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DS9 12x14 – "Duty Calls"

DS9Continuing

DS9Continuing

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
 
Meanwhile...

TNG 17x14 – “START SMALL”

Picard and Crusher are in sickbay, smiling at her sonogram – she is pregnant. With their recent marriage, and the new senior staff complete (including security chief Jasminder Choudhury and counsellor Hegol Den), it feels like things are finally coming together. Then they receive a planetary distress call from Ramatis III – the Borg are attacking. Enterprise is the only ship carrying deadly transphasic torpedoes (VOY 7x26 “Endgame”) – Starfleet worries that allowing more ships to use them will allow the Borg to adapt faster. After its success against Einstein, however, the multi-vector agent has been distributed, including to former security chief Leybenzon’s new assignment USS Bhutto. While Enterprise battles one Borg cube at Ramatis, Leybenzon leads the defence against another at Barolia... and fails, allowing the Borg to analyse the MVA and adapt to it. Picard hears the voice of the Borg Queen, taunting – the Borg are no longer interested in assimilating the Federation. They are coming to exterminate.

TTN 1x14 – “TIME’S UP”

2381: Deep in the Beta Quadrant, Titan is months from Federation space and can only react to the reports of Borg attacks. Dr Ree declares Troi’s second pregnancy also non-viable, but she refuses to abort, even though it could kill her. Xin Ra-Havreii creates a holo-presence device that allows Melora Pazlar to project herself anywhere in the ship without leaving the stellar cartography lab. 2156: During the Earth-Romulan war, NX-02 Columbia (ENT 4x03 “Home”) is attacked and badly damaged. Captain Erika Hernandez authorises a near-light speed trip to the nearest planet for help – it will take them months while years pass outside. The decision causes friction among her crew. 2381: Counsellor Haaj uses his patented argument therapy to force Troi to admit who she blames for the failed pregnancy – the baby itself. 2168: Columbia finally arrives at the planet, where the ridiculously advanced Caeliar welcome them... and tell them they can never leave.

VOY 10x14 – “FOCUS”

On Voyager, Chakotay hears the reports about the Borg attacks on Barolia, Acamar and Ramatis. He immediately gives up drinking, and focuses the crew on ideas for stopping the Borg. No other subject is up for discussion at senior staff meetings. On Earth, Seven of Nine is brought from her Academy classroom to the Palais in Paris – President Bacco has hired her as the official Borg expert. Bacco asks what could have inspired these latest attacks. Seven believes it was Voyager – when they destroyed the transwarp hub (VOY 7x26 “Endgame”), the Borg must have decided the Federation was now an intolerable threat and resolved to wipe them out once and for all. As for how the Borg are getting into Federation space, she has no idea. As his hands shake from withdrawal, Chakotay petitions Admiral Nechayev to assign Voyager back to the battle fleet. Needing every able-bodied person, she has no choice but to agree.
 
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TEASER​


FADE IN:


1 EXT. SPACE


A Nebula-class ship, the USS New York, flies at warp.


2 INT. NEW YORK - BRIDGE


Standard Nebula-class bridge. Lieutenant CAVANAUGH (human female, 30s) is the ship’s tactical officer and wears security yellow, but she has been placed in the captain’s chair for this journey and is rather nervous about it.

The turbolift doors open and Admiral WHATLEY enters (DS9 5x10 “Rapture”). Cavanaugh immediately shoots to her feet.


CAVANAUGH
Admiral on the bridge!​


As the rest of the crew jerk to attention, Whatley smiles - this crew of young untested newbies are eager to impress.


WHATLEY
That’s alright, Lieutenant, sit
please. What’s our ETA?​


Cavanaugh does sit, awkwardly, and checks the screens by her side. Meanwhile, Whatley comes to sit beside her.


CAVANAUGH
At current speed, the New York
will arrive at DS-Nine in two
hours and thirteen minutes.

WHATLEY
Okay good. Please let Commander
Ro know that I’ll need to meet
with her as soon as we arrive.

CAVANAUGH
Already taken care of, Admiral.
Is there anything else I can
help you with, sir?​


Whatley covers a smirk - his presence is making everyone nervous. He decides to take pity, and stands again.


WHATLEY
Actually, Lieutenant Cavanaugh, I
will need you to remain in command
for the remainder of our journey.
Obviously the New York is without
a captain right now, and I have
much to prepare for. But I have
full confidence in you.

CAVANAUGH
(gulp)
I appreciate that, sir.​


Nodding acknowledgement, Whatley moves towards the ready room. With his back turned, the confident smile is free to drop... and Whatley is very worried about these poor kids. He enters the ready room and the door closes, leaving Cavanaugh and the rest of the crew alone...


3 EXT. SPACE


The New York flies on away from us, still at warp...


4 EXT. SPACE


Elsewhere, the giant Vesta-class Aventine holds position in open space. A runabout approaches the arrow-shaped ship, riding along the landing strip between the nacelles and eventually slipping through the Aventine’s open shuttle bay doors.


5 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


As seen in DS9 12x01 “Godspeed”. Lt Cmdr EZRI DAX sits in the centre chair, more confident than Cavanaugh was. The Bolian male helm officer, Lt THARP, turns to look at her.


THARP
Commander, the Seine has docked.

DAX
Thank you, Lieutenant. Bridge to
Captain Dexar - the away team
is back on board.

DEXAR (comm)
Acknowledged, Commander.
I’ll be there in a moment.​


Dax gets up from the command chair and begins a tour of the bridge stations - more to fill the time than because there is anything she needs to check. She reaches the tactical station, where Lt KEDAIR (Takaran female) stands.


KEDAIR
Doesn’t feel like we’re really
making proper use of Aventine’s
abilities, does it, sir?

DAX
Well... no. But to be fair, the
science labs need as much of a
trial run as any other system.
Just because we’re the fastest,
most advanced, most well-armed
ship in the fleet, with half a dozen
experimental technologies on
board, doesn’t mean Lieutenant
Commander Helkara shouldn’t get
to enjoy his botanical samples.​


Kedair smirks a little, then snaps to attention as the turbolift door opens and Captain DEXAR enters. The happy, friendly Bolian male strolls in, perfectly at ease.


KEDAIR
Captain on the bridge.

DEXAR
Lieutenant Kedair. Lieutenant
Commander Dax. Everything
under control?

DAX
Perfectly, sir. All systems nominal.

DEXAR
(settles into seat)
Excellent. Although I must admit
I’ll be glad when Helkara has his
fill of these botanical samples
and we can get moving again.
Doesn’t feel like we’re really
using Aventine’s abilities to
their full potential, does it?​


Dax and Kedair share a silent smirk.


DAX
I’m sure I don’t know what you
mean, sir.​


BEEP BEEP BEEP. Kedair turns back to her console to check, and her face hardens at what she reads. It’s not good.


DEXAR
Lieutenant? What is it?

KEDAIR
It’s a distress call, sir. A full-
scale planetary distress call,
from the Acamar system.

DEXAR
Does it say the nature of their
distress?

