Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999): Season 3, Episode 9 - Defiant - full transcript

Kira, we've got six
Byzatium transports

coming in this afternoon.

I've got to have
more cargo space.

( sighs )

All right, have them off-load

into Cargo Bays 3 and 4,
but that's it.

We are pushing
our storage capacity as it is.

Well, that reminds me--

we got a message last night
saying the Byzallians

want to move their
conference up by a week.

( sighs heavily )



I haven't had a chance to read
through last night's reports.

Is there anything else
I should know?

Well, um...

What?

Starfleet wants
a complete report done

on our computer
calibration subroutine.

The whole subroutine?

When?

Tomorrow.

( sighs )

Major, the scheduled
transport's been delayed

and I need those medical
supplies by the end of the week.

We can't spare a runabout

to go all the way
to Vulcan right now.



I'm supposed to be setting up
a field hospital

for a new colony
on Campor III next week.

And if I don't get
those medical supplies

then the entire
colonization schedule

could be set back
by at least...

Listen to me!

You can't have
a runabout.

You cannot get
your medical supplies

and I don't give a damn about
the colonization schedule!

Those colonists can make do

with a box of bandages
for all I care.

Stop right there!

Major.

When was your last day off?

I don't know.

What does that have to do
with anything?

If you can't remember,
then it's been too long.

You're off duty,
as of this moment.

What do you mean
I'm off duty?

You can't do that.

Oh, yes, I can, and not
even Commander Sisko

can overrule my judgment
as Chief Medical Officer.

Now... now, wait
a minute, Julian.

Just because I snapped...

My diagnosis is
that you are overworked

and suffering
from extreme stress

and borderline exhaustion.

As for my prescription...

Follow me.

Karvino juice

Lorvan crackers

a holosuite program

a jumja stick
and gambling tokens.

Now, at least two
of these items

must be used and fully enjoyed
before you leave this facility.

Julian, I...

I'll be giving you
a full report

of her activities, Doctor.

And if I hear you
didn't completely relax

and enjoy yourself
tonight

we'll do this every
night until you do.

( sighs )

Have fun!

MAN:
Looks like you've got
your evening all planned.

Hope you've got room
for the unexpected.

Captioning sponsored by
PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Welcome aboard, Commander.

Thank you.

Call me Will.

What brings you
to Deep Space 9?

Strictly pleasure.

Actually, I have built up
about three months of leave

and Dr. Crusher finally insisted

that I take some of it.

She nearly shoved me
out of the airlock.

( laughs )

Well, DS9 isn't exactly
known as a vacation spot.

Actually, I was just
passing through

on my way to Risa.

The last time I was here

I was only able to spend
a couple of hours at Quark's.

But, by the time I left,
I had all of his latinum

and a date
with one of his dabo girls

so I thought
I might try my luck again.

You be careful.

Quark's dabo wheel's been
a little stingy lately

and one of his dabo girls
is dating my son.

In that case, I
think I'd better

spend my time
in the holosuite.

It sounds safer,
all the way around.

Who's in there?

What?

Who's in with Benjamin?

Oh, it's Will... Commander
Will Riker from the Enterprise.

Will Riker?

You know him?

Yeah.

I met him a year ago
at Quark's.

He's, uh, quite
a dabo player.

Hmm.

Do you know him?

Yes, a little.

I met him at Quark's last night.

You met him
last night, and...?

And we talked.

And then?

And then we talked.

For three hours.

No, we just talked.

And, yes, he's a warm,
charming man...

but I'm involved with someone.

Of course.

So why do you keep glancing
back at Sisko's office?

SISKO:
If you can find the time

you have an open invitation
for dinner with me and Jake.

Thank you. I may
take you up on that.

I hope you're not
here for another loan.

Don't tell me
you've forgotten

who staked you three
strips of latinum

when your winning
streak ran dry.

I'm sorry.
Of course.

Most of that night's
still a blur.

How have you been, Dax?

Fine.

Well, I'd better
get out of your way.

I know you all
have work to do.

Hope to see
you again.

Major.

Commander.

Oh!
Oh!

I'm sorry.

