The Quest for Upside

[Joy 0]

“What???!”

 

“Drankum,” Joy repeated, no more pleased than Crystal.

 

“What are they thinking?”

 

“Not thinking,” Joy answered. “Politicking. There’s a big difference.”

 

“Joy, I did poly sci for seven year, but this...”

 

“Dickering. If things hold up, the station is getting out of Cardassia Prime system, and there are no hooks left in the treaty that default it to going back. The relationship between the station CO and civilian command authority is to be well defined. The loopholes which deluded the Ferengi into thinking they could legally steal the station are being closed. We aren’t pushing the station into Breen space, but are holding it back on our side of the border. In return, as you need unanimous consent to amend the treaty, the Ferengi wanted something.”

 

“Ugh.”

 

“Station COs last a year or two,” said Joy. “This one isn’t apt to last that long. The theory is that the treaty should last much longer than Drankum. With the station being relocated to Central Nowhere, it is hoped that Drankum won’t be able to do too much damage in the time he has.”

 

“You don’t sound convinced.”

 

“I’m not. It likely looks like a good trade if one is in San Francisco, but if we stay on, it looks like we’ll be rebounding again.”

 

“Rebounding?”

 

“Sorry. A sports term. In net sports, if someone shoots and fails to score, rebounding is grabbing the ball so one can try to score again.” Joy sighed. “Muon’s heart was in the right place, but she managed to tick of the Ferengi, the Cardassians, and Starfleet Intelligence. Goarm’s heart was not in the right place, and he managed to tick off everybody. Drankum’s style is also problematic. If he can’t get his way, he’ll hide in his quarters, filibuster, insult, or bring in his fleet. He doesn’t do diplomacy. His idea of charm is to insult and abuse. He’s more concerned with his stand up comedy routine that getting anything done. He is the antithesis of the respect, courtesy and formality which is the norm in the diplomatic community. It is nearly impossible to get any diplomacy done if he inserts himself in the process. His major super power is to prevent any meeting he is part of from achieving anything positive.”

 

“So we get to pick up the pieces after more disasters?”

 

“San Francisco claims there is an upside.”

 

“Am I dumb for not seeing it?”

 

Joy shook her head. “It is hoped that with the station located way out in nowhere, he won’t be able to do too much damage. Also, after two Ferengi COs in a row lead to an extended string of diplomatic disasters, it is thought that we won’t have to worry about Ferengi COs ever again.”

 

“Are you sure San Francisco understands the concept of ‘upside’?”

 

“It is easier to think in the long term when one is far far away.”

 

“Being far far away is beginning to sound like a good idea.”