While he was on DS4, Brandon applied for several postings and decided to accept the position of Assistant Engineering Chief on board the USS Dorsetshire. On just the first mission, Brandon Arbarra's life was set to change.
The Dorsetshire was sent to aid the stricken USS Choctaw. On the Bridge of the Choctaw, Brandon was involved in a scuffle with his superior, who held a grudge against him. The Chief stumbled backwards into an open panel and was electrocuted. Brandon saw it all, and for months, suffered flashbacks and guilt, even though it was not he who had caused the accident to happen.
In the light of the death of the Chief, Brandon was given control of Engineering, but he became withdrawn, and a loner. He visited the ship's counsellor but that did not seem to help.
One day, Brandon was in a meeting with his own Assistant Engineering Officer, Ensign Jarrett, and two others. One minute they were sat around the table, discussing upcoming projects, the next, they were all caught in a transporter beam. Brandon materialised on board a Cardassian Galor Class Starship, next to three smoking piles of dust. The Cardassians had passed the Dorsetshire, cloaked and at speed. They had tried to abduct a group of Starfleet officers, but only one of the crew had maintained his transporter integrity, Lieutenant Arbarra.
For two months, the Cardassians kept him as a hostage on an mining planet. Following research, Brandon has surmised that this planet was Quatar Prime, in the Demilitarised Zone. He was beaten, and his mind scrambled, but the Cardassians were not able to learn anything new. One day, Gul Dakor authorised his release, and he was taken to Deep Space Nine.
Dr Julian Bashir was able to help to heal the physical damage, if not the emotional, and Brandon became friends with Miles O'Brien. He stayed with the family for six weeks, and Miles helped him to recover a lot of his engineering knowledge.
One evening, Ezri Dax, a counsellor on the station came round for dinner with the O'Briens. She seemed fascinated with Brandon's story of the abduction, and agreed that he should call into her office for "a chat" the following day. Unfortunately, Brandon mistakenly thought her interest was of a more intimate nature than a professional one. He tried to kiss Ezri during the counselling session, and she called Security. More embarrassment followed, as Brandon explained to Lieutenant Connolly and some of his colleagues, of his mistake. After that, Brandon kept his feelings to himself, especially around women.
A transporter vessel took Brandon back to a medical facility in Paris, Earth. His mind was slowly reconstucted, and he became interested in his life again.
On his first day back on board the Dorsetshire, Brandon recalled his abduction to the senior staff. The security chief, Lieutenant Garish, is a Cardassian. The staff discovered just how much hatred Brandon Arbarra now has towards the Cardassians. The question is, can he put his hatred aside and perform his duties properly. Also, the Dorsetshire now has a new Engineering Chief. Will Brandon be able to work as an Assistant again?
