The Frontier

SISKO : 
Do you know what The Trouble is? 

KIRA : 
….no. 

SISKO : 
The Trouble is Earth. 

KIRA : 
Really? 

SISKO : 
On Earth there is no poverty, 

no crime, no war. 
You look out the window 

of Starfleet Headquarters 

and You see Paradise. 
Well, it's easy to be A Saint in Paradise, 

but The Maquis Do Not Live in Paradise. 
Out there in The Demilitarised Zone, 

all the problems haven't been solved yet. 

Out there, there are no saints, just people. 
Angry, scared, determined people 

who are going to do 

whatever it takes to survive 

whether it meets with 

Federation approval or not. 

KIRA : 
Makes sense to me. 

SISKO : 
I'm glad someone understands. 

 

SISKO:
 Mister Eddington. 

I have just one question. Why? 

EDDINGTON 

[on monitor]: 
Will knowing my personal motivation 

change anything at this point? 

SISKO: 
No, I don't suppose it will. 

EDDINGTON 

[on monitor]: 
Then let's table that for now. 

The only reason I've contacted you 

is to ask you to leave us alone. 

Our quarrel is with the Cardassians, 

not the Federation. 

Leave us alone and I can promise you 

you'll never hear from the Maquis again. 

SISKO: 
Unless you see another shipment you want to hijack. 

EDDINGTON 

[on monitor]: 
You keep sending replicators to Cardassia 

and you're going to have a lot more 

to worry about than hijackings. 

SISKO: 
I don't respond well to threats. 

I thought you would know that by now. 

But I'm beginning to see that 

you don't know me at all. 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 
I know you. 
I was like you once, but then I opened my eyes. 
Open your eyes, Captain. 

Why is the Federation 

so obsessed about the Maquis? 

We've never harmed you, 

and yet we're constantly arrested 

and charged with terrorism. 

Starships chase us through the Badlands 

and our supporters are harassed and ridiculed. 

Why?


 Because We've 

left The Federation, 

and that's the one thing 

you can't accept. 

Nobody leaves Paradise. 

Everyone should want to be 

in The Federation. 

Hell, you even want 

The Cardassians to join. 

You're only sending them replicators 

because one day they can take 

their rightful place 

on the Federation Council. 

You know, in some ways 

You're worse than 

The Borg. 

At least They tell You 

about Their Plans 

for assimilation. 

You're more insidious. 

You assimilate people 

and they don't even know it. 

SISKO: 
You know what, Mister Eddington? 
I don't give a damn what you think of the Federation, the Maquis, or anything else. 

All I know is that you betrayed Your Oath, 

Your Duty, and me. 

And if it takes me the rest of my life, 

I will see you standing before a court-martial 

that'll break you and send you to a penal colony, 

where you will spend the rest of your days 

growing old and wondering whether 

a ship full of replicators was really worth it.




DAX:
Les Miserables.

SISKO:
You know it?

DAX:
I can't stand Victor Hugo. 
I tried reading The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but I couldn't get through it. 
It was so melodramatic and his heroines are so two dimensional.

SISKO:
Eddington compares me to one of the characters, Inspector Javert. A policeman who relentlessly pursues a man named Valjean, guilty of a trivial offence, and in the end Javert's own inflexibility destroys him. He commits suicide.

DAX:
You can't believe that description fits you. 

Eddington is just trying to get under your skin.

SISKO:
He did that eight months ago. 

What strikes me about this book is that 

Eddington said that it's one of his favourites.

DAX:
There's no accounting for taste.

SISKO:
Let's think about it.
A Starfleet security officer is fascinated by a nineteenth century French melodrama, 

and now he's a leader of the Maquis,

 a resistance group fighting the noble battle 

against the evil Cardassians.

DAX:
It sounds like he's living out his own fantasy.

SISKO:
Exactly. And you know what?
 Les Miserables isn't 

about The Policeman.
It's about Valjean, the victim 

of a monstrous injustice 

who spends his entire life 

helping people, making noble sacrifices 

for others. 

That's how Eddington sees himself. 

He's Valjean, he's Robin Hood, 

he's a romantic, dashing figure, 

fighting the good fight against insurmountable odds.

DAX:
The secret life of Michael Eddington.
How does it help us?

SISKO:
Eddington is the hero of his own story. 

That makes me the villain. 

And what is it that every hero 

wants to do?

DAX:
Kill the bad guy.

SISKO:
That's part of it. 
Heroes only kill when they have to.

Eddington could have killed me 

back in the refugee camp 

or when he disabled the Defiant, 

but in the best melodramas 

the villain creates a situation 

where the hero is forced 

to sacrifice himself 

for the people, for the cause. 
One final grand gesture.

DAX:
What are you getting at, Benjamin?

SISKO:
I think it's time for me to become The Villain.

 

There are Heroes on Both Sides. 

Evil is Everywhere.


EDDINGTON: 
But think about those people you saw in the caves, 

huddled and starving. 
They didn't attack the Malinche.

SISKO: 
You should have thought about that before 

you attacked a Federation starship. 

(Sisko turns his back on the Eddington hologram) 


(Transmission ends)

Captain's log, supplemental. 
Resettlement efforts in the DMZ are underway. 

The Cardassian and Maquis colonists 

who were forced to abandon their homes 

will make new lives for themselves 

on the planets their counterparts evacuated. 

The balance in the region will be restored, 

though the situation remains far from stable.

He is The Chosen One.

He will bring Balance.

SISKO: 

Are you all right? 

EZRI: 

I talked with Worf.

 He doesn't want to have anything to do with me. 

SISKO: 

Perhaps I should have a talk with him. 

EZRI: 

Absolutely not. You intimidate him. 

SISKO: 

Me? 

EZRI: 

Don't tell him I told you. 

SISKO: 

I intimidate Worf, huh? 

EZRI: 

You like that, don't you? 

SISKO: 

Of course not. 

EZRI: 

Come on. I've been a m

I am No Longer Sure.

 

 

 

WORF: 

I have spent most of my life among humans. 

It has not always been easy for me. 

And since the destruction of the Enterprise, 

it has become even more difficult. 

I am No Longer Sure I belong in this uniform.

SISKO:

Mister Worf, if I told You We didn't 

Need You Here, I'd be lying. 

But if you don't want to take 

this assignment, I'd understand.

WORF:

Thank you, sir. 

But until I make My Decision, 

I intend to do My Duty.

SISKO:

I'm glad to hear that.

SISKO:

I'm sorry, Mister Worf, but 

I can't accept your Resignation at this time.

WORF:

I do not understand. 

What further use could I be here?

SISKO:

I'm Not Sure yet. 

But as long as the fighting continues 

between the Klingons and the Cardassians, 

I Need You HERE on The Station.

[The Jaw gets going.]

WORF:

If you think that is Wise.

SISKO:

I don't know if it's WISE or Not. 

But I DO know that 

You're a Good Officer, 

and right now 

I Need EVERY Good Officer I can get. 

WORF:

Sir, if The Klingons are right, 

if The Cardassian Government 

HAS been taken over by The Founders --

SISKO:

-- Then we'll be helping Them to escape. 

That's The Chance we'll have to take. 

I know you want to be out of that uniform 

but right now I Need You with Me.

WORF:

I Understand.

[Corridor]

SISKO:

Make sure The Chief double checks all our new systems. 

We May Need Them.

KIRA: 

I'll tell him. 

But knowing The Chief, he's probably doing it already.

SISKO:

Keep The Station on Yellow Alert. 

And just to be on the safe side, I'd recommend 

that you send some of the civilian population down to Bajor.

KIRA: 

I was planning to. 

I wish I was going with you.

SISKO: 

So do I, but I Need You here. 

 

I Cannot.

Chancellor Gowron and Lt. Commander Worf meet again

GARAK: 

We can stand here all day reminding ourselves 

just how much we hate each other, 

but you don't have the time. 

The Klingon fleet will reach Cardassian territory 

in less than one hour. 

I suggest you prepare for them.

[Ops]

(The War Game is being monitored on the big table)

KIRA: 

Based on Klingon transmissions we've intercepted, 

the outlying Cardassian colonies were overrun almost immediately. 

But, now that the Cardassian fleet has mobilised, 

the Klingons are meeting stronger resistance.

DAX: 

You'd almost think somebody warned the Cardassians they were coming.

KIRA: 

Hopefully it'll make the Klingons think twice about what they're doing.

WORF: 

Unlikely, Major. 

Now that the battle has begun, Martok and his troops will settle for nothing less than victory.

(Sisko enters from his office.)

O'BRIEN: 

Well, what did the Federation Council say?

SISKO: 

They've decided to condemn the Klingon invasion. 

In response, Gowron has expelled all Federation citizens from the Klingon Empire and recalled his ambassadors from the Federation.

KIRA: You're saying he cut off diplomatic relations?

SISKO: He's done more than that. The Klingons have withdrawn from the Khitomer Accords. The peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire has ended.

O'BRIEN: Captain, you're never going to believe this. A Klingon ship just decloaked off upper pylon three and is requesting permission to dock. They claim they have Chancellor Gowron on board and he is demanding to speak with Mister Worf, personally.

[Klingon Bridge]

WORF: Chancellor Gowron. You wished to speak with me?

GOWRON: Worf. Worf! It is good to see you. I always said that uniform would get you into trouble one day.

WORF: It seems you were right. But I do not apologise for my actions

GOWRON: Yes, yes. I know. you did what you thought was right. And even though you may have made some enemies, I assure you I am not one of them.

WORF: I am glad. Your friendship means much to me.

GOWRON: And yours to me. It has been too long since you last fought at my side. But now the time has come again. We will do great deeds in the coming days. Deeds worthy of song.

WORF: You want me to go to Cardassia with you?

GOWRON: What better way to redeem yourself in the eyes of your people. Come with me, Worf. Glory awaits you on Cardassia. Worf, why do you stand there like a mute d'blok. I have offered you a chance for glory. All you have to do is take it.

WORF: If there's any glory to be won, Gowron, it'll have to be yours alone. I cannot come with you.

GOWRON: Of course you can. It is where you belong.

WORF: I cannot abandon my post.

GOWRON: You no longer have a post. You have no place on that station, and no business wearing that uniform.

WORF: I have sworn an oath of allegiance.

GOWRON: To the Federation.

WORF: You would have me break my word?

GOWRON: Your word? What good is your word when you give it to people who care nothing for honour, who refuse to lift a finger while Klingon warriors shed blood for their protection. I tell you, they are without honour. You do not owe them anything.

WORF: It is not what I owe them that matters. It is what I owe myself. Worf, Son of Mogh, does not break His Word.

GOWRON: And what of your debt to me? Are you saying you owe me nothing? I gave you back your name, restored your house, gave your family a seat on the High Council. And this is how you repay me?

WORF: It is true I owe you a great debt. I would give up my life for you. But invading Cardassia is wrong, and I cannot support it.

GOWRON: Worf, I have always considered you a friend and an ally. And because you are my friend, I am giving you this one last chance to redeem yourself. Come with me.

WORF: I cannot.

GOWRON: Think about what you are doing. If you turn your back on me now, for as long as I live, you will not be welcome anywhere in the Klingon Empire. Your family will be removed from the High Council, your lands seized, and your House stripped of its titles. You will have nothing.

WORF: Except my honour.

GOWRON: So be it.

[Quark's cafe]

(As happy gamblers play below, Worf sits alone at a table and stare at nothing.)

O'BRIEN: You look like you could use some company.

WORF: Chief, do you remember the time we rescued Captain Picard from the Borg?

O'BRIEN: How could I forget? It was touch and go there for a while. There were a couple of moments when I thought we were all going to wind up being assimilated.

WORF: I never doubted the outcome. We were like warriors from the ancient sagas. There was nothing we could not do.

O'BRIEN: Except keep the holodecks working right.

WORF: I have decided to resign from Starfleet.

O'BRIEN: Resign? What are you talking about?

WORF: I have made up my mind. It is for the best.

O'BRIEN: Look, I know how much you miss the Enterprise, but I'm sure they'll be building a new one soon.

WORF: It will not be the same. The Enterprise I knew is gone. Those were good years, but now it is time for me to move on.

O'BRIEN: And do what?

WORF: I do not know. I thought I would be returning to Boreth, but now that is impossible. I have made an enemy of Gowron, and every other Klingon in the Empire.

O'BRIEN: All the more reason to stay in Starfleet.

WORF: This uniform will only serve to remind me of how I have disgraced myself in the eyes of my people. I suppose I could get a berth on a Nyberrite Alliance Cruiser. They are always eager to hire experienced officers.

O'BRIEN: The Nyberrite Alliance? That's a long way. What about your son?

WORF: Alexander is much happier living with his grandparents on Earth than he ever was staying with me. One thing is certain. The sooner I leave here, the better. My continued presence on Deep Space Nine would only be a liability to Captain Sisko in his dealings with the Klingons.

QUARK: Do you hear that, Chief? Seventy two decibels. Music to my ears.

O'BRIEN: I think I liked it better when it was quiet.

QUARK: You want quiet, go to the Replimat. This is Quark's the way Quark's should be. The way it was meant to be. Am I glad we finally got rid of all those Klingons. Present company excepted, of course.

(Worf leaves.)

O'BRIEN: I got to hand it to you, Quark. You really know how to make your customers feel welcome.

QUARK: What do I care? All he ever drinks is prune juice.

[Captain's office]

SISKO: I'm sorry, Mister Worf, but I can't accept your resignation at this time.

WORF: I do not understand. What further use could I be here?

SISKO: I'm not sure yet. But as long as the fighting continues between the Klingons and the Cardassians, 

I need you here on the station.

WORF :

If you think that is wise.

SISKO: 

I don't know if it's wise or not. 

But I do know that you're a good officer,

and right now I need every good officer I can get.

(Kira enters)

KIRA: 

Captain, we just got word from Bajoran Intelligence. 

The Klingons have broken through the Cardassian fleet.

SISKO: 

How long before they reach Cardassia Prime?

KIRA: 

Fifty two hours.

WORF: 

If The Klingon Empire has reverted to the old practices, 

they will occupy the Cardassian homeworld, 

execute all government officials, 

and install an imperial overseer 

to put down any further resistance.

SISKO: 

I think it's about time we had a talk with the Cardassians.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

Captain, I'm a little busy at the moment, so whatever you have to say, make it brief.

SISKO: Dukat? I was trying to reach someone in the civilian Government.

DUKAT 

[on monitor]: 

And you have succeeded. 

You are speaking to the new 

Chief Military Advisor to the Detapa Council.

SISKO: 

Does this mean you've turned your back on 

The Central Command?

DUKAT 

[on monitor]: 

It means that as a loyal officer of the Cardassian Military, 

I am pledged to serve the legitimate 

ruling body of the Empire. 

Whoever that may be.

SISKO: 

In other words, 

you saw which way 

the wind was blowing 

and switched sides.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

SISKO: 

Dukat, you have got to get those council members to safety before the Klingons reach Cardassia Prime.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

I am open to suggestions, Captain.

SISKO: 

If you can get a ship and meet me at these coordinates, 

I'll do what I can to escort you out of the war zone.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

That is a very generous offer. 

I must say I am touched. 

By saving the members of the Detapa Council, you will be saving some very

SISKO: 

Forget The Speech, Dukat. 

Just meet me at the rendezvous point.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

And if the Klingons try to stop us?

SISKO: 

Then I'll be there to reason with them. 

I doubt the Klingons will fire on a Federation ship.

DUKAT: 

I'm not sure I share your optimism, 

but then I don't have much choice, do I? 

We'll meet you there.

(Transmission ends)

WORF: 

Sir, if the Klingons are right, 

if the Cardassian government 

has been taken over by The Founders

SISKO: 

Then we'll be helping them to escape. 

That's the chance we'll have to take. I know you want to be out of that uniform but right now I need you with me.

WORF: 

I understand

We Do Not Agree.

Honor Blackman as Hera, Queen of The Gods

[Bridge]

(Inside the wormhole.)

SISKO: 

Full stop. Chief, divert all power to forward shields and weapons.

DAX: 

Captain, I'm reading multiple warp signatures ahead.

SISKO: 

On screen. 

Maximum magnification.

(Here comes the enemy fleet, but no more than three abreast in the narrow tunnel.)

SISKO: 

Lock phasers. 

Prepare to launch quantum torpedoes.

[Limbo]

SISKO: 

Why have you brought me here? 

Show yourselves. 

What do you want?

[Promenade]

ODO: 

The Sisko has returned to us.

[Quark's]

JAKE: 

He arrives with questions.

[Ops]

KIRA: 

There are always questions.

SISKO: 

I didn't ask to come here.

[Captain's office]

DUKAT-PROPHET :  

You desire to end the game.

SISKO: 

What Game? 

I don't understand.

[Wardroom]

WEYOUN-PROPHET :  

You seek to shed your corporeal existence.

[Bridge]

DAMAR-PROPHET :  

That cannot be allowed.

[Promenade]

ODO-PROPHET :  

The Game must not end.

SISKO: 

The Game? You mean My Life? 

Is that what this is about? 

You don't want me to die?

DUKAT-PROPHET :  

The Game must continue.

WEYOUN-PROPHET :  

You are The Sisko.

SISKO: 

Believe me, I don't want to die, 

but I have to do everything I can to prevent the Dominion from conquering the Alpha Quadrant. 

If that means sacrificing my life 

and the life of my crew, 

so be it.

JAKE-PROPHET :  

We Do Not Agree.

KIRA-PROPHET :  

We find your reasoning flawed.

ODO-PROPHET : 

Insufficient.

SISKO: 

I'm flattered you feel that way, 

but it doesn't change anything. 

Now send me back to my ship.

[Bridge]

SISKO: 

This isn't what I meant. 

I want to return to my reality.

DAMAR-PROPHET : 

You are The Sisko.

SISKO: 

I am also a Starfleet Captain. 

I have a job to do and I intend to do it.

WEYOUN-PROPHET : 

The Sisko is belligerent.

DUKAT-PROPHET: 

Aggressive.

DAMAR-PROPHET: 

Adversarial.

SISKO: 

You're damn right I'm adversarial. 

You have no right to interfere with my life!

[Ops]

KIRA-PROPHET: 

We have every right.

SISKO: 

Fine. You want to interfere, then interfere. Do something about those Dominion reinforcements.

ODO-PROPHET: 

That is a corporeal matter.

DUKAT-PROPHET: 

Corporeal matters do not concern us.

SISKO: 

The Hell they don't. 

What about Bajor? 

You can't tell me Bajor doesn't concern you. 

You've sent the Bajorans orbs and Emissaries. 

You've even encouraged them to create an entire religion around you. 

You even told me once that you were of Bajor. 

So don't you tell me you're not concerned with corporeal matters. 

I don't want to see Bajor destroyed. 

Neither do you. 

But we all know that's exactly what's going to happen if the Dominion takes over the Alpha Quadrant. You say you don't want me to sacrifice my life? Well, fine, neither do I. 

You want to be Gods, 

then be Gods. 

I need a miracle. 

Bajor needs a miracle. 

STOP Those SHIPS.

WEYOUN-PROPHET : 

We are of Bajor.

DAMAR-PROPHET : 

But what of the Sisko?

ODO-PROPHET : 

He is intrusive.

DUKAT-PROPHET : 

He tries to control the game.

JAKE-PROPHET : 

A penance must be exacted.

WEYOUN-PROPHET : 

It is agreed.

DUKAT-PROPHET : 

The Sisko is of Bajor, 

but he will find no rest there.

KIRA-PROPHET : 

(touches Sisko's left ear) 

His pagh will follow another path.

SISKO: 

What path is that?

[Bridge]

(Back to reality.)

O'BRIEN: Phaser banks fully charged.

NOG: Forward shields at a hundred percent.

O'BRIEN: Torpedoes ready. Targets locked.

DAX: Here they come.

SISKO: Fire on my command.

NOG: There must be thousands of them.

GARAK: And half of them have locked targets on us.

SISKO: Steady, people. Make every shot count.

DAX: Benjamin.

(Energy crackles in the wormhole and the Dominion fleet vanishes.)

O'BRIEN: They've cloaked.

DAX: I'm not picking up any neutrino emissions.

GARAK: Then where did they go?

SISKO: Wherever they went, I don't think they're coming back.

(The ultimate Deus ex Machina cop-out.)

[Ops]

DAMAR: Sir, the wormhole is opening.

(WHOOSH)

DAMAR: The Defiant.

DUKAT: Our reinforcements must be right behind.

(The wormhole closes.)

DAMAR: No, sir. There's no sign of them.

WEYOUN: That's impossible. Check our listening posts in the Gamma Quadrant.

DAMAR: They're not there either.

DUKAT: But they entered the wormhole. Where are they?

DAMAR: I don't know.

(BOOM)

DAMAR: The Defiant has opened fire on us.

WEYOUN: Obviously.

DUKAT: Can you get our weapons back online?

DAMAR: Not for a while. Sir, two hundred enemy ships have broken through our lines. They're headed this way.

WEYOUN: Time to start packing.

FOUNDER: Contact our forces in the Alpha Quadrant. Tell them to fall back to Cardassian territory. It appears this war is going to take longer than expected.

WEYOUN: We'll meet you at airlock five.

(The Founder and Weyoun leave. Dukat's jaw is still on the floor.)

DAMAR: 

Sir?

DUKAT: 

Victory was within our grasp.

DAMAR: 

We have to evacuate the station, sir.

DUKAT: 

Bajor, The Federation, the Alpha Quadrant, all lost.

DAMAR: 

We have to go now, sir.

DUKAT: 

Go?

DAMAR: 

The Federation ships, they'll be here soon. 

We have to get back to Cardassia.

DUKAT: 

I have to find my daughter.

DAMAR: 

I'll send someone for her.

DUKAT: 

That won't be necessary.

DAMAR: 

You're wasting your time.

DUKAT: Promenade.

DAMAR: 

She won't go with you.

[Bridge]

O'BRIEN: 

Sir, the Dominion forces are leaving the station.

SISKO: 

Let them go. 

We're in no shape to stop them.

BASHIR: 

Captain, we're getting a message from the Cortez. 

The Dominion fleet has broken off the fight. 

They're in retreat.

SISKO: 

Tell the Cortez and the rest of our fleet to rendezvous 

at Deep Space Nine.