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Valiant

MALE: How about it?

FEMALE: Can I get some service please?

How long's it take?

I've been waiting forever.

This isn't what I wanted.

Having a bad day?

Like you care.

Fizz, Froth, Flip

Finial, Foam and Flare.

What's going on at that table anyway?

I... take it there's a problem with your drink replicator?

A problem?

No... can't be.

If there were a problem, I would have submitted an emergency maintenance request this morning.

And if I had done that

Chief O'Brien would have assured me that Rom would fix it right away.

Then, of course, Rom would have promised me that Nog would fix it before the end of the day.

And since this is the end of the day and there is no Nog in sight we can only draw one conclusion-- that I don't have a problem.

Is your drink replicator broken?

You're quick today.

Do you want me to fix it or not?

You? That's right.

Nog had a chance to take a trip to Ferenginar, and I told him that I would cover for him while he was away.

Why?

Because he did a favor for me last week, so I owe him.

But... that's work for a mechanic... a repairman, a lowly engineer.

I'll tell Chief O'Brien you said that.

Ugh...

A supernova and a Silven surprise.

She can't do this.

Why not?

I...

It-it-it's not right.

She's above that sort of thing.

Those hands weren't meant for poking around inside some filthy drink replicator.

They were meant for higher pursuits.

You're in love.

That's the most ridiculous thing you've said this year.

Really?

Really.

It must kill you that she's married to Worf.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Hmm.

And since you're not going to order something would you please step aside so that I can do my job?

Of course.

By the way, that's not a Silven surprise.

It's a silken sunrise.

Is that it?

That's right.

Hey, can I see it?

No.

Nog.

No.

It's an official diplomatic message from the Federation Council to the Grand Nagus.

It's for his eyes only.

Yeah, but you know what's in it. Maybe.

It's a proposal for an alliance, isn't it?

I mean, the Federation sends the only Ferengi in Starfleet to personally deliver a diplomatic message to the Grand Nagus?

Something big is up.

You told me you weren't coming on this trip as a reporter.

I'm not.

I-I came to see Ferenginar.

I've heard a lot about it.

I can't wait to see the-the rain and-and the muck...

Good.

Because while I'm delivering the message to the Grand Nagus you'll have plenty of time to play tourist.

Shenandoah, this is Starbase 257.

You've been cleared to leave our defense perimeter.

Remain at one-half impulse until you've passed the outer marker.

Acknowledged.

I don't get to see the Nagus?

Now why would you want to see the Grand Nagus?

My father told me to say hello.

A-a-and... to... give the Nagus his best wishes.

You're going to have to do better than that.

And... because I told the editor of the Federation News Service that I could get an exclusive interview with Zek.

Jake! You promised me you weren't coming along as a reporter.

I didn't promise, okay?

I just sort of... you know?

Okay, I promised, but this could be a really big story, Nog.

The people have a right to know.

Forget it. You're not getting anywhere near the Grand Nagus.

I have no further comments.

( beeping )

What's that?

I'm not sure.

I'm having trouble with our long-range scanners.

Looks like... our sensors are being jammed.

( alarm blares )

Uh-oh.

Hang on.

Where'd they come from?

I don't know, but it looks like they're heading for the starbase.

We're not sticking around, are we?

Not in a runabout, we're not.

We're no match for a wing of Jem'Hadar fighters.

See if you can open a channel to Deep Space 9.

Something's wrong.

I think they're jamming our com system.

But why would they do that?

Because one of them's turned around and now he's coming after us.

You do realize you're taking us deeper and deeper into Dominion-held space.

We don't have much choice.

Every time I try to change course, they gain on us.

They're gaining on us anyway.

We might as well try and head for the Federation.

If we keep going in this direction, we'll run into Cardassia Prime and that won't be much fun at all.

COMPUTER: Warning.

We are within range of enemy weapons.

( explosion )

Thanks for the warning.

