The crew of the bridge stared at the unfolding scene on the main viewer. At the last moment, the Tzenkethi vessel slammed to a halt, then yawed on its axis. The tapering aft section of the teardrop-shaped hull swung around in an impossibly fast maneuver that must have overwhelmed the ship's inertial dampers. Sisko couldn't believe that the marauder didn't tear itself apart.

The tip of the Tzenkethi ship sliced through the pylon supporting a.s.surance a.s.surance's starboard warp nacelle. An explosion bloomed outward, the fire and gas swallowed in the next instant by the emptiness of s.p.a.ce. Sisko watched in horror as the nacelle went spinning off in one direction while a.s.surance a.s.surance tumbled away in another. tumbled away in another.

"Weapons," said the captain. "Open fire as soon as we're in range." But as soon as the Tzenkethi marauder steadied after its attack on a.s.surance a.s.surance, it streaked away. "Initiate pursuit," Leyton said, throwing himself into the command chair.

"Sir," said Sisko, still gazing at the viewscreen. On it, a.s.surance a.s.surance plunged toward the planet. plunged toward the planet.

"Get me Walter," the captain said.

The scene that appeared on the main viewer contrasted radically with the one Sisko had seen earlier. Captain Walter, disheveled, his uniform sliced open down the right side of his chest, looked beaten, the bridge around him charred and smoky.

"Captain," he said, breathless, he said, breathless, "we're falling into the atmosphere and our impulse engines are down. My chief engineer and half her team are dead or wounded. We need a.s.sistance." "we're falling into the atmosphere and our impulse engines are down. My chief engineer and half her team are dead or wounded. We need a.s.sistance."

To Sisko's surprise, Leyton hesitated, then turned toward Snowden. "Lieutenant, speed and heading of the marauder."

Snowden took a beat to find the information. "They're traveling at warp five, on a direct course back to Coalition s.p.a.ce."

Leyton turned back toward the viewer. "Where they'll inform the Tzenkethi fleet what's happened here," he said. "They'll bring back an armada, and it's a certainty that they'll locate the bilitrium."

"Pull us out of the atmosphere and then go after them," Walter said. Walter said.

Again, Leyton hesitated. "Out tractor beam is down."

A shadow seemed to cross Captain Walter's face as he realized the implication. A rush of thoughts swirled through Sisko's mind. He considered the crew of a.s.surance a.s.surance activating their ship's tractor beam, and having activating their ship's tractor beam, and having Okinawa Okinawa travel into the beam to connect the two vessels and then haul it back into s.p.a.ce. travel into the beam to connect the two vessels and then haul it back into s.p.a.ce.

No good, Sisko thought. It would be too great a risk for Okinawa Okinawa, but- "Go after the Tzenkethi," Walter said evenly, though the color had drained from his face. Walter said evenly, though the color had drained from his face. "You have to prevent them from reporting back to their fleet and coming back here in force. The bilitrium . . ." "You have to prevent them from reporting back to their fleet and coming back here in force. The bilitrium . . ."

"George-" Leyton started to say, but Sisko interrupted him.

"Captain, give me three shuttles and I can pull the a.s.surance a.s.surance out of there," he said. "That way, you can stop the Tzenkethi." out of there," he said. "That way, you can stop the Tzenkethi."

This time, Captain Leyton didn't hesitate.

"Go."

Sisko sat at the operations console aboard the shuttlecraft Naha. Naha. Beside him, Master Chief Petty Officer Kozel, one of Beside him, Master Chief Petty Officer Kozel, one of Okinawa Okinawa's highest rated pilots, worked the conn. Through the forward ports loomed the ruddy form of Entelior IV, and somewhere below, the Starship a.s.surance Starship a.s.surance and its crew of seven hundred plummeted toward destruction. and its crew of seven hundred plummeted toward destruction.

"Nago and and Chatan Chatan signal that they're in formation and ready, Chief," Sisko told Kozel. "Take us in." signal that they're in formation and ready, Chief," Sisko told Kozel. "Take us in."

"Yes, sir," hissed the Saurian as his claws raked across his panel.

At once, Entelior IV seemed to rise outside the ports as Kozel aimed the shuttle's nose toward the planet's surface. Sisko checked the sensors and saw Nago Nago and and Chatan Chatan following closely behind, one off to port, one to starboard. Scans also picked out following closely behind, one off to port, one to starboard. Scans also picked out a.s.surance a.s.surance, thousands of kilometers below Okinawa Okinawa's trio of auxiliary craft.

