“Waltz” is episode eleven of season six of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Sisko is onboard the USS Honshu – not the Defiant. Also travelling on the ship is Gul Dukat, who was captured at the end of “Sacrifice of Angels”. It seems that Dukat has regained his sanity; he certainly seemed a broken man after the death of Ziyal. According to the doctors, Dukat has made a surprising recovery. And now he’s heading to an appearance before a special jury at Starbase 621; not a war crime trial as such. That will wait until after the war is over. Sisko is testifying for the prosecution. Gul Dukat certainly does seem a lot more composed. As Sisko is leaving Dukat’s cell after talking to him, the Honshu comes under attack.
Back on DS9, Major Kira informs the command crew that Starfleet has confirmed that the Honshu was destroyed by an attack wing of Cardassian destroyers. Starfleet has picked up distress calls from 3 escape pods and a shuttlecraft. Only two vessels have been tasked to check the nearby star systems for survivors, the Constellation and the Defiant – and the Defiant has to be at a rendezvous outside the Badlands in 52 hours to escort a Federation troop convoy, and travel time alone will take up an entire day. Worf is taking the Defiant out whilst Kira remains behind.
Sisko and Dukat have survived, but Sisko is injured – the left side of his body is covered in plasma burns and he broke an arm. Dukat and the officer escorting him came across Sisko, but the other officer was killed by a piece of shrapnel. Dukat carried Sisko to the shuttlecraft, and, although the shuttle landed, it will never reach orbit again. Dukat is broadcasting a general distress call, so it’s a bit of a toss-up who comes first, the Dominion or the Federation.
Sisko and Dukat are in a cave, and Dukat says the planet’s surface is pretty inhospitable, but there must be something edible on the surface. Sisko is grateful that Dukat saved his life; sadly, Sisko does not know that Dukat is not actually sane. He may look it, but he’s having conversations with Weyoun. Who is not actually there, or visible to anyone but Dukat. Imaginary Weyoun is urging Dukat to kill Sisko, and is also taunting Dukat. Being trapped on a planet with someone who is basically mad is not a good prospect for Sisko. Even if he doesn’t know that’s what the situation is. To start with, anyway. Weyoun is just one of Dukat’s imaginary companions. Some of whom want Sisko killed immediately. Dukat wants something else from Sisko first.