STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Defiant" #40513-455 Written by Ronald D. Moore Directed by Cliff Bole THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT. Copyright 1994 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This script is not for publication or reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department. Return to Script Department FINAL DRAFT PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION September 29, 1994 STAR TREK: DS9 - "Defiant" 10/06/94 - CAST STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Defiant" CAST SISKO RIKER KIRA GUL DUKAT ODO KALITA BASHIR TAMAL DAX KORINAS O'BRIEN SOLDIER COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking Non-Speaking N.D. SUPERNUMERARIES STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - SETS STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Defiant" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE OPS INFIRMARY THE DEFIANT QUARK'S/SECOND LEVEL COMMANDER'S OFFICE CARDASSIA PRIME PROMENADE AIRLOCK WARDROOM SECURITY OFFICE DEFIANT BRIDGE KIRA'S QUARTERS CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM STAR TREK: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Defiant" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE ALMATHA AL-mah-thuh BYZALLIANS buh-ZAY-lee-uns BYZATIUM buh-ZAY-tee-um CAMPOR KAM-poor DARIA DAR-ree-ah DAMERON DAM-er-on DETAPA dee-TAH-pa GANDHI GON-dee JUMJA JUM-ja KORINAS KOR-ee-nas KARVINO kar-VEE-no KELDON KEL-don KRAXON KRACKS-on LAKARIAN luh-KAR-ee-on LORVAN LOR-van NERVALA NER-va-la ORIAS o-RYE-us OMEKLA OH-mek-la RANOR RAY-nor TAMAL TUH-mal THOLIAN THO-lee-an TORAN TOR-an DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Defiant" TEASER FADE IN: 1 INT. OPS KIRA is sitting at the Ops table, listening to O'BRIEN and DAX. We can tell by the look on Kira's face that this is the beginning of a very long and very bad day. DAX Kira, we've got six Byzatium transports coming in this afternoon. I've got to have more cargo space. KIRA (weary) All right... have them offload into Cargo Bays three and four, but that's it. We're pushing our storage capacity as it is. O'BRIEN Oh, that reminds me... we got a message last night saying the Byzallians want to move up their conference by a week. Kira picks up a PADD in frustration and exhaustion. KIRA I haven't had a chance to read through last night's reports... anything else I should know? Dax and O'Brien exchange a glance. Kira's not going to like this... O'BRIEN Well... KIRA What? DAX Starfleet wants a complete report done on our computer calibration subroutine. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - TEASER 2. 1 CONTINUED: KIRA The whole subroutine? (they nod) When? Beat. O'BRIEN Tomorrow. Kira reacts... she's starting to get a headache... CUT TO: 2 INT. SECURITY OFFICE Kira's headache is getting worse as she listens to ODO. ODO Someone -- probably a certain bartender we know -- has been using a public terminal to falsify inventory records and cargo manifests on the last three Ferengi transport ships that were here. In other words, we have no idea what they've been shipping in and out of this station for the past month. KIRA (tired) That means we've got to open every single Ferengi container on the station. ODO We have another problem as well... the Tholian Ambassador reported that someone broke into his quarters during the night and stole three cases of latinum. KIRA Three cases? ODO It was the dowry for his wedding. KIRA When's the wedding? DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - TEASER 3. 2 CONTINUED: ODO Tomorrow. Kira puts a hand to her temple... it's getting worse. CUT TO: 3 INT. INFIRMARY BASHIR is talking to Kira, who's just about at the end of her rope. BASHIR Major, the scheduled transport's been delayed and I need those medical supplies by the end of the week at the latest. KIRA We can't spare a runabout to go all the way to Vulcan right now. BASHIR I'm supposed to set up a field hospital for the new colony on Campor Three next week. If I don't have those supplies, it could set the entire colonization schedule back by at least -- Kira finally boils over and cuts loose at Bashir. KIRA (explodes) Listen to me. You can't have a runabout, you can't get your medical supplies, and I don't give a damn about the colonization schedule. We've got problems of our own, so those colonists can make do with a box of bandages for all I care. Kira turns and begins to storm out of the room, when Bashir stops her cold by the low and deadly serious tone in his voice. BASHIR Stop right there, Major. Kira turns and looks at him, just waiting for him to start another argument, but Bashir handles the situation with a Doctor's clinical and dispassionate authority. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/05/94 - TEASER 4. 3 CONTINUED: BASHIR (continuing) When was your last day off? KIRA I don't know. What does that have to do with-- BASHIR If you can't remember, it's been too long. (beat) You're off duty as of this moment. KIRA What do you mean, I'm off duty? You can't do that. BASHIR Oh, yes I can. And not even Commander Sisko can overrule my judgement as chief medical officer. Kira blinks at him a moment... tries to backtrack. KIRA Wait a minute, Julian... just because I snapped at you isn't enough to-- BASHIR My diagnosis is that you're overworked and suffering from extreme stress and borderline exhaustion. As for my prescription... come with me. He heads for the door... Kira hesitates, then EXITS with him. CUT TO: 4 INT. QUARK'S - SECOND LEVEL Kira is sitting at a table. QUARK is putting things on the table in front of her, as Bashir looks on. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/05/94 - TEASER 5. 4 CONTINUED: QUARK (placing the items) Karvino juice... Lorvan crackers... a holosuite program... a jumja stick... and gambling tokens. BASHIR Now, at least two of these items must be used and fully enjoyed before you can leave this facility. KIRA Julian... QUARK (to Bashir) I'll be giving you a full report on her activities, Doctor. BASHIR (to Kira) If I hear you didn't relax and have a good time tonight, we'll do this every night until you do. (smiles) Have fun. Bashir and Quark EXIT. Kira sits there for a moment, unsure how to react, then smiles to herself at the outrageousness of it all. She picks up the glass of juice and takes a sip. RIKER'S VOICE Looks like you've got your evening all planned out. Kira turns and sees COMMANDER WILLIAM RIKER looking down at her. RIKER I hope you left room for... the unexpected. He gives her his most winning smile as he sits down across from her. And we can see that Kira is intrigued... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - ACT ONE 6. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes) 5 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE SISKO and Riker are just shaking hands. SISKO Welcome aboard, Commander. RIKER Thank you. And call me Wil. Sisko gestures to a chair and they sit. SISKO What brings you to Deep Space Nine? RIKER Strictly pleasure. I've built up about three months worth of leave and Doctor Crusher finally insisted that I take some of it. In fact, she nearly shoved me out the airlock. SISKO D.S. Nine isn't exactly known as a vacation getaway. RIKER I'm actually just passing through on my way to Risa. The last time I was here, I only got to spend two hours at Quark's... but by the time I left, I had all his latinum and a date with one of his dabo girls. I thought I might try my luck again. SISKO (with humor) Be careful... Quark's dabo wheel has been a little stingy recently. And one of his Dabo girls is dating my son. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT ONE 7. 5 CONTINUED: RIKER (with humor) In that case, maybe I better spend my time in the holosuites. It sounds safer... all the way around. Sisko chuckles. SISKO Is there anything I can do for you while you're here? A look around the station... maybe a tour of the Defiant? Chief O'Brien's working on her polaron deflector this morning... I'm sure he'd love to show you around. RIKER Thanks... but to be honest, the last thing I want to do on my vacation is look at polaron deflectors. SISKO (smiles) I can't say that I blame you. Riker leans in with a grin on his face. RIKER Now... which Dabo girl is your son dating... just to be on the safe side? Sisko sits back with a mixture of embarrassment and pride. CUT TO: 6 INT. OPS Kira is working at a console, but she keeps glancing over at the commander's office where Sisko and Riker are still talking. Dax comes over to her. DAX Who's in there? KIRA (surprised) What? DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - ACT ONE 8. 