TEASER

FADE IN:

1 MONTAGE FROM PREVIOUS EPS

-- Colonel Kira of the Bajoran Militia introduces Cmdr Elias Vaughn to Lt Ezri Dax (8x02 “Avatar, pt 2”)

VAUGHN
Dax... It’s been a while.

KIRA
You two know each other?

VOICEOVER
Previously, on Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine...

-- Vaughn shoots a Romulan officer dead (8x02 “Avatar 2”)

-- Walking thru a field of Romulan bodies (8x15 “Haunted”)

VAUGHN
God... I’ve seen so many dead.

-- Vaughn and Dax argue on Yrythny world (8x17 “Empathy”)

DAX
I am not Curzon.

VAUGHN
Try to remember that.

-- Kira yells at Vaughn (9x21 “Fearful Symmetry”)

-- Bashir rages at Vaughn (11x10 “Gut Feelings”)

-- Tenmei screams at Vaughn (8x22 “Greater Good”)

-- Ro hisses angrily at Vaughn (11x11 “The Crucible”)

-- Vaughn punches Sisko in the face (9x24 “Ha’mara”)

-- Vaughn gently kisses Opaka (10x21 “Into the Fire”)

-- Bacco and Kamemor sit and talk (14x07 “The Summit”)

KAMEMOR
I’ve had several dealings with the
Federation. I came away from them
with the sense that your people
are honourable, and willing to do
the hard work to maintain peace.

-- Over the big battle scenes from 14x13 and 14x14...

BACCO (v.o.)
The Typhon Pact committed an act
of war. Why did they do this?

-- Back to Bacco and Kamemor (14x07)

KAMEMOR
I know what you did on Salavat.
And I assure you, Nan Bacco...
I am capable of fighting.

-- Vaughn drives the Kirk onward (12x21 “Friendly Fire”)

VAUGHN
All I ever wanted was to explore.
Instead I’ve faced a century of
war, thanks to bastards like you.

-- Lightning fast clips of various battle scenes - against the Borg in 12x21, the MU-Klingons in 9x24, the Ascendants in 10x12, the Jem’Hadar in 6x06, the Romulans in 14x13...

And finally, on the destruction of DS9 itself in 14x14...

CROSS-FADE TO:

2 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - HOSPICE ROOM - MORNING

Soft beeps and burbles from the life support machinery. A gentle breeze and tweeting birds in the background.

PAN to the machinery’s patient - VAUGHN. A HAND reaches in and gently scrapes the last of the shaving foam off his cheek, leaving a neat, trimmed beard of white whiskers.

TENMEI pulls back and rinses the razor in a bowl of water, then softly pads her father’s face clean with a damp cloth. Gazes at her completed task with satisfaction.

TENMEI
That’s better. Can’t have you
looking all scruffy and unkempt
for your big party, can we?

The old man has been tidied up - a new haircut, fresh bed clothes, pillow fluffed to perfection. Glass windows reveal the beautiful Bajoran mountain view outside this private room. But the wistfulness soon overtakes Tenmei’s pride...

TENMEI
Somehow I thought he’d be around
forever. I mean, he’s a hundred
and seven, I get that. But I never
really saw him as old, you know?
He was just... dad.

OPAKA reaches out and holds the insensate old man’s hand.

OPAKA
It’s not the time one is given.
It’s what one does with it.
And Elias used his time well.
(beat)
Shall I bring them in?

Tenmei steels her courage, takes a deep breath... and nods.

Opaka stands from her seat and heads to the door, revealing that there are actually SIX chairs arrayed around the bed.

Meanwhile Tenmei takes her shaving bowl and cloth, stashes them out of sight in a bedside vanity cabinet. Opaka opens the creaking wooden door, smiles in welcome...

...and KIRA, SISKO, RO and BASHIR enter, all sensitive to the delicacy of the occasion. They all gently hug Tenmei in turn. Meanwhile Opaka quietly closes the door. Over this:

TENMEI
Hi, everyone. Thanks for coming - I
know dad would have appreciated it.

KIRA
Hi, Prynn. How are you feeling?

TENMEI
I think... reconciled. I’ve fought
against this for so long, it’s
almost a relief to have finally
reached the point where I know
this is the right thing to do.
(sad chuckle)
Plus, I thought, given what just
happened... he’d be so mad at
me if I ended up dying before
him. So... now’s the time.

RO
Have there been many messages?

OPAKA
Oh yes, he’s been quite popular.

SISKO
I’m not surprised. Your father
touched many lives, Prynn.

BASHIR
That’s certainly true of everyone
in this room.

All sitting now, Ro reaches into the small bag she brought with her, pulls out a BOTTLE, presents it to Tenmei.

RO
I hope you don’t mind, I brought this.

TENMEI
Berengarian whisky? Oh my god,
how did you even get hold of this?

RO
Actually it was Quark’s idea.
I was dreading the idea of a
two-hour death chant...

Kira and Opaka chuckle softly. The general atmosphere in the room is quiet and respectful, but good-humoured.

RO
(continuing)
...and he suggested we might all
appreciate this more. Of course,
he also suggested selling off your
father’s vacuum desiccated body
parts, but I shut that down fast.

TENMEI
(chuckle)
Well, my father and I thank you
for both of those things.

SISKO
I actually brought a gift too...

Sisko reaches into his own bag, brings out a small palm-sized BALL of crumpled paper. Over this:

OPAKA
Are such gifts a human custom?

SISKO
In some cultures. But I brought
this because it represents what he
did, and how people remember him.

Sisko hands the paper ball to Tenmei, who smiles...

TENMEI
I know this. My father has one.

SISKO
I know - it was a gift from the
Vahni Valtupali. I visited their
world in the Gamma Quadrant,
and they asked about your father.

TENMEI
He saved their world.

SISKO
And they haven’t forgotten it.

Sisko gently reaches out, TAPS a spot on the ball...

...and the paper UNRAVELS into a circular MODEL in Tenmei’s hand - a 3D representation of the Vahni central city as seen in 14x10 “In Circles.” In the middle is the tower that Sisko himself stood on, and the statue of Vaughn upon it.

SISKO
This tower is at the centre of their
capital. Elias was there the day it
fell. But they rebuilt, and now
there’s a statue of him, and a
plaque telling the story of how he
and his crew saved their world.
When they heard about your father,
they wanted you to have this.

TENMEI
Captain... thank you so much for
this. I’ll treasure it.

Suddenly a KNOCK at the door. Confusion and mild annoyance - who would interrupt such a delicate moment? Opaka gets up and opens the door again...

...revealing EZRI DAX, looking hesitant and apologetic.

DAX
Hello, Ranjen Opaka - I’m sorry to
interrupt, I was told I could find
Prynn Tenmei here?

Bashir recognises the voice, gets to his feet...

BASHIR
Ezri...?

Dax sees Bashir, smiles a little tensely...

DAX
Hi, Julian...

TENMEI
Dax, you made it! I’m so glad.

Clearly Dax is welcome, so Opaka lets her in, closes the door again. Another round of hugs...

DAX
Hi, Prynn. Hi, everyone. I wasn’t
sure I was going to be able to, but
Akaar gave special dispensation for
the Aventine to drop me off on its
way to the Tzenkethi border. He
asked me to tell you he wishes
he could be here himself, but -

TENMEI
Oh please, I would never expect it.
I’m just thrilled you could come.
I know my dad would be too.