All right, when I go to impulse, raise the forward shields and transfer auxiliary power to the phasers.

We're dropping out of warp?

If we have to fight, I'd rather do it at impulse.

At least we'd have an edge in maneuverability.

You're a Ferengi. Why don't you try making a deal or something?

It doesn't seem they're very interested in talking.

Stand by.

Here they come.

Shields down 30 percent.

I see it.

( explosion )

We're losing main power!

Keep the weapons on line.

Everything else is expendable, including life support.

( explosion )

There's another ship coming in, bearing 170 mark 215.

Jem'Hadar or Cardassian?

It's, uh... it's the Defiant.

What?

That's not the Defiant.

That ship's registry number is NCC-74...

210.

USS Valiant.

Valiant?

Great name! I hope they tear that Jem'Hadar ship apart piece by--

Jake.

Jake!

FEMALE: Are you all right, sir?

( groans )

Yeah.

Uh... it's nothing serious... Cadet, um...

Chief?

Acting Chief Petty Officer Dorian Collins.

The Captain's asked me to escort you both to the Bridge.

If you'll follow me.

FEMALE: Main power holding.

Auxiliary power on standby.

Shields holding at 84 percent.

Helm, bring us about to course 215 mark 310.

215 mark 310. Aye, sir.

Set quantum torpedo warheads to maximum yield, full spread.

( explosion )

Maximum yield, full spread. Aye, sir.

( explosion )

Helm, initiate attack pattern sierra-four.

HELM: Sierra-four. Aye, sir.

Shields now at 78 percent.

Transfer auxiliary power to shields.

This is Red Squad.

Red Squad?

It was a group of elite cadets at the Academy.

They were... the best of the best.

Red Squad received special training special quarters, special everything.

They have their own ship? I've heard of cadets... getting command of a runabout or a shuttle but not a starship.

Fire.

( cheering )

As you were.

This is the Captain.

Stand down from Red Alert.

All stations submit damage and casualty report to the First Officer.

Glad to see you made it in one piece.

I'm Tim Watters, Commanding Officer.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you... sir?

"Sir" is correct, Ensign.

I was given a battlefield commission and command of this vessel by the late Captain Ramirez.

Using that authority, I have commissioned and promoted other members of Red Squad as needed.

I see.

Well, I'm Ensign Nog and this is Jake Sisko.

We're from Deep Space 9.

Sisko.

You're Benjamin Sisko's son.

That's right.

Ah, I've heard a lot about your father.

I see you're not following in his footsteps.

No. I'm a reporter.

You should really get that looked at. Chief?

Sir?

Escort Mr. Sisko to Sick Bay.

Aye, Captain.

This way, sir.

FEMALE: Preliminary damage report, sir.

Oh, thank you.

Ensign Nog, Commander Karen Farris, our First Officer.

Commander.

Ensign.

Sir, the Engine Room also reports that we still have power spikes cropping up all through the deuterium injector start-up routine.

I thought we had that under control.

FARRIS: I did, too, sir.

Have you recalibrated the lateral impulse control system?

No.

What does that have to do with the injectors?

Well, the impulse system shares some of the same power relays used in the injector start-up routine.

We'll try it.

Mr. Nog, why don't you wait in my ready room.

Yes, sir.

The training cruise was supposed to last three months.

We had seven regular officers and a crew of 35 cadets.

The plan was for the cadets to run the ship while the officers observed and critiqued our performance.

So, uh, this was a training ship?

Like the other one, the, um... uh... the Republic.

Not quite.

The Republic's an old ship.

I don't think she's left the Terran system in 50 years.

The Valiant's a state- of-the-art warship.

Our mission was to circumnavigate the entire Federation before returning home.

The entire Federation?

With a ship of cadets?

Not just cadets, Mr. Sisko.

Red Squad cadets.

We were transiting the Kepla Sector when war broke out.

As you probably know, a Dominion invasion force swept through that sector on the first day.

