Stardate: 70466.8

Location: Cardassia Prime, capital city, Cardassian Senate

Few Cardassians ever set foot inside the Cardassian Senate, a place where the political elite conglomerated, an elite which deeply distrusted humans and especially disliked the Federation.

Yet a human was walking down the long, thin Senate corridors, ones where the green lighting tinged the colour of the bronze-like walls, reflecting the Cardassian's avoidance of bright lights and their love of the shade. Any human to even set foot on Cardassian soil would have been killed on sight.

However, Timothy Rooter was the exception, being the head of Section 31, and having strong connections with President Garak, gave him this right, this privilege, something which Rooter carefully maintained. Although Rooter had only five meetings with Garak, every meeting was important, indeed, it unofficially determined the diplomatic status between the Federation and the Cardassian Union.

Despite all of that, this meeting was different, the stakes had never been so high. Nevertheless, should the meeting be successful Rooter would get something he had wanted for a long time. Maybe he would eventually achieve the nigh on impossible; peace and cooperation between the Federation and the Cardassian Union, history would probably not mention his role, but he would know.

When arriving at the President's office, the Cardassian guards accompanying Rooter stopped. A third guard stationed outside the office's door approached and scanned Rooter with a type of Cardassian tricorder. The guard nodded once. "All clear," he replied.

Next the guard tapped his communicator. "President, the Head of Section 31 Timothy Rooter is here at the designated time for the private meeting."

"Send him in," said the voice coming from the communicator.

At once the guard opened the office door and Rooter casually strolled in. While the guard had left the office, closing the door, Rooter and Garak came face-to-face and shook hands.

"President," said Rooter respectfully.

"Mr. Rooter," replied Garak with equal respect.

With the introduction finished, the two men took up their respective chairs situated on opposite sides of the Cardassian President's desk.

Garak's office was very spacious yet austere, and behind Garak's desk a window, which stretched across the width of the office, provided an impressive view of the capital city. The day was cloudy and the greyness blended in with the city's typical dull colours of brown, beige and tan.

"Very impressive security," Rooter commented as he seated himself before Garak. "I doubt a changeling could make it a few metres without being caught."

Garak mildly chuckled. "A changeling actually infiltrated the building once, disguised as the defence minister he attempted to assassinate me. Well after that unfortunate incident, quantum inhibitors became mandatory in all state and military buildings."

"The audacity of the Dominion, attempting to assassinate the President of the Cardassian Union!"

"Actually the changeling was working for one of the dissident factions, I recall the Dominion representative pleading his case and the highly nervous Vorta emphatically assuring me that the Dominion had no part in this and how it could not account for changelings who had left the Great Link."

"Perhaps a fractured link would be a more suitable description?" suggested Rooter.

"One of many strange occurrences in that part of the galaxy..." answered Garak, his gaze shifted rightwards slightly. "Milon, one tealberry tea for me, and for you Mr. Rooter?"

Turning around, Rooter saw an aged Cardassian whose composure reminded Rooter very much of human butlers. "Forgive my conservative taste," he told Milon, "but please may I have red leaf tea and if possible add in a teaspoon of sugar?"

"Don't be so modest!" said Garak. "All culinary tastes and preferences of foreign dignitaries are accommodated for here."

"In that case Lapsang souchong tea, this time with no sugar."

Milon nodded and left without a word, Rooter took this lull in the discussion to inspect the paintings displayed around the office, something which he had never got around to yet. One such painting caught his eye immediately, as he stood next to it the painting's depiction was an odd one, it was divided in three evenly vertical parts each depicting a different scene and the boundaries smoothly blurring the edges of the scenes. Each part had one prominent figure: A Romulan to the left, a Klingon in the middle and a Starfleet officer, of human origin, at the right.

"Such stark beauty," Rooter commented. "A testament to the skills of Cardassian artists."

Garak came over to glance at the painting in question. "My wife painted a couple of these, in her spare time she is quite the consummate painter."

"Did she create this one?"

"She did; simply titled "The Three Conquerors" it reflects three different occupations. The Klingon's brutality is obvious with the butchered Cardassian woman, her helplessness and agony, shared by many of her race, shown by the batleth embedded deep in her bloodied chest. The Romulan's soulless oppression, while not even comparable to the physical violence the Klingons dispensed, shows the violence towards our culture."

"So the dreary, almost featureless, faces of Cardassian labourers suggests cultural suppression?"

"It does and lastly there is the Federation, though outwardly it appears benevolent notice the UFP patches embroidered on the shoulders of every Cardassian?"

So is that how the Cardassians always see us, given the past history between Cardassia and the Federation Rooter could understand why, it was after all a valid fear. "Let me guess… Cultural assimilation?"

"Yes, a rather benign form of oppression," said Garak and still his tone remained light, "something few Cardassians asked for but were too shell-shocked to refuse or begin to understand immediately after the end of the Dominion war. Note also how the Starfleet officer does not face us."

Now Rooter saw where this was going. "Hmm… And that's symbolic, how?"

"Her back is turned to both the Romulan and the Klingon soldier," Garak coldly replied, "she turns a blind eye to the oppression and the atrocities her allies commit."

