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Battle Lines

What's funny is where the files were located-- right there in Ops protocols.

The encryption system was extremely easy to break.

SISKO: So, they wanted us to find these?

DAX: Or they didn't care.

Well, there's nothing of strategic value here-- just some personal logs and some files on Bajoran terrorists, but it is a glimpse into the Cardassian mind.

You might want to warn Kira before she sees her file.

Warn me? About what?

Oh, uh... Dax and Mr. O'Brien discovered some of the last Prefect's personal files.

There's a file on you, but you may find it disappointing.

I'm a big girl, Commander.

Bashir to Sisko.

Sisko here.

I'm at Airlock 14, Commander.

I think you better get down here.

What's the problem, Doctor?

Well, I was about to begin off-loading some medical specimens from the Bajoran transport

and, well...

the Kai is here.

Kai... Opaka.

Why would she be here?

She said you once offered her a tour of the station.

"A minor operative

"whose activities are limited to running errands for the terrorist leaders"?!

Major, when you're through feeling underappreciated perhaps you'd join me in welcoming the Kai aboard.

You say she's never been here before?

She's never even left Bajor before.

Well, excuse me for saying so, Commander, but she looks... preoccupied.

Is something wrong, Opaka?

Contemplating prophecy.

It's interesting you chose this viewport.

The wormhole is just out there.

It's a spectacular sight to see.

Unfortunately, it can only be seen when a ship enters it or exits, but there's nothing scheduled for today.

A shame.

Sisko to O'Brien.

Go ahead, Commander.

Prepare the Yangtzee Kiang for launch, Chief.

Kira and I are taking the Kai through the wormhole.

Right away, sir.

Thank you.

I didn't want to keep you from your duties, Doctor.

Oh, it's a slow day.

All right. This way.

Is the ship ready, Chief?

All prepped and ready for departure

Commander.

Ma'am.

After you.

You have a child, don't you?

I do, ma'am. I have a little girl, ma'am.

Yes.

Would you give this to her for me?

We'll be entering the wormhole in about a minute.

Thank you again for indulging me.

Not at all, Opaka.

You honor us with your presence.

Yangtzee Kiang to DS9.

Estimated time of return, 1400 hours.

DAX: Logged in. We'll expect you then.

Flight stabilization at maximum.

Here we go.

Spectacular, isn't it?

More than I imagined.

My smoothest ride yet, Major.

There's Idran, the closest system.

It's a ternary star.

A doorway into the unknown.

The other side of the galaxy, to be precise.

The Gamma Quadrant is 70,000 light years from Bajor.

It would take our fastest starship over 67 years to get here.

I'm glad I got the chance to see it.

You'll be seeing what this wormhole is worth to Bajor in a few years.

If that is to be my fate, Commander.

Should I reverse course?

So soon?

There's not much else to show you yet.

Prophecy can often be vague, Commander.

That's why we must test it.

I don't understand, Opaka.

You may return.

Take us back to the wormhole, Major.

Coming about.

Sensors are picking up a narrow band subspace signal.

What do you make of it?

Just a long stream of statistical data followed by a request for a reply.

Uh, I'm not reading any response.

Launch a class-2 probe. We'll follow it up later.

You're not going to investigate it now?

I'm not sure that's a good idea.

Because of my presence?

Well, there's no telling what it may be.

Please, Commander.

I don't get out often.

Can you get a fix on the source, Major?

.35 light years, bearing 229, mark 41.

I guess we'd better take a look.

Well, this is definitely the origin of the signal.

I'm having trouble pinpointing the source.

It's not coming from the surface.

SISKO: There's your answer.

A network of artificial satellites.

One of them looks like it's malfunctioning.

Its orbit is unstable.

I'd bet the signals we picked up were from the system trying to repair it.

Commander, sensors indicate life-forms localized in 12 square kilometers on the moon's surface.

They may be humanoid, sir.

Humanoid? Can you verify that?

I can't resolve the bio-patterns.

There's too much interference.

Take us in a little closer.

We're being scanned by one of the satellites.

I don't like this.

It's heading toward us.

Shields up.

Reading a massive energy buildup in the satellite.

600 megawatts... 900.

It's firing.

Shields are down.

Forward thrusters are gone. We're losing power.

Attempting to compensate with secondary boosters.

Impulse generator's failing.

Hold on, we're going down.

Check contingency fuel cell output.

Holding at 65%.

Doctor... watch the hull temperature. Aye, sir.

Stabilizing attitude control response.

Pitching up to 20 degrees.

Hull temperature 900 C.

950, 1,100.

We're holding profile.

1,200 C, 13...