That's all right.

My mind was a million
light-years away.

I should have been paying
attention to where I was going.

You doing
some shopping?

Well, actually, I was just
exploring the Promenade.

I'd thought about
going into Quark's

but I wasn't really
in the mood.

Where are you off to?

I'm just getting
off duty.

I was about
to call it a night.

Oh, I see.

Well, good night.

Good night.

Commander?

Would you like a tour
of the station?

I'd love one.

Where should we begin?

We can walk along the Promenade
for a start.

There's quite a bit
to see here.

You think we might
get a chance

to look at that new
starship of yours?

What do you call it, the...

Oh, the Defiant.

Yes, the Defiant.

I understand
it's quite a vessel.

I'm sure that
can be arranged.

COMPUTER:
Please identify
for access to USS Defiant.

Major Kira Nerys,
Bajoran militia.

Identity confirmed.

Commander William Riker,
Starfleet.

Identity confirmed.

( electronic instrument
humming )

Chief, I didn't
know anyone else

was on board tonight.

Oh, I hadn't planned to.

Ouch!

I was just getting
a little extra work done

on the deflector
targeting arrays.

Commander...
I'd heard you were aboard

but I-I hadn't...

There's nothing to say
to you, O'Brien.

I think you know why.

Well, maybe we should
come back another time.

No, no, no, Major,
it's all right.

I was just leaving.

Commander.

What was all that about?

Ah, it's a long story.

I'd rather not
get into it.

Let's take a look
at this ship of yours.

Okay. I'll, uh, show you
the tactical systems first.

Think you're going
to be surprised

at how big a punch
this little ship has.

Running the plasma conduit

through your primary
phaser coupling

has almost doubled
your phaser power.

Doesn't that cut into
your warp drive efficiency?

Not at all, in fact,
it's 30% more efficient.

That's ingenious.

I'd like to see
how it's all routed

through the tactical display.

COMPUTER:
Command authorization required.

New security procedure.

Computer,
release Bridge lockout.

Authorization: Kira
Delta-5-4-7-Alpha.

Thank you.

Ah!

( alarm sounding )

What's going on?

DAX:
I'm not sure, but
something happened

to the warp core on the Defiant.

It looks like it's going
to breach in 57 seconds.

Anyone on board?

O'Brien was working
there this morning

but I don't know if he...

Incoming signal
from the Defiant.

It's Commander Riker.

On screen.

RIKER:
Commander Sisko,
there's been an accident.

One of the plasma
conduits has exploded.

Major Kira has been injured.

We are 45 seconds
from a core breach.

Release the docking clamps.

I will get us away
from the station.

We'll beam the two of you out of
there as soon as you're clear.

Docking clamps released.

I'm engaging thrusters.

15 seconds.

Lock on and beam them
away, Chief.

I can't get a lock.

The Defiant's
shields are up.

What?

She's gone into warp.
I've lost them.

We're beyond
their sensor range.

Lay in a course for the
Badlands, warp seven.

Tamal, secure that conduit.

Right.

Course laid in.

We'll be in the Badlands
in six hours.

You did it, Tom.

It's not over yet.

Nine years ago
a transporter accident

created two William T. Rikers.

One of them returned
to his ship

the other was marooned
on Nervala IV.

The second Riker was
finally discovered

two years ago.

He chose to use his
middle name, Thomas

to distinguish himself
from the other Riker.

The two men are physically
identical in all respects

right down
to their DNA coding.

There was no way
for the security computer

to know that it was
Thomas, not William

who boarded
the Defiant.

This is
a very entertaining story

but... why am I listening to it?

We have reason
to believe

that Thomas Riker is
a member of the Maquis.

What?

ODO:
Thomas Riker

was serving aboard
the Starship Gandhi.

While he was there,
he began to express

certain political opinions.

Opinions that supported
the Maquis and their goals.

Are you telling me...

that one of the most heavily
armed warships in this Quadrant

is now in the hands
of Maquis terrorists?

( gasps )

Do you have any idea
what kind of response

this will provoke
from the Central Command?

They'll probably want
to send ships

into the
Demilitarized Zone

to conduct a search.

