这是个可恶的小骗局。

That was a nasty little trick.

《牛津词典》

从来没有人弄清楚这个骗局的真正动机，然而银河系核心星域诸行星上逐渐散布的亲人类情绪，也许是这个小骗局的原因之一。

The motives behind the deception were never made clear; however the creeping pro-human sentiment among the Core Worlds could have been a factor.

youdao

这些事情的结果往往是骗局——常常只是带着闪光的气球，或者仅是一种小礼物式的老古董。

These things often turn out to be hoaxes - balloons with flares is an oldie but a goodie.

youdao