Prologue

[We see a Dominion Cardassian fleet circling a planet. There are random shots onto the surface. We accompany a torpedo on its way down. It hits the ground and explodes. We switch to a very dark underground tunnel, which shakes under the explosions. People, most of them humans and Bajorans gasp and shout hysterically, heading towards one direction.]

[Speaker] : All hands evacuate to shuttles!

[Gunfire from Dominion and Cardassian storm troops behind the people, some of them randomly shooting back. But it's clear they don't stand a chance. We are focused on a woman's face. She is a Bajoran, her brown hair cropped short. Her body is well trained but rather skinny.]

[Woman] : Quick this way!

[They come to a crossing. Suddenly disruptor fire from the right. A man is shot down. Another one gets hit by a concentrated ray straight into his chest. He screams like he is out of his wits. The energy spreads from the origin in a blazing light all through his body. Blinding bright tears appear all over his torso. Steam escape from him. The white blinding light reddens as his whole body dissolves into ashes.

[An old man bark at the woman and another rather tall and muscular man] : Laren, Sebek, cover me!

[Both lean around the corner and begin firing while the old guy comes out of cover and throws a blinking sphere into the darkness. A blazing light. Figure suddenly become visible in the other tunnel.]

[An angry voice] : Back!

[The fleeing group takes it chance and runs through the tunnel to a messy storage chamber with a huge iron door on the other end. The invaders have recovered from the blinding light and start firing again. Sebek and Laren kneel down behind containers and give cover while the old man unlocks the door. It leads to a small hangar with freighters, fighters and a tiny cruiser. The unnamed refugees duck and rush towards the vessels. At this instant three Cardassians beam into the cargo bay. Laren shoots one down the moment he is materialized. Another one aims at her but Sebek throws himself onto him so the shot misses. The old man knocks the third one unconscious with his gun. The Jem'Hadars begin storm towards them while they are distracted. Laren and the old man back through the door.]

[Laren trying to give Sebek cover] : Sebek, come on!

[But Sebek is still fighting with the Cardassian. He has managed to get a grip around his villain's throat and is trying to strangle him. But although the Cardassian soon suffocates, Sebek still cannot get loose of him but tightens his grip with a wild and malicious expression] [Laren shouting] : Sebek!

[At this moment more Cardassians beam into the shuttle hangar, so the protagonists are confronted from both sides.]

[Sebek finally gets a hold of himself, seizes a container, he uses as a shield, and hurries into the shuttle bay. They manage to keep the invaders at bay, climb into the vessels and soar into the sky. The air is lit by phaser fire and torpedoes streaking down from the orbit. Other vessels appear from other hiding places. Some are hit before they can leave the atmosphere. The fighters try to give the transporters cover. But there are too many Jem'Hadar attack ships around them. A view screen goes up in Laren's cockpit.

[The old man] : I'll give you cover! Look after the transports and go into warp as soon as possible! Don't forget to mask your warp signature!

[Laren] : You will never make it without fighter support against that blockade, Jason.

[The old man] : I have lived long enough to allow me some crazy stunt as you young people constantly do, Laren. [Jason gives a last boyish grin. The view goes black.]

[Jason's light cruiser turns around and moves into the path of several torpedoes and heavy phaser fire coming from five Jem'Hadar ships, which are aiming at the transporters. The refugees save themselves into warp, not seeing Jason's ship torn into pieces.]

[Laren] : Laren to transport 1. Can you pick up any more ships behind us?

[A woman appears on her view screen] : None! I am afraid we are all that's left of the Marquis!

[Laren wearily, dreading the answer] : What about Jason?

[The woman works on her console, looks up again and shakes her head slightly.]

[Laren closes her eyes. A trickle of tears runs down her cheek.]

[The woman sighs] : He saved us all! Let's make sure his effort has not been for nothing!

[Laren looks to her right and sees Sebek in the fighter next to her. He isn't in mourning. Actually his face even still seems to wear that bitter, angry, malicious smile from 20 minutes ago!]

"3 years later" [Deep Space Nine : The delegation of the Federation, Klingon Empire, Romulan Empire, the Dominion, Cardassia and the Breen are gathered along the conference table. While the ambassadors give their finger prints to the signature pad and make inputs, the peace treaty is being red out] : The regulations of this peace treaty stipulate following paragraphs:

The Dominion is to withdraw all military equipments and staff from the Alpha Quadrant in the next two weeks.

The Dominion is not allowed to reenter the Alpha Quadrant through the wormhole without the mutual approval of all allied forces.

Cardassia has to hand over all military vessels that are Galor class or higher ranked.

Cardassia is not supposed to possess weapons of mass destruction.

Cardassia has to pay 5 thousand tons of gold pressed latinum to the Klingon and the Romulan Empire each.

Cardassia will lose all colonies to the allied forces.

Cardassia has to create a peaceful and democratic system.

Cardassia will be observed by the Federation until further notice.

The Breen .

The Cardassia delegation looks thunderstruck as the paragraphs are read out.

[A Klingon noticing their discomfort] : Now what Cardassian? Bit surprised about the outcome? If it was to me we should have blown your planet into pieces for your betrayal to the entire quadrant and.

[A Cardassian woman looking tired at him, interrupts him in a quite diplomatic tone] : If the major quadrant powers had helped the Cardassian democratic movement in the first place instead of conquering our territories, as some of them had done [eyeing the Klingon], the Cardassia would not have sought that unholy alliance with the Domin.

[The Klingon outrageous] : Silence woman! I don't like to be interrupted by a bunch of betrayers without any scent of honor!

[Captain Sisko soothingly] : General Ken'targh, we have discussed these problems long enough in the last few weeks. And after considering all arguments, we have finally come to this treaty, your honourable Chancellor has just signed [Sisko grinning at Chancellor Martok].

