Home > Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

The Siege of AR-558

One, two, three, four, one.

♪ She likes the free, fresh ♪

♪ Wind in her hair ♪

♪ Life without care ♪

♪ She's broke, but it's oke ♪

♪ Hates California ♪

♪ It's cold and it's damp ♪

♪ That's why the lady ♪

♪ That's why the lady ♪

♪ That's why the lady ♪

♪ Is a scamp. ♪

( piano ends song )

Ha...

So, what do you think?

Not bad.

But the lady is a "tramp" not a scamp.

Tramp, right.

So, do I get the... "gig"?

Sorry, pally.

But Dr. Bashir said you're looking for an opening act and I love to sing.

I can tell, but two singers on the same bill-- that's a one-way ticket to Deadsville.

I need someone to warm up the audience for me.

You know, a comic.

A comic?

A comedian. Someone who can make people laugh.

I can do that-- my brother tells me people are always laughing at me.

Well, that may be true but this is a holosuite program, capisce?

So?

So, you're not a hologram.

Life can be so unfair.

Vic, you got a minute?

Forget it.

He's not hiring.

What's wrong with him?

Show biz. It can break your heart.

So, what can I do for you, pally?

Uh, did you get a chance to make those audio recordings for me?

All your favorite hits.

That's great. Thanks, Vic.

My pleasure.

These songs are 400 years old.

You sure the troops on the front lines want to hear them?

Well, the songs may be old but when you sing them, they sound brand new.

Hey, when you put it that way

I wish I was going on the supply run with you.

I could make some personal appearances.

Sing a few songs, tell a few jokes.

You know, put on a regular USO show.

I'm afraid there are no holosuites where we're going.

Rom's right.

Life can be unfair.

You know, pally sometimes being a hologram can be a real pain in the asometric photons.

I'll see you when I get back.

Well, you know where to find me.

( door opening )

I thought I might find you here.

The new security protocols you requested.

I think that's what I'm going to remember most about this war-- looking through casualty reports.

Sometimes it feels like that's all I do... stare at the names of the dead.

When the war started, I read every name.

I felt it was the least I could do to honor their sacrifices.

But now... the names have begun to blur together.

Well, that's understandable.

Maybe.

KIRA ( on com ): Ops to Captain Sisko.

Go ahead.

The Defiant is ready for departure.

On my way.

Why me?

Why did he have to send me?

I'm like a son to him.

EZRI: Quark, you're mumbling again.

I'm sorry.

It's... it's just not fair.

I have responsibilities of my own customers who depend on me.

But the Grand Nagus picked you for this assignment.

Some assignment... a fact-finding mission to the front lines.

Zek's already inundated with Starfleet Intelligence reports.

What could I tell him that he doesn't know?

Maybe he wants to hear things from a Ferengi perspective.

Then let him ask Nog.

The Nagus trusts you.

What are you trying to do?

Cheer me up?

It's my job.

Remember the 34th Rule of Acquisition.

"War is good for business."

Only from a distance.

The closer you are to the front lines the less profitable it gets.

( explosion )

( alarm blares )

What is that?

Stay here.

Wait! Don't leave!

This is no time to be wandering the corridors.

I thought the Chin'toka System was in Federation hands.

It is, but the Dominion is determined to take back their territory.

The whole system's a battleground.

( yells )

Thank you.

I should probably write this down.

Mr. O'Brien, keep an eye out for more Jem'Hadar ships.

Aye, sir.

What are you doing here, Uncle?

I'm... visiting.

I'm working.

Quark, is there something we can do for you?

Not really.

I just came by to say hello to my nephew.

All right. You've just said hello.

Anybody here who would like to join me in the mess hall for a raktajino?

Quark.

I'm just leaving.

Sir, I assure you that won't happen again.

Nog, your uncle's just a little nervous.

He's not used to being in a combat situation.

That's no excuse.

Captain, the supplies are ready for transport.

WORF: AR-558 has acknowledged your message.

They are expecting you.

Away team, you're with me.

Mr. Worf, she's all yours.

WORF: Aye, sir.

