Technology
19 Cat's Claw
In this poignant episode of 'Star Trek: The Lost Frontier,' Captain Rupert Trask and his crew embark on a mission to uncover the fate of the planet Kate, only to confront the devastating aft...
19 Cat's Claw
Technology •
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Interactive Transcript
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This is Mark Brzee, I play the part of Captain Rupert Trask on Star Trek the Lost Frontier.
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With the excitement of our show, warping back on the airwaves after a brief hiatus
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for new and exciting adventures, the casting crew is saddened to inform you that a friend
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and family member has left us too soon.
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Bill Hallwag, playing the part of Chief Engineer Arthur Pope, passed away on April 1, 2017.
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His passion and dedication to audio drama was in every performance.
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The cast and crew of Star Trek Lost Frontier dedicate this episode to Bill, and may he
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be navigated by fair winds and following seas.
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Mr. Hallwag, you are dismissed.
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You're listening to Audio Theater in a darker shade.
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This is DARKERPROJETS.COM.
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Now our feature presentation.
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Captain's log.
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Fall 8, 011.317.
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Perhaps the greatest tragedy that I have ever encountered was what has become of the planet
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Kate.
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When the infection began, the cations proved particularly susceptible, and the federation
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lost contact with Kate.
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Now with the federation recruiting former members, we have been dispatched to bring the
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cations back into the fold.
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I looked forward to seeing Kate again.
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This world was once very dear to me, but what we have found is not the world that I
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remember.
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Scanner show only scattered pockets of animal life, Captain.
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If I hadn't double checked your coordinates myself, Mr. Kirk, I would never believe that
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this was Kate.
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Since the show's past vegetation.
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And Captain, we may have to face facts.
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There may not be any cations left to recruit.
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We have to keep looking, Mr. Winford.
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The infection can't have wiped them all out.
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On the contrary, it most certainly could have.
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I've managed to find the coordinates you gave me, Captain.
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We're receiving the first pictures now.
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On screen.
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I, sir.
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What am I looking at here, Ensign?
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That's the city you told me to find, sir.
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It looks deserted.
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According to the scanners, it is.
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I'm sorry, Captain.
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Kate appears to be a dead planet.
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The infection alone couldn't have caused all this.
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The buildings look like they've been torn apart.
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Captain, the federation has too many other species we need to reestablish contact with.
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In a minute, Winford.
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Ensign.
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Those packets of animal life.
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Is there a chance they could be survivors?
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It's very slim, sir.
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Most of them appear to be small.
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About two-thirds of them are aquatic.
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And many of the remainder are avian.
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I fear we're wasting valuable time.
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I hate to say it, sir, but Winford may be right.
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Very well.
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Ensign Kirk plot a course for...
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Captain, we're receiving a transmission from the surface.
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Where is it originating from?
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It's being bounced from several sources, sir.
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It's impossible to pinpoint.
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On screen.
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Greetings and welcome travelers.
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Please, identify yourself.
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I am Captain Tresk of the USS Underprise.
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A pleasure, Captain.
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I am High Priestess Vermeer of Kate.
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You say you are the captain of the Enterprise?
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You are Federation.
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Yes, we came hoping to discover what had happened to Kate.
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And to recruit our people as well.
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Well met Captain Tresk of the USS Underprise.
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If you will beam down,
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I will be honored to tell you what happened.
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You are familiar with our world?
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From long ago.
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Then we will await your arrival at Velak's More.
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Mr. Winford, with me.
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Niles, you have the cop.
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Captain, we still do not know how many occasions are left or what state they're in.
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This may yet be a wasted mission.
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Saving lives is never a waste, Mr. Winford.
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Even if it only saves one life.
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Besides, you know what the Cations always said about Velak's More.
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No, Captain.
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I'm afraid I don't.
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I remember.
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While the Luxemore stands, the Suns will always shine.
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And where the Suns shine, you will find the Children of Kate.
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The
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Space
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The Prison of Infinity
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The Lost Frontier
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In the wake of Cataclysm and Sara rises the threat of political upheaval and interstellar war.
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As the Federation struggles to rebuild, one ship continues its mission across the stars.
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These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.
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It's ongoing mission to bring peace to the Lost Frontier.
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The
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Space
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What the infection failed to kill, the Kazinthe came into clear.
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As the Federation struggled with its own internal problems, a young Kazinthe, Chufthala Captain,
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led a military junta to overthrow his government.
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Once he held power, he personally oversaw bombardment of our world.
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He ruined cities, killed millions.
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Our leaders, surrender, hoping to spare what few occasion lives were left.
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Then, when we thought our troubles were over, he returned with slave ships.
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Chufthala Captain made his name as conqueror of Kate.
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He made his fortune as a breeder and seller of slaves.
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Didn't you try to defend yourselves?
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How could we lieutenant Winfred?
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Our finest were always recruited in Starfleet.
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And the infection took so many, and our leaders not capitulated.
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Kate itself would be a dead stone, floating in space.
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I can't believe so much of Kate is just gone.
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At least we are alive to rebuild.
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As bad as it may look, the land will recover with care.
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We make slow progress however.
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The Kazinthe still send patrols through this sector every few months.
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Everything we build, they destroy.
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This monastery exists solely because it is carved from the living stone of the mountain.
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They cannot find us here.
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I would imagine not. Our own scanners would have missed you if you hadn't hailed us.
