"Captain's log, supplimental. Oops... well, actually, I guess I'm continuing where I left off. I forgot I hadn't finished the last log entry. Anyway, we're less than an hour from the Cardassian system. The Marine corvettes have launched. They're currently grappled to the Warlord since their sensors can't actually SEE us. They'll launch and head for Cardassia's surface just before we start firing on the government building. Our hope is we'll make enough of a disturbance that the Dominion won't even care they're there. It's a pretty safe bet. End recording."

"Commander," Ensign Bristol began, "we've officially entered the Cardassian system."

Stephen nodded. "Thank you, Ensign." He turned to Commander Richards. "Keep your eyes peeled. They should already know we're here." Instinctively, he rubbed the nervous sweat from his palms on the side of the captain's chair.

Kenyon shook his head and turned around. "I already have a Galor class cruiser on an intercept course. They're on impulse, so they won't meet us for another twelve minutes."

Stephen muttered under his breath, "Of course."

Lieutenant Davies turned around. "Commander, they're hailing us... asking about the extent of our damage."

"Keep filling their ears with static, Lieutenant."

"Aye, aye, Sir." Dutifully, she turned back to listen more intently.

"What's to stop them from beaming over more goons like the last ship?" Kenyon asked.

Stephen smiled. "I had Tony fake a radiation leak on all the decks." With that, Tony turned around and grinned broadly at Commander Richards.

Kenyon smiled. "Nice touch." He turned back around, more confident in the plan.

Elaine turned back around and removed her earpiece. "Commander, they're asking if any of our personal communicators work." With that statement, everyone on the bridge turned to Commander Kirk.

"No pressure," he thought sarcastically. Turning back to Elaine, he asked, "Well, remember when I asked you how good your Cardassian language skills were?" She looked at him incredulously. "I do hope you've brushed up on it."

She swallowed. "Well, I looked at it a little."

Stephen exhaled deeply. This could be unfortunate. "Well, here's hoping they don't ask a lot of questions." He pointed to her communications panel. "Go for it."

Her eyes bulged a bit as the order. The crew then turned their eyes on her. Looking around, she quipped, "Okay, let's not add to the stress, shall we?" She turned back around to her panel. Nervously, she put the earpiece on and put the cardassian request through. As an insurance policy, she quickly pulled up the cardassian translation dictionary on her overhead console. Everyone stared anxiously as she listened in on the conversation. Her fingers furiously typed information into the translator program as words flashed across the screen. "Uh... shzrel zhahm za-berre chon... tre... terbere nod, oceda." She waited for several seconds, then replied once more as her fingers once again danced across her keyboard. Reading the board quickly and leading with a finger, she spoke again, "Unesa kisan dek-tarabek nok... nok... nok poses bis, oceda." After several more nervewracking moments, she performed more frantic word searches on her screen. "Neka das cerek mokeva, oceda." Her hands shaking, she pressed a single button on her console that ended the transmission, threw her earpiece on the console, and let out a loud sigh. "My god," she exclaimed, "they bought it."

The bridge crew cheered loudly. "Way to go, Elaine!" Stephen yelled.

She shook her head and turned around. "That was probably the worst accent I've ever spoken. I can't believe they fell for it."

"They probably thought you were sick from the radiation." Stephen offered.

"Sorry to interrupt," Kenyon interjected. "But... um... the cardassian ship is getting closer."

Stephen looked questioningly at Elaine. "Oh, yeah," she remembered. "They're going to escort us to Cardassia Prime."

Stephen looked at Kenyon and smiled. Kenyon smiled back. "Perfect." Stephen turned to Tyler. "Ensign, fall into formation behind that cardassian ship and match it bearing and speed. We're getting a free ride to Cardassia."