1. Captain's log, stardate 41386.4.
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2. We are in pursuit of a starship
of Ferengi design.
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3. Our mission is to intercept
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4. and recover a T-9 energy converter
which the Ferengi stole
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5. from an unmanned monitor post
on Gamma Tauri Iv.
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6. A theft which automatic
scanners recorded,
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7. providing us
with the long-awaited opportunity
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8. to make close contact
with a Ferengi vessel.
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9. If we succeed in this chase, it will be
Starfleet's first look at a life form
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10. which, discounting rumor,
we know almost nothing about.
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11. There she is.
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12. Enlarge.
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13. What is their course?
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14. They are now angling
through that solar system, captain.
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15. Identify.
- Listed as Delphi Ardu, sir.
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16. Eleven planets, unexplored.
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17. - Stay with them, La Forge.
Aye, sir.
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18. Sensors read a power surge
from their last maneuver, captain.
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19. They are dropping to sub-warp speed.
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20. Reduce to impulse power.
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21. Sensors record fluctuations
in the energy readings from it, captain.
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22. - A malfunction in their engines, sir.
- Breaks my heart.
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23. In visual range, captain.
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24. Fully enlarge.
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25. Hello, stranger.
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26. Very impressive design.
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27. Anything on that design, Data?
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28. Nothing specific, sir.
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29. As you know,
Ferengi technology is estimated
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30. to be generally equal to our own.
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31. But that does not mean
identical, however.
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32. Correct, sir.
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33. We are no doubt advanced
in some areas, they in others.
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34. Showing another power surge, sir.
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35. They are firing on us.
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36. Damage report.
Shields holding.
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37. Mostly electromagnetic.
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38. Fusion generator
and batteries down by 30 percent.
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39. Our impulse engines
are surging now.
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40. They're firing again.
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41. Deflector shield power
weakening, captain.
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42. Phasers ready.
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43. Photon torpedoes ready.
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44. - Do we return their fire, sir?
Negative, Number One.
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45. They're just responding
to our close pursuit.
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46. Fall back a bit, but stay with them.
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47. They are slowing too, sir.
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48. They may be turning to fight.
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49. Open hailing frequen— Why are we
gaining on them? Don't anticipate.
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50. I'm not, sir. Something's wrong.
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51. Sir, something is dragging us forward.
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52. I read that too.
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53. Lieutenant Yar,
what do your sensors show?
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54. Not certain, sir.
I'm getting very confusing readings.
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55. Captain, this shouldn't be.
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56. Our power systems are failing.
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57. Deflector shield failing.
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58. Phasers going inoperative, captain.
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59. Captain, something
is completely immobilizing us.
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60. Immobilized by the damn Ferengi?
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61. I need more information.
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62. What the hell are they using?
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63. Obviously we've underestimated
their technology, captain.
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64. Considerably.
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65. It appears the Ferengi have us
right where they want us:
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66. In their sights.
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67. Space, the final frontier.
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68. These are the voyages
of the starship Enterprise.
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69. Its continuing mission:
to explore strange new worlds,
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70. to seek out new life
and new civilizations,
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71. to boldly go where no one
has gone before.
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72. Are you searching all
frequencies? ls there any message?
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73. Negative, sir.
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74. Weapons report, lieutenant.
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75. I have phasers
and torpedoes armed.
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76. But I show insufficient power
to fire them.
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77. Engineering, give me status
on power recovery.
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78. Engineering, come in.
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79. Why aren't they answering?
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80. - La Forge.
- Sir?
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81. - Get me a full report from Engineering.
- Aye, sir.
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82. It's impossible they could be
draining all power from all systems.
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83. Counselor?
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84. I'm sensing nothing from them, sir.
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85. Which could mean they can shield their
thoughts and emotions from others.
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86. Which still makes it our move.
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87. Sir, they may know as little about us
as we do about them.
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88. Except that they know
that they've got us in deep trouble.
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89. If so, then the question becomes
what do they do with that knowledge?
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90. Data, do you have any information
touching this on any file?
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91. None, sir. Only hearsay and third-hand
reports, most of which conflict.