DAX
(wry smile)
Well, I’m not so sure about that.
(looks around)
Oh, of course you weren’t expecting
me. I’ll go grab another chair.

OPAKA
Oh no, please, take mine. I’ll go.

Opaka heads for the door, but Tenmei protests...

TENMEI
Sulan... I know my father would
want you here...

OPAKA
It’s okay. You all have so much in
common, and I’m sure there’ll be
ribald tales aplenty. Besides...
I’ve had my time to say goodbye.
Don’t worry, I won’t go far.

With that, Opaka gently leaves the room. Dax looks around, sees the bottle and paper ball...

DAX
Oh no, I didn’t bring a gift...

TENMEI
It’s fine, Ezri.

DAX
No, I should give you something.
But I don’t know what...?

SISKO
Why not one of those ribald tales?
The Dax I know always has another
story from her past lives...

TENMEI
Perfect! How about... when you
and my father first met? He never
told me that one.

BASHIR
(playful, at Dax)
And you never told me.

This is a little more than Dax bargained for when she came in... but alright, if that’s what they want.

DAX
When Dax met Vaughn... If you’re
sure you wanna know. Just don’t
say I didn’t warn you.

As Dax stares at Vaughn’s old, lined, unconscious face...

BLACK OUT

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

3 VAUGHN

Unconscious and on the edge of death in his hospice bed, the sense of his six visitors sitting around him...

DAX (o.s.)
It must have been... seventy years
ago. The Khitomer Accords were
young and fragile, and nobody had
ever heard of the Dominion, the
Borg... or the Typhon Pact...

CUT TO:

4 INT. ENTERPRISE-B - CONFERENCE ROOM

DAX (v.o.)
(continuing)
...when I first met Elias Vaughn.

The door opens, revealing YOUNG VAUGHN - a fully alive man in his mid-30s, strong and vibrant but intense. Much as he looked in the brief alt-universe flashback from 10x21 “Into the Fire” (sc 55). He wears a TOS movie-era uniform with black trim and under-collar - Starfleet Intelligence.

HARRIMAN (o.s.)
Lieutenant Vaughn. Commander
T’Prynn. Please, take a seat.

Nodding acknowledgements, Vaughn enters the room, followed by the similarly uniformed Cmdr T’PRYNN, previously seen in 8x22 “Greater Good” and 10x10 “In Two Minds”. She is over 100 now, but still in the prime of life for a Vulcan woman.

Captain JOHN HARRIMAN stands welcoming the two Intelligence agents. He is mid-50s, a much more experienced and seasoned man than the green and untested newbie of ST: Generations.

CURZON DAX takes the measure of them all from across the room. The male Trill is also mid-50s, in a smart diplomat’s suit. A younger version of the man seen in 1x01 “Emissary”.

All four take seats around the conference table. Out of the conference room windows, the ship is clearly at WARP.

HARRIMAN
First, welcome aboard the Enterprise.
Agents, you may recognise Ambassador
Curzon Dax of the Federation
Diplomatic Corps by reputation...

Vaughn nods politely, T’Prynn cocks an eyebrow.

HARRIMAN
Ambassador, please meet Commander
T’Prynn and Lieutenant Elias Vaughn
of Starfleet Intelligence.

CURZON
A true pleasure, agents. Although
I would like to start by saying that
I am against your involvement in
this mission altogether.

T’PRYNN
Ambassador... this mission is only
taking place because of us. You
are involved in our mission, not
the other way around.

It’s already going badly. Harriman tries to keep the peace.

HARRIMAN
The Enterprise and its crew have
often served at the pleasure of
Intelligence, Ambassador.

CURZON
Yes, well. In my long experience,
intelligence and pleasure have
very little to do with each other.
Let’s get on with it, shall we,
since we’re here?

Harriman taps controls, and they all turn to look at the SCREEN - with an image of a Romulan officer, ADM VOKAR.

HARRIMAN
The Enterprise is en route to the
Sierra sector, along the Romulan
border, to rendezvous with Admiral
Aventeer Vokar and his ship.

T’PRYNN
Our records reveal the Admiral as
a staunch nationalist with a long
history of antagonism towards us.

HARRIMAN
In fact, I’d say he’s one of the
biggest threats to peace there is
right now. The biggest, maybe.

T’PRYNN
That is why he is our target.

CURZON
(w/ disgust)
“Target”. I’m a diplomat. I’m here
to make friends, not target people.
I negotiated the Khitomer Accords,
I can handle a few Romulans.

T’PRYNN
Your myriad charms may have swayed
the Klingons, Ambassador. They do
admire drunken debauchery, after all.

Vaughn’s stern mien struggles to hide a smirk.

T’PRYNN
(continuing)
But the Romulans will be quite a
different matter.

CURZON
I’ve met their ambassador a few
times. We get along fine.

T’PRYNN
A fact I do not deny - and one
that will be very useful.

Curzon purses - he doesn’t like being used this way. In order to shift the attention, he peers towards Vaughn...

CURZON
Doesn’t say much, does he?

Not taking the bait, Vaughn just smiles calmly back.

T’PRYNN
In fact this is Lieutenant Vaughn’s
first official mission as a fully
trained field agent. He has spent
much of the last decade analysing
data and writing reports.

CURZON
Reports?! Nothing you can learn
from a report that you can’t learn
better by looking your opposite
number right in the eye.
(to Vaughn directly)
So what’s your role on this mission
then, eh? Official note-taker?

Vaughn finally speaks - calm and dignified, but leaving no doubt that this is an intense man to be reckoned with.

VAUGHN
Whatever serves the greater good.

CURZON
Spoken like a true neophyte. The
galaxy is a lot more complex once
you step out from behind your
desk, my young Lieutenant friend.

HARRIMAN
(getting impatient)
Dax.
(beat)
You’re right, the galaxy is a
complicated place right now. The
Cardassians are annexing left and
right, the Tholians just tried to
invade Qo’noS, and your Khitomer
Accords are wobbly at best.
(beat)
I spent most of my life studying
and dealing with Romulans, ever
since my grandfather used to tell
me stories about fighting in the
Earth-Romulan war. And I promise
you they are just waiting for the
first sign of weakness -
(re screen)
- Vokar especially. He’d love to
top his career with a nice war. It
would be his crowning achievement.
We cannot allow that to happen.

T’PRYNN
Hence our presence here today.

As Curzon seethes in his seat...

DAX (v.o.)
I wasn’t happy about it. But they
had made a convincing case...

CUT TO:

5 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - HOSPICE ROOM - DAY

EZRI DAX, relating her tale around Vaughn’s bed...

DAX
(continuing)
So... I went along with it. Not that
I had much say in the matter.
Starfleet had made their plans,
Vaughn and T’Prynn were there to
carry them out, and I was just
along for the ride.

SISKO breaks in...

SISKO
Wait... I think I know where this
is heading. The Enterprise-B...
meeting a Romulan warbird in the
Sierra sector, seventy years ago,
so that would be... 2311?

Dax nods, confirming Sisko’s estimate. And now Bashir gets it too, realising with horror which story is being told...

BASHIR
The Tomed Incident.

SISKO
A Romulan terrorist attack on the
Starfleet border base at Algeron
Three, using an isolytic weapon,
destroying the entire planet and
costing thousands of lives...

