TEASER

FADE IN:

1 INT. UTOPIA PLANITIA - CORRIDOR

A RED ALERT light flashes urgently, keeping rhythm with a wailing SIREN. Ugly dark SMOKE drifts across it, as scared VOICES chatter in the background, and the sound of PHASERS.

Ensign FYYL, a young male Bolian engineering officer fresh out of Starfleet Academy, runs down the corridor waving the smoke away. He is verging on panic - this situation is much more than he ever wanted or expected to face.

Ahead of him, at the end of the corridor, the PRESSURE DOOR is starting to rumble closed. Not wanting to end up trapped in this narrow, creaking corridor, Fyyl dashes for the door and DIVES for the shrinking gap between it and the deck...

2 INT. UTOPIA PLANITIA - JUNCTION ROOM

Fyyl skids across the floor, CRASHING into the far wall of this small boxy space with an OOF. He scampers to his feet, reaches quickly for the COMPUTER PANEL in the wall, working it even as the red alert sirens continue to wail elsewhere.

FYYL
This is Ensign Fyyl, reporting
section twenty-three-gamma
secure. Requesting new orders...
please... I don’t know what’s going
on. I don’t know what to do!

The computer shows a graphic of the UTOPIA PLANITIA CONTROL CENTRE - a modular Starfleet design comprising a vertical tubular core with half-globes at each end, and two rings of other domed structures linked to the core by smaller tubes.

As Fyyl watches the screen, sections of the graphic turn in sequence from YELLOW to GREEN, indicating those sections have also reported in secure. Fyyl breathes in relief...

...until other sections turn instead from yellow to RED. Whatever is going on here, it is only getting worse.

3 EXT. SPACE - UTOPIA PLANITIA FLEET YARDS

The control centre hangs in space, the hull breached and ATMOSPHERE escaping from one of the narrow connecting arms.

PAN across the many starship construction frames containing half-built ships, over the red curve of MARS hanging below, readings in green ROMULAN script super-imposed as we go...

...then we ZOOM sharply and artificially to the outskirts of the facility until we find the Nova-class USS Sparrow, calmly patrolling. More Romulan sensor readings flow.

4 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - BRIDGE

Subcommander T’JUL, an officer whose light eyes and long chestnut hair make her stand out from the usual Romulan soldier, observes this with tense interest. The sounds and voices of a low-lit Romulan bridge continue around her...

KOZIK (o.s.)
The patrol vessel is beginning
to react to the red alert...

MARIUS (o.s.)
The command centre?

KOZIK (o.s.)
They were venting atmosphere,
but forcefields are now in place.

MARIUS (o.s.)
As expected. No matter, it’s the
first crack in the dam.

T’Jul stands taller at this news...

5 INT. UTOPIA PLANITIA - CORRIDOR

Poor terrified Ensign Fyyl dashes back into the now-sealed corridor. PHASER in hand, he pelts towards the far end, towards the SOUNDS of weapons fire and shouting voices.

Through the windows, he sees across empty space to other tube connectors, and similarly panicked scenes taking place inside them. The far door opens, Fyyl plunges through... 

6 INT. UTOPIA PLANITIA - CORRIDOR

...and right into a FIREFIGHT he is in no way prepared for. He SLAMS himself against the bulkhead to avoid the criss-crossing phaser beams, flinching from the heat and light.

To one side, through the smoke, three Starfleet security FIRE their phasers. Fyyl FIRES his own weapon blindly in the same general direction, no idea what he’s firing at.

Return shots blast down the corridor, catching one of the security officers - he collapses to the deck, eyes open but lifeless. Fyyl stares at him in terrified horror.

OFFICER
Fall back!

The second security OFFICER lays down covering fire towards the intruder, while the third beckons Fyyl urgently towards them. The young Bolian ducks his head and runs for cover. But as he reaches them and they begin to back away...

...An EXPLOSION fills the corridor, a WALL OF FIRE racing towards Fyyl and the security officers. They turn to run...

7 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - BRIDGE

The viewscreen of the Romulan bridge shows the station...

MARIUS (o.s.)
Increase magnification.

The viewscreen ZOOMS IN, and through the same windows they can see the wall of flame rolling down the corridor, and the doomed Starfleet officers trying to stay ahead of it.

They fail - the explosion swallows them up.

Seeing this, T’Jul briefly looks away - those officers were only doing their jobs. Then she steels herself and looks back - she is also here to do hers.

T’Jul finally turns and looks to the centre chair and the older Romulan male sitting in it - Commander MARIUS. He nods his permission, and she moves into action.

T’JUL
Move us into position, Centurion.

KOZIK
Yes, Subcommander.

Centurion KOZIK works his console, and the image on screen shifts as the Romulan ship moves closer to the station...

KOZIK
Commander - internal comm traffic
suggests their security forces are
closing in on the operative.

T’Jul tenses - that would not be good. Another ALERT...

KOZIK
The Starfleet patrol ship is now
moving to assist, and they are
charging their tractor beam -

T’JUL
Have they detected us?

KOZIK
I do not believe so, Subcommander.
The cloaking device is operating
according to specifications.

T’Jul turns towards her commander Marius, speaks softly...

T’JUL
Commander, it is a new generation
of cloak. The Dekkona is the first
vessel to be fitted with it. There
could be variables we did not -

Before Marius can respond, a new EXPLOSION briefly whites out the screen - but notably does not rock the ship.

8 EXT. SPACE - UTOPIA PLANITIA FLEET YARDS

The explosion has ruptured the inverted dome at the bottom of the station, all but severing it from the core. A new BALL OF FLAME billows out of the hole...

...and right towards the Sparrow. Shields protect the small Starfleet ship but are unable to stop it from being THROWN backwards by the force of the blast.

9 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - BRIDGE

Seeing the station list sideways, venting more atmosphere, running lights flickering wildly, T’Jul is alarmed.

T’JUL
That’s too soon.

MARIUS
(urgent)
Go. Get to the transition control
room and prepare for extraction.

T’Jul leaves the bridge without another word.

10 INT. UTOPIA PLANITIA - CORRIDOR

Another figure runs down another dark corridor, RED ALERT lights flashing, SMOKE hissing, distant voices pursuing.

This is the one responsible for all this - a male alien, humanoid but of a species we have not seen before, bronze skin with thin white hair. He is called KAZREN, and he wears a Starfleet engineering jumpsuit (as seen in TNG).

He turns a corner into a dark and empty alcove. Not enough of a hiding place. But as the voices grow closer, he spots a service hatch in the bulkhead, close to the deck.

He grasps his phaser, steps briefly back out of the alcove and HURLS the weapon as hard as he can down the corridor. It spontaneously FIRES through the smoke as it flies.

Then Kazren crouches down, rips open the service hatch and crawls inside, curling up into a ball and pulling the hatch cover back into place to hide himself.

Half a dozen Starfleet security run down the corridor, following the phaser fire and completely missing Kazren’s tiny hiding place...