"I can safely say that was not the Federation's proudest moment."

"It's complaisance towards its allies?"

Rooter ignored the question, whether or not Garak had brought this matter up in their past meetings, this reflected the biggest challenge Rooter faced when he dealt with Cardassians. It was said neglect is worse than hatred and Cardassian animosity towards the Federation was testament to the statement's truth.

A diversion from this tense moment came when Milon returned. In his silent fashion he held the tray before Garak and Rooter and the two men took their respective beverages. After Garak thanked Milon the Cardassian butler left without a word.

Garak and Rooter sat upon a bench-like sofa, one placed directly under The Three Conqueror's painting, and for a minute the two drank in silence.

"You know," said Rooter, "I cannot do anything to change the past, I like to think though that I can help to nurture a better relationship between our two states."

"How?" asked Garak, his gaze still on the tea. "As I recall Section 31 is an intelligence agency, not a diplomatic one."

Setting aside his cup, Rooter explained himself. "Oh but there is a certain level of diplomacy involved, consider these meetings..."

"Our sixth one," Garak blandly added, then he smiled. "Jaraw paid a visit one time, just the one time during his seven-year tenure as Section 31's chief intelligence administrator. He came to apologise to me just after the Tau Primia incident…"

Now Garak turned his head to look Rooter in the eye. "Quite pathetic if you ask me."

"It was either diplomatic groveling or war, I urged him to apologise - in person - to you."

"A most interesting strategy, I cannot recall when a head of the Obsidian Order apologised before another member of state."

Rooter ignored the humorous jab. "It helped keep the peace."

A silence followed but Rooter remained patient, he drank his Lapsang souchong at a leisurely pace, right now he wished to put the Cardassian President at ease.

"I must say there is something strangely..." Garak searched for the relevant word. "Inviting about your demeanor, very different from your predecessor Jaraw."

"Perhaps Jaraw was lacking in certain qualities of diplomacy?" Rooter suggested. "Do not mistake niceness for weakness, believe me my agency could make life very unpleasant for your government if it truly threatened Federation interests."

"And does my government threaten Federation interests?" asked Garak pointedly.

"Let's say the answer is ambiguous at best," said Rooter with feigned caution. "Perhaps more tending towards helping than hindering said interests, then again perhaps after this meeting the answer will definitely skew more towards helping."

"And what do you have in mind?"

Pausing briefly Rooter considered his approach. "How long has this cold war lasted?" he then asked. "15 years since the Karem Massacre and the Cardassian Union has defied expectations of collapsing by instead flourishing. Something which must be credited to both its government and its President."

He raised his cup before Garak. "To sound leadership."

Garak merely nodded, the tea had been disregarded, and now that Rooter had the President's full attention he continued on.

"Having said that, no state is an island. I bet the Cardassian economy would have recovered at least twice as fast without Federation sanctions?"

"Far sooner," said Garak, "perhaps a relative parity would have been achieved around about now..."

"But the slaughter of eight hundred million of your people is an incalculable loss."

Something dark, almost despairing, very quickly flashed in Garak's eyes. "It will take at least a century just to merely restore this civilization, possibly two. The Dominion were thorough with their typical brutality and vindictiveness."

"And it was not just the Dominion who waged genocide against your people, the Breen were happy to play their part and the Klingons practiced their textbook occupation tactics. You fought against fierce enemies and incredibly unforgiving odds, yet here you are."

With each account of Cardassian loss, Garak's stare only intensified upon Rooter after his heartless telling of the facts.

"And the point of this is?"

"How are you going to safeguard Cardassia's future?" Rooter asked. "Where are your allies when hostilities are directed towards the Cardassian Union? Who would you turn to if say the Breen invaded? The Tzenkathi maybe?"

Looking away Garak considered this. "A Federation Alliance would at first appear ideal," he commented.

"But," Garak said, once more firmly meeting Rooter's eye. "They are allied with the Klingons, a military alliance no less and enshrined in the Khitomer Accords. The Federation may be outwardly honourable but can they pull the leash on their Klingon friends?"

"The Klingons are in no position to threaten anyone, their glory days are over, regrettably their last attempt for past glory cost the lives of over twenty million Cardassians-"

"Regrettable?" Garak repeated.

"Yes, regrettable," answered Rooter with practiced steadiness. "The Federation was scared of additional war, only by misfortune did it persuade the Klingon Defence Forces to leave Cardassian territory. Ironic that it was the Breen who inadvertently provided respite to your people."

"The Federation sat by and did nothing as the Klingons inflicted fresh woe upon my race, a friend in words only is no friend of mine."

The guise of neutrality vanished from Garak as his anger broke forth. "Where were they when the cities on Torros were razed to the ground? Or the destruction of Vellim metropolis on Loval? A frayed alliance with the Klingons was far more valuable than the wellbeing of the Cardassian people. What the Federation did was unforgiveable."

"Unforgiveable!" he repeated harshly.