Not much to look at, is it?

Those are Federation phasers.

Hold your fire!

I'm Captain Benjamin Sisko of the USS Defiant.

WOMAN: You heard him!

Cease fire, damn it!

We're coming out!

Who told you to open fire?

I saw movement.

I thought it was the Jem'Hadar.

They look like Jem'Hadar to you?

I gave the word to hold your fire; that Starfleet Officers were beaming down with supplies.

Well, nobody told me.

( sighs )

Sorry, Captain-- a little breakdown in communications.

No harm was done.

Where's Captain Loomis?

He was killed ten days ago.

So was Commander Parker.

Who's in command?

I am.

Lieutenant Nadia Larkin.

Ben Sisko.

Where do you want your supplies?

Vargas can show you.

Supplies... that's great.

Don't they know we need to get off this rock?

Take it easy, Vargas.

Take it easy?

I would love to take it easy.

Get me out of this vole hole and I promise you for the rest of my life all I'll do is just take it easy.

According to Starfleet regulations we're supposed to be rotated off the front lines after 90 days. 90 days.

We've been stuck on this rock for five months, Captain.

Take it easy.

Welcome to paradise, Captain.

There it is-- the only reason anyone gives a damn about this place.

It's the largest Dominion communications array in the sector.

If we can figure out how it works we should be able to tap into their entire com system.

One thing's for sure-- they're determined to get it back.

We can't let that happen.

I know our orders, Captain but maybe Starfleet Command isn't aware of our situation.

We've been holding this place for five months-- that's five months of fighting off repeated Jem'Hadar attempts to get it back.

When we landed here, there were 150 of us.

We're down to 43.

I appreciate what you've gone through and I will make sure that Starfleet understands your situation but from what I hear our forces are spread pretty thin in this system.

Chances are, you're going to be stuck here for a while longer.

Lucky us.

Can someone hand me a duonetic coupler?

Thanks.

Your frequency discriminator seems to be drifting.

You might want to reset it.

You an engineer?

No... but Tobin, one of my previous hosts, was.

Close enough.

Pick up a microdyne coupler and start recalibrating that transtator.

( whispering ): Nog, shouldn't you be helping Dr. Bashir unload the supplies?

( whispering ): We're pretty much finished.

Good.

The sooner we get out of here, the better.

That soldier over there, you see his necklace?

Those are ketracel-white tubes.

QUARK: So?

You know how he got them?

Mail order?

He took them off the bodies of dead Jem'Hadar--

Jem'Hadar that he killed.

It's his way of keeping score.

And you find that impressive?

Isn't it?

I don't think so.

Take a look around you, Nog.

This isn't the Starfleet you know.

Sure it is.

It's just that these people have been through a lot.

They've been holed up here a long time... seen two-thirds of their unit killed but they haven't surrendered... and do you know why?

Because they're heroes.

Maybe, but I still don't want you anywhere near them.

( dismissive snort )

Let me tell you something about hu-mans, Nephew.

They're a wonderful, friendly people as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working... but take away their creature comforts deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers... put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those same, friendly, intelligent, wonderful people will become as nasty and as violent as the most bloodthirsty Klingon.

You don't believe me?

Look at those faces.

Look in their eyes.

You know I'm right, don't you?

Well... aren't you going to say something?

I feel sorry for the Jem'Hadar.

BASHIR: This is 20cc's of numinol tetraminothen.

That'll take care of the fever and the chest congestion.

This... will get rid of the dermal irritation on your back.

Better?

Oh... are you kidding?

I haven't felt this good since the day I landed on this rock.

Good. Now, I'd like to take a look at this arm.

What the hell are you doing?

You keep your hands off this bandage.

I need to treat your wound.

Nobody touches this bandage.

Is that understood?

Why is that?

I asked you if you understood.

Yes.

McGreevey put this bandage on me.

He ripped up his own uniform to make it.

He sounds like a good friend.

He was a jerk.

I couldn't stand the guy.

He wouldn't shut up.

Yap, yap, yap.

He thought he was the world's greatest authority on everything.

