TEASER

FADE IN:

1 EXT. SPACE - OVERNE III - ORBIT

A purple-grey world with large land masses separated by colourless seas, all swathed in wispy cloud.

PULL BACK until a JEM’HADAR ATTACK SHIP comes into view in the foreground.

CROSS-FADE the live image into...

2 BREEN HOLO-DISPLAY

The room-filling DISPLAY seen in 14x10 “In Circles”, which shows a representation of the same world and ship, with Breen SYMBOLS constantly switching round its edges. Grating Breen BUZZ sounds out, overlaid with audible TRANSLATION.

ZELK (o.s.)
We have achieved high orbit over
Overne Three, Master Beld.

3 INT. REN FEJIN - BRIDGE

The same small, cluttered and poky bridge as seen in 14x10, but now without the rattles and creaks - perfectly still.

BELD, captain of this rickety old freighter, stands gazing at the hologram. The representative from Special Research Division, THOT TROK, stares from opposite him. And the sole Romulan, Specialist KINN of the Tal Shiar, is between them.

(Half a dozen Breen crew run the bridge, among them ZELK.)

BELD
Can passive scans identify any
planetary defences?

ZELK
Yes - and they appear formidable.

The holo-image of the planet ZOOMS OUT...

...revealing not one but dozens of Jem’Hadar attack ships surrounding the planet, outlined in red. A daunting sight.

ZELK
Extrapolating from what is visible
at this angle, I estimate there are
thirty-six Jem’Hadar vessels, six
weapons platforms, and several
dozen assembly scaffolds, although
most appear empty and uncrewed.

BELD
What about on the surface?

ZELK
It is difficult to be certain due to
the large number of industrial
facilities there, but I’d estimate
six surface defensive placements.

KINN
Then it would appear we’ve come
to the right place.

The Romulan smiles smugly at his opposite number, Thot Trok. The Breen doesn’t take his eyes off the display.

THOT TROK
We have travelled months to reach
this world. Now that we’re here, I
cannot help but wish I were safe
at home in the Breen Confederacy.

BELD
Is there any indication that they
know we’re here?

KINN
(off readouts)
The phase cloak is functioning
within expected tolerances.

THOT TROK
Expected tolerances? You mean to
say, not at optimal tolerances?

KINN
Thot Trok, the cloak was designed
for a Romulan warship. There was
little time to test it on a ship of
Ren Fejin’s configuration. That we
are here having this discussion
suggests it is working. I suggest
we accept that, and get to work.

BELD
I agree. But alert us the instant
you even suspect a problem, Kinn.

Kinn nods silently. That settled, Trok turns back to Zelk.

THOT TROK
Zelk - can you detect where the
deflector systems and structural
integrity generators are produced?

ZELK
Not without engaging active scans.

Trok ponders the image of the planet in the holo-display...

THOT TROK
Show me this cluster of buildings
on the largest continent.

The image ZOOMS IN repeatedly until we see a collection of industrial buildings - dozens of them, all interconnected.

BELD
Is that what we’re looking for?

THOT TROK
Impossible to tell from outside.

BELD
But it’s a place to begin. Zelk,
take us down. Quietly.

4 EXT. SPACE - OVERNE III - ORBIT

While multiple JEM’HADAR ships keep watch unawares...

...we FOLLOW what appears to be empty space down towards the planet’s surface...

5 EXT. SPACE - ROBINSON

The majestic Galaxy-class Robinson glides at impulse...

6 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

A normal day for Captain SISKO and his senior staff.

SISKO
Commander Rogeiro - anything from
Starfleet?

First officer ROGEIRO checks his readouts...

ROGEIRO
Not yet, captain.

SISKO
Isn’t that behind schedule?

ROGEIRO
Yes, but not by an unreasonable
amount. Things happen. I don’t
believe it’s cause for concern.

Deltan male UTELN calls out from the tactical station...

UTELN
Captain, we’re receiving a signal
from the Eletrix.

SISKO
On screen, Lieutenant.

Uteln works his panels, frustration growing...

SISKO
It’s audio only, sir, and there’s
a lot of interference. Captain...
I think it’s a distress call.

Sisko exchanges a look with Rogeiro - tension is rising.

SISKO
On speakers.

Uteln works his panels again, and the voice of T’JUL, the Romulan ship commander, sounds out chopped and scratchy.

T’JUL (comm)
Eletrix to Robinson, this is T’Jul.
We’ve suffered an accident,
possibly an -
(lost in static)
-tage. We are facing... -tainment,
and may... -ject the singul-...
(lost in static)
...may need to evac-... -quest
immediate assist-...

The message is lost in static. Rogeiro looks to Sisko...

ROGEIRO
Act of sabotage. Loss of contain-
ment. Eject the singularity.
(to Uteln)
Lieutenant Uteln, do you have
a fix on the Eletrix’s location?

UTELN
The message did include spatial
coordinates, but they’re partial
due to the signal loss. I’m back-
tracking the transmission path.

SISKO
Lieutenant Corala, anything of
interest on long-range sensors?

Cygnian female CORALA speaks up from sciences...

CORALA
Nothing out of the ordinary, sir.

UTELN
Captain, the signal’s likely path
is consistent with the location of
the carbon planet the Eletrix told
us about in their last message.

SISKO
Send the coordinates to the helm,
Lieutenant. Commander Sivadeki,
time at maximum warp?

The Tyrellian female at helm, SIVADEKI, works her panels...

SIVADEKI
One-point-two hours, sir.

SISKO
Set a course and engage. Mister
Uteln, reply to the Eletrix, just
in case they can still receive.
Tell them we’re on our way.

The crew get to work...

7 EXT. SPACE - ROBINSON

Robinson turns in its course and JUMPS TO WARP...

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

8 EXT. SPACE - ROBINSON

Robinson flying at high warp...

9 INT. ROBINSON - CONFERENCE ROOM

Sisko sits alone at the conference table, pondering the contents of the padds on the desk before him.

The door from the bridge opens, and ROGEIRO enters.

SISKO
Commander - time to destination?

ROGEIRO
Forty-seven minutes, sir.

Sisko gestures for Rogeiro to sit - he does.

SISKO
And what’s your analysis?

ROGEIRO
Difficult to be sure. The Eletrix
could have in fact suffered an
accident or an act of sabotage,
just as T’Jul’s message claimed.

SISKO
And we have to act as if it was a
genuine distress call. Because if
we don’t, and it is genuine, it’ll
make trusting us all the harder.

ROGEIRO
Exactly, sir.

SISKO
But that’s not what your gut tells you.

Rogeiro steeples his fingers, thinks it through.

ROGEIRO
The Intelligence report suggested
T’Jul’s assignment to this mission
was an attempt at rehabilitation,
both for the commander’s own sake
and in the eyes of the Federation.

SISKO
Is there any good reason to think
she wasn’t willingly involved in
the attack on Utopia Planitia?