6 CONTINUED: DAX Who's in with Benjamin? KIRA (a little embarrassed) Oh... it's Wil -- Commander Wil Riker from the Enterprise. Dax smiles at the name. DAX Wil Riker... KIRA You know him? DAX Met him at Quark's about a year ago. Quite a dabo player. (beat) Do you know him? KIRA (casual) Yes... a little. We met at Quark's... last night. Kira focuses on the console in front of her... Dax picks up on the subtext and she presses a little. DAX You met... last night... and... KIRA And we talked. DAX And then... KIRA And then nothing. We just talked. (beat) For three hours. Dax nods with a knowing smile on her face. KIRA (stern) We... just... talked. And yes, he's a very warm... very charming man... but I'm involved with someone. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT ONE 9. 6 CONTINUED: (4) DAX Of course. (beat) So why do you keep glancing at Sisko's office? Kira has no real answer for that. Suddenly, the doors to Sisko's office OPEN and Riker and Sisko ENTER Ops. SISKO If you can find the time, you have an open invitation for dinner with Jake and me. RIKER I just might take you up on that. Dax moves to Riker and greets him warmly. DAX (joking) I hope you're not here for another loan. Riker gives her a blank look -- he has no idea what she's talking about. Dax smiles at him. DAX Don't tell me you've forgotten who staked you three strips of latinum when your winning streak ran dry? Riker recovers quickly, smiles in embarrassment, and shakes her hand. RIKER Oh, my God... of course. Sorry... most of that night is still a blur. How are you, Dax? DAX Fine. Riker's eye wanders to Kira, who has stayed at her console. RIKER Major. KIRA Commander. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT ONE 10. 6 CONTINUED: (3) Sisko and Dax both notice the look between Riker and Kira and then exchange a look of their own. RIKER (to Sisko & Dax) Well. I better get out of your way and let you get back to work. (beat) I hope I see you all again soon. As he says these last words, his eye falls again on Kira and she returns the look. Riker EXITS and Sisko heads back to his office. Dax moves off and Kira seems to go back to work... but she looks up and we can see that she's still thinking about Riker. CUT TO: 7 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Establishing the station. 8 INT. PROMENADE - SECOND LEVEL Riker is loitering near one of the shops... he keeps glancing around the corner of the shop down the Promenade, then ducking back... he finally sees something and reacts. He takes a few steps backward behind the corner... waits... and then walks casually around the bend as if just coming out of the shop. He nearly runs right into Kira, who is coming the opposite way down the Promenade. RIKER Oops. Sorry about that. KIRA It's all right. RIKER My mind was a million light years away. Should've been paying attention to where I was going. Kira smiles at him... there's an awkward beat... then Kira glances at the shop Riker just came out of. KIRA So... doing some shopping? DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT ONE 11. 8 CONTINUED: RIKER I'm just exploring the Promenade actually. I thought about heading over to Quark's, but... I wasn't really in the mood. (beat) Where're you off to? KIRA I'm just... coming off duty. I was about to call it a night. RIKER I see. (beat) Well... good night. Riker holds her gaze and then begins to walk off. Kira hesitates... then stops him. KIRA Would you... like a tour of the station... ? RIKER (smiles) I'd love one. Where should we begin? KIRA Well, we could walk along the Promenade for a start. There's quite a bit to see here. They begin walking. RIKER (casual) You think we'll have a chance to take a look at that new starship of yours? What's it called... ? KIRA The Defiant. RIKER Yeah, the Defiant. I hear it's quite a vessel. KIRA I'm sure we could arrange that. As they walk off together... DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/05/94 - ACT ONE 12. 9 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) where we can see the DEFIANT docked at the station. 10 INT. AIRLOCK An armed security guard is stationed outside the airlock. A computer terminal is nearby. Kira and Riker approach. Kira taps some commands into the computer terminal. COMPUTER VOICE Please identify for access to USS Defiant. Kira puts her hand on a computer panel, which LIGHTS UP. KIRA Major Kira Nerys, Bajoran militia. COMPUTER VOICE Identity confirmed. Riker steps up, puts his hand on the same panel. RIKER Commander William Riker, Starfleet. COMPUTER VOICE Identity confirmed. The Guard then works his terminal for a moment. The airlock OPENS. Kira and Riker EXIT into the airlock. 11 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE The Defiant Bridge is mostly DARK -- only one or two consoles are lit. Kira and Riker ENTER and see Chief O'Brien is lying under a console, with his head inside the open panel. Kira is a little surprised, but the look on Riker's face says that he's not very happy about this particular surprise. KIRA Chief. I didn't know there was anyone aboard tonight. O'BRIEN'S VOICE (from inside panel) I hadn't planned to... just putting in a little extra work on the deflector targeting arrays. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/29/94 - ACT ONE 13. 11 CONTINUED: O'Brien takes his head out of the panel and sees Riker. He begins to stand up with a broad smile on his face, but instead of a warm greeting, Riker gives him his coldest and harshest look. O'BRIEN Commander. I heard you were aboard, but I hadn't-- RIKER (harsh) I have nothing to say to you, Chief. And I think you know why. Riker glares at him and O'Brien is too shocked to say anything in response. There's an awkward silence. KIRA (to Riker) Maybe we should come back another time. O'BRIEN No... no, that's all right, Major. I was just leaving. (beat) Commander. O'Brien EXITS. KIRA (to Riker) What was that all about? RIKER It's a long story. And I'd rather not get into it right now. Riker looks around the Bridge with a look of eager anticipation. RIKER Well, let's have a look at this ship of yours. Kira is still a little disturbed by the Riker/O'Brien tension, but she puts it aside and begins to show Riker around. KIRA Okay. I'll show you the tactical systems first. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT ONE 14. 11 CONTINUED: (2) KIRA I think you're going to be surprised at how big a punch this little ship has... CUT TO: 12 INT. AIRLOCK O'Brien is coming out of the airlock with a disturbed look on his face. He stops just outside the airlock door, frowns to himself... almost goes back, then decides the hell with it and walks off... 13 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Riker and Kira are sitting at one of the consoles. Kira is showing him a complex schematic diagram. RIKER Running the plasma conduit through the primary phaser coupling has almost doubled your phaser power. But doesn't that reduce warp drive efficiency? KIRA Not at all. In fact, it's thirty percent more efficient. RIKER That's ingenious. (works console) I want to see how this is all routed through the tactical display. The computer BEEPS. COMPUTER VOICE Command authorization required. Riker looks a little surprised. KIRA It's a new security procedure. (to computer) Computer, release Bridge lockout -- authorization Kira delta five-four- seven alpha. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT ONE 15. The computer works and the Bridge LIGHTS UP -- all the consoles are now active. RIKER Thank you. Riker pulls out a small hand phaser and STUNS Kira with it. She falls to the floor. Riker heads across the Bridge and moves to one of the other consoles and begins working it. After a beat, a man and a woman -- KALITA and TAMAL -- MATERIALIZE on the Bridge. CUT TO: 14 INT. OPS Dax is working at a console when suddenly ALARMS go off and the station goes to RED ALERT. Sisko comes rushing out of his office. SISKO What's going on? DAX (working furiously) I'm not sure... but something's happened to the warp core on the Defiant. It looks like it's going to breach in about sixty seconds. SISKO Is anyone on board? DAX O'Brien was working there this morning. But I don't know if he-- The console BEEPS. DAX (off console) Incoming signal from the Defiant. It's Commander Riker. SISKO On screen. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/05/94 - ACT ONE 16. 15 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) A tight shot of Riker on the Bridge. SMOKE and GAS are billowing in the b.g. RIKER (urgent) There's been an accident. One of the plasma conduits exploded and Major Kira's been injured. We're forty-five seconds from a core breach. Release the docking clamps and I'll get us away from the station. Sisko nods to Dax and she works. SISKO (to Riker) We'll beam the two of you away as soon as you're clear. DAX Docking clamps released. RIKER (working) Okay... I'm engaging thrusters... 16 EXT. SPACE - THE DEFIANT (OPTICAL) as it pulls away from the station. 17 INT. OPS (OPTICAL) Riker is still on the viewscreen, working. O'Brien ENTERS and rushes to his station. DAX Fifteen seconds. SISKO (to O'Brien) Lock on and beam them out of there, Chief. O'Brien reacts to his console. O'BRIEN I can't get a lock. The Defiant's shields are up. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT ONE 17. 17 CONTINUED: SISKO What? The viewscreen goes dead. 18 EXT. SPACE - THE DEFIANT (OPTICAL) The Defiant goes INTO WARP. 19 INT. OPS As before. DAX She's gone into warp. I've lost them. OFF Sisko's stunned reaction as he begins to realize what's happened and he looks determined to do something about it. CUT TO: 20 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE Kalita is sitting at the helm. Tamal is working at a bulkhead, which is spewing out gas and smoke. Riker is sitting in the command chair. KALITA (off console) We're beyond their sensor range. RIKER Set course for the Badlands. Warp seven. Riker turns in the chair toward Tamal. RIKER Tamal, secure that conduit. Tamal works for a moment, and then the gas and smoke STOP. Riker begins to pull off the beard he's been wearing... revealing the face of Thomas Riker. KALITA (off console) Course laid in. We'll be in the Badlands in six hours. She turns and smiles at him. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT ONE 18. 20 CONTINUED: KALITA You did it, Tom. RIKER Yeah... but it's not over yet. Off his face... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - ACT TWO 19. ACT TWO FADE IN: 21 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) As before. 22 INT. WARDROOM (OPTICAL) On the monitor is biographical material and a photo of Thomas Riker. Odo is briefing GUL DUKAT, who is sitting at the table. Sisko is standing nearby. ODO Nine years ago, a transporter accident created two William T. Rikers... one of them returned to his ship, the other was marooned on Nervala Four. SISKO The second Riker was finally discovered two years ago. He chose to use his middle name -- Thomas -- to distinguish himself from the other Riker. ODO The two men are physically identical in every respect -- right down to their DNA coding. There was no way for the security computer to know that it was Thomas, not William who boarded the Defiant. GUL DUKAT (a little amused) A very entertaining story... but why am I listening to it? Odo and Sisko exchange a look. Sisko leans forward... Dukat is not going to like this. SISKO We have reason to believe that Thomas Riker... is a member of the Maquis. Dukat stares at him for a moment, not wanting to believe what he just said. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - ACT TWO 20. 22 CONTINUED: GUL DUKAT What? ODO Thomas Riker was serving aboard the starship Gandhi. While he was there, he began to express certain... political opinions... opinions that support the Maquis and their goals. SISKO The Gandhi's captain said that Riker was adamantly opposed to stopping Maquis raids against Cardassian targets. Dukat gets up... shocked by this turn of events... he takes a few steps as he tries to let this sink in. GUL DUKAT You're telling me that one of the most heavily armed warships in this quadrant is now in the hands of Maquis terrorists? Do you have any idea what kind of response this will provoke from the Central Command? SISKO They'll probably want to send ships into the Demilitarized Zone to conduct a search. We understand that. But... any entry into the zone must be a joint operation between Cardassia and the Federation. GUL DUKAT (with contempt) The Central Command won't be interested in any "joint operations," commander. They're not going to believe this story of yours about transporter duplicates and security failures. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - ACT TWO 21. 22 CONTINUED: (2) GUL DUKAT (Cont'd) They'll assume that Starfleet wanted the Maquis to have the Defiant... and they'll respond accordingly. ODO What does that mean, exactly? GUL DUKAT It means they'll take this opportunity to finally eliminate the Maquis. They'll send a fleet into the zone with orders to search and destroy every last Maquis base as well as your missing starship. Sisko leans forward... tries to keep things calm and steady. SISKO (quiet, steady) Starfleet is willing to cooperate in a search for the Defiant... but they will not allow the Central Command to use this as an excuse for a full- scale invasion. GUL DUKAT Of course not. So you'll send your own fleet into the zone to protect the Federation colonies... at some point the two fleets will meet... tensions will rise... nerves will fray... someone will make a mistake... SISKO And we'll have a war on our hands. A quiet, grim moment as everyone takes in the disturbing gravity of the situation. GUL DUKAT It is a prospect that I do not relish. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT TWO 22. 22 CONTINUED: (3) SISKO Neither do we. ODO That's why we need to work together to prevent it from happening. GUL DUKAT Unless I can bring something to the Central Command that will prove your good faith... and your willingness to help stop the Defiant... I don't believe that anything will prevent this conflict from beginning. SISKO Then bring me with you. I can help you stop the Defiant and prove our good faith. I was in charge of the shipyard where the Defiant was built... I helped design it. I know her vulnerabilities... her weaknesses... GUL DUKAT You'll help us destroy one of your own ships? SISKO I want to try and disable it first. Dukat leans closer, makes his point firmly. GUL DUKAT (pressing him) I'm sure you would, but you're in no position to bargain. You want to prevent a war? Then come back to Cardassia with me and help me destroy the Defiant. Sisko takes a moment... weighs the stakes, realizes there's only one answer. SISKO When do we leave? OFF Sisko's determined face... CUT TO: DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT TWO 23. 23 EXT. SPACE - THE DEFIANT (OPTICAL) The ship at warp. 24 INT. DEFIANT - QUARTERS Kira is facing Riker with a look of fury on her face. KIRA (boiling) I don't care who you are or what your name is. RIKER Look, I'm sorry about lying to you, and about... using you. But it was an operational necessity. Kira turns away from him, pacing as best as she can in the narrow confines of the room, trying to let her anger subside. RIKER (continuing) You were a resistance fighter... you know that sometimes you have to do things that you're not proud of in order to accomplish the mission. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT TWO 24. 24 CONTINUED: KIRA Well, you've accomplished your mission, so now what? Everyone's going to be looking for you -- the Cardassians and Starfleet. How far do you think you can get with this ship before they find you? RIKER (with a confident smile) A lot farther than anyone anticipates. KALITA'S COM VOICE Kalita to Riker. We've reached the rendezvous point. RIKER (to com) On my way. Riker looks at her for a moment, then EXITS. CUT TO: 25 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE Kalita at Helm, Tamal at a side console as Riker ENTERS. KALITA The other Maquis ships just arrived. Tamal's console BEEPS. TAMAL (off console) The rest of the team's ready. RIKER Lower the shields and beam them aboard. Tamal works. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT TWO 25. 25 CONTINUED: TAMAL The Maquis ships are heading for the border, Tom. KALITA All defense systems on-line and operational... warp power standing by. RIKER (to Kalita) Lay in a course for the Cardassian border. Warp eight. Three N.D. MAQUIS ENTER the bridge and head for consoles... each of them confident and ready to go. KALITA (with a smile) Course already laid in. Riker sits down in the command chair... looks around the bridge for a beat. RIKER (musing) This ship was built to fight... I think it's time she got her chance. (beat) Engage. Kalita works and the ship goes to warp. OFF Riker's confident and steely expression... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT THREE 26. ACT THREE FADE IN: 26 EXT. CARDASSIA PRIME (MATTE SHOT) The Cardassian homeworld as seen before. SISKO (V.O.) Commander's Log: Stardate 48467.3 Gul Dukat and I have arrived on Cardassia Prime. I am about to do something which goes against twenty years of Starfleet training: help an enemy hunt down one of our own ships. 27 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) The War Room is the Cardassian equivalent of NORAD. The room is dominated by large screens and monitors which show a bewildering array of tactical displays, ship movements, real- time reports from vessels, strategic information, intelligence reports, etc. The room should always be filled with Cardassian military N.D.s who should always be rushing about dealing with problems, working consoles and carrying out orders. Sisko and Dukat ENTER. Sisko draws a few curious looks from the Cardassian soldiers, but they ignore him for the most part and continue with their work. GUL DUKAT This is where I will be conducting the search for the Defiant. From this room, I can control every Cardassian ship, outpost, and space station anywhere in... Dukat trails off as an unnatural quiet fills the room and everyone looks at something o.s. 28 NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) A Cardassian woman named KORINAS is ENTERING the War Room. Korinas is the representative of the Obsidian Order... a woman who's so confident of her power and ability that she has no need to posture or bluster like the usual Cardassian Guls. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT THREE 27. 28 CONTINUED: Korinas can afford to be calm and pleasant -- there is a look of fear and loathing on every Cardassian face as she enters the room and calmly heads for Dukat and Sisko. GUL DUKAT Commander, allow me to introduce Korinas -- our "observer" from the Obsidian Order. (indicates Sisko) Commander Sisko. SISKO Korinas. KORINAS Welcome to Cardassia Prime, Commander. SISKO Thank you. Korinas lets her eyes flick around the room for a beat... everyone in the War Room quickly goes back to work. But Korinas sees something nearby. KORINAS (to Sisko) Excuse me. (calm, to N.D. Soldier) Secure that console while the Human is here. Anything else classified as Level Four or above should also be secured. The N.D. nods and then quickly TURNS OFF the console. She turns back to Sisko with a polite look, but her words have daggers. KORINAS (to Sisko) I'm sure you can understand that although we all respect Gul Dukat's decision to bring you here... we must take some precautions. SISKO Of course. I would've done the same. (beat, then pleasant) But then I would've been more discreet. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT THREE 28. 28 CONTINUED: (2) The calm and easy manner in which Sisko parries her thrust, causes Korinas to hold his gaze for a moment, as if considering him. She gives him a short, polite smile, then moves on to the business at hand. KORINAS Since you're here to provide technical expertise on the Defiant, I suggest you begin briefing us on the ship's defensive capabilities. Please describe for us -- in detail -- the weapon systems of the Defiant, beginning with the ship's phaser array and -- SISKO Before we discuss weaponry... there is a more urgent matter that you should be aware of. Dukat and Korinas exchange a quick look and wait for him to continue. SISKO (continuing) The Defiant's equipped with a cloaking device. Dukat reacts as if Sisko just placed another heavy burden on his shoulders, but Korinas barely reacts at all. KORINAS I wondered if you were going to share that little detail with us. GUL DUKAT (to Korinas) You knew about this? KORINAS The Obsidian Order has known for some time about the... "loan" of a cloaking device from the Romulans to the Federation. GUL DUKAT (outraged) And the Order chose not to share this intelligence with the Central Command? DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT THREE 28A. 28 CONTINUED: (3) KORINAS Until now, the Order has not considered this one cloak to be a threat against Cardassia. SISKO (to Dukat) Under the terms of our agreement with the Romulans the cloaking device was to be used only in the Gamma Quadrant... and they only agreed to that in exchange for all our intelligence reports on the Dominion. Dukat takes a couple of paces, trying to reassess the situation. GUL DUKAT Well, your Lieutenant Riker isn't likely to respect that... agreement with the Romulans. And there's no known way to locate a ship under cloak. SISKO There is one possibility. The Dominion managed to penetrate the cloak by using some kind of anti- proton beam. GUL DUKAT Can you give us the specifications of that beam? SISKO Not precisely, but I can give you what we learned from our sensor logs. It'll at least give you a chance to find the Defiant before she attacks. Dukat indicates a Cardassian Soldier sitting at a console. GUL DUKAT (re: soldier) Give him everything you know. I'll have the information transmitted to all units. Sisko moves to the Soldier's console. CUT TO: DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT THREE 28B. 29 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE Riker is walking the Bridge, visually checking over the consoles. Tamal, Kalita, and the other N.D.s at their stations. Kalita reacts to something on her console. KALITA (off console) We're approaching the security perimeter, Tom. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT THREE 29. 29 CONTINUED: RIKER (to all) All right... this is it. Cloak the ship. Stand by weapons. Riker moves to the command chair and the ship goes to RED ALERT. 30 INT. DEFIANT - QUARTERS Kira is pacing up and down in the room as the ship goes to RED ALERT. She reacts to the alert with frustration... there must be something she can do. She thinks for a beat, then goes to the replicator and begins trying to open the panel... 31 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE As before. Everyone tense and concentrating on their jobs. TAMAL Squadron Baker has arrived at their checkpoint. RIKER (to Tamal) Transmit the go-ahead signal. Tamal works. KALITA We'll be in Cardassian sensor range in... five minutes. As Riker watches the screen... CUT TO: 32 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) Sisko and Dukat are looking over a console when a Cardassian SOLDIER suddenly reacts to his console. SOLDIER There's a perimeter alert in the Almatha sector. GUL DUKAT Put it on the main viewer. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT THREE 30. 32 CONTINUED: The largest monitor in the room now changes to a tactical display of a section of the Cardassian border. On the screen, we can see symbols representing Cardassian warships and outposts deployed along the border. On the other side of the border is a symbol that represents an "unknown" ship heading toward a Cardassian border outpost. From her station, Korinas notes everything that happens, but she is cool and unperturbed throughout the scene. GUL DUKAT (continuing) Who's commanding the outpost nearest that ship? SOLDIER Gul Toran of the Sixth Order. (reacts to console) And he's identified the vessel... it's the Defiant. The symbol on the screen now changes from an unknown symbol to a distinctive emblem which will represent the Defiant from now on. Sisko frowns at the display... something about this doesn't feel right to him. GUL DUKAT Order all warships in that sector to converge on the Defiant. SISKO Something's wrong... why wouldn't they be cloaked? (to Soldier) Can you show me the sensor information on the Defiant? The Soldier looks up at Dukat, who nods agreement... then the Soldier works for a moment and a console screen suddenly displays complex SENSOR information, which Sisko begins checking over. Korinas takes note of this exchange and when Dukat glances up at her, he stiffens slightly at her steady gaze. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT THREE 31. 32 CONTINUED: (2) SOLDIER (off console) The Defiant is attacking Outpost Sixty-one... On the display, the Defiant symbol FIRES at the outpost, then turns and heads back into the DMZ. The Cardassian warships are chasing it. GUL DUKAT (to Soldier) Tell Gul Toran that he has permission to pursue the Defiant into the Demilitarized Zone. SISKO (urgent) No, don't pull your ships off the border. GUL DUKAT Commander, you don't expect me to give up pursuit of the Defiant just because the treaty -- SISKO (urgent) That's not the Defiant. It's a decoy... they're trying to draw your patrol ships out of position. (points to console screen) That ship's sending out a fake warp signature identical to the Defiant, but the phase variance and subspace harmonics don't match. Dukat looks at the information on the console, then glances up at the screen. The Cardassian warships are now deep into the zone, chasing the decoy Defiant. GUL DUKAT (urgent, to Soldier) Order Toran to break off pursuit. Have him redeploy his-- SOLDIER (urgent) Sir -- another perimeter alert! Outpost Forty-seven has detected a cloaked ship with their anti-proton beam! DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/30/94 - ACT THREE 32. 32 CONTINUED: (3) ANOTHER DEFIANT SYMBOL appears on the viewer. This Defiant is near a different section of the border. The Cardassian warships are still following the wrong ship. GUL DUKAT (to Soldier) Tell Toran to head for Outpost forty- seven! SOLDIER The Defiant has decloaked and begun to attack the outpost. On the screen, the Defiant ATTACKS the outpost. The Cardassian warships are heading toward it now, but they're too far away. SOLDIER We've lost contact with Outpost Forty- seven. There's a long, quiet moment as everyone reacts to this setback. SOLDIER (off console) Incoming message from Gul Toran. Defiant SYMBOL on the viewer DISAPPEARS. SOLDIER (continuing) The Defiant has recloaked... it's last know heading was... one four eight, mark two one five. GUL DUKAT Directly into the heart of Cardassian territory. There's a grim beat in the now quiet War Room as everyone takes in the implications of that statement. Gul Dukat sits down heavily in his chair. After a beat, Korinas stands, straightens her outfit and then slowly and calmly walks toward the Exit. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT THREE 33. 32 CONTINUED: (4) KORINAS (calm, on the move) Commander Sisko, you should be commended. I only wish we had someone with such keen tactical instincts who could've prevented this... invasion of our territory. She never looks at Dukat as she EXITS. OFF Dukat's stony reaction... CUT TO: 33 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE As before. KALITA We're past the security perimeter... out of their sensor range. RIKER They were using anti-proton beams to scan for us... We'll have to adjust the cloak's resonance frequency so they can't detect us again. KALITA Right. She works. RIKER (to Tamal) Damage report. TAMAL We took six hits on the port shields... there's been some minor damage to the outer hull... but all systems are operational. RIKER Tough little ship. (to Kalita) Set course for the shipyard at Omekla Three. We'll let that be -- Suddenly the ship is ROCKED slightly and the lights go OUT. RIKER Report. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT THREE 33A. 33 CONTINUED: KALITA We've lost main power... and the cloak is off-line. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 09/29/94 - ACT THREE 34. 33 CONTINUED: (2) TAMAL It looks like two plasma conduits blew out. RIKER Where? TAMAL (off console) Deck three... section fifteen. (with meaning) Crew quarters. Riker reacts to this information, he knows exactly what it means. RIKER It looks like Major Kira's been busy. OFF his grim face... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT FOUR 35. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 34 INT. DEFIANT - KIRA'S QUARTERS Riker is looking over what's left of the replicator and the bulkhead in Kira's Quarters. A large section of the bulkhead has been blown out, leaving a scorched and charred gaping hole. There are a few scorch marks in the rest of the room. Kira is sitting on the lower bunkbed, having her arm and shoulder treated by Tamal, who is using a medical device to heal her own burns. RIKER (re: bulkhead) You crossed the replicator power converter with the plasma manifold, I take it? KIRA (wincing) That's right. RIKER Nice work. (turns to her) You realize we'll have this bypassed in thirty minutes. KIRA At least you'll be visible for thirty minutes. RIKER Fortunately, I was able to move us into a nebula. No one's going to see us. Tamal finishes and Kira flexes her arm cautiously. KIRA (to Tamal) Thanks. Riker nods to Tamal, who then EXITS. RIKER You're lucky you only got a little singed. That whole plasma relay could've exploded. KIRA That was the idea. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/10/94 - ACT FOUR 36. 34 CONTINUED: Riker considers Kira for a moment. RIKER You spent most of your life fighting the Cardassians. I know you sympathize with what we're trying to do here. KIRA I fought the Cardassians because they invaded my home. You don't live in the Demilitarized Zone... you don't have any family there... why are you in this fight? RIKER People are dying in the Demilitarized Zone and Starfleet isn't doing a thing about it. KIRA Taking the Defiant just raises the stakes. The Cardassians are going to send a fleet after you... and they're going to kill more people hunting you down than they did in those border raids. RIKER (cool) You're assuming the Defiant will stay in the Demilitarized Zone. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/10/94 - ACT FOUR 37. 34 CONTINUED: (2) Kira looks at him for a moment... suddenly realizes what he's saying. She tries to take this in. Riker smiles at her. RIKER Let's go to the bridge. She looks at him in surprise. Riker glances over at the destroyed bulkhead. RIKER (re: bulkhead) I think we'd all feel better having you someplace where we can keep an eye on you. Riker indicates the door and after a moment, Kira gets up and they EXIT. CUT TO: 35 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) Dukat is sitting at a console, staring at a screen, lost in grim contemplation. Sisko is pacing slowly up and down, studying a PADD. The room is quiet, but tense. (Korinas is not here.) SISKO (off PADD) Fifteen outposts have checked in... no sign of the Defiant. Twenty-six warships have scanned fourteen cubic light years of space with anti-proton beams... no Defiant. Sisko puts the PADD down and tries to clear his mind. SISKO (continuing) What are the possibilities? They're still under cloak and heading deeper into Cardassian territory. They're laying low and waiting for some unknown reason. Or they've encountered some kind of problem... DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FOUR 38. 35 CONTINUED: Sisko notices that Dukat is distracted. SISKO Dukat, are you listening to me? GUL DUKAT (quiet) I'm sorry Commander. I was thinking about my son's birthday. SISKO What? GUL DUKAT (still staring at console) This is my son's eleventh birthday. I'd promised to take him to the amusement center in Lakarian City. He's always wanted to go and I've never had the time. I told him, this year will be different... this year I'll make the time. Sisko moves closer to him... sits down in a nearby chair. SISKO I've had the same experience with Jake. They never understand... all we can do is hope that one day when they're older, they'll look back and say, "Now I understand... now I know why he did that." Dukat looks up at Sisko... and for a moment it looks like the two men might've shared something... but then Dukat's face turns hard. GUL DUKAT When my son looks back on this day, the only thing he'll remember is that a Federation officer on a Federation ship invaded his home... and kept his father away from him on his eleventh birthday. And he won't look back with forgiveness... he'll look back with hatred. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/07/94 - ACT FOUR 39. 35 CONTINUED: (2) Dukat gets up and moves away, leaving Sisko to think about the implications for the future. CUT TO: 36 EXT. SPACE - THE DEFIANT (OPTICAL) The ship stopped in a NEBULA. After a beat, the Defiant CLOAKS. 37 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE (OPTICAL) The lighting is now DARK, indicating that the cloak is in operation. Riker in command, Kalita at helm, Tamal at the aft cloaking console, Kira sitting back by the Ops table watching the proceedings. TAMAL (off console) The cloak is operating within normal parameters... but the plasma conduit damage has caused a slight neutrino leak in the port nacelle. The Cardassians might be able to detect it even through the cloak. RIKER A chance we'll have to take. (to Kalita) Lay in a course for Omekla Three and engage at warp eight. KALITA Warp eight, aye. KIRA Omekla Three? You're heading for the shipyard? There're at least half a dozen better targets in this sector alone. RIKER I hope the Cardassians have the same reaction -- "What's he doing and why?" DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/07/94 - ACT FOUR 40. 37 CONTINUED: KIRA All right, so you're trying to keep them off-balance... keep them guessing. Why? Riker takes a beat... looks at Kira and then decides to lay it out for her. RIKER The Maquis have been hearing rumors about shifting loyalties within the Cardassian government. Certain hardline elements were "unsatisfied" with the Federation Treaty and are looking for a way to scrap it. Riker gets up and goes back to where Kira is sitting, pressing his point home. RIKER (continuing) We got our hands on an intelligence report outlining a suspected military buildup in the Orias System. A secret buildup that even the Central Command is unaware of. KIRA Are you telling me that you've done all this to attack a secret base that may or may not exist? RIKER I'm convinced it does. They're building an invasion fleet... and if we let them finish it, these... "renegade" Cardassians are going to use it. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/07/94 - ACT FOUR 41. 37 CONTINUED: (2) Riker moves back to the Command chair. Kira peers at him for a moment. KIRA You're really not cut out for this are you? (off his look) Being a terrorist, I mean. You're not very good at it. RIKER (amused) Really? KIRA That's right. You're still acting like a Starfleet officer who's more worried about intelligence reports and Cardassian politics than about actually hurting the Cardassians. Kira stands up and moves around the Bridge. KIRA (continuing) You have one of the most powerful ships in this quadrant under your command. Why aren't you out destroying every Cardassian outpost along the border? RIKER Because the stakes here are far greater than border outposts. KIRA Not for the Maquis there're not. That's because the Maquis are a group of terrorists and all terrorists care about is destroying their enemy. I know... because I was a terrorist. (beat) And if I had this ship in those days, I would've destroyed Deep Space Nine... I would've hit the Cardassians so hard that they would have screamed for peace... but I wouldn't have gone flying off into the heart of Cardassia on some wild goose chase. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FOUR 42. 37 CONTINUED: (3) RIKER Maybe we're just different kinds of terrorists. KIRA No, you're trying to be a hero... and terrorists don't get to be heroes. Riker looks at her for a long beat. RIKER We'll see. He heads back to the command area. CUT TO: 38 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM Korinas ENTERS carrying a PADD. Dukat is pacing up and down, while Sisko studies something on a console. KORINAS So far, the Defiant has attacked a shipyard in Omekla Three... a weapons depot in the Dameron System... and a communications relay on the Rokat colony. She tosses the PADD on a console. KORINAS (continuing) The Central Command is starting to wonder if you're ever going to stop them. Frankly, I am too. Dukat ignores her, deep in thought. Sisko suddenly reacts to his console. SISKO That's it. That's where they're going. They look at him. Sisko stands up and moves to the Soldier's console, begins working. SISKO Watch. This is the deployment of your ships before the Defiant's first attack. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FOUR 42A. 38 CONTINUED: On the display, several small groupings of warships are clustered at various points. SISKO And this is where they are now... The warship symbols suddenly MOVE to different points on the map. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - ACT FOUR 43. 38 CONTINUED: (2) SISKO Don't you see what's happened? Each Defiant attack has been designed to draw your ships away from... (he points to a certain point on the display) ... this sector, leaving it virtually defenseless. Dukat leans forward. GUL DUKAT But there's nothing of value in that sector. SISKO There must be something. Are there any Class-M planets there? Dukat checks a monitor. GUL DUKAT There's one. Orias Three. It's uninhabited... desolate. Sisko frowns... looks puzzled. SISKO I don't know... everything seems to point to the Orias System. (beat) It might be worth sending at least one warship there just in case the Defiant does show up. Dukat considers, isn't sure whether he really believes it. But he grudgingly decides to check it out. GUL DUKAT (reluctant) All right. (to Soldier) Contact Gul Ranor and tell him to dispatch one warship to the-- KORINAS (quickly) No. They look at her in surprise. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - 09/29/94 - ACT FOUR 44. 38 CONTINUED: (2) KORINAS You'll send no ships to the Orias system. GUL DUKAT You're an observer here. You have no authority to -- KORINAS That sector is under direct control of the Obsidian Order and you will not enter it. GUL DUKAT Why? KORINAS (cool) The matter is classified. GUL DUKAT (contemptuous) You can file a protest with the Central Command later. (to Soldier) Open a channel to Gul Ranor and-- KORINAS (calm) Any warship sent into the Orias system will be destroyed. Everyone turns and looks at Korinas in shock and a tense silence fills the room. GUL DUKAT Are you saying that you will... fire on another Cardassian ship? KORINAS What I'm saying is that the Obsidian Order will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the Orias system. (beat) And so will I. Sisko and Dukat exchange a look, as they both realize that there is more going on here than either suspected... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/03/94 - ACT FIVE 45. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 39 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) Dukat and Sisko are quietly assessing the situation. Korinas is sitting at her position, in the b.g. GUL DUKAT I've spoken to a few... friends in the Central Command. The Obsidian Order isn't giving them any answers either. SISKO The Order has to answer to someone, don't they? GUL DUKAT In theory, they answer to the political authority of the Detapa Council just as the military does. In practice... we both run our own affairs. SISKO Not the most efficient system. GUL DUKAT It's worked for over five centuries. The Soldier reacts to something on his console. SOLDIER Gul Dukat... there's an incoming message from the warship Kraxon. They say they've found an unusual neutrino signature in their sector... it looks like radiation from a damaged warp plasma relay. GUL DUKAT Is this... signature moving? SOLDIER No. But they're scanning the area with anti-proton beams. Dukat and Sisko exchange a look. GUL DUKAT Where is the Kraxon? DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/07/94 - ACT FIVE 47. 