DS9 11x11 - "The Crucible"

[DS9Continuing]

Hi all

Time for episode 11.

Here's the links:

11x01 "Systems Under Repair" - Ad Astra, pdf, ebook
11x02 "Structural Integrity Compromised" - Ad Astra, pdf, ebook
11x03 "Self Destruct Initiated" - Ad Astra, pdf, ebook
11x04 "Separation Manoeuvres Complete" - Ad Astra, pdf, ebook
11x05 "The New Normal" - Ad Astra, pdf, ebook
11x06 "Two Steps Forward" - AdAstra, pdf, ebook
11x07 "In Love and War" - AdAstra, pdf, ebook
11x08 "Puppy Love" - AdAstra, pdf, ebook
11x09 "The Laughing Policeman" - AdAstra, pdf, ebook
11x10 "Gut Feelings" - AdAstra, pdf, ebook
11x11 "The Crucible" - AdAstra, pdf, ebook


Enjoy!

 

[DS9Continuing]

TEASER​

FADE IN:



1 INT. DS9 – RO’S QUARTERS


Close on a COFFEE MUG as it’s picked up from a low table and brought to RO LAREN’s lips. She’s curled up in the sofa, in stripped-down uniform, easy and casual.

RO
How’s your new waiter working out?​

Opposite her sits QUARK, drinking a refreshing snail juice.

QUARK
Penk? Eh, he’s alright. Takes the
initiative a little too easily.

RO
Sorry. I know how you love to
boss people around.

QUARK
(shrug)
I am the boss. He came here to
apprentice under the Ferengi
ambassador to Bajor. He should
show the proper respect.

RO
By doing absolutely nothing unless
you tell him to.

QUARK
Right. It’s been nice to see the
Promenade get back to normal,
though. Evacuations aren’t
good for the bottom line.

RO
Wow, you’re so subtle. No Quark,
I’m still not going to tell you.

QUARK
I’m just –

RO
No. I’m serious, Quark. There are
always going to be some things I
can’t tell you, and just because
we’re... whatever we are now...
doesn’t change that. You’re gonna
have to accept it when I say no.

QUARK
(smirk)
Oh, so that’s how it is, is it?
When you want it, I’m at your
mercy. But when I want it,
I’m still at your mercy.

RO
(flirty)
Haven’t you always been?
Anyway, it’s not the same.

QUARK
Why not?

RO
You’re a man. You always want it.

QUARK
That is so sexist.​

Ro chuckles and rolls her eyes.

VAUGHN (comm)
Captain Vaughn to Commander Ro.​

Ro shushes Quark, grabs her combadge off the table, and taps it to answer.

RO
This is Ro, go ahead.

VAUGHN (comm)
What’s your location, Commander?

RO
(confused)
My quarters. Is there a problem?
I’m not due on duty for another
twenty minutes.

VAUGHN (comm)
No, no problem. But I would like
you to report to docking bay two
rather than Ops when you’re ready.

RO
Acknowledged, sir. See you there.

VAUGHN (comm)
Vaughn out.​

Ro puts down the combadge and knocks back the last of her coffee, straightening herself up.

RO
Better get ready, then.

QUARK
You let him boss you around.

RO
(shrug)
He is the boss. Now shoo. I’ll
probably see you at lunch. Maybe.

QUARK
Now you’ve had your way...

RO
Go!​

Chuckling, Quark finishes his own drink and gets up to leave. Ro heads to the bedroom.



2 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE - ESTABLISHING


A standard establishing shot, with the Defiant in pride of place on the docking ring, and at least one unidentified freighter type vessel as well.



3 INT. DS9 – DOCKING RING CORRIDOR


Ro approaches the airlock, in normal uniform. The corridor is otherwise empty, which surprises her.

She pokes her head around the corner of the airlock, and sees a standard Starfleet docking port at the other end. Shrugging, she walks on in.



4 INT. DEFIANT - CORRIDOR


She emerges into the normal corridor of the Defiant. VAUGHN is just coming around the corner, bright and cheerful.

VAUGHN
Ah, Commander! Excellent, thank
you for coming.​

He sees the slightly confused look on her face.

VAUGHN
Is something wrong?

RO
Just that I didn’t think the
Defiant was docked at bay two.
Isn’t it usually at bay six?

VAUGHN
There was a breakdown with the
docking seals overnight, so Bowers
shifted her here. Good thing too,
because we’re about to take her
out for a spin.

RO
We are?​

Vaughn after-you’s for Ro, and they begin to stroll down the corridor. Vaughn is thoughtful, ponderous.

VAUGHN
You see, I sat down and thought
about it, and it occurred to me
that things have gotten a little
tense between us recently. No
no, I don’t blame you.
(smirk)
Well, not entirely, anyway.

RO
Sir, I –

VAUGHN
I realised that, while I may have
promised to be your mentor in the
ways of the red uniform, I haven’t
really done all that much to live
up to that promise.

RO
I don’t think you’ve got out from
behind that desk since you got it.​

They reach a turbolift, and enter it.



5 INT. DEFIANT – TURBOLIFT (CONTINUOUS)

VAUGHN
Bridge.​

The lift starts moving.

VAUGHN
So that’s what this trip is about.
I volunteered the Defiant for the
standard patrols around the Bajor
sector, because I thought it would
be the perfect opportunity for you
and I to work on our CO-XO bond...
to try to repair our relationship.

RO
That sounds like a nice idea, sir.

VAUGHN
No command team should be at
odds within itself. That’s no way
to run a posting.​

The lift comes to a stop, the door opens, and they exit…



6 INT. DEFIANT – CORRIDOR (CONTINUOUS)


...into another corridor, and continue walking.

RO
What about the station?

VAUGHN
Cenn and Evik can handle things
for a day or so. And it’s not like
we’re a million miles away.​

They reach another door...



7 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE (CONTINUOUS)


...and enter the bridge. Ro sees with some mild surprise that everyone else is already there. PRYNN at helm, NOG at engineering, CANDLEWOOD at sciences, BOWERS at tactical, and BASHIR at a rear panel.

