Manifest

[Jeralla 0]

A joint log with Muon, related to tonight's sim. This log is subject to update, based on further feedback...

 

Muon Quark entered her office with an exasperated sigh, still fuming about the encounter with Drankum. She knew her people could be devious, occasionally argumentative, but this reaction to the station move was totally unacceptable. Drankum had ignored her carefully crafted talking points and simply repeated the party line. Rudely.

 

Had the Grand Nagus let reforms get so far ahead that he’d lost control of this resurgent backlash? His own son was a Starfleet officer. She doubted he would sanction such belligerence, especially toward the Federation. Maybe it was out of his hands?

 

“Captain,” Porter’s voice rang out, interrupting her thoughts. “Incoming message from the Cardassian government.”

 

Muon collapsed into her desk chair. With so much at stake, there was no way she could avoid taking this call. “In here,” she replied wearily. A vaguely scorpion-shaped symbol appeared onscreen, indicating the source was within the Presidium of the Cardassian Union.

 

“Captain Quark,” began the officious-looking Cardassian onscreen. Muon identified him as the Foreign Minister, although his name escaped her. “I’m contacting you on behalf of the Castellan, who sends his greetings.”

 

She tried to look pleasant, or at least not fatigued beyond caring. “Thank you, minister,” she answered, then decided to drive on. “Kith Ghemor just conveyed your concurrence to allow our fleet to enter your space.”

 

The Cardassian looked away briefly. “Yes,” he replied, “I’ve been asked if you would consider one last request before summoning them.”

 

Muon continued to smile, knowing she’d advised Porter to alert the fleet just moments ago. “What is it?”

 

“The Castellan granted a petition to open one more dialogue with the lead Ferengi negotiator,” the Foreign Minister explained. “We’ve already dispatched a diplomatic courier toward your station. It’s unarmed, of course; it shouldn’t violate the Ferengi blockade.”

 

Muon bristled at the notion of a blockade. “I’m not sure Drankum is looking to do any more talking,” she advised.

 

“I suspect you’re right,” the minister admitted, “but there are those who don’t think they want to go to war, either. If the alternative is another battle in our beleagered space, we think it best to exhaust all our opportunities.”

 

Exhaust was probably the right word, she considered. “You don’t really need my permission, but you should know Drankum just managed to insult a whole gaggle of diplomats, including your own. I’m not sure what you think you can achieve.”

 

“A different strategy has presented itself,” the minister explained. “I’ll send you a manifest and put you in touch with the courier.”

 

# # # # #

 

A few minutes later, Muon scrolled through the incoming list of passengers. The lead negotiator was a Cardassian only in her mid-twenties. The young woman held dual citizenship as a Federation diplomat and had some shared history with Drankum. There was a metal ore magnate, an escavation specialist, and a… gardener? Her eyes narrowed, recognizing the name of a former member of the Obsidian Order. Just what were they planning? She scrolled to the last record and stopped, suddenly puzzled and illuminated at the same time. And all at once the difference in the Cardassian strategy was clear…