Captain's Log, Stardate 49263.5.
At the request of the Karemma Commerce Ministry
we've brought the Defiant
to a remote system in the Gamma Quadrant
to discuss problems that have surfaced
regarding our recent trade agreement.
When we first agreed to use Ferengi as intermediaries
we did it because we knew the Dominion
would never tolerate direct trade
between us and the Federation.
And we're glad to be of service
and I'm happy to say that not a single Ferengi vessel
has been stopped by the Jem'Hadar.
Unfortunately, we have found there is very little profit
in doing business with the Federation.
In order to comply with all your commerce laws
we have had to pay a series of taxes and fees
that have made the costs too high.
What sort of taxes and fees are you referring to?
For example
on a recent shipment of Karemman fleece
a four percent surcharge was added
to inspect the cargo for changeling infiltrators.
What?!
You never know where they might be hiding.
And a six percent tariff was imposed
to help offset the lost income of Tarkalian sheepherders.
Hardworking people.
You have to feel for them.
Need I go on, Captain?
No.
I think you've made your point.
These are the results of the last weapons drill, sir.
These response times are unacceptable, Ensign.
They are a little high, sir
but not if you take into account that...
I want these response times reduced by 15 percent.
Schedule another drill.
Yes, sir.
Want one?
I'm fasting.
Today is Ha 'mara.
Ha 'mara?
It's the anniversary
of the Emissary's arrival.
We fast to show our gratitude to the Prophets
for sending him to us.
Last night, there was a festival of lights in the capital.
Sounds beautiful.
Sorry we missed it.
Something tells me
the Captain scheduled these negotiations
so he wouldn't have to attend.
Benjamin's never been one for ceremonies
especially where he's the center of attention.
Oh, I understand how the Captain feels.
Still, it would have meant a lot if the Emissary had been there.
After being stuck in the Mess Hall all morning
with Quark and Hanok, I'll bet he wishes he had gone.
Two ships have just entered sensor range.
They're Jem'Hadar warships.
Red Alert.
Captain Sisko to the Bridge.
All hands, battle stations.
The Jem'Hadar are powering up their weapons systems.
They are targeting the Karemma ship.
They're here to punish us for meeting with you.
If I give myself up
and assume full responsibility, they may spare my ship.
I'm not about to turn you over to them.
Open a channel.
This is Captain Benjamin Sisko of the USS Defiant.
Stand down, or we'll be forced to...
Return fire!
The Karemma ship is coming about.
They're moving away, Captain.
Tell your people to hold position.
We can't protect them if they run.
The Karemma aren't responding to our hails.
The Jem'Hadar are changing course.
They're going after the Karemma ship.
Move to intercept.
What are they doing?
They're hoping that the Jem'Hadar
won't follow them into the atmosphere.
They'd be smart not to.
That's a Class-J gas giant.
I'm reading wind speeds
of over 10,000 kilometers per hour.
23 of my people are on that ship and they're going to die
because I was foolish enough to defy the Dominion.
They're not going to die, Minister.
Not if I can help it.
Sisko to O'Brien.
Go ahead, sir.
I'm taking the ship into the atmosphere.
I know she wasn't
built for it, but I think the ship can handle it.
Aye, sir.
I'll see if we can get more power
to the structural integrity field.
Adjusting shield geometry for atmospheric entry.
Transferring auxiliary power to the forward shields.
Take us in.
Five seconds to atmosphere.
There is so much interference
our imaging systems are practically useless.
We've hit a crosscurrent.
Head into it.
We've slipped between two thermal layers.
Wind velocities are a little more manageable here.
Hold this altitude.
Any sign of the Karemma or the Jem'Hadar?
No, but sensor range is less than two kilometers.
There might be a way we can increase it.
Let's do it.
Mr. Hanok, I think it'd be best
if you returned to the Mess Hall.
As you wish, Captain.
Mr. Worf.
Sir.
What's the status of our weapons systems?
The cloak is not effective in this atmosphere
and the interference will jam our torpedo guidance systems.
What about phasers?
We'll have to target them manually.
Benjamin, we have an idea.
It's a little trick I learned during the occupation.
Sometimes we'd evade the Cardassian ships
by hiding in the Badlands.
Sensor range was limited, so we learned to use
an active scan system to navigate.
It works by echo location.
We send out a modulated tetryon pulse
and if it reflects off the hull of a ship
we can approximate its location.
But won't these pulses give away our position as well?
We'd have to alter course and speed after every one.
Good news, Minister.
Really?
I think I found the problem.
