Post by magicmuggle01 on Apr 20, 2019 11:43:39 GMT
A Federation ambassador brings newly-promoted Captain Sisko orders to take the Defiant on a patrol of the Tzenkethi border, where a destabilizing coup has just taken place, but everything is not as it seems. (Season finale)
Summary
"Commander's log, stardate 48959.1. It is with mixed emotions that I record this, my final commander's log. The last three years have been the most demanding, and rewarding, of my career. I can only hope that the future will hold even greater challenges."
Congratulations... Captain Sisko.
"Dad, there's something I've been wanting to say to you for a long time and now that I finally have the chance, I'm going to make it short and simple..."
The opening words in the wardroom from Benjamin Sisko's son Jake as he proudly places a fourth pip on his father's dress uniform, proclaiming him Captain Sisko. The two embrace as cheers erupt from the crew; being congratulated by his colleagues and as Quark serves the champagne, Chateau Cleon, 2303, Federation Ambassador Krajensky informs Sisko that a coup has taken place on the Tzenkethi homeworld. Sisko is to take the ambassador and the USS Defiant to that sector in two days to remind the Tzenkethi of the Federation's presence on nearby colony worlds, to "show the flag," as Sisko puts it.
In the Defiant's engine room, Captain Sisko orders Chief Miles O'Brien to begin preparing the ship for combat in case the Tzenkethi start looking for trouble. As O'Brien begins his work, he hears a noise in the engine room, but sees no one.
Act One
"My son, the writer, thinks that I should say something profound on this occasion. He even offered to write me a brief statement. I told him I'd take care of it myself, but as it turns out, the only thing I can think of is: Begin captain's log, stardate 48960.9."
In the Defiant's turbolift, Lieutenant Jadzia Dax asks Sisko if he has told Kasidy Yates about his promotion. Sisko says he hasn't, and that he barely had time to even tell his father the news. Dax presses Sisko about his relationship with Kasidy, saying that the whole crew is curious. Sisko tells Dax that the next time he sees Kasidy, he's taking her to the seventh game of the 1964 World Series in the holosuite. Dax, amused by Sisko's response, concludes that he likes Kasidy.
Arriving on the bridge, Sisko orders the Defiant to get underway. Not long after departing Deep Space 9, O'Brien is working in a jefferies tube. He hears the noise again; then suddenly takes a great fright before Doctor Julian Bashir appears from another tube. He asks the doctor why he didn't answer his call; Bashir explains that he was tying a new medical console into the main power grid. After Bashir leaves, a curious O'Brien takes a look at what the doctor has done and seems impressed, saying it wasn't a bad job for an extension course.
In the mess hall, Sisko tells his Chief of Starfleet security, Lieutenant Commander Michael Eddington, to keep the ambassador out of harm's way in case the Tzenkethi decide to engage the Defiant. Eddington again congratulates Sisko on his promotion, and Sisko tells him that it really doesn't change anything as he already has the assignment and the crew he wants. Eddington notes that when people join Starfleet, they don't do so to become Commanders or Admirals but always set their eyes on the captain's chair, and laments that he isn't likely to ever do that. Sisko suggests that Eddington could apply for a transfer from security to command, but Eddington reassures Sisko that he's happy where he is.
"Captain's log, stardate 48962.5. We are twelve hours from the border. I haven't been in this area since the last Federation-Tzenkethi War. Being here brings back a lot of memories, most of them bad."
On the bridge, Constable Odo picks up a distress call from Barisa Prime. The colony reports that it is under attack before the Defiant suddenly loses contact.
Act Two
"Captain's log, supplemental. We've been unable to re-establish contact with Barisa Prime. Therefore, I have no choice but to assume we are at war with the Tzenkethi."
The Defiant sets course for Barisa Prime, and Sisko asks Odo to notify Starfleet Command of the situation. Dax tries to contact the USS Ulysses, which is the closest starship, but to no avail. Odo reports that the communication system is malfunctioning. O'Brien and Dax are dispatched to make repairs.