Sisko reached up and opened a channel. "Shuttlecraft Naha Naha to to a.s.surance. a.s.surance."

"a.s.surance, Captain Walter here," Captain Walter here," came the immediate reply. came the immediate reply. "We don't have much time, Commander." "We don't have much time, Commander." Sisko perceived tension in his voice, but not panic. Sisko perceived tension in his voice, but not panic.

"I know, sir," Sisko said. "We're on our way. Activate your tractor beam now, at its maximum power and widest dispersal."

Sisko thought he heard Walter issue the order in the background, and then the captain said, "It's done." "It's done."

"Hold on tight, Captain," Sisko said. "We'll get you. Naha Naha out." He closed the channel, then studied the sensor readings of out." He closed the channel, then studied the sensor readings of a.s.surance. a.s.surance. He could see an alteration in the starship's flight dynamics-if you could call an unpowered, uncontrolled descent a flight-as the tractor beam wrestled with the atmosphere through which it pa.s.sed. Temperature readings for the meteor that He could see an alteration in the starship's flight dynamics-if you could call an unpowered, uncontrolled descent a flight-as the tractor beam wrestled with the atmosphere through which it pa.s.sed. Temperature readings for the meteor that a.s.surance a.s.surance had become continued to rise, portions of the hull measuring upwards of twelve hundred degrees. had become continued to rise, portions of the hull measuring upwards of twelve hundred degrees.

Sisko peered through the ports. "I see it," he said. Even against the red surface of Entelior IV, the blazing form of a.s.surance a.s.surance stood out. stood out.

Kozel did not even glance up once, his gaze fixed on his console. As the shuttle drew nearer the falling starship, he said, "I read the tractor beam. Plotting an entry course."

Sisko pulled up a navigation readout on his own display and watched as the flight plan for the shuttle took shape, calculated by computer and manipulated by Kozel. "I'm signaling Nago Nago and and Chatan Chatan that we're almost ready," Sisko said. He waited as that we're almost ready," Sisko said. He waited as a.s.surance a.s.surance grew ever larger. Beyond it, the surface of the planet filled the ports. grew ever larger. Beyond it, the surface of the planet filled the ports.

As the seconds seemed to elongate, Sisko wondered about a.s.surance a.s.surance's transporters. If they still functioned, they could theoretically transport the crew to safety. That would mean donning environmental suits in order to survive the hostile environment of Entelior IV. But there would have been enough time to beam down only a fraction of the seven hundred souls aboard the ship. Who would Captain Walter choose? How How would he choose? How do you tell a young girl or a young boy that you saved somebody else's mother or father, but not their own? would he choose? How do you tell a young girl or a young boy that you saved somebody else's mother or father, but not their own?

Sisko could not help but think of his own son. Jake would turn seven soon, and Sisko missed him terribly. The thought of never returning to him, of his son having to grow up without knowing his father, was almost too much even to consider. And Jennifer- Sisko squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He missed his wife so much, and to imagine her having to go on without him, having to raise Jake by herself, seemed cruel. It made him despise the Tzenkethi even more for the war, which had necessarily taken him away from his family. If he should- "Course laid in," Kozel said.

Sisko opened his eyes and examined his mirror navigation display, highlighted the course, then transmitted it to Nago Nago and and Chatan. Chatan. First one and then the other signaled their receipt and implementation of the course. First one and then the other signaled their receipt and implementation of the course.

Just ahead, an explosion startled Sisko. He felt as though an electric shock had coursed through his body as he imagined a.s.surance a.s.surance crashing into the ground. "Hold on!" Kozel yelled, and the shuttle decelerated rapidly, for a moment overpowering the inertial dampers. Sis...o...b..aced himself and kept his seat as he saw the other two shuttles shoot past crashing into the ground. "Hold on!" Kozel yelled, and the shuttle decelerated rapidly, for a moment overpowering the inertial dampers. Sis...o...b..aced himself and kept his seat as he saw the other two shuttles shoot past Naha. Naha.

"What-?" Sisko said, but then another object appeared spinning through the sky. Sisko had just enough time to recognize it as a.s.surance a.s.surance's other warp nacelle before Nago Nago slammed into it. slammed into it.

The shuttle exploded.

Kozel veered to port and accelerated, outrunning the wreckage as it too now fell toward the planet. Sisko looked around wildly, finally seeing Chatan Chatan continuing its own flight. Quickly, it fell back into formation. continuing its own flight. Quickly, it fell back into formation.