Ejecting antimatter pod.

KIRA: Pitching up to 60 degrees.

Prepare for final braking maneuvers.

SISKO: Brace for impact.

( coughing )

Commander...

( frantic gasping )

Pulmonary collapse.

Her upper thoracic vertebrae have been crushed.

Stay with us, Opaka. Stay with us.

( grunting )

( beeping )

( steady tone )

I'm sorry.

( sobbing )

Ahn-kay ya...

ay-ya vasu.

Coh-ma-ra...

di-nay-ya.

Ahn-kay ya...

ay-ya vasu.

We've got company.

Still no contact with Sisko?

Not yet.

They're nearly three hours overdue.

Three and a half.

Opaka's people are on subspace to me every five minutes.

Tell them one of our runabouts found a trace of a warp eddy current.

It's got to be from their ship.

With any luck, we should be able to determine which direction they were headed.

ODO: Oh, that's not going to satisfy them on Bajor.

You have no idea what the Kai means to them.

When they heard Sisko had taken her into the wormhole...

Constable, tell them we're doing the best we can, okay?

Runabout Pad C.

Have the Bajorans station a ship on the Gamma side.

We'll stay in close touch by subspace.

Move.

MALE: Our first visitors.

You're not all the same race.

I'm a Bajoran.

I'm Commander Benjamin Sisko.

Major Kira Nerys and Doctor Julian Bashir.

A doctor?

How ironic.

I'm Golin Shel-la, leader of the Ennis.

Why are you here?

We were attacked by one of your satellites.

Our ship was damaged, and we crashed.

Of course, Commander, but why did you come here?

We were exploring.

We recently discovered a permanent wormhole linking our quadrant of the galaxy with yours.

I command a space station at the mouth of that wormhole.

You know nothing of our home planet?

You know nothing of the punishment?

We're just beginning to explore this sector.

As I said, our home is on the other side of the gal...

( groans )

Major.

I'm all right.

The hell you are.

She needs treatment.

I'd like my medical case if you don't mind.

For God's sake!

SHEL-LA: I apologize for our cautious nature.

If you haven't realized, we're at war.

Who are you fighting?

A brutal enemy that attacks at whim.

We maintain a constant vigil.

This is an energy weapon.

Yes.

The Ennis stopped using directed-energy weapons centuries ago-- not damaging enough.

Your arrival complicates matters.

We don't plan to be here long.

Oh, you expect to repair your ship?

No, but a rescue team is probably on its way right now.

Well, like you they'll have to deal with the defense-net and that is beyond my influence.

You don't control the satellites?

We're all prisoners on this moon.

Then, this is a penal colony.

My immediate concern is your partisanship.

By your very presence here you'll be considered our allies.

All your lives are in danger.

The latest victims of our enemy-- the Nol-Ennis.

Where are your doctors?

We have none.

You have no medical personnel?

How do you survive without...?

We were thrust into this situation with few resources.

Since you're here under similar circumstances

I was hoping we'd be of some help to each other.

This should make you feel better.

Major...

I'm so sorry.

I would have done anything.

It's all so senseless.

Opaka's always been a symbol of hope to me.

Her words gave our struggle meaning.

And now she's dead.

Her life ends on some unknown moon... and for what?

Dr. Bashir will give you any medical assistance he can, but understand, we can't take sides in your battle.

It doesn't matter what I understand if the Nol capture you.

We're in the middle of a pretty ugly war.

I gathered that.

SISKO: Shel-la says his people will protect us from the enemy in exchange for your services.

Well, perhaps I can train some of them in the basics of field triage.

Do whatever you can.

How's the shoulder, Major?

I'll live.

I still have to run a neuromuscular scan on her when we get back.

Don't count on a quick rescue.

This moon is some kind of high-security prison colony.

( explosion )

( people exclaiming )

( people yelling )

( yells )

( yells )

SOLDIER 1: Over here! Over here!

( screaming )

Major!

SOLDIER 2: Let's go!

Leave him!

Run!

( moaning )

WOMAN: Commander!

Put your phaser down, Kira.

Her vital signs appear to be normal, but I could have sworn she was...

I... I was there, Doctor.

Opaka... are you aware of what happened?

The surface was approaching so quickly.

I must admit, I...

I closed my eyes, Commander.

There was a deafening whine.

I-I felt the impact.

A wall of heat seemed to... pass through me.

And... and then... nothing.

After we crashed, we pulled you from the wreckage, but you were...

Dead.

SISKO: How do you explain this, Doctor?

Although she appears to be normal, her physiology has been radically altered.

How? I'm not sure.