ROGEIRO
Marius’s arrest and suicide could
have been as the plan’s scapegoat.

SISKO
But if she’s still on the mission
now, if she’s luring us into a trap
- what does she hope to gain?

ROGEIRO
Perhaps capture of the Robinson?
Interrogation of the crew?

SISKO
How would that benefit the Typhon
Pact? Or even just T’Jul herself?
Would she really squander the
career opportunities this mission
offers her on petty revenge?

Rogeiro stares out the window at the warping stars...

ROGEIRO
It is possible this entire thing
has nothing to do with us...

SISKO
What do you mean?

ROGEIRO
If T’Jul was a willing participant
at Utopia Planitia, that would put
her at odds with Praetor Kamemor,
who condemned and apologised for
the attack. Perhaps T’Jul wants to
use the failure of this mission to
undermine the Praetor’s policies.

SISKO
But that’s not what your gut tells you.

ROGEIRO
(shakes head)
T’Jul comes across as a lot less
duplicitous than most Romulans, if
you’ll pardon the stereotype. Our
dealings with her on DS-Nine, and
ever since, gave me the impression
of a hard-working officer who just
wants to do the job she’s been
given to the best of her ability.

SISKO
Then the question is - what job
has she been given?

ROGEIRO
I guess we’ll find out in -
(checks padd)
- forty-four minutes.

Sisko considers that, then makes a decision.

SISKO
Take the ship to yellow alert,
Commander. We need to be ready
for anything.

ROGEIRO
Aye, sir.

Rogeiro gets up from the desk and heads back to the bridge, leaving Sisko alone...

10 EXT. SPACE - ROBINSON

Robinson flying on at high warp...

11 EXT. SPACE - OVERNE III - ORBIT

Back to the purple-grey world with several dozen Jem’Hadar attack ships keeping watch in orbit...

12 EXT. OVERNE III SURFACE - DUSK

Gliding gently over the surface of the planet - factories and industrial complexes as far as the eye can see, but all strangely quiet. The machines are not working, and there are no workers to be seen anywhere. Continue to move...

...As we suddenly PASS THROUGH a distortion field and find ourselves right up on the Ren Fejin, hovering right over the city - in “plain view” if not for the phase-cloak.

...And on through the Breen ship’s blocky hull, past the layers of technology and bulkhead, until...

13 INT. REN FEJIN - BRIDGE

Master Beld, Thot Trok and Specialist Kinn observe the city on their room-filling holo-display. The focus changes every few seconds, revealing building after building. The Breen BUZZ with audible translation for the Romulan’s benefit.

BELD
Do you notice anything?

THOT TROK
I’m looking. It’s not as if the
buildings have signs identifying
their purpose.

BELD
No, I’m not talking about the
insides. I’m asking if you notice
anything odd about the outsides.

THOT TROK
I’m not sure what you mean.
I don’t see anything.

BELD
Precisely. There’s nothing to see.
The place seems to be abandoned.

KINN
The Federation’s intelligence on
the Dominion did state that they
closed their borders, after their
brief alliance with Bajor against
the Ascendants. A reduction in
starship and weaponry production
would be consistent with that.

THOT TROK
If it’s abandoned, why are there
so many Jem’Hadar ships in orbit?

BELD
I suppose that suggests temporary
disuse. They may not require full
scale production today, but who’s
to say they never will again?

THOT TROK
Regardless of their reasoning, it
makes our job here much easier.

BELD
Zelk - scan inside one of those
buildings. Low intensity, narrow
beam. Try not to set anything off.

Zelk’s gloved fingers march over the panels - fruitlessly.

ZELK
The entire complex is coated in
a sensor-scrambling material.

THOT TROK
Then we need to go inside and
look for ourselves. Kinn?

The Romulan looks up from his own readouts, exasperated...

KINN
As I already told you, the phase-
cloak is fully operational. But I
suggest you proceed with caution.

ZELK
And since the facility is shielded
to outside sensors, you would be
free to exit the ship and inspect
the materials in person without
the Jem’Hadar detecting you.

THOT TROK
An excellent notion, Trop Zelk.
Master Beld, if you would...

14 EXT. OVERNE III SURFACE - DUSK

Hovering over the industrial complex in the half-light, we PUSH DOWN AND FORWARDS, until we PASS THROUGH the roof of the largest building and into its interior...

15 INT. DOMINION FACTORY

One of the Dominion’s main manufacturing plants, filled with industrial replicators and assembly frames - but DARK and abandoned. No windows, no light, and no power either.

After a few moments of gliding through this emptiness like it’s a haunted house...

...a BLINDING LIGHT bursts into life, a GLOW of blue-green coruscating energy like that seen in 14x01 “Siren”. Not quite a transporter, the energy forms slowly into...

...THOT TROK himself. Back in the dark, with only the tiny twinkling lights and green glow of his mask to light his way, the Breen engineer stands firm and looks around...

16 INT. TROK’S SUIT (INTERCUT)

Thot Trok’s POV - the green-outlined NIGHT VISION view that Bashir and Sarina used in 14x03 “Behind the Mask”. It shows the shapes of all the machines and materials in the entire complex, clearly revealed without need of actual light.

17 INT. DOMINION FACTORY (INTERCUT)

Nodding with satisfaction, the Breen walks off into the darkened factory to find what he needs.

18 EXT. SPACE - CARBON PLANET - ORBIT

Robinson reaches orbit over a dark and dusty red world...

19 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

Sisko sits in his command chair, tense at this sight on the viewscreen. His senior staff all work their consoles...

UTELN
This is definitely the source of
Eletrix’s distress call, Captain.

ROGEIRO
Any sign of Eletrix on sensors?

CORALA
Negative. But the planet’s unusual
chemical composition makes it
difficult to get clear readings.

ROGEIRO
What are the chances T’Jul and her
crew made landing on the surface?

CORALA
The environment would be extremely
inhospitable to most humanoid life
forms. Methane atmosphere, volcanic
activity, rivers of hot oil. If they
did land, they wouldn’t last long.

ROGEIRO
Then the sooner we rescue them,
the better. Commander Sivadeki -

SISKO
Belay that.

Rogeiro looks to Sisko in surprise. Sisko stays tense...

SISKO
Mister Uteln, activate the phase-
cloak detection system the crew
developed on the Romulan border.
Sweep across the entire system.

UTELN
Aye, sir.

As Uteln gets to work, Rogeiro leans in and speaks sotto...

ROGEIRO
Captain, that could take hours.
The Eletrix’s crew could be
depending on us.

SISKO
Or they could be lying in wait.

Rogeiro accepts that, unhappily. But seeing the expression on his XO’s face, however controlled, makes Sisko soften.

SISKO
On the other hand, there’s no
reason we can’t work both angles
at once. Take Lieutenant Corala
and a security team, Commander.

ROGEIRO
Aye, sir.