"Implementing course," Kozel said as they finally reached a.s.surance. a.s.surance. The shuttle hove to port and headed for the blue-white light emanating from the forward section of the primary hull. As Sisko watched the tractor beam, he began to feel dizzy, and he realized that he shouldn't look at the wheeling coruscation of light. He focused instead on his console. The shuttle hove to port and headed for the blue-white light emanating from the forward section of the primary hull. As Sisko watched the tractor beam, he began to feel dizzy, and he realized that he shouldn't look at the wheeling coruscation of light. He focused instead on his console.

He felt the shuttle veer again, then jolt as it entered the field of the tractor beam. The cabin brightened within the illumination. He checked the sensors to see that Chatan Chatan had followed them inside. had followed them inside.

"We're hooked," Kozel said. "Pulling up."

The sound of the shuttle's drive changed, grew labored as it struggled against the tractor beam. Sisko's engineering background had allowed him to roughly calculate that three of Okinawa Okinawa's shuttles would be able to haul a.s.surance a.s.surance out of its fall. He didn't know if only two would. out of its fall. He didn't know if only two would.

Again he thought of Jennifer and Jake.

The sound of the engines worsened, whining under the strain. Sisko checked the sensors. a.s.surance a.s.surance had straightened out, its bow now pointing toward the sky, but its velocity continued unchanged. After several seconds, though, it finally began to decelerate. had straightened out, its bow now pointing toward the sky, but its velocity continued unchanged. After several seconds, though, it finally began to decelerate.

But not enough.

The starship continued falling toward the planet, pulling the two shuttles with it. "Keep going," Sisko said, his eyes not leaving the velocity gauge. The three vessels, tethered together by the tractor beam, slowed more and more.

Entelior IV raced upward at them.

All at once, the light inside the cabin changed, the engines quieted, and Naha Naha shot forward, up into the sky. shot forward, up into the sky.

"What happened?" Kozel asked, obviously surprised.

Sisko examined the sensors. "They cut the tractor beam," he said, realizing that Captain Walter had not wanted to haul the two shuttles down to the planet with a.s.surance. a.s.surance. "Turn us around," he said, even as he adjusted the sensors to scan the surface of the planet. "Turn us around," he said, even as he adjusted the sensors to scan the surface of the planet.

Kozel brought the shuttle around and headed it down toward the planet. Chatan Chatan came into view for a moment as it followed came into view for a moment as it followed Naha Naha, and then Sisko saw a.s.surance. a.s.surance. It lay on an open plain, the primary and secondary hulls flat on the surface, the dorsal connector between them shattered. It lay on an open plain, the primary and secondary hulls flat on the surface, the dorsal connector between them shattered.

Sisko keyed open a channel. "Naha to to a.s.surance, a.s.surance," he said. "Come in, a.s.surance. a.s.surance."

When he received no response, his heart sank. He desperately checked the sensors and, to his surprise, read life signs within the wreckage-many life signs. life signs.

"a.s.surance to to Naha Naha," came the voice of Captain Walter. Beside Sisko, Kozel threw his hands into the air in an obvious expression of joy. came the voice of Captain Walter. Beside Sisko, Kozel threw his hands into the air in an obvious expression of joy.

"Naha here, Captain," Sisko said, unable to keep the smile from his face. "What's your status?" here, Captain," Sisko said, unable to keep the smile from his face. "What's your status?"

"I don't think a.s.surance a.s.surance will be headed back out into s.p.a.ce anytime soon," will be headed back out into s.p.a.ce anytime soon," Walter said, " Walter said, "but thanks to you, most of my crew will."

Emotion filled Sisko, and he found himself unable to say anything.

"The hull is pretty badly damaged," Walter continued, Walter continued, "but we still have power, and that means life support and our structural integrity field, so we should be all right here for a while." "but we still have power, and that means life support and our structural integrity field, so we should be all right here for a while."

"We'll put down next to you, Captain," Sisko said, finding his voice again. "I hope you won't mind a few visitors."

"Not at all, Commander," Walter said. Walter said. "I daresay there are some people here who want to thank you and your team." "I daresay there are some people here who want to thank you and your team."

"I'll let you know when we're ready to beam aboard," Sisko said. "Naha out." He turned to Kozel. "Take us down," he said, and then contacted out." He turned to Kozel. "Take us down," he said, and then contacted Chatan Chatan to inform its crew. to inform its crew.