KEDAIR
Yes, sir. They’re under attack...
from the Borg.​


Dexar shoots to his feet as the tension around the bridge instantly spikes.


DEXAR
Lieutenant Mirren - time to the
Acamar system at maximum warp.​


The Ops manager, a human female Lieutenant called OLIANA MIRREN, quickly works her consoles. (This is the same young woman who competed against Wesley in TNG “Coming of Age”.)


MIRREN
Three hours and thirty-eight
minutes, sir.

DEXAR
Mister Tharp, set course. Maximum
warp, engage immediately.

THARP
Aye, sir.​


As the sound of the engines builds, the main viewscreen shows the stars around us moving faster, faster... and then jumping to warp. Dexar retakes his command seat.


DEXAR
All hands, this is the captain. We
are responding to a distress call
and will very likely be going into
battle. Senior officers to the
briefing room, now.
(beat)
Lieutenant Kedair, respond to
Acamar, let them know help is
on the way, as fast as we can.

KEDAIR
Aye, sir.​


As Kedair works her consoles to comply, Dax quietly takes the first officer’s seat next to Dexar. He can see the uncertain look on her face.


DEXAR
Lieutenant Commander?

DAX
It’s nothing, sir.

DEXAR
We’re going into a red alert
situation, Commander. If there’s
something I need to know, then
I need to know it now.

DAX
It’s just... you said we’re going
“as fast as we can”. But we’re
not, are we, sir? Shouldn’t we
be using the slipstream drive?

DEXAR
I considered that option and
rejected it.

DAX
But sir, it could get us to Acamar
in a matter of seconds, rather
than three-and-a-half hours.

DEXAR
Commander, the last time we tried
to use the slipstream drive, we
nearly blew up the entire ship.

DAX
It’s what the Aventine is designed
to do, sir.

DEXAR
And it doesn’t work. Unless you
and Lieutenant Kasslim have
figured out how to make it
work in the meantime, and
not bothered to inform me?

DAX
No, sir. But the Borg -

DEXAR
I understand your desire to get
there faster, Commander. But we’re
of no use to Acamar if we spread
ourselves across a thousand light
years before we even arrive. This
ship and its crew need to be in
one piece if we’re to have any
hope of stopping a Borg vessel.
Therefore I am not prepared to
authorise use of the slipstream
drive at this time.

DAX
(deep breath)
Aye, sir.

DEXAR
(standing)
You have the bridge, Commander.
Lieutenant Kedair, Lieutenant
Mirren, I’m going to need you.​


Dexar heads towards the door that leads to the conference room, behind the bridge. Kedair gestures for an EXTRA to take over her station, then follows the captain. From the Ops station, Mirren does the same.

Dax watches them go, then settles back into the command chair. Now she looks just as nervous as Cavanaugh...


BLACK OUT


END OF TEASER​
 
ACT ONE​


FADE IN:


6 EXT. SPACE


The Aventine zooms through space at maximum warp...


7 INT. AVENTINE - CONFERENCE ROOM


This room is oriented length-ways along the ship. Windows on both sides look out across the width of the saucer section, while the table runs the length of the room. These windows show the stars streaking past on both sides. Dexar sits in the seat closest to the bridge - so that he has the least distance to go before he can get to business. (There is another exit at the far end of the room.)

Along the table to Dexar’s right are ship’s XO Cmdr TOVAK (Vulcan male), chief engineer Lt KASSLIM (Gallamite female) and CMO Dr LENA GLAU (human female). To the captain’s left are science officer Lt Cmdr GRUHN HELKARA (Zakdorn male), then security chief Lonnoc Kedair, and Ops manager Oliana Mirren. (All but Mirren were seen in DS9 12x01 “Godspeed”.)


KASSLIM
We’re going as fast as the warp
drive can manage, Captain. Laws
of physics, et cetera. But I’ve got
P-Seven Red watching the intermix
ratio for any chance to push it.

DEXAR
More Starfleet ships are on their
way, but even without slipstream
we’ll still arrive first. So the battle
may well be up to us, and that
means we will probably need
power from the warp drive for
tactical systems once we arrive.
Lieutenant Mirren, you’ll need to
be on top of the EPS distribution.

MIRREN
Not a problem, Captain.

DEXAR
Speaking of tactical systems...

KEDAIR
They’re fully energised and
primed, sir. Regenerative shields,
ablative armour, phaser cannons,
chain pulsar, quantum torpedoes,
internal defences...

GLAU
Sorry, what’s a chain pulsar?

TOVAK
The chain reaction pulsar weapon
is one of the new experimental
tactical options provided to the
Vesta class, Doctor. We have
had no cause to use it thus far.

GLAU
But what does it do?​


Lt Kedair works the controls set into the table before her. A 3-D HOLOGRAM appears above the table, slowly turning for everyone to see. It shows the Aventine itself...


KEDAIR
The chain pulsar is a ship-mounted
armament that takes the form of a
standard torpedo. But it doesn’t
act like a standard torpedo.​


The hologram of the Aventine recedes so that we can now see both it and a giant BORG CUBE looming. Both ships have various readings in small text below their images. The Aventine fires a torpedo... which pauses in ‘mid air’.


KEDAIR
Now watch the cube...​


The torpedo begins moving towards the cube in SLOW MOTION. As it does, the running lights of the Borg cube begin to dim, and power readings beneath its image lower. Meanwhile the same lights and readings on the torpedo itself grow...


MIRREN
It’s sucking the power from the cube...

KEDAIR
Exactly. And once it’s got its fill...​


As the holographic Borg cube sputters powerlessly, the torpedo shoots towards it... and destroys it in one massive EXPLOSION. The crew flinch back from the power of it, but the image FREEZES again on the blasted cloud of debris.


KEDAIR
The chain pulsar uses its target’s
own energy against it by absorbing
it and then turning it back on
them. If used against multiple
targets, it will draw power from
all of them before unleashing the
accumulated energy all in one go.

TOVAK
However it should be emphasised
that this weapon is untested in
the field. Its use is recommended
only as a last resort.

KEDAIR
But it is ready to be used, if that
last resort arrives.​


The rest of the senior staff nod a daunted understanding.


8 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dax sits in the captain’s chair - the only other senior staff on duty is Lieutenant Tharp at the helm. She is trying not to feel left out of the planning meeting.

The door from the conference room opens and people emerge - clearly the meeting is over. Helkara, Kedair and Mirren all return to their regular stations. As Dax stands from the command chair, Cmdr Tovak meets her there.


TOVAK
I will now stand watch, Lieutenant
Commander. You are relieved.

DAX
Thank you, sir.​


She backs away, then heads to the conference room door.


9 INT. AVENTINE - CONFERENCE ROOM


Dax enters the room, where she sees Dexar sat alone at the table. Kasslim and Glau are just leaving by the far door.


DAX
Captain - do you have a moment?

DEXAR
I was about to begin my report to
Starfleet, but I suppose that can
wait. What’s on your mind?

DAX
I wanted to apologise if it seemed
like I was questioning your orders
earlier. That wasn’t my intention.