BOWERS
Captain on the bridge.​

As Vaughn heads to the command chair, Ro approaches Bashir.

RO
How come you all knew about this
before me?

BASHIR
The orders came in late last
night. You didn’t know?

RO
I must have been distracted.

BASHIR
To be honest, I felt a little strong-
armed into it myself. Still, he’s
right that we need to work on
some things, as a senior staff.

RO
Yeah... that did get a little out
of hand there for a minute.​

Bowers gets up from his seat to report to Vaughn.

BOWERS
All stations report ready, sir. The
vessel is at your command.

RO
(light)
Hey, isn’t that my job?

VAUGHN
Don’t be offended, Commander.
Since I knew you wouldn’t join us
until later, I asked Mister Bowers
to get a head start.
(to business)
Lieutenant Tenmei, signal the
station we’re ready to depart.
Then plot a standard patrol course
along the Bajor-Almatha border,
and once we’re clear, take us to
warp one.

PRYNN
Aye, sir.​

As Prynn gets the ship underway, Ro takes a place standing at Vaughn’s side. She looks around; everyone is being alert and professional. She smiles – this feels good.



FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT ONE​

FADE IN:



8 INT. DEFIANT – MESS HALL


Vaughn takes his usual mug of tea out of the replicator, and takes it back to the small table he shares with Ro. On the surface between them are half a dozen padds.

RO
I wasn’t expecting much from the
Cardassians after they reopened
their borders. But they’re being
even quieter than I thought.

VAUGHN
Makes you suspicious, doesn’t it?

RO
Am I that predictable?

VAUGHN
You have every reason to be. I am
too. But the better half of me insists
I’m judging based on the past
instead of the present. Really, I
think they’re just being cautious.
They’ve had a rough couple of years.

RO
Haven’t we all?

VAUGHN
Yes, but a lot of people blame
Cardassia for causing those bad
years. So I suppose we can’t blame
them for poking their noses out
slowly, rather than blundering
out at full speed.

RO
Unfortunately, experience has
trained us to think that anyone
going quiet is a bad sign.

VAUGHN
Sadly, yes. But for now, I think
we can trust the new Cardassian
government. Cautiously.
(sigh)
Which of course doesn’t mean
there won’t still be problems
along their borders.​

He picks up one of the pads, reads it with disappointment.

VAUGHN
Independent raiders and other
opportunists are brave enough
to target holdings in the more
remote parts of the Union.

RO
Where they can be sure of a tepid
response from Cardassia. Can we
do anything about that?

VAUGHN
The new agreement says that we are
not to cross their borders unless
invited to do so, or for humanitarian
reasons. Raiders don’t really count
as either, I’m afraid. But if they so
much as put a rivet over the line
in to Bajoran space, they’re ours.​

Vaughn settles back and takes a sip of his tea, gazes into the mug awkwardly. Ro watches him, waiting for him to say something. Finally, she sighs and straightens.

RO
Look, are we going to talk about it?
Or are we just going to let it sit
there until it grows and grows
and takes over the station?​

Vaughn looks up at her, unsure where to begin.

RO
Yes. I disobeyed your orders.

VAUGHN
You certainly did.

RO
Because I believed those orders
were wrong.

VAUGHN
Is that really your decision to make?

RO
Actually, yes, as first officer I
think it is. The XO advises the
captain on all the various options
and perspectives to be sure he
makes the right decision.

VAUGHN
But that final decision is mine.

RO
I'm still not obligated to follow
immoral orders.​

Vaughn sits back again with a whistle of amazement.

VAUGHN
Immoral? That's a big word.

RO
I know. I'm sorry. But I had to do
what I thought was right.​

Vaughn looks into his mug of tea, nods sadly.

VAUGHN
Yes, I suppose you did. But you
still disobeyed orders to do it.
You, Bashir, Candlewood...

RO
Candlewood's new. He was just
following the crowd. Punish me
and Bashir if you want, but not
John. He doesn't deserve it.

VAUGHN
Even so, two senior officers joining
forces to defy their commander...
one might almost call it a mutiny.

RO
Two people is hardly a mutiny, sir.
A mini-mutiny at most.​

Vaughn chuckles at the little joke. He relaxes, softens towards her. Ro takes it as an encouraging sign.

VAUGHN
I know we’re not exactly friends.
But I need you to trust me, Ro.

RO
What if I promise to obey all your
orders from now on?

VAUGHN
Obedience is still not trust. So
that’s something I need to work
on - I need to earn your trust.
Your trust that I have the best
interests of you, the station,
Bajor and the Federation at
heart. Because I do.

RO
I believe you. But having good
intentions doesn’t make you infallible.

VAUGHN
Surely more than eighty years in
the business has to afford me
some benefit of the doubt.

RO
Or maybe it makes you inflexible.
(taps padd)
Like with assuming the worst of the
Cardassians. Judging based on the
past, not the present. Okay, how
about this? I promise to obey all
your orders, as long as you
promise to give me orders
that make sense.

VAUGHN
(chuckle)
You’re definitely new at this.
Alright, let’s drag ourselves out
of these doldrums with a little
salacious gossip.
(leans forward)
You and Quark?

RO
(folds arms)
You and Opaka?

VAUGHN
Fair enough. I’m not looking for
the intimate details. God knows
I don’t need to hear that. Just
that... you know his background.
You know he’s going to be trying
for every advantage he can get.

RO
I trust him.
(off Vaughn’s
dubious look)
I trust that he knows not to push
it too far. And I don’t think he’d
seriously try anyway. He’s not stupid.
He knows I can shut him down in
an instant if he steps out of line.

VAUGHN
He’s at your mercy.

RO
(grin)
That’s exactly what he said.​

Vaughn knocks back the last of his tea and stands up.

VAUGHN
Right, come on. We’ve got raiders
to scare. Bring those.​

Ro grabs the padds off the table and stands too. Together they head to the door.

RO
You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?

