Copyright 1993, Jennifer A. Hawthorne. All rights reserved,
but I'm not stuffy about it as long as you don't go overboard.

Synopsis: "Battle Lines"

Episode Number: 413
Air Date: 4/24/93

	As the show opens, Sisko, Dax, and O'Brien are in Sisko's
office discussing some computer files left by the 
Cardassians. They don't appear to contain anything of 
import, but O'Brien suggests that Kira be warned before she 
reads the file on her that is included. Kira walks in just 
at this point, and demands to read her own file. The others 
leave her there with the computer.
	Down in Ops, Sisko is contacted by Dr. Bashir, who reports
that he's at the loading dock, and Sisko should come there 
right away to greet an unexpected visitor -- Kai Opaka, who 
is accepting an invitation from Sisko to take a tour of the 
station. Kira comes out of Sisko's office, complaining 
bitterly that the Cardassian file showed that the 
Cardassians considered her mostly harmless and of little 
relevance. Sisko tells her of the Kai's arrival and they go 
down to the docks where Kai Opaka and Bashir are. Sisko 
tells Bashir that this is the Kai's first trip off of Bajor 
in her life, and Bashir comments that she seems preoccupied 
with something.
	The tour group stops by one of the station's viewports that
looks out over the site of the wormhole, which is not 
currently visible. Kai Opaka stares out the window, making 
a cryptic comment about contemplating prophecy, and 
expresses regret that she won't be able to see the wormhole 
itself. Sisko offers to take her through it on a Runabout, 
in the company of himself and Kira, and Opaka gratefully 
accepts. Bashir manages to finagle his way into being 
included in the party, and the four of them head back to 
the docks.
	At the docks, they find O'Brien preparing the *Yangtze
Kian*. Kai Opaka approaches him, somehow discerns that he 
is a father, and gives him a necklace as a gift for Molly.
	The Runabout travels through the wormhole, and the Opaka is
very impressed by the passage. Sisko tells her that in a 
few years she will see the difference it will make to 
Bajor, and the Kai looks oddly grave and says only, "If 
that is to be my fate." Having accomplished their goal of 
showing the wormhole to Opaka, they begin to turn the 
Runabout around to head back to the station, but the Kai is 
reluctant to return so quickly. She makes another cryptic 
comment about the vagueness of prophecy, to Sisko's 
puzzlement, but seeing his unease at the prospect of going 
any further, she sighs and agrees to the concluding of the 
trip. As they are coming about, the Runabout picks up an 
unexplained subspace radio signal. Sisko is disinclined to 
investigate, due to the Kai's presence on the ship, but the 
Kai encourages him to proceed, saying "I don't get out 
often."
	They home in on the signal and find a planet, around which
orbits a moon surrounded by a network of satellites. One 
of them is malfunctioning, the source of the signal they 
received. Bashir scans the planet and announces that there 
are lifeforms on it that might be humanoid. The Runabout 
moves in closer for a better look. One of the satellites 
starts to scan the ship, and then, without warning, fires 
on it. The Runabout is badly damaged, and begins to plummet 
down to the surface of the moon as the crew strive to 
control its descent. They are just barely successful in 
bringing the *Yangtze Kian* down to a hard landing on the 
moon's surface, more or less intact.
	The planetoid is not a friendly world; the surface is
rocky, barren and forbidding. Sisko drags himself from the 
damaged Runabout, followed by Bashir; the two of them then 
pull Kai Opaka out and carry her away from the ship, with 
Kira right behind. The Kai has been seriously injured in 
the crash. Kira tries to go to her but Sisko restrains the 
major as Bashir begins trying to resuscitate Opaka. She is 
too badly injured, however, and he is unable to help. She 
dies without speaking another word.
	Kira collapses over the body in overwhelming grief, and
Sisko and Bashir stand by in silence as the major cries 
helplessly over her fallen leader. They fail to notice that 
they are being watched until a troop of ragged, armed 
humanoids emerges from the rocky landscape and confronts 
them.