11 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

T’Jul dashes into the room, dominated by a large platform atop which rests a complex construction of articulated metal bars, almost like a child’s climbing frame.

Two junior officers - DIVELN and RIXORA - crew a standing console opposite this. T’Jul is right to business.

T’JUL
Display the ship.

DIVELN
Yes, Subcommander.

A screen displays a SCHEMATIC of the very ship they are on, the Mogai-class IRW Dekkona, pride of the Romulan fleet.

T’JUL
Expand.

The SCHEMATIC recedes until both the Dekkona and the Utopia Planitia control centre can be seen. They are surprisingly close - the Romulans’ cloaking device has brought them to the very heart of the Federation. T’Jul is proud of this.

RIXORA
Subcommander - we’re not picking
up the operative’s homing beacon.

T’JUL
Secondary protocol then, passive
sensors only. The operative’s
physical parameters are on file.

RIXORA
Yes, sir. Initiating scan.

T’Jul waits nervously - she does not want to be responsible for something going wrong at this late stage. Finally...

RIXORA
I’ve located the operative, sir.
He’s alive, near the extraction
point, but stationary.

T’JUL
Is he alone?

RIXORA
Yes, Subcommander.

T’JUL
Tell Commander Marius we’re taking
helm control, then take us in.

DIVELN
Firing thrusters...

On the display, the two graphics of the Romulan ship and the Starfleet station grow closer... closer...

DIVELN
Ten... nine... eight...

T’Jul watches the screen, hoping this will work...

12 INT. UTOPIA PLANITIA - SERVICE HATCH

Kazren curled up in his tiny hiding space, as the angry VOICES of Starfleet security grow closer... closer...

13 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

The graphics of the Romulan ship and the Starfleet station are practically bulkhead to bulkhead, about to crash...

DIVELN (o.s.)
Six... five... four...

And then the two graphics actually CROSS, the Romulan ship passing THROUGH the Starfleet station. T’Jul smiles with small relief, but the mission is not over yet...

DIVELN
One! Extraction point achieved,
initiating phase transition...

On the platform, the construction of metal bars SHIFTS, quickly rearranging itself until it forms the shape of a small CUBE, big enough for a humanoid to crouch inside...

14 INT. UTOPIA PLANITIA - SERVICE HATCH

Kazren begins to GLOW, his body overtaken by a blue-green energy, something like a transporter but not quite...

15 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

The platform and its metal bars also GLOW, a blinding white light that forces T’Jul to wince...

...inside the cube, the blue-green energy starts to form the shape of a body, bit by bit, agonisingly slowly...

16 INT. UTOPIA PLANITIA - SERVICE HATCH

The troop of Starfleet security officers TEAR the service hatch open, but to their frustration find nothing inside.

17 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

The energy finally solidifies into the form of KAZREN. The glow recedes, the metal bars disengage, the frame opening out. Kazren stands tall, steps down from the platform.

KAZREN
Subcommander T’Jul... we have
achieved our mutual objective.

He reaches into a pocket of his Starfleet jumpsuit and pulls out an isolinear chip, holds it in his palm. T’Jul gazes at this chip with a thrill of satisfaction. This is what it’s all been about. She reaches out...

But Kazren SNAPS his fist closed around the chip before T’Jul can take it from him.

KAZREN
Our orders are to deliver the
information directly to Salavat.

T’JUL
Of course.

Swallowing her frustration, T’Jul instead bends to pick up a small crate, hands it to Kazren.

T’JUL
Your suit is ready. I imagine you
must be eager to wear it again
after going so long without.

Kazren takes the box without a word, lays it down, enters a code onto its control panel - it opens with a HISS. Then he starts quickly stripping off his Starfleet jumpsuit.

T’Jul turns back to her subordinates...

T’JUL
Disengage from the station, then
signal Commander Marius that we
can proceed to the delivery point.

RIXORA
Yes, Subcommander.

As T’Jul turns back to Kazren, she sees him just snapping the chestplate of his suit into place.

T’JUL
You have performed a great service
for your people and mine today,
Trop Kazren.

As T’Jul watches, Kazren dons the final part of his suit - a BREEN HELMET. He replies in the usual grating Breen ELECTRONIC BUZZ, translated into ON-SCREEN SUBTITLES:

KAZREN
Long live the Breen Confederacy.
Long live the Typhon Pact.

Off that...

BLACK OUT

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

18 EXT. CHATEAU THELIAN - NIGHT

A grand chateau, built in the classic French style, sits among the lush trees and vineyards of the Loire Valley, the “garden of France”. This has been the official residence of the Federation President since the early 24th Century, and is named for the famous Andorian former president Thelian.

19 INT. CHATEAU THELIAN - SITTING ROOM

President BACCO enters the room, where only a small lamp lights the dark wood-panels. In her 90s but still a force to be reckoned with, the human woman wears a dressing gown and slippers, and a distinctly displeased disposition.

BACCO
It’s four o’clock in the morning,
Esperanza. What the hell are
you doing in my house?

Chief of staff PIÑIERO steps up, with Secretary SHOSTAKOVA (off-world human female, 50s) and Admiral ABRIK (Trill male, 50s) holding back and letting her take the brunt.

PIÑIERO
I apologise, Madam President, but
there’s been an incident. There
was an explosion at the Utopia
Planitia fleet yards.

BACCO
I swear to god, if you’ve woken
me up for an industrial accident -

ABRIK
No, ma’am. In fact the preliminary
reports suggest the yards’ command
centre was sabotaged... to conceal
the theft of classified data.

BACCO
What data?

ABRIK
The full schematics for quantum
slipstream drive, ma’am.

 Bacco slumps into one of the soft Chesterfield couches.

BACCO
This is bad, isn’t it?

PIÑIERO
I would never have interrupted
a good night’s sleep if it wasn’t.

BACCO
Don’t be ridiculous, I haven’t had
a good night’s sleep since I took
this job. What do we know?

ABRIK
Not as much as we’d like, ma’am.
I have also been unable to contact
Admiral Akaar... no-one seems to
know where he is.

AKAAR (o.s.)
I’m right here, Mister Abrik.

The door opens again to reveal Admiral AKAAR, the highest admiral in the service. The tall Capellan wears a similar robe, one which does not fully cover his enormous physique.

Piñiero, Shostakova and Abrik cover their reactions as they realise with horror that Bacco and Akaar had been sleeping together. Akaar maintains perfect dignity in his shorty-robe, while Bacco’s defiant gaze dares them to comment.

AKAAR
You were saying, Admiral...?

ABRIK
Umm... yes, sir. We’re fairly sure
the spy was a civilian engineer
named Kazren. His file lists his
species as “Dessev”, but -

BACCO
Never heard of ‘em.

ABRIK
Indeed, ma’am, he appears to be
the first of his kind we’ve ever
met. He gained access to Utopia
Planitia’s main computer using
stolen credentials and specialised
tools to fool the bio-sensors.

Abrik passes a PADD to Bacco. Akaar leans over to see...

