MALE: How about it?
FEMALE: Can I get some service please?
How long's it take?
I've been waiting forever.
This isn't what I wanted.
Having a bad day?
Like you care.
Fizz, Froth, Flip
Finial, Foam and Flare.
What's going on at that table anyway?
I... take it there's a problem with your drink replicator?
A problem?
No... can't be.
If there were a problem, I would have submitted
an emergency maintenance request this morning.
And if I had done that
Chief O'Brien would have assured me
that Rom would fix it right away.
Then, of course, Rom would have promised me
that Nog would fix it before the end of the day.
And since this is the end of the day
and there is no Nog in sight
we can only draw one conclusion—
that I don't have a problem.
Is your drink replicator broken?
You're quick today.
Do you want me to fix it or not?
You?
That's right.
Nog had a chance to take a trip to Ferenginar
and I told him that I would cover for him
while he was away.
Why?
Because he did a favor
for me last week, so I owe him.
But...
that's work for a mechanic... a repairman
a lowly engineer.
I'll tell Chief O'Brien you said that.
Ugh...
A supernova and a Silven surprise.
She can't do this.
Why not?
I...
It-it-it's not right.
She's above
that sort of thing.
Those hands weren't meant
for poking around inside some filthy
drink replicator.
They were meant for higher pursuits.
You're in love.
That's the most ridiculous thing you've said this year.
Really?
Really.
It must kill you that she's married to Worf.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Hmm.
And since you're not going to order something
would you please step aside
so that I can do my job?
Of course.
By the way, that's not a Silven surprise.
It's a silken sunrise.
Is that it?
That's right.
Hey, can I see it?
No.
Nog.
No.
It's an official diplomatic message
from the Federation Council to the Grand Nagus.
It's for his eyes only.
Yeah, but you know what's in it.
Maybe.
It's a proposal for an alliance, isn't it?
I mean, the Federation sends the only Ferengi in Starfleet
to personally deliver a diplomatic message
to the Grand Nagus?
Something big is up.
You told me you weren't coming on this trip as a reporter.
I'm not.
I-I came to see Ferenginar.
I've heard a lot about it.
I can't wait to see the-the rain
and-and the muck...
Good.
Because while I'm delivering the message to the Grand Nagus
you'll have plenty of time to play tourist.
Shenandoah, this is Starbase 257.
You've been cleared to leave our defense perimeter.
Remain at one-half impulse until you've passed the outer marker.
Acknowledged.
I don't get to see the Nagus?
Now why would you want to see the Grand Nagus?
My father told me to say hello.
A-a-and...
to... give the Nagus his best wishes.
You're going to have to do better than that.
And...
because I told the editor of the Federation News Service
that I could get an exclusive interview with Zek.
Jake! You promised me
you weren't coming along as a reporter.
I didn't promise, okay?
I just sort of... you know?
Okay, I promised
but this could be a really big story, Nog.
The people have a right to know.
Forget it.
You're not getting anywhere near the Grand Nagus.
I have no further comments.
( beeping )
What's that?
I'm not sure.
I'm having trouble with our long-range scanners.
Looks like... our sensors are being jammed.
( alarm blares )
Uh-oh.
Hang on.
Where'd they come from?
I don't know, but it looks
like they're heading for the starbase.
We're not sticking around, are we?
Not in a runabout, we're not.
We're no match for a wing of Jem'Hadar fighters.
See if you can open a channel to Deep Space 9.
Something's wrong.
I think they're jamming our com system.
But why would they do that?
Because one of them's turned around
and now he's coming after us.
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You do realize you're taking us
deeper and deeper into Dominion-held space.
We don't have much choice.
Every time I try to change course, they gain on us.
They're gaining on us anyway.
We might as well try and head for the Federation.
If we keep going in this direction
we'll run into Cardassia Prime
and that won't be much fun at all.
COMPUTER: Warning.
We are within range of enemy weapons.
( explosion )
Thanks for the warning.