I made the mistake of letting my brother Rom
execute these contracts.
Your brother?
Yes.
I'm ashamed to say it, but he's an idiot.
You see, the Federation and the Karemma
have very different laws governing commerce
and I think poor Rom must have gotten confused
by all the legalism.
Now, I will be more than willing
to make up any losses you might have encountered.
In fact, I will pay them back with interest.
You cheated me, Quark, and you haven't
even got the courage to admit it.
If we survive this
I'll see that you never work in the Gamma Quadrant again.
Nothing within 10,000 kilometers.
Ahead at one-quarter impulse.
Try again, Major.
There's something 400 kilometers below us.
It could be the Karemma.
I can't tell at this range.
Close to ten kilometers.
We're crossing into another thermal layer.
Holding position at ten kilometers.
Major?
From the size of it, I'd say it's the Karemma.
I'm picking up two more ships.
Shields at 60 percent.
Return fire!
The Jem'Hadar are breaking off their attack.
Are they going after the Karemma?
I don't think they've spotted them.
Captain, impulse power is off line.
We're losing altitude.
Try using thrusters to stabilize.
It's no use.
Hull pressure at two million GSC and rising.
Sisko to Engine Room.
We need impulse power.
The primary ODN lines have overloaded, Captain.
It'll be a few minutes.
Chief, if you can spare someone to meet me in Jefferies tube 4
I'll try to reroute the power through the secondary couplings.
Muniz, you go.
Yes, sir.
Hull pressure at nine million GSC and still rising.
If we keep losing altitude at this rate
the hull will collapse in less than six minutes.
Sir, the phaser couplings were overloaded during the attack.
It'll take at least two hours to repair them.
Well, the Jem'Hadar aren't going to let us
tractor the Karemma out of here without a fight.
Right now, it seems like we're the ones
who need to be tractored out of here.
One thing at a time, Major.
Sisko to O'Brien.
O'Brien here.
How many atmospheric probes do we have on board?
Two.
Could they be rigged with warheads
from quantum torpedoes?
Well, we'd have to pull the imaging systems out
to make room in the casings, but...
I don't see why not.
How long?
20 minutes.
You've got ten.
You okay?
I'm all right.
The Captain's gotten us out of tougher spots than this.
Last year, when the Romulans
tried to invade the Founders' homeworld
we went up against a dozen Jem'Hadar ships.
I know, Chief, uh, you've told me the story.
Oh, yeah? Well, unless you want to hear it again
you better get down to the torpedo bay
and start working on those probes.
I'm going.
Janklow.
I'm going to need a dualitic inverter.
There's one in the cargo bay.
Right, Chief.
Hull breach on deck two.
An emergency force field is in place
but it won't hold up long against this pressure.
How many people are down there?
Half a dozen in Sick Bay.
Dax and Muniz in Jefferies tube 4.
We've got to get them out of there.
If we don't seal off that deck now
we'll lose the entire ship.
Easy now.
Sisko to Bashir.
Go ahead.
The emergency force field won't hold much longer.
We've got to evacuate that deck, so we can seal it off.
Aye, sir.
Let's get everybody past that bulkhead.
Dax, are you finished?
Not quite.
Get out of there as soon as you're done.
In about 30 seconds, we're going to have to seal that deck.
Bashir to Bridge.
I'm sealing the bulkhead now.
Dax!
Hurry!
Jadzia!
The force field is down.
Doctor, close that bulkhead.
But Jadzia's still in there!
Now, Doctor. That's an order.
Julian...
Bridge.
Bridge.
She did it.
Helm.
Take us to a higher altitude.
O'Brien to Bridge.
One of the atmospheric probes is armed and standing by.
We'll have the second one ready in a few minutes.
Very good, Chief.
All right, Major.
Now that we've got something to defend ourselves with
Iet's start looking for the Karemma.
We're gaining altitude.
How can you tell?
Oh, I've got the lobes.
You've got them, too.
It's an old Ferengi expression.
Usually when we say that someone has the lobes
we mean that they have a keen business sense.
That's you.
I'll admit it-- you had me fooled.
I thought you were just another easy mark
but you saw right through my little scam
and taught me a thing or two
about doing business in the Gamma Quadrant.
I guess I've gotten lazy.
I'm used to dealing with the Federation.
If you thought I was cheating you...
oh, you have no idea what I was doing to them
and they still haven't caught on.
If someone like me could put one over on them
think what someone like you could do.
Someone with my... Iobes?
Exactly.
And I'm just the man to help you do it.
We could become rich.
