Post by magicmuggle01 on Mar 1, 2019 10:54:11 GMT
On a mission to recover a Federation informant on the Dominion world of Soukara, Dax is injured and Worf must choose between completing the mission or saving his wife. Meanwhile, O'Brien enlists Bashir's help to defeat Quark in a game of tongo.
Summary
On Deep Space 9, tongo has recently been going well for Quark. He has won two hundred and six straight games in the last month. This night, Jadzia Dax is playing at Quark's bar, with Worf and Miles O'Brien watching from the second floor. The two make a bet on Dax', though she barely loses against Quark. Worf now owes O'Brien a bottle of Scotch whisky, though he doesn't feel bad. When he goes down to see her, he tells her he would rather lose betting on his wife than win betting on someone else.
In the middle of the following night, Kira calls for Worf and Dax regarding an emergency transmission from a Cardassian Starfleet operative. Since most of the runabouts and the USS Defiant are off on exercises with the Ninth Fleet, the couple must embark on a trip into the Badlands (where they will be able to contact the Cardassian) aboard the USS Shenandoah.
Act One
On their way to the Badlands, Worf and Dax discuss plans about their honeymoon. Worf suggests Vulcan's Forge as a suitable location, however Dax shoots it down instantly as she doesn't want to spend her honeymoon in the Forge during Vulcan's summer. She instead demands a relaxing vacation on Casperia Prime, arguing that Worf got to plan the wedding so she should get to choose the honeymoon… and is surprised when Worf accepts her argument and instantly agrees. After that, the conversation orients itself around a discussion about Worf's sense of humor and various habits and tolerance to change of the two of them – nothing very deep, but there's a sense of the bond that has developed between the two of them.
Back on the station, Julian Bashir arrives promptly at O'Brien's quarters in a tuxedo for another of their holosuite adventures, but O'Brien is occupied. Ignoring it, Bashir briefs O'Brien on their mission, however, he realizes O'Brien isn't paying attention and sits down, disappointed. Due to Quark's long running streak, the chief has been inspired to set his mind to a new challenge: to end Quark's streak. When Bashir realizes that he won't be able to get O'Brien up, the doctor accepts helping his friend practice the game for a bit.
Soon after they arrive at the coordinates in the Badlands, Worf and Dax receive a transmission from the Cardassian operative, Lasaran. The spy, disappointed to see a Klingon, informs them that he has information on every single Founder in the Alpha Quadrant. In return, he wants out immediately, as he is not secure any more. Furthermore, he can't wait, so demands the two come immediately, sending them extensive data about a rendezvous point near a Dominion base on Soukara, complete with instructions on avoiding its sensors. Worf and Dax will need to land in Soukara's jungle, due to the Dominion's transporter scramblers, to recover the informant. The two agree, and, with a regret on trusting the word of a Klingon, Lasaran ends the communication.
Act Two
After a while practicing, it's clear O'Brien isn't getting the hang of the game and Bashir is able to defeat him handily, though he just learned the game himself. Bashir tries to persuade him that he has no aptitude for tongo. O'Brien is determined to keep practicing, noting the challenge of it (and Keiko's absence), but he soon decides to change his plan; instead, Bashir, with his genetically-enhanced brain, should be able to easily beat Quark. Bashir clearly doesn't care about the game or the latinum, but is convinced when the look on Quark's face at being beaten by a Human is offered as a reward.
Meanwhile, Dax successfully pilots the Shenandoah through an asteroid field, where the sensor grid has its gaps, with her usual teasing since she's going fairly quickly. Worf is not nervous, though. She then evades detection from the planet's sensors and takes to finding a landing point. They'll need to land 20 km north of the rendezvous to keep away from ground sensors, and have only two days to cover the distance. They land on Soukara and head out with their gear, including phaser rifles.
Act Three
Dax and Worf successfully mask their lifesigns from sensors on the ground. They have some banter as they set out, as Worf comments they can't use their tricorders while it masks their lifesigns, but he is looking forward to not knowing what lies ahead.