All right, when I go to impulse, raise the forward shields
and transfer auxiliary power to the phasers.
We're dropping out of warp?
If we have to fight, I'd rather do it at impulse.
At least we'd have an edge in maneuverability.
You're a Ferengi.
Why don't you try making a deal or something?
It doesn't seem
they're very interested in talking.
Stand by.
Here they come.
Shields down 30 percent.
I see it.
( explosion )
We're losing main power!
Keep the weapons on line.
Everything else is expendable, including life support.
( explosion )
There's another ship coming in, bearing 170 mark 215.
Jem'Hadar or Cardassian?
It's, uh...
it's the Defiant.
What?
That's not the Defiant.
That ship's registry number
is NCC-74...
210.
USS Valiant.
Valiant?
Great name!
I hope they tear that Jem'Hadar ship apart
piece by—
Jake.
Jake!
FEMALE: Are you all right, sir?
( groans )
Yeah.
Uh...
it's nothing serious... Cadet, um...
Chief?
Acting Chief Petty Officer Dorian Collins.
The Captain's asked me to escort
you both to the Bridge.
If you'll follow me.
FEMALE: Main power holding.
Auxiliary power on standby.
Shields holding at 84 percent.
Helm, bring us about to course 215 mark 310.
215 mark 310. Aye, sir.
Set quantum torpedo warheads to maximum yield, full spread.
( explosion )
Maximum yield, full spread. Aye, sir.
( explosion )
Helm, initiate attack pattern sierra-four.
HELM: Sierra-four. Aye, sir.
Shields now at 78 percent.
Transfer auxiliary power to shields.
This is Red Squad.
Red Squad?
It was a group of elite cadets at the Academy.
They were...
the best of the best.
Red Squad received special training
special quarters, special everything.
They have their own ship?
I've heard of cadets
getting command of a runabout or a shuttle
but not a starship.
Fire.
( cheering )
As you were.
This is the Captain.
Stand down from Red Alert.
All stations submit damage and casualty report
to the First Officer.
Glad to see you made it in one piece.
I'm Tim Watters, Commanding Officer.
Welcome aboard.
Thank you... sir?
"Sir" is correct, Ensign.
I was given a battlefield commission
and command of this vessel by the late Captain Ramirez.
Using that authority, I have commissioned and promoted
other members of Red Squad as needed.
I see.
Well, I'm Ensign Nog and this is Jake Sisko.
We're from Deep Space 9.
Sisko.
You're Benjamin Sisko's son.
That's right.
Ah, I've heard a lot about your father.
I see you're not following in his footsteps.
No. I'm a reporter.
You should really get that looked at. Chief?
Sir?
Escort Mr. Sisko to Sick Bay.
Aye, Captain.
This way, sir.
FEMALE: Preliminary damage report, sir.
Oh, thank you.
Ensign Nog, Commander Karen Farris, our First Officer.
Commander.
Ensign.
Sir, the Engine Room also reports
that we still have power spikes cropping up all through
the deuterium injector start-up routine.
I thought we had that
under control.
FARRIS: I did, too, sir.
Have you recalibrated the lateral impulse control system?
No.
What does that have to do with the injectors?
Well, the impulse system shares some of the same power relays
used in the injector start-up routine.
We'll try it.
Mr. Nog, why don't you wait in my ready room.
Yes, sir.
The training cruise was supposed to last three months.
We had seven regular officers and a crew of 35 cadets.
The plan was for the cadets to run the ship
while the officers observed
and critiqued our performance.
So, uh, this was a training ship?
Like the other one, the, um...
uh... the Republic.
Not quite.
The Republic's an old ship.
I don't think she's left
the Terran system in 50 years.
The Valiant's a state- of-the-art warship.
Our mission was to circumnavigate
the entire Federation before returning home.
The entire Federation?
With a ship of cadets?
Not just cadets, Mr. Sisko.
Red Squad cadets.
We were transiting the Kepla Sector when war broke out.