In the jefferies tube, Dax and O'Brien find several tendril-like devices working their way into the Defiant's systems. They are protected by force fields, making them difficult to remove. O'Brien reports to Sisko that the devices are all over the ship, attached to almost every critical system. O'Brien states that these devices were not aboard when the Defiant left Deep Space 9, leading to the conclusion that someone on board is a saboteur. O'Brien reluctantly informs Sisko about his encounter with Bashir in the jefferies tube earlier. Sisko insists that he is not accusing Bashir of sabotage, but still would like to speak with him. However, Dax comes up with an idea to find out for sure who placed the devices.
On the bridge, Sisko notifies his crew of the situation. Dax scans the crew for tetryon particles with a tricorder, since the saboteur would have been exposed to them when the devices were installed. Dax points out that her and O'Brien's scans have come up positive since they were exposed to the particles when they discovered the devices, meaning that if no-one else tests positive then they'll be the prime suspects. The senior staff tests negative, including Bashir, much to O'Brien's relief. As Dax scans Ambassador Krajensky, O'Brien talks with Bashir about their encounter in the jefferies tube, of which Bashir has no memory. The scan completes, and Krajensky tests positive. Suddenly, the ambassador changes form and escapes the bridge through the ventilation system, revealing himself to be a Changeling.
Act Three
The senior staff of the Defiant
strategize on how to stop the
Changeling
The Defiant cloaks and Sisko orders Dax to bring the ship out of warp, but she cannot. O'Brien cannot uncloak the ship and Major Kira Nerys reports that the ship's phasers and photon torpedoes are armed. The crew has lost control of the Defiant. Sisko orders Odo and Eddington to begin a search for the Changeling before he can do any more damage, but they are unable to locate him. In the Defiant's mess hall, Odo is confident that the Changeling is still on board, saying that he will not leave until his mission is completed. Sisko believes that the Changeling's goal is to start a war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi, speculating that the distress call from Barisa Prime was faked, and goes so far as to suggest that their entire mission was engineered by the Dominion.
Knowing that the Changeling can impersonate anyone on board, Sisko orders all non-essential personnel to be confined to quarters and sealed in with force fields, and that no one be left alone. After issuing weapons and orders to the security officers, Odo tells Eddington how he has never found it necessary to fire a weapon or take a life throughout his security career. In the middle of their conversation, O'Brien calls for a security team to be sent to the engine room. Odo and Eddington arrive to find Dax unconscious. Bashir reports that she has a severe concussion and takes her to sickbay.
On the bridge, Bashir tells Sisko that Dax will be unconscious for the next couple of days, leaving O'Brien alone in his attempts to regain control of the ship. Sisko tells Kira that he cannot allow the Changeling to start a war with the Tzenkethi, and that if O'Brien can't regain control of the ship, he'll have to destroy the Defiant.
Act Four
Sisko briefs the crew on their mission: They will break into two-person teams, each one equipped with phaser rifles, and systematically sweep the ship for the Changeling. A Bolian security officer voices his suspicions that the Changeling could be anyone of them, and Sisko reminds everyone to keep their partner in sight at all times for that very reason, and orders that anyone spotted alone be escorted to the brig.
The crew begins searching the ship. Eddington asks Odo where he thinks the Changeling might be, but Odo is unsure, unable to put himself in the Changeling's position since he does not know his own people that well. Meanwhile, while Sisko and another security officer are searching a jefferies tube, the Changeling suddenly attacks them. The security officer is knocked out, leaving Sisko to pursue alone. Having been alerted to the Changeling's position, the crew moves to intercept. Arriving in the transporter bay, the Bolian security officer fires in Sisko's direction, believing that he has spotted the Changeling. Kira arrives from the opposite direction and insists that she is who she says she is, despite the fact that she and her partner have been separated for several seconds. The Bolian continuously accuses Kira of being a Changeling, and is paranoid to the point of ignoring a direct order from Sisko to lower his weapon. Just then, Odo appears and knocks out the Bolian. Eddington appears a split second later from Kira's direction, leading Sisko to conclude that any one of them could be the Changeling. Odo notes however, that Sisko is bleeding and therefore could not be the Changeling, as material removed from a Changeling reverts to its natural form, and his blood is just that – blood. Sisko calls Bashir and orders him to meet them in the mess hall.
