This is a story of what could happen if the 'Changeling-hype' is to continue...
Note: This story was written after 'Indiscretion' but before the first spoilers for 'Return to Grace' were out.
The latest update is to fix formatting only, it was really rather bad. It should be easier to read now!
Disclaimer: Star Trek belongs to Paramount, I just play here.
Major Changes.
1. A chance encounter.
Sisko looked at Dukat sitting in his office. He was working with the Cardassian in trying to prevent a war between Cardassia and the Federation.
Tensions had risen the last few months. Ever since the failed invasion of the Klingons, the Maquis had grown bolder and bolder. They'd been quiet for a long time, but now they were feeling they would have some support from the Klingons, if the Cardassians were to enter the Demilitarized Zone.
On Cardassia itself, the newly installed civilian government was under heavy pressure of conservative groups. Extreme conservative groups, who did not only disapprove of the Klingons holding planets so close to Cardassian space, or of the Maquis, but of the treaty with the Federation as well.
Rumors of Founder infiltration were running wild. No one had uncovered a Founder spy in the Cardassian government or its military, but the same conservative groups, among them a remnant of the Obsidian Order, saw spies everywhere. And the worst of it all, the people of Cardassia were listening. They, too, had gone through a lot of changes in the last few months, and were willing prey to the 'changeling-hype'. The media were only too happy to help -mass hysteria sells well.
"The Federation does not control the Maquis. I can do little to stop their raids," Sisko said.
"Oh, come on, Captain. I know the Federation does not control them, although I cannot convince a large number of the Cardassian Central Command of that, but at least they take your messages. Talk to them! Tell them that if these incursions in Cardassian space continue, the Order and the Sach Ba will take over in next month's elections."
"And if that happens, the first free elections will also be the last ones on Cardassia," Sisko stated.
"Not only that," Dukat added. "It is almost certain that if they win the elections, they will move into the Demilitarized Zone, and perhaps even on to Bajor, immediately."
"And we would be at war," Sisko said. "We have to prevent that at all cost."
"I will do what I can on Cardassia. You stop those raids," Dukat said.
Sisko sighed. He knew Dukat was right about the need, but he thought the Cardassian over-estimated his influence with the Maquis. While he had sent several messages to the Maquis, trying to establish contact, none had received a reply.
And there was more he wasn't ready to tell the Cardassian yet. He'd asked Starfleet to send some ships, hoping to dampen some of the enthusiasm of the more war-minded groups on Cardassia. If they didn't have the impression they could walk right in, they might at least take some more time to prepare. The long-term implications would probably be war, if those radical groups gained power, but having a show of force out here might at least slow them down.
Starfleet agreed his reasoning was solid. Unfortunately, there were reports of Romulan activity along the Neutral Zone. 'So you will understand, that in the light of the situation, we really cannot send any ships in response to a threat that might not even be real.' They'd sent an old Constellation Class to patrol the Demilitarized Zone, and told Sisko he still had the Defiant. Right. She was a fine warship, but they were dealing with the very real possibility of an invasion here. Starfleet, too, was getting pulled into the vicious circle of spy reports, war threats, and xenophobic paranoia.
But Sisko told none of this to Dukat. While they were working on a common goal this time, there were too many occasions they had stood on opposite sides.
"I will do what I can," Sisko said.
"Let's hope it is enough." With that, Dukat stood. Sisko let him out of the office and watched him leave. Then he went back inside, sat down, and tried once again to establish contact with the Maquis.
It was crowded at Quark's. Julie had waited a long time to place an order for a drink, and she'd finally gone up to the bar to get one.
Of course, her seat was taken as soon as she had got up, and she didn't see another one. She looked around. There, those Zaldons were leaving. She tried to make her way over there quickly, but bumped into someone.