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This view is so different.
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You have been to Velak's mur before our captain's task?
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Longer or go than I care to admit.
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I used to read about this world when I was a child.
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I promised myself that I would visit when I finished at the academy.
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And to set foot in Velak's mur and look out of these windows.
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Nothing ever compared to that first time until I took command of my own shit.
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Look, Winford.
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You used to see Irvan Pasha at the foot of the mountain, the oldest village on Kate.
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Some say the oldest village for light years around.
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And as far as the eye could see was green and blue.
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It was lovely I'm sure.
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Velak's mur.
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The hall of always.
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When the stone shapers first created the monastery, it was believed that you could see the whole world from here.
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It has always been sacred to our people.
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And how many of your people are left your holiness?
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In Velak's mur we have only a few hundred.
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Perhaps a few hundred more hiding in the wasteland.
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They are quick to distrust us.
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All who live inside these walls were one slaves, Lieutenant Winford.
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We made our escape and one way or another.
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We found our way back to our home.
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I'm sorry I can't imagine what that must be like.
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No, Lieutenant Winford. I'm afraid that until you have spent ten years chained by the neck to a bedpost.
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You cannot.
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Your eminence, I promise you that whatever you and your people need, the federation will be more than happy to help.
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I hope your holiness understands but on this matter Captain Trask cannot speak for the federation.
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Our own resource is a limited as it is.
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Of course.
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Things are difficult for everyone.
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Lieutenant Winford, the people of Kate need our help.
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No, Captain.
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What Mr. Winford says makes perfect sense.
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You came to Kate looking for resources.
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To put it bluntly yes.
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If our history is any indicator, specifically, you want occasion to man your communications arrays and plot your strategies.
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I hope your holiness will not be too offended but we had hoped to find your world a little less.
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Mr. Winford, I can tell you're not used to tiptoeing around your feelings.
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You are terrible at it. Say what you mean.
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When you have lived a life like mine, offense is impossible.
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And then I hope you understand we were looking for an ally, not a backwards theocracy without a filing to its name.
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Yes, I see.
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I wish that we could offer you help.
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But you need, as your people say, quid pro quo.
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And light and self-interest is the timing gear in the machinery of the universe.
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I am certain we can do something for you.
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At the very least, we have medicine, perhaps a spare repelligator.
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We have Mr. Winford's quid pro quo.
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I beg your pardon.
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You have seen only a small part of Eluxmoor.
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We are small in number, but not so backwards.
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Here, where we walk, we contemplate truth, beauty, and meditate on the universe.
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Below where we are standing now is the academy, where the children learn the languages, science, mathematics,
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military history.
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We would be more than happy to rejoin the federation, and I think you will find our cadets more than adequate crew members.
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Even so, a few hundred occasions are unlikely to make that much of a difference.
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That is where we require our own quid pro quo.
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The federation has always been good at difficult situations.
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On Chouftala captain's breeding plantation, there are at least a thousand occasions at any given time.
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Spread through the Kizinte families that have bought them, you will find at least a million.
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What can we do?
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We are a hardy race.
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Free the slaves of Chouftala captain's breeding compound.
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Do what you can for others, and get Kizinte out of our space.
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We can take care of the rest.
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We'll do what we can.
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Of course, we'll need to see the academy first.
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If we're going to be allies, then the federation needs to know what you're offering.
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And we'll have to ride out the details of our agreement.
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We'll have plenty of time to discuss the details.
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I'll come with you to Kizin.
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You're holding us.
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We can't possibly accept.
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The people of Kate will never accept you as an ally without my support, captain.
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And the best support I can give you is to be seen boarding your ship,
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along with one of our academy's strategists, for a mission to liberate our people.
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Then I'm sure we can make room for you, after you've shown us the academy.
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Of course, right this way.
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The Academy of Legends
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Captain, Mr. Niles is showing from there to her quarters, and we're on our coast, Kizin.
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Are you doing Mr. Night's job now, Winfred?
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I imagine you have a plan for dealing with the Kizinte.
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Yes.
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Might one ask what the plan is?
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Demand the release of the Kation Slaves, and bomb the Kizinte major cities from orbit until they comply.
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If I may, Captain, that hardly seems like your usual strategy.
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What the Kizinte have done is unconscionable, Mr. Winfred.
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They've enslaved an entire race of sentient beings, and wiped out a culture that took millennia to build.
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It's tantamount to genocide.
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It is not, however, actually genocide.
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Extinction is permanent, but slavery can be reversed.
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And we are going to reverse it.
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The Prime Directive is intended for the defense of pre-war civilizations, because Kizinte and the Kations are far from pre-war.
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And the Kations are our allies.
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The letter of the law is different from the spirit of the law, Captain.
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The Prime Directive specifies pre-warp civilizations, but the Federation has never pursued a policy of active interference.
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You can free the Kations, but you can't force the Kizinte to change their way of life.
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It is not your place to meddle in their culture.
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I can't meddle in their culture.
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The network of Orion Slave Girls stretches across the known universe in every major culture.
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They're prominence as status symbols places them at the top of all organizational charts.
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Corporate, government, esoteric, and religious.
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An alliance with such a powerful network enables us to extract influence wherever it is needed, whenever it is needed.
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That's your report on the Orion Trading Gochations, Winfred. Those are your words.
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Tell me how that's any less meddling than what I'm about to do.