So you were caught behind enemy lines.

Correct.

We were trying to make our way back to Federation-held space when we encountered a Cardassian battle cruiser near El Gatark.

That was our first taste of combat.

In the first 15 minutes four regular officers were killed.

Three others were critically wounded including Captain Ramirez.

Is that when you took command?

No. When I got to the Bridge, the Captain was in pretty bad shape, but he was lucid and he refused to go to Sick Bay.

We had lost main power and we were adrift but the Cardassian cruiser was no better off.

So it was a race against the clock-- ship that got main power back on line first would have a decisive advantage.

The... the Captain, he... he was amazing.

He directed the entire damage-control effort with a punctured lung and massive internal injuries.

He was a great man.

And he won the race.

We got weapons and impulse engines back on line in three hours.

And then we destroyed that Cardie ship.

The next day, just before he died the Captain ordered me to take command of the Valiant.

( laughs )

It's unbelievable!

You've spent eight months behind enemy lines.

I didn't do it alone.

The crew deserves the real credit.

We have cadets here as young as 17 who are doing the job of officers twice their age.

But we're also seriously undermanned.

I could use another officer.

I'd be happy to do whatever I can, sir.

I see you're familiar with the operations of a class-7 warp drive.

Very familiar, sir.

The Defiant has an identical engine.

Excellent.

As of this moment, you are Chief Engineer.

Congratulations.

Chief Engineer?

With rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Your first assignment is to figure out why we can't go above warp 3.2.

Mr. Parton believes that--

Excuse me, sir...

I-I don't think I'm ready for this--

None of us were ready for the responsibility thrust upon us, Commander, but each of us found a way to rise to the occasion-- do the job that had to be done.

Ready or not... you are Chief Engineer.

You can do this, Mr. Nog.

Just have faith in yourself, faith in your shipmates, and everything'll be fine.

Yes, sir. I will, sir.

Good man.

That's what I want to hear.

Now, if you can just fix our warp drive problems, we can get on with our mission.

Our mission?

I don't understand.

My orders are to collect technical data on a new Dominion battleship operating in this sector.

We keep picking up their com traffic so we know they're in the area but because we can't go faster than warp 3.2 we're unable to get within sensor range.

And Starfleet knows you're in command of the Valiant.

No.

We've had to maintain strict radio silence ever since the war began.

The orders were addressed to Captain Ramirez.

But since he's dead, the mission's now mine.

Make no mistake, I will carry out that mission.

Or die trying.

( sighs )

Dismissed.

Coffee?

Uh, raktajino, please.

Here you go.

Thanks.

So, where are you from?

Me?

Tycho City.

Oh, a Lunar Schooner.

I haven't heard that in a long time.

Yeah. Picked it up from my granddad.

Of course, he still calls Luna "the moon"-- like it's the only one or something.

Well, nobody who's ever lived on the moon calls it Luna either.

That's just something they say on Earth.

So, what's it like?

You're from Earth, aren't you?

You've never been to the moon?

Just never got around to it.

Tell me about it.

Well... people say it's so barren and harsh but... it's not.

It's... beautiful.

I mean, Tycho City's just a city, but outside, where the gravity is still low and there's no air...

You know, the sun only comes up once a month on the moon.

Every lunar morning, my father and I would put on suits and... hike out across the Sea of Clouds.

We'd stop at this collection of boulders on the western rim and... just wait for the sun to come up.

Dawn is so... shocking on the moon.

One minute, you're in the darkest night you can imagine and the next instant, the sun lifts up and this... glorious pure light just... explodes across the surface.

I felt like I met God every morning.

I'm on duty. Excuse me.

WATTERS: What's your solution, Commander?

I've taken the safeties off the plasma intercooler the flux moderator and the pressure-control system.

That should solve the problem.

You do realize you're violating about 50 safety regulations?