VAUGHN
Well, all things considered I’d
rather be out there exploring the
galaxy. But this is the task I’ve
been set, and I’m going to do
it with enthusiasm.​

They exit.



9 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE


The door opens and Vaughn and Ro enter. All the senior staff are present. Vaughn heads to the command chair while Ro stashes the padds in a wall cabinet at the rear. Bashir approaches Ro with a surreptitious glance towards Vaughn.

BASHIR
Everything alright?

RO
I think so. We both explained
ourselves, and I think it’s going
to be okay.

BASHIR
I hope you’re right.​

Vaughn has now settled in, checked his consoles.

VAUGHN
Helm, what’s our position?

PRYNN
On course along the border of the
Bajor and Almatha sectors. No
irregularities detected.​

As Ro stands by his side, Vaughn turns to smile at her.

VAUGHN
See? Nothing to worry about.​

An alert sounds on Bowers’ panel. He checks it...

BOWERS
Sir, we’re receiving an urgent message.

VAUGHN
Never fails.

RO
Is it from inside Cardassian space?

BOWERS
No, Commander. It’s from Deep
Space Nine.​

Vaughn and Ro exchange surprised looks.

VAUGHN
Well? Don’t make me guess, Lieutenant.

BOWERS
It’s... a little confused, sir. Major
Cenn says he had a call from
General Lenaris, who had a call
from a Major Rochan at the
monastery in the capital, and
he had a call from -

VAUGHN
Get to the point, please.

BOWERS
It’s the Oralian Temple at Janir.

RO
That’s where Kira’s staying.
With Raiq.

BOWERS
Yes, sir. And apparently, Raiq has
killed several worshippers and two
Militia officers, and escaped.​

Shocked and horrified faces all around the bridge. Silence.

RO
What about Kira?

BOWERS
Unknown. There’s been no sign of
her since Raiq... They don’t know
if she has Kira with her or not.
They don’t even know if Kira
is alive... or dead.​

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT TWO​

FADE IN:



10 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE


Where we left it. The bridge crew is reacting to the news with silent and horrified gulps. Vaughn sits stony-faced in his command chair.

VAUGHN
Any indication of where Raiq went
after Janir?

BOWERS
Negative. Reports say she stole a
shuttle, then firebombed all the
other shuttles so nobody could
follow her.

VAUGHN
The Militia’s response?

BOWERS
On alert. They’re searching, but
they lost track almost instantly.

VAUGHN
Was the shuttle capable of space
flight, or just atmospheric?​

Candlewood checks his own panels...

CANDLEWOOD
The records indicate that Janir
monastery does have one space-
capable shuttle registered. It
belongs to a Cerin Mika.

RO
Mika - that’s Kai Solis’ niece.​

Vaughn takes a moment to think, speaks quietly but firmly.

VAUGHN
Tenmei, set course back to Bajor,
maximum warp.

PRYNN
Aye sir.​

Prynn works her consoles, and the viewscreen shows the star field streak into warp.

VAUGHN
Time to destination.

TENMEI
Forty-seven minutes.

VAUGHN
Candlewood, keep trying to get
more out of Cenn and Lenaris.
Bowers, Nog - I want this ship
ready to go into battle by the
time we reach Bajor. This is
not a drill. Ro, ready room.​

Without waiting for a response, Vaughn gets up from his chair and exits the room, expecting Ro to follow.



11 INT. DEFIANT – READY ROOM


Vaughn enters the room, stalks to the desk. Ro enters close behind. The door closes. Vaughn is thinking, mind working. Ro looks like she could vomit, but Vaughn holds her off.

VAUGHN
Save the mea culpas for later,
Commander. And I’ll save the
gloating. We need to stop her.
Where is she going?

RO
We both know exactly where
she’s going, don’t we?​

Vaughn looks up at Ro, holds her gaze for a moment. Then THUMPS the table and turns away.

VAUGHN
Dammit! This is exactly what I was
afraid would happen. Bashir said
she wouldn’t remember.

RO
The whole thing was guess work,
sir. You know Bashir did his best.
But I guess it just wasn’t enough.
She knows about the ship, and
she’s going after it.

VAUGHN
Can she even know where it is?
Maybe she can sense there is a
ship because she bonded with it,
but can she sense where it is?
At interplanetary distances?

RO
We don’t know, do we? We just
don’t know enough about her.

VAUGHN
We don’t know anything! So we’ll
just have to assume the worst.
(beat)
Vaughn to bridge.

BOWERS (comm)
Go ahead, sir.

VAUGHN
Alter course, Lieutenant. We’re
not going to Bajor. We’re going to
Cajara. And tell Nog I want every
joule of energy he can get out of
those engines, safeties be damned.

BOWERS (comm)
Understood, sir. Bridge out.

VAUGHN
If we don’t get to Empok Nor
before Raiq does...

RO
The whole Bajor system is dead.​

Vaughn holds her gaze again, tense and worried…



12 EXT. STAR FIELD


At high warp, we’re streaking forwards as fast as we can.

PULL BACK slowly to reveal the edges of the main screen, then Prynn’s console, and then Prynn herself, driving the ship with total clarity.



13 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE (CONTINUOUS)


Ro hovers over Prynn’s shoulder, trying her best not to bother her but too nervous to sit.

PANNING AROUND, we see Vaughn back in the command chair, watching Ro. Around them, the bridge is quiet but for beeps from the computers and loud hums from the engines. Everyone is working hard, heads down, no mood for chatting.

VAUGHN
Strange how a million miles a
second can feel like walking in
mud sometimes, isn’t it?​

Ro turns to look at him, a smile of gallows humour.

RO
Makes you wonder why they ever
gave up on transwarp. Permission
to check Engineering, sir.

VAUGHN
Please do.​

14 INT. DEFIANT – ENGINEERING


The WARP CORE is working as fast as it can go, throbs of energy pulsing through it. As Ro walks into the room, she sees Nog at the panels opposite, directing his staff.