We understand that

but any entry into the Zone
must be a joint operation

between Cardassia
and the Federation.

The Central Command
will not be interested

in any joint operation

Commander.

They won't believe
your story

about transporter duplicates
and security failures.

They will assume that Starfleet

wanted the Maquis
to have the Defiant

and they will
respond accordingly.

And what does that
mean exactly?

It means they will seize
this opportunity

to finally eliminate
the Maquis.

They will send a fleet
into that Zone.

Starfleet will cooperate
in a search for the Defiant

but they will not allow
the Central Command

to use this as an excuse
for a full-scale invasion.

Of course not.

So you will send your
own fleet into the Zone

to protect
Federation colonies.

But, at some point,
the two fleets will meet

tensions will rise,
nerves will fray

and someone will make
the tiniest mistake.

And we'll have a war
on our hands.

It is a prospect I do
not relish, Commander.

Neither do we.

That's why we need
to work together

to prevent it
from happening.

Well, unless I can bring

something back to Central
Command to prove your good faith

and your willingness
to help stop the Defiant

I don't believe anything
can prevent this conflict

from beginning.

Then bring me with you.

I can help you stop
the Defiant

and prove our good faith.

I was in charge
of the shipyard

where the Defiant
was built.

I helped design it.

I know her
vulnerabilities

and her weaknesses.

You'll help us destroy
one of your own ships?

I want to try and
disable it first.

Oh, I'm sure you do.

But you are in no position
to bargain here, Commander.

You want to prevent a war

you come back to Cardassia
with me, and you help me

destroy the Defiant.

I don't care who you are
or what your name is.

I am sorry about lying to you,
and I'm sorry about using you.

It was an
operational necessity!

You were
a resistance fighter.

You know that certain times

you do things that
you're not proud of

to accomplish the mission.

Well, you accomplished
your mission, so now what?

Everyone's going
to be looking for you.

The Cardassians and Starfleet.

How far do you think you're
going to get with this ship

before they find you?

A lot farther
than people anticipate.

Kalita to Riker.

We've reached
the rendezvous point.

I'm on my way.

The other Maquis
ships just arrived.

The rest of
the team's ready.

Lower the shields
and beam them aboard.

The Maquis ships

are heading
for the border, Tom.

KALITA:
All defense systems

on line and operational.

Warp power standing by.

Lay in a course for the
Cardassian border, warp eight.

Course already laid in.

This ship was built to fight.

I think it's time
she got her chance.

Engage.

SISKO:
Commander's Log,
Stardate 48467.3.

Gul Dukat and I have arrived
on Cardassia Prime.

I'm about to do something
which goes against 20 years

of Starfleet training--

help an enemy hunt down
one of our own ships.

This is where I'll be
conducting the search

for the Defiant.

From this room,
I can control

every Cardassian
ship, outpost

and space station
anywhere in our...

( door opening )

DUKAT:
Ah, Commander, allow me
to introduce Korinas

our observer from
the Obsidian Order.

Commander Sisko.

Korinas.

Welcome to Cardassia
Prime, Commander.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

Secure that console
while the human is here.

Anything else classified
level 4 or above

should also be secured.

I'm sure you can understand

to bring you here,
we must take some precautions.

Of course.

I would have done the same.

But then...

I would have been
more discreet.

Since you are here

to provide technical expertise
on the Defiant

I suggest you begin
by briefing us

on the ship's
defensive capabilities.

Please, describe for us
in detail

the weapons systems
of the Defiant

beginning with
the ship's phaser array...

Before we discuss weaponry,
there's a more urgent matter

that I think
you should be aware of.

The Defiant is equipped
with a cloaking device.

I wondered if you
were going to share

that little detail with us.

You knew about this?

The Obsidian Order
has known for some time

about the loan
of a cloaking device

from the Romulans
to the Federation.

And the Order chose not
to share this intelligence

with the Central Command?

Until now, the Order had not
considered this one cloak

to be a threat
against Cardassia.

( snorts )

Under our terms of agreement
with the Romulans

the cloaking device
was to be used

only in the Gamma Quadrant,
and then only in exchange

for all our intelligence
reports on the Dominion.