DEXAR
That’s alright, Commander. I don’t
object to you raising concerns if
you have them. You might consider
doing so in a less confrontational
tone, however.

DAX
I know. I’m sorry. I just have a
bad tendency to jump in without
thinking things through sometimes.

DEXAR
Not an ideal trait for a command
officer. I’m not saying you’re not
a good candidate for that centre
chair some day. But I’d work on
taking the time to consider all the
angles before making the call.

DAX
Agreed. I thought the risk of
using the slipstream was worth
it to get to Acamar faster... but
you’re right. It’s not ready.

DEXAR
Risks can be fun, Commander. But
they are not always the wisest
course of action.​


Dax nods, accepting that graciously.


10 EXT. SPACE


The Akira-class James T Kirk travels at impulse...


11 INT. KIRK - BRIDGE


Captain ELIAS VAUGHN sits in the captain’s chair. Science officer SHAR is behind him, conferring with security chief MAGRONE at the tactical console. After a moment, Shar leaves Magrone and walks over to Vaughn, who looks up...


VAUGHN
Lieutenant...?

SHAR
Captain, Lieutenant Magrone and
I have been collating the latest
reports from Starfleet...

VAUGHN
...and?

SHAR
And there’s another Borg attack
going on as we speak. At the
Acamar system. The Aventine
is responding.

VAUGHN
Aventine... that’s Dax’s ship.
Are we in any position to help?

SHAR
Sir, Acamar is clear across the
Federation. It would take at least
a week at maximum warp. But that
wasn’t why I brought it up.

VAUGHN
Then please feel free to get to
the point, Lieutenant.

SHAR
When I said another, I didn’t mean
in addition to earlier battles. I
mean, there’s an attack at Acamar,
and an attack at Barolia... and an
attack at Ramatis.​


The bridge goes quiet. Shar knows what he’s saying.


VAUGHN
Three separate attacks? All by the
Borg, and all at the same time?

SHAR
Yes, sir.

VAUGHN
Lieutenant Magrone, get me a
direct line through to Starfleet
Command immediately.

MAGRONE
I’ve been trying, sir. They’ve
asked me to hold. I imagine
they’re quite busy right now.

SHAR
Ships are responding to all three
attacks, sir. Our current position
is too far away to be of any real
help to any of them.

VAUGHN
Alright. Absent orders, we’re on
our own. What do we know?

MAGRONE
Well, all three systems - Acamar,
Ramatis, Barolia - they’re all in
the Onias sector.

VAUGHN
On the Romulan border? Has there
been any response from Tal’Aura?

MAGRONE
Not that we’re aware of. But I
don’t think the Romulans would
tell us anything anyway.

VAUGHN
Helm, set course for the Onias
sector. Maximum warp, now.​


The Vulcan helms-woman, T’LARIK, responds.


T’LARIK
Aye, sir, engaging now.​


The engines ramp up, and the ship jumps to warp.


SHAR
Sir, it’s going to be too late.

VAUGHN
Never say that, Mister ch’Thane. I
refuse to do nothing as Federation
citizens are in danger. And since
the Onias sector is clearly where
the action is, that’s where we’ll
go. Even if it takes us a week.

SHAR
Aye sir.

VAUGHN
In the meantime, I want all our
resources devoted to figuring out
where the hell these Borg are
coming from. We should have got
some kind of sign they were coming
before they were in firing range.

SHAR
I’ll get right on it, sir.​


Vaughn nods him on his way, so Shar moves off to begin his work. Vaughn settles back into his chair, mind working...


10 EXT. SPACE


The Kirk zooms away at maximum warp...


11 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


Bringing us home to the station, where the New York is just settling onto a lower pylon...


12 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE


Commander RO LAREN reaches out to shake Admiral Whatley’s hand, and directs him towards the guest seats.


RO
Admiral, welcome to DS-Nine.

WHATLEY
Thank you, Commander. I’m afraid
it isn’t a social call - by now I’m
sure you’ve seen the reports.

RO
The Borg attacks... yes. Does
command have any idea why
it’s happening?

WHATLEY
Do they need a reason?

RO
Well, I’m not sure what I can
offer you to help.

WHATLEY
Actually, that’s not even why
I’m here. Well, it is and it isn’t.
I was coming here anyway, and
the reports arrived on the way.

RO
...Okay. Then why were you coming?

WHATLEY
The New York needs substantial
repairs. It was involved in the
fight at Sector 108...

RO
Prophets... I heard about that.

WHATLEY
Horrible day. The captain and many
of the crew were killed. Those who
are left are rather young and
inexperienced. I was hoping your
crew could help out with the
repairs and restocking.

RO
Absolutely - I’ll get Lieutenant Nog
and his team on it right away.

WHATLEY
Thank you, Commander. I’ll also
need to request the use of one
of your runabouts, and a pilot.

RO
Not a problem. Where are you
going, if I’m allowed to ask?

WHATLEY
To Bajor. I need to speak to an
old friend.​


Off Ro’s curiosity...


FADE OUT


END OF ACT ONE​
 
ACT TWO​


FADE IN:


13 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


With the Defiant settled on the docking ring, and the New York at a lower pylon, a runabout launches from its pad on the crossover arms, and zooms out of the station’s area.


14 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY


BEN SISKO sits at the dining table, with young REBECCA next to him. On the table in front of them is a large portable flat screen, showing an image of a small crowd of people. Using the fingers on her right hand, Rebecca touches the screen, while counting up on the fingers of her left hand.


REBECCA
One... two... three... four...
five... six...​


KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Someone is at the door. Rebecca stops...


REBECCA
Who’s at the door, daddy?

SISKO
I don’t know, sweetheart.​


A little thrown off, Sisko gets up from the table. KASIDY emerges from the kitchen, equally curious.


SISKO
You keep counting, okay?

REBECCA
Okay, daddy.​


While Rebecca goes back to counting on her fingers and muttering under her breath, Sisko goes to the door... and opens it to reveal Admiral Whatley.


SISKO
Admiral! I wasn’t expecting you.

WHATLEY
Hello, Ben. Sorry for dropping in
unannounced, but I needed to speak
to you in person, not subspace.

KASIDY
Well, don’t leave him on the
doorstep, Ben. It’s heading
towards winter out there.

SISKO
Of course, come in, Admiral.
What can I do for you?​


Whatley steps into the room. He sees Rebecca counting out on her fingers, and smiles. It’s nice to see such a basic family image, but in a way, it makes his job here worse.


WHATLEY
I may as well get straight to the
point. Starfleet Command sent
me here to talk to you.

SISKO
Specifically you?

WHATLEY
They wanted somebody who knew
you on a personal basis, not just as
a commander. If Bill Ross hadn’t
just retired, it probably would have
been him. Ben... we need you to
come back to Starfleet.​


Off Sisko and Kasidy’s reaction to that...


15 EXT. SPACE


The Aventine zooms at maximum warp, heading into battle...


16 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Captain Dexar sits in the command seat, his usual garrulous demeanour instead tight and controlled as he watches the stars rush towards them on the gigantic main viewscreen.