I know... he's dead, and I should have more respect but God, I hated him.

One minute, he's tying this bandage around my arm talking his head off and the next minute, he's lying flat on his back with a hole in his chest...

( voice breaking ): and I just sat there and I looked at him.

It was so great.

He was so quiet!

One time in his life, he's quiet!

( sniffling )

I still need to treat your wound.

( Vargas softly groaning )

SISKO: I think you've set up a solid defense perimeter but you need to tighten this flank.

Captain, can I have a minute?

These people's physical and mental health is precarious at best.

They need more than a few food replicators and medical supplies.

They need to be shipped out of here.

I understand that, but right now there's nothing I can do about that.

( explosion )

Damn it!

( people calling out )

I saw it happen.

He was walking along...

SISKO: You must have swept the compound for antipersonnel mines.

A hundred times.

It doesn't help, not with Houdinis.

Houdinis?

Find one and you disappear.

They hide in subspace and appear at random.

You can walk by the same place a hundred times and nothing happens, and then, bang.

You're wasting your breath, Vargas.

It's not the Captain's problem.

He's leaving.

I wish I could tell you things were going to get easier for you.

Don't worry about us, Captain.

WORF ( on com ): Defiant to Captain Sisko.

Go ahead.

Sir, we're being attacked by two Jem'Hadar ships.

We have locked onto your coordinates.

Are you ready for transport?

Stand by, Mr. Worf.

O'BRIEN: Captain, sensors show Jem'Hadar troops landing nine kilometers from your position.

Sir, we must beam you aboard now.

We have to break orbit.

Take evasive action, Mr. Worf.

We're staying here.

WORF: Sir, I must ask you to reconsider.

I do not know when we will be able to come back for you.

You have your orders, Commander.

WORF: Aye, sir.

Good luck.

What are you looking at?

We have work to do.

Yes, sir.

( loudly ): You heard the Captain.

( softer ): Sir, what are your orders?

There's only one order, Lieutenant.

We hold.

( tricorder beeping )

We need to find out how many Jem'Hadar troops landed and where they are.

Well, you're not going to learn anything with a tricorder.

We jam their sensors, they jam ours.

That's how it works.

Except they have an advantage-- they know where we are.

But that's all they know.

They don't know our defense position or how many of us there are.

All things considered

I'd still rather be in their shoes.

( whispering ): Anything, Ensign?

Plenty. I can hear Vargas' stomach grumbling and Ezri tuning a phase amplifier with a coil spanner in the communications bunker.

What about the Jem'Hadar?

Not a sound.

If they're out there, they're being very quiet.

They're out there.

( intermittent high-pitched whirring )

( whirring )

Keep your ears open, Ensign.

I will, sir.

See anything?

Uh-uh.

That knife you're working on... it's not Starfleet issue.

Can I see it?

You're supposed to be listening for the Jem'Hadar.

I know.

Then shut up and listen.

LARKIN: Here they come.

There's something wrong.

They're not firing.

Hold your fire!

Wh-where'd they go?

SISKO: They weren't here to begin with.

Holograms.

I don't understand.

It was a way for them to see what they were up against determine our numbers.

And pinpoint our positions.

( sighing ): Without risking any casualties-- smart.

Oh, yeah. They're smart, all right and we're as good as dead!

Not yet we aren't.

Is it over?!

SISKO: For now.

But the next time they won't send holograms.

( explosion )

Get that stretcher.

Let's get him to the Infirmary.

EZRI: Does that mean we stop working on the communications array?

They'll have to get along without you for a while.

We have to find the Houdinis and disarm them.

I'm all for that.

These mines are a nasty piece of engineering.

They're also impossible to detect.

I'm sorry, Captain but I'm an engineer, not a magician.

Larkin says you like a challenge.

I thought I did, but after banging my head against that communications array for the last few months, I'm not so sure anymore.

EZRI: He's just being modest, Captain.

Chief O'Brien would be proud to have him on his crew.

I can't think of higher praise.

( clears throat )

Now what?

Now we get to pull a rabbit out of our hat.

( panting )

Here.

You need to keep your strength up.