6 FLASHFORWARD - ALGERON III

In orbit of the planet Algeron III, a massive EXPLOSION rocks the surface as the result of a devastating impact...

...and sets off a CHAIN REACTION across the entire planet, creating fault lines and volcanoes as the world is torn apart from the inside out...

7 FLASHBACK - 14x05 “INSECURITY”

Sisko stood at the window, gazing down at this shattered planet from the new Starbase now in orbit of it...

8 BACK TO SCENE

...Bashir finishes off the reference, haunted...

BASHIR
...and leading the Romulans to cut
themselves off from all contact
with the wider galaxy for more
than fifty years.

TENMEI
I had no idea my dad was involved
in the Tomed Incident.

KIRA
If it was that bad, he probably
didn’t like to talk about it.

DAX
It was that bad.

Off Dax, looking haunted but determined to keep going...

9 EXT. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - DAY

The centre of Federation government...

10 INT. PALAIS - CORRIDOR

The new black-clad security agent STINSON leads President BACCO and her recently promoted chief of staff Z4 BLUE (Nasat male) down the corridor...

Z4 BLUE
Well! That wasn’t so bad, was it?
I think it went rather well.

BACCO
(grumpy)
About time something did. But we
should never even have had to
make that argument to the Council.
(sigh)
I’m sorry, Z4. You’re right, I
should be glad they finally signed
off on a timescale for a new space
station in the Bajoran system.

Z4 BLUE
Finally, ma’am? With all respect,
it’s only been three weeks since
Deep Space Nine was destroyed.
The Council usually can’t clear their
collective throats in that amount
of time. As far as I’m concerned,
the meeting went very well.

BACCO
I already said you were right.

Z4 BLUE
I know, ma’am. But I like hearing
it anyway.

11 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - DAY

The trio emerge into Bacco’s office through the back door. Stinson holds them back until he can visually scan the area - it’s clear. But as they enter, an ALERT goes off on Z4’s padd. He quickly checks, tapping away with his pincers...

Z4 BLUE
Madam President... you have a visitor.

BACCO
Where? Here? In the Palais?

Z4 BLUE
Yes, ma’am - he’s waiting outside
your office right now. It’s Slask.

BACCO
Slask... from S’snagor?

Z4 BLUE
The very same.

BACCO
Do we know what he wants?

Z4 BLUE
He refuses to say. According to
Sivak, he’ll speak only to you.

Bacco considers this... something’s not right here.

BACCO
Z4, you and Agent Stinson go out
there first. Try and determine how
important it is. Not that I don’t
trust my old friend... just that I
am busy and I have to prioritise.

Bacco is clearly giving them the party line to present to her visitor - in fact she is very much worried about this.

Stinson nods economically and heads to the door. Z4 Blue TINKLES nervously and skitters after him. They both exit.

While she waits, Bacco sits behind her desk, tries to look as presidential as possible. What on Earth could be going on that her old friend is here to see her, now?

After a few more moments, the door opens and Z4 trundles in on all eights. Reaching the desk, he stretches up, his insectile antenna stiff with tension...

Z4 BLUE
It’s definitely Slask. He passed
every security verification and
checkpoint we have, or he’d have
never made it inside the building,
let alone to the fifteenth floor.

BACCO
Alright, then.
(taps desk)
Sivak, I’m told I have a visitor.
Please show him in.

SIVAK (comm)
At once, Madam President.

Another moment, and the door opens once again...

...and a gigantic GORN stands in the door. As the hulking reptilian bares his teeth and HISSES threateningly...

...Bacco tries her best not to react.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

12 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - DAY

SLASK now sits squeezed into the guest chair. Bacco keeps her own seat, the desk between them as protection. The Gorn issues hisses and growls, ENGLISH TRANSLATION overlaid.

SLASK
I apologise for coming. I know our
friendship has been useful to us
both, largely because it is not
widely known. By coming here now,
I have put that secrecy at risk.

BACCO
I trust you enough to know you
wouldn’t have done that lightly.

SLASK
I am of course aware of the attack
within the Bajoran system. I don’t
know if this will mean much, but I
do know that Imperator Sozzerosz
never approved such an action, nor
is he pleased that it took place.

BACCO
I appreciate that. I’d appreciate
it more if he were to issue a
public statement to that effect.

SLASK
The Imperator may have no interest
in attacking the Federation... but
neither does he wish to antagonise
those Typhon Pact members who do.

BACCO
Members like who?

SLASK
The Tzenkethi. Breen. Tholians.

Bacco waits for the rest. He says nothing more. Finally...

BACCO
Not the Romulans?

Slask holds up a small data chip...

SLASK
I hope this will speak to that.

BACCO
You hope? You don’t know?

SLASK
I am content to deliver messages.
I do not examine their contents.

BACCO
Who’s the message from?

SLASK
Gell Kamemor.

Instantly on her feet, hands SLAMMED on desk, blazing.

BACCO
What? Why would the praetor send me
a message? To gloat? To fob me off
with another apology? Oh I’m sorry,
I didn’t mean to fake the crash of
one of our ships, then send it to
attack you? There were civilians
on that station, Slask. Children.

Unruffled, Slask just calmly places the data chip on the desk, then slowly stands up, careful not to startle anyone.

SLASK
I do not know the contents of the
praetor’s message. I only hope it
is something you wish to hear.
(beat)
Moreover, I hope it is something
you are able to hear.

The Gorn bows stiffly, then turns to leave. Bacco calls...

BACCO
Slask.
(he turns)
Thank you. On behalf of my people
and my government, thank you.
(beat)
And I personally thank you.

SLASK
You are welcome, Nan.

The door opens, and Slask EXITS. Z4 immediately skitters in and heads to Bacco’s desk. She hands him the chip.

BACCO
Get this to Akaar immediately. It
gets every test Starfleet security
can throw at it. I want to know
what’s on it, how authentic it is - 

Z4 BLUE
And where it came from.

BACCO
It came from Gell Kamemor.

Z4 BLUE
Are you sure? Slask may have spent
time in Romulan space, but to get
anywhere near the praetor, never
mind carry messages for her... and
even if it’s true, can you believe
anything a Romulan praetor says?

BACCO
Kamemor wasn’t always the praetor.
She’s been a teacher, a regional
governor, a grieving widow...
she’s made a life out of fighting
for her people. In fact, for a while
she was actually the Romulan
ambassador to the Federation...

Torn between anger and hope, Bacco tries to work it out...

13 INT. ENTERPRISE-B - VIEWSCREEN

KAMEMOR appears on the Enterprise viewscreen - mid-50s, the Romulan ambassador to the Federation, dignified and upright but with a friendly edge rare to see in Romulans.

Adm VOKAR stands next to her, both of them on the Romulan ship’s bridge. He is professional but distinctly cool.

VOKAR (screen)
Captain Harriman. May I present
Ambassador Gell Kamemor of
the Romulan Star Empire.

OPEN OUT to reveal...

14 INT. ENTERPRISE-B - BRIDGE (CONTINUOUS)

...HARRIMAN standing on his bridge, CURZON DAX next to him, offering formal greetings to their opposite numbers.

HARRIMAN
Jolan tru, Ambassador. I believe
you already know Ambassador Dax?

KAMEMOR (screen)
(smile)
I do indeed.

VOKAR (screen)
As I already know you, Captain.