"Yes it was," said Rooter and he did not turn away from the hot anger Garak radiated at him. "But that does not mean the Federation is of no use to the Cardassian Union. Yes the Federation can be undoubtedly aloof and neutral to the point of sin, given the right circumstances though it can be a powerful ally."

Garak's eyes narrowed. "An ally to us or a pawn to them?"

"I would hope an ally... Section 31 is more than just an intelligence agency, it conducts some of the unofficial diplomatic dialogue, the kind of talks two races would refuse to hold were it not for some intelligent individuals who had a vision for the future. Section 31 may burn bridges but we are careful to maintain the bridges that matter and build new ones. I'm not asking for some miraculous "peace in our time" sentiment to arise overnight. No, what I'm offering is a small bit of cooperation which will pave the way for more valuable opportunities: trade rights, research agreements, military pacts..."

Rooter stopped there and he was pleased to see Garak's anger had largely diminished.

"Go on," Garak prompted.

"This will start with a little amount of self-interest on both sides. Gul Bordak is a thorn for both you and the Federation, in particular Starfleet."

"A thorn Starfleet tried to remove, what a disaster that was, an embarrassment for your agency. Its sloppiness nearly triggered a third Cardassian/Federation war, so forgive me if my confidence in Section 31's efficacy is low."

Rooter ignored Garak's cutting sarcasm. "Jaraw was a poor administrator, he stepped up to the role simply because no one else would. By the time he had resigned - part of the fallout from the Tau Primia incident - I had to step up and clean the mess which was strewn everywhere. What happened on Tau Primia was the work of a loose cannon and if Section 31's vetting procedures had been more strident, the incident would never have occurred nor would I have lost one of my protégés."

"So there are personal reasons for eliminating Bordak for good?"

Rooter could almost hear the intelligence agency mantra now, never make business personal. "Repatriating this agent would be a pleasant bonus, an unlikely one though as I can well imagine Bordak had him executed long ago."

"Fair enough..." Now Garak gazed more intently at Rooter. "So what exactly do you propose?"

"If the Cardassian Union and the Federation work together to capture Bordak it would be a start in thawing diplomatic relations. Perhaps it could lead to the end of the Demilitarized Zone and the resumption of trade between these two interplanetary states?"

Garak though turned away from Rooter and focused on the tea mug he held. "I feel Gul Bordak is not really a pressing concern. Given the man disgraced himself by pledging his allegiance to the state and imposing on himself exile to Tau Primia, a world of little importance. His supporters in the Union, those that still remain, continue to question why he accepts aid from Central Command."

"He is a spent political force," Garak bluntly added.

"Maybe," replied Rooter after he had passed a padd to Garak. "But his newfound allies may find him useful in the future."

"The Tren?" asked Garak sharply as he reviewed the padd.

"The mystery of the Alpha Quadrant... Come on Elim, we both know they are making inroads, gathering intelligence and finding allies. Their actions imply an imperial power at work, one perhaps similar to the Dominion. The fact they choose to aid Cardassian dissidents shows who they think is most likely to cooperate with the Federation."

Lowering the padd with a finality and also resignation, Garak mused, "These Tren... They're playing a game of regime change, that much is obvious, nevertheless I will find these traitors who work with the Tren to further their petty schemes, but not until they publically expose their hand."

"And why not prune one such traitor right now?" suggested Rooter, and now the tension arose inside of him, he had to sell this now. "Section 31 has all the evidence you need to ensure Gul Bordak not only receives a swift execution, but it will finally destroy his image once and for all. Think about it... You work with Starfleet to capture Bordak, you can argue that Federation cooperation has strengthened the Cardassian Union, that Cardassia must make it mark on the quadrant again and end the isolation."

Again Rooter paused, not for one moment did he avert his gaze from Garak, he was trying to read something, anything, from the President's masklike countenance.

"Capture Bordak," Rooter repeated with great emphasis. "End his operation on Tau Primia and you may have the Federation as your ally. Suddenly that Breen invasion is starting to seem far less threatening..."

Garak continued to mull it over, until… "And what does Section 31 gain from this?"

"Cooperation," answered Rooter with complete conviction. "That and the fact a good deed is its own reward..."

He changed tack. "We could play the leverage game, hide behind cold war tactics and believe me I know some very compromising things. Assassinating a Romulan Senator and fooling the Romulans into thinking the Dominion were responsible? "Purging" several hundred high-ranking members of the Yatiya Party? Section 31 knows all about your dirty little secrets, frankly I no longer care, but is the President of the Cardassian Union stupid enough to pass up a gift like this?"

Another pause, one which ended when Garak got to his feet. "Alright..."

Now Rooter stood up and shook Garak's offered hand, not the human hand shake though, the Cardassian one where the hand pressed upon the other's forearm; a true Cardassian seal of agreement. Though there was caution in Garak's eyes, Rooter could see the opportunity as well.

"Let's try this out," said Garak with a warm confidence. "You give word to your contacts in the Federation and I will prepare a small fleet in anticipation of this joint military operation."

"It will be done... And where on the border would you arrive?"

For a brief moment Garak considered this.

"How about Terok Nor, forgive me, Deep Space Nine?"