INSERT - THE PADD

A VIDEO CLIP, as taken by the USS Sparrow, showing the hull breach venting atmosphere, the first explosion that killed Ensign Fyyl, and the larger explosion that sent the Sparrow itself rolling and causing the recording to cut off.

BACK TO SCENE

Bacco and Akaar receive this with anger and stoicism.

ABRIK
The first explosion helped him to
evade capture while he transmitted
a locator signal. The second seems
intended to disable the station’s
shields and cover his beam-out.

AKAAR
Beam-out? To where?

ABRIK
Sensor readings from the station
itself and from its patrol vessel
the USS Sparrow suggest... that
a cloaked Romulan vessel was
waiting nearby to pick Kazren up.

BACCO
How the hell did a cloaked vessel
get past our perimeter defences
all the way into Mars orbit?

ABRIK
(re the padd)
Judging by those readings, I’d say
the Romulans have put phasing
cloaks into active service.

AKAAR
If so, they could be roaming at
will throughout Federation space.

PIÑIERO
That’s true, sir, but there is a
bigger problem. If the Typhon Pact
develops their own version of the
slipstream drive, we lose the only
tactical advantage we have left.

AKAAR
(stands tall)
If you’ll excuse me, ma’am,
I should contact Starfleet.

BACCO
Yes, thank you, Leonard. You can
use the comm in the study.

AKAAR
Admiral Abrik, join me.

Akaar heads back through the door; Abrik follows. Bacco hauls herself upright and heads to a different door...

BACCO
The replicator is calling, ladies.
Accompany me to the kitchen.

The three women exit together...

20 INT. CHATEAU THELIAN - KITCHEN

At the replicator in the wall, Bacco orders...

BACCO
Decaf coffee, French roast, black
and hot.

PIÑIERO
Decaf?

BACCO
You can thank my doctor for that.

Bacco reaches in and picks up the mug, warming her hands on it. Then she leads Piñiero and Shostakova over to the large dining table, and they all perch on stools around it.

BACCO
Ms Shostakova, you’ve been awfully
quiet. Is this as bad as Starfleet
says, or are they over-reacting?

SHOSTAKOVA
I don’t think they’ve exaggerated
the threat, Madam President.

BACCO
How likely is it that the Typhon
Pact was really behind this?

SHOSTAKOVA
Extremely likely. They’re the only
power in local space with both the
resources and the motivation to
perpetrate such an act.

BACCO
But I thought this new Romulan
Praetor - what’s her name?

PIÑIERO
Kamemor, ma’am. Gell Kamemor.

BACCO
Yeah, her. I thought she was
supposed to be, you know, sane.

SHOSTAKOVA
Maybe that was simply propaganda
to get us to drop our guard. Or
maybe she doesn’t yet have full
control of her Empire.

BACCO
That’s a cheery thought for four
in the morning.
(sigh; sips coffee)
What about this spy guy? What’s
a Dessev when it’s not at home?

PIÑIERO
I’ve never heard that name, ma’am.

SHOSTAKOVA
He likely misrepresented himself,
name and homeworld. Clearly, more
stringent processes are required
for hiring civilian employees at
high-security facilities.

BACCO
Really? You think?
(beat)
Esperanza, initiate full security
reviews of all personnel, civilian
and Starfleet, at facilities that
require higher than level five.

PIÑIERO
Yes, Madam President.

BACCO
I assume we are looking for the
stolen schematics, yes? Digging
into the spy’s background?
(Shostakova nods)
How do we spin this for the press?

PIÑIERO
An accident, like you said. It’s a
shipyard, industrial environment.
Mistakes happen, and sometimes
even the best safeguards fail.

BACCO
(nods)
Okay. Tack on the usual - hearts
go out, pledge our support, blah
blah blah. You know the drill.

PIÑIERO
We still need to talk about the
political fallout. If the Typhon
Pact were behind this, Tezrene
will start talking as soon as she
thinks we’re at a disadvantage.

SHOSTAKOVA
So how do we stop her from feeding
the real story to the press?

PIÑIERO
By making her think we have some
other ace up our sleeve - one so
devastating she doesn’t even want
to know what it is, never mind see
it in action, but that we’re fully
prepared to use if she pushes us.

BACCO
And if we end up provoking the
Typhon Pact into a shooting war?

PIÑIERO
I don’t think we’re there yet. If
they were ready to take us on head
to head, they wouldn’t be pulling
all this cloak-and-dagger stuff.

The door opens and AKAAR re-enters, back in uniform and totally under control. ABRIK follows in his huge shadow.

AKAAR
Madam President, I’ve issued
orders for Starfleet to step up
patrols along the Romulan border.
If they were involved -

SHOSTAKOVA
That ship could be bound for any
number of worlds allied with the
Typhon Pact, Admiral. Those plans
could be anywhere - or everywhere
- within a matter of days.

BACCO
Then talk to me about response
plans. What’s our play here?
Diplomacy? Direct engagement?

PIÑIERO
(hates to say)
Neither, ma’am. I think we need
to look at covert operations.

BACCO
We talking Starfleet Intelligence
or Federation Security?

AKAAR
Starfleet. If it were a strictly
internal matter I’d say civilian,
but Starfleet is better equipped
to take action on foreign soil.

ABRIK
We’re also more culpable. If we
send civilians to an enemy world,
we can always disavow them if they
get caught. If we send Starfleet
personnel, that’s an act of war.

AKAAR
(to Abrik)
But only we have the resources to
mount an insertion and extraction
mission on so short a time scale. 
(to Bacco)
I assure you, Madam President,
if a better option were available,
I’d recommend it. But it isn’t.

Bacco sits to ponder for a moment, sipping her coffee...

BACCO
Alright, Admiral. Give Starfleet
Intelligence the go-ahead. If the
Typhon Pact wants to build a slip-
stream ship, SI is authorised to
do whatever it takes to stop them.

PIÑIERO
Ma’am, I’m not sure that such
a broad license is -

BACCO
(spins on her)
Whatever it takes, Esperanza. They
hit us at home, killed our people,
stole our property. If they intend
to use it against us, I want them
shut down with extreme prejudice. 
(to Akaar)
SI is clear to proceed with a full
sanction black op. Understood?

AKAAR
Yes, Madam President.

BACCO
Good. Now get out of my house,
all of you. I have to bullshit the
Federation Council about this in
forty minutes, and I’d quite like
to shower first.

ALL
Thank you, Madam President.

Abrik and Shostakova leave. Piñiero hovers at the door long enough to see Akaar place a hand of comfort on Bacco’s arm, and Bacco place her own hand over it in silent gratitude.

Piñiero smiles, then quickly leaves before either can see her witness their private moment. Akaar follows her out...

...leaving Bacco alone at her kitchen table.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

21 EXT. BAJOR - SISKO’S HOUSE - DAY

Sisko’s house sits in the Kendra valley, as seen in many previous episodes...