A fact, but the Romulan’s tone clearly describes a history there. Harriman chooses not to react. Dax steps forward...

CURZON
We are prepared to receive your
party aboard the Enterprise at
your leisure, Ambassador.

KAMEMOR (screen)
I look forward to it.

HARRIMAN
Will you be joining us, Admiral?

VOKAR (screen)
Sadly, my duties aboard the Tomed
preclude me from accepting such
a gracious invitation.

HARRIMAN
I understand.

Light and unpointed, Harriman turns to the woman sat at helm - DEMORA SULU (also from Generations)...

HARRIMAN
(continuing)
Commander, you’ll have the bridge
while I’m with the ambassadors.
(back to screen)
I’ll have our transporter chief
coordinate with yours, Admiral.
Enterprise out.

The signal drops on Vokar’s annoyed face. Back to Sulu...

HARRIMAN
Drop shields only for the split
second it takes to beam her
aboard, Demora.

SULU
Understood, Captain.

Harriman cocks his head to Dax, beckoning him towards the turbolift. As they enter the lift together...

CURZON
I might admire your facility with a
cutting line, Captain, if there weren’t
a Romulan warbird pointing all
its weapons at us right now.

The doors close on stern Harriman and concerned Curzon...

15 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE-B AND TOMED

The Excelsior-class Enterprise-B and the comparably sized Romulan warbird Tomed hold position in open space...

16 INT. ENTERPRISE-B - CREW LOUNGE

The doors open allowing CURZON and KAMEMOR to enter, one Starfleet security and one Romulan uhlan tailing them. The room is semi-busy with Starfleet officers off duty, sitting at tables with drinks and food, chatting or enjoying the view out of the window of the Tomed against the stars.

KAMEMOR
(playful)
Is this a standard Federation
negotiating technique, Curzon?

CURZON
I think we’ve spent long enough in
that stuffy room, thank you. I’m
sure we could both use a break.
I don’t know about you, but for
me that means a good stiff drink.

They both nod for their guards to stay where they are, by the door. Reluctantly, they do.

Then the ambassadors proceed towards the window, where Dax pulls out a chair for Kamemor. She takes a moment to figure out what the unfamiliar gesture means, then takes the seat. He moves around to sit opposite her, calls for a waiter.

CURZON
If it were up to me I’d take you
to a proper restaurant on Risa,
where they serve actual drinks,
not this replicated rubbish.

KAMEMOR
I’d enjoy that. I’m not sure my
wife would approve, however.

Curzon smirks - he wasn’t really flirting, but it seems his reputation does in fact precede him. The waiter arrives...

VAUGHN (o.s.)
What can I get for you?

Kamemor looks up, and it’s VAUGHN, dressed as a waiter.

CURZON
Two synthales, please.

Vaughn nods politely, and heads off. Curzon gulps, nerves fighting through now at being in the midst of the game.

CURZON
I do have an ulterior motive for
bringing you here, Gell. It’s
because what I’m about to
say is strictly off the record.

KAMEMOR
(intrigued)
And there’s safety in numbers?

CURZON
Something like that. The truth is
I’m worried. Very, very worried.

KAMEMOR
About what?

CURZON
About Vokar.

Kamemor controls her reaction. Curzon is not alone in this.

CURZON
You saw how he reacted to the
captain. Harriman and Vokar have
tussled before, and Vokar came off
the worse for it, if I recall. And
I’m afraid Vokar wants revenge.

KAMEMOR
(evasive)
For Vokar to initiate hostilities
would be foolish. The Klingons
have promised to ally against
whoever makes the first strike.

CURZON
I know that and you know that, but
does Vokar? Or is he under the
impression Romulus would win?

Vaughn comes back with the synthales - Dax and Kamemor both pull back, separating so as not to look suspicious...

BY THE DOOR

The Starfleet and Romulan guards observe their charges, too far away to hear what they have been saying over the noise. All they can see is Vaughn placing the drinks on the table.

BACK TO THE TABLE

Last glass on the table, Curzon looks up at Vaughn...

CURZON
Thank you.

Vaughn nods back, sharing an intense look with Curzon that Kamemor doesn’t see - remember the plan. Then he’s gone.

The waiter’s presence has given Kamemor the moment she needs to regather. She actually agrees with Curzon, but what can she say that isn’t a betrayal of her people?

KAMEMOR
When Nanclus was arrested after
the Khitomer Conference, I swore
as his successor... that I would
never allow nationalism to bring
us to the brink of war again. I
would instead fight for peace...
for the sake of my wife and son.

CURZON
I think that’s why we get along
so well. But Vokar...

KAMEMOR
(hesitant)
He has... expressed some opinions
that might lead one to believe he
holds a different perspective.

CURZON
Then you do agree with me.

Kamemor takes a sip of her synthale, considering its taste as a way to delay and prepare her words again.

CURZON
I do not believe Vokar is beyond
redemption. He is a loyal man, he
must understand that any violence
would backfire on his own people.

KAMEMOR
One would hope.

CURZON
Then I beg you, to use whatever
influence you have to steer him
back from the brink of disaster.
Before he makes a mistake that
would have terrible consequences
for us all.

A long pause as Kamemor considers what to do...

KAMEMOR
I will do what I can.

Off Curzon’s relieved expression...

17 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - HOSPICE ROOM - DAY

...to Ezri staring at the faces of her friends.

DAX
Yep. I had drinks with the future
praetor of the Romulan Empire...
and I lied right to her face.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

18 INT. TOMED - READY ROOM

The Romulan admiral’s private office. Frustrated VOKAR and placating KAMEMOR sit opposite each other across his desk.

VOKAR
With greatest respect, Ambassador,
you are naive. The Federation is
already developing a first strike
capability against us as we speak.

KAMEMOR
What first strike capability?

VOKAR
Isolytic weapons! You saw the
same sensor readings I did.

KAMEMOR
Those were open to interpretation.
Besides, when have you ever
known Starfleet to strike first?

VOKAR
I do not intend to hand them that
opportunity.

KAMEMOR
But don’t you see, Admiral? That’s
exactly what you’re doing. The
more you provoke them, the
more likely they are to react.

VOKAR
They are not to be trusted!

KAMEMOR
Are we?

VOKAR
(beat, then dark)
I beg your pardon, Ambassador?

KAMEMOR
What reason have we given them to
believe we are not the ones about
to strike first? One of us must
take the first step. Why not us?

Suddenly a voice, LINAVIL, sounds urgently on the comm...

LINAVIL (comm)
Admiral to the bridge.

Alarmed, Vokar and Kamemor both stand and head out to...

19 INT. TOMED - BRIDGE (CONTINUOUS)

...as seen previously on the Enterprise’s viewscreen. The XO, Subcommander LINAVIL, relinquishes the command chair.

VOKAR
Subcommander Linavil - report.

LINAVIL
Admiral. Sublieutenant Akeev has
detected unusual radiation read-
ings from the Starfleet vessel.
And they are hailing us.

Vokar, still distrustful, exchanges a look with Kamemor. He settles into his chair, determined to appear commanding.

VOKAR
On screen, Subcommander.

Linavil relays the order, and the screen changes...

...to show the Enterprise’s bridge in crisis, crew rushing about, RED ALERT lights flashing. Harriman stands, while Curzon can be seen sitting out of the way at the back...

VOKAR
Is there a problem, Captain?