In the mess hall, Bashir begins performing blood screenings of the crew. Kira and the Bolian security officer prove to be themselves, but when Bashir tests Eddington, his blood reverts to a gelatinous state. As he is escorted to crew quarters, Eddington maintains that he is not the Changeling. As Eddington is about to be forced inside the room, the adjacent door suddenly bursts open to reveal the real Doctor Bashir yelling for help. The Changeling that took Bashir's place morphs into the ventilation system and Odo pursues. A call comes in from the bridge notifying Sisko that the Defiant has entered Tzenkethi space.
Act Five
Kira reports that the Defiant is twelve minutes away from a Tzenkethi settlement on M'kemas III. With this news, Sisko and Kira activate the auto-destruct sequence and set the timer for ten minutes. Sisko calls O'Brien in engineering and asks if he has had any progress in regaining control of the ship. O'Brien thinks he may have found a way to shut down the force fields and deactivate the devices. As O'Brien works, Odo and the Changeling – who is disguised as Odo – make their way into the engine room and each one tries to prove to the chief that the other is the saboteur. O'Brien refuses to play "choose the Changeling", and has the other officer in engineering keep his phaser pointed on both of them while he deactivates the force fields. As the force fields deactivate, the Changeling drops his disguise and attacks O'Brien and the engineering officer, leaving Odo to face the Changeling alone. As the two struggle, the Changeling forcibly merges with Odo trying to convince him to escape and and return to Great Link with him. Odo refuses and pushes the Changeling onto the warp core, fatally wounding it. Odo approaches and apologizes to the Changeling, who whispers something to Odo before he dies, turning into ash.
O'Brien regains control of the ship. After Sisko and Kira abort the auto-destruct sequence, the Defiant leaves Tzenkethi space and heads back to Deep Space 9.
"Captains log, supplemental. We've returned to the station without further incident. However, I'm concerned about my chief of security, who hasn't said a word since we left Tzenkethi space."
In the wardroom, Sisko tells the senior staff that the real Ambassador Krajensky disappeared on his way to Risa. Starfleet Security believes that he has been kidnapped, or possibly killed. Bashir asks about the coup on the Tzenkethi homeworld, to which Sisko responds that it never happened and that Starfleet wants a detailed report from the senior officers. Odo joins the meeting and informs Sisko of the Changeling's dying words: "You're too late. We're everywhere."
Memorable quotes
"You'd be surprised. People don't enter Starfleet to become commanders. Or admirals, for that matter. It's the captain's chair everyone has their eye on. That's what I wanted when I joined up."
- Michael Eddington
"Why are you protecting these solids? You don't belong with them. You belong with us. Let go. Don't you see? You've lost. It's too late for you to help them, but it's not too late to help yourself. Link with me, Odo. We can escape together."
"I... don't... think... so!!"
- Changeling saboteur and Odo
"Getting jumpy in your old age, O'Brien."
- Miles O'Brien, to himself
"Oh, JULIAN!"
- O'Brien, after the Changeling impersonating Bashir surprises him in a Jefferies tube
"Dad, there's something I've been wanting to say to you for a long time and now that I finally have the chance, I'm going to make it short and simple. Congratulations, Captain Sisko!"
- Jake Sisko, at his father's promotion
"Now that you have another pip on your collar, does that mean I can't disagree with you anymore?"
"No, it just means I'm never wrong."
"We'll see about that."
- Kira and Sisko
"Though I don't fully understand this humanoid obsession with rank and title, if anyone deserves to be promoted, it's you."
"Thank you, Constable."
- Odo and Sisko
"This calls for a toast!"
"That better not be from a replicator, Quark."
"Chateau Cleon, 2303 – I already put it on your account."
- Quark and Bashir
"Here's to the newest and best captain in Starfleet. And all I can say is, it's about time."
- O'Brien's toast to the newly promoted Captain Sisko
"Don't you trust me?"
"No, I don't."
"I know exactly how you feel."
- Kira and a Bolian security officer
[O'Brien is faced with two Odos]
"Look. I've got more important things to do than play 'Choose the Changeling'. Keep the phaser on both of them."
- O'Brien, when faced with deciding which shapeshifter is the real Odo
"Captain, there's something you need to know. The Changeling, before he died, he whispered something to me."
