Home > Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

The Ship

Captain's Log, Stardate 50049.3.

We're conducting a mineral survey of Torga IV,

an uninhabited planet in the Gamma Quadrant

believed to contain vast deposits of cormaline.

Our mission is to determine the feasibility of establishing

a mining operation on the planet's surface.

Hey, Muniz.

What do you think of this?

It's a class-5 pyroclastic debris and ash.

Same morphology we've seen all the way up, sir.

How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me "sir"?

I'm not an officer. Well, you know more than they do.

Well, I wouldn't go that far. But I do know more than you, so listen to me while I try and teach you something.

This morphology is not exactly the same.

These deposits are more highly eroded.

So?

So... they're different, that's all.

Just thought I'd point that out to you.

I see.

I thought maybe you just stopped to catch your breath.

Me, out of breath?

I was climbing mountains in Ireland before you were born.

You mean "hills," don't you?

They have gently sloping hills in Ireland.

No mountains.

But what do I know?

After all, you're the mountain man... an old mountain man.

You know something, Muniz?

You're due for a transfer.

How does waste extraction sound?

How's it going, Chief? Fine, sir.

We finished the survey of the south slope.

What do you think, old man?

Is this place worth mining?

Absolutely. The cormaline is only a few hundred meters below the surface, and if my readings are correct, it's one of the richest veins I've ever seen.

Mr. Worf?

Strategically, the planet's location would make it difficult to maintain adequate supply lines, but not impossible.

Hoya to Captain Sisko. Go ahead.

Sir, our sensors have detected a ship dropping out of warp.

What kind of ship? I'm not sure, sir.

I can't get a good reading on it.

Plasma leaks from its warp nacelles are disrupting our sensors.

Whatever it is, it's fallen into the gravitational pull of the planet.

It should enter the atmosphere near your position.

Sir, the ship withstood the impact.

Survivors? I can't determine that.

We're having trouble penetrating the hull with our sensors.

Beam us directly to the crash site.

A warship.

A Jem'Hadar warship.

DAX: No hull breach.

The only damage I could find was a crushed guidance thruster if that's what it is.

O'BRIEN: Captain, I think we have an access point.

I'll be right there.

So, my young friend what do you think we're looking at?

An upside-down ship.

( chuckling ): An airlock?

A maintenance hatch? Maybe.

But this is a warship.

On a warship, you want a big access point on the belly to... land troops.

There's hope for you yet, Muniz.

Can you open it, Chief?

I think so.

( mechanical clanking )

Mr. Worf, take the point. T'Lor, you stay put.

( quietly ): Commander, secure the area.

( creaking )

( gasps )

These men didn't die in the crash.

They've been dead for hours.

What killed them?

Massive osteonecrosis.

Every bone in their body's been shattered.

Sounds like inertial damper failure.

The ship accelerated... people were thrown into the bulkheads.

Nobody was alive when this ship hit the planet, yet it survived the impact.

Whoever designed this baby knew what they were doing.

No viewscreen, no chairs...

O'BRIEN: No EPS conduits.

No microfusion initiators.

No power converters-- at least none that I can find.

I suppose getting this ship up and running won't be easy.

I can't even determine if it has a warp drive.

I wonder if this is what all the Jem'Hadar ships are like.

The bigger question is: What's a Jem'Hadar ship doing all the way out here? We're at least three weeks away from the nearest Dominion outpost.

Captain, there are 29 other bodies.

No survivors.

Can we use the runabout's tractor beam to haul this thing into orbit?

This would be the greatest intelligence find in the last ten years.

We're not going to leave it here to rust. What do you say, Chief?

Well, we're not going to haul it out with a runabout.

Then we need something with a little more muscle.

BASHIR: We'll let the Major be the judge of that.

What I'm saying is, if you're going to prosecute me,

I demand that you prosecute my coconspirator. I'm not a conspirator.

What would you call yourself, Doctor?

An idiot. I'll buy that.

For asking your help in the first place.

Would someone please tell me what's going on here?

Quark brought aboard a shipment of Regalian fleaspiders without an import permit.

He asked for them!

The spiders were for you, Major.

I can synthesize a drug from their venom which should improve your circulation.

But I didn't know I needed a permit to import them.

So what's the problem? Fill out the paperwork.

ODO: It's not that simple anymore.

It seems that Quark took the opportunity to import illegal Regalian liquid crystals along with the fleaspiders.

The crystals are a highly intoxicating and sometimes dangerous aphrodisiac.

