kasidy yates, where are you going? down to my ship. i have a meeting with my engineer. go back to sleep. he'll wait. oh, is that how you treat your staff? make them wait around while you're sleeping? that's right. in fact, there are days when i never get out of bed. you're not making this easy. that's the general idea. benjamin sisko, you are evil. i am a starfleet officer-- the paragon of virtue.

e this debate another time. i can't wait. see you later. this briefing will contain information considered extremely sensitive by starfleet command. please, do not share it with anyone doesn't have a level-seven security rating. it seems that during their recent invasion of cardassia the klingons inflicted far more damage than we've been led to believe. two weeks ago the civilian government on cardassia prime secretly contacted the federation council and made an urgent request for industrial replicators and that request has been granted. how many replicators are we talking about? 12-- all class-four.

bajor is just one planet. the klingons have destroyed the industrial base of literally dozens of cardassian worlds. with 12 replicators, they can start building new power plants and factories. why all the secrecy? starfleet intelligence believes the maquis may try to stop the shipment or seize the replicators for themselves. that makes sense. the cardassians have been so busy fending off the klingons they've basically given a free hand to the maquis in the demilitarized zone. the last thing the maquis want intelligence also reports that the demilitarized zone between cardassia and the federation has become a hotbed of increasing trorist activity. we suspect the maquis have built several new bases in the badlands and the cardassians in the d.m.z. are getting worried. they should be. without the cardassian military to stop them the maquis have a perfect opportunity to drive the cardassians out of the d.m.z. permanently.

all right. let's tighten security on the station. step up checks of incoming and outgoing cargo for weapons or explosives, more deputies on the promenade-- you know the drill. understood. mr. worf, tomorrow take the defiant and patrol the badlands. show the flag. let the maquis know we're ready for trouble. aye, sir. mr. eddington, i want daily briefings on this until the replicators are in cardassian hands. dismissed. the commander and i would like to have a word with you. something wrong? captain... it's come to our attention that there may be a maquis smuggler here on the station. oh? it's just a theory at this point and frankly, our suspicions are based on purely circumstantial evidence. who is it? again, we're still not certain.

gentlemen? kasidy yates. [captioning sponsored by the u.s. department of education

kasidy? working for the maquis? that's impossible. i certainly hope so-- smuggling with intent to supply a terrorist organization is a serious offense. where is your evidence? five months ago captain yates was hired by the bajorans to carry cargo to their outlying colonies.

to a colony on dreon seven. it's a 12-hour run for most ships but she always takes 18. the six-hour difference is just enough time to make a side trip into the badlands rendezvous with a maquis ship then continue on to the dreon system. that's your evidence? that she was slow in one of her deliveries? there's more. starfleet intelligence has infiltrated one of the maquis cells and obtained a list of their contacts in the bajoran sector. they all had cover names but one of their contacts started living aboard deep space nine in the last six months. captain yates has been living aboard the station for just under six months. that's damned slim evidence to base an accusation. we haven't made any accusations-- i said we have suspicions. that's right. you did say that. captain, i realize this is an awkward situation for you but if i could step up my surveillance

you can't just invade her privacy based on your suspicions. you'll have to show me some real evidence before i'll authorize what you're proposing. if she's really a maquis then she's no longer a federation citizen. the answer is no. understood, sir. gentlemen. there are times we have to search vessels if you can find a reason... we'll let you know.

yeah, nerys! there you go. ( panting ) did you see the way she gave that tiny head fake and then boom-- checked him into the wall? yes. it was quite effective. stop watching her. i thought the point was to watch. yes-- but the game not the spectators--- especially that spectator. well, what does she expect? she's the only cardassian woman on the station. she must know she's bound to attract some attention. some, yes. yours, no. oh, come on! that was a foul. yeah! perhaps i should say hello after the game. that's gul dukat's daughter. i can't think of anyone in the galaxy who hates you more than he does. besides, ziyal is a friend of kira's.