Yes, sir, I do, but I also know Chief O'Brien made the same changes to the Defiant.

She never had a problem.

I don't know, Captain.

This seems kind of risky to me.

Mr. Parton?

After spending seven months plodding along at warp 3.2,

I'm willing to try anything, sir.

Watters to Bridge. Prepare for warp speed.

Aye, sir.

All right, Mr. Nog, take us to warp 4.

COLLINS: Can I help you, sir?

No.

No, I've got it.

Any problems with Sisko's arm?

No, sir.

You got a problem, Chief?

No, sir.

Have you been crying?

( sighs )

A little.

About what?

I was... just... thinking about home.

Come in.

Chief, I think you can go now.

Thank you, sir.

FARRIS: Well, Mr. Sisko sounds like you and the Chief had quite a conversation this afternoon.

Home and family and the glories of dawn on the moon.

Does that just about cover it?

Yeah, that's, uh... that's about it.

What's going on?

What's going on, Mr. Sisko, in case you haven't noticed is that we are in the middle of a war.

We can't afford to have young cadets thinking about mommy and daddy when they need to be concentrating on their duties.

All I did was ask about her home. All you did... was plunge a member of this crew into emotional turmoil.

WATTERS: Jake...

May I call you Jake?

You're a reporter.

Your job is to watch the way events unfold not participate in them.

Right now, you need to stand back.

Take a look at where you are-- what's going on around you.

You're right in the middle of a great story-- maybe one of the greatest stories in the entire Dominion war.

( sighing )

This ship is special, Jake.

This crew is special.

And whatever fates guide this universe they've chosen us to achieve some purpose in this conflict.

I know that.

Just as surely as I know your presence on this ship is no coincidence.

You're here to write the story-- to tell people of the Valiant and her crew.

Don't interfere with the story, Jake.

Don't become a part of it.

Just let it unfold around you.

Observe, listen and then write it down.

May I have your word you'll stay away from Chief Collins?

Okay.

Thank you, Jake.

You're dismissed.

I'm not sure we can trust him.

We'll keep an eye on him.

What about Mr. Nog?

Mr. Nog wears a uniform.

He'll do his duty.

All right. That'll be all, Commander.

I'll see you at 1800 hours.

Yes, sir.

Captain are you all right?

Yes. Why?

I heard you were on the Bridge during midwatch again last night.

You haven't been getting much sleep lately, sir.

None of us have, Commander.

No, sir, I suppose not.

Thank you for your concern, Karen... but I'm... I'm fine, really.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry I even brought it up.

That's all right.

( sighing )

Where've you been?

Engine Room.

I solved their warp problem.

What's that?

My Red Squad insignia.

Oh, and in case you haven't noticed, this would be my new rank--

Lieutenant Commander Nog, Chief Engineer.

It has a nice ring to it... don't you think? You joined the crew?

Something wrong with that? It's a little fast.

We just got here and Watters puts you in charge of the Engine Room?

Captain Watters is used to making quick decisions.

He felt I was the right man for the job, so he promoted me.

Red Alert. All hands to battle stations.

I repeat, all hands to battle stations.

Range: 1.32 light-years.

Speed: warp 4.7.

What's going on?

We found our battleship.

HELMSMAN: Their course is 170 mark 135.

Speed: warp 3.97.

FARRIS: Bridge to phaser control.

You've got a spike in the 3-L subsystem.

Take care of it.

Sensors show a drop in gamma radiation...

...is losing power. I'll reroute at the auxiliary power interface.

HELMSMAN: They've changed course.

Any sign they've detected us?

Negative. I think we're still outside their sensor range.

Maintain your distance, Helm.

Match their course and speed.

Aye, sir.

Prepare a class-3 probe for launch.

Aye, sir.

What happens now?

We're going to launch a sensor probe to scan the battleship.

That way, the Valiant won't be picked up on their scanners.

Won't they detect a probe?