Meanwhile, Bashir and O'Brien are finally ready to challenge Quark. Even though the Ferengi are reluctant to admit Humans to their table at first, they eventually accept. Eventually, there is only Bashir and Quark left at the tongo table, the bartender congratulating the doctor on his fast learning. Nevertheless, Quark has another card in his sleeve and soon begins a conversation about Bashir's past feelings for Dax and is able to distract the doctor long enough to drag him into a ruining confrontation against what finally reveals to be a total monopoly.
Dax and Worf carefully progress through the grueling jungle without incident. They camp that evening, listening to the indigenous wildlife and Worf relating his childhood trips to the Ural Mountains and the joy of listening to the wildlife. However, soon, Worf senses something coming from the changing noises of the wild. They hide as a patrol of three Jem'Hadar approaches. They kill all three, but Jadzia is hurt by a disruptor burst which leaves an anti-coagulant in her system leaving her at the risk of bleeding to death. Despite this, the two of them push onward, as the patrol's absence will be noticed.
Act Four
The two continue through the jungle, but it becomes increasingly clear that Dax will not be able to make the rendezvous with the Cardassian agent as she continues to lose blood. She is determined to go as far as she can while making light of the situation, however, she's frustrated when Worf doesn't reciprocate. He's in the seriousness of the moment, regretting letting his guard down earlier and not staying vigilant. Dax is determined to go as far as she can, waving off Worf's help in walking. She eventually can't walk and sits down. With four bandages changed in two hours, her wound is hard to ignore. With another light comment to get Worf to smile, she tries to settle herself. Worf responds he will smile all she wants when the mission is over.
Worf says they have three kilometers left and Dax tries again to stand, but, finally, Dax is unable to stand, even with a hypo.
Act Five
Dax's medical readings are becoming increasingly erratic and it's clear she requires surgery as soon as possible if she is to have any chance of surviving. The two agree that the information Lasaran has is invaluable and they both have a duty as Starfleet officers to ensure it gets delivered. However now Worf has to leave Dax behind in order to continue the mission, telling her he can return with Lasaren and get her into the runabout's stasis chamber within 45 hours although both know she will likely be dead by the time he returns. They share a heartfelt goodbye as Worf leaves.
As he heads towards the rendezvous, the sounds of the jungle and animals are drowned out as Worf can only hear his own heart beating. Eventually it gets to the point where Worf cannot proceed any further knowing his wife is dying. He decides to abort the mission, and heads back to Jadzia. By the time he gets to her she's unconscious, so he carries her back to the runabout.
Back on Deep Space 9, Dax gets the health care she needs. However, things do not go as well for her husband: his actions have led to Lasaran's death. Captain Sisko demands an explanation, and Worf tells him that as he went further and further into the jungle, he knew that he there was no way he could leave his wife behind, even knowing that he would almost certainly be ending his career as well as costing Starfleet the intelligence that could have saved millions of lives. Sisko tells Worf that the secrecy of the operation and Starfleet's desire to keep their intelligence activities under wraps will save him a court martial, but there will be a permanent note in his service record. As a result, Worf will almost certainly never be offered a command of his own after the incident. Sisko also issues orders that Worf and Dax are to be never sent on a mission alone again. However, off the record the captain tells Worf that as a man who once had a wife, that if it had been Jennifer lying there in the clearing, he would have made the same choice.
Worf visits the recovering Dax in her hospital bed and tells her that he didn't complete the mission. Dax is sorry that he hurt his career because of her, but Worf tells his wife that he isn't sorry as she is what matters, above his career and everything else and that if the situation arose again he would do exactly the same again. The two then reaffirm their love for each other.
Log entries
"Shenandoah Log, Stardate 51957.2. We have arrived at the designated coordinates near the Badlands and are awaiting the transmission from Lasaran."
It is interesting to note that, unlike this particular instance (where the log was recorded on the ship's log), in the DS9 Season 2 episode "Paradise", Commander Benjamin Sisko recorded a station log aboard the USS Rio Grande rather than recording a "Rio Grande log."