The tricorder indicates some kind of biomechanical presence at a cellular level.

Biomechanical? You mean something artificial?

I wish I could tell you.

Whatever it is, it seems to be directly controlling her metabolic processes.

Is she in any danger?

I'm sorry to keep saying it, Commander, but I really don't know.

If the runabout's computer were functional,

I might be able to run a full analysis.

Commander.

Over here.

( weak groaning )

( tricorder beeping )

BASHIR: It's okay. It's all right.

There's still no sign of them on any of the long-range scanners.

Not even a transponder signal.

If they went down, we should at least be getting something from their transponder.

The warp eddy has traces of meson particle emissions.

That makes it a Starfleet power reactor.

The current shows that their heading was approximately 230 mark 4.

Anything interesting in that direction?

An uncharted binary star system.

Well, I guess it's time to chart it.

Setting a new course.

BASHIR: His readings are the same as Opaka's.

Virtually every cell in his body shows signs of this biomechanical presence.

Now, somehow, it has literally brought him back to life.

You died before?

Many times, too many to count.

Sir, I'd like to return to the runabout and try and get the computer up and running.

Doctor, we're in the middle of a war.

Sir, this could be a breakthrough of unprecedented magnitude.

It's too dangerous.

I'll see to his protection.

I would like to know more about this "breakthrough" myself.

Your doctor acts as though he's seen a miracle.

He's not alone.

Well, if you'd lived with it as we have, you'd see it as a curse.

SISKO: How long have you been here?

It feels like an eternity.

It's all part of the punishment.

What is this punishment, Shel-la?

Everything here is designed to prolong our suffering.

What was your crime?

The Ennis and the Nol-Ennis are ancient enemies.

Generation after generation, we fought the same war.

The leaders of our planet were unable to mediate a peace.

Finally, they sent us all here and told us that we would serve as an example for the rest of civilization.

How did your fight begin?

Some say it was water. Some say it was land.

It's not really very relevant now.

Then what do you hope to gain by continuing?

Vengeance.

All of us have seen our families suffer incredibly at the hands of the Nol.

The Nol can say the very same thing.

And probably do.

If you must fight your war, the least you can do is learn to fight it more effectively.

Major, this is not our... What do you mean?

There were no guards at the entrance when we arrived.

You have no system to alert your forces of an attack.

Your people are obviously unprepared for fighting close-quartered.

That's enough, Major. We're trapped on this moon with only his forces between us and damnation.

We have to defend ourselves to stay alive.

Now, when the Nol attack again, we...

I said that's enough!

We have to be ready!

This is not your war, Kira.

( Shel-la chuckles )

We used to defend ourselves better, Major.

Safety perimeters, counterattacks preemptive strikes.

And then we realized... that it was all pointless.

When you cease to fear death, the rules of war change.

You'll understand as the years begin to pass, Major.

Listen to me, Shel-la.

Our rescue is not going to take years.

Days, weeks, maybe, but they will find us and then they'll penetrate the defense-net and transport us out of here.

Then you will be luckier than we have been.

We'd be willing to transport all of you away from here if that's what you want.

Away from here?

To live one life to die in peace... to us, this is an ancient prayer that has never been answered, Commander.

You would do this for us?

For both sides-- the Ennis and the Nol-Ennis.

After you leave, you can go wherever you want, but end this nightmare.

Stop fighting long enough for all of us to get off this moon.

Zlangco, the leader of the Nol would never agree to a cease-fire.

Ask him.

You don't know them! All they care about is...

What do you care about?

If you want to end the suffering of your people, then at least try.

Set a meeting with this Zlangco.

Talk about this.

( laughing )

This is hopeless.

But I will talk... if he will.

I'm not reading a single M-Class planet in the system.

If they went down anywhere around here, they couldn't have survived.

I'm not sure we can believe the scans, Chief.

The star is putting out abnormal levels of delta radiation.

That would foul up our long-range scanners.

We'll have to survey each planet one at a time.

Not to mention... two dozen or so moons and an asteroid belt.

Bloody needle in a haystack.

A needle in a haystack.

What we need is a magnet.

A magnet?

Yeah. You want to pick your piece of metal out of straw, you use a magnet.

I don't think I'm following you, Chief.

Runabout hulls are made of metallic composites that interact with magnetic fields.

We could send out a few probes to scan the system for those specific magnetic resonance patterns.

If Sisko's runabout is in the system, we might pick up a fluctuation in the hysteresis curve.

The magnetic deflection of a runabout's hull is extremely weak.

The probes will never be able to detect it.

They will if I can outfit them with a differential magnetomer.

A differential magnetomer?

Mm-hmm.

