Last time on ''Star Trek - Deep Space 9...''
More Jem'Hadar ships come through the wormhole every week.
- lt's going to stop. - How?
We'll mine the entrance to the wormhole,
prevent the Dominion from bringing more reinforcements.
Either you remove the mines or we will take this station from you
and remove them ourselves.
Mr Worf, all weapons fire at will.
l've waited for this for five years.
We've lost power to the shields.
- What are your orders? - We've done all we can here.
Notify all remaining Starfleet personnel. We're evacuating the station.
l heard you've been assigned to Martok's ship.
- lt may be some time before we meet. - We may never meet again.
Dukat wanted the station back. He can have it.
And now, the continuation.
Long-range scanners show no sign of Jem'Hadar ships.
- They've broken off the pursuit. - They got tired of looking at our backs.
Three months of slaughter and nothing to show for it.
Engage, retreat, engage, retreat. l would've liked to see their backs.
- Chief, that's enough. - Sorry, sir.
- Nothing some sleep won't cure. - We all need some sleep.
What has it been...78 hours?
Shouldn't we have heard from the Seventh Fleet?
Don't worry yet. The Tyra system is far enough away
that it will take time to get a message.
- Can they stop the Dominion? - They sure can. Somebody has to.
Ah. There you are. l was giving up hope.
l thought l'd have been entitled to preferential treatment.
l have 12 wounded people out there, all in worse shape than you.
lf you're trying to cheer me up, it's working.
- l feel better already. - What happened?
l was studying some star charts during the last assault,
when l had a rather violent encounter with a bulkhead.
- You'll live. - l wish l shared your confidence.
My head will heal but the way this war is going
l wouldn't bet on any of us living to a ripe old age.
The odds could be worse.
So you've used your genetically enhanced brain
to calculate our chances for survival.
l simply started with a binomial...
l'm really not interested, Doctor.
Since we learned that you're genetically engineered you've shown off.
l have nothing to hide anymore. l might as well use what l have.
What are our chances? Over 50% ?
- 32.7%. - You're certain about that?
Shall l take you through the calculations?
No.
- ''Genetically engineered,'' indeed. - Excuse me?
Look at you. You act as if you haven't a care in the world.
lt's that smug, superior attitude that makes people like you unpopular.
- Are you trying to insult me? - ''A 32.7% chance of survival''.
- l call that insulting. - Don't take it so personally.
- lt's just mathematics. - No. lt's just our lives.
You're not genetically engineered. You're a Vulcan.
lf l'm a Vulcan then how do you explain my boyish smile?
Not so boyish anymore, Doctor.
Where will Starfleet send us next?
l don't know but l hope we'll be going right back to the front lines.
Well said, Captain. And my ship will be at your side.
Worf!
- Tell her. - Tell me what?
- lt can wait. - No! lt cannot.
Raktajino.
lt's been weighing heavily on his mind.
What is it? What's wrong?
lt is about our wedding.
You have cold feet?
You scheduled the sacrifice of the "targ" to occur after the feast.
We don't see each other for five weeks and that's the first thing you say?
We agreed it would be a traditional ceremony.
OK. Have it your way.
First we'll shed blood and then we'll feast.
He has been unable to talk of anything else for days.
He is such a worrier.
A small wedding is the way to go.
You get married the way you want and l'll get married the way l want.
- l'll see you later. - Try not to break any bones.
Now that that's settled l'm going to take care of this.
Klingons make great warriors but terrible doctors.
- Captain... - Just the man l wanted to see.
We've been ordered to report to Starbase 375 for reassignment.
- Something else, Doctor? - l have news of the Seventh Fleet.
Go on.
- Only 14 ships made it back. - 14 out of 112!
We can't keep taking these losses if we expect to win this.
Thank you, Doctor. That will be all.
l'll take a look at that arm now.
Permanent documentation file, Dukat, S.G.
Each day brings reports of new victories.
The war continues to go well.
The enemy is retreating on almost all fronts.
lt's only a matter of time before the Federation collapses
and Earth becomes another conquered planet under Dominion rule.
All in all, it's a good time for Cardassia.
And the Dominion.
My dear Major Kira, how it pleases me to hear you say that.
The Major has just given me the most wonderful news.
Bajorans are returning to the station.
l know.
Then you share my delight in knowing that life here is returning to normal.
The shops are reopening. The Promenade is abuzz with activity.
The Habitat Ring echoes with the laughter of children.
l've doubled security patrols throughout the station.
Are such precautions really necessary?
l've found that one can't be too careful when dealing with the Bajorans.
Afraid we'll take the station away from you again?
