ACT ONE

FADE IN: 

12 EXT. SPACE - ANDOR ORBIT

The ice-capped moon that is the Andorian homeworld orbits its blue gas giant parent. Even from orbit, the black smudges of the devastated surface can be seen clearly.

A Galaxy-class ship, the USS Venture, hoves into view, in geo-stationary orbit around Andor. The large vessel is also damaged - scars on its flank, one entire segment of the primary hull dark, and one warp nacelle flickering. 

13 INT. VENTURE - SISKO’S QUARTERS

Captain BENJAMIN SISKO stands at the window of these luxury quarters, the type of room assigned to visiting dignitaries in the Galaxy-class style as seen through TNG. Like Ro, he gazes out at the view beyond, at the damaged planet below.

The door CHIMES - Sisko turns his back on the window. 

SISKO
Come in. 

The door opens and Cmdr ANXO ROGEIRO enters. The former XO of the USS James T Kirk looks tired and run down - he has been working hard. Sisko feels guilty to see this. 

SISKO
Commander. Did you need something? 

ROGEIRO
I just wanted to give you the
latest status update, sir. 

SISKO
Is that really your job, Mister
Rogeiro? You’re not the Venture’s
first officer, and I’m not its
captain. I have my own concerns. 

Sisko sits at his desk, gathers together the padds upon it, trying to at least look like he was busy doing something. 

ROGEIRO
Yes sir. But I would think it’s
all hands on deck at a time like
this. I’m just trying to help. 

SISKO
Alright - go ahead. 

ROGEIRO
Repairs to Venture are proceeding,
but slowly. Beyond the necessary
work to keep ourselves operating,
the captain has prioritised the
needs of the survivors on Andor.
Uninjured crew from the Kirk and
the New York have been redeployed
to the surface, plus any shuttle
craft not used in the evacuation. 

Sisko cannot help but glance back out of the window. 

SISKO
Is there a final count? 

ROGEIRO
Estimates currently place deaths
in the millions. I’m not sure
there’ll ever be an accurate final
count, at least for the homeworld.
We do know, however, how many
survived the Borg’s simultaneous
attack on the Alrond colony. 

SISKO
How many? 

ROGEIRO
Four hundred twenty two, sir. A
civilian vessel called Kovlessa
was able to pick them up. 

SISKO
Four hundred? From an entire planet?

ROGEIRO
Sir, we fought six Borg cubes. 
(gestures round)
Precisely one of our ships made it
through in one piece. I think four
hundred survivors is about as good
an outcome as we could hope for. 

SISKO
Is that supposed to be a joke,
Commander?
(regathers)
I’m sorry - I know you lost people
too. Is there any news on Elias? 

ROGEIRO
Doctor Ibelna’s prognosis remains
the same. Captain Vaughn will not
survive without life support. 

SISKO
Thank you, Commander. Dismissed. 

ROGEIRO
Actually, there was one other
thing I was hoping you could help
me with, sir. Lieutenant ch’Thane? 

SISKO
Venture has a counsellor, doesn’t
she? Why come to me? I barely know
the lieutenant. 

ROGEIRO
Counsellor T’Khay’s appointment
book is rather full, sir. And you
did both work at Deep Space Nine.

SISKO
Commander... I agree that Mister
ch’Thane needs help, but I am not
the one to give it. Find someone
else. Dismissed. 

Stern and unmoving, Sisko clearly wants Rogeiro to go. Seeing he will get no further, Rogeiro turns to leave... 

14 INT. VENTURE - SHAR’S QUARTERS

Lt (fg) Thirishar ch’Thane (aka SHAR) sits on the couch of this much smaller room, back to the window. He is wearing a ceara (Andorian pyjamas) and staring blankly at nothing. 

Rogeiro gently places a bowl of steaming food onto the low table before Shar’s couch, next to a Starfleet padd that is already there. Shar reacts to none of this. 

ROGEIRO
There you go – marsh bison with
roast vithi bulbs. Enjoy. 

Shar continues to stare, muscles slack and antennae limp, making no attempt to eat. Rogeiro quietly picks up the padd from the table, gives it a quick glance, then places it back down. It’s exactly what he was afraid it would be. 

ROGEIRO
Shar... you haven’t eaten in days.
You don’t speak, don’t even move
for hours at a time. This isn’t
helping anyone. It’s not healthy. 

No response. Rogeiro sees again that he is getting nowhere, and turns to leave with regret. At the door...

ROGEIRO
If you need anything, Shar, you
know I’m only a comm line away.

He exits. Shar remains where he was. 

15 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE

Focusing on the command module at the top of the station, although we should still feel the presence of the many many refugee ships nearby. 

16 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE

Ro sits behind her desk, speaking via the comm screen to Admiral WHATLEY (last seen 12x14 “Duty Calls”).

WHATLEY (screen)
I sympathise, Commander. But Bajor
is now a member of the Federation,
and as such it faces the same
responsibilities as any Federation
world, including the taking in of
refugees from nearby sectors. 