Class-3 probes are designed to be virtually undetectable.

There's almost no chance of it being spotted.

JAKE: Almost?

I don't remember anyone inviting you to the Bridge.

WATTERS: Captain's Log, Stardate 51825.4.

We've been shadowing the Dominion battleship for three hours.

The data our probe has gathered so far

has not only been interesting

but it may have given us a golden opportunity

to strike a blow for the Federation.

Attention on deck!

Stand at ease.

It's been a long eight months-- a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice.

And now we've accomplished our mission.

We found the battleship and obtained a complete scan without being detected... and we're free to go home.

But that ship out there is a direct threat to every Federation outpost and colony within 50 light-years.

That ship must be destroyed.

( crew murmuring )

It can be destroyed.

Commander?

We found a flaw in the design of their antimatter storage system.

The primary support braces are made of viterium.

It's a very strong, very resilient metal alloy which just happens to become extremely unstable when exposed to delta radiation.

A single torpedo, rigged with a radiogenic warhead could reduce those braces to the consistency of wet pasta.

WATTERS: As a result, the entire antimatter storage system would tear itself apart.

Commander Nog.

You don't seem convinced.

Well, sir, in-in order to rig a torpedo to yield a delta radiation burst,

I'll have to remove most of the guidance systems.

We'll have to target it manually.

FARRIS: We've trained for that possibility.

It shouldn't be a problem.

We'll also have to get very close to the target.

How close?

Within 300 meters.

( crew murmuring )

It's dangerous, there's no disputing that.

And no one would think any less of us if we just turn around and go home.

But that means that some other ship with some other crew would be asked to finish the job that we started.

I think we can do it.

I think we should do it.

Can I say something?

You are not a member of this crew.

Let him speak.

You all probably know who my father is.

Benjamin Sisko?

So you know I'm not exaggerating when I say that he's considered to be one of the best combat officers in the fleet, and I'm telling you right now that even with the entire crew of the Defiant with him, my father would never try to pull off something like this.

And if he can't do it, it can't be done.

We're Red Squad and we can do anything.

CREW: Yeah! Red Squad!

( chanting ): Red Squad! Red Squad!

Red Squad! Red Squad!

Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad!

Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad!

Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad!

Red Squad! Red Squad!

Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad!

JAKE: This is suicide.

No. It's not.

Nog, listen to me.

We're in way over our heads here.

Now, someone told me that ship out there is twice the size of a Galaxy-class ship... and three times as strong. That's accurate.

And you really think we can go up against a ship like that?

I think that Captain Watters knows... what he's doing. Oh, really?

Well, uh, did you know that Watters has been taking cordafin stimulants for the past two months?

Where did you hear that?

Dorian told me.

You were ordered to stay away from her.

Watters to Shepard.

Please report to my ready room, Lieutenant.

That's not the way we do things in Starfleet.

I can't believe you're buying everything that Watters is selling.

He's not selling anything.

He's reminding us of our duty.

I feel like I'm having a conversation with one of the bulkheads.

You don't understand because you've never put on one of these uniforms.

You don't know anything about sacrifice or honor or duty or any other things that make up a soldier's life.

I'm part of something larger than myself.

All you care about is you.

That's right.

All I care about is Jake Sisko and whether or not he's going to be killed by a bunch of delusional fanatics looking for martyrdom.

Get out.

I don't even know who you are anymore.

I'm the Chief Engineer of the Starship Valiant.

I'll have them put that on your tombstone.

Mr. Sisko!

I'm afraid you'll have to miss all the fun.

You're going to spend the rest of this mission in the brig.

FARRIS: All decks report ready, sir.

This is the Captain.

We are about to engage the enemy.

For the last eight months,

I've told you to stay focused on one thing-- your duty.

But now I want you to step back from your duty and take a look around, and I don't mean look at the walls.

I want you to look at this moment in your life.

Take it in.

Appreciate the fact that you are on this ship with this group of people, at this point in history.