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Espionage, done properly, changes worlds over the course of years, decades, even centuries.
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But it changes them for good, because the target believes it was their own idea for change.
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The Kations don't have centuries to wait.
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You want to change the Kizinte culture at the point of a gun.
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Then what?
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Spend your entire life in orbit ready to open fire when the Kizinte inevitably rebel?
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What will you do once you are actually guilty of genocide?
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Do you honestly think we can't stop the Kizinte without destroying them?
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I do. Captain, I know that there are victims of injustice, and yes, they deserve to be heard.
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But you cannot violate what you know to be right for the benefit of just one culture.
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Then what do we do, Winfred?
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We have until we reach Kizinte's side.
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You wanted to see what the Kations had to offer, didn't you?
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Commander Niles, have you settled our Kations guests from the academy in his quarters yet?
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Could that be Keter, sir? Yes. I was just chilling in the replicator.
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You have a wonderful shift, Captain. You are truly blessed.
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Thank you, Keter.
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Commander, then are showing the Keter around and then introduce him to Mr. Rook.
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Rook, sir?
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We're on our way to Kizin, Catherine.
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I want Rook and Keter Keter working on options for what we're doing when we get there.
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Trask out.
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Oh, Mr. Winfred?
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We're about to see just how good the Kation Academy is at turning out strategists.
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Yeah, but Rook.
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If he can convince a cling on, that's the greatest vote of confidence of all.
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Enter and welcome.
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Your holiness, it is an honor.
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The pleasure is mine, a tainted one.
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My house is my house.
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As are its contents. You were warned about me, weren't you?
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No. But when you are, the last remnants of a species on a world that cannot be farmed,
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you deal with many, Thorengi.
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Ah, the 61st rule of acquisition. A customer in need is a purse waiting to be emptied.
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I hope you do not hold it against me.
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I have always been fond of rule of acquisition 299 myself.
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After you've exploited someone, it never hurts to thank them.
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That way it's easier to exploit them next time.
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You are familiar with the Phorengi, aren't you?
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I am a high priestess for mayor.
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But I gather you already knew that, my Phorengi brother.
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I am Zog.
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How may I help you, Zog?
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I had heard that the Kations were a helpful race.
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Your holiness, I wonder if you're aware of the great hunger for knowledge that is felt in every corner of the known universe.
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Mr. Zog, I think I know where you're going with this.
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Weakation are an oppressed people.
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Well, yes.
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And in all of the known universe,
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the unoppressed feel guilty that the oppressed exist.
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Oh, yes.
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And to assuage that guilt,
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they romanticize the wisdom of the oppressed peoples.
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Are you sure you're not at least parked for Angi?
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Hmm.
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What do you propose to do with my highly treasured wisdom, Olobed One?
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Imagine your words, your holiness,
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sent around the galaxies at the speed of thought.
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Imagine people everywhere clutching at your wisdom,
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cherishing the culture and philosophy of the Kations.
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Imagine influencing people who have never,
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and may never set foot on Kate.
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I believe you are offering me a publishing contract.
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Not just a publishing contract, the publishing contract.
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Your holiness, I am shocked, dismayed.
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To learn that since the fall of Kate,
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there has not been one single Katie and author published in all of the free galaxies.
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This is a critic and shameful oversight.
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And one that the greater Zog publishing, like since pending, would like to correct.
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May I see the contract?
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Of course, it's just your standard legal blah blah blah blah.
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Oh, my.
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This will never do.
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No.
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Never.
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What if the problem is, I'm sure it's negotiable.
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This royalty you intend to pay me.
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Ten percent?
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It's a standard deal.
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I won't accept a penny over zero.
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By, by ten percent, I'm sorry, I must have waxed my ears.
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If I am to spread my wisdom across the universe, Mr. Zog,
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I can't possibly accept money in exchange for it.
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You'll have to change the number to zero.
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Oh, well, well, please.
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Feel free to make an alteration if you wish.
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Thank you, Mr. Zog.
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Now, about this section.
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Your holiness, I feel I can trust you to do the right thing.
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Thank you.
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And I feel I can trust you to be a true forangi.
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Essentially, have such an understanding of each other.
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Why don't I leave the contract with you?
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Make your changes, and we'll discuss them later.
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Are you sure?
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I wouldn't have it any other way.
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I'll leave you to your studies.
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Until next time, your holiness, your house is your house.
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As are its contents.
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The theory is sound.
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What theory?
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The theory of cowering like a whipped curd.
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It would be foolish not to take advantage of the situation.
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Take advantage of the situation.
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Where is your honor?
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You would have us sneak in like common thieves.
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It's not sneaking in.
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Gentlemen, we're drawing near to Kazin.
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Tell us what we're doing.
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Could that guitar, Mr. Rook?
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Here, Captain.
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These charts show the major Kazin-D cities as we knew them before the fall.
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If we concentrate our bombardment on launch bays, military bases and weapons depose,
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we will cripple their reaction abilities.
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They will not be able to respond at full power,
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leaving us with only a fifth of their fleet to face down.
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Bombarding from space, how novel.
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A fifth of their fleet is how much, Mr. Rook.
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It can't be more than a thousand ships.
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We have no way of knowing, sir.
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It may be more, it may be far or less.
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But I can guarantee you this.
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It will be far or more than we can handle on our own.
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Then we will die with honor.