HARRIMAN (screen)
Our impulse drive is overloading,
Vokar. Don’t suppose you know why?

Kamemor gulps - Harriman suspects Vokar of sabotage. Could he be right? Vokar looks to her, then back to Harriman...

VOKAR
I’m sure I don’t know what you
mean, Captain.

HARRIMAN (screen)
If this ship is destroyed, that’ll
be nearly eight hundred lives.

VOKAR
(grinds teeth)
Stand by, Captain.

A gesture to Linavil, the screen cuts. Turns to Kamemor...

KAMEMOR
The Starfleet flagship being
destroyed inside Romulan space,
even by accident? No-one would
believe we weren’t to blame.

Angry at the logic of that, Vokar turns back to Linavil...

VOKAR
Subcommander, is there anything
we can do to help the Enterprise?

LINAVIL
I... don’t know, Admiral. I’m not
familiar...

KAMEMOR
(sotto, pleading)
Admiral, please. They can’t have
much time....

VOKAR
(grudging)
Subcommander... lower shields,
then reactivate viewscreen.

Confused but under orders, Linavil relays the command. The viewscreen changes back to the view of Enterprise’s bridge.

VOKAR
Captain Harriman, I have lowered
the Tomed’s shields. We are ready
to beam your crew aboard... if you
are unable to repair your engines.

HARRIMAN (screen)
Oh, so that’s your game? Destroy
my ship and take my crew home
as prisoners of war?

Vokar looks to Kamemor - she was right, Harriman has no reason to trust them. How to rescue this?

VOKAR
Not at all, Captain. I believe
there is a Starfleet border base
in the Algeron system? The Tomed
will take you there in safety.

On screen, Harriman seems to fight his worst instincts...

HARRIMAN (screen)
Very well, Admiral. If we can’t
fix the engines... I’ll take you
up on that offer. And thank you.

Another gesture, and the signal drops. Turns to Kamemor...

KAMEMOR
And I thank you too, Admiral.

20 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE-B AND TOMED

The Enterprise-B and the Tomed still holding position, but now we focus on the Romulan ship. Time passing...

21 INT. TOMED - BRIDGE

Vokar waits in his chair, nervous that this may be a trap of some kind, but hiding it under command resolve.

VOKAR
Any news from the Enterprise?

LINAVIL
Negative, Admiral. Their engine
temperature continues to rise.
(off panels)
Wait - their core temperature is
now returning to normal.

VOKAR
(shifts forward, wary)
Are they charging weapons?
Raising shields?

LINAVIL
Negative, Admiral. But they are
hailing us again.

VOKAR
On screen.

The viewscreen shows Harriman and Dax again, both looking relieved. The bridge behind them is no longer at red alert.

HARRIMAN (screen)
The crisis is over, Admiral. Seems
there was a manufacturing fault in
the port deuterium injector. We’ve
replaced the defective part.

VOKAR
I see. And you are satisfied there
will be no additional... mishaps?

HARRIMAN (screen)
For now. But I suggest we withdraw
to Algeron for a full inspection.

VOKAR
I couldn’t agree more, Captain.
Ambassador Kamemor?

KAMEMOR
I also agree. I think we can call
this encounter, however brief, a
success. Until our next meeting,
then, Ambassador Dax.

CURZON (screen)
Until then. And let it be on Risa.

The signal drops. Vokar turns to Linavil...

VOKAR
Track Enterprise to the border,
just to ensure there are no more
“accidents”. Once they are out of
our space, set course for home.

LINAVIL
It will be done, Admiral.

Vokar now turns to Kamemor, still not entirely convinced...

VOKAR
A successful encounter, Ambassador?

KAMEMOR
Starfleet does not think we tried
to sabotage their flagship, we
demonstrated we can be trusted in
times of crisis, and no lives were
lost. That is very much a success.

And they settle in to watch, just in case...

22 EXT. SPACE - ENTERPRISE-B AND TOMED

Enterprise-B turns away from Tomed and jumps to WARP...

23 INT. ENTERPRISE-B - BRIDGE

Harriman takes his command chair, looks at Curzon beside him, who glares back unhappily. They speak sotto...

HARRIMAN
Transport was successful?

CURZON
I performed it myself.

HARRIMAN
And the radiation from the engines
completely masked the signal?

Curzon simply nods, too unhappy to respond verbally.

HARRIMAN
Maintain course, Commander Sulu.

Sulu follows her orders. Harriman sits back and waits...

24 INT. TOMED - CORRIDOR

A corridor in the unpopulated depths of the Romulan ship, where two low-level Romulan technicians work at panels. Their work complete, they stand and turn...

...revealing VAUGHN and T’PRYNN, both dressed as Romulans. It suits T’Prynn perfectly, but the young and inexperienced Vaughn looks uncomfortable in the alien uniform, pointed ears, bowl haircut and green skin. T’Prynn observes this...

T’PRYNN
Nervousness is only to be expected,
Lieutenant. Accept that, and it will
lose its power over you. You have
a mission - focus on that.

VAUGHN
Understood. I have a mission.

T’PRYNN
Then proceed, Lieutenant.

They turn opposite ways down the corridor, and head off on their missions. Staying with Vaughn as he strides away...

VAUGHN
You have a mission, Vaughn. You
have a mission.

But the nerves are not entirely under control...

25 EXT. SPACE - TOMED

Some time later, Tomed turns, ready to jump to warp...

...and instead grinds to a crippling halt, dead in space.

26 INT. TOMED - BRIDGE

Vokar is furious as Linavil reports...

LINAVIL
The engineer cannot stop it. She
may be able to delay it, but the
singularity will lose containment.

VOKAR
Delay it for how long?

LINAVIL
Minutes, perhaps hours. But they
may not have time to determine
if they even can delay it at all.

Vokar tries not to show, but he is vibrating with rage...

VOKAR
(to self)
Damn you, Harriman.
(louder)
Subcommander... sound evacuation.
We are abandoning the Tomed.

Linavil works the controls, and RED ALERT begins to sound through the ship. Vokar turns to Kamemor...

VOKAR
Ambassador, I suggest you find an
available escape pod, and use it.

KAMEMOR
Thank you, Admiral. I will.

Kamemor turns and leaves the bridge. We go with her...

27 INT. TOMED - CORRIDOR (CONTINUOUS)

...into the corridors of the Romulan ship, which are busy with Romulan officers, evacuating with urgency but dignity.

Kamemor pushes her way through them, alarmed and confused at the way this mission has gone so horribly wrong...

28 EXT. SPACE - TOMED

Dozens of shuttles and escape pods launch from the Tomed...

29 INT. TOMED - SHUTTLE BAY

A door opens and Kamemor enters. But she stops in horror...

...at the sight of half a dozen dead Romulan bodies strewn across the deck between the door and the shuttle itself. Then a figure steps out of the shuttle’s open door...

It is VAUGHN, disguised as a Romulan, disruptor in hand. He too stops in horror at being caught green-handed, glances nervously at the bodies on the deck. He killed them all.

On Kamemor as she stares at him, at the familiar eyes...

FLASHBACK - ENTERPRISE CREW LOUNGE

Kamemor glances up casually at Vaughn the waiter...

BACK TO SCENE

...and realises what has been going on.

KAMEMOR
So... Vokar was right about you
after all.

Hating every second of it, but with no other choice...