[Another Klingon behind Martok sinister] : Yet we wonder why the Federation could be so generous with our Cardassian . neighbours to insist on Cardassia not to be divided into protectorates and even granting them the two colonies that should be Federation property by rights!

[Sisko mustering a smile] : Vice Chancellor Kurdar, the Cardassians need resources to rebuild their society and to pay off the reparations to you and the Romulan Empire. If we stamp them down to a prewarp civilization with constant humanitarian problems the population is unlikely to support Ms Sula and the young democracy. They could even long for the old system, not mentioning the hatred and distrust they would have against us!

[Kurdar now losing his temper] : Distrust?! So what?! Do we now have to win their trust after they betrayed us?!

[Ken'targh behind Kurdar] : I always knew human blood to be watery. But I would not have expected them to shrink back behind diplomacy so quickly after they have spilled blood with us and this bunch of pointed ears half Vulcans, [staring at the Romulan delegation] who by the way must have preserved a considerably large fleet in contrast to us, as they really happen to enter the war so late and watching us die for reasons they haven't mentioned until today.

[The Romulan ambassador stands up threateningly. Martok smashes his fist down on the table before Ken'targh can add more tension] : That's enough!

[Ken'targh whispering to Kurdar sneeringly] : I never thought our brave Chancellor would become a diplomat one day either!

[The female founder from the Dominion delegation finally signs up the treaty and says in a light, slow but rather bored voice] : I have enjoyed listening to your little chat. But I have to prepare our fleet for the voyage home. I beg your leave!

[Sisko to the others] : I think we all want to retire!

[The Dominion delegation walks towards the door. The founder suddenly turns on her heel.] : Captain Sisko, I have wondered why you and your comrades have so stubbornly denied our attempt to bring order to this quadrant. As I have just observed once more, you desperately need some order here.

[Sisko answers quickly before the whole Alpha quadrant delegation goes riot] : No thanks, your eminence. But I think we can handle it one day on our own!

[Suddenly Kira's voice trills on Sisko's com badge] : Kira to Sisko!

[Sisko bit tired] : Yes Colonel?

[Kira] : Captain, when you have finished the conference, please come into your office. There is. well. something important waiting for you.

[Sisko] : On my way. Ladies and gentlemen, the officers outside will show you the quarters.

[The captain's office. An old man dressed like a Bajoran Vedek is waiting for Sisko]

[Sisko] : Good morning, Mister.

[Vedek harsh] : My name doesn't matter. I want to come straight to the point. I am an envoy of the remaining Marquis.

[Sisko stunned] : Marquis?! There are.

[Vedek] : Yes, captain. There are still some survivors left. Actually we have even been gathering new supporters ever since the Dominion was on the retreat. Oh, sorry that I have lied to your first officer about my true identity! Otherwise there may have been some security difficulties! And I hope you don't intend to arrest me before I named the reason of my presence.

[Sisko sinister] : Go on.

[Vedek] : The Marquis is tired of fighting. But we still have not given up hope to go back to our homes in the former Federation Cardassian neutral zone from which we have been so forcefully driven away. I am here to make you an offer. If the Federation consents to let us return to our colonies, the Marquis will be willing to hand over all weapons. All alive adult Marquis who have committed crimes against the Federation will report to the Federation court voluntarily. You will never hear of us again.

[Sisko picks up a pad, then becomes sinister] : Your request would contain Alphala III, Centrus II, Curalius Prime and Galathos V.

[Vedek] : Exactly!

[Sisko] : Well, there should be little problem. I'm sure we can make the Cardassians to share the planets with.

[Vedek] : No! We don't intend to live these treacherous breeds anymore. These planets solely belong to the Marquis, that means the former Federation farmers and their friends. These people, many killed by the Cardassians even before the war, have cultivated the land making it habitable for their children and their grand-children, pouring so much sweat into it, only to be betrayed by the Federation and the arriving Cardassians who just meant to live next to us as neighbours.

[Sisko impatient] : The Federation and the Marquis went through theses matters dozens of times. I know that peace treaty five years ago that made the Federation and Cardassia swap colonies along the border was not pleasant to everyone. Both sides have suffered, most of all the Marquis. But the point is that the situation has changed. The Cardassians need those planets more urgently than you do. And I cannot simply drive them all away because a small group of .

[Vedek] : Terrorists?

[Sisko] : Colonists. cannot let go of their hatred. All I can offer you is to reintegrate into the Federation, allowing you to live on those mining planets or anywhere in the Federation. I could even convince the Federation Council to clear all Marquis of charges, well perhaps.

[Vedek] : You prefer those Cardassians to Bajorans, Vulcans, Bolians even your own people? These nefarious devils who have betrayed the whole quadrant!?

[Sisko] : They can change and they need their chance.

[Vedek sneers at Sisko] : It's that all you have to say?

[Sisko] : I cannot change my mind on this problem and the Federation council won't either. Anyway . Wait a second, I just remember something!

[Sisko typing through the pad again then looking up at the Vedek] : I must inform you that according to the peace treaty. Curalius Prime now belongs to Klingons and Galathos V to the Romulans.

[Vedek sighs] Once again the needs of the minority is overseen.

[Sisko annoyed] Vedek, look! We didn't even know the Marquis still exists!

[Vedek to himself] : Then our fight must go on. And I have already dreamed about living in calmness again!

[The Vedek turns on his heel and walks out of the office without saying goodbye.]

[Sisko taps his com badge] : Sisko to security.

[Security officer] : Security here.

[Sisko] : . No! Sorry, there is nothing after all. Sisko out.

[He grabs his baseball from the desk, turns around and watches out of the window.]