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92. Which reports do not conflict?
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93. That the Ferengi are—
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94. Well, the best description
may be traders.
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95. What kind of traders?
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96. A comparison modern scholars
have drawn from Earth history
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97. likens the Ferengi
to the ocean-going Yankee traders
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98. of 18- and 19-century America, sir.
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99. From the history of my forebears.
Yankee traders.
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100. Who, in this case, sail the galaxy
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101. in search of mercantile
and territorial opportunity.
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102. And are these scholars saying
that the Ferengi may not be unlike us?
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103. Hardly, sir. I believe the analogy refers
to the worst quality of capitalists.
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104. The Ferengi are believed
to conduct their affairs of commerce
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105. on the ancient principle
caveat emptor.
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106. "Let the buyer beware."
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107. Yankee traders.
I like the sound of that.
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108. Well, sir,
I doubt they wear red, white and blue
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109. or look anything like Uncle Sam.
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110. Engineering?
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111. Join La Forge down below
in Engineering, Number One.
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112. Aye, sir.
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113. Without warp capacity,
we're just a floating target.
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114. Uncle who?
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115. What have bright primary colors
got to do with it?
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116. Oh, I understand the allusion.
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117. Colors representing countries at a time
when they competed with each other.
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118. Red, white and blue
for the United States.
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119. Whereas the French more properly
used the same colors
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120. in the order blue, white and red.
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121. And the German nation,
red, black and gold.
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122. The Italians, green, white and red.
British—
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123. - That's enough, Data.
- It was you who—
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124. We were discussing the Ferengi.
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125. I wish I had some clue
as to what they will do next.
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126. Given what is now happening
to our ship, sir,
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127. their weapons could be vastly
superior to ours.
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128. Yes, Data,
that is a natural assumption.
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129. Engineering?
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130. - Bottom line, La Forge.
Ah, ifs not good, sir.
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131. Ferengi force field that holds this ship
compensates almost as fast
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132. - as we can increase power.
- Almost?
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133. Well, there's a 0.372 millisecond delay
between the use of our power
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134. and the neutralizing counterforce
of the Ferengis.
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135. See, we push, and they push back
with equal force, sir.
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136. What's our acceleration delay
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137. between slow-reverse impulse
and top warp speed?
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138. Well, that's 0.300 milliseconds.
There's...
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139. Ah, I see where you're going.
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140. We shift down,
then kick hard into warp 9.
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141. Yeah, some back. Fighting
Whoa-ea!
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142. - Can we do it, Geordi?
- Ask me after it's done, sir.
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143. I want a slow reverse into drop-off
over five minutes.
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144. We'll show them
what this baby can do, sir.
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145. Give it everything you've got.
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146. Aye, aye, sir.
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147. In a sudden, abrupt power
surge to high warp speed, captain,
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148. we may be able to break loose
from that Ferengi force field.
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149. I wish I knew
what they were thinking over there.
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150. They're wondering
what we're going to do next.
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151. I say fight, sir.
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152. There's nothing shameful
in falling before a superior enemy.
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153. And nothing shameful
in a strategic retreat, either.
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154. All systems ready, captain.
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155. And communication now restored
to Engineering.
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156. Excellent, La Forge.
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157. Now let's, uh, throw them off guard.
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158. Lieutenant Yar,
open hailing frequencies.
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159. Hailing frequencies open, sir.
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160. At least we won't begin
with weakness.
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161. Attention, Ferengi starship.
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162. This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard
of the USS Enterprise.
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163. In the name
of the United Federation of Planets,
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164. I demand that you return
the T-9 energy converter
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165. you removed from Gamma Tauri IV.
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166. Send that in all language forms.
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167. All language forms, sir.
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168. Sometimes, Riker,
the best way to fight is not to be there.
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169. Yes, sir. "He will triumph
who knows when to fight
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170. - and when not to fight."
Hmm.
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171. Glad the Academy is still teaching
the strategies of Sun Tzu.
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172. This delay had better prove out,
La Forge.
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173. Point-300 milliseconds, sir.
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174. Let's blast full power into warp 9.
Ready?
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175. On your command, captain.