When Dukat left the Captain's office, he'd gone over to Quark's. Not that he particularly liked the bar, or the Ferengi who ran it, but it was a place where he might pick up some of the news and rumors from the Federation. The place was filled up to the notch. Likely Quark was running one of his games in the back room and currently held a break there. He glanced around for a table and saw a couple of Zaldons leave. When he made for the table, he bumped into someone.
"Sorry," Julie said, out of habit, before she even looked up at who she had bumped into. Then, when she saw the Cardassian, she started. *Could he know who she was?*
"Pardon me," Dukat said. "But it is rather full in here today. Is this seat taken?" He indicated the second chair.
Julie thought quickly. Nothing in the Cardassian's manner indicated he had placed her, and if she refused it might rise suspicion.
"No, it's free," she said.
Dukat took the seat and introduced himself. "Gul Dukat."
"Julie Barnards," Julie said, using the last name she had gone by on every mission to DS9 or Cardassia. As she extended her hand in greeting, Dukat's eye fell on the drink she had gotten. She cursed inwardly. How had she gotten herself into this?
"Remarkable. I have not met many humans who drink Kanar. Have you ever been to Cardassia?" Dukat asked her.
There was no use in denying it. Maybe if she could steer this conversation in the right direction from here on, she might actually get something good out of this. She just hated doing spy-work unprepared -it was treading on dangerous grounds at best.
"I'm Captain of the Thalys. It is a small, unaligned trader, I dock at Cardassia quite frequently," Julie said.
"Ah, yes. I know of the ship, of course. There are few enough unaligned traders who frequent Cardassia," Dukat said. "You know the capital, then?"
"Yes, the space port district, and of course the city center," Julie said. "It is very impressive."
Dukat looked at the petite human sitting at the table with him. It pleased him to talk to someone who had actually been to Cardassia, and knew the capital. Most people outside the Cardassian Union didn't have the faintest idea of what anything Cardassian looked like, except perhaps a warship. He liked his home, and he was away from it often enough to miss it.
"You have seen the Town Hall, then?" he asked.
Julie nodded. She had seen it, several times, and could easily describe it without saying anything she should not. She hadn't lied when she had said it was impressive -the Cardassian capital really was a sight to see.
Before she knew it they were talking Cardassian architecture, music, and the best places to eat in the city. She was still on her guard, but she didn't feel as if Dukat was leading her to reveal anything about her encounters or activities.
When she got back to her temporary quarters on DS9, she hadn't learned a great deal, but as it had been a chance encounter, she hadn't set out to do so. And knowing a Gul could always come in handy. Sabi was waiting for her as she entered.
"We just received a communication from home." Sabi called it home, but she was the only one for whom it really was. Julie had not been born in the Demilitarized Zone at all.
"Captain Sisko called them again?" Julie asked.
Sabi nodded. "Yes. I don't know that we should go to Cardassia this time. According to these messages the situation there is less than stable."
"That's exactly why we have to go. If we can show them just how unstable the situation really is, and who will be in power if it all collapses, the council might finally listen to us."
Julie wasn't at all sure they could make them listen with all the proof in the world. She and Sabi had been on Cardassia. They had seen more than just the military. They had talked, laughed and gambled with Cardassian traders and workmen at the bars in the spaceport district, they had met civilian store owners and merchants. They knew it did make a difference which Cardassian group was in charge. For too many of the Maquis, however, a Cardassian was a Cardassian and that was it.
When the first of Sisko's messages had come in, Julie had pleaded to listen. They did not agree to the terms of the treaty, but she was convinced the Captain was right about the Cardassians moving in immediately if the right-wing groups would gain power. She had followed the Federation newscasts. The Cardassians weren't the only ones stirring, and she wasn't at all certain the Federation would send ships in time to meet the Cardassians. A few of the others had shared her concern. Most had not. They'd barely agreed to letting her and Sabi take on another mission.
She looked at the transmissions, found nothing she had not already extrapolated, and shut down the terminal. It was late and she wanted to rest, but she still took the time to quickly fill Sabi in on her encounter with Dukat.