was pushing it. It's just as well, they're extremely fattening. You only missed Gul Evek by hours. I asked him to stay. I thought an Admiral's assurances might convince him we are trying to deal with the Maquis. Evek manages to make the Cardassians sound like helpless sheep being preyed on by Federation wolves. But we caught the Cardassians supplying their colonies in the Demilitarised Zone with weapons. Gul Evek told me they had stopped that practice. How comforting. Admiral, this Maquis situation has you worried. If I were living that close to the Cardassians, I'd keep a phaser under my pillow, too. But in the last weeks, we've seen signs that the Maquis are moving beyond self-defence. Their ranks are growing. They're acquiring ships, weapons. They seem to be preparing a more aggressive military posture. We've got to put a stop to them before the entire Demilitarised Zone ignites. But before we stop them, we have to find them. They seem to be scattered in small cells around the Zone. We don't have reliable intelligence about them. Perhaps you need an undercover operative. Our thinking exactly. We intend to infiltrate their organisation, and the person we want to do it is aboard your ship right now. Starfleet wants me to infiltrate the Maquis? Because of your recent training, because you're Bajoran, and because of your past troubles with Starfleet gives you a certain credibility. Well, that's certainly true. Just how soon would this mission begin? Immediately. I see. I've spent the better part of my life fighting the Cardassians. I never thought I'd be helping them out. This is a rare case when our interests and theirs coincide. We both want peace in the Demilitarised Zone I've heard a lot about the Maquis. One of my instructors at Tactical Training, a lieutenant commander in Starfleet, a man I both admired and respected, he was sympathetic to them. He resigned and left to join them. We're all sympathetic, Lieutenant. Our civilians in the Demilitarised Zone are in a difficult situation, but even sympathy must end at some point. The peace treaty isn't just a piece of paper. If the Maquis force us into a war with Cardassia, it may mean hundreds of thousands of lives. Two years ago, Starfleet would never have tapped you for this mission. They must have a lot of confidence in you now. The way I see it, there's one good reason to take this mission, and that's to validate your faith in me. We are looking for a Bajoran woman, dark hair. She is responsible for the death of a Cardassian soldier. If we learn she has been here, this establishment will be closed down. You say she has dark hair? - Yes. - She was here. - Just missed her. - Do you know where she went? No. It was really nice meeting you. Thanks. So, did you kill that Cardassian? Starfleet thinks I did. That's reason enough to hide. Why did you tell them that I'd left? There are worse things a person can do than kill a Cardassian soldier. You don't often meet someone willing to say that out loud. In the Zone, a lot of us feel that way. I'd like to meet people like that. Don't be afraid. You're not in danger here. What is your name? - Did you kill that Cardassian? - Who are you? We're the people who saved you from Starfleet. Thanks, but I'll be going now. Did you kill that Cardassian? Yes. That's a risky thing to do in the Demilitarised Zone. You can end up hunted by Starfleet and the Cardassians. Then why did he risk bringing me here? We're asking the questions. Who are you? My name is Ro Laren. I grew up in the Bajoran camps. That would explain why you have no love for Cardassians. I know what they're capable of. They tortured my father to death, and I was forced to watch. Where are you living now? Nowhere. I was a Starfleet officer, but I was court-martialled and I was sent to the stockade on Jaros II. I'm not exactly what you'd ------------------------------ Читайте также: - текст Страх и трепет на английском - текст Родина ждёт на английском - текст Шинель на английском - текст Муми-тролль и другие на английском - текст Американский мечтатель на английском |