Admiral Ross quotes from Deep Space Nine

Admiral Ross

Four hundred years ago, a victorious general spoke these words at the end of another costly war: "Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. We have known the bitterness of defeat and the exultation of triumph, and from both we have learned there can be no going back. We must move forward to preserve in peace what we've won in war."

Admiral Ross

You can blink now, Colonel. You've won. Senator Cretak has agreed to remove the weapons from Durna.

Kira

What changed her mind?

Admiral Ross

I told her if she didn't remove them, I would.

Kira

Then what changed your mind?

Admiral Ross

You did. Remind me never to play poker with you.

Julian Bashir

Admiral, where's Sloan?

Admiral Ross

Sloan's dead.

Julian Bashir

Admiral... where's Sloan?

Julian Bashir

How long have you worked for Section 31?

Admiral Ross

I don't.

Julian Bashir

[scoffs] Just a "temporary alliance"?

Admiral Ross

Something like that.

Julian Bashir

And you don't see anything wrong with what happened?

Admiral Ross

I don't like it, but I've spent the last year and a half of my life ordering young men and young woman to die. I like that even less.

Julian Bashir

That's a glib answer and you know it. And it's a cheap way of avoiding the fact you've trampled over the very thing those young men and women are out there dying to protect! Doesn't that mean anything to you?

Admiral Ross

Inter arma enim silent leges.

Julian Bashir

"In times of war, the law falls silent." Cicero. Is that what we've become? A 24th Century Rome driven on nothing more than the certainty that Caesar can do no wrong?

Admiral Ross

According to our intelligence report, the Dominion has withdrawn completely from Klingon, Federation and Romulan space. They seem to be forming a new defensive perimeter within Cardassian territory.

They must know we've developed a counter-measure to the Breen weapon.

Captain Sisko

That would be my guess.

Martok

There are advantages to falling back. They shorten their supply lines while forcing us to lengthen ours.

Ross

And with a smaller perimeter, they're less vulnerable to hit and run attacks. It would take a major offensive to break through their lines.

At a cost of thousands of ships. The wiser course would be to simply contain them within their perimeter.

Sisko

That's what they're hoping we'll do, to give them time to rebuild their forces.

Martok

He's right. We have them on the defensive. We should hit them with everything we've got!

Ross

Breaking through that line would be a very ugly, very bloody job.

Sisko

If we do nothing, the Dominion could sit behind that perimeter for the next five years rearming themselves. And when they're ready to come out, God help us all.

Martok

The Klingon Empire votes to attack, now! Before they have time to recover.

Ross

Considering the alternatives, I'm afraid I have to concur. [All eyes turn to Velal, who reluctantly nods]

Very well.

Sisko

Then it's settled. We attack.

Admiral Ross

(to Worf) How would you feel being named Federation Ambassdor to Qo'noS?

Worf

I am not a diplomat.

Martok

And I am not a politician. But sometimes fate plays cruel tricks on us. Come, Worf. Qo'noS needs you. More importantly, I need you.

Ezri Dax

Well, you did help him become Chancellor. You can't very well turn your back on him now.

Worf

Well, my first duty is to you, Captain.

Benjamin Sisko

I'll probably regret this in the morning, but if it's what you really want...

Worf

It's been a great honor serving with you.

Benjamin Sisko

The honor's all mine.

Worf

I accept.

Martok

Excellent! Ha-ha! An ambassador who can go targ hunting with me! Perhaps being Chancellor won't be that bad after all.