I've never heard of a differential magnetomer.

How does it work?

I'll let you know as soon as I finish making one.

( electrical crackling )

( sighs )

Nice work, Julian.

I'm surprised.

Zlangco has agreed to listen to your proposals.

Good. When?

Right away.

We'll meet at a neutral site near your vessel.

We've both agreed to carry no firearms.

What if they use the opportunity to set a trap?

We've taken the appropriate precautions, Major, but if you personally would care to check the security, I'm sure your Commander would allow you to accompany us...

Major Kira will be staying here with the Kai.

What a shame.

You can't bury it, Kira.

What?

Do you recognize yourself in these people?

Me?

Oh, not... not at all, I...

They're content to die.

I've always fought to stay alive.

Oh...

I don't want you to have the wrong impression of me, Opaka.

Just what impression do you think I have?

That, that... that I enjoy any of this. I...

I don't enjoy fighting.

Yes, I've...

I've fought my entire life, but for a good cause.

For our freedom, our independence.

And it was... it was brutal and ugly, and... uh... but that's over for me now.

That's... that's not who I am.

I-I don't want you to think that I am this... violent person without a soul, without a conscience.

That-That is not who I am.

Oh!

Don't deny the violence inside of you, Kira.

Only when you accept it can you move beyond it.

I've known nothing but violence since I was a child.

In the eyes of the Prophets we're all children.

Bajor has much to learn from peace.

I'm afraid the Prophets won't forgive me.

They're just waiting for you to forgive yourself.

COMPUTER: 22 minutes into launch.

All readings within normal parameters.

Probe "B" approaching planet six.

Three moons.

No change in the hysteresis curve.

Probe "C" approaching planet seven.

No change.

What the hell would they be doing here anyway?

It's a waste of time.

They could be 20 light-years from here and we wouldn't have the first clue.

Probe "A" approaching planet three. One moon.

( beeping )

Chief...

COMPUTER: Probe "A" measuring a .0012 fluctuation

in the hysteresis curve.

It's the third planet.

No, look, it isn't.

We're picking up something from its moon.

Laying in a new course, full impulse.

( murmur of voices )

Any progress, Doctor?

Yes, sir. I've got the computer up... more or less.

It's processing the data now.

I can already confirm that these microbes are artificial.

Rather like nanites, in a way.

I should have a complete analysis from the computer in a few minutes.

What's going on?

Talks about a cease-fire.

No kidding? How did you arrange that?

I told them we'd transport them off this moon.

Isn't that a bit like assisting a jailbreak?

I don't need you to interpret the Prime Directive for me, Doctor.

Yes, sir, of course. I only meant...

Whatever crimes they've committed, they've paid for a hundred times over.

They've been altered somehow and been abandoned by their world.

I believe the Federation would recognize them as separate and unique.

Yes, sir.

Well, I should be checking on that analysis.

So... you are the leader of the aliens.

Benjamin Sisko, Commander of a Federation space station.

Federation?

What does it matter to us, Zlangco?

It matters to me.

The Federation is made up of over a hundred planets who have allied themselves for mutual scientific, cultural and defensive benefits.

The mission my people and I are on is to explore the galaxy.

Such a noble purpose.

There'll be no reward for our release, you know.

You are being a fool, as usual.

A fool who always manages to outwit you, Shel-la, as I have proven over and over again.

You care to die once again, all you need to do is ask.

If you've had enough of this then make your leaders stop and listen.

Your only reason to live is to make each other suffer.

If you've had enough of suffering, then make them stop.

I'm not here to be a mediator, but if you ask for an alternative,

I'll give you one.

We're listening.

In a matter of days, when our rescue party arrives,

I can arrange to transport you and your people off this moon, if both sides can only cooperate until then.

Zlangco, they will resettle us on different planets.

If that's what you wish.

The two of you seem to have discussed this plan in detail.

Of course. His crew has been with us for two days.

Explain why you chose to ally yourself with the Ennis.

We have allied ourselves with no one.

One of your people fired a weapon at us.

We were defending ourselves.

I think you're lying.

I don't know the alien, but I know Shel-la.

I know how his mind works.

I promise you, this is an Ennis trick to lure our entire population out of hiding so they can be slaughtered.

That's not true...!

Then the Ennis are surely willing to make the first gesture of peace.

Let them bring all of their people out of hiding first to prove their honorable intentions.

( chuckling )

Do you think that I would allow a single Nol to escape this planet alive?!

No more than I would let an Ennis go free.

( screaming battle cry )

Ah!

( grunts )

( yells )

( groans )

I'm sorry, Commander, but I've discovered we can't afford to die here-- not even once.