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176. On the count of three.
Stand by on phasers.
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177. One. Set warp to nine.
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178. Two.
Divert shield power to main engines.
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179. Three.
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180. Merde.
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181. Shields up.
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182. Captain,
I think you had better see this.
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183. What's wrong?
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184. Someone is reading every file,
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185. every bit of information stored
in the Enterprise memory banks.
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186. They can do that?
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187. And more, perhaps.
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188. Captain, if I may recommend,
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189. with our attention on the Ferengi vessel,
we have ignored the planet.
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190. Data, consult the charts on this planet.
See what we've got on it.
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191. Conference evaluation.
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192. So while we still have some power left
it's time for difficult decisions.
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193. - Opinions, please.
- I say put all available power
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194. into a full-out combined phaser
and photon torpedo salvo.
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195. Destroy their ability
to sustain this force field, sir.
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196. Yes, hit them hard and hit them fast.
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197. Impractical.
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198. And provocative.
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199. Even assuming that we have
the power to sustain such a tactic.
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200. But, captain,
isn't firing on us an act of wan'?
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201. The facts are the Ferengis did
fire on us, but we were chasing them.
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202. Since then, all they've done
is search our computers,
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203. trying to learn who and what we are.
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204. - Your point, counselor?
- Let's talk to them.
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205. It's been tried. No response.
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206. But did we tell them anything
they wanted to hear?
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207. La Forge?
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208. Other opinions?
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209. Thank you for your advice.
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210. Will?
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211. I haven't heard your assessment.
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212. I believe we've covered
every available option, captain.
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213. Are there other options
that you wanna analyze?
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214. The only one remaining is the one
that needs no conversation.
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215. - The one we must avoid.
- Sir?
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216. The one that leads
to total annihilation.
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217. - Open hailing frequencies.
Open, sir.
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218. Attention, Ferengi starship.
This is Captain Picard.
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219. It is obvious that we are in a situation
here which needs resolving.
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220. And we are willing to do
whatever is required,
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221. whatever is necessary.
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222. I would like—
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223. I would request
that you present your terms to us.
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224. Captain's log, stardate 41386.5.
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225. It is with a heavy heart
that I have offered
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226. to meet whatever reasonable
and necessary terms
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227. are demanded by the Ferengi.
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228. I fear for my people and my vessel
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229. in the event the unknown Ferengi
ask the unreasonable.
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230. How can I oppose
even unreasonable demands?
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231. It's moving, sir.
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232. We ask to surrender
and now they fire on us?
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233. Ready torpedoes, sir'? We have
enough power for a few of them.
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234. Ready, but hold on ready.
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235. Open hailing frequencies.
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236. Hailing frequencies open, sir.
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237. Ferengi vessel,
we await your response.
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238. Suggest first strike, sir.
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239. Our shields now only have 63 seconds
of power left before lowering.
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240. If the Ferengi ship's sensors
can read us, sir,
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241. they will be waiting
until we are most vulnerable.
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242. I'm afraid I agree.
They have not responded.
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243. We will wait a bit more,
Number One.
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244. Fifty seconds.
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245. Patience. Patience.
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246. The quicker we can come to terms,
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247. the better, NCC-1701-D.
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248. Who is speaking?
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249. lam Tarr, daimon of the Ferengi.
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250. You wish to discuss surrender,
Captain Picard?
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251. What I said, Daimon Tarr, is—
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252. Unconditional surrender,
I warn you, is totally unacceptable.
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253. We will die to the last one of us
before such dishonor.
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254. Hailing frequencies closed, sir.
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255. Something has seized their ship too.
They're in the same predicament as us.
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256. Launch a sensor probe.
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257. Set it to search for the source
of whatever this something is
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258. that is holding both ships.
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259. Go back to hailing frequency, fast.
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260. And I regret, Daimon Tarr,
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261. that I can no longer negotiate
unless it is conducted visually.
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262. Your complete message
not received, Enterprise.
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263. But visual communication
is against our custom.
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264. And it is against Starfleet orders
to accept a surrender otherwise.
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265. Do you withdraw your surrender?