As the shuttle approached the broken form of a.s.surance a.s.surance, Sisko thought about Nago. Nago. Crewman b.u.t.terfield and Senior Petty Officer Lintosian'a had been aboard. Sisko tried to tell himself that they had given their lives to save hundreds of others, but he doubted that would be much comfort to the people who loved them. Crewman b.u.t.terfield and Senior Petty Officer Lintosian'a had been aboard. Sisko tried to tell himself that they had given their lives to save hundreds of others, but he doubted that would be much comfort to the people who loved them.

Only later would he realize that their fast and painless deaths would make them among the luckier Starfleet personnel on Entelior IV.

Sisko sat on the edge of the bed in the guest quarters a.s.signed to him aboard what had once been the Starship a.s.surance Starship a.s.surance, but which now amounted to nothing more than a temporary shelter. Enough of a.s.surance a.s.surance remained intact and functioning to keep the crew comfortable enough until remained intact and functioning to keep the crew comfortable enough until Okinawa Okinawa returned and effected a rescue. If necessary, they could even last the five days it would take for Starfleet reinforcements to arrive in the system. For the time being, they would not risk broadcasting a distress signal so close to Tzenkethi territory, but if no Starfleet personnel arrived within the next six days, they would have to consider doing so. returned and effected a rescue. If necessary, they could even last the five days it would take for Starfleet reinforcements to arrive in the system. For the time being, they would not risk broadcasting a distress signal so close to Tzenkethi territory, but if no Starfleet personnel arrived within the next six days, they would have to consider doing so.

Sisko looked down at the padd in his hand. Once he and Kozel and the crew of the other shuttle had set down beside a.s.surance a.s.surance, they'd transported to the ship, where they'd been greeted as heroes. Fortunately, Captain Walter had recognized the strain that put them under, and he'd quickly provided them quarters so that they could get some privacy and some rest.

For Sisko, though, rest hadn't come. He'd lain awake in bed, his mind refusing to shut down. He thought about b.u.t.terfield and Lintosian'a, about the forty-seven people who had died aboard a.s.surance a.s.surance, and the eleven on Okinawa. Okinawa. He even thought about the crew of the Tzenkethi marauder. He even thought about the crew of the Tzenkethi marauder.

Too much death.

Sisko hadn't entered Starfleet to risk his life, or to see his colleagues killed, or to have to contribute to the taking of other lives. He was an engineer, not a soldier. Ship design interested him, not military tactics.

The previous year, when Captain Leyton had tapped him for a promotion to lieutenant commander, he'd been pleased. But when the captain had also pulled him out of engineering and into command, when he'd named him the ship's first officer, Sisko had been stunned. Too stunned to say no Too stunned to say no, he thought. In truth, he respected and admired Captain Leyton, and though Sisko hadn't planned on moving beyond the engineering division, he'd thought that perhaps the captain knew better.

His time as first officer of Okinawa Okinawa had developed well enough, he supposed, and he had performed at a satisfactory level, but he still felt undecided. He longed to talk with Jennifer about it. She had come to know him so well, and she often could provide him a perspective he hadn't considered-even about himself. had developed well enough, he supposed, and he had performed at a satisfactory level, but he still felt undecided. He longed to talk with Jennifer about it. She had come to know him so well, and she often could provide him a perspective he hadn't considered-even about himself.

And he missed her. And Jake.

He activated the padd, intending to record a message to his wife and son, but then the door chime sounded. "Come in."

The doors opened to reveal Captain Walter. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, Commander."

"No, not at all," he said, setting the padd aside on the bed. He started to rise, but Walter waved him back down.

"I wondered if we might talk a bit," said the captain. Without waiting for Sisko to reply, Walter pulled the chair from in front of the companel and set it facing the bed. When he sat down, he said, "I understand that you're not just a relatively new exec but also new to command."

The subject surprised Sisko, not only because he'd just been thinking about it, but because of the current circ.u.mstances. "Yes," he said. "I'm ten months in."

Walter nodded, then seemingly apropos of nothing, said, "You know, I've played a lot of poker with your captain."

Unsure how to respond, Sisko said, "I didn't know he played."

"Oh, yes," Walter said. "Not particularly well, but that's one of the reasons I like playing against him." He chuckled before continuing. "Captain Leyton and I go back to our days at the Academy together. We're friends, and we stay in touch. I'm telling you this because he's talked about you from time to time, Commander."

Sisko felt his eyebrows lift. It didn't surprise him that his commanding officer had discussed him, but he didn't understand why Walter had brought it up. "Well, I might have told a few people about Captain Leyton too," he said, more just to contribute something to the conversation than for any meaningful reason.