Memorable quotes
"Esh'ta par'Mach'kai!!"
- Worf, cheering Jadzia's tongo hand
"I didn't expect you to surrender so quickly."
"Surrender?!"
"Bad word."
"Very bad."
- Dax and Worf
"Worf, you're practically easygoing. What's next? A sense of humor?"
"I have a sense of humor! On the Enterprise I was considered to be quite amusing."
"That must have been one dull ship."
"That is a joke. I get it… it is not funny, but I get it."
- Dax and Worf
"A Klingon. Why do they have to send a Klingon?"
"I'm a Trill, does that make you feel any better?"
"Are you trying to be funny?"
"Not at all, he's the funny one."
- Lasaran and Dax
"Think of it as a challenge."
"That's your obsession, Miles, not mine."
"Do it for the latinum."
"Nice try."
"Do it for the satisfaction of the look on Quark's face when he's beaten at a game of tongo by a lowly hew-mon."
"Deal the cards."
- O'Brien and Bashir
"How are you enjoying your honeymoon? Are you suffering enough?"
"Almost."
"Anything I can get for you?"
"More pain, less cold."
- Dax and Worf
"Genetically enhanced or not, you're only hew-mon."
- O'Brien, to Bashir after his loss to Quark
"You were at my wedding. You heard the story of the first two Klingon hearts and how nothing could stand against them, and how they even destroyed the gods that created them. I have heard that story since I was a boy, but I never understood it, I mean really understood it, until I was standing in the jungle with my heart pounding in my chest and I found that even I could not stand against my own heart. I had to go back… and it did not matter what Starfleet thought or what the consequences were. She was my wife and I could not leave her."
"As your captain, it is my duty to inform you that you made the wrong choice. I don't think Starfleet will file any formal charges. Even a secret court-martial would run the risk of revealing too much about their intelligence operations. But this will go in to your service record… and to be completely honest, you probably won't be offered a command on your own after this."
"I understand."
"I have also issued new orders. You and Jadzia are not to be assigned to a mission on your own ever again. And one last thing. As a man who had a wife, if Jennifer had been lying in that clearing, I wouldn't have left her either."
- Worf and Benjamin Sisko
Summary
On Deep Space 9, tongo has recently been going well for Quark. He has won two hundred and six straight games in the last month. This night, Jadzia Dax is playing at Quark's bar, with Worf and Miles O'Brien watching from the second floor. The two make a bet on Dax', though she barely loses against Quark. Worf now owes O'Brien a bottle of Scotch whisky, though he doesn't feel bad. When he goes down to see her, he tells her he would rather lose betting on his wife than win betting on someone else.
In the middle of the following night, Kira calls for Worf and Dax regarding an emergency transmission from a Cardassian Starfleet operative. Since most of the runabouts and the USS Defiant are off on exercises with the Ninth Fleet, the couple must embark on a trip into the Badlands (where they will be able to contact the Cardassian) aboard the USS Shenandoah.
Act One
On their way to the Badlands, Worf and Dax discuss plans about their honeymoon. Worf suggests Vulcan's Forge as a suitable location, however Dax shoots it down instantly as she doesn't want to spend her honeymoon in the Forge during Vulcan's summer. She instead demands a relaxing vacation on Casperia Prime, arguing that Worf got to plan the wedding so she should get to choose the honeymoon… and is surprised when Worf accepts her argument and instantly agrees. After that, the conversation orients itself around a discussion about Worf's sense of humor and various habits and tolerance to change of the two of them – nothing very deep, but there's a sense of the bond that has developed between the two of them.
Back on the station, Julian Bashir arrives promptly at O'Brien's quarters in a tuxedo for another of their holosuite adventures, but O'Brien is occupied. Ignoring it, Bashir briefs O'Brien on their mission, however, he realizes O'Brien isn't paying attention and sits down, disappointed. Due to Quark's long running streak, the chief has been inspired to set his mind to a new challenge: to end Quark's streak. When Bashir realizes that he won't be able to get O'Brien up, the doctor accepts helping his friend practice the game for a bit.