What's love without danger?

I don't have time for this. I just spoke with Captain Sisko.

They found a crashed Jem'Hadar ship in the Gamma Quadrant.

They need the Defiant right away. I'll be back in about a week.

When do we leave? I'm leaving right away.

I'd say you have some legal problems to work out.

Gentlemen...

O'BRIEN: It's embedded about 90 meters into the rock.

If I can shake it loose by firing the main thrusters hauling it out of here will be a lot easier. There's a problem?

Well, to fire the main thrusters,

I need to calibrate the plasma injectors.

So far, I can't get a grip on the ion regulator.

You want to try a hyper-spanner above the matrix?

It might open it up a bit.

Maybe we won't send you to waste extraction after all, Muniz.

WORF: Captain... we buried the bodies on the other side of that ridge.

The DNA readings-- 42 Jem'Hadar, one Vorta.

Hoya to Captain Sisko. Go ahead.

A Jem'Hadar warship has just dropped out of warp.

Break orbit and get out of sight.

They've locked phasers on us. Hard to port!

Shields are down! Engage warp!

( screams )

Inside! We don't stand a chance in the open.

We may not be safe in here.

The Jem'Hadar can transport through just about anything.

( footsteps )

Why do they not come?

Give them time.

Watch our backs, Commander.

We're moving to the Command Center.

Can you walk?

Faster than you can.

Let me take a look at this.

I'm all right, Captain.

I've had worse transporter burns.

Where's the medkit?

DAX: T'Lor had it.

I don't need it, sir. I'll be all right.

We have to stop the bleeding.

I'll take care of that.

( groans )

Transporter burn.

"I'm all right, Captain."

Always kissing up to the officers aren't you, Muniz?

Just following your example.

You're my hero.

( cloth rips ) Hey!

I have to get to the wound.

But this is my best uniform.

It's the only one that fits right.

Don't worry. When we get back, we'll have Garak make you a new one.

How long till the Defiant gets here?

Two and a half days.

Don't worry, Jefe.

I'll get you through this.

I feel better already.

We've only got one portable generator.

The rest are at base camp.

Looks like you need a new bandage, Enrique.

( equipment powering up )

Ah. Thanks, Chief.

I'll take it from here, Commander.

Quique, do me a favor.

Please... stop bleeding before I run out of clothes.

I'll do the best I can.

What do you make of this, old man?

My guess, it's some kind of virtual sensory display.

The Jem'Hadar equivalent of our viewscreen?

There are only two headsets.

One for the Vorta and one for the Jem'Hadar First.

Guess they're the only ones who get to see what's going on outside.

Captain Sisko, my name is Kilana.

I'm the Vorta in charge of the Jem'Hadar troops surrounding you.

If you touch the triangular green panel on any of the control consoles, you'll be able to speak to me.

They know your name.

They always seem to be one step ahead of us.

( beeps )

This is Captain Sisko.

Captain, I'm so happy to hear your voice.

I heard there were some casualties among your crew and I feared you may have been one of them.

Thank you for your concern. What do you want?

To talk. I think it would be in everyone's best interest if you and I met face-to-face and discussed the situation, like reasonable people.

I can be reasonable.

So I've heard.

One escort each. Agreed?

Agreed.

Your photograph doesn't do you justice.

You're quite striking in person.

Uh, look, I'm a little busy, so let's skip the flattery.

Weyoun's report on you was right.

You are direct.

I like that.

So, let me cut to the chase.

I believe that is the correct expression.

This is our ship. We want it back.

Was your ship. Now it's mine.

Oh.

Captain, I'm...

I'm a little disappointed.

That's the attitude of a thief, not a Starfleet Captain with a reputation for integrity.

This is clearly our property.

What gives you any claim to it?

An old legal tradition-- salvage rights.

We found a wrecked ship and a dead crew, and we found it first.

A very interesting position.

But I'm afraid the Dominion doesn't recognize that... tradition.

What may be even more to the point, we have you completely surrounded and outnumbered.

Would you like something to eat, Captain?

Or maybe something to drink?

These are q'lavas-- a personal favorite.

They're not poisonous, if that's what you're thinking.

Not to you, anyway.

I hope you're not teaching Jake to be this suspicious, Benjamin.

Or do you prefer Ben?

"Captain" will be fine.

I'm sure it's my fault that we seem unable to establish an understanding between us, Captain.

I'm sorry I'm not more experienced in these matters.

This is my first mission outside the Dominion and my very first dealing with anyone from the Federation.