O'BRIEN: It's some kind of artificial satellite system.

That's what our probe must have picked up.

Our sensors are reading life-forms on the surface, Chief.

I think some of them are human.

If the ship's down there, why wouldn't the transponder be sending out a...?

We're being scanned.

Increasing orbital altitude.

What are you thinking?

Well, the only thing that could block out a transponder signal is a broadband damping field.

That requires a low-level satellite system, like this one.

Suddenly, we're being scanned by those satellites, so...

Maybe they had something to do with our missing runabout.

Exactly. See?

They're putting out a mutual induction field that would block out 99% of all transmissions to and from the surface.

Is there any way for us to get a com line through the field?

Well, I've got one percent to work with, don't I?

( tricorder beeping )

The analysis is very clear.

Once the microbes have restored a body after death, that body then becomes permanently dependent on them for all cellular functions.

Permanently?

It gets worse.

The designers made them environment specific.

If the microbes are removed from this ecosystem, they'll stop functioning.

So, if we transport anyone off this planet, we kill them.

I'm afraid so.

The Kai?

O'BRIEN: Rio Grande to Sisko.

Do you read me?

This is O'Brien. Come in.

Go ahead, Chief. I can barely read you.

DAX: Is everyone all right?

We're alive, but the Yangtzee Kiang was destroyed.

Will you be able to beam us up?

O'BRIEN: Not quite yet, Commander.

We've got to find a way to penetrate this network of satellites.

They're making it impossible for us to lock on to anything down there.

Understood.

But those satellites will come after you if you get too close.

They're armed.

One of them cut us down without any trouble at all.

Yeah, we figured as much.

Let me know before you're ready to make an attempt.

Acknowledged. Rio Grande out.

We have to talk to the Kai.

Is there a cease-fire?

Neither side took it seriously.

I'm not at all surprised.

You were right, Kira.

They don't know how to do anything else but die.

They've forgotten how to live.

The Rio Grande has made contact.

Dax and O'Brien are in orbit.

They're working on a way to penetrate the defense system.

Uh--

I'll be staying, Commander.

What?

This is the answer to all the prophecies of my life.

It's the wrong answer, Opaka.

You can't stay here.

I didn't know how or why, but when we came through the wormhole, I knew I wouldn't be returning.

You must tell our people, Kira that I have answered the call of the Prophets.

I was brought here because it is time for these people to begin their healing process just as you were brought here to begin yours.

You know, all we really need to do is find a way to create a gap in the net.

Maybe a photon would destroy one of the satellites.

Maybe, but you think they'd build a defense network with that in mind.

You shoot one, the rest might swarm up like Vayan horn flies.

We need to go for something simpler.

All I need is about a 15% increase in the opening in the net.

Rio Grande to Sisko.

Go ahead, Chief.

We're going to try to poke a hole up here, sir.

If you're about ready to end your stay.

Only three of us are coming back.

Kai Opaka is remaining.

Benjamin, please confirm.

Did you say we're not transporting the Kai?

That's correct. I'll explain later.

We need a few minutes, Commander.

Rio Grande out.

Leaving without us?

My analysis of these microbes that keep you alive showed that if you were to leave this moon, you would die.

Then there is no end.

Commander...

I find myself caught in a moral dilemma.

As much as I am dedicated to the preservation of life,

I wonder if we shouldn't help these people put an end to this torture.

How could you do that?

Anything that can be programmed can be reprogrammed.

If I could disable the mechanism in these microbes, they should no longer function when someone is killed and these people would finally be able to die.

You've seen our life here.

Please, it's the only solution left.

You give us a way to reprogram these microbes and we'll put an end to this war.

You really think the fear of death will end the fighting?

Never has in any other war.

No.

But it will allow us to finally win to wipe out the Nol for good.

On this world, Doctor, your disabled microbes would be the ultimate weapon.

We could finally and truly destroy our enemies!

O'BRIEN: Rio Grande to Sisko. Stand by for transport.

Ready.

Coordinates set.

Launching probe.

DAX: 12 seconds to intercept.

Go on, go on, go for it.

DAX: One of the satellites is breaking orbit moving toward the probe.

That's it.

DAX: The satellite is showing a power buildup-- about 800 megawatts.

Probe destroyed.

Rio Grande to Sisko.

Trying to lock on, Commander.

Establishing pattern lock.

You can't leave without giving us...

Energize when ready, Chief.

( explosions and yelling )

Opaka, if we can ever find a way...

My work is here now, Commander.

But your Pagh and mine... will cross again.

O'BRIEN: Energizing.

( fighting continues )