Star Trek: Deep Space Nine s07e07 Episode Script

Santa Anna didn't care|about the rules of war.
lf he had executed Davy Crockett, he would have considered it|a point of pride.
ln 1836 Crockett was 49,|quite old for the standards of the time.
His days as an lndian fighter|were well behind him.
This is not a man about to fight|to his last breath.
He was out of ammunition, the Mexican army was storming|the battlements.
He would have surrendered.
|lt's as logical as that.
Simple.
l'm not saying it couldn't have|happened, just that there's no proof.
The question is whether you believe|in the legend.
lf you do, then you should not doubt|that he died a hero's death.
lf you do not believe in the legend,|then he was just a man and it does not matter how he died.
- l guess that settles that.
|- l guess so.
Enter.
- Kor?|- lt's good to see you, my friend.
l welcome you to my home.
May l offer you some refreshment? l would be honoured to share a bottle|of bloodwine with the son of Mogh.
l heard the news about Jadzia.
- She died a warrior.
|- l expected nothing less.
To absent comrades.
- Mm.
2309.
Very good.
|- Sit.
The war goes well for you, Worf? A long list of victories to your credit,|l trust? l have been fortunate.
The way of the warrior|is not a humble path.
Show some pride|in your accomplishments! l will try.
And does the war go well for you, Kor? No, Worf.
lt does not go well for me.
lt seems my services are not required|in the present conflict.
But you are Kor, a Dahar Master, the man who held|the Korma Pass against T'nag.
Your reputation should have|assured you a command.
l also have a reputation|for a certain ruthless quality towards those who would stand|in my way.
lt's not entirely undeserved.
l rather enjoy being feared|by my fellow officers.
However, there's a price to be paid|for such devotion to one's ambition.
l've made enemies,|perhaps more than were necessary.
l have no influence left in the Empire.
Even as our entire race|grapples with the Dominion, there's no place for an old man with too many enemies|and not enough friends.
That's why l've come here tonight.
lt is not easy for me|to beg you for help but l have nowhere else to turn.
Help me fight again, Worf.
Help me end my life as l've lived it.
As a warrior! - How many reports do they require?|- As many as last time.
And Starfleet is still waiting for your|signature on these repair requests.
There will come a day, Darok, when your services as my aide|are no longer required.
l look forward to that day|with great anticipation.
Until then Worf, good to see you.
Thank you, Darok.
lt's a pity Captain Sisko frowns|on summary executions.
What can l do for you? Kor, the Dahar Master,|came to see me last night.
He has been unable|to find a command You're not asking me|to give that man a ship! - l had hoped that|- Your hopes are in vain! That man is not welcome.
l will not have|him commanding a ship in my fleet! - Kor is a friend.
l have already|- Not another word! Do you hear? Not one word! Now get out of here|before l forget we are brothers.
l plan to attack the Trelka V starbase|and push into Cardassian territory.
l'll hit the Manora shipyards, the Jem'Hadar breeding facility, the supply depots lt would take half the Ninth Fleet|to destroy Trelka V.
l don't intend to destroy the base,|just damage it.
Throw them off balance|then move on to the next target.
lmagine the chaos we'll cause|once we're in behind their lines.
A cavalry raid.
|Ancient Earth soldiers on horseback.
They had the speed to charge|behind enemy lines and the mobility to keep|from being caught.
- How many ships will you take?|- Five birds-of-prey.
Battle cruisers|are too slow and unwieldy.
- Do you want to take the Defiant?|- The Defiant should remain here, just in case the Jem'Hadar|try their own cavalry raid.
But it may be prudent for the Defiant|and a dozen other starships to be waiting for us when we return.
You might bring company back? l'm sure you'll be ready|to welcome them.
With phasers charged.
Our targeting sensors and guidance|system relays need to be replaced.
Make a note for Chief O'Brien|to give the Ch'Tang first priority.
lf you have something to ask,|do it before l'm buried in paperwork.
l wish to speak with you about Kor.
