Date: 09/03/2000
To: Ambassador Wolf
Note: Prologue + Chapters 1 through 8 Available through Request.
The Dancer Prince
Chapter 9
Written by Ambassador Yrishna Wolf.
Additional Writing Credits to Space Marshall Nelson
A lone Cardassian vessel slowed from its faster-than-light speeds as it entered Sector 248 of the Alpha Quadrant. The vessel was a Cardassian Galor class warship, that although had been designed over a century ago, still served as the backbone of the Cardassian military. The Galor class warships hadn't changed in color either, they still sported a golden orange color scheme that had characterized the Cardassian military at its height. A long time ago, the Cardassians had been able to stand up to the Federation, but those days were long gone. The Cardassians had now been reduced to being members of a Segan Monarchy. The Segan Monarchy, however, also had its own troubles and the Cardassians were now alone, again. The Cardassians had quickly banded together in a makeshift Cardassian Monarchy, but even with 750 Cardassian warships outfitted with Segan shields and weapons, the Cardassian Monarchy couldn't withstand an assault by His Majesty Prince Vladimir Rosbourg's government. The Cardassians, who had selected a Segan leader to continue the royal line, understood this best of all and they understood the human phrase "the enemy of my enemy, is my friend."
Sector 248 was a quarantined zone named so by the Intergalactic Alliance of Powers' Council. Sector 248 was one of the sectors claimed by the Supreme Militants' Union, one of the sectors which was patrolled by a behemoth that had been designed as the secret weapon of the I.A.P. As the Cardassian vessel approached coordinates two three nine by two four seven, the vessel lowered its shields as a sign of friendship and kept a power array of sensor scans all around it. Finally, the Cardassian vessel's sensors picked up a pair of fightercrafts bearing the SMU logo approaching it. The fightercrafts seemed to be flying in a rather peculiar formation, but they were protecting a very large flagship. Cloaked, the two kilometer flagship of the Supreme Militants' Union approached the Cardassian vessel, stopping 500 kilometers from the much smaller Galor-class starship.
Her Majesty the Princess Catherine Defont walked out of the transporter room of the Triumph, closely guarded by SMU guards. Her long robe trailed behind her, as her Prime Minister, Maitre Wolf walked along side of her. Catherine watched the interior of the Triumph carefully, noting it was purely utilatarian in design. She remembered the palaces on Segania Prime, noting the contrast between the two species' designs. Segan palaces were the ultimate in extravangance, the Triumph sharply contrasted with that. Wolf glanced over, watching Catherine's eyes wonder as they walked down the corridors, led by the SMU guards. He couldn't begin to understand what was going through the head of the Cardassian Monarchy's mind at the current moment. They needed the SMU in case anything went wrong, they needed them more desperately than Space Marshall Nelson knew. Catherine Defont, followed by Maitre Wolf entered the conference room, seeing Space Marshall. Both Defont and Wolf bowed to him as a sign of respect, as they began their long negotiations.
"Greetings Space Marshall Nelson, in the name of the Monarchy, and her future, I thank you for accepting to hear my argument out. Prime Minister Wolf informed me you were very apprehensive of the situation," Catherine Defont watched Space Marshall Nelson closely.
"Your Majestly, please have a seat," Nelson smiled as his hands gracefully pointed to the chairs reserved for these very important guests, "You too, Minister Wolf."
Catherine settled into her seat comfortably, keeping her long dress from getting ruffled by a quick maneuver of the hand. She had learned it many years ago in school and had become accustomed to being watched carefully for the perfect execution of the motion. As Catherine was settle, the now Prime Minister Wolf also sat down, watching the two sovereigns carefully. History was in the making, and he was sitting in the front row seat as he had so often done in the past years. What had made him special? He had become a focus point, and a sort of stand-in soul for the Monarchy. He was thankful for the challenge, but often he felt overwhelmed by it.
"The SMU has always admired what Charles Rosbourg, and the traditional Monarchy," Nelson paused to carefully think out his next words, "We only wish to see if we can aid your movement any further."
Nelson sat behind his desk as Catherine fired off her own compliment, "My uncle always spoke highly of your work developping the Strategic Readiness Agency."
