sir, the c.f.i. replicators are due to arrive here tomorrow afternoon. i'd feel better if i were here to supervise the security detail. lieutenant reese can handle it. yes, sir, he can, but... just say it, commander. sir, if the maquis put up a fight the xhosa might get caught in the cross fire. if that happens, i can't guarantee the safety of kasidy yates. and to be blunt i don't want that responsibility. i can't say i blame you. s is your priority. i'll take command of the defiant. thank you, captain. the inspection team just left. any problems? no. kasidy. good. seven-three, yankees. did you come all the way down here for the score? no. i was just thinking-- why don't we drop everything and go to risa? just the two of us? now? we won't even pack a bag. we'll walk straight out of here, get in a runabout and go. what about your station? i have a great crew. they can handle things around here for a few days. neither of us is doing anything so important that it can't wait for a few days. i'm not sure the tholians would agree. let your first officer handle

the c.f.i. replicators in cargo bay 17 are to be transferred aboard a vulcan freighter which should arrive at any moment. this operation is to be carried out in complete secrecy. no one aboard the station is to know about it. does that include the bajoran security detachment? absolutely. also, we're observing communications silence. no com traffic in or out of this station for the next nine hours. understood? d. you wanted to see me? yes, major. i'm afraid i need to take command of the station get us back to the station, chief. maximum warp. aye, sir. any response from our hails, commander? no. deep space nine seems to be under a communications blackout. keep trying. you realize we'll probably never see the xhosa or captain yates again. it's a possibility. if i'd been allowed to leave a security detail behind... our priority is to get back to the station. captain yates is my responsibility as you wish. the replicators have been secured in the ship's hold, sir. very good. we'll be departing in fiv