Thanks, Uncle, but I can get my own food.

What's the matter?

Afraid of looking weak in front of the hu-mans?

I want to earn their respect if that's what you mean.

At the price of your soul?

Look at you-- you hold that phaser rifle as if it were made of pure latinum.

We're in the middle of a war and this rifle can keep me alive.

I'm a Starfleet Officer.

You're a Ferengi and I wish you'd start acting like one.

You mean, hiding under a rock every time trouble starts?

I'll tell you one thing, Nephew-- if the Federation had listened to the Ferengi Alliance there never would have been a war.

Because we would have surrendered a long time ago.

No. We would have reached an accommodation.

We would have sat down across a negotiation table and hammered out a peace treaty.

One that both sides could live with.

You make it sound so simple.

Rule of Acquisition 125:

"You can't make a deal if you're dead."

SISKO: Nog.

I'm sending you, Larkin and Reese out on a scouting patrol.

Yes, sir.

I need to know what I'm up against-- how many Jem'Hadar are out there where they're camped and what kind of weapons they have with them.

When do we leave?

Right away.

QUARK: Hold on a minute!

Why Nog, when you have all these veterans to choose from?

No one asked your opinion.

Our tricorders aren't working.

But my hearing is.

SISKO: Exactly.

You can count on me, sir.

I'll find the Jem'Hadar.

LARKIN: Let's go.

Nog, wait a minute...

He has his orders, Quark.

That is so easy for you to say.

But I bet you wouldn't send Jake out there.

Jake is not a Starfleet Officer.

( clicking )

( beeping )

You did it.

Actually, I'm not sure it was me.

It could have been Tobin or Jadzia.

It doesn't matter.

The point is, you managed to cut through the jamming signals.

Unfortunately, I can't extend its range past a hundred meters.

That's enough to scan the entire compound.

Now the question is:

How do we calibrate the tricorder to locate the mines in subspace?

( sighing )

Maybe we could try cross-linking the optronic and isodyne relays.

You're sure you're not an engineer?

In nine lives, I've been a little of everything.

Doesn't that... doesn't that get confusing?

You have no idea.

Really.

I'll give you an example.

This is my first time on the front lines.

You're talking about Ezri now?

Right.

But Torias, Curzon and Jadzia, they were in battle many times and I can remember what that felt like.

I remember the fear and the anger and the adrenaline surge.

Having someone else's memories of being in combat is one thing.

Living through it yourself... is another.

I suppose I'm going to find out.

You'll do fine.

LARKIN: This is close enough, Nog.

What is it? What's going on?

It's time to go.

Right.

Let's go.

Psst!

( yells )

( yells )

( high-pitched scream )

VARGAS: Someone's coming!

Don't shoot! It's me-- Reese!

SISKO: Stretcher!

Nog!

What happened?!

REESE: Jem'Hadar patrol.

Larkin?

She's dead.

Damn!

The Ferengi found the encampment.

It's three kilometers south of here.

How many troops?

Two columns.

How we ever going to hold off two columns?

We'll have to even out the odds.

Any ideas?

I'm working on it.

Captain...

( breathing heavily )

...the kid did all right.

The doctor doesn't want anybody in there.

Well, how's Nog?

It's a little late for you to care about that, isn't it?

Quark...

He's going to lose his leg.

Does that answer your question?

Now what happens?

You will be able to replace the leg, won't you?

As soon as we can get him to a hospital he can be fitted with a biosynthetic limb.

Unfortunately, there, uh... may be complications.

What's that supposed to mean?

Nog suffered severe thermal damage to his femoral motor nerves, and I'm not sure they'll be able to stimulate artificial muscle tissue.

In fact, there's no way of knowing until after the operation has been performed.

I have to get inside.

We've got to get Nog to a hospital.

We will as soon as we can.

That's not good enough.

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

If you really cared about Nog you'd never have sent him out on that patrol.

Now you listen to me, Quark because I'm only going to say this one time.

I care about Nog and every solider under my command, understood?

Every single one.

Captain...

At ease, Ensign.

I'm sorry, sir.