DEXAR
Time to Acamar system?

MIRREN
Two minutes ten seconds.

DEXAR
All hands, this is the captain.
Red alert, battle stations.​


The telltale lights begin to flash around the bridge.


TOVAK
Bridge to sickbay. Doctor Glau?​


17 INT. AVENTINE - SICKBAY


Glau stands in her sickbay, a troop of junior doctors and nurses around her. She is not looking forward to this.


GLAU
I’m here, Commander.

TOVAK (comm)
Prepare for casualties, Doctor.
We are going into battle.

GLAU
Yeah... I caught that part.​


18 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


DEXAR
Sensors, can you confirm the
presence of only one Borg vessel
in the Acamar system?

MIRREN
According to current readings,
confirmed, sir.

DEXAR
Any indications the Borg are
attempting to assimilate the
planet’s population?

TOVAK
The initial distress call did not
specify, but it is their standard
strategy. It would be illogical
to assume otherwise here.

DEXAR
Agreed.

TOVAK
If I may, sir, it would also be
illogical to assume the Borg are
not aware of our approach. Their
sensors are superior to ours.

DEXAR
I know. But they can’t get a good
fix until we drop out of warp.
Helm, adjust heading to approach
the Borg vessel from the opposite
side to Acamar itself. And delay
dropping to impulse until the last
safe moment. Up to you when.

THARP
Aye sir.

TOVAK
Bridge to engineering.​


16 INT. AVENTINE - ENGINEERING


Lieutenant Kasslim stands at a console while juniors rush about behind her, and the warp core pulses with power.


KASSLIM
Go ahead, bridge.

TOVAK (comm)
We will drop out of warp sharply
and with little warning. Please
ensure the inertial dampers
are prepared for the task.

KASSLIM
On it.​


17 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dexar turns to his side, where Lieutenant Kedair stands at her tactical console. Dax stands nearby.


DEXAR
Tactical, randomise our shield and
phaser frequencies. Actually, set
up a duplicate console - I want
two people on weapons at all
times. We’ve got enough of ‘em,
let’s use ‘em.

KEDAIR
Understood, sir.

DAX
I’ll take that station, Captain.

DEXAR
Thank you, Commander.
(turns to Tovak)
Take internal defences, in case
they try to board us.

TOVAK
Aye, sir.​


Tovak gets up from his seat and takes another console. Dexar looks towards Helkara at the sciences console.


DEXAR
Sciences, keep sensors at full
resolution as well. Any bit of
data might be of use to us.

HELKARA
Aye, sir.

THARP
Captain, approaching target now.
Dropping out of warp in five...​


As the crew tense for the moment...


18 EXT. SPACE - PLANETARY ORBIT


The blue-and-white planet sits in space, seemingly calm...

...until a devastating GREEN BEAM OF ENERGY shoots down from off-screen and hits the surface, kicking up huge plumes of water and dust as it cuts a swath across.

The BORG CUBE looms into view in foreground, firing three of these beams simultaneously, all hitting different parts of the planet and causing equal devastation to them all.

PAN across space until we see... the Aventine zooms out of warp into the planet’s orbit and instantly OPENS FIRE.

QUANTUM TORPEDOES and standard PHASERS all shoot their payloads directly at the Borg.

...and all HIT their target dead on, peppering the square surface of the cube with numerous EXPLOSIONS. The Borg do not let it stop them from firing on Acamar...


19 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


On Kedair at tactical...


KEDAIR
Direct hit, eight percent of the
cube is destroyed.
(confirms readings,
frustrated)
No change in their attack.

DEXAR
Keep firing. We need to draw their
attention away from the surface.

TOVAK
Captain, I am not detecting any
transporter signals, any attempt
to send drones to the surface.
They are simply firing on the
planet from orbit.

HELKARA
Why? That’s not how they work.

KEDAIR
I guess it is now. They’re
returning fire.​


The screen shows Aventine’s own WEAPONS continuing to shoot at the cube, plus a green twirling LIGHT heading right back at them... it IMPACTS, shaking the ship.


KEDAIR
Primary shields down ten percent
and recharging, secondary shields
holding.

DEXAR
We have to stop them firing on
the surface. Phaser cannons,
time on target.

DAX
Time on target, aye.​


20 EXT. SPACE


On the outside edge of Aventine’s saucer section, separate from the usual phaser strips, a PHASER CANNON reorients and fires a new kind of advanced super-powerful phaser beam.

On the other side of the saucer, a second cannon fires.

The two beams converge on a single point on the Borg cube and PUNCH a hole through their defences.


21 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dexar in his command chair, strong and solid...


DEXAR
Follow it through!​


Dax determinedly works her panels...


22 EXT. SPACE


Four PHOTON TORPEDOES fire straight into the hole the phaser cannons just made...

...and DETONATE. Explosions rack through the core of the Borg cube, but do not destroy it.

The cube stops firing on the surface. Even while the fires continue to burn inside it, it turns...

...and heads right for the Aventine.


23 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dax sees this on the main viewscreen, and gulps.


DAX
Okay, that definitely got their
attention.

DEXAR
Helm, hard about!​


Concentrating too hard to respond, Tharp works his panels. On screen, the image of the looming Borg cube swerves...


HELKARA
Their shields are recharging. The
damage is being snuffed out and
they are not slowing down. They’ll
be at full power again any second.

DEXAR
But at least they’re not firing on
the planet.​


BOOM. No, they’re firing on us. The ship SHAKES under repeated slams from Borg weapons.


24 EXT. SPACE


Aventine runs at full impulse... the Borg cube chases after it. The cube FIRES one of its thick GREEN energy beams...

...and Aventine is HIT hard, right on the upper back of the engineering hull. As the ship ROCKS from the impact, bits of hull fly off into space...

...then Aventine swerves to the side, out of the way.


25 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Tharp is working his panels, moving the big heavy ship as smoothly as he can.


DEXAR
Nicely done, Lieutenant Tharp.

THARP
Thank you, sir. We may be big,
but we’re still smaller than them.

P7 RED (comm)
Engineering to bridge!

DEXAR
(alarmed)
Go ahead, engineering. Where’s
Lieutenant Kasslim?​


26 INT. AVENTINE - ENGINEERING


Lieutenant Kasslim lies on the deck, her face half burned off and a blank look in her one remaining eye. Nearby, a junior officer sprays a FIRE EXTINGUISHER on the console.

P7 RED, a male Nasat with a red-tinged shell, hovers over the Gallamite woman, his front pincers poking hopefully at the body while his antennae are stiff with tension.


P7 RED
I'm sorry, Captain... Lieutenant
Kasslim is dead.​


FADE OUT


END OF ACT TWO​
 
ACT THREE​


FADE IN:


27 EXT. SPACE


Aventine runs. The Borg cube chases. As the Borg FIRE, Aventine SWERVES to avoid and fires back.


28 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Tharp at his helm console, focusing with deadly accuracy.

Dexar in the command chair, calling out orders MOS.

Kedair at tactical, firing her weapons over and over.