- You're welcome to try. - Come now.
There's no need for petty bickering. We're all friends.
- Are we? - Of course we are.
And if you have any suggestions, bring them to me at any time.
Fine. We'd like the station's Bajoran security force reinstated.
l suppose you want us to give them back their weapons as well.
That's right.
The station no longer requires a Bajoran security force.
Our troops can handle any problems.
The Federation and Bajor shared responsibility for station security.
You said we'd have the same arrangement with the Dominion.
After all, we are all friends here, aren't we?
Perhaps you should reconsider your decision.
The order stands.
You may trust the Bajorans but l don't.
Until they earn my trust l prefer to keep them unarmed.
lf you were in my position, you would do exactly the same thing.
Perhaps it would be best to let the matter rest for now.
ln time we'll be able to resolve these problems to our mutual satisfaction.
- l'll remember you said that. - l'm sure. One last thing...
- Odo. - What about him?
ls he aware that l'm doing everything l can
to strengthen the bond between the Dominion and the Bajorans?
- Why don't you ask him yourself? - No, l wouldn't want to bother him.
Good day, Major.
- She's a fascinating woman, isn't she? - l wouldn't know.
But l do know we need her as an ally.
- The Bajorans will never be our allies. - Out.
Don't look at him. l'm telling you to leave. Now!
- l find him useful. - ln the future...
...it might be prudent for you to include me
in all decisions regarding station policy.
Now...what about the wormhole?
You should have dismantled the minefield a month ago.
l admit the work is proceeding more slowly than expected,
but as you know, these are not ordinary mines.
Every time we deactivate or destroy one of them,
its neighbour replicates a new one.
We have to take down that minefield and reopen the wormhole.
And we will. But there's no need for panic.
- We are winning the war. - For the moment, yes.
But we're going to need reinforcements
and new supplies of ketracel-white...soon.
Weyoun...
l said l will deal with the minefield and l will.
Hm.
Good evening, gentlemen. l see you're at your usual table.
lt's amazing how many of my customers think of Quark's as their second home.
l only wish l had a holo-imager
so l could preserve this warm and wonderful moment of camaraderie.
Something you could hang on the wall of your barracks.
Have you tried the dabo tables?
One of my lovely hostesses would be happy to teach you the game.
l know...a complimentary hour in one of our state-of-the-art holosuites.
Whatever your desires, l'm sure we can satisfy them.
Perhaps another time. Enjoy the evening.
Tough crowd.
l'm telling you, Dukat has one thing on his mind and that's revenge.
He hates the thought that Bajor defeated Cardassia.
You think he wants to reopen the labour camps?
Eventually.
l suppose we should be grateful that he has Weyoun looking over his shoulder.
Maybe. Weyoun's a hard one to figure out.
l don't really trust him but... l trust him more than Dukat.
Weyoun knows that it's in the Dominion's best interest
to honour its treaty with Bajor.
They want to prove that they're true to their word.
Weyoun asked me about you.
He seemed very concerned about what you thought of him.
l try not to think of him.
He'd be hurt to hear you say that. l'll have to mention it to him.
l'm glad you can still smile.
Only when l'm with you.
- That's kind of you to say. - No, it's true.
When l talk to you, things don't seem as bad.
When l think of Dukat in the Captain's office
or that the Federation seem to be losing this war and we're doing nothing...
l share your frustration, but there's nothing we can do but bide our time.
lt's like Captain Sisko said... Bajor must be kept out of the fighting.
And who am l to argue with the Emissary?
Thanks for waiting. Things have been busier than expected.
- This one's on the house. - What do you want?
The usual... peace, love and understanding.
Not to mention a generous profit margin,
which l'm happy to say is looking more likely.
You know, l never expected to say this
but as occupations go, this one's not so bad.
That's true if all you're worried about is a balance sheet.
l'm not just concerned with profit, Major.
Look around.
Do you see any ghetto fences dividing the Promenade?
Or Bajoran slave labourers sprawled out
after a gruelling day processing ore?
Do you hear the cries of starving children? l don't.
Don't get me wrong. l miss the Federation, too.
All l'm saying is things could be a lot worse.
l hate to say this but he's right.
The Dominion seems determined to prove that it can be a friend to Bajor.
lf it's such a good friend,
why are there no Bajoran security officers on the station?
l'm glad you made it back in one piece.
l was lucky. We lost a lot of good people.
Yes, we did. And we're going to lose a lot more.
l hope you'll find this office satisfactory.
Office? l thought l was here for an assignment briefing.
You're going to be here for a lot longer than you think.