Eager and relieved, Rogeiro gets up from his chair...

20 EXT. SPACE - CARBON PLANET - ORBIT

A RUNABOUT emerges from the Robinson’s large main shuttle bay and heads down towards the planet’s surface...

21 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

Rogeiro drives the ship, with Corala working the sensors next to him and two security - STANNIS and ROGERS, both seen in 13x21 “Disregard” - preparing themselves behind.

ROGEIRO
Acheron to Robinson - confirming
sensor link-up.

SISKO (comm)
Loud and clear, Commander. You’re
cleared to proceed.

22 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT

Following the runabout down from orbit, diving into the carbon planet’s dirty, smoggy atmosphere...

23 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

Corala works her sensor controls...

CORALA
It’s just a soup out there, the
sensors can barely read a thing...

She resorts to just peering through the window...

CORALA
There! I saw something metal...

As the smog clears somewhat, all four lean forward to look more closely... and their jaws drop in horror.

24 EXT. CARBON PLANET - SURFACE - DAY

The runabout emerges from a thick layer of dirty cloud to fly over the planet’s red dust surface, a landscape of dead rust streaked with oily black rivers...

...and a massive field of STARSHIP DEBRIS spread over what seems like kilometres. Parts are recognisably Romulan. The Eletrix came in to land, alright - it came in hard.

25 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

Seeing this view fed to the main viewscreen, Sisko hangs his head. Another thing that was his fault...

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

26 EXT. SPACE - CARBON PLANET - ORBIT

Robinson in orbit of the dusty red planet...

27 EXT. CARBON PLANET - SURFACE - DAY

The field of debris is surrounded by a fleet of Starfleet activity - two runabouts and a half dozen smaller shuttles parked on the dusty red-black ground, and several dozen enviro-suited FIGURES stomping about carefully, trying to take forensic readings without disturbing the crash site.

SISKO (v.o.)
Captain’s log, supplemental. It
seems the Eletrix has been lost...
with all hands. My crew is making
a painstaking analysis of the crash
site, although the difficult terrain
is making progress slow.

CLOSE IN on one of the runabouts, with an enviro-suited FIGURE striding over the dusty red-black towards it...

SISKO (v.o.)
But I’m willing to take the time.
I want to be able to make a full
report to Starfleet... and as for
its effect on peace between the
Khitomer Accords and the Typhon
Pact... we’ll just wait and see.

28 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

The hatch OPENS, and the suited figure passes through a FORCEFIELD that keeps the planet’s toxic atmosphere out. Once the hatch is closed, the figure twists off its helmet, revealing ROGEIRO. Sisko stands to greet his surprised XO.

ROGEIRO
Captain - you didn’t need to come
down yourself.

SISKO
Yes... I did. Report, Commander.

Rogeiro moves to a wall computer, taps the tricorder built into his suit’s arm, feeding its data and readings to the computer, then demonstrates them for Sisko’s benefit...

ROGEIRO
It’s as we thought. No life signs,
no escape pods in the area. There
is abundant biological residue,
nothing immediately identifiable,
but consistent with a crew the
size of the Eletrix’s... after a
high velocity crash.

Sisko turns away, absorbing that darkly. He stares out of the window at the destruction beyond.

SISKO
Any clues as to what caused it?

ROGEIRO
Relkdahz and Corala can explain
it better than me. But in short,
it looks like they were trying to
eject the singularity core, but
instead of it shutting down, it
suddenly accelerated them to
warp speed... right into the planet.

Sisko hangs his head at the horror of it all.

ROGEIRO
They wouldn’t have had chance to
reach escape pods. But they would
not have felt anything either. It
would have been over in a moment.

SISKO
Thank you, Anxo. Continue your
analysis. I’ll be on Robinson.

Rogeiro is surprised Sisko used his first name - they have always been formal up to now - but he nods his obedience...

29 EXT. SPACE - OVERNE III - ORBIT

Focusing on one of the Jem’Hadar ships as it keeps watch over the planet below, looming threateningly...

30 INT. DOMINION FACTORY

Thot Trok continues to stomp as quietly as his heavy boots will allow around the Dominion factory. He holds a scanner in one hand, not needing to look down at it because...

31 INT. TROK’S SUIT (INTERCUT)

...its readings are automatically transmitted to the HEADS-UP DISPLAY inside his suit helmet. The green outlines of machines and devices, with quickly shifting BREEN SYMBOLS.

The angle of this view changes as Trok looks upwards...

32 INT. DOMINION FACTORY (INTERCUT)

...gazing at the ceiling overhead, knowing that there are dozens of Jem’Hadar ships ready to catch him and kill him. He shakes himself out of the dark mood, and proceeds to walk around the factory in almost complete darkness.

Finally he comes to one particularly enormous machine, as big as a house, and waves his scanner over it. A moment to absorb the results. He scans the machine again, just to make sure. Absorbs the results again. Finally...

THOT TROK
Thot Trok to Ren Fejin.

BELD (comm)
This is Beld. Are you finished
already? 

THOT TROK
Already?! This is the seventh
building I’ve checked, Beld. And
I’ve been expecting a polaron beam
to blast me to pieces, or a troop
of Jem’Hadar to suddenly transport
in and surround me the whole time.

KINN (comm)
I keep telling you, Thot Trok, the
cloak is functioning as well as we
could expect. We are safe here.

THOT TROK
I’ll agree to that when we’re back
in Breen space, Kinn. To answer
your question, Beld, I am finished
- because I’ve found what we need.

A moment, then Beld asks, as if he can’t quite believe...

BELD (comm)
Repeat that, Thot Trok.

THOT TROK
I have found the machines that the
Dominion use to manufacture their
structural integrity technology.

Another moment of silence...

...then another BLINDING LIGHT shines in the darkness, the BLUE-GREEN ENERGY forming gradually into Master BELD. He stomps across the factory floor to stand beside Trok.

BELD
Show me.

Trok hands Beld his scanner. Beld works its controls, then looks up as if reading the data transmitted to his helmet.

BELD
These machines are massive.

THOT TROK
They have to be. They produce those
systems whole, before they are
installed on a ship. Vulnerability
is minimised because there is no
in-system integration required.

BELD
Can the machines be disassembled?

THOT TROK
Perhaps, but it would take a full
scale research project to figure
out how. There’s no time for that.

They ponder a moment, the two Breen suits standing together in the dark. Then Beld works the scanner again, hands it back to Trok, who uplinks the data to his helmet HUD.

THOT TROK
What am I looking at?

BELD
Our cargo holds. The Ren Fejin was
assigned to this mission so as to
be inconspicuous to Starfleet, and
in the hope that whatever we found
could be dismantled and stored in
pieces. We might fit one of these
machines, but not all four.

THOT TROK
We need them all. And it’s not as
though we can take one now, then
come back later for the rest.

BELD
No. But that’s why we have a
contingency plan. Follow me.