Dax at another console, also firing and firing, watching everything with a worried but determined eye.


WHATLEY (v.o.)
The Borg are coming, Captain.​


29 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY


Admiral Whatley sits on the couch, turned to face Sisko, who sits in the nearby chair. Both earnest, quiet.


WHATLEY
We don’t know why, or even how.
But they are coming.​


Sisko is suitably daunted - he has experience with the Borg himself. Before he can think up a response, Kasidy quietly re-enters the living room from Rebecca’s bedroom.


SISKO
Is she okay?

KASIDY
Oh, she’s fine. Counting away
without a worry in the world.

WHATLEY
I’m sorry, Missus Sisko, it wasn’t
my intention to disturb you.

KASIDY
That’s alright, Admiral. But are
things really that bad?

WHATLEY
I’m afraid so. There have been
three separate encounters with the
Borg in the last six months. Right
now, as we speak, another three
encounters in the same day. That
means three separate cubes...​


30 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dax, still working her consoles, gazes in quiet horror at the sight on the main viewscreen, of the Borg cube chasing after them, the fires in its core now put out.


WHATLEY (v.o.)
(continued)
...and Starfleet has just barely
managed to turn back one solitary
cube at a time in the past.​


31 INT. KIRK - BRIDGE


Vaughn sits in his own command chair, nothing to do while he watches the stars zoom past at warp. He remembers...


32 FLASHBACK - DS9 12x10 “WHERE THE HEART IS”


...An earlier time on the Kirk’s bridge, as Vaughn, Sisko and President Bacco all watch the reports of the slaughter at Sector 108, with ships being swallowed up or destroyed by the giant mis-shapen super-cube.


WHATLEY (v.o.)
We’ve lost so many ships already.
So many good crews, so many
good commanders...​


33 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY


Sisko and Kasidy listen to Whatley relate these tales.


WHATLEY
I’m sorry, Ben. I know you took
indefinite leave from Starfleet
after you came back from your...
(searches for word)
...experience. But we need you. We
need any good captain who’s able.​


Sisko still hasn’t spoken...


34 EXT. SPACE


The Borg fire again and again on the Aventine. The ship can’t evade all of the enemy’s shots...


35 INT. AVENTINE - SICKBAY


The ship SHAKES, just as two EXTRAS are carrying the dead body of Lieutenant Kasslim into sickbay. Doctor Glau already knows there is nothing to be done, but still...


GLAU
Over there.​


They carry the body over to a bio-bed and place it on - a little clumsily. Glau gives Kasslim a cursory inspection, but the conclusion is obvious. Damn it.

The door opens again and more EXTRAS enter - one bloodied on the head and arm, another supporting them as they limp through the door. Glau turns towards them...

BOOM. The room SHAKES again at another attack. Everyone staggers, and Kasslim’s body TUMBLES off the bio-bed. Glau is annoyed at the indignity but has more to worry about.


GLAU
Bring him over here.​


The two extras limp together to a bio-bed (other patients are already occupying other bio-beds, being attended to by other doctors), and Glau performs a visual inspection.


GLAU
It’s not life-threatening. I’m
afraid you’ll need to wait.​


As the extras move off, the ship is HIT again...

...and a massive EXPLOSION blows out one wall of sickbay. Glau is knocked to her feet under a pile of burning debris. She lands staring Kasslim’s already burned, lifeless body right in the face. She CRIES OUT.

As she is wincing in pain and horror, the extras pull the debris off her and help her back to her feet. She grabs at her own back in pain, but shakes it off and keeps moving.


GLAU
Sickbay to bridge! That last shot
hit sickbay - do that again and
you’ll be sorry.

TOVAK (comm)
Understood, Doctor. We will try
our best. Bridge out.

GLAU
Alright, enough gawking! We’ve
got patients to help. Move!​


The other doctors get back to work, picking their way over the damaged equipment. As Glau moves to do the same, we see a BLOOD SPOT on her back, seeping through her uniform...


36 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


As the chase continues, Dexar looks across to his first officer, TOVAK, who operates a nearby console.


DEXAR
We can’t keep this up forever,
letting them just wear us down.
Recommendations?

TOVAK
A frontal attack? Turn and face them?

KEDAIR
That won’t be necessary, sir.
They’ve stopped firing...​


Off everyone’s surprise...


37 EXT. SPACE


The Borg cube stops chasing the Starfleet ship, turns away from them... and begins heading back the way they came.


38 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


The crew watches this on the viewscreen with horror.


DAX
They’re heading back to Acamar.

DEXAR
Helm, pursuit course!​


39 EXT. SPACE


Aventine turns and begins chasing after the Borg cube.


40 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


The crew watches this on the viewscreen with horror.


DEXAR
We can’t let them start firing
on the planet again. Tactical...
prepare the chain pulsar weapon.​


Kedair blinks with surprise. Tovak steps forward...


TOVAK
Captain... I do not recommend
that course of action.

DEXAR
I don’t recommend it either,
Commander. But I don’t see a lot
of choice. Kedair, you heard me.

KEDAIR
Aye, sir.​


Kedair works her panel, setting up parameters and targets.


KEDAIR
Ready, Captain.​


Dexar nods, looks back towards the cube they are chasing...


DEXAR
Fire, Lieutenant.​


41 EXT. SPACE


Aventine FIRES what appears to be a normal-looking torpedo towards the Borg cube...


42 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


The crew watches the torpedo fly towards the cube, which is ignoring it. Dexar nods towards Kedair.


KEDAIR
And... activate.​


43 EXT. SPACE


In space, the torpedo comes to life, becoming a tiny RED STAR of its own as it moves towards the cube.

The cube begins to STUTTER, power jerking and dropping and slipping, the sickly green running lights dying inside, its speed dropping...


44 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dexar is thrilled with this result.


DAX
It’s working!

DEXAR
Helm, match their speed. Tactical,
continue standard weapons.

KEDAIR
Aye, sir.​


Kedair goes to fire the phasers...

...but the Aventine’s own power begins to STUTTER as well. The flashing RED ALERT lights dim, the engines GROAN, and the computer screens everywhere flicker...


45 INT. AVENTINE - ENGINEERING


P7 Red watches the warp core stuttering and falling and surging, as consoles everywhere around engineering also flicker on and off.


P7 RED
Engineering to bridge! What the
hell are you doing?​


46 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Mirren tries her best to get some information out of her half-functional operations console...


MIRREN
It’s the chain pulsar weapon! It’s
stealing the power from us as
well as from the Borg.
(turns to bridge)
Seriously, did nobody realise
that might happen?​


Clearly, nobody did. Tovak looks to Dexar, Dexar looks to Kedair, Kedair looks to Dax... Dax looks to the screen.


DAX
Look!​


They do...


47 EXT. SPACE


The little red star of the pulsar torpedo is still growing and growing, sucking up more energy, heading towards the stuttering Borg cube... and it HITS.

A massive EXPLOSION rocks the Borg ship, blowing apart a good half of the cube. DEBRIS flies out, the remainder of the cube is sent tumbling away.