Well, your Lieutenant
Riker isn't likely

to respect that agreement
with the Romulans

and there's no way

to locate a ship
under cloak.

There is
one possibility.

The Dominion managed
to penetrate the cloak

by using some kind
of antiproton beam.

Can you give us the
specifications of that beam?

Not precisely,
but I can give you

everything we've learned

from our sensor logs.

It'll give you a chance
to find the Defiant

before she attacks.

( console beeping )

We're approaching
the security perimeter, Tom.

All right, this is it.

Red Alert.

Cloak the ship.

Stand by, weapons.

Squadron Baker
has arrived

at their checkpoint.

Transmit the
go-ahead signal.

We'll be in Cardassian
sensor range in five minutes.

There is a perimeter alert
in the Almatha sector.

Put it on the main viewer.

Who's commanding the outpost
nearest that ship?

CREWMAN:
Gul Toran
of the Sixth Order.

And he's identified the vessel.

It's the Defiant.

Order all warships

in that sector
to converge on the Defiant.

Something's wrong.

Why wouldn't they
be cloaked?

Can you show me the sensor
information on the Defiant?

The Defiant is
attacking Outpost 61.

DUKAT:
Tell Gul Toran

that he has permission
to pursue the Defiant

into the Demilitarized Zone.

No, don't pull your ships
off the border.

Commander, you don't expect me

to break off pursuit
of the Defiant

simply because the treaty's...

That's not the Defiant.
It's a decoy.

They're trying to draw your
patrol ships out of position.

That ship's sending
out a fake warp signature

identical to the Defiant's

but the phase variance and
subspace harmonics don't match.

Order Toran
to break off pursuit.

Have him redeploy...

Sir, another perimeter alert.

Outpost 47 has detected

a cloaked ship with
their antiproton beam.

Tell Toran to head
for Outpost 47.

The Defiant has de-cloaked

and has begun to
attack the outpost.

We've lost contact
with Outpost 47.

Incoming message from Gul Toran.

The Defiant has re-cloaked

and its last known heading
was 148

mark 215.

It's headed directly into the
heart of Cardassian territory.

KORINAS:
Commander Sisko

you should be commended.

I only wish we had someone with
such keen tactical instincts

who could have prevented

this invasion of our territory.

We're past
the security perimeter

out of their sensor range.

They're using antiproton
beams to scan for us.

Adjust the cloak's
resonance frequency

so they can't
detect us again.

Right.
Damage report.

We took six hits
on the port shields.

There's been
some minor damage

to the outer hull, but all
systems are operational.

Tough little ship.

Set a course for the
shipyard at Omekla III.

We'll let that be
the place that...

( alarm blares )

Report.

We've lost main power,
and the cloak is off-line.

Looks like two plasma
conduits blew out.

Where?

Deck 3, section 15.

Crew quarters.

Looks like
Major Kira's been busy.

You crossed the replicator
power converter

with the plasma
manifold, I take it.

That's right.

Nice work.

You know I'll have that thing
bypassed in 30 minutes.

At least that'll be 30 minutes
that we're visible.

Fortunately, I was able
to take us into a nebula.

No one's going
to see us.

Thanks.

You're lucky you
only got singed.

You know, the whole plasma relay
could have exploded.

Yeah, that was the idea.

You've been fighting Cardassians
most of your life.

I know that you sympathize
with what we're doing here.

I fought the Cardassians
because they invaded my home.

You don't live
in the Demilitarized Zone.

You don't have family there.

Why are you in this fight?

Because people are dying
in the Demilitarized Zone

and Starfleet isn't doing
anything about it.

Taking the Defiant
only raises the stakes.

The Cardassians are going
to send a fleet after you.

They are going to kill
more people hunting you down

than they ever did
during those border raids.

You're assuming
the Defiant is going to stay

in the Demilitarized Zone.

Let's go to the Bridge.

I think we'd all feel better
having you someplace

we can keep an eye on you.

15 outposts
have checked in.

No sign of the Defiant.