Beld walks back to where he first appeared. Trok stashes his scanner and follows him. When they reach the beam-in point, Beld calls out...

BELD
Kinn - bring us back.

A moment, then the BLUE-GREEN ENERGY takes them both in another blinding display...

33 INT. REN FEJIN - TRANSPORT ROOM

A construction of articulated metal bars as seen in 14x01, except that this version is onboard the creaky old Breen freighter instead of the top-of-the-line Romulan warbird.

The bars are arranged to fit two humanoids inside their frame, and the same BLUE-GREEN ENERGY forms in the space between, eventually coalescing into Trok and Beld.

Once they have materialised, the bars disengage, allowing the two to walk out. They pass KINN at his console...

BELD
Thank you, Specialist. Join us on
the bridge.

...and exit the room. Kinn purses and follows...

34 INT. REN FEJIN - BRIDGE

BELD stands on his bridge, commanding his crew. The holo-display now shows that they have returned to a high orbit.

BELD
Zelk - encode the message. Append
all data, including the readings of
all the equipment Trok requires
and its precise location.

Zelk works his console. Trok and Kinn stay out of the way - Beld turns to them now.

BELD
I have no wish to stay in Dominion
space any longer than is necessary
- certainly not to tell them what to
look for and where to find it.

ZELK
Your message has been encrypted.

BELD
Kinn - affix your verification.

Kinn doesn’t like being ordered around, but it is the right thing to do. Still pursing, he heads to Zelk’s console...

KINN
This is specialist Joralis Kinn. I
request assistance. Authorisation
code eleth risu t’ren evek norvad.

That done, Kinn returns to Trok’s side. Zelk works...

ZELK
The message has been sent, Master.

BELD
Excellent. Plot the fastest course
out of Dominion space back to the
Idran system. We’ll leave as soon
as we receive the coded response.

THOT TROK
We’re not leaving now?

BELD
Thot Trok, we don’t know exactly
where the ship we just tried to
contact is. Or even if it still
exists at all. We cannot leave
until we receive a response.

THOT TROK
And if that response never comes?

BELD
Then we turn to the tertiary plan.

THOT TROK
Which is?

BELD
None of your concern - not until
it becomes necessary to enact it.
I suggest we all get some rest.

As Kinn turns to exit the bridge again... BOOM.

The ship rocks HARD, a ROAR of crunching metal. Anyone unlucky enough to be standing is THROWN off their feet...

...TROK’s helmeted head hits the deck hard. Dazed, he looks around the suddenly shaking bridge...

...And it is utter chaos and destruction.

35 INT. TROK’S SUIT (INTERCUT)

The green outlines of the familiar bridge are shuddering as the ship is HIT again, the ROAR of weapons fire coming to him through his helmet along with the voices of the crew...

ZELK (comm)
They’re polaron bursts! Shields
are down by sixty-four percent.

KINN (comm)
I don’t think the phase-cloak is
operating anymore...

36 INT. REN FEJIN - BRIDGE

The ship is HIT again, consoles bursting into sparks and flames. The holo-display dissolves into static and dies. TROK rolls around on the deck, struggling to get to his feet but constantly being knocked down again...

BELD (o.s.)
Make evasive manoeuvres! Try to
get the cloak functioning again!

Trok finally rights himself enough to reach up to one of the consoles, using it to lever himself upright...

...until another weapons volley HITS the ship and Trok is thrown back to the deck hard, banging his head again.

He can only lift his head enough to look around the bridge, at the fires and gasses and bodies on the deck, and then...

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

37 MONTAGE

A confusing mish-mash of images swirling around each other, double exposed and wispy, dreamlike...

-- the destroyed Breen bridge, as JEM’HADAR SOLDIERS beam in using Dominion transporters, and immediately move to restrain the dazed, injured Breen and their Romulan guest

-- A bright sunny day on a golden desert planet. Our POV plays happily in the sand, bifurcated alien HANDS running through the grains while an alien child’s LAUGHTER rings

-- Inside the Breen suit, as the green outlines of multiple Jem’Hadar soldiers wrestle our struggling body and our own desperate, terrified BUZZES for mercy are ignored

-- A teenaged male alien uses those bifurcated alien hands to lower a BREEN HELMET into place, completing the suit

-- Green outlines ripped away, normal eyesight struggling to adjust to a blinding SPOTLIGHT without the customary helmet. While Jem’Hadar hold us tight, a VORTA reaches in, attaches the devices used on Sisko in 3x02 “The Search”

-- Back to the desert, our POV rearing back in terror as a CREATURE from a nightmare bursts through the sand, towers over the alien child, its dozen black EYES peering, FANGS dripping with venom, segmented body pulsing and writhing

-- Trok’s POV on Chairwoman Sela from 14x07 “The Summit”

-- Trok’s POV looking around the Dominion factory

-- the SOUND of the child’s laughter over it all

And finally HARD CUT to:

38 INT. DOMINION CELL

An alien we have never seen before, the one with the alien hands but now an adult - THOT TROK without his suit.

The terrified, traumatised alien is bruised and bleeding, cowering in a ball in a corner of this dark and cold metal cell. We may have seen his kind in the background of the secret Breen undercity in 14x03 “Behind the Mask”, but he is none of the already established races - he is VIRONAT.

And because he has been stripped naked of his suit, we can see exactly what he looks like. Grey skin turning to pink around the wounds. Cleft limbs split into two at the elbows and knees, each half bending in opposite directions, extra sensory organs along their lengths. A head shaped almost like an 8472’s, but with eyes and mouth like a Kelpien’s.

SLITHER-THUD. The sounds come from outside the cell. Trok jerks, looks up in terror. SLITHER-THUD. No... it can’t be.

The cell’s door slides open...

..and outside it is the same nightmare CREATURE from the desert, rearing up on its hind slithers to fill the space, SCREECHING its fury, venom dripping from its long pointed fangs, a dozen eyes pin-pointing Trok where he cowers...

Trok desperately looks around himself for anything - a weapon, a hiding place, anything - but there’s nothing.

The creature SLITHER-THUDS in through the door, blocking the only exit, leaving Trok nowhere to run...

Trok huddles deeper into the corner, curls up tighter - we PAN DOWN his alien body... over hairs standing on end the length of his cleft limbs... to a trickle of LIQUID leaking out along the metal floor. He wet himself in his terror.

A foreclaw reaches out, plucks Trok up by the scruff, YANKS him into the air, SLAMS him against the cell ceiling, lets him DROP painfully to the deck again. Bruised and weeping, the naked Trok drags his head up from the deck, and sees...

...LAAS, the Changeling, sneering down at him in disgust.

LAAS
Get up, you filthy monoform.

Trok looks around desperately - where did the creature go?

LAAS
I said get up!

Too terrified to disobey, Trok tries to get his cleft feet under him and struggle upright against the cell wall. But he is weak, and collapses back to the deck. Laas chuckles.