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I would prefer to live without emboiling the federation all out war at this point in time.
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Is this our only option?
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No, sir.
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It is the only option worth exploring.
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I respectfully disagree, honorable Rook.
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Ha-b-sos-li-ku!
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As do all of my species.
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But I'm certain your mother's brow was very prominently rich.
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I-I-you speak clingon cadet.
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Clingon, Rengi, Vulcan, and 15 varieties of earthbound human,
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including Mandarin, Old English.
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That's quite impressive, cadet.
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You have another option?
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I have updated your charts with a few changes that have been made since the last time the federation had contract with our systems.
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My honored compatriot Rook is correct about the strategic sites he has pointed out.
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But we can avoid turning this confrontation into a battle.
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He would have us creep in on the cover of darkness.
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I would have us press our advantage and use our resources wisely.
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I draw your attention to the moon of Xen.
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This field around the moon is of particular interest.
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It interferes with scanners, navigation, communications.
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You name a system, it interferes with it.
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If we can navigate into this field, the Xenity sensors won't be able to pick us up.
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And we'll be flying blind ourselves.
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What good will this do us?
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Not blind. Just without systems.
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We navigate by calculations.
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We can calculate our position relative to the planet below by following the time.
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Within 15 hours of our arrival, the moon will have moved to an optimal position for our purposes.
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We emerge from the field as close as possible to Chustala captain's breeding compound.
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We will be able to move in quickly, beam the inhabitants of the camp aboard, and retreat.
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Either to the field around the moon or out of the system before we can be stopped.
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We disable his staff, gut the infrastructure, and for re both his breeding and sail stop.
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It doesn't stop Chustala, but it does slow him down.
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This plan lacks honor.
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You mean it lacks conflict, which is a point in its favor if you ask me?
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This is very disappointing.
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Captain Trask?
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A good plan requires long-term thinking.
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We rescue the prisoners. We take off for Kate, and then what?
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Do you think the Xenity won't realize where we came from and where we've gone?
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They can't find that axe move.
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But you don't know how powerful their fleet is.
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It could sweep the entire surface with weapons.
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In one move, every surviving occasion could be exterminated.
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Better to die in combat.
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Make our name a legend for those who would follow.
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There will be no honorable death on my watch.
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Agreed.
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Permission to speak freely, Captain.
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Trad carefully could add.
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It will take time for Xen to mobilize its fleet.
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Time that we can use to plan further.
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We came here to free the enslaved Cations, and I'm telling you that we can do that without losing lives.
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We can get my fellow Cations home again, and from there we can deal with what happens next.
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You think you can handle it when the Cousin come after you?
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I know two things, Captain.
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First, I know that the more Cations we can gather together, the stronger we will be.
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And second, I know that you don't have much time to decide.
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Captain, decide for honor.
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With the honorable rook, son of Corg, prefer to die in a battle among the stars,
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impersonally blown to bits by disrupter fire?
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Or would he prefer to face an enemy, I to I, hand to hand?
spk_0
We will need somebody to see to it that the guards at the compound are disabled.
spk_0
Then there will be combat.
spk_0
Of the most personal and honorable sort.
spk_0
I think we should listen to the cadet.
spk_0
We will leave you to prepare our strategy, gentlemen.
spk_0
With honor.
spk_0
I think he just convinced the Klingon.
spk_0
He convinced me. The Cations may be worth saving after all.
spk_0
Captain, we're nearing the Cousin-T moon.
spk_0
Study as she goes, Mr. Kirk.
spk_0
All systems failing as expected, Captain, we're entering the damping field now.
spk_0
I hope our Cation cadets' calculations were correct.
spk_0
Start the countdown until we reach our target coordinates, Mr. Knight.
spk_0
Sir, all systems online.
spk_0
Mr. Knight?
spk_0
This field, Kichir, told us about. It's not a field at all. It's more like a shield.
spk_0
It's a barrier between the moon and Captain, we're being healed from the surface of the moon.
spk_0
On screen.
spk_0
Identify yourself, vessel. Or be destroyed.
spk_0
I was not aware that the Cousin-T issued warnings.
spk_0
Identify yourself, or be destroyed. You will not be warned again.
spk_0
I am Captain Tresk of the USS Enterprise.
spk_0
You lie, the Federation is no more.
spk_0
We have identified ourselves as requested.
spk_0
Now, who am I addressing?
spk_0
You address Pact XR, or you're the Cousin.
spk_0
If the Federation lives yet and is looking for an ally,
spk_0
they will find only death on the planet below.
spk_0
We do not need to ally ourselves with the Cousin.
spk_0
Then you come to do war.
spk_0
We do not seek war.
spk_0
Then scurry home with your tail between your legs. Human.
spk_0
Sir, your holiness, you shouldn't be.
spk_0
I came to see if we had arrived, Captain.
spk_0
The Federation does live, and as always, they ally themselves with the weakest of races.
spk_0
How many Cation Weeklings populate your ship?
spk_0
So-called Tresk, Captain.
spk_0
Pact Egg-Sile. We are on a peaceful mission.
spk_0
And that is why you will fail.
spk_0
Pact Egg-Sile.
spk_0
Were you not once, Pact Captain?
spk_0
You will not address me, slave.
spk_0
I am a freedcation, and high priestess, Pact Egg-Sile.
spk_0
And a fallen Cousin has no right to demand respect.