22 VIDEO CLIP

FLAMES burst out of the ragged hole in the space station, carrying burned and twisted fragments of hull into space, until our POV is overwhelmed by it and cuts to STATIC. It is the same video Bacco and Akaar watched, but judiciously edited to hide any hint of a firefight inside the station.

CUT TO:

23 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - OFFICE

KASIDY flinches, even knowing that this is just a local news report on the SCREEN that sits on her desk. She sits in her office chair, watching as the report, starring our regular Bajoran newsreader TIANA FEEN, continues...

TIANA (screen)
That footage was recorded by the
USS Sparrow during what Starfleet
are calling a “tragic accident” at
the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards
in the Terran system.

Kasidy tenses at the mention of Utopia Planitia. The screen changes to show an image of Ensign FYYL, looking incredibly young and hopeful in his official Starfleet headshot.

TIANA (o.s.)
A full casualty count has yet to
be released, but it is known that
Ensign Jawit Fyyl, a young officer
on his first posting, was killed
in the blast. His Academy tutor,
Professor Miles O’Brien, called
him “a promising engineer
whose loss will be deeply felt.”

Kasidy taps the screen to PAUSE the report and stands from the chair, trying to control her emotions - sadness, anger, frustration. She looks out the window to the back garden, where daughter REBECCA is running around without a care.

As the girl kicks her way through the fallen autumn leaves, her live-in childminder JASMINE picks her up and swings her around, leaves flying and the girl SHRIEKING with delight. Kasidy flinches again at what sounds like a scream.

Off-screen we hear the SLAM of the back door as Rebecca barrels through it and into the house, waving to Kasidy without pausing as she runs past the open office door...

REBECCA
Hi, mommy!

...on her way to her own bedroom. A moment later Jasmine appears, taking a moment to catch her breath.

JASMINE
That girl is gonna wear me out.

She looks up expecting at least a chuckle, but sees that Kasidy is not laughing. Curious, Jasmine looks past her, and sees the paused image of Ensign Fyyl. Thinking she knows the problem, Jasmine steps closer, comforting.

JASMINE
Poor kid. My old friends from the
Militia told me about it. Didn’t
Ben used to work there as well?

Kasidy flinches all over again at her husband’s name. Jasmine can see that something is on her friend’s mind.

KASIDY
He did. He doesn’t anymore.

JASMINE
Kas... please, what’s going on?
You haven’t been yourself for...
going on two months now. You
know I’m your friend, right?
You can talk to me.

Kasidy looks at Jasmine a moment, trying to decide, then closes the door to the office so Rebecca can’t hear. She heads back to the screen, works the controls, brings up a new recording - the one SISKO left in 13x22 “Disconnect.”

SISKO (comm)
That’s why, before recording this,
I sent a petition to the Mylea
courthouse... filing for divorce.
I think it’s the best thing.

Kasidy pauses it again, blank faced. Jasmine’s jaw drops...

KASIDY
I should have been expecting it.
We’ve been drifting apart for
years. But I honestly thought...

JASMINE
I take it Rebecca doesn’t know.

KASIDY
(shakes head)
I just keep telling her Starfleet
needs him to captain a starship...

JASMINE
Did he at least say why?

KASIDY
He believes the Prophets warned
him that if he stayed with me, his
life would be filled with sorrow.
And he thinks that means Rebecca
and me getting hurt if he’s here.
He said... that he loves us, and
that’s why he has to leave us.

JASMINE
Sounds like an excuse to me.

KASIDY
I know he believes it. Never made
any sense to me, but he really
believes in what they told him.

Jasmine is furious at Sisko on her friend’s behalf.

JASMINE
Then maybe you should give him
what he wants. If he cares more
about the Prophets than his own
family, he doesn’t deserve one.

But she sees that Kasidy is hurting over this, and tamps down her own anger so as to not make it any worse on her.

JASMINE
I’m sorry. What do you want to do?

KASIDY
I don’t know. I’ve played that
damn message over and over. I’ve
cried, I’ve screamed, I’ve cursed
the day I ever met him...

JASMINE
But you still love him, don’t you?
It’s okay if you do.

KASIDY
I’ve never met anyone like him.
He’s the father of my child. And
Rebecca adores him. Her favourite
toy is a model of a Starfleet ship
he gave her the last time he...

She drifts off, stares out of the window again, at the fallen leaves on the grass, where her daughter was happy.

KASIDY
So I will give him what he wants.
(back to Jasmine)
But at a price.

Off Kasidy’s newfound determination...

24 EXT. SPACE - ROBINSON

The Galaxy-class USS Robinson flies at impulse...

25 INT. ROBINSON - SISKO’S QUARTERS

The expansive captain’s quarters of a Galaxy-class vessel, as seen through TNG. SISKO sits on the couch, gazing at...

ON PERSONAL SCREEN

The portable computer on the coffee table shows a brief repeating clip of Kasidy and Rebecca laughing together.

BACK TO SCENE

Sisko watches the wife whose heart he broke, as she enjoys better times. Then the CHIME of the comm...

PLANTE (comm)
Bridge to Captain Sisko.

SISKO
Go ahead.

PLANTE (comm)
Sorry to disturb, sir, but there’s a
comm signal, for your eyes only.

SISKO
Send it down here, Commander.

Despite his head knowing better, Sisko’s heart can’t help but hope. But as Kasidy’s image is wiped from the screen, it’s replaced not by the real thing but by Admiral WHATLEY, grey and unrested. Sisko tries to hide his disappointment.

WHATLEY (screen)
Captain...

SISKO
Admiral. Good to see you.

WHATLEY (screen)
You too, Ben. And I wish it were
under better circumstances. But
I’m afraid I have new orders for
the Robinson and her crew.

Off Sisko’s concern at that...

26 INT. ROBINSON - CONFERENCE ROOM

The same VIDEO CLIP again, this time in HOLOGRAM form, cast up over the table, Sisko’s face seen through it as he sits.

As the clip repeats, we PAN around the other senior staff watching - ROGEIRO at Sisko’s right hand, then SIVADEKI, UTELN and PLANTE, plus a previously unseen Cygnian female, new science officer CORALA. Finally the engineer, Otevrel male RELKDAHZ, sit-leaning in a specially designed chair.

SIVADEKI
Utopia Planitia. The Federation
News Service said the explosion
was an accident.

SISKO
It wasn’t.

PLANTE
Then who did it? And why?

SISKO
An as-yet-unknown saboteur and
spy. Whoever they were, they stole
the plans for quantum slipstream.

ROGEIRO
Just what we need, after the Borg
Invasion, then the Typhon Pact...

UTELN
Captain, the slipstream drive is
the only thing that’s allowed us
to maintain the balance of power.
Without it we’re vulnerable.

SISKO
Vulnerable is an understatement,
Mister Uteln. Starfleet believes
the Romulans rescued the spy, and
they’re trying to flee Federation
space aboard a cloaked vessel
right now.