LAAS
Thot Trok. You are the only one
left. Well, you and the Romulan.
The others... the Jem’Hadar said
they dissolved into mist...

On the last word, Laas himself DISSOLVES into mist, his Changeling body dispersing. Trok watches, fascinated...

...until the Changeling suddenly reforms in a CLAP of thunder, the humanoid shape right in front of Trok, his face a rictus of hatred and teeth. Trok shrieks...

LAAS
Why are you here, I wonder? Surely
you can’t have imagined you could
make war on the Dominion in such
an insignificant vessel.

THOT TROK
(weak, croaky)
Founder -

LAAS
(bellows)
I am not a Founder. The Founders
are foolish and superstitious
cowards. I am Laas.

THOT TROK
What do you want from me?

LAAS
Want? From you?

The Changeling LAUGHS, the contempt in it echoing around the small metal cell as he THROWS HIS VOICE for effect.

LAAS
We will take all the information
we need from your ship. There is
nothing you can offer me... other
than perhaps some entertainment.

Entertainment...? Oh gods, that can’t be good...

LAAS
It is an awesome responsibility to
lead the Dominion... it is also a
chore. I tire of the monoforms
I’m told I need to... “protect”.

Laas crouches down, bringing his eyes level with Trok’s...

LAAS
But I have no mandate to protect
you, or the Romulan, or those to
whom you sent your signal.

THOT TROK
Laas... please... what can I do
to save my life?

LAAS
There’s nothing at all you can
do... except start running.

As the Changeling MORPHS, rising up to become the CREATURE again, looming and screeching and drooling...

...Trok finds the strength to LEAP to his feet and RUN.

39 EXT. SPACE - CARBON PLANET - ORBIT

Robinson in orbit of the dusty red planet...

40 INT. ROBINSON - CONFERENCE ROOM

Sisko stands staring out of the window at the planet below.

The non-bridge door opens and Counsellor ALTHOUSE enters.

ALTHOUSE
Captain - do you have a moment?

Sisko is really not in the mood to be bothered, but...

SISKO
What can I do for you, Counsellor?

ALTHOUSE
(gently)
You can be honest with me. You’re
already thinking this was somehow
your fault, aren’t you?

SISKO
(turns to her)
I beg your pardon?

ALTHOUSE
We’re alone, you can speak freely.

SISKO
I didn’t say you could.

ALTHOUSE
Privilege of being the counsellor.
After our encounter with the Vahni
Valtupali you seemed... refreshed.
More positive. It would be quite
normal for events like these -
(out the window)
- to cause something of a setback.

SISKO
(bitter)
A thousand people died - I think a
bad mood is only to be expected.

ALTHOUSE
Exactly. That’s what I’m saying.
What’s not normal is you blaming
yourself for these events. They
happened long before we arrived.

SISKO
I didn’t even believe the distress
call was real -

ALTHOUSE
Did you order the ship to maximum
warp the moment you got that call?

SISKO
Yes, but once I got here I delayed
the rescue out of suspicion -

ALTHOUSE
Were those reasonable precautions?

SISKO
(getting annoyed)
Yes, but -

ALTHOUSE
Was it your fault?

SISKO
Yes!

Sisko is shocked by the force of the admission Althouse tricked out of him. He turns away to look out the window again. Althouse approaches quietly, gently, but firmly...

ALTHOUSE
No. Your problems are rooted back
in the Alpha Quadrant. An accident
affecting a Romulan ship on the
other side of the galaxy, however
tragic, has nothing to do with the
Prophets, your wife or daughter.

SISKO
I wish I could believe that.

ALTHOUSE
I realise just me saying it won’t
be enough to convince you. But
at least keep it in mind, will you?

A long pause...

SISKO
I’ll try. But you’re not the one
who has to call up Admiral Akaar
and tell him that the president’s
dream of a nice, peaceful joint
exploration mission...is dead.

Althouse nods sadly - she can’t deny that. She places a hand of comfort on Sisko’s shoulder, then turns to leave.

...but before she can, the bridge door opens and ROGEIRO, CORALA, UTELN and RELKDAHZ enter. Sisko is a little taken aback at so many of his senior staff coming to see him at once - it must be serious. Althouse hovers, curious...

SISKO
Commander? Is there a problem?

ROGEIRO
Yes, sir. We’ve been continuing
our analysis of the crash site...
and some anomalies have crept up.

SISKO
Go on...

Corala goes to the large wall screen, works it a moment, and brings up more READINGS...

CORALA
I was trying to reconstruct the
last moments of the Eletrix’s life
before it crashed, by looking at
the decay rate of the high-energy
particle radiation at the site.

RELKDAHZ
That’s the kind ofradiation an
artificial singularity would leave
behindafter it was destroyed.

Sisko nods his understanding of that - carry on. Corala points out a certain wave-form reading on the screen...

CORALA
This decay rate is not at all what
we would expect based on previous
incidents with Romulan vessels.

SISKO
Couldn’t the difference be due to
changes in the technology that the
Romulans didn’t tell us about?

CORALA
Yes, it could. But when added to
certain other irregularities, it
made my tail twitch, so to speak.

SISKO
What irregularities?

Uteln takes over the story...

UTELN
I found it curious that the ship’s
destruction was so complete. So
catastrophic that there is not a
single piece of it left intact.

RELKDAHZ
Even for a warp speed crash, we’d
expect something to survive.

ROGEIRO
And the distress call. Didn’t it
sound a bit too... I don’t know...
desperate for the Romulans?

Althouse interjects herself, intrigued by the discussion...

ALTHOUSE
Surely if the Eletrix’s crew were
in genuine danger, their captain
would be anxious to call for help.

ROGEIRO
Yes, of course. But when added to
everything else...

SISKO
What’s your point, Commander?
What conclusion are you drawing
from all these... anomalies?

Rogeiro takes a moment to look around his department heads - at Uteln, Relkdahz, Corala. They all agree with him.

ROGEIRO
That that wreckage... is not of
the Eletrix at all.

Sisko tenses - the guilt and self-recrimination are turning to anger. He looks out of the window at the planet again...

SISKO
So if the Eletrix is not down on
that planet... then where the
hell is she?

Off Sisko’s glower...

41 INT. ELETRIX - BRIDGE

...to Commander T’JUL, the Romulan woman with the long hair and light eyes, sitting in her command chair on a bridge just like the one seen in 14x01 “Siren”, lights lowered to suggest it is under CLOAK. Like Sisko, she is glowering...

MAIN VIEWSCREEN

...at the sight on the viewscreen of the Ren Fejin, the Breen freighter, in orbit over Overne III. It is clearly damaged, floating seemingly powerless and adrift. Unlike before, there are no Jem’Hadar ships anywhere to be seen.

BACK TO SCENE

Seeing this, T’Jul’s normally pleasant, placid face darkens into a SNEER. This is not what they needed today...

