Moments of Consideration

[Cptn Corizon 0]

Paris was rarely gloomy. Even on rainy days, the city was a sparkling diamond and a testament to the human will and instinct, as well as the Federation itself. Even in the darkest days of the Dominion War, Paris somehow shone through the haze of war as a care-free reminder of the power of peace, cooperation and mutual respect. Today, however, the city seemed to Nanietta Bacco to be positively dreary. Perhaps, she thought to herself, it wasn’t the city itself, or the somewhat overcast skies, but the mood in her office.

 

Rising over the city, the Federation Headquarters had been built in the 2160’s in the days after the founding of the Federation on the site of the former Palace de Concorde. The building stood now as more of symbol of the spirit that had embodied the Federation than its actual nucleus as the actual organs of the state and the bureaucracy that ran the burgeoning intergalactic government sprawled across Earth. Still, the Office of the President of the United Federation of Planets remained in the fifteen story building and occupied the greater top half of the building. Her own lavishly appointed office took up nearly the entire top floor.

 

As usual, today it was filled with an amalgam of dignitaries, politicians and advisors who all wanted her ear on some subject or the other. Today the topics were mostly focused on a subject she’d prefer to avoid all together – the Gamma Quadrant and Federation policy therein. Sighing, and muttering mentally about thorns in her side, Bacco turned from the windows and made her way back to the deep, burgundy leather chair that sat behind a great oak desk that had once occupied the office of the leader of one Earth’s most prolific governments.

 

“I appreciate the position of your government, Ambassador Xzy’than’iolo’tona’zobram,” she said doing her best to not entirely mangle the pronunciation of the last name of the tall, dark Zagorian diplomat sitting in one of the eight chairs that were opposite her desk. “However, at this time, I am afraid the political reality is that our hands are tied.”

 

She hated giving that response. As a planetary governor who’d dealt with a hostile power, she’d absolutely abhorred the phrase ‘constrained by political realities.’ Now as President of the Federation she found herself not only saying it more often than she liked, but knowing it was true.

 

As the Zagorian started to say something else, the Vulcan Ambassador, interjected in his calm, calculated and measured voice. “I believe, Ambassador, that what the President is telling you is that while she agrees with your view that we ought to be doing more to help these democratic movements in the Gamma Quadrant that our position is delicate…”

 

“Your equivocation,” an Arzaban dressed in rich fabrics said quickly, “is most amusing. The truth is that while we’d love to be helping these people, we’d rather not anger the Scorpiads or the Dominion off by doing so.”

 

The open tension of the room gnawed at her. “While I thank both of you,” Bacco said with a stern demeanor, “I think I was pretty clear in what I said. The Federation Council, General Assembly and the Office of the President have made our policy intentions clear. They are internal affairs and the Federation does not become involved militarily in such conflicts. We will provide humanitarian aid to anyone who asks for it.”

 

“With respect Madam President,” the voice of a slender, tall deeply tanned Elasian said, “you don’t need to give us a policy speech. I think what we are concerned about, is if we’re sacrificing our ideals in the name of political expediency. “

 

The frown on her face deepened. The white haired human female hardened her features. Now in her fifth year of office, after standing for election twice, first in 2380 and again in the most recent 2384 elections, Bacco had faced this question during both campaigns in various forms.

 

Then, as she was about to, she’d explained the situation in the most succinct terms she could find. “Regent, I am not entirely sure what anyone would prefer us to do. If wishes were horses, we’d go in and protect the rights of the Al-Ucard, Eratians and everyone in the damned quadrant who no longer, but we neither have the manpower or authority to do so. The Federation is has a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of foreign governments. I will not set a precedent for willful violation of the Prime Directive so some people can sleep better at night with a clearer conscience.”

 

The Vulcan Ambassador, Savak lifted his chin delicately. “Perhaps, Madam President, the question then is not how we handle domestic affairs of a foreign government, but instead what we define as a domestic affair.”

 

Leave it to the Vulcans. Bacco sighed and softened slightly. She opened her mouth to speak, but was quickly cut off by the Arzaban male sitting to her right. “I think it is fairly clear,” he said plainly. “Civil war and rebellion are two different things, but this administration doesn’t seem to realize that.”

 

If there had been softness on Bacco’s face it faded quickly. The Arzaban, who were known as a species for their contrarian, near-fascist views, had struck on a nerve. “Ambassador,” she said pointedly. “While you’re free to speak about me in absentia when I am actually absent, I would appreciate if you’d refrain from doing so when you’re sitting across the desk from me, as a guest in my office. I would also appreciate if you’d remember that it was the council, not me, who decided that this was domestic, and that you, Ambassador, agreed in deliberations with that definition.”

 

Taken aback by the intensity in Bacco’s rebuke, the Arzaban simply blinked and managed an acknowledgement.

 

Not content to simply win that point, Bacco resumed. “Listen,” she said standing and motioning to the group in the room. “I appreciate all of you and your view points. The very government we work for was founded on the principal that through diversity of ideas, a better solution would come to us.

 

“The truth is, there isn’t a good one to this, not that I can see. We can’t just tell the Dominion and the Scorpiads to play nice and expect them to listen, nor can we force them to do so either. What we can do is pressure them diplomatically and help the people who are suffering. However, the position of the Federation is clear – we cannot intervene militarily. We can offer arbitration, but for that to happen, the Scorpiads would have to come to the table – something they’ve not shown an interest in anyway.”

 

It was during moments like this that most of the people in the room realized why she’d been elected; her poise, candor and natural rhetorical skills made her a truly formative figure in any debate.