But understand one thing above all else.

This moment will never come again.

Hold on to it.

Savor it for as long as you can.

You're Starfleet, you're Red Squad, and you're the best.

Now... let's get that battleship and we can all go home.

Captain out.

( com beep )

All right then.

Good luck.

Take us to warp 6, Mr. Nog.

Warp six.

Aye.

They've spotted us.

They're dropping out of warp.

Helm, go to impulse.

Aye, sir.

We are in visual range.

On screen.

Lay in a strafing course along their superstructure and make it close.

That way, they won't get a weapons lock on us.

I want to scrape some paint off their hull, Lieutenant.

Aye, sir.

Raise shields, charge phasers, fire at any targets of opportunity as we pass.

Aye, sir.

Torpedo status? Torpedoes ready, sir.

Defense system ready.

Helm ready.

All right, Mr. Shepard, take us in.

Shields holding.

Course stable.

Fire at will!

( yelling )

WATTERS: Helm! Hard about!

Tactical, get a target lock on those braces!

NOG: Impulse engines at full thrust.

They're trying to jam our sensors.

WATTERS: Mr. Nog, initiate countermeasures.

I'm on it!

I've acquired the target.

Torpedoes locked!

Full power to forward shields.

Helm, plot an escape course down the z-axis.

Ready.

Engage.

They're turning to port.

Match them, Helm.

Keep us on track.

Aye, sir.

Hull breach on Deck Two.

Emergency force-fields are in place.

FARRIS: Steady our course, Helm.

I can't maintain targeting lock.

Karen!

It's all yours. Fire when ready.

Understood.

Just a little closer.

We're losing our port shields.

Steady as she goes.

Torpedoes away.

Aft view on screen!

( cheering )

Did we miss the target?

No, sir.

It was a direct hit.

It just...

It didn't work.

Orders, Captain?

Lay in a new course. 127 mark 3--

Hull breach on Deck Two.

Deck Three, Deck Four...

Evasive maneuvers.

Bring us about to course 127 mark 320!

I've lost helm control!

Main power's off-line!

I'm rerouting the...

( yelling )

Auxiliary power's off-line.

But I still have phaser control.

Shall I return fire?

Sir?!

No, it's over.

The Captain wanted us--

The Captain is dead, Chief. They're all dead.

The ship is lost.

There's no need for us to die here, too.

( alarm blaring )

COMPUTER: Abandon ship. Abandon ship.

This is not a drill.

All hands proceed to emergency escape pods.

Hey! Somebody let me out of here!

Help! Jake, Jake!

What happened?

We failed.

Captain, I'm picking up a Starfleet distress signal.

Bearing: 318 mark 005. Range: ten light-years.

That location is inside Dominion-held space.

Can you identify the ship sending the distress call?

Looks like it's coming from an escape pod.

USS... Valiant.

The Valiant was reported missing over eight months ago.

It could be a Dominion ruse to lure us into their territory.

Then again, it may be genuine.

We have to find out.

Cloak the ship and lay in a course.

KIRA: Aye, sir.

We scanned the area for any other escape pods, but it doesn't look like anyone else made it.

It was a long shot. I just thought maybe...

( door opens )

How is she, Doctor?

I've managed to repair her fractured skull and with a little rest, she should be fine.

And Nog?

Oh, a few bumps and bruises, but he's going to be fine as well.

Can I talk to him?

I don't see why not.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

You going to write a story about all this?

Probably.

What are you going to say?

What do you think I should say?

That it was a good ship... with a good crew... that made a mistake.

We... let ourselves blindly follow Captain Watters... and he led us over a cliff.

That's not true.

Captain Watters was a great man.

Dorian... he got everyone killed.

If he failed, it's because we failed him.

Put that in your story, too.

Let people read it and decide for themselves.

He may have been a hero... he may even have been a great man... but in the end, he was a bad Captain.