Not So Warm A Welcome

Posted on Sun Jan 16th, 2022 @ 8:12pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Glin Slorir Varin

1,718 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: Docking Ring - Port 4
Timeline: Mission Day 12 @ 1000 Hours

ON

Onboard the Hideki Class Scout Ship Thrarim, Glin Slorir Varin stared as the massive Nor Class Station appeared before them. It had been only a short while since the Federation had informed the Central Command of their intention to take the station as their own and, almost immediately afterward, they had demanded a seat at the table. It had been strongly believed by his government that the Dominion had destroyed the station during the final days of the Wars for the Union's decision to renounce their affiliation with the Gamma Quadrant power. They had never imagined to find it still operational.

Not that they had really made any effort either. The Cardassian Union had been significantly degraded in the Treaty of Bajor and was only a shell of its former glory. Their fleet was decimated to a patrol force, their military a fraction of what it was before, and it was harder and harder to advance. Many worried that the Union would become part of the Federation in the future and he wasn't certain that wasn't the case. Once upon a time he would have been a far more successful member of the military forces, most likely he would've already been a Gul in command of a Galor Class Cruiser, instead he was still a Glinn and in command of a Hideki Class Scout.

Worse, instead he was not assigned to serve as the Cardassian Liaison on a Federation Station, station that was theirs in the first place! He growled in frustration at the very thought.

"Signal the Federationers that we are prepared to dock," he informed knowing there was no more time he could put this off.

***

It had been a while since Keiben had seen a Cardassian ship... His last encounter had been during the war back when he was a Lieutenant Junior Grade, and even now it stirred up unwelcomed memories of a very troubled time for the Federation and the galactic stability. The craft he was watching from the upper level of the promenade was a Heideki Class... Sturdy, robust, and packed a significant wallop when backed into a corner. The USS Carolina had been his assignment at the time, his first wife and daughter had been forced to leave for Earth and subsequently died in a Dominion attack on the planet. He knew that this Cardassian Advisor was not to blame and likely had gained his commission after the war had ended but he still couldn't push the bitter taste from his mouth.

He took a deep breath before setting off for the docking port having agreed to meet Commander Holt there to greet the new arrival and the pair of them needed to sit down and figure out how this individual would fit into the command structure, Starfleet having ordered him to treat his as part of the Command Team even if he didn't report to either Holt or himself.

"Has he disembarked yet?" he asked of Tam as he arrived, seeing the circular door had already retracted to allow the debarkation.

"Not as of yet." the tall XO remarked as she took another look towards the tube, wondering if the one they were to meet with would step through the opening. "This is rather unexpected don't you think?"

"I can't say I'm happy about it either" grinding his teeth in the moments of silence making his jawline flex. "I can't say I'm surprised though... Command has been trying to find a way to bring the Cardassian Union into a more active role in working with Starfleet... This is a prime opportunity for them to strengthen ties. I'm just surprised that we didn't end up with an entire battalion of Cardassian Officers!"

"I am glad we didn't, however remember we did have a couple on board the Copernicus, one full Cardassian and the other a hybrid, getting ready to have a baby. He may not be too bad, but we'll have to see when he arrives." Tam replied.

Then the docking ring activated and Tam got the sense of their newly arrived contact was approaching.

Glin Varin walked through the airlock as the gear-like doors rolled away allowing his access to the station. His polished uniform glistened for a moment in the artificial lighting as he approached the two Starfleet officers, flanked by his two aides. His mind searched protocols for contact with Federation and Starfleet personnel from the diaspora of documents and files the Central Command demanded that he read on his trip here.

"Permission to come aboard?" He asked trying to hide his irritation at having to request to board Cardassian property.

Tamaska took a look at the Cardassian who had finally arrived. "Permission granted." She responded. "I trust your journey went well." a smile becoming evident.

Keiben wore a formally polite smile but his posture went rigid at the sight of the full Cardassian military uniform. This was just another reminder of a time that had almost broken him as a man, a father, and a Betazoid.