26 warships have scanned

14 cubic light-years of space
with antiproton beams--

no Defiant!

What are the possibilities?

They're still under cloak

and heading deeper
into Cardassian space.

They're laying low

and waiting for
some unknown reason.

Dukat.

Hmm?

Are you listening to me?

Oh, I'm sorry, Commander.

I was thinking
about my son's birthday.

Really?

Yes, today is
his 11th birthday.

I'd promised to take him

to the amusement center
in Lakarian City.

He always wanted to go...

but I never had the time.

I told him, "This year
will be different, Mekor.

This year,
I will make the time."

I had the same
experience with Jake.

At that age, they never
understand, do they?

You just hope
that, one day later

they'll look
back and say

"Now I understand.

Now I know why he did that."

When my son looks back
on this day

the only thing he'll remember

is that a Federation officer,
on a Federation ship

invaded his home

and kept his father away
from him on his 11th birthday

and he won't look back
with understanding.

He'll look back with hatred...

and that's sad.

The cloak is operating
within normal parameters

but the plasma conduit damage

has caused a slight neutrino
leak in the port nacelle.

The Cardassians might
be able to detect it

even through the cloak.

A chance
we have to take.

Lay in the course
for Omekla III.

Engage at warp eight.

Warp eight.
Aye, sir.

Omekla III?

You're headed for the shipyard?

There have to be
half a dozen better targets

in this sector alone.

I hope the Cardassians
have the same reaction.

"What is he doing?

And why?"

All right, now you're trying

to keep them off balance,
keep them guessing.

Why?

The Maquis have
been hearing rumors

about shifting loyalties

in the Cardassian
government.

Certain hard-line elements
were unsatisfied

with the Federation treaty

and are doing whatever
they can to scrap it.

We got our hands
on an intelligence report

outlining suspected military
buildup in the Orias system--

a secret buildup that even the
Central Command isn't aware of.

You're telling me
you did all of this

to attack some secret base
that may or may not exist?

I'm convinced that it does.

They are building
an invasion fleet.

If we let them finish it

these renegade Cardassians
are going to use it.

You're really not cut out
for this, are you?

Being a terrorist,
I mean.

You're not very good at it.

Really?

You're acting more like
a Starfleet officer

who's more interested
in intelligence reports

and Cardassian politics, than
in actually hurting Cardassians.

You have one
of the most powerful ships

in this Quadrant
under your command.

Why aren't you out attacking
every Cardassian outpost

along the border?

Because these stakes
are far greater

than border outposts.

Not for the Maquis,
they're not

because the Maquis
are terrorists

and the only thing
terrorists care about

is attacking the enemy.

I know--
I was a terrorist

and if I had
had this ship then

I would have destroyed
Deep Space 9.

I would have hit
the Cardassians so hard

they would have
screamed for peace.

But I certainly wouldn't
have gone flying off

into the middle
of Cardassia

on some
wild-goose chase.

I guess we're different
kinds of terrorists.

No...

you're trying
to be a hero.

Terrorists don't
get to be heroes.

We'll see.

SISKO:
This is how
your ships were deployed

before the first
Defiant attack.

And this is where
they are now.

Don't you see
what happened?

Each Defiant attack
was designed

to draw your ships
away from that sector

leaving it virtually
defenseless.

But there's nothing
of any value in that sector.

There must be something.

Are there any M-Class
planets there?

Well, there's one--

Orias III, but it's uninhabited.

It's desolate.

But everything

seems to point
to the Orias system.

It might be worth your sending
one of your warships there

just in case
the Defiant does show up.

All right.

Contact Gul Ranor.

Tell him to dispatch
one warship...

KORINAS:
No.

You'll send no ships
to the Orias system.

You're here as an observer.

You have no authority.

That sector is

under direct control
of the Obsidian Order

and you will not enter it.

Why?!

That matter's classified.

Well.

You can file a complaint
with the Central Command later.

Open a channel
to Gul Ranor now.

Any warship sent
into the Orias system

will be destroyed.

Are you saying
that you will fire

on another Cardassian ship?

What I am saying is
that the Obsidian Order

will take whatever steps
are necessary

to protect the Orias system.