48 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dax WHOOPS with victory. Dexar looks at her with a faux-disapproving smile. But the rest of the bridge is just as happy and relieved. Even Tovak manages to look satisfied.


DAX
Sorry, Captain.

DEXAR
Understandable, Commander.

MIRREN
Captain... the Aventine’s power
is not returning to normal.​


She’s right - the lights are still only half working, the computer screens still flickering. This is not good.


KEDAIR
Captain... the Borg.​


They look to the screen again, worried...


49 EXT. SPACE


The remainder of the Borg cube, square along the surviving edges but a blasted wreck elsewhere, is still alive. It rights its tumbling motion...

...and heads back towards the Aventine.


50 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dexar stands from his chair, appalled at this development.


DEXAR
Status of shields.

DAX
I’m sorry, Captain. They haven’t
recovered.

DEXAR
Any sign of other Starfleet ships?

TOVAK
Negative, Captain.​


That’s it, then. Dexar stares at the screen, at the broken Borg cube returning to finish them off.

The Borg FIRE one of the big green energy beams...

...and HIT the Aventine dead on.

EXPLOSIONS rock the entire ship, tearing apart bridge stations, rending plasteel sheets off the walls, sending girders and bulkheads tumbling.

Dexar is THROWN off his feet, CRASHES to the deck, CRACKS his skull on the edge of the transporter platform.

Tovak’s console EXPLODES in his face, THROWing him back in a hail of debris and green blood.

Dax and Kedair stumble back as the tactical console suffers CRACKLES of power shattering the transparent surface.

As the initial explosions die down, Dax scrambles across the deck, lurches down the steps to the pit, grabs Dexar’s body and rolls it over.

A GASH crosses his face, bisecting it the opposite way to his Bolian ridge. Dax places her fingers along the ridge, feeling for a pulse. Nothing. She looks across to Tovak’s position... just a mashed lump of green bloodied flesh.

Her two superior officers are dead. She is in command now.

She looks up to the skittering, static-filled viewscreen... and sees the Borg cube looming. ...Oh shit.


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT THREE​
 
ACT FOUR​


FADE IN:


51 EXT. SPACE


Aventine sits still - pretty much dead in space. Running lights are half-hearted and thready. An ugly, smouldering wound sits on the top of the saucer section, another on the spine of the ship. The warp nacelles throb dully.

And the Borg half-a-cube slowly inches closer to it...


52 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Where we left it - Captain Dexar lies dead at Lt Cmdr Dax’s feet. The bridge is wrecked, sparks and fires and smoke. Cmdr Tovak is a pile of mulch. The rest of the crew are just barely staggering back to their stations.

Dax looks up at the screen, at the approaching Borg ship...

...and it flies straight past them, ignoring the Aventine and heading back towards the planet. The crew are amazed.


HELKARA
They must think they’ve killed us
already. We’re no threat to them.

MIRREN
They’re not far wrong.​


Dax pulls herself together, looks around at the remaining bridge crew. She is their commander now.


DAX
Captain Dexar is dead. Commander
Tovak too. That leaves me as the
Aventine’s most senior officer.

KEDAIR
(straightens)
Orders... Captain?

DAX
I need a full status report. Now!​


Something to focus on. Kedair, Mirren, Helkara and Tharp all work their half-functional panels as best they can. On the screen, debris continues to tumble and spin.


MIRREN
Main power is holding at thirteen
percent only.

KEDAIR
Shields are non-functional, but
the ablative armour protected
us from the worst of that last
blow. No hull breaches.

THARP
The Borg cube - what’s left of
it - is on a direct heading back
to Acamar.

HELKARA
The debris is showing some strange
molecular distortion. The readings
don’t match anything Starfleet has
detected on Borg vessels before.

DAX
Is it a result of the chain pulsar
weapon?

KEDAIR
There’s nothing in the specs to
suggest that would happen.

DAX
Then I don’t care right now.​


A small THUMP - they look towards the screen... and a BORG DRONE has landed on the outside of the ship, part of the debris from the destroyed section of the cube. They all look at the Borg, clinging onto the outside of the ship. It raises its cybernetically enhanced arm, which sparks to life with a welding torch... and begins cutting into the hull. The viewscreen SHORTS out.


DAX
Internal defences?

KEDAIR
Non-functional.

DAX
Arm yourselves!​


As Kedair wrestles open a cabinet containing phasers and quickly passes them out to the bridge crew, a Borg Drone TRANSPORTS onto the bridge in front of the viewscreen.


DAX
Don’t let them touch you!​


As the closest crew member to the Drone, Lt Tharp stands sharply from his console and raises his phaser, FIRES...

...and the Drone’s personal shield shrugs off the shot. It raises its arm, a long BUZZ-SAW attached to the end...

...and STABS Tharp right in the stomach. The young Bolian man SCREAMS and tumbles to the deck.

Dax, Kedair and Mirren all raise their own phasers, and FIRE in unison... and the Borg Drone goes down.


DAX
Transporters!

HELKARA
They’re offline.

DAX
(wracks her brains)
Dax to Seine. Engage transport,
beam two Bolian males from the
bridge direct to sickbay - now!

COMPUTER
Acknowledged. Energising.​


The still-alive-but-screaming Tharp and the glassy-eyed-and-silent Dexar both disappear in transporter beams...


53 INT. AVENTINE - SICKBAY


...and reappear on the deck of the sickbay, which is just as ruined and sparking as the bridge. Doctor Glau steps over fallen girders to get to the new arrivals.


GLAU
Somebody help me here!​


She bends down to the two Bolians... revealing that the BLOOD SPOT on her own back has grown bigger since earlier.


DAX (comm)
Dax to all hands. Intruder alert!
Borg drones are beaming on board,
and internal defences are down.
Security to any and all critical
points aboard ship.​


The sounds of PHASER SHOTS and SCREAMS begin to echo in from outside sickbay...


54 INT. AVENTINE - CORRIDOR


Two Borg Drones beam into the dark and smoky corridor... and are immediately CUT DOWN by phaser fire from two Starfleet security officers.

Then one of the officers SCREAMS as another Borg weapon SLASHES right through his body.

His companion turns in horror and sees another Drone LOOMING right for him...


55 INT. AVENTINE - ENGINEERING


Another FIREFIGHT between security and Borg Drones is taking place here. P7 Red cowers out of the way...


DAX (comm)
Dax to engineering. Get those
internal defences back online -
that is your highest priority!

P7 RED
Understood, Commander...​


Steeling his nerves, P7 Red curls himself into a small, tight ball covered in a tough chitinous shell, and ROLLS himself across the deck of the engineering section...

...past Drones and Starfleet security exchanging fire...

...until he reaches a console, where he unrolls his body, stretches up on his hind legs to reach the console, and sets all four fore-pincers skittering over the controls.


56 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Kedair is fighting hand-to-hand with another Drone, using a Capellan kligat against its saw-arm. She CHOPS off its humanoid arm, but the Borg comes back with its saw-arm...