About what?

About Larkin.

I led her right into a trap.

You found the Jem'Hadar camp.

I... I heard them coming, but it was too late.

There was all this phaser fire and I went down...

Nog...

...before I could...

...listen to me.

You followed orders.

You did what you were trained to do.

I'm proud of you.

Thank you, sir.

It doesn't hurt.

You'd think it would, but it doesn't.

I'm glad.

I'm going to be fine.

Captain... the communications array-- it's worth it, right?

I hope to God it is.

EZRI: Benjamin, sorry to interrupt.

We're ready.

Remember, no one moves until I say so.

Go ahead, Lieutenant.

Now all we have to do is figure out how to disarm them.

We're not going to disarm them.

We're going to use them.

This is their camp, this is ours.

There are mountains to the east and west which means they have to come through this ravine to get to us.

Then that's where we'll relocate the mines.

KELLIN: Moving them shouldn't be too difficult.

Delicate, but not difficult.

I also want you to reprogram them so that they're triggered by movement.

Make sure it's lots of movement.

We want that ravine full of Jem'Hadar when those Houdinis start to go off.

I think we can manage that.

REESE: That should take out a third of their forces.

What's the matter, old man?

Don't you think it'll work?

It's not that.

It's just that a few hours ago, we thought of these mines as the kind of ruthless weapon only the Dominion would use, but now...

They become a whole lot friendlier.

Sooner or later, the Jem'Hadar are going to come through those barricades and when they do, the fewer there are the better our chances of survival.

You have your orders.

Power packs.

Did you hear that?

I didn't hear anything.

Relax. When they get here, you'll know it.

Power packs.

( rhythmic clicking )

I'm sorry.

My, uh, thumb got a little nervous.

I know how you feel.

I wonder if the Jem'Hadar get jittery before a battle.

I wouldn't count on it.

VIC ( recorded ): ♪ In that small... ♪

What the hell is that?

Shh, listen.

♪ ...park across the way ♪

♪ The children's carousel ♪

♪ The chestnut trees ♪

♪ The wishing well ♪

♪ I'll be seeing you ♪

♪ In every lovely summer's day ♪

♪ In everything that's bright and gay ♪

♪ I'll always think of you that way... ♪

Your idea?

Yeah, I thought we could all use a little Vic Fontaine right about now.

How's Nog?

There isn't much I can do for him until I get him back to the station.

I take it you were able to move the mines.

Put it this way, I wouldn't go for a stroll through that ravine tonight.

I wasn't planning on it but then again

I wasn't planning on being here.

( song continues )

I can see you've done that before.

Too many times.

Funny... I joined Starfleet to save lives.

♪ ...when the night is new... ♪

( distant explosion )

♪ I'll be looking at the moon ♪

♪ But I'll be seeing you. ♪

( explosions continue )

( song ends )

Maybe they're not coming.

Maybe they're turning back.

Maybe we got them all.

( distant cries and howls )

( howling grows louder )

Fire!

( groans )

( yells )

( yells )

( grunting )

( yelling )

( grunts )

( yells )

( battle sounds continue )

( grunting )

( sighs )

( grunting )

( groans )

Kellin?

Kellin?!

( yells )

( grunts )

( groans )

( sighs )

You alive?

Captain... are you with us?

I think so.

We held.

Those were our orders, sir.

Captain.

Yes, Mr. Worf.

The USS Veracruz has entered orbit.

They're beaming down troop replacements and an engineering crew.

What about our people?

Dr. Bashir is aboard the Veracruz with Nog and the rest of the wounded.

They will be taken to a hospital on Starbase 371.

Good.

I'll return to the Defiant shortly.

This was a great victory one worthy of story and song.

It cost enough.

This way.

You two, sector four.

Children.

Not for long.

Ready?

Let's go.

Sisko to Defiant.

Three to beam up.

Sir, the latest casualty reports have just been posted.

How many this time?

Including the troops lost at AR-558-- 1,730.

Seventeen hundred thirty...

It's a lot of names.

They're not just names.

It's important we remember that.

We have to remember.