Clear the bridge! l did not expect to hear anything further|on this subject from you.
And l did not expect to be forbidden|to speak with you on any subject.
Have l become a "shuVak"|to be ordered about like Darok? No, of course not.
Very well.
|Talk and be done with it.
Kor came to see me,|asking my help as a friend.
He is an old man, with no family|and no influence left in the Empire.
He asked nothing except for the chance|to fight and die as a Klingon warrior.
l told him l would speak with you|about finding him a command.
l would not give that man the gnawed|bones of my last meal, - much less command of a ship.
|- But why? There is no feud between our Houses.
|And Kor has not even met you.
You can wound a man|without ever seeing his face.
When l was a boy, my family lived|in the lowlands of Ketha Province.
We had very little, but it didn't matter.
|We were a family of warriors.
But my father had higher hopes for me.
He wanted his son|to become an officer.
lt took a great deal of effort, but eventually he found someone|willing to sponsor me.
l passed my entrance exam|on my first attempt.
All that remained was approval|by the oversight council.
A simple formality.
My application was rejected|by one member of that council.
Kor.
Why? Why? Kor's family descends|from the lmperial Court itself.
Kor is of the blood, born to rule|by the divine will of Kahless! And what was l?|A boy from the Ketha lowlands.
He couldn't bear someone like me|joining the elite officer ranks.
So to my father's embarrassment|and my everlasting shame, my application was denied.
With the mark of Kor on my record,|l could not join as a common soldier.
l spent five years as a labourer|aboard General ShiVang's flagship.
Then, as fortune would have it, the Romulans made a foolhardy|attempt to board our ship.
l earned a battlefield commission.
Unfortunately, my father did not live to see|that glorious day.
lf Kor had had his way, l would still be a civilian on that ship,|cleaning the officers' mess.
l understand.
But l must tell you|that using my own authority, l appointed Kor an officer|in the Ninth Fleet.
Made him an officer, just like that.
That's the difference|between his name and mine.
His opens doors, mine closes them.
- l did not anticipate|- lt's done.
Your apology is not sought.
But know this, Worf.
Kor is your responsibility.
l want nothing to do with him.
Do you remember breaking into|the Duke's harem on Renavi? How could l forget? That is one of Curzon's|favourite memories.
Hi.
- Hello.
|- Come and join us, my friend.
l am on duty.
l'll see you later.
lt's good to see you again, Kor.
Still the same old Dax.
|And yet not.
General Martok will not give you|a command.
You struck him from an officer's list|because he's from the Ketha lowlands.
Did l? l don't recall.
There were so many officer lists.
|l suppose it's possible.
lt is an unworthy reason to bar a man|from serving the Empire.
Worf, you've been living among|this democratic rabble for too long.
l know your bloodline.
|We both come from noble Houses.
That still counts for something.
- Martok should appreciate that.
|- He does not.
- Did he revoke my commission?|- No.
You will serve aboard the Ch'Tang|as Third Officer.
Third? Oh, well.
No matter.
|l've overcome greater obstacles.
Thank you, Worf.
|You're a true friend.
You will report aboard at 0700.
|And stay out of Martok's way.
He will not even know l am there.
Worf - What was the name of that ship?|- The Ch'Tang.
Ch'Tang! Of course.
|l'll see you there.
All decks report ready.
Transporter room reports that our last|crew members have beamed aboard.
Signal the squadron.
|Prepare to get under way.
- Stand by to cloak.
|- Aye, sir.
Helm, set course 325, mark 003.
Full impulse till we clear|the outer marker, then go to Third Officer Kor reporting for duty.
The Dahar Master.
Take your station.
Return to your duties|or l will find a crew that can! Helmsman! l gave you an order.
Kor, here.
On our ship! Don't you have something to do? - No.
|- Then find something! lt's an honour to have you aboard.
- Thank you very much.
|- Welcome, Dahar Master.
What did Kor say when he met you? The usual.
l have the same|conversation over and over again.