39 CONTINUED: The Soldier works and the main viewer now shows the position of the Kraxon, which is stationary at the moment and flashing. A few other Cardassian warships are a short distance away, moving slowly back and forth as if looking for something. SISKO (sotto) If it is the Defiant, they're in position to make a run for the Orias system. GUL DUKAT We still don't know that Orias is the target. Until we do, I can't risk pulling ships away from other potential targets to chase a... neutrino signature. As they watch the main viewer... CUT TO: 40 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE (OPTICAL) As before. The ship under cloak. Everyone is quiet, watching the main viewer, which shows a Cardassian warship moving slowly above them. KALITA They're coming around for another pass. Riker paces back and forth a few beats... considers the situation. RIKER (to Kalita) Are there any other ships nearby? KALITA (off console) There are nine Galor-class cruisers about six light years away bearing one eight seven mark zero three five. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT FIVE 47. 40 CONTINUED: RIKER Any ships between us and the Orias system? KALITA No. KIRA If you make a run for it, that ship out there is going to see our neutrino signature go through a phase shift... and then they're going to call their nine friends... and you're going to have a small fleet chasing you all the way to Orias. RIKER They can chase me all they want... as long as they don't catch me. CUT TO: 41 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) As before. The Soldier suddenly reacts to something on his console. SOLDIER (urgent) Sir -- the Kraxon reports that the neutrino signature has just phase- shifted... it's now moving at warp speed directly for the Orias system. GUL DUKAT Order the Kraxon to pursue at maximum warp and order all other ships in the sector to follow. CUT TO: DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/07/94 - ACT FIVE 48. 42 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE As before. KALITA The Kraxon is pursuing... but they won't catch us before we reach Orias. TAMAL The Orias system is within sensor range. RIKER Full scan... I want to see everything that's in that system. Tamal works and Riker moves to look at his console. CUT TO: 43 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) The main viewer now shows the Defiant being pursued by the Kraxon, and then behind the Kraxon are TEN Cardassian ships. The Defiant is heading toward a star that is clearly labeled as ORIAS. GUL DUKAT (to Korinas) When you make out your report for the Obsidian Order... be sure to mention the fact that I could've prevented the Defiant from reaching Orias... if you hadn't interfered. Korinas regards him coolly. KORINAS They'll never make it to Orias. You can count on that. SOLDIER (off console) Three more ships have just appeared in the Orias system! DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/03/94 - ACT FIVE 49. 43 CONTINUED: GUL DUKAT What kind of ships? SOLDIER (shocked) Cardassian warships... Keldon Class. They turn and look at the large tactical display, which now shows three Cardassian ships moving out from the Orias system toward the Defiant. The Defiant is trapped between the ships ahead of it and the ships behind it. Dukat whirls and turns to Korinas. GUL DUKAT Whose ships are those? KORINAS Why are you asking me? GUL DUKAT Because if they were military ships, I would know about them. So that leaves the Obsidian Order. SISKO I thought the Obsidian Order didn't have any ships. GUL DUKAT (keeping his eyes on Korinas) They're not supposed to. In fact, they're explicitly forbidden to have military equipment of any kind. Korinas doesn't flinch at his look... she simply smiles... and then stands up and walks out of the War Room. CUT TO: 44 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Everyone is looking at a tactical display on their own viewer that is similar to the one in the Cardassian War Room. It shows the Defiant trapped between the two Cardassian forces. RIKER It looks like we're going to have to fight our way to Orias. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/07/94 - ACT FIVE 50. 44 CONTINUED: Kira stands up and moves to Riker. KIRA (urgent) Listen to me. Those three ships up ahead will lock on to our neutrino leak and open fire... that means you'll have to fight back. RIKER (confident) With this ship, it'll be a short fight, I can promise you that. KIRA (pressing him) Let's say you can disable or even destroy those three ships ahead of us. But fighting them at all is going to slow us down and then those ten ships back there will catch up to us. And even the Defiant can't win against those odds. Riker knows she's right... but he's focused on the mission he's come so far to accomplish. RIKER We've come too far to quit now. KIRA (hard) You're an experienced Starfleet officer. Analyze the situation, Tom. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/07/94 - ACT FIVE 50A. 44 CONTINUED: (2) KIRA (Cont'd) Going to Orias is suicide... the smart move is to make a run for it while we still can. RIKER Maybe that's what... "an experienced Starfleet officer" would do... maybe that's what Wil Riker would do... but that's not what I'm going to do. I'm going to continue the mission. Riker seems immovable... focused on the task ahead. Kira looks at him for a moment... then moves closer to him. KIRA It's not the mission you're thinking about... or even the colonists in the zone... this is all about you isn't it? (beat, then quieter) Or should I say it's about you and that other Wil Riker out there... that other man with your face, your name, and your career. You're looking for some way to set yourself apart from him... some way to be different. Riker gives her a sharp look and Kira senses that she's hit a raw nerve. But then he relaxes a little and gives her that easy smile. RIKER You shouldn't go fishing today... you won't catch anything. (to Kalita) Take us in. As the Defiant's crew works and the ship prepares for battle... CUT TO: DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FIVE 51. 45 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) As they watch the chase on the viewer. Sisko moves to Dukat, keeps his voice low and urgent. SISKO Dukat... you want to know what's going on in the Orias system... I know how you can find out. (off his look) Give Riker the chance to surrender. The Defiant's scanned the Orias system by now... its sensor logs can tell you everything you want to know. GUL DUKAT I'd be happy to accept his surrender... but I doubt he'll want to hand over his logs. SISKO He will if you agree to turn the ship and his crew over to the Federation. GUL DUKAT Impossible. I cannot let a group of terrorists just... walk away after invading our territory and -- SISKO Then you should decide which is more important -- your sense of... (ironic) ... "Cardassian justice" or the information contained in the Defiant's sensor logs. GUL DUKAT I do want that information, Commander. And I am willing to return your... wayward ship. But someone will have to pay for what's happened... and I don't want that someone to be me. SISKO If you return the Maquis to the Federation, I can promise you they will stand trial for what they've done. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/03/94 - ACT FIVE 51A. 45 CONTINUED: GUL DUKAT (contemptuous) A Federation trial... SISKO It's the best I can do. Dukat thinks about this for a long beat. GUL DUKAT I would be willing to hand over the Maquis and the ship... but not Riker. He led the mission... if I can bring him to justice, and obtain information on Orias, that might be enough for the Central Command. Now it's Sisko's turn to think about this for a moment. SISKO I might be able to get him to agree to that... on one condition. We both know that Cardassian sentences are determined well in advance of the trial. I'd like you to arrange for a sentence other than death. GUL DUKAT I'll have to clear it with the Ministry of Justice. Sisko glances up at the display screen which shows the Defiant getting closer and closer to the Obsidian Order ships. SISKO You'd better make it quick. Dukat moves o.s. and Sisko continues to watch the screen. CUT TO: 46 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE As before. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT FIVE 51B. 46 CONTINUED: TAMAL (off console) We're approaching the first cruiser... they'll be in phaser range in fifteen seconds. Riker waits for a long beat, gauging his time... RIKER Go to impulse, decloak the ship, raise shields and stand by phasers. 