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266. You give us no choice, Enterprise.
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267. May we have a visual on you
as well?
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268. Agreed, Daimon Tarr.
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269. You should be able to view us now.
Are we on your screen?
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270. Yes.
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271. The ugliness of the human
was not an exaggeration.
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272. I do not know how your twisted alien
culture has paralyzed our vessel,
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273. but I concede your Enterprise
is superior.
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274. We will return
your worthless T-9 device
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275. and we offer the lives
of our second officers
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276. as required by the Ferengi code.
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277. Fortunately Starfleet has no such rules
involving its second officers.
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278. Is this to your satisfaction,
Picard Captain?
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279. Your offer may be inadequate,
but I will discuss it with my staff.
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280. Stand by for further communication.
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281. Matthew, Pola.
You know this area is off limits.
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282. Come on, come on, some on.
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283. Boys will be boys, captain.
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284. Have you launched the probe?
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285. Aye, sir. We should be getting
those readings soon.
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286. Well, if we're not holding the Ferengi
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287. and they're not holding us,
who the hell is?
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288. Well, the probe will give us
some of those answers, sir.
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289. Data, you were going
to show us something?
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290. As requested, captain,
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291. library-computer information
on this planet.
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292. It has been charted only
from long-range scans.
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293. It is class HI, but shows no indication
of life forms, sentient or otherwise.
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294. However,
you may find this of interest.
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295. Resolving it into our language.
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296. The center of a huge space federation.
A population of trillions.
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297. Trillions?
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298. I've never heard the word
"Tkon" before.
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299. Understandable.
It has been extinct for 600,000 of our—
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300. Of our years.
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301. These planets were once outposts
of that empire.
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302. Data, what are you doing?
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303. Apologies, captain.
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304. I seem to have reached
an odd functional impasse.
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305. I am, uh, stuck.
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306. Then get unstuck
and continue with the briefing.
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307. Yes, sir.
That is what I am trying to do, sir.
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308. But the solution eludes me.
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309. My hero, ha-ha-ha.
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310. Continue, commander.
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311. Intriguing. It de- Uh—
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312. It describes the Empire as being
highly advanced and powerful,
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313. and capable of actually moving stars.
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314. Stars whose planets
are their defense system?
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315. Correct, sir. Outposts.
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316. The planet below
was possibly one of them.
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317. Excuse
the interruption, but this may be worth it.
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318. We're now receiving a signal
from the probe.
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319. We'll take it here.
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320. Incredible.
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321. - Our mysterious something, captain.
Hmm.
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322. - It is a force field of some kind.
- Reaching up from the planet surface.
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323. Amazing power.
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324. Data, what does the legend say
about the end of the Tkon Empire?
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325. Their sun went supernova, sir.
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326. Could this planet have escaped that?
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327. This planet may have been
the most distant outpost, sir.
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328. But it shows no life-form readings.
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329. We should take a look at it.
Stand by with an away team.
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330. And if the Ferengi also realize
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331. the force field emanates
from the planet, sir?
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332. Hmm, that's a complication.
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333. Maybe we should ask them
to join us in this.
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334. Team up with the Ferengi, sir?
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335. We've been ordered
to learn all we can about them.
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336. Do you know a better way?
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337. Data.
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338. Captain's log, supplemental.
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339. In orbit of a mysterious planet
whose unexplained force field
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340. has seized us with a power
almost beyond imagination.
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341. If there is a solution to this,
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342. it almost certainly will involve
cooperation from the Ferengi.
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343. Ship's power drain is critical, captain.
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344. I must now shut down our shields
to maintain life support systems.
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345. Understood.
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346. Open hailing frequencies.
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347. Hailing frequencies open, sir.
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348. Ferengi vessel from Enterprise,
come in.
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349. Your alien images again shock us.
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350. With regard to surrender, Daimon Tarr,
the facts are somewhat different.
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351. Our own probe has already
shown us your trickery, human.
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352. - We withdraw our surrender.
Agreed.
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353. Perhaps you would agree
to a more productive relationship.
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354. I prefer a more profitable one,
human.
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355. Yankee trader.
