What's the Deal with Detapa?
Posted on Sun Apr 1st, 2018 @ 12:56pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Amelia Zano Psy.D.
Edited on on Thu May 31st, 2018 @ 9:32pm
2,324 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Enemy Within
Location: Counsellors Office
Timeline: MD005 1100 hrs
Tags: SD 71381.1100
Malbrooke had given Amelia the role of trying to find out information on the station that was in the Badlands. It was believed that the New Maquis were operating out of there but no-one had gotten close enough to make any confirmations. The fact the Pioneer was under constant attack made the urgency of this information more prevalent.
Her screen had the sign of the Cardassian Union, more specifically she was trying to get answers from the Detapa council but as of yet she hadn't even spoke to their lowest member. She'd been bounced through communications officers and idiots that pretended not to know how to contact them. Frustration was not the word, although hopefully this was the start of something.
After a moment the image of a Cardassian female wearing a Leget's uniform appeared back on the screen. "I am Leget Prawla, and you are?" The Cardassians may be friends with the Federation but the air of haughtiness that they were known for still remained.
"Lieutenant Zano of the USS Pioneer," she replied in a professional manner as she knew Cardassians didn't like signs of weakness, "I'm gathering information on a station in The Badlands and am hoping you could assist me?"
"What business is it of Cardassia if there is a station in the Badlands? With all due respect Lieutenant. Also if I may the ship's manifest for the Pioneer lists you as the Counselor. Is there a psychological emergency that we should be aware of?" The Cardassian swooped in quick to get the upper hand, like a shark she smelled blood in the water.
"Well Leget..." Amelia began, "it is true I am the Counsellor on board but also serve a dual role as Diplomatic Officer and as such am reaching to yourselves in an act of friendship. This station we believe is home to a new terrorist group that have been attacking us in raids." he paused wondering how much to give away, but in truth nothing she had to say would be classified.
"We believe that this may be a platform for larger raids against Cardassia and surrounding areas. I have reliable intel from Kira Nerys that they may be planning something that threatens yourselves... but if you deem that I, a lowly counsellor, am not important enough to talk too I suggest you drop the psychological talk and pass me up your chain of command so I can speak to someone who actually worries about your safety." Amelia put on her sternest face even though in actual fact she was surprised herself that she could be so forceful when pushed up against it. Her profession always taught her to be soft spoken and open, this was definitely new to her...
The Cardassian woman showed the smallest of eyebrow twitches when the name of Kira was mentioned. "Listen Lieutenant I understand that you have information for us. I also understand that this information may or may not be vital to the Union. But the question still stands... What business of ours if someone built a station out there. I will warn the CDF to be on alert. The whole reason that Starfleet is even being allowed to traipse through our space is to prevent threats to Cardassia..." Her voice trailed off and she looked away from the camera for a moment. When she turned back there was a look of curiosity on her face. "You say you are friends with Commander Kira?"
"Yes, Nerys is a good friend of mine." she said putting on her best poker face. "She insisted that I contact Cardassia and gather information on a potential new terrorist element. She and Jake Sisko are eager to ensure that Bajor doesn't become a target and are reaching out in friendship to the Cardassian Union."
Prawla harrumphed she wasn't sure if the Lieutenant was honest or just making it up as she went. "What terrorist threat are you talking about? If you can at least tell me that I might be able to pass up the chain. If not I have better things to do then to continue this conversation. So I will give you one minute to decide." She leaned back in her chair and squinted. The Cardassian had the upper hand or at least believed that she did.
Amelia smirked slyly, "I am not doing all your work for you Legate." She began, "If you have better things to do than help protect your people from threats to Cardassia then I think I need to speak to someone with more authority... in fact I think I still will. If you don't put me on to someone else right now I'm going back to Major Kira and getting her to put me in contact with someone who gives a damn and can actually help me."
It was an ultimatum but if it worked...
The Cardassian sighed deeply and thought. If this Starfleet Officer was right, it would be a huge coup for her to deliver this message, however, if the Counselor was wrong it would spell disaster. Prawla decided to roll the dice as it were. "Listen I do not know if you actually know the Commander or if you are just trying to circumvent diplomatic protocols. However, I know who will know the difference. If he will take your transmission then great, if not there is nothing further I can do for you without more information." There was a pause as the Leget began to press a few keys on the console in front of her. Another few moments later and the Leget looked like the cat who swallowed the canary.
"Well Lieutenant it seems that The Chairman will speak with you. I give you this warning if you are lying he will know, and in that event may what ever higher power you believe in have mercy on you." Prawla gave the counselor a knowing smirk that spoke volumes. The look alone spoke of the Cardassia of old. She did not wait for a response from Amelia instead that look was instantly replaced by the symbol of the Cardassian Union.
"Well that went well..."she thought. Patiently she waited fora new face to appear, whom it would be she was anxious to find out, and would she be able to get them on her side?
Elim Garak was the Chairman of the Detapa Council and as such was a uniquely popular and busy man on Cardassia. However, when he hear that a good friend of Kira's was on the comm, and that this friend was from Starfleet, well he had to take the call. If no other reason then to show his new Federation friends that Cardassia meant business when they said they would help.