...Vaughn raises his disruptor and points it at Kamemor.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

30 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - HOSPICE ROOM - AFTERNOON

TENMEI on her feet beside her father’s bed, incensed...

TENMEI
How dare you. I invite you here to
celebrate my father’s memory, and
you accuse him of murder?

DAX
(hands up,
placating)
That’s not what I’m saying -

KIRA gently reaches out and takes Tenmei’s hand, tries to calm her. BASHIR stands as well, heads to join Dax...

BASHIR
Prynn, I’m sure Ezri never meant
to accuse your father of any such
thing. We didn’t always get along,
but I know what your father went
through on that mission...

RO
(gentle warning)
Doctor...

BASHIR
We’re all Starfleet, you can keep
a secret. But on my first job for
Intelligence... I was forced to
kill for the sake of the mission.

DAX
(quietly horrified)
Julian...

BASHIR
I hated it. I’m sure your father
did as well. But it was necessary.

Tenmei begins to settle, sits back down again...

KIRA
They’re right, Prynn. Sometimes
good people have to do bad things.
It doesn’t make them bad people.

Tenmei considers Kira’s gentle words... and silently nods.

RO
So... he obviously didn’t kill Kamemor...

DAX
No... he didn’t.

31 INT. TOMED - SHUTTLE BAY

Young Vaughn holding his disruptor on Kamemor...

VAUGHN
I’m sorry. I don’t want to do any
of this. But I have a mission.

Before Vaughn can fire, or Kamemor can respond...

...a hand reaches in and PINCHES her neck, and she drops to the deck. The disguised Cmdr T’Prynn stands behind her...

T’PRYNN
It is inadvisable to discuss the
details of a secret mission with
the mission’s target, Lieutenant.
Perhaps they neglected to teach
you that at Advanced Tactical?

VAUGHN
I killed them...

T’PRYNN
I understand. But focus on your
mission - to secure our escape
once the Tomed is under control.

VAUGHN
Yes... yes. This shuttle is ours.
Everyone else is gone.

T’PRYNN
Sadly not. The admiral and his top
advisors chose not to evacuate.
(re Kamemor)
Help me with the Ambassador. There
is an unused escape pod nearby, we
will send her to safety.

VAUGHN
But she recognised me.

T’PRYNN
If Ambassador Dax is correct, that
may yet work to our favour.

VAUGHN
(deep breath)
Thank you, T’Prynn.

T’PRYNN
Do not mistake me, Elias. These
are unlikely to be the last enemy
soldiers whose lives you will take
in the course of our missions.

VAUGHN
(hardening)
Whatever serves the greater good.

T’Prynn nods, and they move to lift Kamemor’s body...

32 EXT. SPACE - TOMED

One last escape pod ejects from the Tomed...

...then the Romulan warbird powers back up again and JUMPS to warp, disappearing into the distance.

33 INT. TOMED - BRIDGE

Vokar reacts to the reports of LINAVIL and AKEEV...

AKEEV
We have entered warp, Admiral.
Course is set for the Federation.

LINAVIL
The singularity is now stabilised,
and self-destruct is unavailable.

VOKAR
Clearly they intend to capture the
Tomed and present it as a gift.
(thinking)
Surely that would also be seen by
the Klingons as an act of war...
(realises, sly)
...if it were to get out.

AKEEV
But our external communications
are locked out as thoroughly as
helm control, Admiral.

Sudden inspiration - Linavil runs to a panel and checks it.

LINAVIL
There is one shuttle still in the
bay. Its comm may be operational.

VOKAR
Take that shuttle, Subcommander.
Make sure the whole galaxy knows
who’s responsible for this.

With a vengeful grin, Linavil dashes to a weapons cabinet, grabs a disruptor, and EXITS. Vokar taps a comm panel...

VOKAR
All remaining crew, this is the
Admiral. Locate these Starfleet
saboteurs now - and kill them.
(to Akeev)
Sublieutenant - assist me.

Vokar starts dismantling the helm console...

34 INT. TOMED - CORRIDOR

Vaughn dodges behind a bulkhead - a DISRUPTOR SHOT blasts the bulkhead only inches from his head.

He peeks around - and FIRES his own disruptor. A YELP and a THUD - the weapon hit its target. He looks sideways at...

...T’PRYNN, who calmly hides behind the opposite bulkhead as more weapons fire SCREECHES out, missing them both.

T’PRYNN
Only one remains here. Return to
the shuttle bay and prepare for
launch. I will join you shortly.

Vaughn nods and turns away. Steps over another Romulan body - the soldier he stole his weapon from - and heads down the corridor. T’Prynn steps out to cover his escape, firing her own disruptor and advancing with terrifying composure...

35 INT. TOMED - SHUTTLE BAY

Vaughn runs back in, heading straight for the control panel along the bay’s side wall. He reaches it, spends a moment scanning it visually, to be sure he knows what does what...

...he takes a few quick deep breaths, preparing himself...

...then hits the button. LIGHTS begin to flash, the HATCH begins to RUMBLE slowly open, and the air in the bay begins to HISS out into open space, the stars at warp outside.

Vaughn knows he only has moments until the air is gone - he dashes as quick as he can across the bay, into the one last shuttle whose door he left open before they left...

36 INT. ROMULAN SHUTTLE (CONTINUOUS)

...and comes up short at the sight of LINAVIL with one hand on the front console, and the other pointing her disruptor right at him. They glare as the air runs out around them...

...and she FIRES. But the disruptor MISFIRES in the near-vacuum, allowing him to dodge...

...and RUSH her, head and shoulders low to dive under the disruptor. BARREL into her waist, KNOCK the air out of her, disruptor goes flying, FLIP her up over his back...

...and out of the open shuttle door. Vaughn quickly works the controls, and the door begins to close...

...but before it can close all the way, Linavil LEAPS back in through the gap and tackles Vaughn down...

37 INT. TOMED - BRIDGE

The door opens and T’PRYNN strides in. Vokar and Akeev look up, briefly caught off guard by this unfamiliar Romulan...

VOKAR
Who are you? Are you on my crew?

T’PRYNN
No, Admiral, I am not.

And she raises her disruptor and SHOOTS Akeev on the spot. He tumbles to the deck, dead. Vokar steps back, seething with rage as T’Prynn adjusts the disruptor settings...

VOKAR
Harriman sent you, didn’t he?

T’PRYNN
We gave you the chance to abandon
ship. You should have taken it.

VOKAR
I will never abandon the Tomed!

T’PRYNN
As you wish, Admiral.

And she SHOOTS him too.

38 INT. ROMULAN SHUTTLE

Vaughn is RAMMED against the shuttle’s bulkhead, Linavil’s grip around his throat. Her other hand pulls back to punch him right in the face....

...and he drops like a stone, letting the PUNCH go right into the bulkhead. He RAMS through her middle, unbalancing her again. She CRUMPLES in an uncoordinated tangle...

...he SCRAMBLES to the other end of the cabin. The door is closed, air is replenished, but a fight against a pissed off Romulan with three times your strength is no time to recover from oxygen depravation. He needs a moment...

...but he’s not going to get it. Linavil rights herself, reaches into her boot, pulls out a KNIFE, and charges...

39 INT. TOMED - BRIDGE

Vokar JERKS awake, struggles to right himself... but his limbs are tied to his command chair with strips of plastic.