"Glin Slorir Varin. Welcome to Deep Space Twenty One. I'm Captain Keiben Haistro and this is my first officer Commander Tamaska Holt!"

"Thank you for the welcome, Captain," his diplomatic training kicked in as he approached the Starfleet duo. He looked to the First Officer, "And my journey was uneventful, Commander." He looked around the Station, "It is impressive to see this station in such a condition. Our records indicated that the Dominion had destroyed it for our choosing to realign with the Federation during the final conflict. Had we known that it was still here we would have come for it," his laugh was polite and his smile was overtly political, "I am pleased that the Federation will be able to make use of it."

"And we welcome you in the same of friendship and the efforts to turn this station into a vital outpost for both our peoples..." the Captain's only smile equaling the neutrally political stance his Cardassian counterpart was displaying. "I do have two questions for you if I may... Why was this station built here? We've uncovered some evidence that it was being used for farming the local metrion gases but surely that wasn't the only reason and without intentionally offending you... Which side did you support when the war turned towards the end?"

His latter question was fueled by his own personal feelings, he needed to know if this man was patriotic or someone who would be swayed by the one with power.

The Cardassian Glin was a bit taken aback by the Captain's question. The final days of the war had been incredibly troubling for all of Cardassia, and many seemed for forget those facts. Billions died not only in the battles but when the Dominion turned against their Cardassian hosts. They still had not recovered. "The fact that I am present answers your question, Captain," Varin answered with a hint of irritation in his voice. "The Detapa Council ordered that no Cardassian who allied with the Dominion after they turned their weapons on us would be permitted to continue with military service. Many were jailed and remain there today and our once proud government is nothing more than a third planet power."

Crossing his arms, "I wish that I could answer your other question, but I am afraid that I don't know the answer to why this station was built. With the Dominion assault upon my homeworld we lost many components of our memory banks. While this station remained in the records the detail had been corrupted so I have no idea why it was built. I, assume, it is a military waypoint due to the Dominion's alliance with the Son'a to create Ketracel White - but that's my opinion and not backed up by any facts. Perhaps you will uncover the answer for yourselves as time goes by. You did learn about Terok Nor and its purpose on Bajor when you annexed it. You learned the secrets of Sentok Nor when you captured the station during the liberation of Betazed," he emphasized the planet name. "Just perhaps we will discover this secret all the same."

The Betazoid was ordinarily a man of peace, logical, centered in such a way that he always appeared calm but he knew his veneer was slipping. His hands had balled into fists and he wanted nothing more than to land him on the jaw. He spoke about the Cardassian's that lost their lives... What about the rest. What about the millions of innocent people that had lost their lives across the Federation and across indeed Cardassian Space. Not a single thought for the families that had been torn into nothing more than tatters... his own included.

The muscles in his arm had tightened, ready to strike but a gentle hand on his arm stopped him. Tam must have sensed his emotions even though she was not a telepath like he was but she knew him well enough to know what was going through his mind.

He forced himself to relax his fists and took a breath before continuing, deciding to abandon his previous line of questions entirely.
"We have your quarters assigned, habitat ring section eight, deck five. Would you care for Commander Holt to escort you?"

Tam smiled at Keiban, lowering her hand from where she had placed it, after a moment she looked at the Glin, smiling pleasantly, "I would be most happy to escort you to where you will be staying. If you will come with me please."

"Indeed," the Cardassian Officer answered still keeping up the diplomatic veneer. He wondered if he may have struck a nerve with his statement as he had intended. He needed to test the resolve of all of these Starfleeters. While the Detapa Council had insisted upon his cooperating with the Federation's objectives on the station, he needed to also ensure that the Union was ultimately served by what happened aboard the station. He would not allow them to much up his plans for the future of the Union, for their return to the point they once were in.

"Thank you for your time, Captain, I look forward to our next rendezvous," he kept up the niceties wondering just how long he'd be able to do so.

END

 

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