"I'm sure," Walter said. "What I want to say, Commander Sisko, is that I'm aware that Captain Leyton plucked you out of engineering and set you down onto the bridge. I'm also aware that your captain thinks that you're considering leaving the bridge to go belowdecks again."

"I haven't told him that," Sisko said.

"No, I know that," Walter said, "but he thinks he knows you pretty well, and that's what he believes is in your head right now."

"I . . ." Sis...o...b..gan, but he didn't know what to tell Captain Walter. He didn't want to lie to him, but neither did he want to discuss the issue with him.

I want to talk with Jennifer.

Walter held out his hands in a placatory gesture, obviously sensing Sisko's distress. "You don't need to say anything, Commander," the captain told him. "I don't expect you to tell me anything. But I wanted to tell you something, especially in the context of what I've just mentioned. You may be thinking about going back to engineering, and if you really want to do that, that's perfectly fine. Starfleet needs good engineers. But what I want to say to you, I say as a Starfleet captain: we need you, Ben. I saw your performance today-your ability to solve problems quickly, to implement solutions quickly-and I saw your willingness to take calculated but reasonable risks for the good of your fellow officers."

Walter stood up, not waiting for a reply, and set the chair back before the companel. "Thank you for your time, Commander," he said. "And for everything else."

Just as he turned to leave, the red alert klaxon blared to life. The captain turned to the companel and activated it. "Walter to bridge," he said. "What's-"

The sound of a phaser blast pierced the air. Walter reached for his own phaser, hanging at his hip, then glanced at Sisko. Stranded on a planet so close to Tzenkethi s.p.a.ce, the captain had ordered the entire crew to carry weapons, Sisko included.

Sisko opened a drawer beneath the bed and pulled out his phaser. Together, he and Walter headed toward the door. The captain reached for the control beside it, toggled it off, then stepped up and placed his ear to the door. After a few seconds, he signaled to Sisko, then reached again for the control. The door glided open with a whisper.

In the corridor, the intermittent red glow of the alert continued to flash, and the klaxon still called out its warning. In the distance, Sisko could hear voices and more weapons fire. Walter cautiously looked out into the corridor, then stepped out of the cabin. Sisko followed.

"We need to find out what's going on," Walter said, moving over to a computer interface in a nearby bulkhead. As he reached to activate it, Sisko heard something and turned.

The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was the greenish-yellow glow of a Tzenkethi, pointing a weapon in his direction.

24.

Federation President Nanietta Bacco stood behind the desk in her office at the end of yet another long day at the Palais de la Concorde. Exhausted, she gazed out through the windows that formed the curve of the outer wall, looked out across the River Seine, to where Tour Eiffel rose with artistry and grace from the Left Bank. Night had fallen hours ago, and La Ville-Lumiere earned its nickname: bright white lights outlined the city as far as she could see, keeping the international metropolis alive and thriving in the darkness.

For an idle moment, Bacco thought about Paris. Steeped in history, the ancient city still held sway over important events, serving as the seat of government of the United Federation of Planets. More than that, though, Paris seemed to embody the promise not just of humanity, and not even just of the Federation, but of life itself. Nature and civilization, art and architecture, science and industry, joy and romance, remembrance and expectation, all permeated a place occupied for virtually all of Earth's recorded history.

And all I want is to take a turbolift down to the Champs-elysees and go out for a little walk, Bacco thought. She didn't want a security detail attending her, she didn't want tomorrow's decisions weighing her down, she didn't want much of anything beyond hearing the heels of her own shoes on the pavement as she strolled from one pool of lamplight to another. That's not too much to ask, is it? That's not too much to ask, is it?

Except she knew that it was was too much. She did not for one moment believe herself indispensable to even the smallest segment of the universe-not even to her daughter-but she owned the responsibility of her position. She had taken office in crisis, after the disastrous Tezwa affair, and in the two years since, there had been essentially no ebb. Against all odds, the Federation and its neighbors had survived the Borg invasion earlier that year, but at a cost that would have to be repaid for years to come. too much. She did not for one moment believe herself indispensable to even the smallest segment of the universe-not even to her daughter-but she owned the responsibility of her position. She had taken office in crisis, after the disastrous Tezwa affair, and in the two years since, there had been essentially no ebb. Against all odds, the Federation and its neighbors had survived the Borg invasion earlier that year, but at a cost that would have to be repaid for years to come.