T’Prynn glances at him dismissively while she works to dismantle a bridge console...

T’PRYNN
Welcome back, Admiral. I thought
perhaps you might sleep all day.

VOKAR
You’ve sealed your people’s fate,
Vulcan. Everyone will know what
you’ve done, the Klingons will
ally with us against you... and
there will finally be war.

T’Prynn completes her work and hefts a large DEVICE out of its housing. She turns to face him, quite calm.

T’PRYNN
You misunderstand our intentions,
Admiral. You are about to prevent
a war, not start one. Be proud.

She heads for the door, carrying the device, and EXITS. He ROARS his frustration, struggling against his bonds...

40 INT. ROMULAN SHUTTLE

Vaughn ROLLS onto his back... Linavil LEAPS into the air...

...and LANDS right on top of him, straddling his midsection and pinning his forearms with her knees. Reaches down, RIPS the false points off his ears, throws them away in disgust.

VAUGHN
Do it! Kill me!

Linavil grins - gladly. Raises the knife above her head...

...he YANKS one arm free, raises it lightning fast...

...and the plunging knife SLICES right through his palm, out the other side. He swipes the hand sideways, she loses grip on the knife, scrambles to reach for it again...

...he YANKS the other arm free, grabs the handle before she can reach it, draws the knife out of his own hand...

...and PLUNGES it into her ribs. She SCREAMS, more out of rage than pain... he draws the knife back, and STABS again. She falls back off him, to the deck... and goes limp.

Catching his breath, he reaches for her pulse - she’s dead. The briefest flash of a grin - Good! - before he pulls back with horror at himself and what he has done.

He staggers to his feet, pins his bleeding hand under the other arm, uses the free hand to work the consoles. Checks something, nods with relief. Presses a button - the shuttle door rumbles open. Drags Linavil’s dead body to the door...

...only to find T’PRYNN approaching the shuttle across the airless bay deck, carrying the stolen device. She helps him haul the body out onto the deck, then calmly steps inside.

Vaughn works to close the shuttle door again. He is about to speak, but she holds up a single finger - wait. The door closes, air whooshes back in, and she finally breathes...

T’PRYNN
Was she able to send a message?

VAUGHN
No. I’d locked out the controls
already, she didn’t break them.

T’PRYNN
(re hand)
You are wounded.

VAUGHN
I’ll be fine.

T’PRYNN
Then help me install the cloaking
device.

They get to work...

41 EXT. SPACE - ALGERON SYSTEM

The planet of Algeron III in the middle distance, with the glittering lights of a starbase and its surrounding colony across part of its surface. Enterprise-B hoves into view...

42 INT. ENTERPRISE-B - BRIDGE

SULU reacts to her console with surprise and horror...

SULU
Captain! Long-range sensors detect
a ship entering the sector at high
warp - it’s the Tomed!

Harriman glances to Curzon sat beside him, then fakes it...

HARRIMAN
Hail them - warn Vokar that he is
not authorised to enter our space.

SULU
No response.

HARRIMAN
Can we intercept?

SULU
No time - they’re heading straight
for the border station on Algeron.
And these readings... oh my God...
they’ve got an isolytic weapon!

HARRIMAN
Contact the border station - tell
them to get out of there now.

SULU
No response! My God, there are
thousands of people down there...
Tomed is entering the system...

HARRIMAN
Sulu - maximum warp, now!

43 EXT. SPACE - ALGERON SYSTEM

With the planet still in the background, Enterprise jumps to WARP out of the system...

44 EXT. SPACE - TOMED

The Romulan ship warps past us... and as it passes, we see that its rear shuttle bay is open to space, and empty...

45 INT. TOMED - BRIDGE

VOKAR, still tied to his chair - he ROARS in futile fury...

46 EXT. SPACE - ALGERON SYSTEM

...and the ship SLAMS into the planet, targeted perfectly for the colony. A massive EXPLOSION rocks the surface...

...and sets off a CHAIN REACTION across the entire planet, creating fault lines and volcanoes as the world is torn apart from the inside out...

47 INT. ENTERPRISE-B - BRIDGE

As the Enterprise crew watch this on the viewscreen...

Harriman looks again at Curzon. They both look sick...

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

48 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - HOSPICE ROOM - EVENING

Ezri Dax looks at the stunned faces arrayed around Vaughn’s hospice bed. None of them can quite believe it...

SISKO
Dax... are you saying that you and
Vaughn framed the Romulans for
the murder of thousands of people?

DAX
No. Starfleet had been planning
this for months. Algeron Three was
emptied out long before Vokar got
there - the records show thousands
of names, yes, but fewer than a
dozen people actually died. And
they were all Romulans.

RO
So there was no terrorist attack
on Algeron. You just made it look
like there was...

BASHIR
...to help solidify the alliance with
the Klingons...

KIRA
...and force the Romulans to back
down from a war they couldn’t win.

DAX
That’s what your father did, Prynn.
He stopped a war before it started.
He saved lives - the Federation’s,
the Klingons’ and the Romulans’.

TENMEI
(quiet)
But he had to kill to do it.

DAX
Yes. He took his wounds, bore his
scars... for the greater good.

KIRA
And you know Elias. If anybody had
to do the hard work... he’d rather
it be him than the ones he loved.

RO
But Kamemor still knew the truth...

DAX
Yes. And two months later, when
she presented me and the Klingons
with the non-negotiable Treaty of
Algeron... she asked to speak
with me in private first.

Off Ezri...

49 INT. KHITOMER CONFERENCE ROOM

...to Curzon, sitting across a table from KAMEMOR. He is nervous what she will say, if she will blow it all open...

KAMEMOR
So, Dax... was any of it true?

CURZON
All of it. You know as well as I
do that Vokar couldn’t be allowed
to start the war he’d longed for.

KAMEMOR
So your wish that I pull him back
from the edge was never meant to
succeed. It was merely so that he
would lower the Tomed’s shields...

CURZON
You did it in good conscience. And
many lives were saved as a result.
Including your wife and son’s.

Kamemor carefully considers Curzon’s words...

50 INT. KHITOMER CONFERENCE ROOM

Later. Curzon, Kamemor and the KLINGON AMBASSADOR stand equally around a table, each in turn pressing their thumbs to the padd in the centre, observed by aides. Over this:

DAX (v.o.)
So she went ahead and did it. Even
knowing what we’d done, she signed
the treaty that isolated her people
to keep them safe, in return for us
banning isolytic weapons or cloaks,
neither of which we ever seriously
considered developing anyway.

Signatures all placed, Kamemor draws herself up...

KAMEMOR
It seems we will not be enjoying
that drink on Risa after all.

...then she turns and walks out.

KAMEMOR (v.o.)
The admiral has served in the
Imperial Fleet for a long time...

51 SCREEN

KAMEMOR, now older and wearing her praetor’s robes, appears on the screen, talking directly to camera.

KAMEMOR (screen)
(continuing)
As its leader, he has commanded
ably. But he believes it is time
to take responsibility for these
failures and step down.

52 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - NIGHT

BACCO and AKAAR stand watching this screen on the wall of her office - she with arms folded unimpressed, he ramrod straight as always and paying rapt attention.

KAMEMOR (screen)
The choice of successor to Admiral
Devix is an important one. I have
a number of candidates in mind
already, but I’d appreciate your
opinion. To that end, we should
meet. You know how to contact me.