"Go on."
"He said, 'You're too late. We're everywhere'."
- Odo and Sisko
Summary
"Commander's log, stardate 48959.1. It is with mixed emotions that I record this, my final commander's log. The last three years have been the most demanding, and rewarding, of my career. I can only hope that the future will hold even greater challenges."
Congratulations... Captain Sisko.
"Dad, there's something I've been wanting to say to you for a long time and now that I finally have the chance, I'm going to make it short and simple..."
The opening words in the wardroom from Benjamin Sisko's son Jake as he proudly places a fourth pip on his father's dress uniform, proclaiming him Captain Sisko. The two embrace as cheers erupt from the crew; being congratulated by his colleagues and as Quark serves the champagne, Chateau Cleon, 2303, Federation Ambassador Krajensky informs Sisko that a coup has taken place on the Tzenkethi homeworld. Sisko is to take the ambassador and the USS Defiant to that sector in two days to remind the Tzenkethi of the Federation's presence on nearby colony worlds, to "show the flag," as Sisko puts it.
In the Defiant's engine room, Captain Sisko orders Chief Miles O'Brien to begin preparing the ship for combat in case the Tzenkethi start looking for trouble. As O'Brien begins his work, he hears a noise in the engine room, but sees no one.
Act One
"My son, the writer, thinks that I should say something profound on this occasion. He even offered to write me a brief statement. I told him I'd take care of it myself, but as it turns out, the only thing I can think of is: Begin captain's log, stardate 48960.9."
In the Defiant's turbolift, Lieutenant Jadzia Dax asks Sisko if he has told Kasidy Yates about his promotion. Sisko says he hasn't, and that he barely had time to even tell his father the news. Dax presses Sisko about his relationship with Kasidy, saying that the whole crew is curious. Sisko tells Dax that the next time he sees Kasidy, he's taking her to the seventh game of the 1964 World Series in the holosuite. Dax, amused by Sisko's response, concludes that he likes Kasidy.
Arriving on the bridge, Sisko orders the Defiant to get underway. Not long after departing Deep Space 9, O'Brien is working in a jefferies tube. He hears the noise again; then suddenly takes a great fright before Doctor Julian Bashir appears from another tube. He asks the doctor why he didn't answer his call; Bashir explains that he was tying a new medical console into the main power grid. After Bashir leaves, a curious O'Brien takes a look at what the doctor has done and seems impressed, saying it wasn't a bad job for an extension course.
In the mess hall, Sisko tells his Chief of Starfleet security, Lieutenant Commander Michael Eddington, to keep the ambassador out of harm's way in case the Tzenkethi decide to engage the Defiant. Eddington again congratulates Sisko on his promotion, and Sisko tells him that it really doesn't change anything as he already has the assignment and the crew he wants. Eddington notes that when people join Starfleet, they don't do so to become Commanders or Admirals but always set their eyes on the captain's chair, and laments that he isn't likely to ever do that. Sisko suggests that Eddington could apply for a transfer from security to command, but Eddington reassures Sisko that he's happy where he is.
"Captain's log, stardate 48962.5. We are twelve hours from the border. I haven't been in this area since the last Federation-Tzenkethi War. Being here brings back a lot of memories, most of them bad."
On the bridge, Constable Odo picks up a distress call from Barisa Prime. The colony reports that it is under attack before the Defiant suddenly loses contact.
Act Two
"Captain's log, supplemental. We've been unable to re-establish contact with Barisa Prime. Therefore, I have no choice but to assume we are at war with the Tzenkethi."
The Defiant sets course for Barisa Prime, and Sisko asks Odo to notify Starfleet Command of the situation. Dax tries to contact the USS Ulysses, which is the closest starship, but to no avail. Odo reports that the communication system is malfunctioning. O'Brien and Dax are dispatched to make repairs.
In the jefferies tube, Dax and O'Brien find several tendril-like devices working their way into the Defiant's systems. They are protected by force fields, making them difficult to remove. O'Brien reports to Sisko that the devices are all over the ship, attached to almost every critical system. O'Brien states that these devices were not aboard when the Defiant left Deep Space 9, leading to the conclusion that someone on board is a saboteur. O'Brien reluctantly informs Sisko about his encounter with Bashir in the jefferies tube earlier. Sisko insists that he is not accusing Bashir of sabotage, but still would like to speak with him. However, Dax comes up with an idea to find out for sure who placed the devices.
