Michael Eddington quotes from Deep Space Nine

Michael Eddington

People don't enter Starfleet to become commanders, or admirals for that matter. It's the captain's chair that everyone has their eye on.

Eddington

I'm glad one of us remembered they can do that.

Eddington

Rebecca.

Michael Eddington

I know you. I was like you once, but then I opened my eyes. Open your eyes, Captain. Why is the Federation so obsessed about the Maquis? We've never harmed you. And yet we're constantly arrested and charged with terrorism. Starships chase us through the Badlands, and our supporters are harassed and ridiculed. Why? Because we've left the Federation, and that's the one thing you can't accept. Nobody leaves Paradise. Everyone should want to be in the Federation. Hell, you even want the Cardassians to join. You're only sending them replicators so that one day they can take their rightful place on the Federation Council. You know, in some ways you're worse than the Borg. At least they tell you about their plans for assimilation. You're more insidious—you assimilate people and they don't even know it.

Benjamin Sisko

You know what, Mr. Eddington? I don't give a damn what you think of the Federation, or the Maquis, or anything else. All I know is that you betrayed your oath, your duty, and me. And if it takes me the rest of my life, I'll see you standing before a court-martial that'll break you and send you to a penal colony where you'll spend the rest of your days growing old and wondering whether a ship full of replicators was really worth it.

Michael Eddington

What are you really up to, Javert? Do you expect me to believe that a decorated Starfleet officer, the pride of the service, is going to poison an entire planet?

Sisko

That's exactly what I'm going to do.

Michael Eddington

You're bluffing.

Sisko

Am I? (turns to Worf) Commander, launch torpedoes.

Sisko

Commander, I said launch torpedoes!

Michael Eddington

[aghast]Do you realise what you've done?

Sisko

I've only just begun. I'm going to eliminate every Maquis colony in the DMZ.

Eddington

You're talking about turning hundreds of thousands of people into homeless refugees!

Sisko

That's right. When you attacked the Malinche, you proved one thing; that the Maquis have become an intolerable threat to the security of the Federation, and I am going to eliminate that threat.

Eddington

But think about those people you saw in the caves, huddled and starving. They didn't attack the Malinche.

Sisko

You should have thought about that before you attacked a Federation starship.

Eddington

You're the one who made it personal. You could've looked the other way. You could've left the Maquis alone, but you didn't do it. You hunted us, hounded us, fought us every chance you got. And in the end, you set us up for the slaughter. I expected better of you than that. So did a lot of people. People like Cal Hudson. I bet you haven't heard that name in a while.

Sisko

You're right about that.

Eddington

He told me the two of your were friends at the Academy.

Sisko

And a long time after.

Eddington

Until he joined the Maquis.

Sisko

He betrayed his oath to Starfleet.

Eddington

If it makes you feel any better, he paid for his sins. He was killed in a skirmish with the Cardassians.

Sisko

[sombre] He was a good man.

Eddington

He felt the same about you. He thought you were wrong about the Maquis, but he forgave you, which is ironic considering you never forgave him. You can't forgive any of us. And not because we betrayed Starfleet or the Federation, but because we betrayed you. That's what this is all about. Your ego. Where Benjamin Sisko leads, all must follow.

Sisko

[incredulous] Is that what you really believe?

Eddington

It's the truth, isn't it? The Maquis were never much of a threat to the Federation, but we were a threat to you. We were a stain on your record and you couldn't have that. Not when you were so busy measuring yourself for an admiral's uniform. [an enraged Sisko gets to his feet]

Sisko

You want to blame me for what happened to the Maquis? Fine. Go ahead, blame me. Blame Starfleet. Blame the Federation. Blame everyone except Michael Eddington.

Eddington

The Maquis won its greatest victories under my leadership.

Sisko

[scoffs] Your leadership. Your shining moment of glory. Michael Eddington gets to take off his gold uniform and play hero. That's what you always wanted, to lead troops in a glorious cause. Well, you had your chance and look where you led them. Right into their graves.

Eddington

They died because I wasn't there when they needed me most, because you put me in jail.

Sisko

They died because you filled their heads with false hopes! Sold them dreams of a military victory when what they needed was a negotiated peace!

Eddington

We had the Cardassians on the run!

Sisko

And they ran right into the arms of the Dominion! End of story.

Sisko

Take this [phaser]. I'll go around—try to draw their fire. Should be able to catch them off-guard when they go after me.

Eddington

I can barely see two meters in front of me. How will I know what I'm aiming at?

Sisko

I'll be the one holding the pipe.

Eddington

(sarcastic) Attacking two Jem’Hadar soldiers with a pipe. That's a brilliant plan.

Sisko

It could be worse.

Eddington

I know—it could be me holding the pipe.

Sisko

Exactly. (runs off with pipe)

Sisko

You have sharp eyes.

Eddington

Not really; I just saw which of you was knocked down first and then I shot the one still standing.

Sisko

Thank you for your vote of confidence.