 

“Koshic,” she said motioning to the Elasian. “You asked me if we were sacrificing our morals for political expedience. I’ve said before we must uphold those values that are at the very core of the Federation. We must keep in mind our commitment to the neutrality of the Federation in such affairs. By that same token, I agree that our moral commitment to the rights of sentient life obligates us to not simply stand by and watch.

 

“I won’t lie, you people in this room know as well as I do that even if we wanted to, we don’t have the capacity to fight and win a war against the Dominion or the Scorpiads – even in their weakened states; and that goes into the calculation, sure, but you also know damned well we don’t want to just stand by and let them slaughter people, or put down rebellions with force. The Vorta Council has promised us to be ‘restrained’ in their response to protests to their authority, and so far they’ve kept that promise. Sure, they’re not going to let colonies just up and leave the Dominion, but is it better than the alternatives? You bet. “

 

Joy Seven thought another perspective necessary. "You have all spoken of ideals and the wishes of well meaning voters. It seems odd. I am usually the idealist. Still, I think I must speak also of power.

 

"Two points. The shift in the Gamma Quad situation comes from the lack of a single power or alliance that thinks it can expand by force. We have a break in the recent constant wars of aggression. Whatever else we do, we must maintain a balance of power situation where the threat of defensive alliance contains expansionist desires. Such a situation is beginning to happen in Gamma Quad. We might do well to maintain it.

 

I have no magic wand to wave that will guarantee everyone here big election wins in a year or two's time. However, we shouldn't forget that the militaristic expansionist powers lost. If we are having to rethink, if our past doctrines and values seem uncertain in their application, this is in part because we are thinking about whether and how to restore freedom to cultures that have been conquered and subdued in the past. We couldn't have considered this only a few years ago. Let's not totally forget that we are in some contexts at least winning.

 

"But how to advocate diversity? Is it possible to convince the Dominion or other conquest based civilizations that they can become stronger by letting their various components develop and grow? Can we, through technology sharing, investment or trade, encourage the militaristic empires to become what they have never been? I believe it possible. I believe I will see it in my own life time. Then again, this body comes with a very long warrantee. I am not thinking in terms of the next election. This involves basic value shifts. Such things occur over periods of generations. We cannot and must not think in the short term."

 

Having been quiet for the entirety of the meeting, a middle-aged Andorian chan leaned against the chair in which he sat. His long white hair flowed from his scalp gracefully, and he was wrapped in a deep red tunic and matching pants. Thael ch’Kaen had long served the Federation in one post or the other and now occupied the position of chief security advisor to the President, having replaced Jas Abrik. During such meetings as the one now raging within the chambers, he rarely spoke, and when he did, everyone, even the President paid attention.

 

“If you will permit me to interject?” he said in his deep, scratchy voice worn by time and by a healthy ration of konnal weed that he smoked in an elaborately carved bone pipe.

 

Bacca leaned back against her desk and nodded, as did the others in the room.

 

“We have all heard the speeches on the floor of the council, read the editorials in the newsfeeds, and seen the demonstrations in the streets. I tell you now what we cannot afford politically or militarily to change course in the Gamma Quadrant. The voices now would be silent in comparison the riots we would see. I do not pretend to be clairvoyant, but what I do know is that we benefit from the Dominion and the Scorpiads being weaker. Perhaps what we need to think about is the benefits of the status quo.“

 

The Zargonian as well as the Arzaban had opened their mouths (or in the case of Xzy’than’iolo’tona’zobram worked its mandibles) to respond when a chime interrupted them.

 

The soft tones of Hirishi Santon, the President’s personal secretary, followed shortly after. “Madame President, I know you’re in a meeting, but the delegation from Atheries IX is on their way up.”

 

Bacco pushed off her desk and looked around briefly before responding. “Of course Hirishi, thank you very much.”

 

By then the diplomats and advisors in the room had already begun shuffling out, knowing that their audience with perhaps the single most powerful person in the quadrant had ended, all with the exception of the Vulcan Ambassador, anyway.

 

“Well, thank you all. I look forward to seeing you all again and resuming our dialog.”

 

As the room cleared Ambassador Savak inclined his head to one side as they waited for Atherian delegation to arrive. “You have much on your mind do you not, Madam President?”

 

“Yes,” she admitted. “To be honest I never really planned on having the Federation caught up in something like this when I ran for election the first time…”

 

“If I may inquire,” the Vulcan said in an even, practiced tone that lacked any feeling of intrusion. “What then was your logic in running for re-election, knowing full well the challenges you would be facing, especially in light of the conflict with the Scorpiads during your term.”

 

Turning to the window and extending her arms so that her finger tips touched her desk and leaning forward slightly, she exhaled. It was a thought that had crossed her mind far more often than she would have liked and the answer occasionally eluded her, especially on days like this one.

 

“When I was governor on Cestus III,” she said finally, “I helped forge an agreement with the Gorn that has ushered in over a decade of peace after years of on and off hostility. Call it arrogant presumption, but I honestly thought when I was running for reelection that we could work something out with the Scorpiads and the Dominion or at least one of them that would bring some normality to the inter-quadrant relations and make that damned place stop being the lair of the boogyman.”

 

Savak nodded as he appraised the silver-haired human female’s body language and inflection. “You now doubt that is possible?”

 

Still staring aimlessly into the gloom of Paris as clouds moved overhead and the sun began slipping towards the horizon, she exhaled. “Sometimes I wonder Ambassador. I know what we ought to be doing, and that’s bringing the Dominion, the Hundred and the various uprising groups to the table while we also work to bring the Eratian, Al-Ucard and Scorpiads to the table to hammer out some sort of agreement, even if no one leaves entirely satisfied, but for the life of me, I can’t think of how to do it. How do you force people to negotiate when you don’t have any real leverage?”

 

Perplexed by the question, Savak simply shook his head as the chimes rang and the Atherian delegation was ushered into the room.