"Tribunal" Line-by-Line

MAKBAR: The charges will be announced when the trial begins, as is customary in Cardassian jurisprudence.

 

KEIKO: How are we supposed to prepare for the trial if we don't know the charges?

 

Makbar: Mrs. O'Brien, I take it?

 

KEIKO: Yes.

 

MAKBAR: Mrs. O'Brien, there is nothing for you to prepare. Your husband's verdict has already been determined. He is guilty. The trial will reveal how this guilt was proven by the most efficient criminal investigation system in the quadrant. You may, if you desire, attend the trial, which begins in two days time.

 

SISKO: We'll be there.

 

MAKBAR: I'm sorry, Commander, this is a privilege enjoyed only by the spouse of an offender.

 

ODO: What about his nestor?

 

MAKBAR: His Counsel and his Nestor will be assigned by the court.

 

SISKO: Nestor?

 

ODO: Advisor to the offender. Madame Archon, I volunteer to serve as Nestor in this trial.

 

MAKBAR: That is not possible, the nestor must be an officer of the court.

 

ODO: I am an officer of the court. Chief of Security Odo... I served Gul Dukat on Terok Nor. You may check my credentials. I was designated an officer of the Cardassian court four years ago in order to testify in criminal cases.

 

MAKBAR: Very well, if this is true you may accompany Mrs. O'Brien and serve as nestor.

 

ODO: May I ask... what penalty does Mister O'Brien face?

 

MAKBAR: His execution is scheduled for next week.

 

KEIKO: How can you schedule an execution before a trial even begins?!

 

MAKBAR: We believe in swift justice.

 

The transmission ends.

ODO: Mrs. O'Brien, we should leave immediately. They do so.

 

SISKO: Begin a complete security sweep of the station and Chief O'Brien's recent activities... I want to know if there's anything out of the ordinary that might begin to explain this...