downstairs. Returning to Giger's quarters to deliver the requested equipment, Jake and Nog find the room empty with no sign of Giger. Jake confronts Winn and accuses her of kidnapping the doctor, earning a reprimand from Captain Sisko. Jake and Nog are unexpectedly beamed aboard Weyoun's ship: Weyoun, aware that the youths have been in contact with Giger, Winn, and the entirety of the station's senior staff, suspects they are up to something. Jake explains the scheme to obtain the card, but Weyoun seems incredulous, so Jake concocts a story that Willy Mays is a time-traveling saboteur he and Nog are investigating. Weyoun believes Jake's first story, deciding it was all innocent coincidence after all, and sends the boys away with the card. Captain Sisko reflects on how his crew's moods have improved, over a montage illustrating how Jake and Nog's trades have helped them; the montage concludes with the captain hugging his son upon receiving the card. Reception Reviewing the episode for Tor.com in 2014, Keith R.A. DeCandido gave the episode a favorable review. He highlighted the episode's role as comic relief in the midst of the weighty storylines of the approaching Dominion War, and the well-developed relationships shown between Jake Sisko and his father and between Jake and Nog; he gave the episode a rating of 9 out of 10. Zack Handlen, writing for The A.V. Club in 2013, also gave the episode a favorable review; he praises it as a comedic episode that provides meaningful stakes for the characters in the midst of dramatic storylines. In 2019, CBR ranked "In the Cards" the 18th funniest episode of the Star Trek franchise. References External links Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (season 5) episodes 1997 American television episodes Television episodes written by Ronald D. Moore