NOG
Mikaela, keep those intermix
levels balanced. K’Uhllo, I need
eyes on the starboard coil, make
sure it doesn’t overheat – go!​

K’Uhllo (Damiani male, 10x07 "Instinct") dashes out of the room. Ro approaches, wary of adding to Nog’s burden.

RO
Nog... anything you can do to get
us there faster.

NOG
I’m working on it, Commander. But
to quote a giant of the field, "I
can’t change the laws of physics."​

Nog nervously glances around the room at his officers, then steps close up to Ro, speaks sotto.

NOG
How did this happen, Ro? We were
so careful.

RO
I guess we should have been more
careful. I don’t know.

NOG
I haven’t told them anything. And
I won’t. But they’re bound to
wonder, especially if we’re going
into battle.

RO
Just keep them concentrating on
their jobs. Let me and Vaughn
worry about the rest.​

Nog nods reluctantly. Ro turns to leave again.



15 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE


As Ro re-enters the bridge, she sees the face of Major CENN on the screen. But whatever he’s saying is lost in static and a chopped-up, garbled transmission.

VAUGHN
Candlewood! Why the bad signal?

CANDLEWOOD
The comm relays are struggling
to keep up with our speed. I’m
compensating now.​

As Ro stands beside Vaughn in his command chair, and he glances up at her in greeting, Cenn’s signal clears up. He’s in Ops on DS9, and the view behind him is frenzied.

VAUGHN
Major, we haven’t been receiving
you clearly till now. Start from
the top, please.

CENN (screen)
Yes, Captain. We’ve been getting
updates from Lenaris and from
the officers on the ground in Janir.
They confirm at least six deaths,
status of Novice Kira unknown.

RO
Was Raiq definitely the assailant?​

Vaughn’s look says "What the hell kind of question is that? Of course she was." Ro ignores him.

CENN (screen)
Confirmed, I’m afraid. Survivors
report seeing a silver-skinned
woman throwing fire balls from her
hands, and running towards the
shuttle park with another woman
who was bound and gagged.

VAUGHN
(mutter)
That’s how she knows where to go.
She’ll torture it out of Kira, and
kill her when she’s no more use.
(to Cenn)
What about the ship she took?

CENN (screen)
Confirmed it was a warp-capable
shuttle that was taken. Sensor
readings have suggested multiple
possible headings, but she seems
to be always one step ahead.

VAUGHN
That’s alright, Major. Tell the
general we’ll take it from here.

CENN (screen)
Sir...?

VAUGHN
You heard me. I want the station
at red alert, tell Evik to get
deputies armed and ready at every
sensitive point, in case you’re
boarded. We’ll take care of Raiq.

CENN (screen)
Aye, sir. DS-Nine out.​

The signal drops. The screen returns to star field at warp.

VAUGHN
Tenmei – time to target.

PRYNN
Entering Bajor system now, sir.

RO
Any sign of the shuttle?

CANDLEWOOD
Not at present, sir. But Empok Nor
is behind Cajara from this angle.
She could be hiding, or we could
have beaten her here.

VAUGHN
Tenmei, drop out of warp as close
to the planet as you dare. Bowers,
shields up, phasers and torpedoes
on hot standby. Candlewood, I want
sensor resolution instantly. We
need to know who got here first.

CANDLEWOOD
Aye, sir.​

VAUGHN turns to Ro at his side, speaks confidentially.

VAUGHN
You ready for this?

RO
Yeah. I’m just disappointed it
came to this. I really thought –

VAUGHN
We’re past that point now. Now
we just have to deal with those
consequences of yours. And hope
to God we beat her to the punch.

TENMEI
Approaching Cajara. Dropping to
impulse power in three... two...
one... now.​

The engines die out, the sounds replaced by shields raising and weapons charging.

The viewscreen changes from the warp starfield to a massive gas giant planet tight in foreground, and getting closer.

CANDLEWOOD
Scanning now.

RO
Increase screen magnification.​

The image on the screen zooms in on the curve of the planet, the abandoned Empok Nor station just starting to appear over the edge. That’s no moon...

VAUGHN
Is she there?

CANDLEWOOD
Can’t get a clear shot. The magnetic
fields from the planet...

VAUGHN
Tenmei, get us in closer.​

On screen, the planet curves away beneath them, the station growing nearer and clearer.

CANDLEWOOD
Sensors clearing up...

VAUGHN
And?​

In response, Candlewood presses some buttons and sends an image up to the view screen. It’s a tight zoom on one of the crossover bridges of the station. A program clarifies the image further, pixilating the picture as it resolves...

Something is poking out from behind the bridge – the tip of a ship’s wing. It’s parked on the vertical side, away from the normal docking platform, trying to hide from view.

As Candlewood continues to work his panels, the image rotates, creates a wire-frame to fill in the rest of the ship, then fills in the details of the ship from records. It’s clearly a small personal Bajoran transport.

Everyone looks at this with dismay.

VAUGHN
Damn it.​

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT THREE​

FADE IN:



16 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE


The Bajoran ship, hidden behind the arm of Empok Nor, is on the screen.

VAUGHN
Candlewood - I need life signs.
Who’s there?

CANDLEWOOD
(off panels)
One Ascendant, one Bajoran. Both
strong. And energy readings.​

Ro rushes to a panel at the side, scans the readings...

RO
Yep. Raiq is on board. Those are
the same readings Cenn picked
up from Axno’s ship the first
time around. It’s definitely
coming to life.

VAUGHN
Mister Bowers, target torpedoes
on the location of those energy
readings.

RO
Sir... Kira’s still with her.

VAUGHN
Aware of the obvious, Commander.
I’m sure Kira is fighting every step
of the way, and I intend to give her
as long as I can. But if we can
destroy Raiq and the ship before
she can launch, I’m going to take
that chance. Otherwise we end up
in a battle for our lives. A battle
we might lose.​

Ro steps back up close to him again, speaks quietly.

RO
She probably knows we’re here.
And that we won’t fire on Kira.
That’s why she’s still got her.