	In Ops, Dax, O'Brien, and Odo have noticed that the
*Yangtze Kian* is overdue for return. Odo anxiously 
comments that the Bajorans are not happy with Sisko for 
taking the Kai through the wormhole in the Runabout. Dax 
and O'Brien decide to take a second Runabout through to the 
Gamma Quadrant to search for the missing ship and crew.
	Back on the moon, the Starfleet personnel, under guard,
have been brought to a cavern where the locals, who call 
themselves the Ennis, live. They meet with the leader of 
the group, Shel-La, who questions Sisko about his origins 
and his purpose in coming to the moon. Sisko introduces the 
others of the crew, and Shel-La reacts strangely when told 
that Bashir is a doctor. Kira tries to free herself from 
the grip of one of the guards, but nearly faints in pain 
from her wounded shoulder, to Bashir's alarm. The doctor 
demands his medical kit back from Shel-La, and one of the 
Ennis picks it up and starts to rummage through it, until 
Bashir snatches it from her in exasperation and turns to 
tend to Kira.
	Shel-La tells Sisko of a continuous war they are fighting
with an unforgiving and vicious enemy called the Nol. The 
arrival of Sisko and his crew is likely to cause 
complications. Sisko states that they expect to be rescued 
before too long, but Shel-La is not convinced. The 
satellites are an automatic defense system which keeps them 
all prisoned on the planet; they are not under the 
inhabitants' control, so any rescue ship can expect to 
suffer the same fate as the *Yangtze Kian*. According to 
Shel-La, the presence of Sisko and the others in the camp 
has marked them as allies of the Ennis, putting their lives 
in serious danger from the Nol. Sisko enquires about the 
condition of some injured Ennis in the cavern, and is told 
that the Ennis have no medical personnel. Shel-la expresses 
the hope that Sisko and he can help each other.
	Bashir treats Kira's injuries, but the grief-shocked major
hardly seems to notice. Bashir, seeing her distress, 
expresses his regrets to Kira for his inability to save the 
Kai. With quiet despair, Kira decries the pointlessness of 
Opaka's death.
	Sisko comes over and says that Shel-La has offered them
protection from the Nol in exchange for Bashir's medical 
assistance. Suddenly, the cavern is attacked by 
blaster-wielding humanoids who charge the Ennis, firing 
without pause. The Starfleet crew take cover as Ennis and 
Nol alike fall in combat. Kira lunges from her hiding place 
and fires her phaser at a rock outcropping, which collapses 
on top of several Nol. The rest of the invaders flee, 
leaving a scene of carnage behind.
	Sisko and Bashir emerge from their refuge and walk among
the fallen Ennis; Bashir begins to tend to the wounded. 
Then Kira draws their attention to a shadowed figure at the 
mouth of the cave. It moves closer, until they can see that 
it is Kai Opaka -- alive.
	An astonished Bashir scans the Kai and determines that she
appears to be physically fine. Opaka remembers nothing 
after the crash. Bashir tells Sisko that the Kai's 
physiology has been radically altered by the invasion of 
some sort of bio-mechanical construct into her cells which 
is now controlling all of her systems. Sisko questions him 
for more details, but Bashir is unable to provide them, to 
the doctor's considerable frustration. Bashir suggests that 
he could go back to the Runabout and try to repair the 
computer so he can do a more complete analysis, but before 
Sisko can reply Kira calls them over to where the Ennis' 
dead have been gathered. As they watch, the fallen Ennis 
revive.
	Dax and O'Brien are in the Gamma Quadrant in the *Rio
Grande*, searching for the missing Runabout. O'Brien is 
puzzled by their inability to locate even a transponder 
signal. They begin to follow the warp trail left by the 
other craft, which heads toward an uncharted binary star 
system.
	Back in the cavern, Kira and Opaka are helping the wounded
while Bashir scans Shel-La and determines that the same 
changes seen in the Kai are present in the Ennis leader as 
well. Shel-La says he has died more times than he can 
count. Bashir restates his request to Sisko that he be 
allowed to go back to the *Yangtze Kian*; Sisko considers 
it too dangerous. Shel-La offers to see that Bashir is 
protected, and Sisko reluctantly gives his assent.