Soon after they arrive at the coordinates in the Badlands, Worf and Dax receive a transmission from the Cardassian operative, Lasaran. The spy, disappointed to see a Klingon, informs them that he has information on every single Founder in the Alpha Quadrant. In return, he wants out immediately, as he is not secure any more. Furthermore, he can't wait, so demands the two come immediately, sending them extensive data about a rendezvous point near a Dominion base on Soukara, complete with instructions on avoiding its sensors. Worf and Dax will need to land in Soukara's jungle, due to the Dominion's transporter scramblers, to recover the informant. The two agree, and, with a regret on trusting the word of a Klingon, Lasaran ends the communication.
Act Two
After a while practicing, it's clear O'Brien isn't getting the hang of the game and Bashir is able to defeat him handily, though he just learned the game himself. Bashir tries to persuade him that he has no aptitude for tongo. O'Brien is determined to keep practicing, noting the challenge of it (and Keiko's absence), but he soon decides to change his plan; instead, Bashir, with his genetically-enhanced brain, should be able to easily beat Quark. Bashir clearly doesn't care about the game or the latinum, but is convinced when the look on Quark's face at being beaten by a Human is offered as a reward.
Meanwhile, Dax successfully pilots the Shenandoah through an asteroid field, where the sensor grid has its gaps, with her usual teasing since she's going fairly quickly. Worf is not nervous, though. She then evades detection from the planet's sensors and takes to finding a landing point. They'll need to land 20 km north of the rendezvous to keep away from ground sensors, and have only two days to cover the distance. They land on Soukara and head out with their gear, including phaser rifles.
Act Three
Dax and Worf successfully mask their lifesigns from sensors on the ground. They have some banter as they set out, as Worf comments they can't use their tricorders while it masks their lifesigns, but he is looking forward to not knowing what lies ahead.
Meanwhile, Bashir and O'Brien are finally ready to challenge Quark. Even though the Ferengi are reluctant to admit Humans to their table at first, they eventually accept. Eventually, there is only Bashir and Quark left at the tongo table, the bartender congratulating the doctor on his fast learning. Nevertheless, Quark has another card in his sleeve and soon begins a conversation about Bashir's past feelings for Dax and is able to distract the doctor long enough to drag him into a ruining confrontation against what finally reveals to be a total monopoly.
Dax and Worf carefully progress through the grueling jungle without incident. They camp that evening, listening to the indigenous wildlife and Worf relating his childhood trips to the Ural Mountains and the joy of listening to the wildlife. However, soon, Worf senses something coming from the changing noises of the wild. They hide as a patrol of three Jem'Hadar approaches. They kill all three, but Jadzia is hurt by a disruptor burst which leaves an anti-coagulant in her system leaving her at the risk of bleeding to death. Despite this, the two of them push onward, as the patrol's absence will be noticed.
Act Four
The two continue through the jungle, but it becomes increasingly clear that Dax will not be able to make the rendezvous with the Cardassian agent as she continues to lose blood. She is determined to go as far as she can while making light of the situation, however, she's frustrated when Worf doesn't reciprocate. He's in the seriousness of the moment, regretting letting his guard down earlier and not staying vigilant. Dax is determined to go as far as she can, waving off Worf's help in walking. She eventually can't walk and sits down. With four bandages changed in two hours, her wound is hard to ignore. With another light comment to get Worf to smile, she tries to settle herself. Worf responds he will smile all she wants when the mission is over.
Worf says they have three kilometers left and Dax tries again to stand, but, finally, Dax is unable to stand, even with a hypo.
Act Five
Dax's medical readings are becoming increasingly erratic and it's clear she requires surgery as soon as possible if she is to have any chance of surviving. The two agree that the information Lasaran has is invaluable and they both have a duty as Starfleet officers to ensure it gets delivered. However now Worf has to leave Dax behind in order to continue the mission, telling her he can return with Lasaren and get her into the runabout's stasis chamber within 45 hours although both know she will likely be dead by the time he returns. They share a heartfelt goodbye as Worf leaves.
