Equal Time

[Sorehl 0]

Commissioner Sorehl paced along the length of the expansive VIP cabin on Deck 35. The multi-room complex was shared by his two eldest daughters, twelve and nine, who were both engaged in their own reading. Earlier, he had noted the irony of being quartered in the very section of the station he preferred to avoid when he’d commanded Sky Harbor seven years ago. Residents on Deck 35 frequently disrupted his otherwise well-ordered domain. He had found little reason to seek out such disruption.

 

He lifted the PADD in his hand to visual height, invoking a transcript from the most recent off-station respondant to his inquiry. No doubt the source, another former CO of Aegis, would have understood an aversion for descending to the VIP deck. He perused the text from retired Rear Admiral I'ruam Goran, then keyed a replay of the subspace interview itself, which sprung to life on the wall behind the functional study desk.

 

From appearances, Goran enjoyed some serenity in his retirement, although his visual features were still somewhat stern. Onscreen, Sorehl heard his own voice posing the first of several questions. “Admiral, what have you considered the mission of Sky Harbor Aegis to be?”

 

Goran frowned briefly into the viewer. “I was personally unaware the mission had ever been up for debate,” he stated matter-of-factly. “My orders were to maintain a friendly port of call within the Cardassian star group while providing any and all assistance possible to the provisional Cardassian government.”

 

“What do you feel was your most significant contribution or Aegis' greatest success toward this mission?”

 

The response was brief. “No comment.”

 

Sorehl recalled raising an eyebrow at this, although it was not part of the visual record. He considered whether the admiral simply wished his record to speak for itself. He could have pressed this point, but opted to extend professional courtesy and not pursue it. As a Vulcan, he was well acquainted with the preference to allow one's opinions to remain private.

 

“Why do you think the Cardassians have been unable to form a stable government eight years after the cessation of hostilities?”

 

A thoughful expression rippled across his Coridan features. “The term stable is too vague,” he asserted. “Do I believe the government is in operation? Yes. Does it function the way I believe it should? No. However, neither has any other governmental body I know of after less than a decade of existence.”

 

“Would you agree with elements who suggest Aegis has finished, or failed, its mission and should pull out from Cardassian space?”

 

Again, the answer was terse. “I would not.”

 

“What, if anything, can be gained by Aegis' continued presence near Cardassia Prime? What should its remaining priorities, if any, be?”

 

The trace of a smile tugged at one corner of the admiral’s lips. He had something to say about this. “The fact remains that the stability of the new Cardassian Union is an open question. It is not impossible for an outside force to still take advantage of the weakened state of the native military and governmental forces to further their own ends,” he related. “This has happened before and would happen again without the presence of a stabilizing force. Sky Harbor Aegis serves as something to be targeted by politicians, yet in its absence, the planet would have fallen into chaos during the past three years alone.”

 

Goran leaned in toward the viewer, levying his assessment. “The present priority should remain that of maintaining security and providing a local friendly port of call in an area that has the potential to become strategically important once again.”

 

“You spent time working with Cardassians during your time here. In your opinion, do they favor Aegis' continued presence, ignore it, or object to it as a foreign incursion?”

 

Onscreen, Goran sniffed slightly. “The civilian pulse of Cardassia pulse has been incredibly difficult to determine since the arrival of the Dominion in the Alpha Quadrant over ten years ago.” The admiral leaned back, making an expansive gesture with one hand. “A child doesn’t necessarily appreciate the acts of its parent. Does that mean those acts were in error? Does it mean the lessons they taught were not valuable? I realize its politically incorrect to say so, but a similar situation exists with Cardassians. They love to hate Aegis. Yet, in the event of a military situation, Starfleet and its allies would be the first called to lend assistance. Why would we give up a position that could end a forest fire while it is still a small burning ember?”

 

The image on the screen cut abruptly to a Federation seal, noting the stardate.

 

Goran’s perspective was unique, Sorehl surmised. He had assumed command amidst some of the more turbulent events in Aegis history – terrorist attacks, increased diplomatic tension, the Breen attack. It was logical for him to see his role as primarily one of security, a concerned parent, but one that included being a stern disciplinarian.

 

It was a contrast with Rear Admiral Meve, who had confided in one of his parting logs that he had considered the station’s mandate “to oversee and assist in the reconstruction efforts of Cardassia Prime.” (see Appropriateness) In handing the reigns of Aegis to Goran, Fred had noted that his political skills were “no longer necessarily appropriate.”

 

Sorehl wondered if that were true. He glanced toward his own children. He had always considered his role as a father no less complicated than his position as a Starfleet command officer; it demanded many facets – counselor, diplomat, listener, authority figure. If Goran’s analogy of Aegis as a parent was correct, it might take the same multi-discipline approach to be successful.

Edited February 18, 2008 by Sorehl

[KVorlag 0]

IMPERIAL MEMORANDUM

 

TO: Sorehl, Special Commissioner to the Federation Council

FROM: K’Vorlag, Governor (Former)

RE: Aegis Mission Inquiry

 

The name of Aegis is not spoken in the Great Hall. The songs of the Cardassian defeat end with the warrior Martok drinking bloodwine before the fallen tens of thousands on the steps of their capital. Klingons do not trouble themselves with the fate of their enemies. There are no monuments to glorious occupations. There are no celebrations of heroic nation-builders.

 

Whether the mission of Aegis succeeds or fails, the Klingon Empire knows well that if the Cardassians rise in anger again, we shall simply strike them down. In short, the Klingon Empire has little official interest in the Federation’s continuing presence there.

 

Whatever the Federation claim, the mission of Aegis has been to let Starfleet keep an eye on Cardassia and hope to turn them into suitable members of their little coalition.

 

There have been the usual construction projects, overseeing the questionable introduction of democracy, and a spate of health initiatives. But the planet has been poached at least three times under Aegis’ own eyes. The Breen still operate with impunity – this is not true in other parts of Cardassian space where Klingon influence remains. Aegis does not strike fear; instead, it tries to coddle the favor of those it should be rightly dominating. Thankfully, I played no part in this.

 

Why has Cardassia failed to shake off its defeat? Its people discard the things that defined them as a culture. They no longer drive themselves to master their own fate. They let Aegis watch them from above. They experiment with ideals that are not their own. They leave their fate to others.

 

Stay or go, what does it matter? The Federation doesn’t know whether to let Cardassia be Cardassia or to shape it into its own image. The Romulans want an ally that keeps the rest of us off-balance. The Ferengi just want another market to exploit. Since they are in no position to wage war, we Klingons are most likely to ignore them.

 

As none of the attendants of the High Council seemed interested in providing an official response, these are likely to be the only Klingon answers you’ll get. If I did not owe you my life after the Scorpiad collision, you wouldn’t even get that. I will make a “diplomatic” visit to Aegis on my way back to the Gamma Quadrant. Don’t expect too much.