	Sisko questions Shel-La about the origins of the war, and
is told that on their home planet the Ennis and Nol-Ennis 
had been fighting for generations. When their leaders were 
unable to settle on a peace agreement, the two races were 
exiled to this place as an example to the rest of 
civilization. No one can recall what began the fighting, 
but a desire for vengeance for the atrocities committed by 
the Nol keeps it going. Kira breaks into the conversation, 
angrily criticizing the Ennis' strategy and tactics, and 
telling them how to improve their chances. Sisko tries to 
cut her off, but she ignores him, continuing to berate 
Shel-La in increasingly strident fashion until Kai Opaka 
tells her, "This is not your war, Kira."
	Shel-La says that at first the Ennis defended themselves
better, but that they no longer see the point. Sisko then 
proposes that if the two sides can manage to cooperate 
until rescue arrives from Starfleet, he will arrange to 
have all of them transported off of the moon, to wherever 
they wish to go. Shel-La is intrigued by this prospect of 
hope for his people, and Sisko points out that his offer is 
intended for the Nol as well as the Ennis. Shel-La says 
that Zlangco, the leader of the Nol, will never agree to a 
cease-fire, but Sisko urges him to try, and Shel-La says 
that he will.
	On the *Rio Grande*, Dax and O'Brien are having difficulty
scanning the planets of the binary star system due to 
interference from the suns. It looks as if they will have 
to scan each planet individually -- a lengthy process -- if 
they hope to find the crew. O'Brien conceives of a plan to 
locate the downed Runabout by scanning for its unique 
metallic alloy structure, if only he can build the required 
device.
	Back at the *Yangtze Kian*, Bashir has managed to get the
ship's computer up and running.
	In the cavern, Shel-La tells Sisko that Zlangco has agreed
to meet to talk at a neutral site near the crashed 
Runabout. Kira is concerned that it might be a trap, and 
Shel-La offers to let her come along, but Sisko orders Kira 
to stay with the Kai. When he and the Ennis have left, the 
Kai speaks to Kira about Kira's reactions to the Ennis and 
their never-ceasing war. Opaka suggests that perhaps Kira 
sees herself reflected in these people, and Kira protests 
that the Ennis are content to die, which is what she has 
fought against for many years. Kira is distressed that the 
Kai might see her as similar to the Ennis -- enjoying 
violence, soulless, a warrior without a conscience. She 
admits that the war she fought was nasty and brutal, but 
states that she has put all that behind her now. The Kai 
looks at Kira, who is on her knees before Opaka, and gently 
takes her ear in one hand. Kira breaks down and cries as 
the Kai gathers her close, saying that she must accept the 
violence in her own nature so that she can begin to move 
beyond it. The whole planet of Bajor has much to learn from 
peace. Kira is afraid that the Prophets won't forgive her 
for her actions during the war, but the Kai says that the 
Prophets are only waiting for Kira to forgive herself.
	On the *Rio Grande*, Dax and O'Brien have finally succeeded
in located the crashed Runabout, on a moon of the third 
planet. They head for it at full impulse.
	On the moon, Bashir climbs out of the *Yangtze Kian* as
Sisko arrives with the Ennis. The Nol-Ennis have also 
gathered at the site. Bashir tells Sisko that he's repaired 
the computer and begun his analysis. Sisko explains the 
possibility of a cease-fire between the two warring 
parties, and his own offer of rescue for them if they can 
come to an agreement. Bashir jokes that this is rather like 
assisting in a jailbreak, but the comment earns him a 
chewing-out from Sisko, who is not in a joking mood.
	Sisko speaks with Zlangco, who questions him about the
Federation and his motivations for offering them a means 
off the planet. He is deeply suspicious of Sisko, and 
Shel-La calls him a fool. Zlangco replies with angry 
insults of his own, and the two sides brandish weapons. 