I know you have no reason to trust me, but I hope you'll at least try to consider my offer with an open mind.

I'm listening.

If you'll leave our ship,

I'll take you and your crew back to your space station-- unharmed.

Our accommodations may not be lavish, but I promise you'll all be well cared for especially your wounded.

If you think I'm going to deliver my people into your hands without a fight, then this really must be your first mission.

( moans )

( beeping )

I'd love to know how the Captain's doing.

Any chance you can get this thing working?

Not right away. I'm still trying to get the main power grid on line.

( clicking, soft thumps )

What's that?

( soft ticking )

That wasn't there before. You sure?

Positive.

It's some kind of sensor device.

Whatever it is, it doesn't look too friendly.

Captain.

They're in the ship.

I knew it.

You've been goldbricking all along.

Like I said, you taught me everything I know.

Whatever this sensor was supposed to do, it did it and then shut down.

Probably a surveillance device.

To find out how many of us there are... how many weapons we have.

( Muniz groans ) I don't think so.

They seem to know all that already.

But it doesn't make sense. If he had a rifle,

O'Brien and I would be dead, but all he had was a knife.

And why send only one Jem'Hadar?

( sighs ): There's something about this ship, something so important that they won't risk destroying it in a full-on assault.

If that is true, then we must find out what it is.

Captain, the first thing we need to do is make a structural scan of the ship.

Make our own blueprints.

Get started.

( groaning )

I'm leaking like a ruptured plasma conduit, aren't I, sir?

It's not that bad.

You're lying.

What makes you say that?

I called you "sir" and you didn't even flinch.

I must be dying.

Now you listen to me, Quique.

You're not dying unless I say you're dying, and I say you're going to make it.

How are you doing, Muniz?

We seem to be having a difference of opinion on that one, sir.

But I would like to file a complaint.

The nurses around here are all thumbs.

You watch it, or I'll tighten this bandage like a tourniquet.

And as for bedside manner,

I've known nicer voles. Certainly prettier ones.

You keep moving around, you won't need any nurse.

Listen to the Chief, Muniz.

Save your strength.

I'm worried about him, Captain.

I can't stop the bleeding.

Maybe it's a side effect of the Jem'Hadar weapons.

They must leave some kind of anticoagulant.

If I don't get him to a medical bay soon, he's not going to make it.

None of us are going to make it if we don't get this ship operational.

I need to get the power grid functioning and the aft turret weapon on line.

You're the only one who can do that.

I'll take care of Muniz. Captain--

You have your orders.

Yes, sir.

( sighs )

Chief... structurally, a lot about this ship's design matches the other Jem'Hadar warships we've seen.

But there are significant differences.

There are many systems that we are completely unfamiliar with.

I can start to restore power to the systems one at a time.

That'll give us a chance to test them and establish their functions, but it's going to take awhile.

How long? I wish I knew.

Well, you can do it, Chief.

I don't think a ship's been invented that you can't figure out.

Muniz is strong. He'll make it.

No. He will not.

He will not see tomorrow.

You keep that to yourself.

I don't want him to hear that kind of talk.

It does no good to shield him from the truth.

Let him prepare for death.

The hell I will.

His only hope is to keep fighting.

If he gives up, it's over.

It was over the moment he was shot by the Jem'Hadar.

Now, you listen to me.

That boy's life is in our hands, and I won't let anybody give up on him.

Worf, what do you say we go look at that ion exchange matrix we found?

And on the way, maybe we can discuss some of the finer points of diplomacy.

KILANA: Captain Sisko.

Captain, you're annoyed with me.

I understand.

You feel betrayed, and with good reason but I really think we should talk.

If it will make you feel any better,

I'll come unarmed and without an escort, but I won't hold you to the same restrictions.

If you have something to say, say it.

Sending the Jem'Hadar into the ship was a mistake, and I apologize.

I trust no one was hurt, but what choice did I have?

Just like you have to protect the lives of your men,

I have to protect our... property.

But I do hope we can put that behind us and move on.

Move on to what?

I'm sure it's obvious by now there's something in the ship we want.

You allow me and my men to retrieve the item, we'll leave. You can keep the ship.

How about this?

You tell me what it is you want and I'll bring it out to you.

I'm afraid I can't do that.

Don't you trust me?

I'd like to, Captain, but I can't.

Not under these circumstances.

There's simply... too much at stake for us.

We've got a lot at stake, too.

I won't risk the lives of my crew.