VAUGHN
I know. And that’s why I have to do
exactly the opposite. Candlewood –
readings.

CANDLEWOOD
Still rising, sir.

VAUGHN
Is she about to launch?

CANDLEWOOD
(scared)
I... I can’t tell!​

Ro goes to him, lays a comforting hand on his shoulder.

RO
Just relax, John. You know how
to do this.​

Candlewood nods, takes a deep breath, goes back to work.

BOWERS
Captain, the docking platform
controls are locked down tight.
If she’s going to get out, she’ll have
to burn through the bulkheads.

VAUGHN
And that’ll take time.

CANDLEWOOD
Sir! Power readings through the
roof. She’s going to launch.

VAUGHN
Bowers – fire!​

They look to the screen. Bowers moves his fingers to the torpedo launch control. But before he can press it...


VIEWSCREEN


The runabout docking pad EXPLODES, a white FLASH of energy blasting it apart from the inside out. The Bajoran ship is blown to pieces. The section of habitat ring CRUMBLES, bits tumbling away, an ever-expanding gash in the circle.

RO staggers as the explosion makes the Defiant SHAKE. As they all recover, Candlewood is at his console, terrified. Fast, urgent exchanges...

CANDLEWOOD
She jumped! Oh God she jumped
straight out of there...

RO
She could be anywhere now.

VAUGHN
Life signs! Is Kira still alive?

CANDLEWOOD
Ummm... yes!

VAUGHN
Can we beam her up?

CANDLEWOOD
Can’t get a lock. Radiation.

VAUGHN
But we can beam someone down.

BOWERS
Not without dropping the shields.​

As if in answer, the ship ROCKS again from a weapons blast. Lights flicker and sparks fly.

VAUGHN
Return fire!

BOWERS
(mutter)
I will if I can find her...​

On Bowers’ console, we see a firing resolution. He FIRES – the enemy indicator is gone in a FLASH. The shot is wasted.

VAUGHN
Tenmei – random evasive!​

Prynn works her console, constantly checking and adjusting, checking and adjusting. The view on the screen swerves and dips and rolls.

RO
Bridge to Bashir and Nog. Get
Richter and Leishman to trans-
porter room one now! They’ll need
full emergency and trauma kits.

BASHIR (comm)
Acknowledged.

VAUGHN
What are you doing?

RO
Trust me.​

Ro begins to stride from one console to the next, doling out the plan. She’s got an idea, and she’s in charge now.

RO
(at helm)
Tenmei – plot a split-second fly-
by of the habitat ring. Focus on
Candlewood’s lifesign readings.
(at tactical)
Bowers – get ready to drop the
shields for point-six-two seconds
at the apex of Tenmei’s flight plan.
(at sciences)
That’s all the time Candlewood
will need to beam Richter and
Leishman down to the nearest
safe point to Kira – if you start
the cycle two-point-three seconds
before the apex. Get working, all
of you. Ro to transporter room.
You ready?

CHAO (comm)
On your signal, Commander.

RO
Guys?​

Prynn and Candlewood and Bowers are all working feverishly. One by one they turn to her, stoic and determined...

ALL
Ready.

RO
Go.​

Prynn launches the ship straight at Empok Nor. Everyone holds on for dear life. In split-second timing...

-- Prynn’s console - following the flight-plan
-- Candlewood - he begins the transport sequence
-- Graphic - transport sequence beginning
-- Viewscreen - Prynn twists the ship to avoid a crash
-- Bowers - works his console
-- Graphic - shields dropping on Bowers’ console
-- Candlewood - completes transport sequence
-- Bowers - raises shields again
-- Prynn’s console - flight-plan shows us moving away

CANDLEWOOD
(relieved)
Transport complete!

RO
Tenmei – set course away from
Empok Nor. Anywhere. Go!​

We feel the ship surge away into open space. Meanwhile, Vaughn has been watching Ro all this time. He’s impressed.

VAUGHN
Nicely done, Commander.

RO
Now we know Kira’s taken care of,
while we keep Raiq occupied by
drawing her away.

VAUGHN
Bowers - give me something to
shoot at.

BOWERS
Working on it, sir.​

FLASH – Raiq jumps back into view right in front of them, perfectly centred in the viewscreen – and FIRES.

The big bolt of white electricity SLAMS into the ship. The viewscreen shorts to STATIC. Consoles EXPLODE all across the bridge. Prynn SURGES the ship vertically up to evade.

RO, clinging onto a console, trying to read it, back turned to the room, coughing from the smoke...

RO
Report!

BOWERS
Damage to all decks. Dissolving
effect is taking hold on decks two
and three front. Shields at seventy-
three percent, weapons at full.

RO
Cloak?

BOWERS
Non-operational.

RO
Ro to Nog – launch the nanobot
shield!
(no response)
Nog! Engineering, come in!​

Through the comm, there’s the sound of hissing vents, sparking systems, garbled shouts. Worried, Ro turns back towards Vaughn...

...only to see that his side console has exploded in his face and he’s now lolling backwards in his chair, burned and semi-conscious.

RO
Captain!

PRYNN
Dad!​

Prynn starts to get up...

RO
Prynn, no! I’ll take care of him.
You get us out of here – back to
DS-Nine fast as you can.
(Prynn hesitates)
Now!​

Fighting shock and tears, Prynn turns back to her consoles. Ro starts tapping at the command chair’s remaining console.

RO
Ro to Bashir – you’ve got incoming!

She hits a last button, and Vaughn TRANSPORTS away. As the ship gets underway, she looks around at the crew.

BOWERS – stoic and controlled, every inch the soldier.
PRYNN – in tears but doing her best to concentrate.
CANDLEWOOD – terrified, muttering prayers under his breath.

Ro takes her own deep breath...



17 INT. DEFIANT – SICKBAY


Ro stands in the doorway, hovering out of the way, watching across the room where Vaughn lies on a bio-bed.

Vaughn’s face and hands are burned, uniform melted into his skin, staring up at the ceiling with blind eyes. He hitches painful breaths, wracked with occasional coughs that sound bloody. Bashir runs machines over him, quiet and defeated.