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356. Explain what means
"Yankee traders. "
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357. He heard that.
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358. It recognizes your interest in profit.
Or is that an incorrect assumption?
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359. We seek only what is equitable.
What do you seek?
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360. Why did you begin by attacking us?
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361. We did not attack you.
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362. We gave chase in order to recover
a Federation-owned energy device
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363. - which—
- Which we know is ours.
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364. Your barbarous Federation
placed it on one of our planets.
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365. On the contrary, Gamma Tauri IV is
recognized by all civilized members of—
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366. The Ferengi
are not uncivilized, human.
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367. Are you suggesting otherwise?
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368. All I'm saying
is that you removed something
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369. which clearly did not belong to you.
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370. Are you now calling us thieves?
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371. On the contrary.
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372. I have no wish to discuss issues
of property or territory
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373. while our mutual problem remains.
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374. Like it or not, we are both trapped
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375. by this energy-draining force field
from the planet.
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376. On that matter,
there can be no argument.
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377. I would like to propose a swap.
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378. And what is a swap?
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379. It's a trade, uh, an exchange.
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380. Yes, trade, human.
What do you offer?
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381. We'd tell you
what we know about the planet,
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382. and in trade,
you would give us your information.
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383. Ridiculous. How do we know
you will not withhold information?
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384. We must trust each other, Tarr.
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385. Amusing, human. Trust each other?
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386. I propose that we test this relationship
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387. by cooperating in a joint exploration
of the planet surface.
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388. And what profit is in this,
Picard Captain?
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389. The profit, Daimon Tarr,
of saving all our lives.
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390. We will agree, no doubt foolishly,
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391. but you are warned that
any further trickery on your part
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392. - will be met with no mercy.
Agreed.
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393. If you join us, we have a well-proven
transporter device-
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394. We have a matter-energy device
of our own.
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395. We will beam a science team of three
to whatever coordinates you propose.
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396. Excellent, we will transmit
the information shortly.
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397. Enterprise out.
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398. Hailing frequencies off.
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399. I would log that agreement
as promising, at least.
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400. I wonder, captain.
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401. I'm not usually one to distrust at first
sight, but this may be an exception.
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402. Especially in view of the fact
that the image he transmitted, sir,
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403. was somehow distorted.
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404. I sensed the same thing, captain.
He's hiding something.
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405. With this power drain, we can't delay.
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406. Now, I'd like some additional help,
in case we run into trouble.
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407. - Can you spare Worf?
Take him.
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408. And be careful, Number One.
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409. With this power drain,
we may have trouble communicating
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410. - with the Enterprise, sir.
- Understood. Anything else?
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411. Due to this force field, there is
presently no way to beam us back, sir.
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412. - Oh, you had to ask.
- Understood.
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413. Energize.
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414. Tasha? Data?
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415. Geordi?
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416. Worf?
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417. Anybody?
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418. Data?
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419. - What are you doing up there?
- Most intriguing, sir.
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420. I assume a problem of inaccurately
transmitted program coordinates
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421. due to the force field
around the ship, sir.
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422. - Are we alone, sir'?
- Unfortunately.
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423. Let's find the others.
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424. What do you make of these?
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425. Crystalline. Mostly inert.
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426. Nothing to write home about.
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427. Excuse me?
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428. Slang, sir.
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429. I did use it correctly, did I not?
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430. They've gotta be around
here somewhere.
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431. - What's that?
- What?
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432. That.
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433. Geordi!
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434. Are you conscious?
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435. Do I look conscious?
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436. - What are you doing?
I'm resting, sir.
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437. My foot's stuck up there.
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438. I materialized upside-down
above the planet's surface.
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439. Tricorders useless, sir.
Communications gone too.
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440. - Fortunately you did not break—
- Data.
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441. Mm-hm?
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442. Data, who's that?
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443. Who are you?
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444. Captain's log, supplemental.
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445. It is now six hours since our away team
beamed down to the planet surface.
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446. On the Enterprise,
our condition is rapidly worsening.
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447. Ordinarily,
with reserve power alone,
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448. we could maintain fife sup-part
for severe! months,
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449. but the force holding us
has closed down all engines
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450. and is draining
our reserve power too.