Sisko appeals to the gathered Ennis and Nol-Ennis, pleading 
with them to influence their leaders to see reason, but 
there is no response. Zlangco asks why Sisko and his people 
have allied with the Ennis; Sisko denies having done so, 
and Zlangco points out that Kira fired on the Nol. Sisko 
claims self-defense, but Zlangco calls him a liar. The Nol 
leader believes that the talk of a cease-fire is a trap, 
intended to lure the Nol population out of hiding for easy 
slaughter. He tell Shel-la that if his intentions are 
honorable, he should have all the Ennis come out. Shel-la 
begins to laugh unpleasantly, telling Zlangco that he has 
no intention of letting any of the Nol leave the moon 
alive. Zlangco replies in kind, and spits. A vicious combat 
immediately breaks out between the Nol and the Ennis.
	 Sisko is swept up into the fray as a Nol attacks him, and
he defends himself bare-handed as the battle rages all 
around. A second Nol approaches Sisko from behind, weapon 
ready to strike, but Bashir emerges from the Runabout and 
flattens Sisko with a flying tackle, saving him. He tells 
Sisko that he's completed his analysis, and none of them 
can afford to die here even once.
	The fighting ends when all of the Nol and Ennis lie dead on
the ground. Bashir explains to Sisko that the microbe he 
detected permanently changes the physiology of anyone it 
infects, rendering them incapable of surviving without it. 
Furthermore, the organism itself can only live on this 
moon; anyone who is infected by it would die if they left. 
Sisko's expression is grim as he realizes that this applies 
to Kai Opaka as well.
	Sisko's comm badge chirps as O'Brien finally manages to
make contact. He tells Sisko they can't beam the crew out 
until they can figure out a way to get past the satellites, 
but they're working on it. Sisko warns O'Brien about the 
satellites, then he and Bashir head back to the cavern as 
around them the Nol and Ennis begin once more to revive.
	In the cavern, Sisko tells the Kai that neither side took
the cease-fire seriously; Opaka is unsurprised. She states 
that Kira was correct -- these people have forgotten how to 
do anything but die. Sisko tells them that rescue is 
imminent, then looks at the Kai, gathering himself to tell 
her what Bashir learned. But before he can speak, Opaka 
does, saying that she intends to stay on the moon. She knew 
that when she came through the wormhole, she would not be 
returning. She tells Kira to return to Bajor and tell the 
Bajorans that she has answered the call of the Prophets and 
will be staying to help the Ennis and Nol-Ennis begin to 
heal, as Kira has begun to heal.
	On the *Rio Grande*, Dax and O'Brien have a plan to try to
make a gap in the satellite net so they can beam out the 
crew. Sisko informs them that only three of them will be 
returning; the Kai will be staying.
	Shel-La enters the cave on the tail end of this
conversation, and asks Sisko if they will be leaving 
without the Ennis. Bashir tells him about the microbe that 
will kill them if they go. The doctor then tells Sisko 
that, although he is unsure of the morality of what he 
proposes, it should be possible to modify the microbe such 
that the Ennis and Nol-Ennis would not revive after death. 
Shel-la grasps this idea like a drowning man clutching a 
rope, and begs Sisko to do this, so as to end the war. Kira 
questions that returning the fear of death to the 
combatants will actually end the war -- it's never worked 
in other wars. Shel-la replies that what it will let them 
do is finally wipe out the Nol for good, which will end the 
war. Bashir is shocked and horrified, and walks away. 
Shel-la continues to beg, calling the disabled microbe the 
ultimate weapon that would finally allow them to destroy 
their enemies, but Bashir only looks at him in disgusted 
disbelief, then turns away.
	 O'Brien signals his readiness to beam the crew up to the
*Rio Grande*, then launches a probe to distract one of the 
defense satellites and make a hole in the net. Down below, 
Shel-la objects to Sisko's leaving his people there like 
this, but Sisko only stares at him. There is the sound of 
fighting from the cave entrance, and the Ennis take up arms 
and rush out to join in, as always.
	Sisko tells the Kai they will try to find a way to allow
her to return home. Opaka says that her work is here now 
-- but that someday, their paghs will cross again. She 
watches in silence as Sisko and his people are beamed out 
to freedom.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Copyright 1993, Jennifer A. Hawthorne. All rights reserved, but I'm 
not stuffy about it as long as you don't go overboard.