ROGEIRO
(catching on)
And as the primary patrol vessel
along the Romulan border, our
mission is to catch them before
they get the chance to escape.

Sisko nods. All present realise what a tall order that is.

CORALA
Captain, you’re saying Starfleet
expects us to figure out how to
track a cloaked ship?

SISKO
Not just cloaked, Lieutenant. To
get as far into Federation space
as it did, Starfleet believes the
ship must have been using a new
cloaking system - a phase cloak.

Relkdahz speaks up - a tinny scratch processed into a male-inflected voice by his combadge.

RELKDAHZ
We’ve known they were working on
that tech for more than a decade.
We assumed they’d given up.

SISKO
Apparently not. You’ll have all
the sensor readings Starfleet can
give you, Mister Relkdahz. I want
you to work with Lieutenants Uteln
and Corala to come up with some
way, any way to see through that
cloak. That is your top priority.

CORALA
We’ll do our best, sir.

SISKO
Commanders Plante and Sivadeki,
your job is to come up with a
search pattern.

PLANTE
Are we authorised to enter the
Neutral Zone, Captain?

ROGEIRO
I don’t advise it, sir, not with
tensions as high as they are.

SISKO
Starfleet agrees. But as long as
we stay in Federation space, they
approve the use of whatever means
are necessary to stop that ship.

UTELN
Whatever means are necessary?
That doesn’t sound good.

SISKO
It isn’t.

SIVADEKI
Captain, I don’t mean to sound
negative, but space is big, and
we’re supposed to find a single
solitary vessel that’s hiding
behind a cloak we don’t even know
how to detect? I really don’t know
how we’re going to do this.

SISKO
I don’t know either, Commander.
But I do know we’re sure as hell
going to try.

Off Sisko’s stern expression...

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

27 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

At long last, back to our home in the Bajoran system, with at least one Starfleet ship docked at the station...

28 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

BASHIR sits alone at a table on the upper level, hunched and closed in, nursing a raktajino that is long since cold. He looks down to the main floor, sees no-one he recognises.

But QUARK sees him look, and calls up loudly and cheerily across the quieter-than-usual expanse of the bar...

QUARK
Doctor! Another raktajino for you?

A little embarrassed at the attention, Bashir calls back...

BASHIR
No thank you, Quark.

LOWER LEVEL

Quark turns away and starts wiping down the bar, muttering under his breath...

QUARK
That’s fine. It’s not as if I’d
rather have paying customers
at that table.

UPPER LEVEL

With a small smirk, Bashir looks away casually and mutters under his own breath...

BASHIR
You should really try to remember
that those doctors on Adigeon
Prime gave me hearing on a par
with the average Ferengi, Quark.

Bashir looks back down at the lower level again, and sees Quark FLINCH - he heard Bashir. He half-glances over his shoulder in Bashir’s direction with an apologetic smile, then turns back and busies himself with cleaning.

Bashir looks back into his coffee, sighs to himself...

BASHIR
They gave me everything...
except the ability to be happy.

He wallows a moment longer, then gets annoyed with himself and pushes the cold drink away. Gets up, turns to walk around the upper level of the bar towards the exit...

...Quark watching him as he goes...

29 INT. DS9 - PROMENADE

Bashir emerges onto the Promenade’s upper level, where the day proceeds as normal. He takes the spiral staircase, and descends to the lower level. An alien WOMAN and her young child wait patiently for him so they can take the stairs back up - Bashir nods politely to them as they pass.

The Replimat is busy with more varied aliens, all seemingly excited to be there. The Promenade itself is likewise, with the CROWDS feeling less like businesspeople on their way to work and more like tourists here to see the sights.

Bashir strolls through this, a touch bemused. Finally he reaches the INFIRMARY, just as its doors open and TENMEI exits. She spots Bashir and intercepts him...

TENMEI
Ah, there you are.

BASHIR
Lieutenant Tenmei. Have we somehow
become a tourist attraction while
I wasn’t looking?

TENMEI
Well, it is Gratitude Festival time.
It happens every year.

Bashir gives her an indulgent smile.

BASHIR
I’m aware of that, Lieutenant.
Eidetic memory, remember? I just
mean that when I first came to
this station thirteen years ago,
barely anyone in the Federation
had even heard of Bajor. Now
they take vacations here. 
(pause; considers)
Have I really been here thirteen
years? Hard to believe.

TENMEI
Hell, I’ve been here six. Time
flies when you’re living through
endless crises and disasters.
Besides, the grey suits you.

Bashir flinches at that - Tenmei gestures to the salt-and-pepper creeping into the doctor’s temples and new beard.

BASHIR
That’s quite enough of that, thank
you. Were you looking for me?

TENMEI
(back to business)
Oh, yes - I wanted to talk to you
about my father.

Bashir hesitates - he and Tenmei have had their conflicts before over her father, and he doesn’t want to inflame them again. Treading on eggshells...

BASHIR
Go on...

TENMEI
Don’t worry, Julian, I don’t want
to fight with you again either.
But you know what Opaka said
- that he was still in there.

BASHIR
Prynn... you know my feelings on
this. The evidence is clear -

TENMEI
I’m not saying I trust her sixth
sense over your medical equipment,
but you’ve worked miracles before.

BASHIR
Prynn... He’s comfortable, free of
pain, and surrounded by hospice
nurses dedicated to making sure he
stays that way. My medical advice
now is the same as it was a year
ago - there’s nothing more I can
do. It’s time to let him go.

Tenmei’s instinct is to attack, but she gets herself under control. She knows Bashir isn’t trying to be cruel.

TENMEI
I can’t. I'm sorry, Julian. I just
can’t, not if there’s still hope.

She turns and walks into the crowd. Bashir watches her go, sad. Then he enters the Infirmary.

30 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY

It’s quiet, no emergencies to handle. Bashir slumps into his seat, calls up displays on the computer.

BASHIR
Right, what have we got for the
afternoon?
(reads displays)
Vaccination updates for children
at station pre-school. Physicals
for all Starfleet personnel with
names between K and L. Health
code violations in all food outlets
except the Ferengi embassy.
(sigh)
So much for the excitement of
frontier medicine.

CENN (comm)
Ops to Doctor Bashir.

BASHIR
This is Bashir. Go ahead, Major.

CENN (comm)
The captain wants to see you in
her office on the double, Doctor.

Bashir is intrigued - maybe there is excitement after all. He locks out his computer and launches up from his chair...

BASHIR
On my way.

31 INT. DS9 - OPS

Bashir jumps off the turbolift as it arrives, eager for whatever this is. Major CENN is at the central table...

CENN
(re the office)
Go straight in, Doctor.

Bashir heads directly to the captain’s office. He passes Lt CANDLEWOOD at his station - the younger science officer playfully mocks in a childish sing-song tone...

CANDLEWOOD
You got called to the captain...

BASHIR
(withering)
John, you’re thirty years old.

Bashir carries on towards the office. Candlewood sulks...

CANDLEWOOD
(mutter)
Mean.