The symbol of the Cardassian Union was replaced by the smug, smiling face of Elim Garak. He leaned back in his chair and through those ever smiling lips he spoke "How may I be of assistance Lieutenant uhhhh Zano is it?"
There was a glimmer of a smile on Amelia's lips as she recognised the man from DS9's archive photos. He had certainly done well for himself since leaving the station, heading the Detapa council was quite the achievement.
"It is, Mr Garak, thank you for making the time to speak to me. It isn't very often I get to speak to someone of your reputation." she started with her best diplomatic tone, she was well aware the Cardassians ego's liked to be stroked. "As I was talking to your colleague about, there is an Nor class station in the Badlands that seems to be behind a number of unprovoked attacks on vessels in the region. Surely Cardassia has not lost one of it's stations to the hands of rebels and thugs?"
"I am still plain ole Garak..." He said with a smile. "You must be speaking about Breyet Nor. Yes terrible thing that station. We have not lost it, we know exactly where it is. However, as far as we were aware it has been abandoned since we abandoned it. You say the station is behind a number of attacks? Against whom? Who is executing these attacks?" Garak was not on the defensive as much as he was immediately interested in this situation.
She made a mental note of the stations name before beginning to speak again, she saw she had piqued his interest. "I'm afraid it isn't abandoned any more Garak... our readings from our encounter this morning put Orion, Kzinti, a few Breen, Humans and also a fair amount of Cardassians on board... it's very much alive." For the moment she was leaving out information about the biogenic weaponry, maybe she could use that to manoeuvre later on in the conversation, if it lasted long enough.
"Your own people have returned Mr Garak and I don't want to think of their endgame but I know it's not going to be good if they are concealing themselves and attacking Starfleet vessels, this breaks the Treaty of Bajor for one... I'm reaching out for information. Why did you abandon it?" she asked.
Garak sighed and tented his fingers. "My dear, lieutenant. There isn't much that I can tell you. However, I will try to tell you what I can. Breyet Nor was built during the Dominion War. It was a plan instituted by the Founders. What the station's purpose was is shrouded in secrecy, and still is. When the war ended and Cardassia Prime was liberated the first thing that the council did was evacuate and rescind all orders from the Founders. That specific station is slated for dismantling. I will admit that no one from the CDF has been out that far in some time. So you see that would why the station was evacuated. Now would you care to enlighten me as to what is going on in the Badlands, or shall I contact Commander Malbrooke myself." He leaned back in his chair and waited for Starfleet's side to this story.
Amelia didn't see the problem in telling Garak some of her information. "We came here with the intent of mapping some of the Badlands, the particular area around Breyet Nor in seems, and the inhabitants, whom we believe to be the New Maquis, have taken exception to that. Whether they believe we have been sent to move them on I don't know, I've not had the pleasure of speaking to them in between photon torpedoes or phaser blasts. I'm sure Commander Malbrooke has more information than myself but I was the one he asked to find out about the station. Is there anything else you can think of? Even anything about navigating the Badlands for an advantage we can use to open a dialogue that doesn't shake the bulkheads?" she asked genuinely appealing to the mans 'humanity'.
Garak sighed, and the thought to keep everything a secret had crossed his mind more than once. However, if there was a new terrorist organization then all should be revealed. "Listen Lieutenant there is more to Breyet Nor than meets the eye. If you say that someone has hijacked the station then you need to know what is there. All we know about the mission that took place there was that it was a weapons building facility. The weapons were being designed by the Obsidain Order and had the plan come to fruition they would have been used against Earth. The thought that comes to mind is that this New Maquis as you called them, has these weapons. If I am right we are all in trouble. In terms of navigating the Badlands your guess is as good as mine. The station was built there particularly because it could not be found and navigating to it would be almost impossible. However, if you pull up the specs of Deep Space Nine you will have all the information you will need. They are virtually identical. Since you seem to act with the Commander's authority, what are your plans? We can have three CDF vessels out there in five days time." Garak leaned forward and smiled, if he was afraid of what the Lieutenant had to say then he certainly did not show it.
"I speak on his behalf in gathering this information only, as to his intentions once I relay this to him I cannot say Mr Garak. I am sure he would be happy to accept a call from yourself and you can discuss any joint operations then. If what you say is accurate then I am sure he will happily accept the assistance from friends." she replied. "I am very thankful for what you have told me. If there is anything else you think of I would be most grateful to hear it but I think I need to get this mention of it being a weapons facility needs to get to my CO quickly. Thank you for your time Mr Garak." she said respectfully.
"Anytime Lieutenant... Oh and please call on me if you need anything. I would much rather speak to you then Commander Malbrooke. Shall we say it is a better image on my screen than if it were the Commander." Garak smiled broadly as he shut the channel.
Amelia smiled at what sounded like a sincere compliment from a Cardassian, it was nice and she may take him up on it someday. For now she had to write a report for Commander Malbrooke, this was information he’d need to know right away.
A Joint Post By:
Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Zano PsyD
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Elim Garak
Chairman of the Detapa Council, Cardassia Prime
Legate Prawla
Assistant to the Chairman, Cardassia Prime
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