Rich beyond our dreams.
You...
are despicable.
I hate the Gamma Quadrant.
Sir, I have something.
It's a Jem'Hadar ship.
Just one?
They must have split up to search for the Karemma.
It's about 70 kilometers above us
on a roughly perpendicular course.
Helm.
Come about to course 075, mark 4.
Let's fall in behind them.
You think they detected us?
I don't know, but let's make it harder for them.
Shut down all nonessential systems.
It'll minimize our power signature.
All stop.
Program the probe to home in
on the first metallic signature it finds.
Sir.
If it does not locate anything within 50 kilometers
the probe might turn back
and home in on the Defiant.
What if they changed course or moved out of range?
Something tells me they may be closer than you think.
The probe is ready, sir.
Fire.
O'Brien to Bridge.
Try the com panel.
Engine Room to Bridge.
Bridge, please respond.
Save your breath.
I don't think there's anybody left alive up there.
Are you all right?
I think so.
Captain.
Computer, lights.
Bridge to Engine Room.
Boyce and Peterson are dead, sir.
Try not to move.
You took a bad blow. Get me a medkit.
Bridge systems are completely off line.
We're not getting any power to these consoles.
There. The bleeding's stopped.
He's got a concussion.
Subcranial bleeding...
We need a medic.
The com system's down.
I'll go below and try and find one.
It's stuck.
We will have to force it open.
I'm afraid if he loses consciousness
he may slip into a coma
but I don't think I can risk using a stimulant on him.
You have to keep him awake.
Talk to him. Give him something to focus on.
All right.
I will attempt to reach the Engine Room
and take over the ship from there.
Good luck.
Captain.
Everything's going to be all right
but you have to try and stay awake for me.
I'm just going to keep talking, all right?
But you have to listen.
It's very important that you listen to me
beca... because there's going to be a test later.
How do you feel?
Terrible.
That's not surprising considering you took in
a few lungfuls of fluorine.
Remind me to hold my breath next time.
I take it we're stuck in here?
I thought of trying to climb up the turbolift shaft
but it flooded with gas.
I've had enough fluorine for one day.
Maybe we should just stay put
and wait for someone to come get us.
They probably don't even know we're in here.
Our com signals can't cut through the interference.
Is there anything else I should know?
We only have a few hours of breathable air.
Thanks, anyway...
for trying to rescue me.
A lot of good it did you.
I mean it.
It's funny.
A year ago, if you'd done something like this
I would have thought you were just trying to be a hero.
And now?
Now that I know you better...
I realize it was just a really stupid thing to do.
Ah, you're welcome.
You're taking this too personally.
Okay, I cheated you.
I cheat everyone.
It's business.
You see what you can get away with
and you got to figure
the other guy's doing the same to you.
That's not the way the Karemma conduct business.
Oh, come on.
You can't tell me you never padded an inventory
or pawned off a load of substandard merchandise?
No, I haven't.
The Karemma believe that merchandise has a set value
determined by the raw materials and the labor
involved in creating it.
Factor in transportation costs and a reasonable profit margin
and you arrive at a fair price.
You make it sound so antiseptic.
Where's the bargaining?
Where's the scheming?
Where's the greed?
Greed leads to misjudgment
and that can result in a loss of profits.
If there's no risk, there's no thrill!
Your way is just barter.
If you want to win big
you got to be willing to play the odds.
It's like gambling!
Gambling is the last recourse of the desperate.
Only a fool would risk losing what he has to chance.
Bah!
Commander, am I glad to see you.
The Captain is injured
and all Bridge functions are off line.
We're trying to route command functions
to these consoles.
All right. I will take command from here.
Who configured these helm controls?
I did, sir.
They are not laid out properly.
I realize they're not the same as on the Bridge
but I had to make some changes, because...
I need to be able
to ascertain our status at a glance.
Reconfigure these controls to their standard layout.
Aye, sir.
Mr. Stevens, you will operate the echo-location system
we've been using to track the Jem'Hadar.
I'll do my best.
I expect nothing less.
Let's get to work.
So, l, ah, I was thinking
that we could go on a four-shift rotation
because that would give people
a little more flexibility with their time.
Th-There is a down side, because that would mean
that every shift would have...
What am I doing?
I'm supposed to keep you awake, not bore you to tears.
I'm sorry.
I don't know why this is so hard for me.
I...
All I have to do is talk to you.
I mean, what do we usually talk about?
We...talk about...
work.
You're right.
That is what we usually talk about...
even when we're not working.