As he heads towards the rendezvous, the sounds of the jungle and animals are drowned out as Worf can only hear his own heart beating. Eventually it gets to the point where Worf cannot proceed any further knowing his wife is dying. He decides to abort the mission, and heads back to Jadzia. By the time he gets to her she's unconscious, so he carries her back to the runabout.
Back on Deep Space 9, Dax gets the health care she needs. However, things do not go as well for her husband: his actions have led to Lasaran's death. Captain Sisko demands an explanation, and Worf tells him that as he went further and further into the jungle, he knew that he there was no way he could leave his wife behind, even knowing that he would almost certainly be ending his career as well as costing Starfleet the intelligence that could have saved millions of lives. Sisko tells Worf that the secrecy of the operation and Starfleet's desire to keep their intelligence activities under wraps will save him a court martial, but there will be a permanent note in his service record. As a result, Worf will almost certainly never be offered a command of his own after the incident. Sisko also issues orders that Worf and Dax are to be never sent on a mission alone again. However, off the record the captain tells Worf that as a man who once had a wife, that if it had been Jennifer lying there in the clearing, he would have made the same choice.
Worf visits the recovering Dax in her hospital bed and tells her that he didn't complete the mission. Dax is sorry that he hurt his career because of her, but Worf tells his wife that he isn't sorry as she is what matters, above his career and everything else and that if the situation arose again he would do exactly the same again. The two then reaffirm their love for each other.
Log entries
"Shenandoah Log, Stardate 51957.2. We have arrived at the designated coordinates near the Badlands and are awaiting the transmission from Lasaran."
It is interesting to note that, unlike this particular instance (where the log was recorded on the ship's log), in the DS9 Season 2 episode "Paradise", Commander Benjamin Sisko recorded a station log aboard the USS Rio Grande rather than recording a "Rio Grande log."
Memorable quotes
"Esh'ta par'Mach'kai!!"
- Worf, cheering Jadzia's tongo hand
"I didn't expect you to surrender so quickly."
"Surrender?!"
"Bad word."
"Very bad."
- Dax and Worf
"Worf, you're practically easygoing. What's next? A sense of humor?"
"I have a sense of humor! On the Enterprise I was considered to be quite amusing."
"That must have been one dull ship."
"That is a joke. I get it… it is not funny, but I get it."
- Dax and Worf
"A Klingon. Why do they have to send a Klingon?"
"I'm a Trill, does that make you feel any better?"
"Are you trying to be funny?"
"Not at all, he's the funny one."
- Lasaran and Dax
"Think of it as a challenge."
"That's your obsession, Miles, not mine."
"Do it for the latinum."
"Nice try."
"Do it for the satisfaction of the look on Quark's face when he's beaten at a game of tongo by a lowly hew-mon."
"Deal the cards."
- O'Brien and Bashir
"How are you enjoying your honeymoon? Are you suffering enough?"
"Almost."
"Anything I can get for you?"
"More pain, less cold."
- Dax and Worf
"Genetically enhanced or not, you're only hew-mon."
- O'Brien, to Bashir after his loss to Quark
"You were at my wedding. You heard the story of the first two Klingon hearts and how nothing could stand against them, and how they even destroyed the gods that created them. I have heard that story since I was a boy, but I never understood it, I mean really understood it, until I was standing in the jungle with my heart pounding in my chest and I found that even I could not stand against my own heart. I had to go back… and it did not matter what Starfleet thought or what the consequences were. She was my wife and I could not leave her."
"As your captain, it is my duty to inform you that you made the wrong choice. I don't think Starfleet will file any formal charges. Even a secret court-martial would run the risk of revealing too much about their intelligence operations. But this will go in to your service record… and to be completely honest, you probably won't be offered a command on your own after this."
"I understand."
"I have also issued new orders. You and Jadzia are not to be assigned to a mission on your own ever again. And one last thing. As a man who had a wife, if Jennifer had been lying in that clearing, I wouldn't have left her either."
- Worf and Benjamin Sisko