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451. It's getting much, much colder, sir.
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452. - How far down is it likely to go?
- A lot.
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453. Even in orbital space,
it will get below minus-200 degrees.
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454. We won't have to worry much
past minus-70 or so.
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455. Feels like that now.
Good, thank you.
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456. - If he moves, kill him.
Letek.
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457. Has what we've done broken
our agreement with their captain?
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458. We will accuse the humans
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459. - of preparing to ambush us.
Ah.
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460. It will be our word against theirs.
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461. And who is more trustworthy,
Mordoc?
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462. Uh...
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463. It looks like gold.
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464. Tastes like gold.
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465. It is gold.
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466. Accursed planet!
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467. Nothing compared
to what our captain will do
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468. when he finds out you've broken
our landing party agreement.
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469. What part of the agreement?
You appeared and attacked us.
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470. Are you one of their assassins?
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471. I'm Commander William Riker,
first officer of the USS Enterprise.
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472. You have a lot to learn.
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473. I've got this one!
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474. Careful, commander.
They are much stronger than-
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475. - Let me go!
' Pygmy cretins!
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476. Let me go!
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477. Let me go!
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478. - Kill them.
- Hideous monsters.
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479. No!
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480. Good.
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481. You've heard of phasers.
Now, over there.
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482. Is this a female?
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483. A human female, Letek?
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484. Hmm, then it is true.
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485. You work with your females,
arm them,
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486. and force them to wear clothing.
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487. Sickening.
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488. I've diverted the reserve power
down here to the family decks.
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489. They'll last longest.
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490. Is there anything else
we can do, doctor?
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491. Where's Wesley?
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492. He's in our quarters.
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493. - I was tempted to give him a sedative.
- You shouldn't.
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494. I know, but he's my son. I love him.
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495. He has the right
to meet death awake.
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496. Is that a male perspective?
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497. Rubbish.
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498. Hold it right there.
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499. Stop. Stop.
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500. - Phasers on stun.
- Already set.
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501. What's going on?
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502. What is this?
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503. I believe we can deduce
that these crystalline tree shapes
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504. are actually energy collectors.
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505. Along the same principle as that which
is draining energy from our ships.
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506. But the Ferengi whips were working
when we first arrived.
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507. Which means
something new has happened.
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508. I'm finally beginning to understand
what my eyes have been showing me.
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509. There's patterns of force
everywhere.
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510. This entire planet has been turned
into a power accumulator.
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511. - And these?
Whole point of this place.
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512. I can see the planet's power
emanating from—
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513. Commander.
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514. Be you barbarians?
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515. Speak.
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516. Who meets the challenge?
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517. Who will it be?
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518. Him.
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519. You have awakened Portal 63.
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520. Do you petition to enter the Empire?
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521. Who asks the question?
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522. A guardian of the Tkon Empire.
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523. Biped. Excellent.
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524. Why would we petition to enter
an empire that no longer exists?
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525. Why do you attempt this deception?
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526. The empire is forever.
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527. Your empire fell prey to a supernova.
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528. We are forever.
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529. Data, please repeat the file.
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530. It is a matter of record, Portal,
in the Age of Makto,
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531. the central star
of the Tkon Empire destabilized-
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532. There has never been
an Age of Makto.
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533. In fact, there have been many ages
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534. which have come and passed
since Makto.
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535. This is the Age of Bastu.
- I'm afraid not.
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536. According to the Tkon use of
the galactic motionary startime charts,
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537. after Bastu came Cimi,
Xora, Makto—
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538. Enough. Absurdities.
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539. You must have been asleep, Portal,
for hundreds of thousands of our years.
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540. Deception is the way of the humans.
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541. We Ferengi will gladly
make a petition.
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542. We invite your petition.
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543. Speak.
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544. We wish to offer our services
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545. to serve the Tkon Empire
at no profit.
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546. Return control of our starship to us
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547. and we will happily destroy
the human criminals
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548. and their vessel which attacked us
without provocation.
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549. They came to loot your empire.
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550. But we intercepted them.