On the bridge, Sisko notifies his crew of the situation. Dax scans the crew for tetryon particles with a tricorder, since the saboteur would have been exposed to them when the devices were installed. Dax points out that her and O'Brien's scans have come up positive since they were exposed to the particles when they discovered the devices, meaning that if no-one else tests positive then they'll be the prime suspects. The senior staff tests negative, including Bashir, much to O'Brien's relief. As Dax scans Ambassador Krajensky, O'Brien talks with Bashir about their encounter in the jefferies tube, of which Bashir has no memory. The scan completes, and Krajensky tests positive. Suddenly, the ambassador changes form and escapes the bridge through the ventilation system, revealing himself to be a Changeling.
Act Three
The senior staff of the Defiant
strategize on how to stop the
Changeling
The Defiant cloaks and Sisko orders Dax to bring the ship out of warp, but she cannot. O'Brien cannot uncloak the ship and Major Kira Nerys reports that the ship's phasers and photon torpedoes are armed. The crew has lost control of the Defiant. Sisko orders Odo and Eddington to begin a search for the Changeling before he can do any more damage, but they are unable to locate him. In the Defiant's mess hall, Odo is confident that the Changeling is still on board, saying that he will not leave until his mission is completed. Sisko believes that the Changeling's goal is to start a war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi, speculating that the distress call from Barisa Prime was faked, and goes so far as to suggest that their entire mission was engineered by the Dominion.
Knowing that the Changeling can impersonate anyone on board, Sisko orders all non-essential personnel to be confined to quarters and sealed in with force fields, and that no one be left alone. After issuing weapons and orders to the security officers, Odo tells Eddington how he has never found it necessary to fire a weapon or take a life throughout his security career. In the middle of their conversation, O'Brien calls for a security team to be sent to the engine room. Odo and Eddington arrive to find Dax unconscious. Bashir reports that she has a severe concussion and takes her to sickbay.
On the bridge, Bashir tells Sisko that Dax will be unconscious for the next couple of days, leaving O'Brien alone in his attempts to regain control of the ship. Sisko tells Kira that he cannot allow the Changeling to start a war with the Tzenkethi, and that if O'Brien can't regain control of the ship, he'll have to destroy the Defiant.
Act Four
Sisko briefs the crew on their mission: They will break into two-person teams, each one equipped with phaser rifles, and systematically sweep the ship for the Changeling. A Bolian security officer voices his suspicions that the Changeling could be anyone of them, and Sisko reminds everyone to keep their partner in sight at all times for that very reason, and orders that anyone spotted alone be escorted to the brig.
The crew begins searching the ship. Eddington asks Odo where he thinks the Changeling might be, but Odo is unsure, unable to put himself in the Changeling's position since he does not know his own people that well. Meanwhile, while Sisko and another security officer are searching a jefferies tube, the Changeling suddenly attacks them. The security officer is knocked out, leaving Sisko to pursue alone. Having been alerted to the Changeling's position, the crew moves to intercept. Arriving in the transporter bay, the Bolian security officer fires in Sisko's direction, believing that he has spotted the Changeling. Kira arrives from the opposite direction and insists that she is who she says she is, despite the fact that she and her partner have been separated for several seconds. The Bolian continuously accuses Kira of being a Changeling, and is paranoid to the point of ignoring a direct order from Sisko to lower his weapon. Just then, Odo appears and knocks out the Bolian. Eddington appears a split second later from Kira's direction, leading Sisko to conclude that any one of them could be the Changeling. Odo notes however, that Sisko is bleeding and therefore could not be the Changeling, as material removed from a Changeling reverts to its natural form, and his blood is just that – blood. Sisko calls Bashir and orders him to meet them in the mess hall.
