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While working in the station's ore
processing unit, O'Brien and Jake accidentally activate an
automated Cardassian security program, which traps the pair and
Sisko in the room. Throughout the station, monitors display an
old message from Gul Dukat warning of a Bajoran "worker revolt"
in the unit. Dax tries to beam out the three, but the computer
requests an access code, which the Cardassians never revealed
when they abandoned the station years ago. Jake crawls through a
pipe and opens the hatch to the ore chute, allowing Sisko and
O'Brien to get out just as lethal neurocine gas is released.
Dukat's image reappears, announcing that the "workers" have
escaped, after which the doors to Ops all slam shut.
Sisko, O'Brien, and Jake are
now trapped in an ore processing bay. A force field keeps Dax,
Bashir, and Kira stuck in Ops, while another one holds Odo and
Quark in the Security Office. Dax inadvertently activates the
security program's second level, a program designed to release
neurocine gas through most of the station in five minutes. Garak
suddenly arrives at Ops, using his Cardassian access code —
which only works for him — to enter through the force field. At
his suggestion, Kira destroys the life support system, which
stops the gas and gives them twelve hours to regain control
before the oxygen is depleted. Unfortunately, Kira's phaser
blast has activated the third phase of the program. Dukat's
recorded message now declares that the station is programmed to
self-destruct in two hours.
Garak tries to make the computer think he is Dukat, but ends up
initiating level four of the program — a series of phaser blasts
which forces everyone to take cover. Then, to everyone's
surprise, Gul Dukat transports into Ops to taunt the officers.
But he can't leave the station when he tries, then a recorded
message from his old superior, Legate Kell, appears. Dukat won't
be allowed to flee his post during the "revolt," states the
message — and his code won't stop the self-destruct.
They determine that the only option would be to reach a control
junction and disengage the laser fusion initiator, but can't do
anything while trapped in Ops. Meanwhile, Sisko, O'Brien, and
Jake blast open the bay doors by detonating the unstable ore
left inside, but are stopped from going far by more force
fields. Back in Ops, Dax suggests creating a power surge to
short out the force fields all over the station. The plan works,
and Kira informs Sisko they have ten minutes before
self-destruction. Sisko, O'Brien, and Jake have the only chance
of reaching the control junction. Realizing they may not have
time to disable the fusion initiator, Sisko decides instead to
direct the explosion into the deflector shields. He crawls
through a burning conduit, makes the adjustments, and as the
destruct command is initiated, the shields absorb the blast and
the station is saved.
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