...and STABS Kedair right through the belly like the other Drone did to Tharp. Kedair looks down at the hole in her stomach... and LAUGHS. The raw, gaping wound is no problem.


KEDAIR
You obviously don’t know much
about Takarans, do you?

MIRREN
Kedair, back off!​


Not waiting for an explanation, Kedair does so...

...and PHASER EMPLACEMENTS in each corner of the bridge fire at the Borg Drone, VAPORISING it on the spot.


MIRREN
Internal defences back online,
Commander.

DAX
So I see. Dax to P-Seven Red -
next priority is propulsion. We
need to get back to Acamar, now!

P7 RED (comm)
Impulse has no chance, Commander.
I can give you a few seconds of
warp, that’s all.

DAX
(thinking)
Okay, stand by.​


The line drops. Only Dax, Kedair, Mirren and Helkara remain on the bridge now, surrounded by Starfleet and Borg bodies.


HELKARA
You’re thinking a split-second
warp jump? Do we have the
structural integrity for that?

MIRREN
I could divert power from weapons.

DAX
We’ll need weapons. Divert it from
life support. Kedair, any more of
those chain pulsar torpedoes left?

KEDAIR
All due respect, Commander -

DAX
Yes or no.

KEDAIR
Yes, but they’ve seen it before.
They’re Borg - they’ll adapt.

DAX
They can’t adapt to this. They can
shuffle their shields and twist their
power signatures - the chain pulsar
will suck it up no matter what.
It’s the perfect weapon.

HELKARA
Perfect except that it destroys
us along with the enemy.

DAX
No, because here’s what we’re
gonna do. Listen up, everyone.​


57 INT. AVENTINE - SICKBAY


Lieutenant Tharp is unconscious on a bio-bed, under a surgical arch, while Doctor Glau works feverishly on him. She checks readings and pushes buttons as tiny laser beams and sprays of blue blood come from under the arch.

Glau blinks sweat out of her own eyes, screwing them up in an attempt to keep her focus, fighting against exhaustion and pain. She will not lose this patient. Her assistant, a Vulcan paramedic named T’PARAS, watches her with concern.


T’PARAS
Doctor Glau, you are injured.
You must rest.

GLAU
I’m fine. Keep working.​


Glau will not be swayed. She keeps working on Tharp...


58 EXT. SPACE - PLANETARY ORBIT


The half-blasted Borg cube is back at Acamar, its massive and destructive ENERGY BEAMS scouring the planet below.


59 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dax sits at the helm herself, with Helkara, Mirren and Kedair back at their regular stations. They can only work off panels, because the main viewscreen is still dead.


DAX
Everyone ready?
(they all nod)
Okay. Three, two, one... now.​


She works her controls...


60 EXT. SPACE - AVENTINE


The half-crippled Aventine jumps straight to WARP...


61 EXT. SPACE - PLANETARY ORBIT


...and SLAMS back out of warp right on top of the cube.


62 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Hole still in her belly, Kedair works her panels...


63 EXT. SPACE - AVENTINE


The chain pulsar fires from Aventine’s torpedo launchers, and BURSTS into its tiny red sun...


64 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


No time to wait - Dax works her panels...


65 EXT. SPACE - PLANETARY ORBIT


...and Aventine JUMPS straight to warp again before the torpedo can suck up any of its power.

Alone now, the torpedo flies towards the Borg cube, its red light growing as the Borg’s green light sputters...

...and IMPACT. The remains of the Borg cube are destroyed in a giant EXPLOSION.


66 EXT. SPACE - AVENTINE


Aventine SLAMS back out of warp again, juddering and smoking as it drops to a full stop.


67 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dax pants with relief, calls out loud...


DAX
Talk to me! Did it work?

MIRREN
(off panels)
Yes! The Borg are destroyed!​


Dax SLAMS the console in celebration. Kedair smiles.


DAX
Dax to all hands. It’s over - we
did it. Well done, everyone.
(beat)
Engineering - best efforts with the
impulse drive, we need to get back
to the planet. The survivors will
need our help. Sickbay - give me
a casualty report.​


68 INT. AVENTINE - SICKBAY


Doctor Glau steps back from Tharp on his bio-bed. She has done everything she can for him now.


GLAU
Lieutenant Tharp will survive.
He’ll be in recovery for a long
time... but he’ll live.​


Glau looks around the sickbay - filled with living patients under the care of other medics occupying every bio-bed. On the deck between them are fallen girders and dead bodies.


GLAU
No final casualty count yet.
But it’s not good.

DAX (comm)
Understood, Doctor. Bridge out.​


The line drops, and Glau slumps against Tharp’s bio-bed.


GLAU
Okay. It’s over. I can go now.​


She staggers away from us, revealing that the blood stain now covers her entire back, from neck to thighs. She finds a corner, slowly lowers herself into it, and sits on the deck with her arms and head on her knees.


FADE OUT


END OF ACT FOUR​
 
ACT FIVE​


FADE IN:


69 INT. KIRK - BRIDGE


From the science station at the back of this intact and clean bridge, Shar excitedly calls for Vaughn’s attention.


SHAR
Captain! We’ve established contact
with the Aventine.

VAUGHN
(quietly relieved)
They’ve survived, then. Good.

SHAR
They report that the Borg attack
has been stopped, but they still
require help from other ships.

VAUGHN
And we’re still too far away?

SHAR
Aye, sir.

VAUGHN
Thank you, Lieutenant. Helm,
maintain course.​


And just like that, Shar’s enthusiasm is destroyed. Vaughn cannot afford enthusiasm - he knows this is not over.


70 INT. AVENTINE - ENGINEERING


By comparison, the Aventine is a dark, smoking wreck. Dax clambers over fallen bulkheads and engineers lying prone on the deck as they industriously repair machinery. She finds P7 Red carefully manoeuvring the dilithium matrix housing out of the warp core with the help of an anti-grav device. Everyone is clearly exhausted but pushing through.


DAX
P-Seven - how’s it going?

P7 RED
It’s gonna take us a long while to
put all the pieces back together,
Commander. We could really use
some help. Especially with...​


He gestures around with one pincer, at the surprisingly small number of other engineers in the room. They were hit bad. Dax lays a comforting hand on P7’s smudgy shell.


DAX
Help’s on the way, Lieutenant.​


He dips his antennae in acknowledgement. Dax turns to go.


71 INT. AVENTINE - SICKBAY


Dax forces the warped door open and steps into the room, which is just as blasted and ruined as everywhere else. Each bio-bed carries another moaning, wounded crew member. At one bed, T’Paras is running a dermal regenerator over Kedair’s wounded stomach. Dax heads over, nods to Kedair.


DAX
Lieutenant. Crewman T’Paras -
where’s Doctor Glau?

T’PARAS
The doctor is resting, Commander.

DAX
How’s Tharp?​


T’Paras leads Dax over to the biobed carrying the Bolian helmsman. He is unconscious, his blue skin a pale grey.


T’PARAS
He will survive. Although that
outcome was not always certain.

DAX
Why not?