I get the feeling it's not that way
between you and Dax, or...
you and Chief O'Brien
but then you're not a revered figure in their religions.
I know.
You don't like it when I talk about you as the Emissary.
That's how I think of you.
And maybe that's why sometimes...
it's hard for me to relax around you.
Nerys...
Y-yes, sir.
Tell me a story.
All right.
All right. Um...
Um, do you know the one about the three brothers
who go to Jo'kala?
No.
Uh, they, um, they were kava farmers
and one day, they go into their field
and they see the biggest kava root
that, uh, they've ever seen.
It's as big as a house.
"Well, that's going to make us rich," says the oldest.
So, they decide to sell it in the city.
Sir, I have something.
They're too small to be ships.
They're closing fast.
Torpedoes!
Hard a-port.
I'm modulating the deflectors.
It might confuse their guidance systems.
Second one's still closing.
Range 100 meters.
Seventy-five...
Fifty...
Wha...?
I suggest we leave this room immediately.
And go where?
If that thing explodes
the entire ship will be destroyed.
No. Maybe we should try and diffuse it.
I think we should wait for help.
All right, but what if no one can get to us?
I don't like the sound of that.
It's up to us.
Ah, there must be
an emergency tool kit around here somewhere.
There.
The arming mechanism must be somewhere in here.
I'm going to have to remove this casing.
How?
There's no lock that can't be picked.
Looks like the torpedo hit somewhere in here.
Problem is, we're cut off from that part of the ship.
Mm-hmm.
But we'll have to think of something.
Mr. Stevens, recalibrate the structural integrity field
to minimize the strain caused by the torpedo.
The field generators are already at their limits
compensating for the hull breach on deck two.
I am aware of the situation.
If you cannot carry out my orders
I will find someone who can.
That won't be necessary, sir.
Can I have a word with you, sir?
Of course.
With all due respect
I think you're riding the men a bit hard.
You have to understand, they're out of their element.
They're not Bridge officers.
They haven't been to Starfleet Academy.
They're engineers.
They're used to being given a problem to solve
and then going out and figuring out how to do it.
What are you suggesting?
Well, give them a little slack.
Ease up on the reins.
Let them do what they're good at
and give them a little encouragement now and then.
I will take it under consideration.
I'm so cold.
These walls aren't that well insulated.
It's going to get even colder.
Come here.
Better?
What?
Just remembering something.
Tell me.
When I first got to the station, I used to have this fantasy
that you and I went off on a runabout together
on some mission.
Something went wrong with the ship
and we ended up drifting around for a few days
until they sent someone to rescue us.
If you don't mind my saying, Julian
that's a very strange fantasy.
It seemed the only way
that you and I could spend any time alone together.
You were always avoiding me.
Oh, it's just that...
you came on so strong.
You never really gave me a chance
to get to know you.
Well, you're right. I didn't.
Well, don't worry, Jadzia.
It's been a long time
since I had that particular fantasy.
Oh?
You sound disappointed.
Julian!
That's right.
You enjoyed being chased and now you miss it.
That's preposterous
and if you start chasing after me again...
Oh, don't worry, Jadzia.
Now I know you liked it, I don't need to, do l?
I require your assistance.
I need a weapon.
We still have one atmospheric probe.
No, if my plan is going to work, the probe will not be available.
I need something else.
The phasers are out of the question.
The emitters are completely fused.
But the phaser generator's working fine.
The deflector array.
With a few modifications
we could use it as a phaser emitter.
It might not be what you have in mind, sir.
And there is one problem.
It will overload after the first shot.
I only need one shot.
How long will it take you to make the modifications?
20 minutes?
Ten if we bypass the safeties.
Proceed.
I think we should route the generator output
through the secondary power grid.
We'll have to recalibrate the ODN manifold.
That'll overload the whole system.
What a mess.
Ah, we'll worry about that tomorrow.
Yeah, that's easy for you to say.
It's your day off.
Don't count on it.
...so the three brothers started arguing
about how to divide the money for the kava root.
The oldest said that, uh, he should get more
because it was his idea to sell it in the city
and the youngest objected
saying he was the one to till the...
This can't happen!
You can't die!
You're the Emissary.
There's still so much for you to do.
I don't know if this is the right thing to do or not
but I'm going to give you a stimulant.
Captain...
I know my beliefs
make you uncomfortable around me sometimes
and... maybe that's why you keep me at arm's length.
But I don't care about that right now
and I am going to pray
because I don't know what else to do.
I'm losing you and I can't let that happen.
Jia 'kaja
tre 'nu'tol'a rem...