Bashir reaches the captain’s office. The door opens at his approach...

32 INT. DS9 - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE

...and he enters to see the recently promoted Captain RO standing to greet him. The captain’s guest also rises...

RO
Thanks for coming so fast, Doctor.

Ro gestures to her other guest - BETAZOID female Cmdr DEEL, a Starfleet officer wearing a BLACK collar instead of red.

RO
This is Commander Ilirra Deel from
Starfleet Intelligence.

BASHIR
(shakes her hand)
A pleasure to meet you, Commander.

DEEL
Likewise, Doctor. I’ve heard a lot
about you. Please, take a seat.

At Ro’s nod, they all sit. Bashir is rather intrigued...

RO
I hope we’re not interrupting
something important...

BASHIR
Oh, nothing that can’t be delayed.
I was talking to Lieutenant Tenmei
about her father...

DEEL
Ah yes, Captain Vaughn. I was
sorry to hear what happened.

BASHIR
Did you know him?

DEEL
We worked together briefly in
Intelligence. I considered him
something of a mentor.

Ro reacts to that a little - she felt that about him too.

RO
How is Prynn?

BASHIR
(sad smile)
Still unwilling to let him go. I can’t
blame her, though. She’s smart
enough to know what’s right, but
weak enough not to choose it.
(shrug)
But then that could describe any
of us, at one time or another.
(brightens)
So! What can I do for Starfleet
Intelligence?

DEEL
In fact I’m here to recruit you
for a special assignment, Doctor.

BASHIR
Something medical in nature,
I presume? Saving lives?

DEEL
Not this time, I’m afraid. This is
a full-sanction covert operation,
authorised by President Bacco
herself. That means that whoever
we send... has a license to kill.

Off Bashir’s reaction to that...

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

33 VIDEO CLIP

The same video clip all over again - explosion, space station torn apart, ball of flame carrying debris towards the camera, finally cut to static.

34 INT. DS9 - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE

Bashir, Ro and Deel watch this on Ro’s desktop screen, all suitably daunted. Bashir remains tense...

BASHIR
I’m sorry but I still don’t see
what this has to do with me.

DEEL
(re the screen)
The moment this happened, we began
analysing ship activity throughout
Typhon Pact territory, looking for
patterns that might suggest they
were gathering components and
material for building a slipstream
ship. We think we’ve found it.

RO
In Romulan space?

Deel brings up new data on the screen - an icy PLANET.

DEEL
Actually, no. We’re looking at the
Breen world of Salavat. Not much
more than a chunk of frozen rock,
but it’s been getting an awful lot
of attention lately from Breen and
Romulans. It’s also where they’ve
been shipping critical parts for a
chroniton integrator, which is the
secret to making slipstream work
without slamming into planets at a
thousand times the speed of light.

RO
If you know that’s where they’re
building the prototype, why not
just send in a fleet and frag the
whole planet?

DEEL
Tempting, but ultimately self-
defeating. We’re in no condition
to start a shooting war with the
Typhon Pact, Captain. Besides,
just because this is where they’re
building it doesn’t mean it’s the
only place they’re keeping the
plans. But it does mean it’s where
they’re doing their research -

BASHIR
(catching on)
And updating those plans as they
figure out how to make the drive
work with their ship designs.

DEEL
Very good, Doctor. That’s this
target’s real value. We don’t just
want to destroy the ship - we want
to sabotage the stolen data and
all its back-ups. If we succeed,
we can set back the Typhon Pact’s
slipstream research by a decade,
by which time Starfleet should
be back on its feet. If we fail...
I don’t think any of us wants to
know what happens after that.

BASHIR
On that much we can agree. But
I still don’t see why you think
I’m the right man for this job.
It’s hardly my area of expertise.

Deel brings up another new image - the madman ETHAN LOCKEN from 8x08 “Abyss”. Bashir is not happy to be reminded...

FLASHBACK - 8x07 “ROGUE”

-- Romulan dead bodies half-materialised through a wall

-- Locken smiling and polite, a pleasant older gentleman

BACK TO SCENE

Bashir shudders with revulsion. Deel continues unheeding...

DEEL
On the contrary Doctor. The after-
action report from your mission to
Sindorin suggests you’re quite
capable. In addition, Intelligence
suffered losses to the Borg just
like the rest of Starfleet. Quite
frankly we don’t have anyone with
the skills this mission requires.

BASHIR
And what skills would those be?

DEEL
Our knowledge of the Breen is
still limited. Remote observation
has yielded almost no usable intel
about their society or biology.
Whoever we send will have to think
and adapt at superhuman speeds.
The cold temperatures and higher
gravity on Salavat mean we need
someone with great strength and
endurance. And, not to put too
fine a point on it, but we need
someone who can fit in the suit.

BASHIR
(deep breath)
I see. Forgive me if I don’t seem
thrilled at the prospect of being
dropped alone onto a Breen planet
when you don’t even have any idea
what you’re sending me into. 

DEEL
Well, you wouldn’t be going in
alone. As for what you’d be going
into, we’ve brought some experts
who may be able to shed some light
on that. Assuming you’re willing
to commit to the mission.

Bashir is clearly struggling with this. He looks to Ro for guidance, but she only shrugs.

RO
Your call, Doctor.

DEEL
The fact is, Doctor, we need you.
Your enhanced abilities give you
a better chance of surviving this
mission than any other agent. If
you turn us down, we’ll go ahead
without you... but I honestly
don’t like our chances.

Bashir ponders for a moment, then makes his decision.

BASHIR
Alright, Commander. Let’s go and
meet your experts.

Off Bashir’s determination...

35 INT. DS9 - CARGO BAY

...to his utter dismay at who those experts are.

BASHIR
Oh no...

JACK (from 6x09 “Statistical Probabilities”) flashes a crazy-eyed smile, rattles out his rapid-fire speech...

JACK
Bet you weren’t expecting us,
were you? Hm? Hm? Hm?

Next to him, 60-year-old man-baby PATRICK bounces with excitement, gives a childish wave and a shy giggle...

PATRICK
Hello, Julian.

Bashir JERKS as a hand grabs his ass - he turns to find sex-crazed LAUREN leaning seductively against the wall...

LAUREN
Love the beard. Very sexy.

Bashir turns to Deel, who brought him here...

BASHIR
I’m out.

Bashir heads for the door, but Deel grabs his shoulder...

DEEL
I know about your history with
these three, Doctor, but -

BASHIR
Then you know they shouldn’t
even be here.

DEEL
(placating)
Let’s be reasonable, Doctor. You
and I both know that Jack and his
friends possess remarkable insight
when it comes to analysing raw
intelligence. They say they have
new information about the Breen
- information we need, Doctor.

Bashir pauses, something occurring to him. Then he gets it.

BASHIR
Oh, I see. The real reason you
need me isn’t that I’m enhanced.
It’s that Jack and his friends
won’t reveal their information
to anyone but me.
(to Jack etc)
Isn’t it?