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

42 EXT. SPACE - OVERNE III - ORBIT

The Ren Fejin drifts dark and powerless over the purple-grey planet. The Jem’Hadar appear to have withdrawn and left the Breen freighter for dead.

43 INT. ELETRIX - BRIDGE

T’JUL still in her command seat, the bridge darkened for cloak. Proconsul TOMALAK steps up behind her seat, looking at the same image on their viewscreen...

TOMALAK
It’s taken weapons fire.

T’Jul rolls her eyes (unseen by him) at Tomalak stating the blazingly obvious. She doesn’t appreciate him being here.

The two crew who worked with her on the Dekkona, as seen in 14x01 “Siren” - DIVELN and RIXORA - have also been brought on for this mission. Diveln speaks up from his console...

DIVELN
Engines, weapons, communications,
transporter - all are offline.

TOMALAK
As is the cloak, obviously.

T’JUL
(tight smile)
As you say, Proconsul. Diveln -
what can you determine about the
weapons that caused the damage?

DIVELN
Energy readings indicate an attack
using polaron beams.

TOMALAK
The Jem’Hadar. Hardly unexpected.

T’JUL
But good to have confirmed. What
about life signs?

DIVELN
I’m reading one Romulan signature
and thirteen Breen suits.

TOMALAK
(relieved)
The Ren Fejin’s entire complement.

T’Jul looks to her other side - where Trop KAZREN stands, the sole Breen on the bridge, Kinn’s opposite number.

T’JUL
What do you think, Trop Kazren?

The Breen spy walks closer to the viewscreen, inspecting the image upon it. He BUZZES, with audible translation...

KAZREN
Switch to spectral scan. Focus on
the bridge.

Diveln looks to T’Jul - she nods. The view zooms in and alters, becoming more like the green outlines of a Breen helmet HUD. It shows the Ren Fejin’s bridge layout, with the outlines of several Breen standing about, oddly still.

Kazren turns back to T’Jul and BUZZES...

KAZREN
If the Ren Fejin battled Dominion
forces, where are those forces now?

TOMALAK
Clearly, the Breen have vanquished
their foes.

T’JUL
In that ship?
(beat, realises)
My apologies, Trop Kazren, if that
was impolite.

KAZREN
It was correct. The success of Ren
Fejin’s mission was predicated on
stealth, not on armaments.

Tomalak throws his arms up in exasperation...

TOMALAK
We are wasting time! Your own
people are over there waiting for
rescue, Kazren. Not to mention
an agent of the Tal Shiar.

T’Jul stands from her command chair, turns to face him...

T’JUL
Proconsul, please do me the honour
of joining me in my ready room?

Tomalak looks down his nose at T’Jul, but inclines his head in acquiescence and allows her to lead him from the bridge.

44 INT. ELETRIX - READY ROOM

T’Jul enters the ready room with Tomalak close behind. Once the door is closed, she turns and addresses him politely.

T’JUL
Proconsul, I acknowledge your
experience and your seniority. But
I must respectfully remind you
that the Eletrix is my command,
and it is inappropriate for you to
question my orders on the bridge.

TOMALAK
And I would remind you, Commander,
that you only hold that rank and
this command thanks to my grace.

T’JUL
And that of the Tal Shiar?

Tomalak draws back, alarmed that she has figured that out. T’Jul smiles, knowing she has him rattled, and presses on.

T’JUL
From the moment you informed me
of our real mission, it was clear the
Eletrix had been drawn into a Tal
Shiar operation. I serve at the
Romulan people’s pleasure, so
I have no objection. But for all
their skill with subterfuge, the
Tal Shiar are just as often petty
tyrants. You say I owe my position
to their grace. I believe I would
have achieved that position long
ago if not for the Tal Shiar sowing
distrust over something so
insignificant as my hairstyle.

TOMALAK
(grudging)
You do appear to be a.. capable...
starship commander.

T’JUL
Such effusive praise. What is also
clear is that the Eletrix is only the
back-up plan. What matters is the
Ren Fejin’s mission. Kazren and I
worked well together aboard the
Dekkona. I see no reason not to
trust his instincts now.

Tomalak appraises the younger woman. To his own annoyance, he can’t really argue with anything she says. So he simply inclines his head again, and turns to re-enter the bridge.

45 INT. ELETRIX - BRIDGE

Re-entering the bridge, T’Jul heads straight to Kazren, and gently pulls him aside to a quiet corner, speaks sotto.

T’JUL
Kazren - is there a way to use
sensors to determine the identity
of those wearing Breen suits?

Kazren’s translated voice also lowers in volume to match.

KAZREN
I understand why you are asking.
And yes, there is a way to do as
you say. But I must have privacy,
and no recording of my methods.

T’Jul nods agreement and heads over to Diveln, with Kazren behind her. Meanwhile Tomalak watches from afar, curious...

T’JUL
Centurion Diveln, I must ask you to
temporarily relinquish your station.

Diveln obeys and steps aside. Kazren immediately takes over the station and starts working. T’Jul returns to her chair, with a smile at Tomalak to cover her smugness.

T’JUL
Sublieutenant Rixora - is there a
way to determine if the Jem’Hadar
penetrated the phase cloak?

RIXORA
No, Commander. But since we have
thus far gone undetected, we must
assume that either the Ren Fejin’s
cloak malfunctioned, or the crew
did something to draw attention.

T’JUL
(accusing glance
at Tomalak)
Like send their message to us.

Kazren turns back to T’Jul and BUZZES urgently...

KAZREN
Of the thirteen Breen suits, only
four are worn by actual Breen.

T’JUL
(tensing)
And the others contain Jem’Hadar?
Then this is a trap.

KAZREN
Only eight are worn by Jem’Hadar.
The last is worn by a Changeling.

T’JUL
(startled)
A Founder?

That’s an unwelcome development. T’Jul takes a moment to think over her options...

Then inspiration strikes. She gets up and heads out of the bridge, calling out as she goes...

T’JUL
Tomalak, Kazren - come with me.

Intrigued as to what is going on, Tomalak does so. Kazren also follows, allowing Diveln to take his seat back.

Returning to the image of the Ren Fejin on the screen...

46 INT. REN FEJIN - BRIDGE

The Breen bridge, dark and damaged but cleaned up enough to present at least a surface image of normality. Half a dozen Breen suits stand at ramrod attention - all except for one.

This last one - TROK - looks nervously to one side, barely daring to move his helmeted head...

47 INT. TROK’S SUIT (INTERCUT)

Now that we know what Trok’s real face looks like, we can watch him as he looks in terror at the other figures with him on the bridge - he knows exactly what they are.

48 INT. REN FEJIN - BRIDGE (INTERCUT)

Trok carefully turns his head the other way, and sees...

KINN, the Romulan agent. Physically unwounded, but with a blank look that suggests he was tortured and traumatised in some other equally horrible way. They are all just waiting.