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551. You are accused
of deceit and treachery.
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552. Do you give yourself up
for judgment?
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553. Yes.
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554. If you believe these accusations,
then you certainly should act on them.
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555. And there is even more.
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556. We can prove that the humans
are destroyers of legal commerce
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557. and that they selfishly withhold
vital technology from backward worlds.
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558. And necessary
defensive weapons too.
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559. We Ferengi now challenge
this human madness.
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560. I admit, we've withheld modern
technologies from some worlds.
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561. You see? They are demented,
their values are insane.
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562. You cannot believe the business
opportunities they have destroyed.
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563. Proof of their barbarism.
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564. They adorn themselves with gold,
a despicable use of a valuable metal.
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565. And they shamelessly
clothe their females.
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566. Inviting others to unclothe them,
the very depth of perversion.
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567. Paws off, Ferengi.
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568. No female, human or Ferengi,
can order Mordoc around.
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569. Submit.
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570. Just try it, shorty.
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571. At ease, lieutenant.
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572. And we still have more faults.
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573. They should add that Starfleet has
permitted several civilizations to fall.
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574. We have, at times, allowed the strong
and violent to overcome the weak.
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575. They admit their crimes. Hear them.
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576. They admit the evil that they do.
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577. Barbarian.
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578. Yes, you show wisdom.
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579. Barbarians, all.
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580. But this one first.
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581. In the fashion the Empire
has always challenged savages.
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582. No, for battle, come to me!
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583. No! That's an order.
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584. You have a single chance for life.
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585. One only.
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586. What is the answer
to my challenge?
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587. I offer a thought:
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588. “He will triumph who knows
when to fight and when not to fight."
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589. You are being tested, Riker.
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590. What is the answer?
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591. How do you know my name?
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592. Ah.
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593. You are facing fate with composure.
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594. But what is the answer
to my challenge?
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595. Fear is the true enemy.
The only enemy.
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596. Unlike these little ones
who close their minds,
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597. your mind holds interesting thoughts.
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598. "Know your enemy and know yourself,
and you will always be victorious.“
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599. Why that thought?
And who is this Sun Tzu you revere?
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600. An old Chinese philosopher
from ancient Earth history.
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601. You must tell me more of this wisdom,
so much like our own.
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602. Gladly, but first our starship.
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603. Can you release it?
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604. It is released.
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605. All power is restored.
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606. Not a moment too soon, Jean.
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607. I mean, captain.
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608. I admit I had my doubts
as your ships battled each other.
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609. In overt acts of belligerence, normally
I would have destroyed all of you.
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610. And your ships.
But something confused me.
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611. Which was?
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612. First you wanted
to destroy each other.
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613. Then you were willing
to assist each other.
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614. What of our vessel?
We knew the same answer.
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615. The truth is,
I gave those words to this human.
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616. What of them?
Shall I destroy them?
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617. Then they would learn nothing.
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618. A most interesting conclusion.
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619. But what if they never learn, Riker?
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620. - Is this a test also?
- Hmm.
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621. In life, one is always tested.
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622. I see them much as we were
several hundred years ago.
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623. But possessing the technology
they now have, they're very dangerous.
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624. Untrue.
We seek friendship with you.
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625. But we can hardly hate
what we once were.
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626. They may grow and learn.
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627. And learn ways to destroy you.
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628. Well, our values require us
to face that possibility.
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629. What of you,
with your empire gone?
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630. The universe exists to me
to create life.
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631. I shall sleep until needed again.
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632. - Compliments, lieutenant.
- Thank you.
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633. Lieutenant Worf.
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634. - You've done well.
- Something to write home about.
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635. "Something to write home about"?
Data, that's very human.
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636. The T-9 energy converter has been
beamed aboard and secured, sir.
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637. The Ferengi complained bitterly,
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638. but one final roar from Portal
convinced them.
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639. I commend your performance,
Number One.
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640. One final request, sir.
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641. Permission to beam a box of Data's
Chinese finger puzzles
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642. over to the Ferengi,
a thank-you for all they tried to do.
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643. Make it so.
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644. Set course, La Forge.
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