With that, the Praetor signs off. Bacco harrumphs...

BACCO
That’s it? After all that fuss, the
damn thing wasn’t even meant
for me.

AKAAR
I believe the message was very
much intended for you, ma’am.

BACCO
She didn’t mention my name once.

AKAAR
She mentioned the Federation and
events in the Bajor system in her
very first sentence. Perhaps she
avoided saying your name only in
case the message was intercepted.

Bacco paces away, considering that...

BACCO
So it’s like Slask said. She wants
to talk, but without upsetting her
friends who’d rather fight.

AKAAR
And she informed us of a change at
the very top of the Imperial Fleet
- intelligence it might otherwise
have taken us months to acquire
- to demonstrate her good faith.

BACCO
You could be right. She’s been
playing the game for a long time
- she knows how to play it well.

AKAAR
Then the only remaining question
is... what is your next move?

Bacco smiles tightly, appreciating what passes for humour with Akaar. She considers her response...

BACCO
Send a message to Tezrene. Tell
her we have Proconsul Tomalak...
and we intend to prosecute him
to the fullest extent of the law.

Akaar pauses, absorbing that - a risky strategy. But...

AKAAR
Thank you, Madam President.

...and EXITS. Bacco stares at the Romulan logo on screen...

SISKO (v.o.)
...and though we are not now that
strength that in old days moved
Heaven and Earth...

53 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - HOSPICE ROOM - NIGHT

On SISKO, as he stands and reads from a book of poetry...

SISKO
(continuing)
...that which we are, we are.

Kira and Ro each holding tight to Tenmei’s hands, steadying her in support as she watches...

...Bashir and Dax silently working on her father’s life support machines, powering them down one by one.

SISKO
(continuing)
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
made weak by time and fate, but
strong in will. To strive, to seek,
to find... and not to yield.

Bashir turns off the last machine, its gentle beep silenced at last. Tenmei quivers, wipes a tear, holds it together.

KIRA
That was a beautiful poem. Thank
you for reading it, Benjamin.

DAX
Ulysses, by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

BASHIR
Don’t tell me - you knew him.

DAX
(smile)
No. But I’ve been around the block
enough to hear it once or twice.

TENMEI
It’s a bit of a cliché, I know. But
it just seemed to fit him so well.
The old hero, been through some
stuff... but longing for one last
adventure before he goes.

Bashir steps out from behind the machines, approaches...

BASHIR
It won’t be long now, Prynn. I’ve
administered an anodyne, so his
last few days will be peaceful.

TENMEI
Thank you, Julian. That was your
gift - like Ro’s whisky or Sisko’s
model or Dax’s story. You brought
him peace. I’ll treasure that too.

Bashir pauses, moved to tears by her perception of his actions... then moves on, gripping Dax’s hand for comfort.

TENMEI
Thank you, all of you, for coming.
You all meant a lot to him.

RO
And he meant a lot to us, Prynn.
He could be difficult, no doubt. But
he loved his family, he loved his
friends, he loved the Federation...
and he was willing to do the work
to protect them. He’ll be missed.

KIRA
We’ll leave you alone now.

Tenmei grabs Kira’s hand before she can go...

TENMEI
Nerys... please don’t think I’m not
grateful for your gift as well. You
took him in, looked after him when
he needed it... and I don’t just mean
since the invasion. Thank you.

KIRA
You’re welcome, Prynn.

Quietly, they start to withdraw. First Kira, then Ro...

RO
Take a few days off, Prynn. The
Defiant can manage without you.

Tenmei nods, grateful. Next go Bashir and Dax, muttering between themselves...

BASHIR
How did you know all that stuff?
You weren’t there for half of it.

DAX
(shrug)
Debriefings. That last talk with
Kamemor. And that was hardly the
last time Curzon dealt with Vaughn
or T’Prynn. You should remind me
to tell you about the Betreka
Nebula Incident some time...

And finally Sisko, who pauses to connect with Tenmei...

SISKO
Your father was very important to
me, Prynn. He was there for me,
during some difficult times. And
I feel... I feel like his spirit will
always be with me.

TENMEI
Thank you, Captain. Good night.

...and they’ve all gone. Tenmei is alone now.

She sits, takes her father’s hand. Feels the skin, the scar on his palm where the Romulan stabbed him with her knife.

TENMEI
He bore his scars... for the greater
good.

The door CREAKS open again, Tenmei looks up...

...and OPAKA is gently re-entering the room.

OPAKA
Good evening, Prynn. Nerys told
me it was done...?

TENMEI
Yes. It’s done. Please, Sulan - sit.

Opaka gently takes the other seat, as they were at the top of the episode. Opaka strokes the hair from his forehead...

TENMEI
You know he cared for you a lot.

OPAKA
And I care for him. A lot.

TENMEI
(no accusation)
So why haven’t you said anything?
I mean... you haven’t raised any
objections this whole time.

OPAKA
It’s not my place. You’re his next
of kin.

TENMEI
But... you’re the one who told me
he was still in there. That the
Prophets still had work for him.

OPAKA
Prynn... to those of us who serve,
there is no limit on that service -
and we do not seek one. Helping
others is how we find meaning,
even virtue in our lives.
(beat)
I do believe the Prophets will call
for your father when they’re ready,
not before. I have no doubt he will
find a way to help us, to save us
all one last time, before the end.

Tenmei absorbs that... and finds she quite likes the idea.

OPAKA
I’ll leave you be.

TENMEI
No, please... stay.

Smiling quietly, Opaka settles back down...

...and they watch over Vaughn together.

FADE OUT

END OF SHOW

TNG 19x15 - “THE BODY ELECTRIC”

On Enterprise, Chen figures out that, aside from whatever its purpose with the black hole at the galaxy’s core, the Machine also wants to make contact with other AIs. LaForge contacts Data, but he is a prisoner of the Fellowship of Artificial Intelligences and cannot help. Picard reluctantly authorises force, using a shuttle to plant explosives. But the Machine attacks using lots of smaller machines. It is already a conglomeration of smaller AIs, which it calls the Body Electric, and it wants every other AI to join it. Wesley locates Data aboard the Fellowship’s vessel, and makes a deal with their leader Gatt – he will talk the Machine into stopping on their behalf, if Enterprise will promise not to try to rescue Data. Wesley moves the ship to meet Enterprise, where Picard rankles against negotiating under duress, but has no choice. Gatt travels to the Machine, where it shows him all of its plans... and converts him to its cause.

VOY 12x15 - “I THINK I’M PARANOID”

Seven faces the mysterious “Commander” of Starfleet Medical, real name Dr Jefferson Briggs. The plague is real, but he is using it as cover. He wants to decode the Caeliar’s catoms to use as a weapon in case they come back, but he has already killed dozens in his futile attempts. Seven bargains that if he releases his subjects, she will stay and help... While Voyager returns to the First World, the EMH is becoming increasingly erratic – Chakotay is forced to shut him down until Barclay can fix him. B’Elanna is overseeing repairs when Miral appears – Kula, her holographic nanny, has vanished. She finds Kim and Conlon investigating a holo-massacre in Holodeck 1. Are the two mysteries connected? Janeway tells Presider Cin that they will not be enemies, but there are too many cultural differences for a real alliance. What if Janeway helped Cin to open diplomacy with the invaders? Maybe there is a way forward after all...