Suddenly, all seven figures on the bridge begin to glow with the BLUE-GREEN ENERGY of interphase transport...

49 INT. TROK’S SUIT (INTERCUT)

Trok’s face beams with hope, knowing what this is...

50 INT. REN FEJIN - BRIDGE (INTERCUT)

The Jem’Hadar are all caught unawares, have no idea what is happening to them. They fade out of existence...

51 INT. ELETRIX - CARGO BAY

...and reappear in a much larger version of the articulated METAL FRAME that defines the space for interphase transport - big enough to receive 13 Breen suits and one Romulan.

This version stands in a large Romulan cargo bay - the one they were going to use to beam up the stolen Dominion tech.

52 INT. TROK’S SUIT (INTERCUT)

From inside his suit, Trok gazes with blessed relief at...

...the outlines of three figures standing facing them...

53 INT. ELETRIX - CARGO BAY (INTERCUT)

...T’Jul, Tomalak and Kazren in a row, with Rixora running the interphase transport control panel.

...And dozens of armed Romulan soldiers surrounding the guests, weapons raised. The moment the blue-green energy dies away, the soldiers SHOOT all 13 Breen on the spot.

54 INT. TROK’S SUIT (INTERCUT)

Shocked and horrified all over again, Trok SCREAMS from the disruptor shot, his suit’s systems SCRAMBLING...

55 INT. ELETRIX - CARGO BAY (INTERCUT)

...translated to a BUZZ of fear as all but one of the Breen suits DROP to the deck unconscious.

The last looks around calmly at his fallen comrades, then reaches up and twists off his helmet - revealing LAAS.

(During the below, two of the soldiers gently reach out to KINN - who had no reaction to the transport whatsoever and was not shot with the Breen - and help him out of the way.)

Laas sneers from his Breen suit at his captors...

LAAS
Did you think you could simply
shoot me down like these mindless
animals? Don’t you know who I am?

T’JUL
Indeed we do. That is why we have
prepared this...

T’Jul steps aside, revealing a console carrying the QUANTUM STASIS FIELD DEVICE from 3x21 “The Die Is Cast”.

T’JUL
Invented by our old friends from
Cardassia - although of course it
took the Romulans to perfect it.

Anger overflowing, Laas tries to MORPH...

...but finds to his own horror that he is locked into one shape and unable to shift. He tries again - nothing.

Looking around at the Romulan guards training weapons on him, he knows he is trapped. He ROARS with frustration...

...but T’Jul just smiles back.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

56 INT. ELETRIX - CONFERENCE ROOM

The purple-grey planet of Overne III, as seen through the window of the Romulan version of a conference room.

PAN ACROSS to the door, which opens to allow LAAS to enter, his arms held by two Romulan soldiers. He is led to one end of the conference table...

...facing Commander T’JUL, who stands facing him from the opposite end of the table. On her right are the two Romulan males TOMALAK and KINN, the latter now somewhat livelier. On her left are TROK and KAZREN, both in their Breen suits.

T’Jul gestures for the two guards to let go of Laas - they step back, but pull their weapons just in case.

T’JUL
I am Commander Orventa T’Jul of
the Romulan Imperial Fleet. Your
name is Laas, I’m told. You are
aboard the warbird Eletrix.

Laas doesn’t respond. In fact he doesn’t even look at her.

T’JUL
All Jem’Hadar from the Breen vessel
are alive. They have been divested
of their Breen armour and are being
held in detention. We are prepared
to set them free - and you as well.

Still getting no response, T’Jul walks around the table and approaches the Changeling - although makes sure to stay an arm’s length away. She gestures to the DEVICE on the table.

T’JUL
I’m sorry for our use of these
devices. But I wasn’t sure you’d
listen to me without them.

Laas still says nothing. T’Jul is getting frustrated.

T’JUL
Neither my crew nor that of the
Breen vessel have come to commit
violence against your people or
any part of your empire.

Finally Laas looks up, pins T’Jul with his dark eyes...

LAAS
We come in peace, is that it? I
believe that is what monoforms
say before committing genocide.

T’JUL
We came here to acquire technology
from the Dominion that will put us
on an even footing with Starfleet.
We are only seeking structural
integrity systems, not weapons.

LAAS
It’s all monoforms know how to do.
Fight... until you are all dead.

T’JUL
I doubt you hold any love for the
Federation. We are here because
they threaten our people as well
now. We should be allies in this!

LAAS
And alliance to you means stealing
from us just because you need it?

T’JUL
We do need it. Our people’s safety
depends on matching the Federation.
We are trying to avoid war.

LAAS
Go ahead and kill each other. The
fewer monoforms left, the better.

Frustrated now, T’Jul returns to her own end of the table. Laas clearly won’t budge, so she gets down to business.

T’JUL
We contacted the Jem’Hadar holding
position on the other side of the
planet. They know we are holding
you. They consented to allowing
the surviving Breen to return to
their ship, repair it and leave
Dominion space. They have yet to
consent to providing us with the
technology we need. I was hoping
you might convince them.

LAAS
Why would I help you? You take
me prisoner, restrict the essence
of who I am. Now you threaten
me unless I do your bidding.

T’JUL
I’m not threatening you, Laas. I’m
asking for your cooperation. Allow
us to take what we need, and we’ll
let you go free. Then we’ll leave
your space and never return.

LAAS
And if I don’t?

T’JUL
Then we will bring you back with
us to the Romulan Star Empire,
where you will spend the rest of
your considerable life confined.

Laas settles back, a defiant expression on his face.

T’JUL
Very well. I understand there is
a time limit on how long you can
stay in one shape. We can wait.
(to the guards)
Lock him up.

The guards take Laas and drag him out of the room again.

57 INT. ELETRIX - SECURITY CELL

Laas sits calmly in one cell behind a forcefield, glaring from under heavy brows at the Romulan guard who holds a weapon on him anyway just in case, and at the Romulan tech who checks the readings on another quantum stasis device...

58 INT. ELETRIX - SECURITY CELL

Eight JEM’HADAR soldiers stand tensely in two other cells, on edge and despising the many Romulan guards who watch over them with weapons at the ready. That anyone could dare to hold a Founder hostage... they will make them pay.

59 EXT. SPACE - OVERNE III - ORBIT

Several JEM’HADAR ATTACK SHIPS continue to hold position in orbit over Overne III...

...and then the Eletrix uncloaks right in their midst.

The Jem’Hadar ships react immediately, moving quickly into attack formation... but holding fire for now.

60 INT. ELETRIX - BRIDGE

T’Jul is back in her command chair, portraying confidence and unflappability to the same Vorta we saw earlier. This is NEMAN, and he is wearing one of their eye-drives.

T’JUL
Hello, Neman. T’Jul here again.

NEMAN
What do you want, Romulan?

