DEEP SPACE NINE: "Once More... " - REV. 10/01/98 - ACT ONE     14.

10   CONTINUED:	(4)

					MARTOK (Cont'd)
			Kor's family descends from the
			Imperial Court itself. Kor is
			"of the blood" -- born to rule by
			the divine will of Kahless! And
			what was I? A boy from the Ketha
			lowlands. He couldn't bear the
			thought of someone like me
			joining the elite officer ranks.
			So to my father's embarrassment
			and my everlasting shame, my
			application was denied. And with
			the mark of Kor on my record I
			couldn't even join as a common
			soldier.
				(beat) 
			So I spent five years as a 
			civilian laborer aboard General 
			ShiVang's flagship.
				(beat) 
			As fortune would have it, the 
			Romulans made a foolhardy attempt 
			to board that ship, and I earned 
			a battlefield commission. 
			Unfortunately, my father did not 
			live to see that glorious day. 
			But if Kor'd had his way, I would 
			still be a civilian on that 
			ship... cleaning the officers' 
			mess.

	A long, quiet beat. Worf understands the depth of 
	Martok's feelings, but he's already committed 
	himself.

					WORF
			I... understand.
				(beat) 
			However... I must tell you that 
			using my own authority, I 
			appointed Kor an officer in the 
			Ninth Fleet.

	Martok turns and looks at him with a pained, 
	betrayed expression.

					MARTOK 
			Made him an officer... just like 
			that. That's the difference 
			between his name and mine -- his 
			opens doors, mine closes them.

					WORF
			I did not anticipate that you --