Jez wasn’t sure what the Cardassians had planned here. Jez had checked the Federation Diplomatic database in an attempt to figure out what the Cardassians' plans might be regarding blockading Starbase 214,
Starbase 214 wasn’t anything spectacular; it was a Federation Starbase in the Alpha Quadrant. Its most noted distinction was in 2368, when the Enterprise-D arrested and brought a so-called "time traveler" there, after it was revealed the man was a scam artist.
Jez typed: The database query returned a single subject:
[ Cardassian Union.
Jez ignored the rest of the information on the screen and opened the Cardassian diplomatic profile. Unlike a simple list of treaties and agreements, the database organized the Union's relationships according to their current strategic classification.
The first entry was the United Federation of Planets.
[ Relationship: HOSTILE.
Hmmm, not unusual there, they are still licking their wounds from the Dominion War, no doubt. Thought Jez.
Jez paused briefly before moving on. Whatever diplomatic channels remained open between the Federation and Cardassian Union, the database made it clear that the two powers were not considered friendly powers.
The Romulan Free State was different.
Relationship: NEUTRAL.
Jez made a mental note. Despite their own complicated histories, the Cardassians and Romulans were not presently classified as enemies.
The Klingon Empire was another matter.
Relationship: HOSTILE.
Jez continued down the list.
The Patriarchy was classified as UNKNOWN. There was insufficient intelligence to establish a reliable assessment of the relationship between the two powers.
The Gorn Confederation was listed as HOSTILE.
The Tzenkethi Coalition was likewise HOSTILE.
The Tholian Assembly was HOSTILE.
The Breen Confederacy was also HOSTILE.
The Ferengi Alliance was the exception.
Relationship: NEUTRAL.
Jez stopped there for a moment. Of all the major powers in the database, the Ferengi were among the few with whom the Cardassians maintained a neutral relationship.
Then came the Dominion.
The classification was unexpected.
Relationship: UNKNOWN.
Jez frowned at the screen. Given the Dominion's importance and the potential strategic implications of any Cardassian-Dominion relationship, an unknown classification was almost as concerning as an openly hostile one.
Finally, the analyst opened the last entry.
Borg Contingency.
The classification appeared immediately.
HOSTILE.
Jez leaned back and studied the completed profile.
Of the major powers tracked by the database, the Cardassian Union maintained neutral relations with only two: the Romulan Free State and the Ferengi Alliance. Its relationship with the Patriarchy remained uncertain, as did its relationship with the Dominion.
Everyone else was classified as hostile.
Federation.
Klingon.
Gorn.
Tzenkethi.
Tholian.
Breen.
Borg.
Jez stared at the list for several seconds.
The Cardassian Union was not merely surrounded by potential adversaries.
It appeared to be operating in a political environment where hostility had become the norm and neutrality the exception.
Jez saw one final note in the database:
Strategic Assessment: Cardassian Union maintains hostile relations with the majority of surveyed major powers. Diplomatic isolation is significant. Neutral relations with the Romulan Free State and Ferengi Alliance represent the Union's principal stable external relationships. Unknown status regarding the Patriarchy and Dominion requires continued intelligence monitoring. The Borg relationship remains explicitly hostile.
Jez saved the report. She noticed that someone had entered a note, almost as an afterthought; they added one final line:
Conclusion: The Cardassian Union has very few friends.]
Jez stared at the report; nothing the Cardassians were doing seemed to make sense, unless there was someone else working in concert with Cardassians, but clearly it wasn’t any of the Galaxy’s major powers. There was the possibility that there was a new player in town, or the Cardassians had rekindled their relationship with the Dominion, but Jez was under the impression that the Founders were at peace, that the former Chief of Security of Deep Space Nine, a Changeling named Odo, had merged or infused with the other Founders in the Gamma Quadrant. The official story was that the Dominion remained in the Gamma Quadrant, the Federation remained in the Alpha Quadrant, and neither side had an interest in restarting the war, but who's to say that there wasn’t a rogue element within the Dominion, or the Cardassian Union, that didn’t want to restart the war, get payback.
Jez sent an encrypted message to the Chief of Security at Deep Space Nine:
[ To: Security Chief, DS9
From: Chief of Security, USS Aquila
Subject: Worm Hole Traffic.
Chief,
Requesting information on Cardassian Ships entering the Worm Hole, as well as any Dominion ships exiting the worm hole.
Thank You]
Jez knew that the chances were remote that it would reveal anything useful, but one never knew, but if they could find out the reason behind the Cardassians aggressive moves, maybe, just maybe they could end it.
The Captain ordered the Department Heads into the observation lounge. Jez secured her station and made her way into the observation lounge.