VAUGHN
You don’t like me very much, do
you, Julian?​

Bashir cannot answer that. Vaughn is wracked with more gurgling, revolting coughs. Once he settles...

VAUGHN
It’s alright, you can say how you
really feel. It’s not like I’m going
to be around to hold a grudge.

BASHIR
Then I’ll admit that you’re not the
easiest commanding officer under
whom I’ve ever served. But I respect
your service and your tenacity.

VAUGHN
My stubbornness, you mean.
(cough)
I’m not Ben Sisko. I’m not Kira
Nerys. I know your passions get
the better of you sometimes. Mine
do too. I understand that. But if
you’ll allow a dying man to give
you a bit of advice, I’ll tell you
this straight and clear. Whoever
it ends up being, don’t ever speak
to your captain that way again.
Do you understand?​

Vaughn coughs again, rough and bloody.

BASHIR
I understand, sir. Thank you.

VAUGHN
Ro? Are you there?

RO
(steps forward)
I’m here, sir. You should save
your strength. We’ll be back at
DS-Nine in –

VAUGHN
Shut up and let me talk while
I still can. You did well today.
But you need to stop her. I
need you to stop her.​

Ro doesn’t answer. Vaughn coughs up his worst yet. Bashir rushes up with a hypospray, injects him. It doesn’t work. Vaughn goes on retching... until something just breaks, and he slumps back to the bed, limp.

Bashir’s sensors tell us what is obvious. Bashir sags in disappointment and frustration. Ro steels herself.

RO
What did he mean, about talking
to your captain?

BASHIR
Just some things that were said
during Raiq’s medical crisis. He
wasn’t happy. But he was actually
referring to you.

RO
Me?

BASHIR
He’s dead. The Defiant is yours
now... captain.​

On Ro’s daunted expression…



FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT FOUR​

FADE IN:



18 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE


The door opens. Ro steps solemnly onto the damaged bridge, Bashir half a step behind her.

Nog is repairing the viewscreen. He stops at the sight of Ro. Prynn sees his reaction, turns as well. Candlewood, Bowers. Everyone turns to look at Ro. She’s on the spot.

The look on her face makes it clear what happened. Prynn whimpers. Ro gazes at her with sympathy. Bowers straightens and clears his throat, bringing the room back to attention.

BOWERS
Captain on the bridge.​

A mark of respect. Ro is grateful. She takes a deep breath and steps haltingly towards the command chair. She looks at it for a moment, then gently settles into it. Dead man’s shoes, but it has to be done.

RO
Mister Bowers – status.

BOWERS
Two minutes out from DS-Nine.
Shields holding at seventy per
cent, weapons at full, nanobot
defence ready.

RO
Kira? Raiq?

BOWERS
Unknown at present.

CANDLEWOOD
(off panels)
No, it’s not unknown. Nog?​

Off Candlewood’s nod, Nog throws a last couple of switches and reactivates the viewscreen.


VIEWSCREEN


A long-distance shot of DS9 against the Denorios Belt.

Then Candlewood zooms the image in – the lower core, and AXNO’S SHIP holding position below it, pointing the tip straight up, obviously threatening.

RO gulps with horror.

RO
Can you get through to Cenn?

BOWERS
(shakes head)
Scrambling field.

PRYNN
Same as at Drang.

RO
The runabouts?​

Bowers works his panels, taking readings. Everyone waits.

BOWERS
Hot standby, taking on civilians.
(beat)
Sir... we are in weapons range.​

Ro gets his gist. She hesitates – should she open fire?

RO
Hail her.

BOWERS
Sir...

RO
No. If we talk first, we may not
need to shoot later.

BOWERS
Aye, sir.​

Bowers works his panels, then nods to Ro.

RO
Raiq... it’s Ro. Speak to me. You
don’t have to do this.​

No response.

RO
Kira’s alive. You didn’t kill her.
You don’t have to kill the rest
of us either. Talk to me.​

Still no response. Ro is disappointed. She looks towards Bowers, ready to order him to fire.

Then a BALL OF FLAMES bursts into life in front of the viewscreen, the image of DS9 at its back. The flames waft away to reveal RAIQ, looking strong and healthy. She peers at the crew with disdain. Ro stands to face her.

RAIQ
I remember you. You sent me to
the Eav’oq.

RO
That’s right. I’m Ro Laren.

RAIQ
You told me none had survived.
That was a lie. This vessel has
shown me there is another.

RO
I never lied to you. I didn’t know
about Vexh until later. None of
us did.

RAIQ
And had you known, would you
have told me?

RO
I... don’t know. We were afraid
of what you might do.

RAIQ
You should be. You are Bajoran.
You shame the True. But I will
cleanse the heresy. You will burn
in the True’s glorious flames.

RO
Kira’s Bajoran, but you already
let her live. And everybody else
at Janir. If you really wanted to
kill us, you could have done it a
hundred times. But I don’t think
you really do. Not anymore.

RAIQ
You think you can sway me with
words? My path is lit by the
righteous fire of the Unnameable
Ones. You will all die and burn,
beginning with this repulsive
alien temple to blasphemy.

RO
Raiq, please. I’m sorry we didn’t
tell you about Vexh or the ship.
But you don’t need to do this.
Stop it before it goes too far.

RAIQ
Make peace with your false gods.
You will see soon that they are
nothing but lies.

RO
Is that all you can say? Think for
yourself, don’t just parrot doctrine.
We all just saved your life! We
don’t deserve to die. And if you
try... I’ll have to stop you. Don’t
make me.​

Raiq gives a nasty grin, and then the FLAMES take her away again. Ro flinches back from it.

RO
Bowers, target her engines.

BOWERS
There are no engines.

RO
Then just fire!​

Bowers does – we see the phasers blast out on the screen towards Raiq’s ship. But Raiq JUMPS away before they hit. The shots are wasted. Ro curses under her breath.