Everyone's shocked at first,|then they scan my face for signs of the person|they knew as Dax.
''lt can't be! ls it really you? ''l do see a little Jadzia in the eyes,|a little Curzon in the smile.
'' lsn't there a period of adjustment|that Trills go through where people compare them|to previous hosts? l'm sure it'll pass.
You're right.
The last five Dax hosts|went through this.
That wasn't bad.
|You'd make a pretty good counsellor.
People would love it.
|''You dreamed about what? ''You're crazy.
Get out of my office!|Next patient!'' Funny you should mention dreams.
|Since my conversation with Kor, l've had the most intense dreams|about him.
Being on a Klingon bridge together,|drinking bloodwine.
Which still makes me gag, by the way.
|Singing songs Part of me wants to be out there|with him now.
l'm contradicting what l said about wanting to set myself apart|from my previous hosts, but the memories l have of being|with him are so vivid.
l'd give almost anything for the chance|to be together one more time, the two of us side by side.
|Just like it used to be.
Do you need something? No.
Nothing.
So, what's your professional opinion? - You're crazy.
|- Next patient! What's the matter with you?|Someone forget to leave a tip? lt's Ezri.
She|l can't even say it.
Try.
She wants to get back together|with Worf.
Before the Cardassians knew|we were there, we destroyed the entire camp|and the relay station! To General Martok,|victor of Felton Prime! Qapla'! Let me have the honour|to welcome the Dahar Master.
Sit, sit.
You do me too much honour.
l am but the Third Officer.
|l expect no special treatment.
Have you settled on an attack plan|for the starbase on Trelka V? l'm sending the Malpara and Ning'tao|in ahead of the squadron.
They'll strafe the base|then head out of the system.
When the enemy sends out|their repair crews, the rest of the squadron will decloak.
With luck, we'll catch them with|their damage control effort under way.
Excellent! An excellent plan, General.
l'm glad you approve.
lt's the same tactic Kang and l used|in the Battle of Caleb lV.
- You were at Caleb lV?|- Of course he was.
Forgive the ignorance of these children.
l was a young officer once.
l know|how irrelevant the past can seem.
We would be honoured|if you would tell us about Caleb lV.
There's not much to tell.
The battle was over almost before|the Federation knew it had begun.
l commanded the first division|from the Klothos.
Kang commanded the second division.
|You must remember that in those days the cloaking device|was a new piece of technology.
Only a handful of engineers in the Fleet|knew how to operate them.
Before we left Chronos,|l spent three days taking the device apart|with my bare hands and putting it back together again.
|This would come in handy in the battle.
lt is not the fault of the crew.
They are not used to serving|with a legendary figure like Kor.
- Bridge to General Martok.
|- Yes? - We are approaching Trelka V.
|- Set Defence Condition One.
Defence Condition One.
|All hands to battle stations.
- l'm supposed to be somewhere.
|- Dahar Master.
- Where are you going, Lieutenant?|- To the bridge.
- The bridge!|- Are you all right? What are you waiting for?|Report to your station! Concentrate! Their shields are at 65%.
|Three cruisers are orbiting the planet.
Two are under way.
The Malpara and|Ning'tao have completed their attack.
The Malpara is gone.
No survivors.
The Ning'tao is heading|out of the system.
- The Cardassians are pursuing.
|- Leaving their base unprotected.
Helm, take us in.
Bring us to a hover|300 metres above the base.
Stand by to decloak on my command.
|Scan the base.
They've dispatched damage control|teams.
Two defence batteries are out.
- They've dropped their primary shield.
|- Decloak and open fire.
Shields are down to 85% ! Emergency power|to secondary shield emitters! Fire torpedoes!|Helm, lay in an escape course.
Aye, sir! Continue firing!|Target their primary reactors.
- Bring us around for another pass!|- No, only one pass.
Leave the system! - Do not worry.
All is well.
|- You old fool! The Orantho reports their captain|and first officer are dead.
lnstruct them to continue firing.
|Open a channel to Kang.