As you probably know, a Dominion invasion force
swept through that sector on the first day.
So you were caught behind enemy lines.
Correct.
We were trying to make our way back to Federation-held space
when we encountered a Cardassian battle cruiser near El Gatark.
That was our first taste of combat.
In the first 15 minutes
four regular officers were killed.
Three others were critically wounded
including Captain Ramirez.
Is that when you took command?
No.
When I got to the Bridge
the Captain was in pretty bad shape
but he was lucid
and he refused to go to Sick Bay.
We had lost main power and we were adrift
but the Cardassian cruiser was no better off.
So it was a race against the clock—
ship that got main power back on line first
would have a decisive advantage.
The... the Captain, he...
he was amazing.
He directed the entire damage-control effort
with a punctured lung and massive internal injuries.
He was a great man.
And he won the race.
We got weapons and impulse engines
back on line in three hours.
And then we destroyed that Cardie ship.
the Captain ordered me to take command of the Valiant.
( laughs )
It's unbelievable!
You've spent eight months behind enemy lines.
I didn't do it alone.
The crew deserves the real credit.
We have cadets here as young as 17
who are doing the job of officers twice their age.
But we're also seriously undermanned.
I could use another officer.
I'd be happy to do whatever I can, sir.
I see you're familiar
with the operations of a class-7 warp drive.
Very familiar, sir.
The Defiant has an identical engine.
Excellent.
As of this moment, you are Chief Engineer.
Congratulations.
Chief Engineer?
With rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Your first assignment is to figure out
why we can't go above warp 3.2.
Mr. Parton believes that—
Excuse me, sir...
I-I don't think I'm ready for this—
None of us were ready
for the responsibility thrust upon us, Commander
but each of us found a way to rise to the occasion—
do the job that had to be done.
Ready or not... you are Chief Engineer.
You can do this, Mr. Nog.
Just have faith in yourself, faith in your shipmates
and everything'll be fine.
Yes, sir.
I will, sir.
Good man.
That's what I want to hear.
Now, if you can just fix our warp drive problems
we can get on with our mission.
Our mission?
I don't understand.
My orders are to collect technical data
on a new Dominion battleship operating in this sector.
We keep picking up their com traffic
so we know they're in the area
but because we can't go faster than warp 3.2
we're unable to get within sensor range.
And Starfleet knows you're in command of the Valiant.
No.
We've had to maintain strict radio silence
ever since the war began.
The orders were addressed to Captain Ramirez.
But since he's dead, the mission's now mine.
Make no mistake, I will carry out that mission.
Or die trying.
( sighs )
Dismissed.
Coffee?
Uh, raktajino, please.
Here you go.
Thanks.
So, where are you from?
Me?
Tycho City.
Oh, a Lunar Schooner.
I haven't heard that in a long time.
Yeah. Picked it up from my granddad.
Of course, he still calls Luna "the moon"--
like it's the only one or something.
Well, nobody who's ever lived on the moon
calls it Luna either.
That's just something they say on Earth.
So, what's it like?
You're from Earth, aren't you?
You've never been to the moon?
Just never got around to it.
Tell me about it.
Well... people say it's so barren and harsh
but... it's not.
It's... beautiful.
I mean, Tycho City's just a city
but outside, where the gravity is still low
and there's no air...
You know, the sun only comes up once a month on the moon.
Every lunar morning, my father and I would put on suits and...
hike out across the Sea of Clouds.
We'd stop at this collection of boulders on the western rim
and... just wait for the sun to come up.
Dawn is so... shocking on the moon.
One minute, you're
in the darkest night you can imagine
and the next instant, the sun lifts up
and this... glorious pure light
just... explodes across the surface.
I felt like I met God every morning.
I'm on duty. Excuse me.
WATTERS: What's your solution, Commander?
I've taken the safeties off the plasma intercooler
the flux moderator and the pressure-control system.
That should solve the problem.
You do realize you're violating
about 50 safety regulations?