spk_0
Even of a slave.
spk_0
Captain, shall I know to find security?
spk_0
That won't be necessary.
spk_0
Your holiness, I have to ask you to leave the bridge.
spk_0
I will, Captain.
spk_0
But first, I feel Pact Egg-Sile might like to hear that our purpose involves the embarrassment of Chuvtala Captain.
spk_0
Your holiness, if you will please leave.
spk_0
You speak the name of Chuvtala, Captain.
spk_0
Are you familiar with him?
spk_0
It is because of Chuvtala, Captain, that I, that we are here on this blasted rock.
spk_0
He defeated me in combat, but gave me this shame of exile instead of the honor of death.
spk_0
Tresk, Captain. We would hear of your plans.
spk_0
You will find no allies on the planet below.
spk_0
But you may have friends on this moon.
spk_0
Captain's log supplemental.
spk_0
Following negotiations with her holiness and with the assistance of Mr. Winford,
spk_0
we have reached an agreement with Pact Egg-Sile.
spk_0
We have offered the Kizinte egg-Sile's asylum, and they are now in sconst and guest quarters aboard my ship.
spk_0
In return, we have received tactical information as well as a pair of Kizinte shuttles stripped of their weapons, but with functioning transponders.
spk_0
Captain Tresk, we have landed our shuttle safely.
spk_0
Good connector. Is that an alien?
spk_0
I, sir. Second unit has landed as well. The endoreans are ready to go.
spk_0
We have one chance at this gentleman.
spk_0
I, Captain. First unit out.
spk_0
I have a plan.
spk_0
There will be silence. Slams. Silence.
spk_0
Where I will hang your pelt's to dry on the barracks walls.
spk_0
Who are knocks?
spk_0
Forward and face rule.
spk_0
Son of Cog.
spk_0
Sound me alarm! Entrangers!
spk_0
Second guard neutralized.
spk_0
Mr. Rook.
spk_0
And this one is mine.
spk_0
You will die where you stand, invader.
spk_0
You dare to draw a disruptor in a fist fight.
spk_0
You disappoint me. I had heard the Kizinte were great warriors.
spk_0
Kill me, please. Let me die with honor.
spk_0
You deserve none.
spk_0
I see I missed all of the fun.
spk_0
He is not worth the bruised knuckles.
spk_0
Please, kill me.
spk_0
Sorry. I'm more techy than applied for.
spk_0
But him with the other, Rook.
spk_0
Chavez. And Couture.
spk_0
We are here to rescue you.
spk_0
There is no place to run to.
spk_0
How can you rescue us?
spk_0
Simple. If you'll all gather around.
spk_0
This handy device comes from our old friends, the Federation.
spk_0
It's a signal beacon that scans nearby organic bodies.
spk_0
Separates the animal from the vegetable.
spk_0
And then transmits an amplified long story short.
spk_0
It allows us to beam up a whole hell of a lot of people at once.
spk_0
From a very long way away.
spk_0
We should emerge. Let me check my notes.
spk_0
In Cargo Bay, four of the USS Enterprise.
spk_0
From there, we will be transported to Kate.
spk_0
We were told there was nothing left on Kate.
spk_0
You were told wrong.
spk_0
Velak Zamur still stands.
spk_0
Now, what's keeping Rook?
spk_0
He appears to be arguing with Conzinti Guard.
spk_0
Ah, warrior cultures.
spk_0
He needs to hurry, or he'll miss his ride.
spk_0
Couture, please. I have a sister here as well.
spk_0
Then she is already taken care of.
spk_0
Your barracks were the last one to be liberated.
spk_0
Not because we care less about you lot.
spk_0
It was more of a proximity to the perimeter breach thing.
spk_0
Ah, Rook.
spk_0
Dorshoca! They were begging me to kill them.
spk_0
A clingon would have fought to his last breath.
spk_0
These Couture have a flawed concept of honor.
spk_0
I agree, comrade, clingon.
spk_0
But it's time for us to leave.
spk_0
The sooner the better.
spk_0
Please gather close everyone.
spk_0
Now, powering up in three, two, one, zero.
spk_0
All personnel and Katie and refugees are aboard, sir.
spk_0
Our transportors attracted some attention.
spk_0
I show three Couture's anti-fighters leaving his in orbit
spk_0
and converging on our location.
spk_0
He they sip maneuvers, Mr. Kirk.
spk_0
Get us out of here and back to Kate.
spk_0
I say.
spk_0
Captain's log supplemental.
spk_0
Kate is once again close at hand.
spk_0
The Cation refugees are being transferred to the Luxembourg.
spk_0
As are this Cassinti government in exile.
spk_0
A new part of their plan that Mr. Winford appears
spk_0
to have negotiated on his own.
spk_0
Your Holiness.
spk_0
Pactexile.
spk_0
Captain Trusk.
spk_0
Truskaptin.
spk_0
It is pleasant to make your acquaintance in person.
spk_0
I.
spk_0
Likewise, Pactexile.
spk_0
Oh, Cassinti friend has concluded that humans are not as bad as they seem, Captain.
spk_0
Let us not be too progressive, Winford Mr.
spk_0
You are all as far as I'm concerned.
spk_0
Still a bunch of sniveling, spineless, planty does not fit to lick Cassinti boots
spk_0
for the nourishment the mud may provide.