T’PARAS
The blood supplies were destroyed
in the first attack on sickbay. A
transfusion from any other species
would be fatal to Bolians and vice
versa. Doctor Glau was forced to
take... unusual measures in order
to save the lieutenant’s life.​


T’Paras gestures to where the corpse of Captain Dexar lies on another bio-bed, looking even more grey and bloodless than Tharp. Dax realises with disquiet...


DAX
She took the blood from Captain
Dexar’s body?

T’PARAS
It was the only compatible source
available to her. The captain was,
after all, not using it.

DAX
No... I suppose not. I’d like to
speak to the Doctor now.

T’PARAS
This way, please, Commander.​


T’Paras leads Dax across the sickbay, to the corner into which Doctor Glau is huddled. Glau is in the same position we left her - arms crossed on her knees, head on her arms.


DAX
Doctor Glau...?​


The doctor doesn’t move. Assuming she is just asleep, Dax crouches down and gently shakes Glau’s arm... and Glau SLUMPS to the side, clearly dead. Dax gasps and stands back. She spots the massive blood stain covering Glau’s back, spreading across her entire uniform. T’Paras calmly regrets this development.


DAX
What happened?

T’PARAS
My apologies, Commander. I had not
realised. Doctor Glau was wounded
in the battle. She refused to rest
despite my repeated admonishments.
Evidently she chose to save
Lieutenant Tharp’s life...
at the cost of her own.​


Dax sighs, upset...


72 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Helkara regretfully hands over a padd to Dax, who now stands behind the vacant captain’s chair. The crew picking through the blasted bridge are all smudged with soot, wearing torn and bloodied clothing, exhausted and sweaty.


HELKARA
A full casualty count, Commander.
Between battle damage to the ship,
direct combat with Borg drones,
and those who bled out before
help could reach them... almost
a third of the crew were lost.

DAX
A third?! Gods, that’s...

HELKARA
Two-hundred-thirty-one, sir.
Four senior staff among them.​


To have it stated so bluntly is devastating. Dax looks at the empty captain’s chair, which looks enormous to her.


HELKARA
We’ve also received communications
from other Starfleet vessels that
are on an intercept course to us.
They will arrive within two hours.

DAX
Good. There’s Federation citizens
down on Acamar who just survived a
planetary bombardment, and we’re
in no shape to help ourselves, let
alone them. Thanks, Commander.​


Helkara moves off, but Dax has something else on her mind.


DAX
Gruhn...
(Helkara turns back)
The Borg. Have you ever seen
them act like they did today?

HELKARA
I have never seen them act at all
before today, to my great relief.

DAX
They didn’t try to assimilate the
planet - they just bombed it. And
when they boarded us, it wasn’t to
convert us - they came to kill us.

HELKARA
I have no explanation, Commander.

DAX
No. But you said something during
the battle... something about
molecular disruption?

HELKARA
Yes, some kind of subatomic damage
to the debris of the Borg vessel.
Why, is it important?

DAX
I don’t know... maybe. Could you
forward the readings to me, let
me take a look, just in case?

HELKARA
Of course.​


Helkara heads off again. Dax looks at the captain’s chair. It is hers now, but she is not quite ready to sit yet...


SHAR (v.o.)
(flashback, from 12x10)
To see one’s home in danger...
it is a terrible thing.​


73 FLASHBACK - DS9 12x10 “WHERE THE HEART IS”


Ben Sisko, Kasidy, Jake and Rena stand on the transporter platform of the USS James T Kirk, as Shar sees them off.


SHAR
(continuing)
But that is why we do what we do.​


74 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY


Ben Sisko opens a wardrobe door... and finds his Starfleet uniform hanging there, unworn for almost four years now.


SHAR (v.o.)
(continuing)
To protect it to the best of our
ability.​


Sisko pulls out the uniform and turns, still holding it, to see Kasidy sat on the bed, watching him.


SISKO
I don’t have to do this.

KASIDY
Ben... if there’s one thing I’ve
always known about you, it’s
that you’re a man of duty.

SISKO
But I promised to stay here and
protect you and Rebecca...

KASIDY
Starfleet needs you. The New York
needs you.

SISKO
You need me.

KASIDY
We have you. Your daughter will
always know she has a father who
loves her. Never doubt that. But
right now... they need you more.​


Sisko looks again at the uniform in his hands. She watches him, knows what is going through her husband’s mind.


KASIDY
Jennifer.
(Sisko starts)
You never talk about her. That’s
fine, I don’t want to intrude on
your memories of her. But I
know you lost her to the Borg.​


Sisko closes his eyes as the ghostly SOUNDS of memory creep into the scene, that unforgettable wail of anguish...


SISKO (v.o.)
(flashback,
from DS9 1x01)
Damn it, we can’t just leave
her here! Nooo!

SISKO (now)
I can’t see that happen again.
Not to you and Rebecca. I can’t.

KASIDY
(calm, soothing)
That’s why you have to go. Jake
and Rena are safe on Earth with
your father. Rebecca and I are
safe here on Bajor with Jasmine
and Nerys. The Federation needs
you out there... doing what only
Ben Sisko can do.​


Sisko gazes at his wife, at his rock of support...


75 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY


The bedroom door opens and Sisko emerges - wearing the uniform. Admiral Whatley has been waiting, nervous; he now stands, relieved, at the sight of Sisko back in uniform.


WHATLEY
Captain... thank you.​


Kasidy follows Ben out, carrying the standard Starfleet travelling bag, and closes the door behind them both. Not quite ready to go yet, Ben calls out...


SISKO
Rebecca, sweetie?​


The sound of little feet pattering... and then Rebecca’s bedroom door SLAMS open and she comes barreling out.


REBECCA
Daddy, you changed your clothes!
Are you going back to the space
station?

SISKO
(crouching to
her level)
That’s right, sweetie. And from
there, I’m taking a starship. I’m
going to be a captain again.

REBECCA
Can I come with you, daddy?

SISKO
Not this time, sweetheart. It
could be dangerous where I’m
going, and I need you to stay
safe here at home and look after
your mommy for me. Okay?

REBECCA
(slightly
disappointed)
Okay.

SISKO
You’re going to be a good girl for
mommy? And play nice with Jasmine?

REBECCA
Of course. Don’t worry about us,
daddy. We’ll be fine.​


Overcome, Sisko hugs his little daughter tight.


SISKO
I love you so much, Rebecca.

REBECCA
I love you too, daddy.​


Sisko lets go of the hug and stands. She turns to hug Kasidy as well. Then he turns back towards Whatley.


REBECCA
Mister Admiral?
(they turn to her)
Bring my daddy back safe, please.

WHATLEY
I’ll try my very best, Rebecca.
I promise you that.​


Some last affectionate touches with Kasidy and Rebecca. Then Sisko takes the bag from his wife, hefts it onto his shoulder, and follows Admiral Whatley to the front door.

With Kasidy holding Rebecca close to her, they stand and watch Admiral Whatley and Captain Sisko leave the house... and close the door behind them.


FADE OUT


END OF SHOW​
 
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