JACK
(manic applause)
Bravo, Julian! Well done! Way to
use those synapses!

BASHIR
This is ridiculous...

JACK
This is life and death, Doctor!

Everyone flinches at Jack’s deafening outburst. He cringes.

JACK
Sorry.

DEEL
I know this looks bad, especially
after that unfortunate business
with the Dominion...

As Bashir remembers...

FLASHBACK - 6x09 “STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES”

-- Jack PUNCHES Bashir, he falls to the deck unconscious

-- Bashir and security catch Jack et al in the corridor

BACK TO SCENE

Deel continues...

DEEL
(continuing)
...but where our people hadn’t
made any progress in years, they
made breakthroughs in mere hours.

Deel steps close, speaks sotto, calm but firm, bringing her authority to bear...

DEEL
I could have Starfleet Command
make it an order, Doctor. But I’d
rather you consent to help us.

Feeling trapped, Bashir looks to the three savants. Jack shrugs. Patrick giggles. Lauren blows him a kiss.

BASHIR
Fine. Let’s get it over with.

Jack pokes Lauren on the arm repeatedly...

JACK
See? See? Told you he’d do it.
Told you. Knew he would. Said so.

Lauren rolls her eyes and struts off to safety. Only mildly chastened, Jack turns to Patrick and pokes him instead.

JACK
See? Told you.

BASHIR
(already
regretting this)
How long is this briefing supposed
to take?

DEEL
A few hours at least. They tell me
there’s a lot to go through.

Lauren reclines on a couch and seductively pats the space beside her.

LAUREN
You should make yourself...
comfortable, Julian.

Julian resists the urge to roll his own eyes...

BASHIR
I’m sure I’ll be fine, thank you
Lauren. We should get to work.

DEEL
Just a moment, Doctor. They should
brief your mission partner at the
same time. No point going through
it all twice.
(taps combadge)
Ready to start when you are.

VOICE (comm)
Coming.

Bashir recognises the voice with alarm. It can’t be. But a glance at the Jack Pack shows them smiling knowingly...

The cargo bay door opens, and SARINA strides confidently in. The fourth member of the Jack Pack is now strong and graceful, and she wears the same Starfleet uniform as Cmdr Deel - with the black collar. Bashir gazes in amazement...

FLASHBACK - 7x05 “CHRYSALIS”

-- Bashir and Sarina kiss on the star-backed Promenade

-- Sarina walks into the airlock, leaving Bashir forever

BACK TO SCENE

Miraculously back in his life, Sarina smiles at Bashir...

SARINA
Hello, Julian.

Bashir can only reply in a tiny, quaking voice...

BASHIR
Hello, Sarina.

In the background, Lauren leans in to whisper to Jack...

LAUREN
And you thought this would
be awkward.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

36 INT. DS9 - CARGO BAY

Jack paces back and forth before a screen showing a Breen headshot, gesturing wildly and nibbling on fingernails. Lauren stretches slinkily and Patrick bounces nervously.

The three intelligence agents sit calmly. Deel and Sarina pay attention, but Bashir can’t stop his eyes slipping to Sarina as he tries to fit his head around her being back...

PATRICK
(almost to self)
Their biology makes no sense...

JACK
He means that it’s inconsistent.
You have four totally different
physiological profiles for Breen,
did you know that? Hm? Hm? One
says they’re just humanoids with
canine snouts -

BASHIR
That’s pure speculation -

LAUREN
Because of the helmet. We know.

JACK
One says they’re sacks of ammonia
with skeletons and they just go -
(with gestures)
- “poof” at any temperatures above
fifteen degrees. That’s from your
own Major Kira.

PATRICK
(copies Jack with glee)
“Poof!”

BASHIR
Yes, I read her report...

FLASHBACK - 4x05 “INDISCRETION"

-- A Breen helmet is torn off to reveal KIRA underneath...

BACK TO SCENE

JACK
She did it twice! Twice!

PATRICK
Anyway, it’s Captain Kira.

LAUREN
Actually it’s Vedek -

DEEL
(calm but firm)
Stay on topic, please. Is that all
you have on Breen physiology?

LAUREN
Hardly. Starfleet thinks they’re
carbon-based, but a Klingon file
says they’re silicon-based. One
file says the Breen have four-
lobed brains, and another says
they have no blood at all.

FLASHBACK - 5x14 “IN PURGATORY’S SHADOW”

-- Bashir testing the blood of Garak, Martok etc, but not the Breen prisoner held with them by the Dominion

BACK TO SCENE

JACK
Gendered. Asexual. Hermaphroditic.

Jack is getting very agitated, throwing his hands in the air. Sarina tries to calm him with an appeal to his ego...

SARINA
What’s your hypothesis about the
Breen’s physiology, Jack?

JACK
Wouldn’t you like to know.

SARINA
(disarming smile)
Yes. I would.

JACK
(thrown off)
Oh. Well... okay. It goes beyond
biology. Beyond blood or no blood,
bones or ammonia sacks. It’s all
in those speech vocoders.

Jack brings up an AUDIO FILE and plays it - Bashir flinches at the harsh, industrial sound of Breen speech. After a few seconds, Jack shuts it off again and exclaims proudly...

JACK
There! Did you hear that?

BASHIR
Hear what?

LAUREN
(sigh, exasperated)
It’s not organic syntax, Julian.
It’s artificial. Like a universal
translator creates when it parses
one language into another.

DEEL
So... Breen language is computer
generated? Are they androids?

JACK
No no no! You’re totally missing
it! We’re saying there is no Breen
language. Those vocoders aren’t
for translating or amplifying -
they’re for scrambling.

PATRICK
It’s how they hide...
(stage whisper)
...from each other!

LAUREN
That’s the whole point.

Jack steps forward, stealing the spotlight, wanting all the attention on him, delivering revelation for the ages...

JACK
Pay attention, all of you, because
this is important. There is no
such thing as Breen physiology or
Breen language because “Breen”
is not a species. “Breen” is just
an arbitrary social construct!

Cmdr Deel nods along, seeing the wisdom of that...

DEEL
They do call themselves the Breen
Confederacy, I guess. That implies
things to confederate. How many
different Breen species are there?

PATRICK
At least a dozen. Maybe more.

Sarina turns to Bashir and Deel, excited...

SARINA
This is our way in. If the Breen
wear those suits to hide their
identities even from each other,
we can just alter a pair of them
for ourselves and walk right in.

LAUREN
Modify the vocoders to translate
back and forth from English. Even
in a crowd, no-one would know.

PATRICK
Plus, the suits are designed to
mask the wearer’s vital signs!

JACK
They’re ripe for infiltration.

DEEL
We could even hide some gadgets
inside them - tools, medicine,
rations, that kind of thing.

Bashir gets up and stalks away from them, frustrated.

BASHIR
Have you all lost your minds? You
all call yourselves the smartest
people in the galaxy, and the best
you can come up with is to dress
up and stroll in the front door?

JACK
(offended)
Do you have a better idea?