The Marshall laughed heartily, "Yes, those were the days...where we all knew what our jobs were. Now we've become scattered, displaced. It's amazing we aren`t ALL at war, your Majesty."
"I am not too good with politics, indeed... two years ago, it was unimaginable to me and my family that those.... Rebels... would manage to take our thrones and call it... justice," Catherine's voice was filled with disgust and emphasis, she had yet to digest it completely.
"That is why we are both here, your Majesty. We wish to seek TRUE
justice," Nelson watched his potential ally carefully seeing for her response.
"I thank you, Prime Minister Wolf... he has our proposal for you. If you'd care to hear us?" Catherine was perhaps a great speaker, but she was never destined to be the driving force behind the Cardassian Monarchy, those with effective intelligence networks would pick this fact up.
"It will be an honor. Please, Prime Minister Wolf,"
The Former Maitre smiled and turned, "I believe what Youri
Rosbourg discussed with you will no longer be enough... We were hoping that an alliance would still exist between our two powers.. but that, we'd coordinate our efforts more closely.. Especially towards an operation we will need done, with your assistance."
Nelson smiled, as the word "operation" rank in his mind "What will you require from us, Minister Wolf?"
"We are both military men, and we both know that what makes the enemy shake is seeing fleets of powerful ships unscathed, untouched... untouchable. Do you remember the Ghost Fleet, the one Charles used to lead the defeat of the Styx?"
The Marshall nodded, remembering how powerful those 'ghostly' ships were, "Yes, they saved us all."
"They dissapeared shortly after the rift was destroyed...We're certain the fleet was moved by the Quadaz somewhere inside Segan territory. That is the assumption Youri Rosbourg's been working with, and that is why our strategy has been to hold out as long as possible as our ships search Segan Sovereign space trying to find that vessel."
Catherine jumped in, "Segan Sovereign Space is over 3/4 of a galaxy, the quadrants are now firmly in SPU hand, we need ships.. ones that can't be detected."
Maitre Wolf nodded, "The Cardassian vessels we have haven't been complemented with the right equipement, and in any case, their sensor devices aren't powerful enough..."
"So you want us to donate, so to speak...our vessels to the search?" Nelson's mind contemplated the mission proposal that was being delivered to him, it was a difficult one indeed.
"Yes, exactly. Your ships were complemented with the best Segan technology had to offer at time of design. If you help us find the Ghost Fleet, we will offer one of these ships to you to do whatever you wish to it. Assimilate whatever technology you'd find of interest," Maitre Wolf was offering a historical proposal, never before had the Segan Monarchy completely offered its technology in such a manner.
Nelson shook his head "I will not need such payment your Majesty. The SMU will do this...free of charge."
Catherine smiled, "We must do something to repay you...It wouldn't be honorable not to."
The Marshall laughed, "Well...we'll discuss that at a later time. What exactly will you be needing? So that I may notify my Deputies."
It was Maitre Wolf who'd speak again. "This needs to be done stealthily, if.. if Vladimir finds out what we're doing, he'll certainly execute more of the royal family. His popularity has increased as of late with his rallies... He wouldn't have a problem with his actions. We don't know where the ships are... or if the ships come 'staff included' so to speak."
"Well...all of our ships are equipped with time shifting, the ability to make rifts, cloaks...You name it....we have it. If you want, I will donate the Triumph to the search," Nelson had always wanted to visit Segan Sovereign Space anyhow.
"That should certainly facilitate operating in unfriendly territory, whatever you wish to offer," Catherine glanced, "This entire thing rests on the success of that operation. We'll assign Segan liasons to any ship you send in order to assist with coordination and cultural exchange if you need to do anything planet-side."
"Well..." Nelson looked carefully at a PADD "we have 750 ships not tied up in operations...I am willing to donate all 750 ships, including this one."
Catherine gave a small snicker, "I knew our membership fees
to the IAP seemed a little high for just maintaining a station."
Nelson chuckled, "You don`t regret it now, though."
Catherine smiled, "Politicians never do once we get to use the equipement. Your offer will suit us quite nicely... You should be able to comb through Segan space much more quickly."