- To Kang?|- Tell him we've succeeded, that the Federation outpost|on Caleb lV will be taken within an hour! Kang has been dead for years.
Prepare a boarding party.
|We're taking the base.
- They have a garrison of 10,000.
|- Get us out of here! Victory is ours!|The Federation will rue the day they dared to challenge|the Klingon Empire! We will take Caleb lV and raise our banner over|the smoking ruins of their outpost! Escape course.
Now! Engage cloaks.
Orantho and Slivin have cloaked.
|No pursuit from Trelka V.
No time to waste.
Proceed to the rendezvous,|then on to the Manora shipyards.
- Medical team to the bridge!|- Worf, get that man out of here.
- Hi.
l think l'm in the mood for|- Wait.
l have something to say.
Nowyou may think this is|none of my business, but someone has to speak up|and that someone is me.
- So here it is.
l'll just say it.
|- OK.
You're making a mistake by pursuing|another relationship with Worf.
l know how Jadzia felt about Worf,|but that was her life.
You're Ezri Dax.
You need a chance|to explore other relationships.
You're young and beautiful|and full of life.
Why go after a man|who's only a memory? l've had my problems with Worf,|but this is not about me.
This is about you.
Worf has done nothing, and l mean|nothing, to deserve you.
Shouldn't you find someone|who's willing to win your heart, not just inherit it?|You deserve better.
There.
l've said my piece.
Can l say something now? l'm not interested in another|relationship with Worf.
l care about him|and probably always will, but he's moved on with his life|and so have l.
Good.
l'd also like to say that what you just did|was one of the kindest, dearest and for you one of the most|embarrassing things l've ever heard.
You're a real sweetheart.
- Can l order now?|- Mm-hm.
- A Moscow mule.
|- Coming right up.
Did you hear that?|She called me sweetheart.
- She loves me.
|- What? - Sweetheart.
|- You're certifiable, you realise that? She loves me.
Find out what's wrong with the Ning'tao.
Captain Lurkan is young,|but he must realise the importance the importance of keeping formation.
l've been thinking about|our next objective.
Perhaps we should go after|a bigger target.
What about the base on Caleb lV? - l have duties to attend to.
|- Your duties are right here.
Someone was telling me|about the Caleb lV defences.
- Who was that?|- l believe it was our Third Officer.
That's right! Third Officer,|tell us about Caleb lV.
ls it manned by Jem'Hadar|or Cardassian troops? l thought it was a Federation outpost.
The Federation is our ally.
|Surely Kor is aware of that.
- Perhaps he's confused.
|- Confused? A Dahar Master? Surely not.
We must be the ones|who are confused.
Who mans the base on Caleb lV? Dominion or Federation? - l think he's forgotten.
|- l think he's asleep.
Stop it, both of you! Don't you have any respect for one of the greatest heroes|of the Empire? He's thinking it over.
|Give him time.
The last son of the House of Kor|should not be rushed.
- How long should we wait?|- Perhaps we should ask Kang.
Say something, old man.
Or have you lost your tongue|as well as your mind? Savour the fruit of life,|my young friends.
lt has a sweet taste|when it is fresh from the vine.
But don't live too long.
The taste turns bitter after a time.
The new personnel roster.
- You've removed Kor from active duty.
|- l saw no other choice.
You're his friend.
|lt must have been difficult.
A friend would not have put him|in that position in the first place.
l've hated his name|for almost 30 years.
l've dreamt of the moment when l would|see him stripped of his rank, without a friend in the world,|without the power of his birthright.
l've had that moment now.
And l took no joy from it.
What will become of him|when we return to Deep Space 9? l plan to speak with Chancellor Gowron to try and find Kor|some assignment on the homeworld.
l'll have a word with Gowron as well.
- Bridge to General Martok.
|- Yes.
Our sensors have detected|a large body of enemy ships.
On my way.
- Where are they?|- Directly astern.
They're Jem'Hadar fighters.
|They appear to be pursuing us.
The lead ship is using a scanner|to penetrate our cloaks.
Does the Dominion possess|such a device? - How many ships?|- l've identified ten vessels so far.
And they're gaining on us.
How long before we are|in weapons range? - 2 hours, 12 minutes.
|- Helm, have you located the Defiant? They're waiting for us|in the Kalandra Sector.
lt will take us 3 hours, 45 minutes|to reach them.
lf the Jem'Hadar could be forced|to drop out of warp, they would not have time to catch us|before we rendezvous with the Defiant.
A fine theory,|but how do we execute it? We could disrupt their warp fields|with a graviton burst.
lt would force them to drop to impulse.
We would need to generate|a massive burst.
A bird-of-prey could do it by diverting|power to the main deflector.
- How long would that delay them?|- Less than two minutes.
lf l engaged them|while they're still at impulse, that would delay them even longer.
- l know l could do it.
|- What do you mean, ''you''? The Orantho's captain is dead.
The Slivin's deflector cannot generate|a graviton burst.
The Ning'tao's captain|is too young and inexperienced.
l am the logical choice.
But, Worf, this means|that you would be sacrificing - the entire crew of the Ning'tao.
|- l have thought about that.
We could beam most of the crew over|before l take command.
l would only need six volunteers.
Signal the Ning'tao.
Tell them to prepare|for a change in command.
Yes? - l am not hungry.
|- The food is for me.
l haven't eaten in hours.
Men of our generation|never stood on ceremony.
We ate when we were hungry,|we fought when we were angered.
l miss the simplicity of those days.
l miss a great deal about those days.
The warriors on this ship|don't know what they've missed.
But such is the way with children.
They often let the promise of the future|obscure the glories of the past.
ls there a point to this|nostalgic indulgence? Only that they are children.
Even Martok, who, for all his flaws,|is a great man, even Martok is but a child|compared to you or me.
They are quick to judge|and slow to forgive.
They still have much to learn.
We are being pursued|by a Jem'Hadar fleet.
Worf believes he can stop them|with a single ship.
How? lt's a good plan,|but it has one flaw.
lt depends on Worf successfully|engaging the whole enemy fleet, if only for a short time.
lt can be done.
The key is to confuse their sensors|with a spread of torpedoes.
Perhaps.
But it would take a man with three times|his experience to accomplish it.
And such a man would have to be|certain of his abilities.
Such a man would not take the job unless he were certain.
lt has been an honour serving with you,|Kor, son of Rynar.
Worf! Leaving for the Ning'tao, l take it? - Yes.
|- l wanted to wish you well.
l look forward to seeing you|at the gates to "Sto-Vo-Kor.
" As do l.
Do you have any message|you want me to convey to Jadzia? When l reach the halls of the dead,|l will find your beloved and remind her that her husband|is a noble warrior and that he still loves no one but her.
Goodbye, my friend.
Live well.
Long live the Empire! - On the bridge?|- lf they succeed, drink to their courage.
lf they fail, you can still drink|to their courage.
The Ning'tao is closing on the enemy.
|She's initiated the burst.
Their warp fields are destabilising.
|They're dropping to impulse.
- How many?|- All of them.
The Ning'tao is engaging the enemy.
Die well, Worf.
Today was not my day to die.
Worf! But then who?|Kor! He surprised me outside the transporter|room with a hypospray.
l hope that old fool understands|what he's doing.
How goes the battle? lt appears the enemy formation|has collapsed.
The Ning'tao is manoeuvring rapidly.
|She's taking heavy fire.
- l've lost contact.
|- One ship against ten.
- lt doesn't seem possible.
|- He will succeed.
He is Kor, the Dahar Master.
He's done it.
|The Jem'Hadar are out of time.
They can no longer overtake us|before we reach the Defiant.
How? How did that pompous old man hold off|a Jem'Hadar fleet with one ship? Does it matter? Darok, give me that bottle.
To Kor! A Dahar Master|and noble warrior to the end.