T’JUL
Well, my patience is not endless, and
you’ve wasted enough of my time.
So I’ve decided if you don’t allow me
to beam my crew down to Overne
Three immediately and take what we
need, I will execute the Founder,
and you will watch it happen.

As the Vorta reacts to that...

T’JUL
I should also point out that if the
Jem’Hadar - or anyone else for
that matter - approach us during
this process, I will end Laas’s life.
Agree to my terms, and as soon
as we’ve completed our work, we’ll
leave for the wormhole. If we
make it there without Jem’Hadar
pursuit, we will leave Laas safe
and intact someplace where you
can collect him at your leisure.
(beat, smile)
Do you agree to my terms?

Neman stews - what other choice does he have?

61 EXT. SPACE - OVERNE III - ORBIT

The Jem’Hadar ships peel away to a higher orbit...

...and the Eletrix heads down towards the planet.

62 INT. ELETRIX - CARGO BAY

Thot TROK and Sublt RIXORA work the controls together...

RIXORA
Rixora to T’Jul - cargo transporters
are networked across all four bays.

T’JUL (comm)
Proceed, Sublieutenant.

Rixora works her panels as ordered, the METAL FRAME opens out to its widest possible dimensions, and the BLUE-GREEN ENERGY starts to form. As Trok watches fascinated, the machines he was sent here to find begin to materialise.

Slowly, slowly... and there they are. The huge chunks of machinery seen earlier on the surface, now in the Romulan cargo bay. Trok’s suited shoulders slump with relief.

Trok eagerly grabs his scanner, dashes to the machines and begins to scan them over. After a while...

THOT TROK
Trok to T’Jul - transport complete.
We have everything we need. With
this equipment... the Typhon Pact
will have slipstream drive.

63 INT. ELETRIX - BRIDGE

T’Jul receives this report with satisfaction...

T’JUL
Excellent. Thank you, Thot Trok.
And congratulations on the success
of your mission. Channel closed.

T’Jul looks to Tomalak, stood behind her. He looks back, silently acknowledging that her plan worked after all. She turns back to her bridge, proud of her success.

T’JUL
Centurion Diveln, set course for
rendezvous with the Ren Fejin
and engage at maximum warp.

DIVELN
Yes, Commander.

T’JUL
Then we find a place to leave Laas
and his Jem’Hadar. Then, at last,
on to the wormhole... and home.

Satisfied at a job well done, T’Jul settles into her chair.

64 EXT. SPACE - OVERNE III - ORBIT

Eletrix rises up from low orbit, past the waiting Jem’Hadar ships... and as soon as it can, JUMPS to warp.

65 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

Rather than staying distant in his command chair, SISKO is up and moving between the science and tactical stations aft of the bridge, conferring with Lts CORALA and UTELN.

SISKO
You’re absolutely certain? I can’t
go to Starfleet with an accusation
that the Romulans have abrogated
the treaty without definite proof.

UTELN
Yes, sir. It can’t be Eletrix down
there. There are just too many
anomalies for it to be real.

SISKO
...Why?

CORALA
Sir?

SISKO
Why are there too many anomalies?
If the Romulans wanted to fool us
into thinking they were destroyed,
why not do a better job of it?

CORALA
Maybe they didn’t have time to.

UTELN
Or maybe... they didn’t need to.

SISKO
(intrigued)
What do you mean?

UTELN
Look at where this supposed crash
happened - a carbon planet, toxic
atmosphere, impossible to scan
from any reasonable distance. The
only way to investigate is by hand
through bulky environment suits.

CORALA
If the answers were obvious, we’d
find them out and move on. But if
we had questions, we’d take the
time to clear those questions up.

UTELN
This whole thing was designed to
waste our time, so that we’d be
busy here while they do whatever
they’re doing somewhere else.

SISKO
(puts it all together)
And by the time we realised it
wasn’t the Eletrix... it would be
too late. They would have already
done whatever they needed to do.

UTELN
Yes, sir.

SISKO
Alright, you’ve convinced me.
Package up everything we’ve got
and send it back to Starfleet now.
Top priority, highest encryption.

CORALA
Aye, sir.

While Uteln and Corala get to work on that, Sisko returns to his seat and sits beside Rogeiro, who heard it all.

ROGEIRO
Should we abort the mission?
Return to the Alpha Quadrant?

SISKO
No. Eletrix could be anywhere. As
long as Starfleet’s been warned,
there’s not much else we can do.
And as long as we’re here, there’s
a chance we might run into them.
(turns to helm)
Helm - set course for the next
stop on our exploration program.

UTELN
Captain - that comm packet. It’s
come back as undeliverable.

Sisko is alarmed by that. Rogeiro pipes up...

ROGEIRO
We never did receive our regular
dispatch from Starfleet.

SISKO
And now we can’t communicate with
them either... Is there a problem
with our comm array, Lieutenant?

UTELN
(working)
Diagnostics are clean. And we did
receive Eletrix’s distress call.

ROGEIRO
Then maybe the problem’s at the
other end.

SISKO
The other end... you mean Deep
Space Nine.

Rogeiro nods - yes, that’s what he means. Sisko hardens.

SISKO
Helm - belay my last. Set new
course back to the wormhole...
maximum warp.

Off Sisko’s once again darkening mood, as the ship builds to warp around him...

BLACK OUT

END OF SHOW

TNG 19x11 - “FULL FRONTAL”

T’Ryssa Chen manages to talk the Gorn down from firing on Enterprise. With proof Data did not murder the Intelligence operative, he is released from custody. He and LaForge probe the captured android and learn that it is Soong-type, remote-controlled with a Tholian brain connected via Breen tech. Breen ministers urge the Domo to abandon his plans before it is too late, but he refuses. Thot Konar questions his new orders, as they would waste vitally important assets. He is told to have faith in the Domo. The Breen’s last two remote-control androids make a frontal assault on the conference compound. Despite a desperate defence by Starfleet, Data and the Gorn, the androids make it right in front of Bacco before being stopped. Thot Konar executes the remote control operators to cover his tracks, then sends another signal. Starfleet reacts to readings of Soong-type androids on dozens of worlds...

VOY 12x11 - “FOUR WINDS”

The Full Circle fleet splits up. Janeway stays at the First World, which the Confederacy see as sacred after the “Source” led them to it via the Streams, saving them from the Borg. Voyager tries to map the Streams, and B’Elanna determines they are not naturally occurring. Galen’s Cmdr Glenn comes across a child stabbed in the street. He cannot get decent medical care because his family is “unproductive”, and despite Glenn’s best efforts, the child dies. O’Donnell takes Demeter to a farming world already exhausted beyond use, its citizens abandoned by the Confederacy for also being “unproductive”, even though it wasn’t their fault. Vesta goes back to the Gateway Stream, and finds that the alien alliance is gaining new members every day. An all-out attack can’t be far off. Finally, Janeway attends a public worship ceremony, but Lt Lasren reads that everyone there is faking it, instead filled with emptiness and terror...