"We will designate the Triumph as our command center, if that's
all right..." Nelson watched, just in case there was cultural law which forbade such a thing inside Segan space.
"None at all," Wolf replied, "We'll coordinate with you from Cardassia Prime, including giving you any information we get from Chinon. We still have operatives working under my wing in there. In the event this... surrender was to happen."
"Excellent. Until then, I`ll start gathering our fleet." Nelson watched Catherine closely, "We will find those ships your Majesty....I promise."
"Thank you, thank you for giving our Monarchy a new hope."
- - - - - - - -
Ambassador Yrishna Wolf glanced over the reports from the Intergalactic Alliance of Powers. After having been called back to Segania Prime for a diplomatic review, Yrishna had discovered that she had made quite a powerful new pack of enemies back home. As she headed back to Starbase Tranquility with orders to cool relations with the Federation government, she knew there was a plan amiss that she wasn't being told about. Yrishna sighed, having drained all the useless information of the report. She had picked up the report to fill time in the first place, with still two hours of flight time before they'd reach Starbase Tranquility. Starbase Tranquility had finally grown to equate the amount of space traffic her predecessor Starbase Metropolis boasted, but it had taken time and now staff shortages which used to be of minimal effect to the Starbase were kicking in. In order to curb these effects, a Starfleet Admiral had been sent and would have to meet with her soon as she headed the Starbase Tranquility military appropriations committee. She had long commented that Starbase Tranquility only had 10% of the staff numbers Starbase Metropolis had, and that it (the problem) would soon attack the Starbase with a poisonous bite
Yrishna glanced across her aisle seeing a family of Segans arguing endlessly on what they would do once they reached the United Federation of Planets. They were wearing humorous caps proclaiming "Warning, Segan Tourists In the House." Yrishna offered a smile as the family watched her for a moment only to return to their debating. She looked over her watch, noting that the Starbase would still probably be lacking in activity and she muttered she wouldn't have a chance to eat any good food upon arrival. Having eaten only replicated foods during her entire trip, she was less than ready to acquaint herself with more of it. She looked up ahead, and noted that only 1 Earth hour and 30 minutes remained in this voyage. She would have much work to do the next day, however, as she would have the brief the entire Embassy staff on the new positions ordered by the Government. She sighed, noting that some of the positions were almost one hundred eighty degree reversals of things that the entire Embassy staff has so precariously tried to build. There were many a times when the things they had tried to build had almost collapsed on top of themselves. But now, as though answering every prayer for this not to happen, it was going to happen at a deafening rate. Cancellations of agreements, cancellations of treaties, withdrawal of troops and supplies, holding off on payments, and pressure for those who owed to pay it or face legal action by the Monarchy.
A shadowy figure passed Yrishna on his way to his seat. The cape that followed him measured the length of him from his shoulder to his feet. The cape was held on to his normal civilian clothes by a clasp of three eagles, arranged in a triangular fashion. Yrishna watched carefully having been uneasy about him during the entire duration of their journey. As she attached earpieces to her ears and began to listen to some quiet Romulan music, she kept her observation of the figure as he grabbed some equipement that was curiously military in nature. She sighed, had she had her attache of intelligence handy she could have known within minutes who he was, what he was, why he on this flight, the name of his mother's maiden name, and how many sexual partners he's had in the past four years... theoretically, at least. How much the government could spy on its citizen and how much it actually did were always matters the government enjoyed letting the media argue upon endlessly.
The pilot announced over the intercom that they had entered Intergalactic Alliance space, and that those who were not I.A.P. citizens had to begin filling out their customs forms. Yrishna smiled, it was hard to find a citizen who wasn't a citizen of an I.A.P. member nation, and those who were were determinedly part of some of the outcasted non-alligned worlds. As several of the passengers took the forms, Yrishna waved off the forms handed to her. She had both diplomatic immunity from any of these silly forms, as well as the fact she was a Segan citizen. Yrishna looked back as the attendants completed their collection of customs forms. She decided that while the ship would arrive in an hour, it would take an additional hour before Tranquility could process docking assignments for the vessel. She readjusted herself in her chair and allowed herself to fall asleep, two hours worth of nap was always handy.