As of right now, you're no longer in command of the Defiant.
Relieved of command? Why?
Admiral Ross didn't say.
He did say we'll be getting our new assignment at 1600 hours.
At least the crew is staying together.
- We are staying together, aren't we? - You can count on it.
What do you plan on doing the next couple of hours?
l haven't given it much thought.
Maybe now would be a good time to contact your father.
Maybe.
Benjamin, you haven't spoken to him for months
and Jake is his grandson.
How do l explain that l evacuated every Federation citizen
off Deep Space 9 except his grandson?
You'll think of something.
You always do.
- You did what? - lt's not quite as bad as it sounds.
You mean you didn't leave Jake at the mercy of a vicious enemy?
Well...no. l did.
Then it's certainly just as bad as it sounds.
lt was not my decision. lt was Jake's choice to stay behind.
So now you're going to blame this on Jake.
l'm not blaming Jake. He's not a child.
- He's responsible for his own actions. - l don't care.
lt's wrong and l want him back.
And so do l.
- Do you think he's all right? - l hope so.
l'll bring him back. l promise.
- When? - l don't know. lt might be a while.
l don't know where they're going to send me.
Tell them you want to get your son.
lt's wartime. l go where l'm sent.
- How's the restaurant doing? - All right.
lt's been three weeks since l poisoned anyone.
Are things really as bad as the news service claims?
Maybe worse.
You know how to comfort a frightened old man.
You didn't raise me to be a liar.
l raised you to be a chef, for all the good it did me.
There's something l just don't understand.
You're always saying that space is big,
that it's an endless frontier, filled with infinite wonders.
lt's true.
Then you'd think it would be more than enough room
to allow people to leave each other alone.
lt just doesn't work that way. lt should but it doesn't.
l better be going. The lunch crowd is coming in.
You watch yourself, Ben.
And bring me back my grandson.
l will.
- l love you. - l love you, too.
Hello.
- Excuse me, Mr Weyoun. - Please,
l prefer just...Weyoun.
That's the kind of detail people like to know.
- Would this be a good time? - For what?
For the interview we talked about.
l'm afraid that will be quite impossible.
l've read your articles and they left me with one conclusion -
you are biased against the Dominion.
What gave you that idea?
You keep referring to us as the station's ''occupying force''.
- What's wrong with that? - lt has a negative connotation.
All your articles are filled with pejorative terminology,
which is why l've withheld their transmission.
No one from the Federation read my reports?
- No. l don't send them. - What about freedom of the press?
Please tell me you're not that naive.
l only stayed here to report on the occupation.
You see, there you go again. This is not an occupation.
This is a Cardassian station and there are no Dominion troops on Bajor.
Why should there be? We have a treaty with them.
l'm sorry. l didn't mean anything by it.
lf you want me to send your articles to the Federation,
you'll have to provide a more balanced perspective.
- l won't write Dominion propaganda. - l wouldn't ask you to.
All l want is for you to keep an open mind.
My mind is open. Now can we do the interview?
All in good time. You keep writing. l'll keep reading.
Let's leave it at that for now.
Good day, Jake.
We have discovered what we believe to be their main storage facility
for ketracel-white in the Alpha Quadrant...
Right here, deep in Cardassian space. We need to destroy it.
Without it, the Jem'Hadar won't be able to function.
The Jem'Hadar will die.
l won't shed any tears. Not if it helps end this war.
lt may be our only way to end this war, short of surrendering.
How can we infiltrate Cardassian territory without cloaking abilities?
l was wondering the same thing.
You won't need a cloaking device. We have something better.
- A Jem'Hadar attack ship. - lt's the one you captured last year.
Now you get a chance to see what it can do.
- Do you know how to fly that thing? - Not yet. But l intend to learn.
Guidance matrix, check.
Aft parabolic thrusters, check.
Sensor feed, check. Chief.
Reactor core, check.
lnduction stabilisers, check. Phaser coils, check.
Resonance emitters, check. Field grid, check.
Signal subprocessors, check. l think.
You think? We've trained on this ship for two weeks.
Let's put a Jem'Hadar soldier on the Defiant and see how well he does.
These controls are very different. They take time to get used to.
We don't have time. We're about to go into enemy territory.
- We don't want any slip-ups. - l don't intend to make any.
Good.
Why can't we install a few chairs?
This ship wasn't designed for chairs.
My feet aren't designed to stand for long periods of time.
- We should leave you behind. - My feet might like that but not me.
lt's your stomach you need to worry about.
There isn't a single food replicator anywhere on this ship.
That won't be a problem. There'll be plenty of field rations.
