DEEP SPACE: "Explorers" - REV. 03/02/95 - ACT TWO         23.

17   INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE (OPTICAL)

	where Sisko is talking with GUL DUKAT on a MONITOR.  Their 
	conversation has a veneer of civility, but they're gauging 
	each other's motives the whole time.

					DUKAT
			I understand you're planning a trip.

					SISKO
			Word gets around.

					DUKAT
			I can't believe that a man of your 
			intelligence would take stock in 
			Bajoran fairy tales about ancient 
			contact.

					SISKO
			If you recall, you thought the 
			Celestial Temple was a Bajoran fairy 
			tale...
				(a small smile)
			-- until we discovered the wormhole.

	Dukat gives Sisko a cold look.

					DUKAT
			I suggest you reconsider your plans; 
			solar vessels are very fragile, and 
			it's a long way to the Denorias Belt 
			at sublight speeds...

					SISKO
			Don't worry.  I'll have emergency 
			equipment aboard.  If something goes 
			wrong, Major Kira can get a runabout 
			to me within an hour.

					DUKAT
			An hour can be a long time... 
			especially if you happen to encounter 
			something unexpected.

					SISKO
			Like what?

					DUKAT
			Oh, I don't know.  A Maquis ship, 
			perhaps...