Well, it seems we're approaching an impasse.

We've already arrived.

How unfortunate.

The negotiations have ended.

( loud, whooshing thud )

( rumbling thud )

( thuds continue )

( whooshing thuds continue )

I take it things could have gone better. ( beeping )

All the ship's systems are shutting down, Captain.

( groaning )

I need to know what's going on out there.

Chief, get me some sensor readings.

Dax, take care of Muniz.

( gasping )

I can't feel my legs.

Don't worry, they're there.

I managed to bypass the virtual display interface and hook up a tricorder to the ship's sensor array.

Those are ultritium concussion shells they're detonating.

Without shields, a direct hit would destroy us.

I do not believe they are trying to hit us.

Their targeting systems cannot be that ineffective.

They're trying to rattle us.

( explosion )

And we're not going to let them do that.

The Vorta doesn't want the ship.

She wants something aboard it.

Any idea what?

It could be anything... encoding device, guidance system...

Maybe she lost an earring.

Whatever it is, it's keeping us alive.

Find it!

Chief...

I need that weapon.

I'll still have to charge the emitter arrays.

Stay on it.

( thudding explosions continue)

You have your weapon, sir.

Nice work, Mr. O'Brien.

But the bad news is... the turret is stuck.

You can only fire in one direction.

Maybe we'll get lucky and the Jem'Hadar will pick that place to stand.

( explosion )

( Muniz groaning )

( explosion )

Easy, Quique.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

I'm not afraid, Papa.

It's beautiful.

Precioso.

( explosion )

Better than last year, don't you think?

Los cohetes... the fireworks of the carnival... they're terrific, aren't they?

Easy, Quique.

( explosion )

The colors... like a thousand shooting stars.

( explosion )

That was a good one, huh?

Yeah, that was a good one.

I'll say one thing for the Jem'Hadar. They travel light.

No cargo, no storage compartments.

I did find these data crystals in one of the computer rooms.

There may be some encoded information on them, but the crystal structure has been randomized.

In other words, they're blank.

As far as I can tell.

It would help if we knew what we were looking for.

( explosion )

But we don't.

( Muniz speaking Spanish )

Las estrellas...

mira... que bonita.

En la noche, bonita...

Commander.

What is it?

It may have been the Vorta's computer console.

I found it in one of the upper compartments, but the power grid is off-line in that part of the ship.

So you ripped it out of the wall.

Very nice.

So, what do we do with it now? Use it for a doorstop?

I do not care what you do with it.

Worf, I was kidding. It was a good idea.

We'll hook it up and see if we can get it working.

( explosion ) You'd think they'd be tired of playing this game with us by now.

I have a game I would like to play with them.

If only I could leave this prison and meet them face-to-face on a field of battle.

Right now, that doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Chief, could you take a look at that console?

( explosions continue )

That is no way for anyone to die.

I told you, he is not going to die.

It is only a matter of time.

So we should just kill him, right?

If you truly are his friend, you would consider that option.

It would be a more honorable death than the one he's enduring.

I'm not some blood-thirsty Klingon looking for an excuse to murder my friend.

That's enough. No.

You are just another weak human afraid to face death.

( yells )

I said that's enough!

You're Starfleet officers.

Now, start acting like it!

Tough guys-- a little pressure and they buckle.

Dax, maybe you haven't noticed, but no one's laughing.

Now, I know it's hot. We're filthy. Tired.

And we've got ten isotons of explosives going off outside.

But we will never get out of this if we don't pull it together and start to act like professionals.

( shuddering groan ) ( explosion )

Chief, I want that power grid up and running.

Aye, sir.

Commander Worf, see if you can get that turret to rotate.

Aye, sir.

( explosion )

Dax, search the ship again and again until you find what the Vorta wants.

Yes, sir.

( explosion ) ( sighs )

And you, Mr. Muniz... your orders are... to stay alive.

Captain's Log, supplemental.

The Jem'Hadar barrage has continued on and off for ten hours.

Chief O'Brien has restored main power and helm control.

If we can bring the ship's engines on line,

we may be able to lift off and escape from here.

As soon as we finish calibrating the induction reactors, we can fire up the main core.

( explosion )

Good, because, unless there are any objections,

I'd like to get the hell off this planet.

I'm for that. Ready, Chief.

I could use a couple more hours to fine-tune the magnetic flux couplers, but under the circumstances, now's as good a time as any.

Then let's do it. Everyone brace yourselves.

This is going to be a rough ride.

Commence launch sequence.