spk_0
But you have allowed me the opportunity to get off that forsaken rock
spk_0
and to hurt Shufthala captain's pride.
spk_0
Which makes you good sniveling, spineless, planty does.
spk_0
At least I thought we had made progress.
spk_0
I am an old Cassinti Winford Mr.
spk_0
I would never admit this in front of my people,
spk_0
but I frankly have no strength to oppress anyone.
spk_0
Anymore.
spk_0
We understand Pactexile.
spk_0
Then you will also understand that I will have to gut you
spk_0
and make a coat from your skin if you ever tell anyone I said that.
spk_0
I suppose the two of you will be beaming down to the likes of Zemura then?
spk_0
No, I'm afraid not, Captain.
spk_0
You have done so much in helping us bring this day about.
spk_0
This last piece, however, we hope you will leave to us.
spk_0
Yes, Trask, Captain.
spk_0
Let this old warrior have one last battle.
spk_0
I don't think the two of you realize the gravity of this situation.
spk_0
We are perhaps only minutes away from facing a Cassinti fleet.
spk_0
One ship.
spk_0
I know Shufthala captain, and I tell you we will be facing one ship.
spk_0
And he will find it hard to avoid negotiating with us.
spk_0
Captain Trask.
spk_0
A captain, if you will accompany me to the ready room.
spk_0
Mr. Winfred, my place is here on the bridge.
spk_0
Sir, this matter is one for the Cation and Cassinti cultures to work out between themselves.
spk_0
Now, I ask you nicely to please adjourn to the ready room with me.
spk_0
Commander Niles, you have the bridge.
spk_0
See to it that her holiness and Pactexile get to have their conversation with Shufthala captain.
spk_0
Thank you, sir.
spk_0
Mr. Knight.
spk_0
I, Mr. Winfred.
spk_0
Mr. Winfred, I am captain of this ship.
spk_0
Something you would do well to remember.
spk_0
Indeed, Captain, and I am the ranking diplomatic representative on this ship.
spk_0
What we are dealing with is now a diplomatic matter.
spk_0
And why can't I be present on my own bridge while this diplomatic matter is being conducted?
spk_0
Because Captain, while your sense of right and wrong is a wonderful character trait,
spk_0
it's not conducive to diplomacy.
spk_0
Sometimes you have to deal with practical and impractical instead.
spk_0
Shufthala captain has hailed us.
spk_0
Would you like to see this conversation?
spk_0
I think it's my right.
spk_0
This is Captain Trask.
spk_0
Ruler of Cazin, Slaver of Cate, the shadow that blocks the suns.
spk_0
You will surrender or you will face my wrath.
spk_0
This is Pactexile, and we will not surrender.
spk_0
Nor will you fire.
spk_0
Pact, I thought you had died on that lifeless moon.
spk_0
I am old, Shufthala captain.
spk_0
That does not make me weak.
spk_0
You stand with plant eaters.
spk_0
That makes you weak.
spk_0
I am high priestess from Air of Cate.
spk_0
No mere plant eater.
spk_0
I will destroy your ship.
spk_0
Bombard this planet and return to Cazin victorious.
spk_0
You will ignore this ship.
spk_0
Leave this system.
spk_0
Return to Cazin and never be seen near Cate again.
spk_0
Or you will be no Captain.
spk_0
Explain yourself, exile.
spk_0
The great Shufthala captain.
spk_0
He of the Overblown Eagle.
spk_0
Cannot even manage one camp of slaves.
spk_0
In a single night, he lost his entire breeding stock.
spk_0
Spirited away by a single ship without a single shot fired.
spk_0
Not only that, but he failed to keep his shamed,
spk_0
exiled enemies relegated to the prison on the moon.
spk_0
And who will tell this story when your atoms are scattered across the galaxy?
spk_0
My people, Shufthala captain.
spk_0
The slaves you could not control.
spk_0
And the slaves you will never find.
spk_0
They are waiting on the surface of the planet below.
spk_0
In a location you have never been able to trace.
spk_0
Nor will you ever trace it.
spk_0
They are readying to broadcast the story of the brave captain of the Cazinty.
spk_0
Who could not manage his affairs.
spk_0
That signal will never reach Cazin.
spk_0
It will reach Fringue traders.
spk_0
It will reach other vessels that pass by.
spk_0
It will reach old friends of the Kate and old enemies of the Cazinty.
spk_0
And from them it will pass to the Cazinty.
spk_0
And a brave and powerful Shufthala captain will find himself facing.
spk_0
Constant challenges from his fellows.
spk_0
Who will know he has grown soft and complacent.
spk_0
And what would you have me do?
spk_0
Rule, Cazin.
spk_0
Let us rule, Kate.
spk_0
And tell Cazin that I am governor of this world now.
spk_0
You would have me bestow a title on you.
spk_0
I can either be the long defeated enemy who somehow slipped your grasp.
spk_0
Or I can be your governor for your new colony.
spk_0
A colony of the Kate.
spk_0
Under a Cazinty governor.
spk_0
Tell the people that you have decided to let your worthless, defeated opponent rule over a worthless, defeated rock as a suitable punishment.
spk_0
Or we will tell him of how slaves and exiles tricked the mighty Shufthala captain.
spk_0
And robbed him of his livelihood overnight.
spk_0
But my slave.
spk_0
Are yours no longer?
spk_0
For those still on Cazin, may you keep for now.