RO
John, I need constant sensor
sweeps. Prynn, whatever he gives
you, get us there as fast as you
can. Sam, weapons free, however
you like. Nog, get through to Cenn
somehow and tell him to get the
hell out of there!​

The crew gets to work.


CANDLEWOOD


works with furious concentration, all the better to control his rising nerves and panic. He sees a SPIKE of energy on one display – he rapidly punches commands into his panel.


PRYNN


sees the coordinates come onto her panel, and instinctively works her own panels in response. She’s cold, determined, ready to exact vengeance for her father.


VIEWSCREEN


The image of the station swoops and swerves dizzyingly around until we see Raiq’s ship FIRING on the docking ring.


RO


gripping onto the arms of her command chair as the ship fights against inertia, watching everybody do their work.


BOWERS


works his own panels, stabs a control.


VIEWSCREEN


showing the phasers blasting out towards Raiq... but she JUMPS again, and the phasers hit nothing.

RO
Again!​

CANDLEWOOD


Another spike of energy...


PRYNN


Another determined swerve of the ship...


BOWERS


Another shot fired...


VIEWSCREEN


Raiq firing on the habitat ring from a high angle... and she JUMPS again. Another missed shot.

CANDLEWOOD
She’s moving too fast!​

Chaos continues around the bridge as they all try to do whatever they can to find her...


GRAPHIC


A 3D wire-frame of the station, with icons depicting the Defiant and Raiq’s ship. Raiq JUMPS to a different position and FIRES on the station. The Defiant tries to react, but too slow. Raiq JUMPS again to another place around the station and FIRES again.


VIEWSCREEN


As the Defiant swoops and swerves, the image moving with it, we catch snippets of the station being blasted, white SHOCKS of electricity coming from every angle, bulkheads being ripped away, FLAMES licking out and dying in space...

RO
We’re too close! Prynn, pull us
back to get a clearer shot...​

Prynn works the panels and we feel the ship swerve away again, the image of the station falling out of frame...


VIEWSCREEN


Against the black starfield, Raiq’s ship JUMPS right back in front of the ship again, and FIRES.

Panels all over the bridge EXPLODE, electricity igniting across consoles, wires and conduits rupturing in flames.

NOG is thrown back from his console in a showers of sparks. BASHIR rushes to check on him in a crumpled pile on the deck. Meanwhile Raiq JUMPS away again.

BOWERS
Shields are down, but we still
have weapons.

CANDLEWOOD
Sir, she’s firing on the station
again...

RO
On screen!​

Candlewood sets the viewscreen to a full view of DS9. Raiq is above it, FIRING a huge bolt of jagged white electricity at the Ops dome. The DISSOLVING effect spreads across the skin of the station, reaching down towards the Promenade. The bulkheads of the station begin to peel away.

RO
Fire everything!​

Bowers works his panels. On screen, we see the Defiant fire TORPEDOES at the ship...

From this greater distance it takes longer to reach the target. But Raiq is concentrating on her own target.

...and the torpedoes HIT. Raiq’s ship buckles and EXPLODES.

NOG
Yes!​

The crew relaxes and breathes with relief. But then they look at the screen...

...and see that Ops is gone. It’s a broken husk at the top of the station, machinery and bodies floating into space. They all gawp in horror. Ro gets to her feet...

CANDLEWOOD
Commander, the dissolving effect
is still spreading!

RO
What?​

Candlewood changes the view on the screen...


VIEWSCREEN


The crumbling begins, reaching down from the Promenade to the rest of the central core, out along the crossover bridges, to the habitat ring, to the docking ring...

Pieces of station disintegrate away... the crumbling finally reaches the power core... and BOOM.

The crew all flinch away, covering their eyes as the BLAST blinds them all...

One by one, they force their eyes back to the screen, where there is nothing but burning pieces of the station, debris tumbling through space...

Deep Space Nine has been destroyed.



FADE OUT:

END OF ACT FOUR​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT FIVE​

FADE IN:



19 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE


On a ruined and burning bridge, Ro stares dumbfounded at the sight on the screen. She staggers a few steps until she can slump back into the command chair.

Around her, nobody knows what to say. Candlewood begins to cry. Bashir helps Nog up off the deck.

RO
(quiet, croaky)
Where’s Raiq?​

Bowers turns back to his panels. Works them silently.

BOWERS
Sensors place her back in orbit of
Bajor. Do we pursue?​

Ro doesn’t answer. She seems miles away, unable to process.

BOWERS
Commander?

RO
Quiet. I’m thinking.

BOWERS
Sir, if she launches an isolytic
weapon into Bajor’s star...

RO
She won’t.​

The others all look at her strangely. Has she lost it?

But Ro is thinking, things coming together in her mind. Things she can’t quite believe are true.

BOWERS
(pushing her)
Commander Ro – we have to stop
her. What are your orders, sir?​

Ro turns at Bowers’ insolent tone... and smiles sadly.

RO
Stand down.

BOWERS
I beg your pardon?

RO
This didn’t happen, Lieutenant.
Stand down. That’s an order.​

Confused, Bowers just sits and stares at her. But Ro settles back into her command seat, and calls out loud.

RO
You might as well come out now.
I know you’re there.​

The others look between themselves. What the hell is going on? Nobody moves. Ro sits there, trying to project complete confidence, desperately hoping she’s right about this.

RO
I’m not going anywhere. I can
wait here all day.​

After a few more moments’ silence, with the image of the tumbling debris of the former Deep Space Nine on the screen and the bridge sparking and smoking around them...

...the BURST of flames appears at the front of the bridge again, the Ascendant hologram-transporter effect. The flames waft away to reveal...

Vaughn. Alive and well.

Ro gazes at him, cold and blank.

RO
Nice touch.

VAUGHN
Well done, Commander. How did
you know?

RO
I didn’t – not for a long time,
anyway. You had me convinced.
But then you took it too far.
Destroying Deep Space Nine...

VAUGHN
You think it could never happen?

RO
I sat here thinking, "This can’t
be real." And then I realised, I
was right. It wasn’t real. All the
little clues came back to me.

