"What You Leave Behind" Aired 18 Years Ago Today

Where were you 18 years ago today? Odds are you were home watching "What You Leave Behind," the two-hour Deep Space Nine series finale, which aired on June 2, 1999. Not only did the episode do a remarkable job of closing out the Dominion War arc, it addressed Sisko's mission as the Emissary, further restored Worf's association with the Klingon Empire, and brough full circle several romances, bromances, friendships and familial relationships: Odo and Quark, Dr. Bashir and Garak, Benjamin and Jake, Kira and Odo, O'Brien and Dr. Bashir, Sisko and Kasidy, Ezri Dax and Dr. Bashir, Kai Winn and Dukat, Quark and Kira, etc. Then, there was that great party in Vic Fontaine's lounge, with Sisko offering these touching words: "To the best crew any captain ever had. This may be the last time we're all together. But no matter what the future holds, no matter how far we travel, a part of us... a very important part, will always remain here, on Deep Space 9."

Today, StarTrek.com toasts the 18th anniversary of "What You Leave Behind" by sharing these interesting facts, figures and anecdotes:

Kroeker's First Finale

"What You Leave Behind" was directed by Allan Kroeker, who'd previously helmed 12 other episodes of DS9. He also directed numerous episodes of Voyager and Enterprise, including their respective finales, "Endgame" and "These Are The Voyages..."

Number 173

"What You Leave Behind" was episode 173 of Deep Space Nine.

And the Tears Flowed

Nana Visitor ruined several takes during filming on the last day of production by crying.

Marty McFly Would Be Proud

You caught O'Brien's reference to a little something called "flux capacitators," right? Back to the Future, anyone?

Hey, Isn't That...?

Many of the show's crew appeared in the scene at Vic's lounge, including Ira Steven Behr and Rene Echevarria, as did several recurring actors -- who are seen out of makeup -- among them Jeffrey Combs, Casey Biggs and Max Grodenchik.

He Was in All 173 Episodes

Can you name the only actor to appear in every single episode of DS9? That'd be Avery Brooks.

What Do These Guys Have in Common?

Aside from the series regulars, the only actors to appear in both the first-ever episode, "Emissary," and also "What You Leave Behind" were J.G. Hertzler, Mark Allen Shepherd, Marc Alaimo, and Aron Eisenberg.

It's a Wrap... Party

DS9 had its wrap party on April 22, 1999, and it was attended by the main cast as well as Terry Farrell, Rick Berman, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Michael Westmore, David Livingston, Herman Zimmerman, Ira Steven Behr, Michael and Denise Okuda, Lolita Fatjo, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Gary Hutzel and Dan Curry.

And the Award Goes To...

"What You Leave Behind" received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series. It lost to "Dark Frontier," an episode of Voyager.

The Last Word