In the mess hall, Bashir begins performing blood screenings of the crew. Kira and the Bolian security officer prove to be themselves, but when Bashir tests Eddington, his blood reverts to a gelatinous state. As he is escorted to crew quarters, Eddington maintains that he is not the Changeling. As Eddington is about to be forced inside the room, the adjacent door suddenly bursts open to reveal the real Doctor Bashir yelling for help. The Changeling that took Bashir's place morphs into the ventilation system and Odo pursues. A call comes in from the bridge notifying Sisko that the Defiant has entered Tzenkethi space.
Act Five
Kira reports that the Defiant is twelve minutes away from a Tzenkethi settlement on M'kemas III. With this news, Sisko and Kira activate the auto-destruct sequence and set the timer for ten minutes. Sisko calls O'Brien in engineering and asks if he has had any progress in regaining control of the ship. O'Brien thinks he may have found a way to shut down the force fields and deactivate the devices. As O'Brien works, Odo and the Changeling – who is disguised as Odo – make their way into the engine room and each one tries to prove to the chief that the other is the saboteur. O'Brien refuses to play "choose the Changeling", and has the other officer in engineering keep his phaser pointed on both of them while he deactivates the force fields. As the force fields deactivate, the Changeling drops his disguise and attacks O'Brien and the engineering officer, leaving Odo to face the Changeling alone. As the two struggle, the Changeling forcibly merges with Odo trying to convince him to escape and and return to Great Link with him. Odo refuses and pushes the Changeling onto the warp core, fatally wounding it. Odo approaches and apologizes to the Changeling, who whispers something to Odo before he dies, turning into ash.
O'Brien regains control of the ship. After Sisko and Kira abort the auto-destruct sequence, the Defiant leaves Tzenkethi space and heads back to Deep Space 9.
"Captains log, supplemental. We've returned to the station without further incident. However, I'm concerned about my chief of security, who hasn't said a word since we left Tzenkethi space."
In the wardroom, Sisko tells the senior staff that the real Ambassador Krajensky disappeared on his way to Risa. Starfleet Security believes that he has been kidnapped, or possibly killed. Bashir asks about the coup on the Tzenkethi homeworld, to which Sisko responds that it never happened and that Starfleet wants a detailed report from the senior officers. Odo joins the meeting and informs Sisko of the Changeling's dying words: "You're too late. We're everywhere."
Memorable quotes
"You'd be surprised. People don't enter Starfleet to become commanders. Or admirals, for that matter. It's the captain's chair everyone has their eye on. That's what I wanted when I joined up."
- Michael Eddington
"Why are you protecting these solids? You don't belong with them. You belong with us. Let go. Don't you see? You've lost. It's too late for you to help them, but it's not too late to help yourself. Link with me, Odo. We can escape together."
"I... don't... think... so!!"
- Changeling saboteur and Odo
"Getting jumpy in your old age, O'Brien."
- Miles O'Brien, to himself
"Oh, JULIAN!"
- O'Brien, after the Changeling impersonating Bashir surprises him in a Jefferies tube
"Dad, there's something I've been wanting to say to you for a long time and now that I finally have the chance, I'm going to make it short and simple. Congratulations, Captain Sisko!"
- Jake Sisko, at his father's promotion
"Now that you have another pip on your collar, does that mean I can't disagree with you anymore?"
"No, it just means I'm never wrong."
"We'll see about that."
- Kira and Sisko
"Though I don't fully understand this humanoid obsession with rank and title, if anyone deserves to be promoted, it's you."
"Thank you, Constable."
- Odo and Sisko
"This calls for a toast!"
"That better not be from a replicator, Quark."
"Chateau Cleon, 2303 – I already put it on your account."
- Quark and Bashir
"Here's to the newest and best captain in Starfleet. And all I can say is, it's about time."
- O'Brien's toast to the newly promoted Captain Sisko
"Don't you trust me?"
"No, I don't."
"I know exactly how you feel."
- Kira and a Bolian security officer
[O'Brien is faced with two Odos]
"Look. I've got more important things to do than play 'Choose the Changeling'. Keep the phaser on both of them."
- O'Brien, when faced with deciding which shapeshifter is the real Odo
"Captain, there's something you need to know. The Changeling, before he died, he whispered something to me."
"Go on."
"He said, 'You're too late. We're everywhere'."
- Odo and Sisko