Ion thrusters fully charged.

Ventral impellers, one quarter.

Plasma compensators, on line.

Thrusters to one half.

Chief, I'm getting a low-frequency resonance in the main reactor housing.

That's all right. Just keep compensating with the inertial dampers.

Dampers are at maximum.

We need more power.

Ventral jets to one half.

It's working, Captain.

These engines just might shake us loose.

Increase power to one half.

Main reactor housing, destabilizing.

Reactor containment field overloading.

Induction dampers disintegrating, Captain.

If we don't cut power, we're going to have a core breach.

Disengage thrusters.

Power down all systems.

( explosion )

How bad?

Main power grid is completely fused.

Structural integrity field has collapsed.

We'll have to wait until the Defiant gets here.

She'll be able to pull us out of here with a tractor beam.

Which means we have 36 hours to make repairs.

You all know what to do.

I could really use your help now, Quique.

( explosion )

I told Muniz he was going to make it.

That's what a Captain's supposed to say.

( explosion )

I have got to get this ship back to the station, old man.

Five people have died on this mission.

I want to be able to tell their families why.

( explosion )

Ben...

It's a changeling.

( squealing roar )

It can't hold its shape.

It's dying.

Then we're in trouble.

That's what the Vorta has been looking for-- a Founder.

No wonder the Jem'Hadar wouldn't attack.

They couldn't risk killing one of their gods.

( changeling shrieks )

( distant shrieking continues)

The bombing stopped.

Prepare for an assault. Tell Worf to man the--

Where are your soldiers? They're dead.

They killed themselves. Why?

Because they allowed a Founder to die.

You should have trusted me.

How could I?! The first word out of your mouth was a lie!

This isn't your first mission outside the Dominion, is it?

I regret saying that, but my offer was genuine.

All that mattered to me was the Founder.

Then you should have told me about him.

You might have killed him or made him a hostage.

No.

All I wanted was the ship.

And I was willing to let you take it.

So... this is how it ends.

( footsteps approaching )

It's true. The Jem'Hadar died by their own hands.

Muniz... the runabout crew... your soldiers... they'd all still be alive if we had trusted each other.

I have no way of stopping you from taking the ship.

All I ask is that you allow me to remove some of the Founder's remains.

Of course.

Do you have any gods, Captain Sisko?

There are things I believe in.

Duty?

Starfleet? The Federation?

You must be pleased with yourself.

You have this ship to take back to them.

I hope it was worth it.

So do I.

( sighing )

What did Starfleet have to say about our prize?

They're pleased.

That's all? Just pleased?

Very pleased.

They're giving us all medals.

I'll add it to my collection.

Starfleet Command is waiting for my official report, but every time I try to get it started...

I find myself staring at the casualty list and reading the same five names over and over again.

T'Lor, Rooney,

Bertram, Hoya, Muniz.

It may sound cruel, but we both know that ship out there was worth it.

Those five deaths may save 5,000 lives, or maybe even five million.

And if I had to make the same trade all over again, I would.

But five people are dead.

Fine men and women who deserved a lot more than to die on some lonely planet

50,000 light-years away from home!

( bangs padd )

When you were at the Academy, was Professor Somak teaching?

Moral and Ethical Issues of Command.

I remember her favorite speech:

"Always maintain emotional distance between yourself and those under your command."

It's good advice.

And I try to follow it, but it's a lot more complicated outside of the classroom.

Did you know that Jake and Muniz have the same birthday?

That I performed the ceremony at Hoya's wedding?

And Rooney-- he could play the trumpet.

I heard him at Quark's once, and he had the people dancing in the aisles.

I remember.

And you know something else I remember about him?

How proud he was to wear his uniform and how proud he was to serve under you.

The same as Hoya,

T'Lor, Bertram and Muniz.

They chose a life in Starfleet.

They knew the risks, and they died fighting for something that they believed in.

That doesn't make it any easier.

Maybe nothing should.

We used a phase-conjugate graviton emitter in the tractor beam.

That baby came out of the rock first time.

You would have loved it, Quique.

( door opens )

I did not mean to interrupt.

It's all right.

You are performing Ak'voh for your friend.

I am?

Yes. It's an old Klingon tradition.

When a warrior dies in battle, his comrades stay with the body to keep away predators.

That allows the spirit to leave the body when it is time to make the long journey to Sto'Vo'Kor.

It's a fine tradition.

What are you doing?

We will both keep the predators away.

I'm sure Quique would like that.