officers in the
observation lounge at 0900 hours.
Yes, sir.
And, Ensign?
I do know why you ended up
on the Enterprise. I asked for you.
I wanted to make sure you had
a chance to redeem yourself.
Thank you, sir.
- You wanted to see me, Doctor?
- Yes, Alyssa.
I think you know how much
I've come to depend upon you.
I've recommended your promotion
because your performance
has been exemplary.
Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate that.
But more than that,
I've come to think of you
as a friend.
Someone I really care about.
It's nice of you to say that.
I feel the same way.
So...
- You and Andrew Powell?
- Someone told you?
Told me what?
We were keeping it a secret
until the promotions.
Secret?
- He asked me to marry him.
- That's wonderful.
I'm so relieved. I mean, happy.
Please take a seat, Ensign.
This is Joret Dal.
He was in the escape pod
that we retrieved.
He is a member
of the Cardassian military
and a Federation operative.
He has risked his life to bring us
invaluable information
about Cardassian
strategic intentions.
Information
that could very well enhance
the security of Bajor
and other planets in this sector.
Now, it is absolutely imperative
that we return him safely
to Cardassian space.
It will not be easy.
The border is heavily guarded.
His ship was destroyed.
He'll use our shuttle.
If stopped,
I will claim to have stolen it.
We distressed the shuttle
as if it had been fired upon.
Joret will talk his way
past the patrol.
If I were alone, my chances
of succeeding would be slim.
But if I had a prisoner with me,
a Bajoran terrorist,
I would appear to be a bounty hunter.
Border crossings of that nature
are not uncommon.
For a price,
the patrol will look the other way.
Once the shuttle is past the patrol,
Joret will put you into an escape pod
and return you.
Since the pod is small,
it's difficult to detect.
- We'll be waiting here.
- I understand, sir.
Ensign, this is a dangerous mission.
- I'm not ordering you to take part.
- Then I volunteer, sir.
Be certain you understand the risk
you are taking.
- If you are captured...
- I'm Bajoran.
No one knows better than I do what
Cardassians do to their prisoners.
I've made my decision.
Very well. Report to sickbay.
Dr Crusher will explain.
Ensign Sito.
I must ask you not to discuss
this with anyone.
Yes, sir.
I didn't realise
she would be so young.
The Captain asked Dr Crusher to make
it look like Joret mistreated me.
We're all set here.
Sir.
I want you to know
that I appreciate the fact
that you had confidence in me.
- Good luck.
- I'll see you soon.
We're approaching the border.
It won't be long
before we're detected.
When they stop us,
should I say anything?
No. It should seem
that I've broken your will.
If you're asked questions, look at me
as though you're afraid to answer.
Can I ask you something?
Why are you doing this,
risking your life for Starfleet?
I don't consider myself a traitor.
All my life
I've served in the military.
Once, it was an institution dedicated
to the security of Cardassia.
Now it's just a platform
for ambitious guls hoping
to make their reputations in battle.
If I help Starfleet
deter even one pointless skirmish,
I've served my purpose.
I'm sick of war.
My people need peace.
I never thought I'd hear
a Cardassian say something like that.
I never thought a Bajoran would
risk her life for a Cardassian.
- Patrol ships are moving in.
- We don't have much time.
She must have left on that shuttle.
- Do you know where it went?
- Toward Cardassian space.
The shuttle was damaged.
Sam, can we talk
about something else?
- Don't you care?
- Of course.
But we have to accept the fact
that we're not always told
about everything aboard ship.
We can tell each other
what we know.
- Do you two know something?
- Sam, please.
I can't believe this. We're friends.
We're also Starfleet officers.
I'm not allowed to talk about it.
OK. I