BASHIR
A much better one. I’m leaving.

Bashir walks out of the room without another word. Sarina watches him go, thinking...

37 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

A moment of time passing...

38 INT. DS9 - BASHIR’S QUARTERS

Bashir stands at his window, staring out at the stars. When the DOOR CHIME sounds, he knows exactly who it will be.

BASHIR
Come in, Sarina.

The door opens - and it is indeed Sarina, carrying a large crate. She steps over the threshold with a wry look.

SARINA
That was a dramatic exit.

BASHIR
A bookend to your own dramatic
entrance. What’s in the box?

She places the crate down, thumb-scans her ID in, opens the box and pulls out a pile of stiff cloth, shakes it out.

SARINA
I thought it might suit you.

It is recognisably a Breen suit. Bashir shakes his head, exasperated. She is not going to make this easy for him.

BASHIR
This is not how I imagined our
reunion would go...

SARINA
(steps closer,
smiling)
So you have imagined our reunion.

BASHIR
(another step)
A thousand times. At least.

She throws down the suit and hugs him close - chaste, for now, although there is no doubt he’d like it to be more.

SARINA
I missed you too, Julian. And I’m
sorry I wasn’t able to be the
woman you wanted me to be.

BASHIR
You have nothing to be sorry for.
I’m the one who crossed lines I
should never have even approached.

She steps back, caresses his face, tears threatening. His eyes are completely captured in hers, powerless.

SARINA
Only for a moment. I’ve played
those moments over and over.
I didn’t realise at the time how
much it must have hurt you to
let me go. But I do now.

BASHIR
So... what happens next?

She pulls back, sniffles away the tears. Picks up the Breen suit again, holds it against herself, modelling it for him.

SARINA
That’s up to you. I’m going to
Salavat with or without you.
I’d rather it was with you.
(re suit)
What do you think?

BASHIR
You can’t be serious. You’d
actually risk your life on Jack’s
hare-brained costume scheme?

SARINA
First, it’s not as bad a plan as
you think. And second, there’s
more to it than just slipping into
these and ringing their doorbell.

BASHIR
Such as?

SARINA
(conspiring grin)
Trust me.

BASHIR
(arms folded)
Sorry, I’m going to need more to
go on than that.

SARINA
Such as?

BASHIR
Such as why you’re working
with Starfleet Intelligence at all.
Last thing I heard, you’d been
granted a research fellowship
at the Corgal Institute.

SARINA
That was seven years ago, Julian.
They didn’t have the resources or
the faculty to keep up with me.

BASHIR
You could have joined the Vulcan
Science Academy, or the Daystrom
Institute. Any number of places.

SARINA
I tried, Julian. They didn’t even
bother responding. You know how
people like us are received, be it
professional or personal - first
curiosity, soon followed by fear.

Bashir backs down a little - he knows that all too well.

SARINA
(continuing)
So when a man from Starfleet
Intelligence approached me -

BASHIR
(sharp)
A man? What was his name?

SARINA
Aldo Erdona. Why? Does it matter?

BASHIR
...No. Sorry, go on.

SARINA
Anyway, that’s when I saw a chance
to use my skills to the fullest.
People like me - like us - are
better suited to field ops than
almost anyone else in Starfleet.
We can go places and do things
that others can’t, and make better
tactical decisions in less time.

BASHIR
Just because we can do a thing -

SARINA
- doesn’t mean we should do it,
yes I know. But I think we have
an obligation, Julian. To use our
abilities for the good of the
Federation. Tucked away in a lab
or toiling on some space station,
there’s only so much we can do.

BASHIR
(bristling)
Now hold on - I’ve made some major
contributions from DS-Nine and the
Defiant. As a scientist you could
cure diseases, develop new energy
sources, invent new technologies -

SARINA
- or I could prevent a war that
would kill millions, stop a coup
that would condemn generations to
oppression, or help the Federation
keep its rivals in check without
resorting to bloodshed.

She regathers her composure. Picks up the Breen suit once again, and this time holds it up to Bashir’s body.

SARINA
Besides, I should think you’d want
in for the exploration alone. How
many people will have this chance
to observe the Breen up close?

He is starting to be persuaded. She pushes her advantage.

SARINA
Think about it, Julian. You and
me, exploring strange new worlds
together, pushing ourselves to the
limit for the good of the Khitomer
Accords and the Federation...

Finally, Bashir takes hold of the Breen suit. He slips on the jacket, tests out how it feels...

BASHIR
It’s only a temporary assignment?

SARINA
That’s what I was told.

Bashir snaps the chestplate closed. Stretches his neck.

BASHIR
And how, exactly, are we supposed to
infiltrate this hidden Breen shipyard?

SARINA
(sly smile)
For that, you have to commit to the
mission. Operational security, I’m sure
you understand. But this is a start...

She pointedly passes him another piece of the Breen suit - its helmet. Taking a deep breath, he lifts it up...

BASHIR
Alright, I’ll do it...

He lowers the helmet into place, and concludes in the Breen ELECTRONIC BUZZ, translated into ON-SCREEN SUBTITLES:

BASHIR
...For the Federation. And for the
Khitomer Accords.

Off Bashir as a Breen...

FADE OUT

END OF SHOW

TNG 19x01 - “HOUSE OF MIRACLES”

Captain Bruce Maddox (TNG “Measure of a Man”) calls Enterprise to the Daystrom Institute Annex on Galor IV – he needs the help of LaForge to save B-4’s life. The android’s primitive brain is overloading with Data’s downloaded memories, but removing them would be effectively killing all that is left of Data. There has to be a way to save them both. Before Enterprise can reach Galor, Maddox’s lab is attacked and B-4 stolen, along with the android corpses of Lore and Lal, which were also stored there. Clearly someone is interested in Soong-type androids. On arrival, Enterprise takes charge of the investigation. While Worf deals with the planetary governor, LaForge and Choudhury learn that, despite the professional job, an alarm sounded before the raiders had finished, or else no-one would ever have known. Meanwhile, regular surveillance scans of the planet turn up a familiar face – Data himself, if he were human...

VOY 12x01 - “PERFECT LIGHT”

Admiral Kathryn Janeway has been ordered back to Earth to justify the continued existence of the Full Circle fleet. But first there is a memorial to conduct – for the four ships and 700 crew who died in the Omega Continuum. Seven, Kim and Conlon create a real-time long-distance holo-link to share the service with family and crew back home. Former Quirinal captain Regina Farkas rebukes Janeway about the consequences of her actions, blaming her for the entire Borg Invasion. A strangely cold EMH asks to extract some of Seven’s catoms to experiment on. After the memorial, Galen sets course back to Earth with Janeway and the EMH on board, while Voyager and Demeter remain in the Gamma Quadrant. Chakotay is upset that Janeway is leaving so soon after their reunion. He demands his crew find a mission to prove the fleet is still worthwhile. Kim decides to follow up on the mysterious waveform from VOY “Twisted”...