Ro runs her hands through her hair... revealing that she no longer wears a traditional Bajoran earring in her left ear. 

RO
With respect, sir, please don’t
“as you know” me. We’re well aware
of our obligations and we’re happy
to live up to them. It’s not a
question of will - it’s a question
of resources. We’re overloaded. 

WHATLEY (screen)
It’s the same story all over the
Federation, Commander. Billions of
people lost their homes, in case
you forgot. And Bajor is one of
a disturbingly small number of
worlds the Borg never reached. 

RO
I understand that, sir. But we’ve
got people sleeping in cargo bays
here. No Federation citizen should
be forced to live like this. 

WHATLEY (screen)
What about sending people down to
Bajor itself? Why are you keeping
them in cargo bays when there’s
a whole planet right next door?

RO
Bajorans have never run away from
helping those in need, sir. We’ve
already sent some. But it will
take time to set up housing and
facilities and supply chains. In
the meantime it’s all on us. 

On screen, Whatley sits back, taking Ro’s words on board. But as he begins again, the signal degrades into STATIC... 

WHATLEY (screen)
Alright, Commander. I suppose
I can take a look at the list and
see if anyone can...

But the admiral’s words are finally lost in scratches and squiggles of interference, and the signal drops. 

Ro YELLS at the computer in frustration - just as she was beginning to get somewhere! She launches up from her desk and stomps to the door out onto Ops...

17 INT. DS9 - MAIN OPS CENTRE

...and immediately begins laying into Candlewood while he urgently works his science station. 

RO
Candlewood! What the hell? I was
just on the comm with Admiral
Whatley, trying to get some of
the pressure off our backs.

CANDLEWOOD
I know, Commander. There’s just so
many subspace comm signals coming
in and out and filtering down to
Bajor. The sheer mass is making
them interfere with each other. 

RO
So make them stop interfering. 

CANDLEWOOD
I can’t, sir, not without - 

RO
Fix it, John. It’s your job, for
Prophets’ sake. And I don’t want
this happening again, understood? 

And she heads back into the office, metaphorically slamming the door behind her. Major Cenn offers a sympathetic look, but Candlewood straightens and gets to work. 

CANDLEWOOD
Computer - display all subspace
communications currently active
or queued. Arrange by category
tag, incoming and outgoing. 

The various computer screens display a series of charts, which Candlewood inspects. He begins to type commands... 

CANDLEWOOD
Okay... allow all existing signals
to complete, and then apply new
rolling priority codes. Official
Starfleet business comms highest,
civilian to civilian next...
(regretful)
...and non-official-business
Starfleet comms last. 

COMPUTER
Working. 

That done, Candlewood moves to another panel and begins entering more commands there. Finally satisfied... 

CANDLEWOOD
Candlewood to Commander Ro. Your
connection with Starfleet Command
is now re-established. 

RO (comm)
Thanks, John. 
(beat)
Good work. 

Candlewood allows himself a small smile at a job well done, then he turns back to his station, more solemn and serious. 

CANDLEWOOD
Computer, record a message for
inclusion in the daily update for
all crew. 

COMPUTER
Working. 

CANDLEWOOD
From Lieutenant John Candlewood,
chief science officer, to all crew of
Deep Space Nine. The station is
now experiencing an unprecedented
level of subspace communication
traffic. To best help the incoming
refugees, their own communications
as well as any official Starfleet
comms concerning their movements
must be given priority. Therefore
as of now, all Starfleet officers
and crew-persons are limited to
one personal message per week. 
(beat)
I’m sorry, I know this will come
as a blow to those of us who are
feeling the need to stay in touch
with loved ones these days. But
that is the nature of the service
– to sacrifice our own needs to
help others. One message a week.
Make it brief, make it meaningful.
Please consider this an order from
the station commander. Signed,
John Candlewood. End message. 

The computer beeps affirmatively, and Candlewood slumps against the console. Cenn approaches and speaks privately. 

CENN
Nicely done, Lieutenant. 

CANDLEWOOD
I’d feel better about it if I hadn’t
just denied the crew what I
already enjoyed myself. Spoke to
my mom in Chicago this morning. 

CENN
You did nothing wrong, John.
Try to remember that. 

Easier said than done. Cenn moves back to the central Ops table, while Candlewood gets on with his work... 

18 INT. VENTURE - SISKO’S QUARTERS

Sisko sits at his desk, putting off what he does not want to face. But he cannot put it off any longer, he owes it. He taps the computer on his desk...

SISKO
Computer, establish subspace comm
link via Deep Space Nine to Bajor,
Kendra province, Sisko residence,
attention Kasidy Yates. 

COMPUTER
Working. Unable to establish real
time comm link. 

SISKO
Why not? 

COMPUTER
All Starfleet to civilian subspace
comm traffic through station Deep
Space Nine has been deprioritised.
Do you wish to override? 

Sisko knows he could do that, should do that, but actually it’s just the excuse he needed to put it off some more.

SISKO
Negative. Cancel request. 

The computer beeps, and Sisko goes back to the window...

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE