"Chief Medical Officer's log, supplemental." "Chief O'Brien and I are helping the T'Lani and the Kelleruns eliminate their stockpiles of harvesters, biomechanical gene disrupters used by both sides in their centuries-long war." "Dr Nydom, how's our muon charge?" "Coming up to full power." "Computer, this is harvester test sequence number 375." "Muon generator now at full power." "I hope this works because I'm running out of ideas." "We've only been trying to eliminate the harvesters for a week." "It feels like more than a month." "I've never seen a nanobiogenic weapon so resistant to radiation." "It's a matter of finding the right combination of muon frequencies." "It should be simple, but it's not." "Start the sequence or we will be here for a month." "Right, Chief." "Introducing the harvester into the genetic bath." "Beginning muon influx." "Doctor, please check for any gene disrupter phasing." "The integrity of the sample is holding steady." " No genetic disruption at all." " Are you sure?" "Check the sequence again." " The results are identical." " What?" "It worked, didn't it?" "Would somebody say something?" "It worked all right." "The harvesters have been destroyed." "Good news, I take it?" "Ambassador Sharat, we have found a way to eliminate the harvesters." "Well done." "I knew if our people stopped killing each other and worked together, we could put an end to these horrible weapons." "This is a symbol of the new future we have embarked upon." "And we couldn't have done it without the help of our Federation friends." "At first we questioned Dr Nydom's decision to bring in outside help, but it was the right thing to do." "We're all very grateful." "It was our pleasure." "Eliminating the harvesters is only half the task." "All scientific data must be wiped out as well." "I've purged every file in the T'Lani and Kellerun data banks." "If anyone wants to build these things, they'll have to start afresh." " Then it's finished." " Not quite." "We shouldn't rest until the entire Kellerun and T'Lani supply of harvesters has been destroyed." "We will begin immediately." "Commander, Dr Bashir is on subspace." "In here." "We have some good news." "I've already heard." "I received a message from both ambassadors informing me of your success." "Congratulations, gentlemen." "Thank you." "But the doctor deserves the credit." " lt was a team effort." " The doctor's modest." "He came up with muon rays as a possible solution." " Luckily, it worked." " When will you be back?" "Soon, I hope." "The ambassador mentioned a celebration." "It's set for tonight, but the chief is anxious to return." "It's been a long week." "We can spare you for another day." "I agree." "If that's OK with you, Chief." "Another day won't kill me." "That's the spirit." "We'll expect you back day after tomorrow." "Enjoy yourselves." "You've earned it." "The last cylinder." "You should have the honour, Doctor." "My pleasure." "It's ironic that the war should come to an end up here above T'Lani lll, a planet whose entire population was decimated by harvesters." "I hope this will be a lasting peace." "Weapons aren't allowed up here." "They're all dead." "We'll be too if we don't get out of here." "O'Brien to Ganges." "Computer, activate remote transporter sequence." "They must be jamming communications with the runabout." "We can't stay here." "We'll have to beam down to the surface." "I'll programme the system to overload 30 seconds after we transport." "Let's go." "I'll have a cup of Alterian chowder, uttaberry crìpes and a slice of..." " Kira to Sisko." " Go ahead, Major." "The T'Lani and Kellerun ambassadors have arrived." " They want to see you." " Are O'Brien and Bashir with them?" "No." "And the ambassadors refuse to speak to anyone but you." "Show them to my office." "I'll have to cancel that order." "Are you saying both of my officers are dead?" "Along with some of our greatest scientists." " We're sorry you share our misfortune." " What happened?" " lt was..." " lt was a terrible accident." "It appears one of your officers, a Chief O'Brien, I believe, tripped a security device." "Lethal radiation flooded the room, killing everyone." "Ambassador Sharat transported off the ship before the accident." "This security device... lt was built decades ago." "We didn't even know it existed." "How do you know that O'Brien caused the accident?" "I returned to the ship after the accident." "I checked the internal security sensors." "They recorded the incident." "We assumed you'd want to see for yourself." "Thank you." "Commander, I want you to know we don't blame Chief O'Brien for what happened." "He and Dr Bashir will always be considered heroes to both our peoples." "They helped destroy the harvesters." "Extend our sympathies to their families." "I'll do that." "Chief, in here." "Wait!" "Don't touch anything." "There's food and medical supplies." "They could be booby-trapped." "The Cardassians used to rig supplies with grenades." "I've seen more than one soldier permanently lose his appetite that way." " Did you find anything?" " Looks all right." "Good." "At least we won't starve." " Here." " No." " l thought you loved military rations." " Federation rations." "I've had enough T'Lani food to last me a lifetime." "We have to warn the T'Lani that the Kelleruns have broken the treaty." "Why wait till the harvesters were destroyed before making their move?" "Maybe they didn't destroy all of them." "Maybe they think they can defeat the T'Lani with conventional weapons." "That might continue the war for 100 years." "We'd better keep moving." "Listen to me, Julian." "The Kelleruns will expect us to be on the move." "If we run, their sensors will pick us up." "If we stay still, maybe it will take them longer to find us." "We have only one chance to survive this thing:" "stay alive until Commander Sisko finds us." "That won't be for another day." "He thinks we're on T'Lani Prime." "I said it was our only chance." "I didn't say it was a good one." "What have we here?" "Looks like some kind of com system." "Maybe we can contact the T'Lani from here." "Can you get it working?" "I'll have to open it up, see if there's a backup power supply." " Why don't you take a seat, Doctor?" " l thought maybe I could help." "I took the engineering extension courses at Starfleet Medical." " They were actually quite informative." " Julian." "Do you really want to help me?" "Then let me do my job." "Of course." " l'll inventory the supplies." " Fine." "Why don't you do that?" "The last cylinder." "You should have the honour, Doctor." "My pleasure." "The harvesters have been destroyed." "Congratulations." "All records of their existence must be wiped out." "I've purged every file in the T'Lani and Kellerun data banks." "If anyone wants to build these things, they'll have to start afresh." "Then it's finished." "Hold on." "What's this?" "Closing the last file has activated some kind of security programme part of the original operating system." "I can't shut it down." "Do you know anything about it?" " Try cutting the power." " lt's not responding." "I've heard of security weapons like this." "A pulse that vaporises anyone who doesn't enter the proper code." "I'm surprised the chief didn't detect it." "It must have been deep in the system." "I'd like to talk to the chief of security for that ship." " So would I." " They lost people, too." "The T'Lani were responsible for their safety." "They should have known about that device and deactivated it." "Contact Bajoran medical officials." "We'll need a doctor temporarily assigned until Starfleet can replace Dr Bashir." "Dax, inform Starfleet of the accident." "Tell them we'll need a new medical officer and a new chief of operations." "Would you like me to go with you to see Mrs O'Brien?" "No. I'll take care of it." "Find out how I can contact Julian's family." "Inform the crew we'll be holding a memorial service" " tomorrow evening at 18:00 hours." " Yes, sir." "I know the next few days are going to be hard, but we all have jobs to do." "Dismissed." " Having any luck?" " Stop asking me that." "I'm sorry." "It's just all this standing around." "I'm used to doing something." "Keep your eyes open for any Kellerun soldiers." "Don't worry. I will." " lt's such a mess in here." " You'll make it work." "It's the kind of challenge you live for." "I was looking forward to the celebrations on T'Lani Prime." "Did you notice that T'Lani women are quite attractive?" "I'm not blind, you know." "Of course not." "But you are married." "Being married doesn't mean you stop looking at women." "As long as your wife doesn't see you look." "Tonight's celebrations would have been an adventure." "The most you could have hoped for was a good meal." "Women!" "That's all you think about." "No, it isn't." "Though I do think about them a lot." "One of these days you'll fall in love with one." " l did once." " Not work out?" "Not quite." "Close." "I don't know." "Somehow, marriage just doesn't seem fair." " Fair?" " Fair to them." "Look at us." "Our lives are constantly in danger." "There's enough to worry about without the wife and kids worrying about us." "I'm sorry, Chief." "I just feel that way." "A lot of career officers feel that way." "You career officers don't know what you're missing." "Really?" "That may be so." "I just look at you and Mrs O'Brien..." " What about me and Mrs O'Brien?" " Nothing." " What?" " Absolutely nothing." "It's no secret that your assignment to this station hasn't been conducive to your marriage." " Say that again?" " Why don't we just forget it?" "That's the first intelligent thing you've said since we got here." " Are you cold?" " Yes." "Aren't you?" "No, it's quite warm in here." " You're looking a little pale." " l'm fine." "You're running a fever." " You'd better sit down." " l've got work to do." "Roll up your sleeve." "Do it." "Please." "You were behind the genetic bath when it shattered?" "You have something to tell me?" "You've been infected by the harvesters." "Come in." "Commander Sisko." "Keiko." " Something's happened to Miles." " There was an accident." "Both your husband and Dr Bashir were involved." " They're dead?" " l'm sorry." "Tell me what happened." "The T'Lani security sensors recorded the entire incident." " l want to see it." " l'll have it sent to you." "Miles was a fine officer and a fine man." "I'll miss him." "Thank you, Commander." "I would like to be alone now." "If there's anything you need, just let me know." " Chief." " lt's my eyes." "They're getting fuzzy." " l'll take over." " You can't fix it." "You're going to talk me through it." "Take a seat." "Maybe." "Just for a minute or two." "Tell me where you left off." "You see the dark blue coil in the upper right-hand corner?" "No." "It's there, beside the green cylinder." "Just below it." " l see it." " You have to..." "You have to lock the base of the coil into the tiny receptor just below it." "I just remembered I still have Julian's medical school diaries." "You read them?" "He felt they would help me understand him better." "By reading about all the women he went out with?" "That's not what they were about." "He told me that they were about his innermost thoughts, his struggle to graduate top of his class, his dream of having a career in Starfleet, his constant fear of failure." "Really?" "And did you?" "Understand him better?" "I never got around to reading them." "I suppose I should send them to his parents." " You could keep them." " Really?" "I think he'd like that." "He cared a great deal about you." "I know." "I cared about him too." "These are on the house." "How come?" "A toast to the memory of Chief O'Brien and Dr Bashir." "That's very thoughtful, Quark." "I can be thoughtful." "To our departed comrades." "We may have had our differences, but I'll say this for them." "It's the highest tribute I can think of:" "they were good customers, always paid their bar bills on time." " That's it?" " l'm not done yet." "At times like this, I'm reminded of the 57th Rule of Acquisition:" ""Good customers are as rare as latinum." ""Treasure them."" "Major, I need to see Commander Sisko." "It's very important." "I wanted you to know how sorry I am." "How sorry we all are." "Thank you." " lf anyone wants to build these..." " lt's coming up in a few seconds." "Computer, freeze image." " Do you see it?" " l see the chief drinking coffee." " Now look at the time index." " 15:00 hours." "Miles never drinks coffee in the afternoon. lt keeps him up." "Maybe he made an exception." "Working long hours..." "My husband never drinks coffee late in the day." "Maybe it's tea." "The data clip contained a spectroscopic analysis." "The liquid consists of vegetable-based oils and caffeine." "It's coffee." " Someone altered the recording?" " And I want to know why." "When were you planning on bringing the Ganges back from T'Lani lll?" " Tomorrow." " l see no reason to wait." " l'll leave right away." " Good. I'll come with you." "Mrs O'Brien, if this recording has been altered, we'll find out why." "You were right." "The contacts on the sub-processor are corroded." "They need to be cleaned." "I think there are some sterile pads in the med kit." "Here we go." "Don't leave me, Chief." "I still need you." "Don't worry." "I'm not going anywhere." " So who was she?" " Who?" ""Not quite." "Close."" "Palis." "Palis Delon." "She was a ballerina." "She had the most exquisite feet." "I'm serious. it's important for a dancer to have good arches." "She was gorgeous, not to mention brilliant." "I couldn't believe how anyone could be so graceful." " She was crazy about you?" " We were crazy about each other." "I used to think, "Julian, you lucky devil." ""You've found the perfect woman."" "We used to finish each other's thoughts." "There." " What do you think?" " Good." "Put it back in the com panel." "Looks like we have some power." "No response from the transmitter." "Try retuning the RF-oscillators." "So what happened with you and Palis?" "What happened is I graduated." "Her father was the administrator at a medical complex in Paris." "He offered me a job, said I'd be chief of surgery in five years." "But you'd have to give up your Starfleet career." "I can't tell you how close I came." "But here I am." " You made your choice." " Yeah." "Sometimes I wake up in the night and I think to myself:" ""Will I ever find anyone that wonderful again?"" "The oscillator's working, but the frequency's fluctuating." "Let me take a look." " What is it?" " lt's my legs." "I can't feel them." "We're approaching T'Lani lll, in orbit alongside the Ganges." "Open a channel to the T'Lani cruiser." "Commander Sisko, what a pleasant surprise." "You're here for your runabout?" "We're leaving for the memorial service." "You're welcome to join us." "Perhaps we will." "First I'd like to see where the accident took place." "Of course." "I'll beam over to the Ganges and take a look around." "Good idea." "Chief, it's working." "Signal's very faint." "Switch to a higher carrier frequency." "Reset the actuators on the chamber's coil." "It's weak. I'm sending a distress signal every two minutes." "Let's hope the T'Lani find us before the Kelleruns." "They'd better get here soon." "Don't worry, Chief." "I'm going to get you home." " ln a box maybe." " Don't give up on me now." "I'm not giving up." "I'm dying." "Listen to me, Julian." " You must tell Keiko and Molly..." " You'll tell them yourself." "You were wrong, you know?" "About marriage." " Whatever you say, Chief." " Listen to me, Julian!" "You're the one who's always talking about adventure." "Adventure!" "Marriage is the greatest adventure of them all." "It's filled with pitfalls and setbacks and mistakes, but it's a journey worth taking because you take it together." "I know Keiko's been unhappy about us coming to the station." "We still argue about it." "But that's all right." "At the end of the day, we both know we love each other." " That's all that matters." " You'd better get some rest." "The T'Lani will be here soon." "There's still some traces of the radiation pulse." "That's to be expected, but it poses no danger." "Have you learned anything else about the device that caused the accident?" "We're working on it." "Ambassador Sharat brought you the data clip?" "He showed it to you when you arrived?" "Of course." "Could it have been altered before you saw it?" "Why would Ambassador Sharat alter the data clip?" " l have no idea." " Dax to Sisko." "When you're through, could you join me on the Ganges?" "I'll be here a few more minutes." "The T'Lani and the Kellerun have made peace." "That peace cannot survive unless both sides trust each other." "What is it?" "Someone erased five seconds from the Ganges' computer log." "I thought it was a power fluctuation, but the log shows traces of a remote transport command." "is there any indication of transporter activity?" "Somebody erased it later?" "Look at the time index when the call for transport came." "Three minutes after the accident." "If either Chief O'Brien or Julian made that request..." "They would have been alive after the fail-safe device went off." "Chief..." "Don't leave me now." "Breathe." "That's better." "Now you're doing it." "Tell me, Julian." "Ever talk to that ballerina of yours?" "Not since I left Earth." " Maybe you should." " Maybe one day I will." "Chief O'Brien was infected when the Kelleruns attacked your ship." "They killed all the scientists." "You're too late, Sharat." "No, Doctor." "He's right on time." " Why kill Nydom and the others?" " To ensure peace will last." "We destroyed the harvesters." "There was no reason... lt's not enough to destroy them." "We have to be sure no one can recreate them." "The only way was to eliminate everyone who possessed such knowledge, including the two of you." "We have no use for such horrible weapons." "As long as the knowledge exists, there's a danger it may be used." "I am sorry, Doctor." "You have the consolation of knowing that your deaths will be for a noble cause." " Wait." " Let him speak." "Help me up." "I want to die on my feet." "I'm sorry I didn't get us home, Chief." "You did your best." "It's been an honour serving with you." "Thank you, Chief." "That means a lot." "Commander, am I glad to see you!" "He'll die if we don't get him back to the station." "He was exposed to the harvesters." "That should stabilise him." "They said you died." "We would have if the T'Lani and Kelleruns had had their way." "The T'Lani cruiser's hailing us." "Ignore them." "Send a distress signal on all Federation subspace frequencies." "They're blocking subspace communication with a broadband inversion." "They're hailing us again." "is the inversion affecting sensors as well?" "All short-range sensors are useless." "Which means theirs are useless too." "Commander Sisko is attempting to escape." "We're in pursuit." "Their runabout is no match for this ship." "Fire a warning shot." "Confirmed." " Commander Sisko's hailing us." " l thought he would." "By firing on this vessel, you've committed an act of war." "We have no quarrel with the Federation, but we insist you turn over Dr Bashir and Chief O'Brien." " So you can murder them?" " Unfortunately, your officers have seen the data on the development of the harvesters." "They have no intention of using that information." "That is irrelevant." "The threat remains as long as the knowledge exists." "I know this is painful." "It wasn't easy to order the deaths of our own people." " And if I refuse to turn them over?" " You can't fight us." "We can destroy your runabout." "Dax and I know nothing of the harvesters." "We'll do whatever we have to." "You have one minute to turn over Dr Bashir and Chief O'Brien." "You want them?" "You'll have to take us all." " He leaves us no choice." " The runabout is turning." "Full stop." " He's preparing to fire." " Employ shields." " Shields employed." " Put the runabout on screen." "He knows his phasers can't hurt us." " He's aiming his vessel at us." " The man must be crazy." "Fire phasers." "It's over." "Head back to T'Lani lll." "Prepare to take the other runabout in tow." "Sensors indicate the other runabout is no longer in orbit." " Then where is it?" " l don't know." " lt's gone." " lt can't have disappeared." "I'm picking up a warp signature." "Sisko." "Maybe they weren't on that runabout we destroyed." "They could have transported to the other runabout." "And then piloted the first ship by remote navigation." " But we saw them die." " Did we?" " What's this?" " Something Molly made for you." "It's lovely." "She has real talent." " How's my patient?" " Better." "Can I go home?" "You should be out of here by tomorrow." "I wanted you to know how much I appreciated what you said on T'Lani lll." " What did I say?" " lt was an honour serving with me." " Right." " l'd like to return the compliment." "It's been an honour serving with you too, Chief." "They say when two people face death together, it creates a bond that cannot be broken." " l never believed that..." " Julian." "Oh." "Erm...of course, you'd like to be alone. I understand." " Miles, he saved your life." " He'll never let me forget it." "What was it like spending all that time with him?" "It was hell." "The man never stops talking." "I wouldn't mind a cup of coffee right now." "You never drink coffee in the afternoon." " Sure I do." " You do?"