Eat field rations for three weeks then say it isn't a problem.
You know what is? No viewscreen. Who builds a bridge without a window?
The people who build a ship without an lnfirmary.
l brought these medical supplies.
They're in my quarters, for want of a better space.
We'll try not to have any emergencies while you're sleeping.
l'm glad you find the lack of proper medical facilities amusing.
But if trouble breaks out,
it's not a viewscreen or a chair or even a sandwich you'll be wanting.
lt's a bio-bed with a surgical tissue regenerator.
Maybe but right now l would settle for a viewscreen.
- Or a chair. - Or a sandwich.
- Prepare for departure. - All systems ready.
- Come to see us off? - Not quite.
l invited Mr Garak.
We're heading into Cardassian territory so he might prove useful.
lt's been known to happen.
Pull up a chair.
We're cleared for departure.
Take us out, old man.
Aye, Captain. Aft thrusters at one-half.
Bring us about.
Just making sure everyone's awake.
We are now. Just take it nice and easy.
l can try.
Set a course for the Cardassian border, heading 054, mark 093. Warp six.
Yes, sir.
- Come in. - You wanted to see me?
l always want to see you. And therein lies the problem.
lt's been three months since my return to this station
and you and l have barely spent any time with one another.
You could point out the various meetings we've attended
but they never offer the opportunity to venture beyond station business.
- l don't have time for this. - Major!
l haven't dismissed you yet.
What do you want from me, Dukat?
Come now, Major.
Have the last three months been that bad?
ls that what you want? ls that why l'm here? To flatter you?
To tell you what a good job you've done
and how happy we all are to have you back?
Sarcasm doesn't become you, Major.
lt's your directness that l've always found most appealing.
l got better things to do than to help you play out a fantasy.
You feel l've betrayed you.
Not just me. Everyone. Even your own people.
Cardassia was on the edge of an abyss, Major.
The war with the Klingons left us a third-rate power.
My people had lost their way. l've made them strong again.
At what price? You sold Cardassia to the Dominion.
Yes...
a high price, to be sure.
But look what we're getting in return. The Alpha Quadrant itself.
We'll see about that.
Yes, we will.
Oh. l could make things very pleasant for you here, Kira.
You could start by doing something about your breath.
l'm a patient man. l can wait.
Wait for what?
What do you think is going to happen here?
That you'll wear me down with your charm?
That l'll be swept off my feet by that insincere smile?
Are you so deluded that you believe
that we'll have some kind of intimate relationship?
Oh, we already do.
Good day, Major.
l have work to do.
l wish l had time to study the side effects of wearing that headset.
At least we know one - headaches.
The headsets weren't designed to be worn by humans.
- May l make a suggestion? - Only if you talk softly.
Dukat wore one of these headsets during the attack on Deep Space 9.
Perhaps Cardassian physiology is more compatible.
- Are you volunteering? - l guess so.
The ship has two of them. lf l wore one, then you wouldn't have to.
At least not all the time.
l agree with Garak. The less you wear it, the better.
Garak.
lt's like having a viewscreen inside your brain.
Sir, there's a Federation ship off our starboard bow bearing 157, mark 095.
lt's the U.S.S. Centaur.
- That's Charlie Reynolds' ship. - l see it.
- Open a channel to the Centaur. - Our com system's down.
- Perhaps we should return fire. - They're Starfleet.
You tell them, not us.
- We better do something. - Dax, get us across the border.
l hope Charlie knows better than to follow us into Dominion territory.
- How long before we cross the border? - We just did.
- The Centaur's still with us. - He never knew when to quit.
- l hope he knows what he's doing. - Do we?
That last hit damaged a guidance thruster.
Drop us out of warp. Come about. Prepare to return fire.
Yes, sir.
The Centaur has dropped out of warp.
Target their weapons array. Avoid their engines.
l don't want to leave Charlie stranded out here.
- We're coming about for another pass. - Stay in tight.
Attack pattern Omega.
The Centaur is going into warp.
They're heading back to Federation space.
- Nice work, Chief. - l didn't know l'd scored a direct hit.
Maybe you didn't. Three Jem'Hadar ships are headed this way.
He must have seen them.
- They went right by us. - Without even saying hello.
They're chasing the Centaur.
- Will Reynolds outrun them? - Charlie will make it.
- l wish we could help. - We can't.
Chief, get our com system back on line.
Return to course. Warp seven.
Yes, sir.
You should have seen the look on his face.
He was in control and there was nothing l could do.
The war isn't over yet, but Dukat thinks he's already won.
l would love to show him he's wrong.
For the moment, at least, l'm afraid he has won.