Yes, sir, I do
but I also know Chief O'Brien made
the same changes to the Defiant.
She never had a problem.
I don't know, Captain.
This seems kind of risky to me.
Mr. Parton?
After spending seven months plodding along at warp 3.2
I'm willing to try anything, sir.
Watters to Bridge. Prepare for warp speed.
Aye, sir.
All right, Mr. Nog, take us to warp 4.
COLLINS: Can I help you, sir?
No.
No, I've got it.
Any problems with Sisko's arm?
No, sir.
You got a problem, Chief?
No, sir.
Have you been crying?
( sighs )
A little.
About what?
I was... just...
thinking about home.
Come in.
Chief, I think
you can go now.
Thank you, sir.
FARRIS: Well, Mr. Sisko
sounds like you and the Chief
had quite a conversation this afternoon.
Home and family
and the glories of dawn on the moon.
Does that just about cover it?
Yeah, that's, uh... that's about it.
What's going on?
What's going on, Mr. Sisko, in case you haven't noticed
is that we are in the middle of a war.
We can't afford to have
young cadets thinking about mommy and daddy
when they need to be concentrating
on their duties.
All I did was ask about her home.
All you did
was plunge a member of this crew into emotional turmoil.
WATTERS: Jake...
May I call you Jake?
You're a reporter.
Your job is to watch the way events unfold
not participate in them.
Right now, you need to stand back.
Take a look at where you are—
what's going on around you.
You're right in the middle of a great story—
maybe one of the greatest stories
in the entire Dominion war.
( sighing )
This ship is special, Jake.
This crew is special.
And whatever fates guide this universe
they've chosen us to achieve some purpose in this conflict.
I know that.
Just as surely as I know
your presence on this ship
is no coincidence.
You're here to write the story—
to tell people of the Valiant and her crew.
Don't interfere with the story, Jake.
Don't become a part of it.
Just let it unfold around you.
Observe, listen
and then write it down.
May I have your word you'll stay away from Chief Collins?
Okay.
Thank you, Jake.
You're dismissed.
I'm not sure we can trust him.
We'll keep an eye on him.
What about Mr. Nog?
Mr. Nog wears a uniform.
He'll do his duty.
All right. That'll be all, Commander.
I'll see you at 1800 hours.
Yes, sir.
Captain
are you all right?
Yes. Why?
I heard you were on the Bridge
during midwatch again last night.
You haven't been getting much sleep lately, sir.
None of us have, Commander.
No, sir, I suppose not.
Thank you for your concern, Karen...
but I'm... I'm fine, really.
Yes, sir.
I'm sorry I even brought it up.
That's all right.
( sighing )
Where've you been?
Engine Room.
I solved their warp problem.
What's that?
My Red Squad insignia.
Oh, and in case you haven't noticed
this would be my new rank—
Lieutenant Commander Nog, Chief Engineer.
It has a nice ring to it
don't you think?
You joined the crew?
Something wrong with that?
It's a little fast.
We just got here and Watters puts you
in charge of the Engine Room?
Captain Watters is used to making quick decisions.
He felt I was the right man for the job, so he promoted me.
Red Alert.
All hands to battle stations.
I repeat, all hands to battle stations.
Range: 1.32 light-years.
Speed: warp 4.7.
What's going on?
We found our battleship.
HELMSMAN: Their course is 170 mark 135.
Speed: warp 3.97.
FARRIS: Bridge to phaser control.
You've got a spike in the 3-L subsystem.
Take care of it.
Sensors show a drop
in gamma radiation...
is losing power. I'll reroute
at the auxiliary power interface.
HELMSMAN: They've changed course.
Any sign they've detected us?
Negative.
I think we're still outside their sensor range.
Maintain your distance, Helm.
Match their course and speed.
Aye, sir.
Prepare a class-3 probe for launch.
Aye, sir.
What happens now?
We're going to launch a sensor probe
to scan the battleship.
That way, the Valiant won't be picked up
on their scanners.