spk_0
But let it be known that from now on no Cazin will raise a hand to kill a Kate.
spk_0
Unacceptable.
spk_0
What would you have us do to keep our slaves in check?
spk_0
You will exile them.
spk_0
To Kate.
spk_0
Which, as far as your people will ever know, is a dead planet.
spk_0
Rule over by a weak, plant-eating exile.
spk_0
Do this.
spk_0
And retain your honor in the eyes of your people.
spk_0
Fail in this and you will never know peace on Cazin again.
spk_0
Pact exile.
spk_0
I hope you will enjoy your new post on Kate.
spk_0
If you please, Shufthala captain.
spk_0
That's Pact Governor.
spk_0
And the Cazin slaves.
spk_0
From now on no Cazinty will waste their energy executing one so inferior as a Cazin.
spk_0
Instead, Cazin will exile them to the dying rock of Kate.
spk_0
Where they will be ruled by Pact Exa.
spk_0
Governor.
spk_0
You are a wise and powerful captain, Shufthala.
spk_0
And I will remain so.
spk_0
Farewell, Pact Governor.
spk_0
I hope we will never have need to speak to each other again.
spk_0
If we do, Shufthala captain, it will be the end of the old rule of Cazin.
spk_0
We sold them.
spk_0
We did what we could do.
spk_0
It was all pre-stats from our ask of us.
spk_0
We could have done more.
spk_0
We could have rallied reinforcements.
spk_0
Brought the weight of the federation down on them.
spk_0
The weight of a federation that is still rebuilding itself.
spk_0
In our own way, captain, we're little better off than the Cations.
spk_0
At least we got them there freedom.
spk_0
There's still under a Cazinty government.
spk_0
You can hardly call that free.
spk_0
Pact Governor is on his way to beam down to the surface, captain Trask.
spk_0
I...
spk_0
I worry that you might be less than pleased with what has happened.
spk_0
I am your holiness.
spk_0
I'm sorry we couldn't free your people.
spk_0
We are freer than you think, captain.
spk_0
Pact Governor is concerned with a little beyond image at his age.
spk_0
He's agreed to let the Cations self-govern.
spk_0
All he wants is the title and for the Cazinty homeworld to think of him as something more than an exile.
spk_0
But the Cazinty still believe that they on Kate.
spk_0
And one day we will have to fight that battle with them.
spk_0
But we will fight it on our terms.
spk_0
And without the infection decimating our people.
spk_0
Our people are strategists.
spk_0
We will have years to rebuild and regroup.
spk_0
And the Cazinty will not find us an easy opponent.
spk_0
The second time around.
spk_0
In the meantime the Cazinty will turn a blind eye to what goes on on Kate.
spk_0
Which means that the Cations will be free once more to leave Kate and attend Staffly Academy.
spk_0
To join the Federation.
spk_0
Then I guess you have everything you wanted.
spk_0
No.
spk_0
Only everything we could take for now.
spk_0
What we want.
spk_0
We will get later.
spk_0
When we are ready to take it.
spk_0
But you are not satisfied are you.
spk_0
I can't be.
spk_0
Ah, Captain.
spk_0
That is why we will win.
spk_0
I do not understand the purpose of this gathering.
spk_0
It's a successful mission, Rook.
spk_0
I thought we deserved to drink a toast or two.
spk_0
I do not understand the purpose of this gathering.
spk_0
Coming from you.
spk_0
I suppose I'm endeavoring to become a little more... human.
spk_0
Human.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
I fail to see why anybody would want to be human.
spk_0
I also fail to see why we are the only two here.
spk_0
Unfortunately, your new best friend Katua had to return to the Cation Academy.
spk_0
But I've invited the Captain as well.
spk_0
And Commander Niles.
spk_0
I thought just small gathering might be best.
spk_0
It appears you're the only one who has arrived early.
spk_0
Ah, Enter.
spk_0
I hope I'm not too late for the party.
spk_0
Lates. No.
spk_0
Invited. Also. No.
spk_0
I heard a rumor that you were having a gathering.
spk_0
And I just thought that I might... uh, buy my way in.
spk_0
I have my own reasons to celebrate this mission.
spk_0
Buy your way in.
spk_0
What would you say to four vintage bottles of Alderbarron Whiskey?
spk_0
I would say where have you been all my life you darlings?
spk_0
It is... green.
spk_0
Yes, well, I suppose you'd prefer this bottle of warnaug.
spk_0
I grow dangerously close to liking you, Ferenki.
spk_0
So, this is where the fortune...
spk_0
Where did you get all of this?
spk_0
Oh, what's an acquisition like this?
spk_0
When I've made what may be the largest post-fall acquisition ever.
spk_0
Let's talking. More filling of cups.
spk_0
Enter.
spk_0
Mr. Winfrey.
spk_0
Ah, Commander Niles.
spk_0
And I see you dragged Captain Trask along.
spk_0
Would you care for a glass of Alderbarron Whiskey?
spk_0
I've only heard stories about this stuff.
spk_0
Trust me. The stories don't come close to doing it justice.
spk_0
It's certainly greener than I imagined.
spk_0
Raising unconscionable memories, Commander Niles.
spk_0
Oh, no.
spk_0
The Orion Guard so many green nipples.
spk_0
Let's have our first toast.
spk_0
Captain, what should we toast to?