And so will I.

I've spoken to a few friends
in the Central Command.

The Obsidian Order isn't giving
them any answers, either.

The Order has
to answer to someone.

In theory, they answer

to the political authority
of the Detapa Council

just as the military does.

In practice, we both
run our own affairs.

Not a very
efficient system.

It's worked for
over five centuries.

CREWMAN:
There's an incoming message

from the Warship Kraxon.

They say they've found
an unusual neutrino signature

in their sector.

It looks
like radiation

from a damaged
warp plasma relay.

Is this signature moving?

No, but they're
scanning their area

with their antiproton beams.

Where is the Kraxon?

If it is the Defiant,
they're in position

to make a run
for the Orias system.

We still don't know
that Orias is the target.

Until we do, I can't risk

pulling ships away from
other potential targets

to chase down
a neutrino signature.

Are there any other ships
nearby?

There are nine
Galor-class cruisers

about six
light-years away.

Any ships between us
and the Orias system?

No.

If you make
a run for it

that ship out there's
going to see

our neutrino signature
go through a phase change.

They're going to call
their nine friends

and you are going to have
a small fleet

chasing you
all the way to Orias.

They can chase me
all they want...

as long as they don't catch me.

The Kraxon reports

that the neutrino signature
has just phase-shifted

and is moving now
at warp speed

directly toward
the Orias system.

Order the Kraxon
to pursue at maximum warp.

Order all other ships
in the sector to follow.

The Kraxon is pursuing

but they won't catch us
before we reach Orias.

Full scan.

I want to see everything
that's in that system.

When you make out
your report

for the Obsidian Order

be sure to mention
the fact

that I could
have prevented

the Defiant
from reaching Orias

if you hadn't interfered.

They will never reach Orias.

You can count on that.

CREWMAN:
Three more ships
have just appeared

in the Orias system.

DUKAT:
What kind of ships?

Cardassian warships...
Keldon-class.

Whose ships are those, Korinas?

Why are you asking me?

Because if they
were military ships

I would know about them.

So that leaves
the Obsidian Order.

I thought the Obsidian Order
didn't have any ships.

They're not supposed to.

In fact, they are
explicitly forbidden

from having
military equipment

of any kind.

TOM:
It looks like we're going to
have to fight our way to Orias.

Listen to me.

Those three ships
up ahead

are going to lock onto our
neutrino leak and open fire.

That means you're going
to have to fight back.

With this ship, it'll be a short
fight, I promise you that.

Let's say you disable

or even destroy, those
three ships up ahead of us.

Fighting them at all
is going to slow us down.

And then those ten ships
behind us

are going to catch up.

And not even the Defiant
can win against those odds.

We have come too far
to quit now.

You are an
experienced

Starfleet officer, Tom.

Analyze the situation.

Going to Orias is suicide.

Now, the smart move is to make
a run for it while we still can.

Maybe that's what an experienced
Starfleet officer would do

maybe that's what
Will Riker would do

but it's not
what I'm going to do.

I'm going to continue
the mission.

It's not the mission you're
thinking about, is it?

Or even the colonists
in the Zone.

This is about you, isn't it?

You and that other
Will Riker out there.

The man with your face,
your name, your career.

You are looking for a way
to set yourself apart.

Some way to be different.

You shouldn't go fishing today.

You won't catch anything.

Take us in.

You want to know
what's going on

in the Orias system

I know how
you can find out.

Give Riker a chance
to surrender.

The Defiant's scanned
the Orias system by now.

Its sensor logs
can tell you

everything you
want to know.

I'd be happy to accept
his surrender

but I doubt he'll be willing
to hand over his logs.

He will, if you agree
to release Major Kira

turn the ship and the Maquis
over to the Federation.

Impossible!

I cannot allow a group
of terrorists

to just walk away
after invading our territory...

Then you must decide
which is important to you--

your sense of Cardassian justice

or the information contained
in the Defiant's sensor logs.

I do want that information,
Commander

and I would be willing
to return your wayward ship

but someone has to pay
for what's happened here

and I don't want
that someone to be me.

