necessary Evil. The biggest one, next to Kira, is Rusot, Proud Nationalist. This personnel is not only a dissident, but he's also a Gul. This means that the deck will include everyone's favorite attribute bonus interrupt, Comfort Women. Another benefit of playing with Cardassians, is the chance to play with Kotra. Kotra with Jake Sisko's ability means that the bonus points will be flying off the opponent's deck.

The dilemma pile features some new and exciting dilemmas that can really hinder your opponent if he or she isn't prepared for them. In Training hinders opponents for only playing low cost personnel and On Foreign Ground punishes the opponent for not playing events to his or her core.

Well, enough chatter, without further ado, the deck –

DECK LIST

Dilemma Pile
Racial Tension x3
Secret Identity x3
On Foreign Ground x2
Antedean Assassins
Personal Duty x3
Chula: Echoes x3
Maglock
Picking up the Pieces x2 – boy! does this hose those Romulans
Face to Face
Head to Head
Temptation x3
Assassination Attempt
Gomtuu Shock Wave
Skeleton Crew
Side by Side x2
The Dreamer and the Dream x2
In Training x3
Trabe Grenade x2 – Alright, who's smart enough to throw the grenade back?
Enemy Boarding Party
Confined to Quarters
Blended
Expose Power Relay
Pinned Down
Hunter Gangs

Missions
Cardassia Prime
Mouth of the Wormhole – Terok Nor
Evacuate Colony
Abduction Plot
Kressari Rendevous – Who doesn't like to visit the Rendevous?

Draw Deck
Elim Garak, Agent of the Obsidian Order x2
Davin x3
Ocett, Dogged Rival
Danar, Irascible Gul
Rusot, Proud Nationalist x2
Seskal, Comrade in Arms
Lemec, Posturing Negotiator
Hogue, Student of Political Ethics
Damar, Useful Adjutant
Parn x2
Dukat, Liberator and Protector
Ari x2
Natima Lang, Professor of Political Ethics – Don't tell Toran she's in this deck.
Kira Nerys, Iliana Ghemor x2
Odo, Wayward Link
Jake Sisko, Reporter Behind the Lines x3
Leeta, Rebel Supporter x2
Lore, The One
Kamala, The Perfect Mate
Ty Kajada, Relentless Investigator
Nel Apgar, Temperamental Researcher
Sunad
Togaran x3
Modern Galor x3
Galor
Kotra x3
For All Our Sons
At What Cost?
Comfort Women x3
Allies on the Inside x3
Stricken Dumb

February 10, 2004