T'LARA:
Captain Sisko?
SISKO:
Admiral, I apologise for interrupting your deliberations, but I have some new evidence I'd like to present.
T'LARA:
Very well.
SISKO:
I'd like Advocate Ch'Pok to evaluate the evidence as an expert witness on the Klingon Empire.
T'LARA:
I will not compel you to testify, Advocate.
SISKO:
Care to step onto my battlefield?
(Ch'Pok takes the stand.)
SISKO:
Advocate, how would you describe the current relationship between the Federation and the Klingon Empire?
Advocate, how would you describe the current relationship between the Federation and the Klingon Empire?
CH'POK:
There is no formal relationship between our two governments.
There is no formal relationship between our two governments.
SISKO:
What would you call us? Informal friends? Informal enemies?
What would you call us? Informal friends? Informal enemies?
CH'POK:
I would say there is potential for either label, but at the moment neither is entirely accurate.
I would say there is potential for either label, but at the moment neither is entirely accurate.
SISKO:
Hmm. Interesting.
Would you agree that at the moment, it is difficult for us to trust each other?
Hmm. Interesting.
Would you agree that at the moment, it is difficult for us to trust each other?
CH'POK:
Difficult, but not impossible. There are things that transcend our differences. For example, we trust that this case can be decided fairly. We have faith in Admiral T'Lara's judgement.
Difficult, but not impossible. There are things that transcend our differences. For example, we trust that this case can be decided fairly. We have faith in Admiral T'Lara's judgement.
SISKO:
I'm glad to hear you have such a profound respect for the Admiral. But would it be fair to say that outside this hearing you do not entirely trust us?
I'm glad to hear you have such a profound respect for the Admiral. But would it be fair to say that outside this hearing you do not entirely trust us?
CH'POK:
Well, it is only prudent that we question your motives now that we are no longer allies.
Well, it is only prudent that we question your motives now that we are no longer allies.
SISKO:
Of course. And it is only prudent of us to question your motives. After all, aren't there times when you feel it's in your best interest to deceive us?
Of course. And it is only prudent of us to question your motives. After all, aren't there times when you feel it's in your best interest to deceive us?
CH'POK:
I object to the question. It is vague and hypothetical.
I object to the question. It is vague and hypothetical.
SISKO:
Well, can you imagine any circumstance in which the Empire would deceive the Federation?
Well, can you imagine any circumstance in which the Empire would deceive the Federation?
CH'POK:
I have a poor imagination.
I have a poor imagination.
SISKO:
Let's see what we can do to spark it.
Let's see what we can do to spark it.
(Sisko gives Ch'Pok a PADD)
SISKO:
Do you recognise these names?
Do you recognise these names?
CH'POK:
These are the people who were killed on board the transport.
These are the people who were killed on board the transport.
SISKO:
You're positive? There are four hundred and forty one of them.
You're positive? There are four hundred and forty one of them.
CH'POK:
The names and faces of these people are seared into my heart. This is a list of heroes who died at the hands of a coward. It is a list I can never forget.
The names and faces of these people are seared into my heart. This is a list of heroes who died at the hands of a coward. It is a list I can never forget.
SISKO:
They are an interesting group of people aren't they?
From every walk of life.
Merchants, soldiers, artists, shopkeepers.
They are an interesting group of people aren't they?
From every walk of life.
Merchants, soldiers, artists, shopkeepers.
CH'POK:
Children.
Children.
SISKO:
Children.
We've done some checking in their backgrounds, and in our opinion they all appear to be a random group of people who shared only one thing in common.
Is that your conclusion as well?
CH'POK:
Yes.
Yes.
SISKO:
And it was just fate that led these particular people to board a doomed ship?
And it was just fate that led these particular people to board a doomed ship?
CH'POK:
Fate is a human concept.
They simply boarded the wrong ship at the wrong time.
Fate is a human concept.
They simply boarded the wrong ship at the wrong time.
SISKO:
And then they did it again.
And then they did it again.
CH'POK:
I don't think I understand your line of
I don't think I understand your line of
SISKO:
Three months ago a Klingon transport ship crashed in the mountains of Galorda Prime. Of course, everyone assumed the worst, that the passengers and crew had all been killed. But then, miraculously, everyone survived. Do you know anyone who was on that ship?
Three months ago a Klingon transport ship crashed in the mountains of Galorda Prime. Of course, everyone assumed the worst, that the passengers and crew had all been killed. But then, miraculously, everyone survived. Do you know anyone who was on that ship?
CH'POK:
No.
No.
SISKO:
Are you sure? You have the names of the survivors right there. I can understand your confusion. The names in front of you are identical to the names on this list. The people who were killed in the Defiant incident. So, what does this mean? Four hundred and forty one people somehow survived a crash on Galorda Prime and then a few weeks later they all decide to take another trip, on the same day, on the same transport ship, under the same captain and crew, and then that ship is destroyed, too. This is a very unlucky group of people, wouldn't you say?
Are you sure? You have the names of the survivors right there. I can understand your confusion. The names in front of you are identical to the names on this list. The people who were killed in the Defiant incident. So, what does this mean? Four hundred and forty one people somehow survived a crash on Galorda Prime and then a few weeks later they all decide to take another trip, on the same day, on the same transport ship, under the same captain and crew, and then that ship is destroyed, too. This is a very unlucky group of people, wouldn't you say?
CH'POK:
I am not an expert on luck.
I am not an expert on luck.
SISKO:
No. You are an expert on the Klingon Empire.
So, tell me, Advocate.
Isn't it possible that there were no civilians on the transport Worf destroyed?
Isn't it possible that the ship he saw was sending out false sensor images and that this whole affair was staged so that the only Klingon officer in Starfleet would be accused of a massacre and the Federation would be forced to stop escorting the convoys?
Tell me, Advocate, isn't it possible?
No. You are an expert on the Klingon Empire.
So, tell me, Advocate.
Isn't it possible that there were no civilians on the transport Worf destroyed?
Isn't it possible that the ship he saw was sending out false sensor images and that this whole affair was staged so that the only Klingon officer in Starfleet would be accused of a massacre and the Federation would be forced to stop escorting the convoys?
Tell me, Advocate, isn't it possible?
CH'POK:
Yes.
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