Won't they detect a probe?
Class-3 probes are designed to be
virtually undetectable.
There's almost no chance of it being spotted.
JAKE: Almost?
I don't remember anyone inviting you to the Bridge.
WATTERS: Captain's Log, Stardate 51825.4.
We've been shadowing the Dominion battleship
for three hours.
The data our probe has gathered so far
has not only been interesting
but it may have given us a golden opportunity
to strike a blow for the Federation.
Attention on deck!
Stand at ease.
It's been a long eight months—
a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice.
And now we've accomplished our mission.
We found the battleship
and obtained a complete scan
without being detected...
and we're free to go home.
But that ship out there
is a direct threat
to every Federation outpost and colony
within 50 light-years.
That ship must be destroyed.
( crew murmuring )
It can be destroyed.
Commander?
We found a flaw in the design
of their antimatter storage system.
The primary support braces are made of viterium.
It's a very strong, very resilient metal alloy
which just happens to become
extremely unstable
when exposed to delta radiation.
A single torpedo, rigged with a radiogenic warhead
could reduce those braces to the consistency of wet pasta.
WATTERS: As a result, the entire
antimatter storage system would tear itself apart.
Commander Nog.
You don't seem convinced.
Well, sir, in-in order to rig a torpedo
to yield a delta radiation burst
I'll have to remove most of the guidance systems.
We'll have to target it manually.
FARRIS: We've trained for that possibility.
It shouldn't be a problem.
We'll also have to get very close to the target.
How close?
Within 300 meters.
( crew murmuring )
It's dangerous, there's no disputing that.
And no one would think any less of us
if we just turn around and go home.
But that means
that some other ship with some other crew
would be asked to finish the job
that we started.
I think we can do it.
I think we should do it.
Can I say something?
You are not a member
of this crew.
Let him speak.
You all probably know who my father is.
Benjamin Sisko?
So you know I'm not exaggerating when I say that he's considered
to be one of the best combat officers in the fleet
and I'm telling you right now
that even with the entire crew of the Defiant with him
my father would never try to pull off something like this.
And if he can't do it, it can't be done.
We're Red Squad and we can do anything.
CREW: Yeah! Red Squad!
( chanting ): Red Squad! Red Squad!
Red Squad! Red Squad!
Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad!
Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad!
Red Squad!
Red Squad! Red Squad! Red Squad!
JAKE: This is suicide.
No. It's not.
Nog, listen to me.
We're in way over our heads here.
Now, someone told me that ship out there
is twice the size of a Galaxy-class ship
and three times as strong.
That's accurate.
And you really think we can go up against a ship like that?
I think that Captain Watters knows
what he's doing.
Oh, really?
Well, uh, did you know that Watters has been taking
cordafin stimulants for the past two months?
Where did you hear that?
Dorian told me.
You were ordered to stay away from her.
Watters to Shepard.
Please report to my ready room, Lieutenant.
That's not the way we do things in Starfleet.
I can't believe
you're buying everything that Watters is selling.
He's not selling anything.
He's reminding
us of our duty.
I feel like I'm having a conversation
with one of the bulkheads.
You don't understand
because you've never put on one of these uniforms.
You don't know
anything about sacrifice or honor
or duty or any other things that make up a soldier's life.
I'm part of something larger than myself.
All you care about is you.
That's right.
All I care about is Jake Sisko
and whether or not he's going to be killed
by a bunch of delusional fanatics
looking for martyrdom.
Get out.
I don't even know who you are anymore.
I'm the Chief Engineer of the Starship Valiant.
I'll have them put that on your tombstone.
Mr. Sisko!
I'm afraid you'll have to miss all the fun.
You're going to spend the rest of this mission in the brig.
FARRIS: All decks report ready, sir.
This is the Captain.
We are about to engage the enemy.
For the last eight months
I've told you to stay focused on one thing—
your duty.
But now I want you to step back from your duty
and take a look around
and I don't mean look at the walls.
I want you to look at this moment in your life.