spk_0
To justice.
spk_0
Deferred.
spk_0
But not denied.
spk_0
An appropriate toast, Captain.
spk_0
I'm still not very happy with the way things turned out, Mr. Winfrey.
spk_0
Or with you for that matter.
spk_0
But I'm willing to admit things are better now than before we started this mission.
spk_0
Sometimes that's all we can hope for.
spk_0
And you too certainly know how to bring a party down.
spk_0
But as for me, my spirits cannot be dampened.
spk_0
Because I have the acquisition of a lifetime.
spk_0
When did you have time to acquire anything, Zog?
spk_0
I'll have you know that her holiness and I had plenty of time to converse.
spk_0
And that she's a woman who appreciates a hard bargain.
spk_0
The high priestess of Kate did a bargain with a Ferengy.
spk_0
This I've got to hear.
spk_0
Read in and weep humans.
spk_0
In my hands, I hold the exclusive publishing agreement that grants greater Zog publishing, a license pending.
spk_0
The rights to all of high priestess from her is writing.
spk_0
I don't believe it.
spk_0
Go ahead and read it. It's ironclad.
spk_0
She couldn't wait to make the deal.
spk_0
And the best part is that she absolutely refused to accept her royalty or any upfront payment.
spk_0
Zog, did you read this before you signed it?
spk_0
Of course I did. I wasn't incorporated yesterday you know.
spk_0
I'm sorry. I'm just not used to seeing a Ferengy give something away for free.
spk_0
What? Let me see that.
spk_0
In accordance with Cation tradition, nobody is allowed to profit monetarily from the transfer of knowledge.
spk_0
Therefore, greater Zog publishing, its affiliates and employees guarantee that tangible reproductions of the complete works of high priestess from her, will be offered free of charge to any and all interested readers.
spk_0
Zog, you're just giving it all away.
spk_0
Not that I'm complaining, but you certain you feel all right?
spk_0
I feel fine. I'm already counting my money. You forget the 59th rule of acquisition.
spk_0
Never going against an Andorian when death is on the line.
spk_0
Free advice is seldom cheap.
spk_0
The individual copies of the priestess's works have to be distributed free.
spk_0
But greater Zog publishing owns all intellectual and merchandising rights as well.
spk_0
I've got your Ritian Universal and Mott Enterprise is limited in a bidding war for the rights to sell derivative self-help text.
spk_0
While the Library of Denobula is offering a fortune to be the exclusive retail source of a text they'll have to give away for free.
spk_0
You're turning a profit on a completely free text.
spk_0
Captain, I'm turning a profit without spending a slip of Latinum.
spk_0
It's the best kind of profit. Pure profit.
spk_0
Ah, now if you'll excuse me, that will be the greater teleright debating society wanting to discuss my royalty for their next season on Kachian philosophy.
spk_0
Gentlemen, lady, enjoy the drink.
spk_0
I can't figure out if we've just seen the best or worst being in the known universe.
spk_0
Neither Captain, that was one of nature's diplomats.
spk_0
You have been listening to Star Trek the Lost Frontier.
spk_0
Episode 19.
spk_0
Katz Klaw.
spk_0
Written by C. Glenn Williams.
spk_0
Star Trek, the Lost Frontier, is based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry.
spk_0
Featured in the cast were, Mark Brzee is Captain Tresk.
spk_0
Laura Post is Commander Niles.
spk_0
David Alt as Lieutenant Winfred.
spk_0
Ellie Hirschman as Zog.
spk_0
Scott Martinack as Rook.
spk_0
Ben Harmer as Liam King Cade.
spk_0
Derek M. Cook as Ensign Knight.
spk_0
Sam Gillis as Ensign Sid Kirk.
spk_0
M. C. R. Garcia as Fmurr.
spk_0
Ben Wisman as Couture.
spk_0
Laurence Thunnell as Pact.
spk_0
Mike Pollock as Cizinti Guard.
spk_0
Larry Thelen as Chavez and Chris Williams as Shoftella Captain.
spk_0
Lost Frontier was developed by Eric Busby.
spk_0
This episode was produced and edited by Matthew Blonden.
spk_0
The executive producer for Darker Projects is MJ Cogburn.
spk_0
This has been on Darker Projects.
spk_0
Production.
spk_0
Visit us on the web at www.darkerprojects.com.
spk_0
Thanks for listening.
spk_0
Music.
spk_0
Music.
spk_0
Hi, this is MJ Cogburn.
spk_0
I'm the executive producer of Darker Projects with an important message for our fans.
spk_0
As of May 17th, 2017, Darker Projects became a member of Fake Crafters Studio Network.
spk_0
Fake Crafters Studio Network is a group of independent production teams that feature some of the best storytelling podcasts on the air.
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We have all come together to collaborate and share ideas on all matters of audio drama.
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Our goal is to bring you our fans the best audio drama possible.
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Some of the shows that are part of Fake Crafters Studio Network are, of course, Darker Projects,
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Rex Revitor Private Eye, Drift & Rambl, Light Clarity, Subject Found, Spines, White Noise, Diary of a Madman,
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Sable, Tunnels, Atheist Apocalypse, Theater of Tomorrow, and Blacksfield Community Radio.
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If you have a chance to listen to any of these shows, please do so and let them know how they did.
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Again, thank you for listening to Darker Projects.
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Now, onward into the Dark.