46A EXT. SPACE - THE DEFIANT (OPTICAL) As the ship DECLOAKS. 46B INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE As before. RIKER Come to heading one one eight, mark three zero one, lock phasers, and fire. Kalita works. KALITA Direct hit on the cruiser's port nacelle... their shields are down by thirty percent. The ship is ROCKED. TAMAL We've been hit on our starboard shield... The ship is ROCKED AGAIN. 46C EXT. SPACE - DEFIANT & OBSIDIAN ORDER SHIP (OPTICAL) The Obsidian order ship FIRES at the Defiant, but the Defiant's shields are holding. 46D INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE As before. The ship is ROCKED. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT FIVE 51C. 46D CONTINUED: TAMAL Shields holding. RIKER Quantum torpedoes... full spread. TAMAL Torpedoes locked. RIKER Fire. 46E EXT. SPACE - DEFIANT & OBSIDIAN ORDER SHIP (OPTICAL) The Defiant FIRES a spread of torpedoes at the Obsidian order ship... they HIT the ship and BADLY DAMAGE it. 46F INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE (OPTICAL) As before. Everyone watching the damaged Obsidian Order ship on the viewer. KALITA Their defense systems are off-line and they've lost main power. TAMAL Tom... three more cruisers have just appeared in the Orias system. That makes five ships ahead of us... and ten behind. A grim beat. Riker steels himself for the next step. RIKER Resume our original course to Orias... stand by emergency power to the shields and -- KALITA Incoming message... from Cardassia Prime... (with surprise) ... it's Gul Dukat and Commander Sisko. Riker and Kira exchange a look. RIKER On screen. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FIVE 51D. 46F CONTINUED: The viewscreen now shows Dukat and Sisko in the Cardassian War Room. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FIVE 51E. 46F CONTINUED: (2) GUL DUKAT This is Gul Dukat of the Second Order... I am authorized to tell you that if you will surrender your ship... none of you will be harmed. RIKER (skeptical) Is that right... SISKO Listen to him, Lieutenant... if you surrender, the Defiant and your crew will be handed over to a Federation starship at the Cardassian border. Riker takes this in for a beat. RIKER Why the sudden generosity? SISKO (re: Dukat) He wants the Defiant's sensor logs on the Orias system. And they're worth a lot more to him than Maquis prisoners. RIKER I don't buy it. The Cardassians aren't going to let us just walk away. SISKO You're right. Someone has to pay the price. RIKER Me... SISKO The deal is -- you're tried and convicted in a Cardassian court. And then sentenced to spend the rest of your life in the Lazon Two labor camp. RIKER No death sentence, huh? That must have taken some doing. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FIVE 51F. 46F CONTINUED: (3) SISKO Some. Riker nods, understands what Sisko is saying. He signals for Kalita to mute the audio as he thinks. KIRA (quiet, to Riker) Tom, there's no reason for you to continue... they're giving you a way out. (beat) The only reason not to take it... would be that you want to die. RIKER I came here to complete a mission. KIRA (pushing) That mission is over, Tom. You'll never make it to Orias... you know that. There may be five ships ahead of you now... but there might be fifty waiting there for all we know. She moves closer to Riker, and pulls him aside... pressing her point to him in a personal way. KIRA (quiet, continuing) Be a Starfleet officer one last time and think of your crew. You may want Tom Riker to go out in a blaze of glory that they'll talk about for the next ten years... but don't drag them along with you. Riker looks up at his crew, who are all looking at him. He makes his decision and signals Kalita to resume the audio. RIKER (to Dukat) I accept your terms. Sisko and Dukat look a little relieved, but there's still a few hurdles to overcome. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FIVE 51G. 46F CONTINUED: (4) SISKO You'll need to reverse course and surrender the Defiant to one of the ships that've been following you. RIKER Why? SISKO It'll take too long to explain. But the ships coming out of the Orias system are not under Dukat's control. GUL DUKAT I've ordered the Kraxon to put her shields around you as soon as you arrive. You'll be safe once you get there. RIKER Understood. The Transmission ENDS. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT FIVE 52. 46F CONTINUED: (5) RIKER (to Kalita) Bring us about. Lay in a course to the Kraxon. She looks at him for a long moment... hesitates... RIKER (gently) Do it. She swallows her protest and turns to work her console. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/05/94 - ACT FIVE 53-54. 47 EXT. SPACE - THE DEFIANT (OPTICAL) streaks by at warp. A few seconds later, two Cardassian ships race after it. 48 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) Everyone watching the tactical display as the two ships close in on the Defiant. GUL DUKAT Those are faster than any Keldon class ships I've ever seen. (beat) What's going on in that system? 49 thru OMITTED 52 DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/07/94 - ACT FIVE 55. 53 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE As before. KALITA We're one hundred million kilometers from the Kraxon. TAMAL Incoming message... RIKER Let's hear it. CARDASSIAN COM VOICE This is Gul Ranor of the Kraxon. Cut your engines in five seconds, and we'll extend our shields around you. RIKER Acknowledged. (to Kalita) Kalita? Kalita waits for a moment... KALITA All stop... 54 EXT. SPACE - THE DEFIANT (OPTICAL) comes to a stop next to a CARDASSIAN WARSHIP. We see the Cardassian ship's SHIELDS come on and ENVELOP BOTH SHIPS. 55 NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) As the two Obsidian Order ships approach and stop directly in front of the Defiant and the other Cardassian ship. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/05/94 - ACT FIVE 55A. 56 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE (OPTICAL) As before. Everyone watching the Viewscreen, which shows the two Obsidian Order ships facing them. A tense moment. 57 INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) Everyone watching the display, which shows the four stationary ships facing off. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT FIVE 56. 57 CONTINUED: GUL DUKAT They won't fire on another Cardassian ship. They can't. But he doesn't sound so sure of himself. After a long beat, the two Obsidian Order ships start to move away from the Defiant, heading back the way they came. 58 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE As before. KALITA (off console) They're moving off... they've set course back to the Orias System. A moment of relief on the bridge... then Riker gets down to the next sobering business. RIKER (to Tamal) Transmit the Orias Three sensor logs to the Kraxon. And tell them... to prepare to beam me aboard. Tamal looks at him for a moment... then turns to work the console. RIKER (continuing, to all) I'm turning command over to Major Kira... she'll get you back to the Federation. (to Kira) I'm holding you personally responsible to see to it that they all receive a fair trial. KIRA You have my word on it. A long moment... DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/04/94 - ACT FIVE 57-58. 58 CONTINUED: Riker reaches for his combadge... KIRA We'll get you out of there somehow, Tom. I promise you that. Riker looks at her for a long beat... then moves to her and gives her a quick but passionate kiss before she can protest. He steps away... gives her that charming smile of his and Kira finds herself genuinely unsure of how she feels at this moment. Riker finally hits his combadge. RIKER (to com) Riker to Kraxon. One to beam aboard. DEEP SPACE: "Defiant" - REV. 10/06/94 - ACT FIVE 59. 58 CONTINUED: (2) Riker DEMATERIALIZES. Kira takes a long beat, moves and sits in the command chair with a look of profound sadness on her face. KIRA (to Kalita) Set course for the Federation. Warp eight. 59 thru OMITTED 60 61 EXT. SPACE - THE DEFIANT (OPTICAL) The Defiant and the Kraxon move off in opposite directions. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END