( cheering ) i thought it would be polite to say hello but clearly, you don't think i'm capable of conducting any kind of pleasant discourse without some kind of nefarious ulterior motive. that's not what i meant. you should just leave well enough alone. why stir up..? yes! well played! brava, major! what happened? a brilliant move on the part of the major. you should have been paying attention. ( door chimes ) come in. did you know you could smell that

n ratamba stew over spinach linguine. don't your neighbors ever complain? sometimes, but usually it's only an excuse to get a taste of my cooking. oh, how sneaky of them. yes, they are a duplicitous bunch. mmm. all right, you two. break it up. i've got a problem. do either of you know what a kavarian tiger-bat smells like? it's for a story i'm working on. the computer database has plenty of pictures but no olfactory information. make something up. i want a "you-are there" feeling. the details have to be right. kas, haven't you been to kavaria? not me. sorry. don't you make a regular cargo run to a neighboring system? no. kavaria's out towards the badlands. i try to stay away from there. you should ask quark. i bet he knows someone who's been out that way. i thought you made deliveries to dreon seven. that's near the badlands, isn't it?

what route do you take to the dreon system? i imagine you go around the rolor nebula. if you're really this interested in my flight plans why don't you look them up? you are the commander of the station, after all. forget i brought it up. okay, everyone grab a plate and prepare to be dazzled. you first.

you're not going to hurt me, are you? normally, i would simply make a strategic withdrawal at the first sign of trouble but there doesn't seem to be a way out of here. you could always call security. oh, true, but it would take them a few minutes to arrive and by then, it might be too late. i don't think i'll hurt you. i'm gratified to hear that. in fact, i think it's safe to say you have nothing to fear from me.

this is ridiculous. we have perishable goods in the hold and we cannot allow... what is going on? we need to make a class two inspection of your cargo before we can allow you to leave. inspection? for what? there've been reports of an outbreak on bajor so we're scanning all ships in cargo before they leave. none of my cargo came from bajor. i'm afraid the rules are very strict. how long will this take? six hours. six hours? we'll miss the rendezvous. we'll see about that. kasidy? i'm sorry to bother you, ben. normally, i wouldn't do this... what is it? it's this health inspection. it'll take six hours but i need to rendezvous

know how they are about punctuality. if it weren't for the health concern, maybe but in this case... ben, please. i promise to flood the entire cargo hold with baryon radiation as a precaution but i need to go now or i'll lose the entire consignment. stand by. is there any way we can make a shorter inspection? not if they're searching for contraband while they make it look like a health inspection. they need time to look for camouflage fields we probably shouldn't bother at this point. if kasidy's in a hurry she'll be standing over their shoulders the whole time. they won't be able to make much of a search. captain, i strongly recommend that we at least try. you are clear to leave the station just remember to irradiate that cargo. thanks, ben. i owe you one.

do you have something to say, commander? no, sir. good. now get down to the defiant and tell worf he has a change of orders. i want you to follow the xhosa. aye, sir. what are our orders if we observe captain yates meeting a maquis ship? right now your orders are to observe then report directly to me. is that clear? perfectly. the xhosa's altering course, commander. now on a heading one, five, eight mark three, two, five. the badlands. stay with her, chief.

say what you will about the maquis they're not stupid. using the badlands as their base of operation was a pretty smart move. not to mention a gutsy one. they are terrorists-- little more than criminals. and criminals always make mistakes. they're just fighting for something they believe in. they should be hunted down and destroyed. what for? defending their homes? look what's happened to those people one day, they're eking out a living in some godforsaken colonies on the cardassian border. the next day, the federation makes a treaty handing those colonies over to the cardassians. what would you do? i would not become a terrorist. it would be dishonorable. i wouldn't say that around major kira if i were you. how about you, commander?

ny feelings about them one way or the other. oh, but you must have an opinion. i do my job, chief. starfleet says to find the maquis i'll find the maquis. my opinion is irrelevant. what matters to me is doing my job like a starfleet officer. anything else... is an indulgence. i think i've got something. an impulse signature off the starboard bow. bring us within visual range. aye, sir. o'brien: that's a maquis raider.