VAUGHN
What clues?

RO
You said this was exactly what you
were afraid would happen. And
you’re right, it was suspiciously
perfect for proving your point.
That we were wrong to trust
her. That you knew better.

VAUGHN
Who says I don’t?

RO
You dying in battle... still plausible,
I suppose. Perfect for pushing me
into command, seeing how I’d react.

VAUGHN
You were doing very well. That
split-second transport to help out
Kira on Empok Nor – that was an
impressive manoeuvre.

RO
And Bowers – using your words.
“Locked down.” “Hot standby.”
Almost as if you were scripting
it all for him.​

Stony-faced, she stands and looks around at the rest of the crew, who have been watching this exchange impassively.

RO
Were you all in on it?

VAUGHN
Computer, remove holographic
characters.​

An affirmative bleep. Ro looks at Prynn... she dissolves into nothingness, a hologram.

Ro turns to Bowers, then Nog, then Candlewood – each dissolves away. Astonished, she finally turns to Bashir... and he doesn’t disappear. He just looks vaguely ashamed.

VAUGHN
Thank you, Doctor. You can go now.
Your debt is repaid.

BASHIR
I’m sorry, Ro. I had to.​

Bashir leaves the bridge. Ro turns back to Vaughn...

RO
If everybody else was fake, why
not Bashir?

VAUGHN
He was the ringleader of your
“mini-mutiny”. And this was his
punishment – to play his part.

RO
What part? Your stooge, your
plaything – Ah. So that he could
fake your death convincingly.

VAUGHN
I have some damn good holodeck
technology at my disposal, but
some things are just better the
old-fashioned way.

RO
Did the Defiant even leave DS9?

VAUGHN
The Defiant didn’t. We did.

RO
Ah – your holo-ship. That’s why
we were on port two. What about
Axno’s ship?

VAUGHN
Not even on Empok Nor anymore.
I had it moved to the former
Romulan facility on Derna.

RO
But why do all this? What kind of
sick and twisted fantasy –

VAUGHN
Not a fantasy. A test. Of your
command skills, your decisions.
And you were doing beautifully.
Tactical, technical, personnel
management – all excellent.
All up until the end.​

Ro turns on her heel, glares at him with ice in her eyes.

RO
Really. I’m making bad command
decisions. Me. What about you?

VAUGHN
What does that mean?

RO
Did you never think to just be
straight with me? To actually do
what you said, and spend some
time getting to know each other?
Did that even occur to you?
(no answer)
No, I bet you just went right to
schemes and plots and deception.
You know what – you were right
before. You’re not Kira Nerys. Or
Sisko, or Picard... none of them
would have treated me like you
just did. You think this is how a
good commander behaves? Lying
to your crew, making them lie to
each other, putting them through
your little tests like rats in a
laboratory?

VAUGHN
I needed to know.

RO
Needed to know what?

VAUGHN
I’m leaving, Ro. Soon. I need to
know you’re ready.

RO
Leaving? What do you mean,
you’re leaving?

VAUGHN
I put in for transfer the moment I
got back from the wormhole. I
want to see what’s out there while
I still have time to enjoy it. But
before I go and leave you in charge,
I need to know you’ll be able to
handle what is coming your way.
And from what I’ve seen today,
you’re not.

RO
I handled it fine.

VAUGHN
You should have fired first, Ro!

RO
(astonished)
What?!

VAUGHN
Because you didn’t fire first,
Deep Space Nine was destroyed.
Those thousands of people, your
friends and crew – dead. Because
you thought you could talk her
out of it. All you did was give
her the chance she needed.

RO
Did you forget who we work for?
Starfleet doesn’t shoot first.

VAUGHN
Raiq has established herself as an
enemy combatant, Commander.
An enemy. When we see an enemy,
we shoot at them. We don’t ask
them round for tea.

RO
You don’t know she’s an enemy!

VAUGHN
She can’t not be! It’s in her
culture, her very blood. And every
time we see her she’s threatening
us all over again. That’s all she
ever says!

RO
Maybe it’s all you ever hear. But
I get it. You want to run off and
have your fun, but you want to
make sure I’m here to do all
your dirty work for you.

VAUGHN
I want you to protect Bajor and
Deep Space Nine. That’s what
you swore an oath to do.

RO
I didn’t swear to kill at first sight
without even trying to talk first.

VAUGHN
What is there to talk about?
They’re pure, Laren. Relentless.
Fanatical. Trusting that they
won’t kill us all at their very
first opportunity is suicide.

RO
But you’re only making it worse!
Keeping secrets, telling lies...
Haven’t we already seen where
that leads? And you’re leaving me
here to clean up the mess while
you swan off around the galaxy.

VAUGHN
I’m just doing everything I can
to protect the ones I care about.
Whatever saves the most people,
whatever serves the greater good,
that’s what we do. No matter how
difficult or distasteful.

RO
The needs of the many outweigh
the needs of the few, right?

VAUGHN
Exactly.

RO
You know that’s exactly the line
Section Thirty-One use. You start
thinking that way, and it doesn’t
take long before those few get
fewer and fewer. Less and less
important. Those hard decisions
a little bit easier every time. Cold
equations - isn’t that the phrase?​

Vaughn gestures at the screen, with its tumbling debris.

VAUGHN
And what about those thousands
of dead people?

RO
There are no dead people! They’re
fake. And the fact that you had to
fake them proves that you’re wrong
about her.

VAUGHN
The day will come. I guarantee it.

RO
Then I’ll deal with it my way. You
go off on your adventures. Have
your fun. But I will not treat an
innocent woman like an enemy
just because you say so.

VAUGHN
I’m still your superior officer.
You’re obliged to obey my orders.

RO
Obedience isn’t trust. You said so
yourself. So let me respond to
your orders right now.​

She leans across the command chair, facing him across it, and enunciates clearly and firmly.

RO
No. I will not.​

As Ro holds Vaughn’s gaze…



FADE OUT:

END OF SHOW​