If you return the Maquis
to the Federation

I can promise you
that they will stand trial

for what they've done.

A Federation trial.

It's the best I can do.

All right.

I would be willing
to hand over

Major Kira, the Maquis
and the ship

but not Riker.

He led the mission.

If I can bring
him to justice

and obtain the
information on Orias

that might be enough
for Central Command.

I might be able
to get him to do it

on one condition.

We both know
that Cardassian sentences

are determined
well in advance of the trial.

I'd like you to arrange
a sentence other than death.

( sighs )

I'll have to clear that

with the Ministry
of Justice.

You'd better make it quick.

We're approaching
the first cruiser.

They'll be in phaser range

in 15 seconds.

Go to impulse.

De-cloak the ship.

Raise shields and
stand by phasers.

Go to heading 118
mark 310.

Lock on phasers.

Fire.

Direct hit on the cruiser's
port nacelle.

Their shields
are down by 30 percent.

TAMAL:
We've been hit on
our starboard shield.

TAMAL:
Shields holding.

Quantum torpedoes--
full spread.

Torpedoes locked
on target.

Fire!

Their defense systems
are off-line

and they've lost
main power.

Tom, three more cruisers

have just appeared
in the Orias system.

That makes five ships
ahead of us and ten behind.

Resume our original course
to the Orias system.

Stand by emergency
power to the shields.

Incoming message
from Cardassia Prime.

It's Gul Dukat
and Commander Sisko.

On screen.

This is Gul Dukat
of the Second Order.

I am authorized to tell you
that if you surrender your ship

none of you will be harmed.

Is that right?

Listen to him, Lieutenant.

If you surrender,
the Defiant and its crew

will be handed over
to a Federation starship

at the Cardassian border.

Why the sudden generosity?

He wants the Defiant's
sensor logs

on the Orias system.

They're worth a lot more
to him than Maquis prisoners.

I don't buy it.

You're right.

Someone has
to pay the price.

Me.

The deal is

you'll be tried and convicted
in a Cardassian court

and then sentenced
to spend the rest of your life

in the Lazon II labor camp.

No death sentence, huh?

That must have taken some doing.

Some.

Give me a moment.

Tom.

There's no reason
for you to continue.

They're offering
you a way out.

The only reason
not to take it

is because you
want to die.

I have a mission to complete.

That mission
is over.

You're never going
to make it to Orias.

You know that, Tom.

There are five ships
out there ahead of you

but there may be 50 waiting
there, for all we know.

Be a Starfleet
officer one last time.

Think of your crew.

I know you want Tom Riker
to go out in a blaze of glory

that they talk about
for the next ten years.

Don't drag them along with you.

On screen.

I agree to your terms.

SISKO:
You need to reverse course

and surrender the Defiant

to one of the ships
that's been following you.

Why?

It will take too long to explain

but the ships coming out
of the Orias system

are not under
Gul Dukat's control.

RIKER:
I see.

I've ordered the Kraxon

to put her shields
around you

as soon as you arrive.

You'll be safe
once you get there.

Understood.

Turn us about.

Lay in a course
for the Kraxon.

Do it.

DUKAT:
Those are faster than
any Keldon-class ships

I've ever seen.

What is going on
in that system?

We're 100 million kilometers
from the Kraxon.

TAMAL:
Incoming message.

Let's hear it.

This is Gul Ranor of the Kraxon.

Cut your engines in five seconds

and we will extend
our shields around you.

Acknowledged.

Kalita.

All stop.

DUKAT:
They won't fire

on another Cardassian ship.

They can't.

KALITA:
They're moving off.

They've set course
back to the Orias system.

TOM:
Transmit the Orias III

sensor logs to the Kraxon

and tell them to prepare
to beam me aboard.

I'm turning command over
to Major Kira.

She'll get you back
to the Federation.

I'm holding you
personally responsible

to see that these people get
a fair trial.

I give you my word.

We'll get you
out of there, Tom.

I promise you that.

Riker to Kraxon.

GUL RANOR:
Go ahead.

One to beam up.

Set course for the Federation.

Warp eight.

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