Take it in.
Appreciate the fact that you are on this ship
with this group of people, at this point in history.
But understand one thing above all else.
This moment will never come again.
Hold on to it.
Savor it for as long as you can.
You're Starfleet, you're Red Squad
and you're the best.
Now...
let's get that battleship and we can all go home.
Captain out.
( com beep )
All right then.
Good luck.
Take us to warp 6, Mr. Nog.
Warp six.
Aye.
They've spotted us.
They're dropping out of warp.
Helm, go to impulse.
Aye, sir.
We are in visual range.
On screen.
Lay in a strafing course along their superstructure
and make it close.
That way, they won't get a weapons lock on us.
I want to scrape some paint off their hull, Lieutenant.
Aye, sir.
Raise shields, charge phasers, fire at any targets
of opportunity as we pass.
Aye, sir.
Torpedo status?
Torpedoes ready, sir.
Defense system ready.
Helm ready.
All right, Mr. Shepard, take us in.
Shields holding.
Course stable.
Fire at will!
( yelling )
WATTERS: Helm! Hard about!
Tactical, get a target lock on those braces!
They're trying to jam our sensors.
WATTERS: Mr. Nog, initiate countermeasures.
I'm on it!
I've acquired the target.
Torpedoes locked!
Full power to forward shields.
Helm, plot an escape course down the z-axis.
Ready.
Engage.
They're turning to port.
Match them, Helm.
Keep us on track.
Aye, sir.
Hull breach on Deck Two.
Emergency force-fields are in place.
FARRIS: Steady our course, Helm.
I can't maintain targeting lock.
Karen!
It's all yours. Fire when ready.
Understood.
Just a little closer.
We're losing our port shields.
Steady as she goes.
Torpedoes away.
Aft view on screen!
( cheering )
Did we miss the target?
No, sir.
It was a direct hit.
It just...
It didn't work.
Orders, Captain?
Lay in a new course. 127 mark 3—
Hull breach on Deck Two.
Deck Three, Deck Four...
Evasive maneuvers.
Bring us about to course 127 mark 320!
I've lost helm control!
Main power's off-line!
I'm rerouting the...
( yelling )
Auxiliary power's off-line.
But I still have phaser control.
Shall I return fire?
Sir?
No, it's over.
The Captain wanted us—
The Captain is dead, Chief.
They're all dead.
The ship is lost.
There's no need for us to die here, too.
( alarm blaring )
COMPUTER: Abandon ship. Abandon ship.
This is not a drill.
All hands proceed to emergency escape pods.
Hey! Somebody let me out of here!
Help!
Jake, Jake!
What happened?
We failed.
Captain, I'm picking up a Starfleet distress signal.
Bearing: 318 mark 005. Range: ten light-years.
That location is inside Dominion-held space.
Can you identify the ship sending the distress call?
Looks like it's coming from an escape pod.
USS... Valiant.
The Valiant was reported missing
over eight months ago.
It could be a Dominion ruse
to lure us into their territory.
Then again, it may be genuine.
We have to find out.
Cloak the ship and lay in a course.
KIRA: Aye, sir.
We scanned the area for any other escape pods
but it doesn't look like anyone else made it.
It was a long shot.
I just thought maybe...
( door opens )
How is she, Doctor?
I've managed to repair her fractured skull
and with a little rest, she should be fine.
And Nog?
Oh, a few bumps and bruises
but he's going to be fine as well.
Can I talk to him?
I don't see why not.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
You going to write a story about all this?
Probably.
What are you going to say?
What do you think I should say?
That it was a good ship...
with a good crew...
that made a mistake.
We...
let ourselves blindly follow Captain Watters
and he led us over a cliff.
That's not true.
Captain Watters was a great man.
Dorian...
he got everyone killed.
If he failed, it's because we failed him.
Put that in your story, too.
Let people read it and decide for themselves.
He may have been a hero...
he may even have been a great man...
but in the end, he was a bad Captain.
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