== GM Input: Does Jez get an answer from the Security Chief of DS9 that would indicate any increased traffic, that might suggest a renewed Dominion Cardassian relationship/ Alliance? ==
>> Observation lounge.>>
Starbase 214 wasn’t anything spectacular; it was a Federation Starbase in the Alpha Quadrant. Its most noted distinction was in 2368, when the Enterprise-D arrested and brought a so-called "time traveler" there, after it was revealed the man was a scam artist.
Jez typed: The database query returned a single subject:
[ Cardassian Union.
Jez ignored the rest of the information on the screen and opened the Cardassian diplomatic profile. Unlike a simple list of treaties and agreements, the database organized the Union's relationships according to their current strategic classification.
The first entry was the United Federation of Planets.
[ Relationship: HOSTILE.
Hmmm, not unusual there, they are still licking their wounds from the Dominion War, no doubt. Thought Jez.
Jez paused briefly before moving on. Whatever diplomatic channels remained open between the Federation and Cardassian Union, the database made it clear that the two powers were not considered friendly powers.
The Romulan Free State was different.
Relationship: NEUTRAL.
Jez made a mental note. Despite their own complicated histories, the Cardassians and Romulans were not presently classified as enemies.
The Klingon Empire was another matter.
Relationship: HOSTILE.
Jez continued down the list.
The Patriarchy was classified as UNKNOWN. There was insufficient intelligence to establish a reliable assessment of the relationship between the two powers.
The Gorn Confederation was listed as HOSTILE.
The Tzenkethi Coalition was likewise HOSTILE.
The Tholian Assembly was HOSTILE.
The Breen Confederacy was also HOSTILE.
The Ferengi Alliance was the exception.
Relationship: NEUTRAL.
Jez stopped there for a moment. Of all the major powers in the database, the Ferengi were among the few with whom the Cardassians maintained a neutral relationship.
Then came the Dominion.
The classification was unexpected.
Relationship: UNKNOWN.
Jez frowned at the screen. Given the Dominion's importance and the potential strategic implications of any Cardassian-Dominion relationship, an unknown classification was almost as concerning as an openly hostile one.
Finally, the analyst opened the last entry.
Borg Contingency.
The classification appeared immediately.
HOSTILE.
Jez leaned back and studied the completed profile.
Of the major powers tracked by the database, the Cardassian Union maintained neutral relations with only two: the Romulan Free State and the Ferengi Alliance. Its relationship with the Patriarchy remained uncertain, as did its relationship with the Dominion.
Everyone else was classified as hostile.
Federation.
Klingon.
Gorn.
Tzenkethi.
Tholian.
Breen.
Borg.
Jez stared at the list for several seconds.
The Cardassian Union was not merely surrounded by potential adversaries.
It appeared to be operating in a political environment where hostility had become the norm and neutrality the exception.
Jez saw one final note in the database:
Strategic Assessment: Cardassian Union maintains hostile relations with the majority of surveyed major powers. Diplomatic isolation is significant. Neutral relations with the Romulan Free State and Ferengi Alliance represent the Union's principal stable external relationships. Unknown status regarding the Patriarchy and Dominion requires continued intelligence monitoring. The Borg relationship remains explicitly hostile.
Jez saved the report. She noticed that someone had entered a note, almost as an afterthought; they added one final line:
Conclusion: The Cardassian Union has very few friends.]
Jez stared at the report; nothing the Cardassians were doing seemed to make sense, unless there was someone else working in concert with Cardassians, but clearly it wasn’t any of the Galaxy’s major powers. There was the possibility that there was a new player in town, or the Cardassians had rekindled their relationship with the Dominion, but Jez was under the impression that the Founders were at peace, that the former Chief of Security of Deep Space Nine, a Changeling named Odo, had merged or infused with the other Founders in the Gamma Quadrant. The official story was that the Dominion remained in the Gamma Quadrant, the Federation remained in the Alpha Quadrant, and neither side had an interest in restarting the war, but who's to say that there wasn’t a rogue element within the Dominion, or the Cardassian Union, that didn’t want to restart the war, get payback.
Jez sent an encrypted message to the Chief of Security at Deep Space Nine:
[ To: Security Chief, DS9
From: Chief of Security, USS Aquila
Subject: Worm Hole Traffic.
Chief,
Requesting information on Cardassian Ships entering the Worm Hole, as well as any Dominion ships exiting the worm hole.
Thank You]
Jez knew that the chances were remote that it would reveal anything useful, but one never knew, but if they could find out the reason behind the Cardassians aggressive moves, maybe, just maybe they could end it.
The Captain ordered the Department Heads into the observation lounge. Jez secured her station and made her way into the observation lounge.
== GM Input: Does Jez get an answer from the Security Chief of DS9 that would indicate any increased traffic, that might suggest a renewed Dominion Cardassian relationship/ Alliance? ==
>> Observation lounge.>>