La'por i'lanu kos...
I'nar tan'a 'tali nor...
Everything's ready, sir.
We can target the deflector from here.
Good work.
Take your posts.
Mr. O'Brien.
Nothing within scanning range, sir.
The Jem'Hadar are out there.
You can be certain of that.
Gently!
All right.
Now... what?
One of these diodes
connects the warhead to the power source.
The other one is the firing mechanism.
How do you know that?
I saw a design schematic once.
Where?
At the Ministry of Trade on Karemma.
We sell these torpedoes to the Jem'Hadar.
I thought you said
you never sold substandard merchandise?
This was supposed to explode on impact, wasn't it?
Maybe I should offer them a refund.
We'd better do something about this torpedo of yours.
We have to remove the firing diode...
only I don't know which one it is.
And if we pick the wrong one
we die!
Oh... it's not funny.
We just have to pick the right one.
It's fifty-fifty.
Better odds than you get at the dabo table.
Dabo?
Yes. It's a game.
If we get out of this, I'll teach it to you.
Choose one.
How?
It's a gamble.
Go with your instincts.
You're thinking too much.
You just have to reach in and...
pick one!
Ooh! Oh, oh.
I think we have a winner.
That was... exciting.
Feels good, doesn't it?
Yes!
That's how it works.
The bigger the risk, the bigger the win.
Yes.
You know...
there's another risk you could take.
Staying in business with me.
You never give up, do you?
No.
I tried to cheat you and I lost
but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up the game.
Come on, Hanok.
What do you say?
You want to keep playing?
Let's talk about those Bolian currency fluctuations.
Jia 'kaja, tre 'nu'tol'a rem...
La'por i'lanu kos...
I'nar.
Jia 'kaja, tre '...
Major...
Yes, Captain?
What happened?
The Jem'Hadar hit us pretty bad
and Worf went down to the Engine Room...
No, no, no.
What happened to the three brothers?
They... gave all the money away
and went back to the farm where they belonged.
It's good.
Major...
Sir?
Tell me another story.
I'd love to, sir.
I've got something, sir.
It's the Jem'Hadar.
They've locked on to the tetryon pulse.
Stand by, Mr. Stevens.
Now.
What do you say we find the Karemma
and get out of here?
Defiant Log, supplemental.
Damage control teams are repairing the ship's systems
and medics are tending to injured crew members.
We have located the Karemma ship deep in the atmosphere
and are moving to assist.
It appears that it will have to be abandoned
and its crew brought back to Deep Space 9
until transportation can be arranged
to the Karemma homeworld.
It's going to be a levy.
-A levy? -A levy.
Where do you.....? I don't see any levy.
Right here. Put the levy right there.
Oh!
Pass five.
Too bad-- you lose half your stake.
You can either quit now or...
try to double it.
My advice is to take
what latinum you have left and walk away.
Just because one loses a bet
doesn't mean one gives up the game.
Exactly.
May I suggest
placing your next wager on double down.
Put it all on triple over.
Oh, I think that's a big mistake.
Triple over.
Nothing personal, Quark.
Of course not.
Dabo!
You're really catching on.
Ah!
17 brothers and sisters.
Well, now...
that's quite a family.
Excuse me, Morn.
It's your turn.
For what?
Darts.
That's right.
I'm sorry, Morn.
It's been, uh... nice talking to you.
Thank you for rescuing me.
Now we're even.
Excuse me, sir.
Here's the repair schedule we drew up for the Defiant.
With your approval
we thought we'd start by tearing out the ODN lines.
They're shot.
It'd be easier to get to the manifolds
that way, and then we figured...
Proceed at your own discretion, Mr. Stevens.
Thank you, sir.
How long will the repairs take?
16 hours.
Oh, you can do it in 12.
12-- sure.
No problem.
See?
You can give them a little slack
but you can't take your hands off the reins.
The Karemma transport will be here at 1800 tomorrow
and the Defiant should be ready
to escort them back to the Gamma Quadrant.
Good.
Major...
it occurred to me that we might consider
going to a four-shift rotation.
I think the crew might
appreciate more flexibility in their schedules.
I'll look into it first thing in the morning.
Major...
what are you doing for the next few hours?
Well, I'm... going off duty, so I thought I'd just relax.
Would you like to go to a baseball game?
I'd love to, sir.
Good.
Meet me at Holosuite 3 in half an hour.
I'll... I'll see you there.
Nerys...
You need one of those.
You can get the hot dogs from Quark.
Hot dogs?
Oh, he'll know.

---

---