Look at me. l don't know why l bother to sit here every day.
l don't even have a security force.
Then ask for one.
Demand that they reinstate your Bajoran deputies.
- Dukat will never agree to that. - Forget about Dukat.
Go to Weyoun. He'll listen to you.
He thinks you are a God, and that gives you power.
But what good is power if you won't use it?
We pledge our loyalty to the Founders from now until death.
Then receive this reward from them. May it keep you strong.
You enjoy that, don't you?
That constant reminder that you're their master.
The Founders are the masters. l am merely their servant,
as are the Jem'Hadar...and you.
That may be.
But even amongst servants, someone has to be in charge.
That is exactly the kind of observation l've come to expect from you.
lnteresting, yet somewhat petty.
Forgive the interruption but he insisted on seeing you.
Founder, l'm honoured by your visit. Can l be of service?
l want my Bajoran security officers reinstated.
- Consider it done. - They'll patrol the Promenade.
l don't see any problem with that.
- l do. - This is between me and Odo.
l'll thank you to keep out of it.
l'll have my officers report to the armoury within the hour.
Now perhaps there's something you'd consent to do for me.
A member of the station's Ruling Council. You?
Along with Weyoun and Dukat. l'll have a voice in station policy.
You sure this is a good idea?
Dukat thought it was a terrible idea. You should have seen his face.
But Weyoun is using you.
Your presence on the Council validates the Dominion control of the station.
l thought we were using him.
l know the danger, Major.
l had to walk this line during the Cardassian occupation.
l can do it again but this time l won't be alone.
l'll have you to help me.
That's right, you will.
- Then this is a victory after all. - l suppose it is.
But for some reason it just doesn't feel like one.
The ship ahead just transmitted a message to the storage facility.
They're requesting to be resupplied with ketracel-white.
We've come to the right place.
The ship beamed down 110 empty canisters.
Now the storage facility is beaming up 110 full ones.
Everything ready, Chief?
l've got 83 empty canisters and one not-so-empty.
90 isotons of enriched ultritium.
lt should take care of everything within 800 kilometres.
So we have to be 900 kilometres away before the bomb goes off.
- The other ship is leaving orbit. - Dax?
The exchange took 92.3 seconds.
l've asked for 84 canisters of ketracel-white.
Excellent. They're acknowledging my request.
Chief, set the detonator for three minutes.
Detonator set.
lf it takes 92.3 seconds to exchange that doesn't give us much time.
So the Jem'Hadar may not detect the explosive.
- Beam down the canisters. - Canisters away.
l hope whoever's in charge hasn't gone to lunch.
- The Jem'Hadar don't eat. - That's good.
- How do we know they're Jem'Hadar? - Everything's on schedule.
They've just beamed 84 canisters of white into our cargo bay.
l've requested clearance for departure.
- Good. Prepare to go to warp. - Standing by.
Captain, l think we have a problem.
They've raised the security net.
- Repeat our request for clearance. - They're not responding.
lf they don't shut down that net we don't have a chance.
One minute, 30 seconds to detonation.
- Do you think they found the bomb? - l doubt it.
Then why aren't they letting us go?
They're responding. They're ordering us to stand by.
- For what? - They're not saying.
One minute, 15 seconds.
Can we punch a hole in the security net?
- lt will take a few minutes. - We don't have a few minutes.
Can we disable the power generator?
- The explosion will do that. - That won't help us.
- One minute. - Maybe it will.
When the generator's destroyed the net will drop.
We have to be moving fast enough at the moment of detonation
to avoid being in the explosion.
But not so fast that we smash into the net before it's deactivated.
- lt's tricky. - Not if we time it right.
A radial geodesic in a 39 Cochrane warp field
contracts space at a rate of...
We have to go to full impulse 1.3 seconds before the bomb detonates.
- The computer agrees with Julian. - They think alike.
Turning over piloting controls to the main computer. Set.
- Time? - 22 seconds until the explosion.
22 seconds. That's plenty of time.
See, Cadet? There was nothing to worry about.
- Must have gone off early. - Dax, get us out of here!
Well, not quite according to plan
but l'm sure Starfleet will be satisfied with the results.
l agree. Well done, old man.
- How bad is it, Chief? - lt doesn't look good.
l'll have to switch to auxiliary life support.
Deflectors are down, guidance system's shot and...
And what?
The core matrix is fried. We don't have warp drive.
Forgive my ignorance, but if we don't have warp drive
how long will it take us to reach a Federation starbase?
A long time, Mr Garak.
How long?
17 years, two months and three days...
give or take an hour.

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