hello. hello. this is your shop. yes. it's very nice. thank you. you do good work. how kind. is there something i can do for you? i got this holosuite program from quark. it's a reproduction of a cardassian sauna. like the ones they have back home. yes. i was wondering if you... might be interested in trying it out with me.

i mean, we're the only cardassians on the station and well, the temperature's too hot for almost anyone else. i see. when were you thinking of? maybe the day after tomorrow. say 2100? i'd be delighted. great. i'll see you there. i look forward to it. morning. morning. raktajino, extra sweet. makapa bread, no crust. what happened to juice and oatmeal? kasidy introduced me to this. it's great.

tonight. oh, don't worry. it's supposed to do that. the foam tastes like a... a weird peppermint and the bread... i don't know what it tastes like. you want some? i think i'll pass. dad, is something wrong? i'm a little tired. didn't get much sleep last night. i guess you're not used to sleeping alone anymore. what i mean is you miss her companionship... you miss talking and sharing insights about command and duty... all right, that's enough. i was just kidding. i know. i've just got a lot on my mind. something happen between you and kasidy?

if you want to talk... what? this is important. you and i. things change... but... not this. forget it. i'm just having a bad day. after the cargo was beamed aboard the maquis raider the xhosa took this route out of the badlands and resumed its course to dreon seven. do you know what cargo was transferred to the maquis ship? from the residual transporter signature it was 80% organic. i'd say food or medical supplies. at least we're not dealing with weapons. it sounds like she's only... where is the xhosa now?

she should arrive at 1900 hours. thank you. dismissed. dismissed, old man. ( door chimes ) ( sighs ) come in. miss me? were you gone?

so, did you make your rendezvous with the tholian freighter? right on time, and thank you for bending the inspection rules for me. we'd never have made it without you. just don't make a habit of it. i promise. where did you meet the tholians anyway? in the dreon system? yeah. why? it just seemed odd that they would travel that far just for some medical supplies. they've got some kind of viral infection on one of their colonies. in fact, i can't stay long-- i'm supposed to make a run tonight. but i promise you can inspect the cargo ahead of time. that'll make odo very happy. hey, you're back. looks like it to me. are you guys doing anything right now? i just got a new holosuite program that nog sent me. it's a baseball game between the 1961 yankees

i'll have to pass. i have to get back to ops. anyway, the yankees will bury them. you two have fun. but i'm only here for a few hours. duty calls. i'll see when you get back. okay. she's going on another run tonight. she seemed prepared for a cargo inspection this time so i doubt you'll find anything. captain... mr. eddington and i have discussed this at length and we both feel that if the xhosa makes another rendezvous with a maquis raider we should seize both vessels and arrest everyone aboard. the xhosa may not make another run for months. we shouldn't let this opportunity pass us by. agreed. yes, sir. and that does bring up another point i'd like to discuss...

sir, the c.f.i. replicators are due to arrive here tomorrow afternoon. i'd feel better if i were here to supervise the security detail. lieutenant reese can handle it. yes, sir, he can, but... just say it, commander. sir, if the maquis put up a fight the xhosa might get caught in the cross fire. if that happens, i can't guarantee the safety of kasidy yates. and to be blunt i don't want that responsibility. i can't say i blame you. s is your priority. i'll take command of the defiant. thank you, captain. the inspection team just left. any problems? no. kasidy.

good. seven-three, yankees. did you come all the way down here for the score? no. i was just thinking-- why don't we drop everything and go to risa? just the two of us? now? we won't even pack a bag. we'll walk straight out of here, get in a runabout and go. what about your station? i have a great crew. they can handle things around here for a few days. neither of us is doing anything so important that it can't wait for a few days. i'm not sure the tholians would agree. let your first officer handle it. or better yet, tell the tholians they won't be getting this shipment at all. i don't think i can do that, ben.

( sighs ) but if you want to take a runabout and wait for me on risa, i'll meet you there. forget about it. it was just a crazy idea. have a good trip. thanks. it was a tempting idea, ben. i wish i could take you up on it.