As the shimmering shower of silvery sparkles faded, the delegation found themselves in a large, circular room lined with concentric tables starting at floor level and going up as a large ampitheater. The room itself was easily twenty meters high and at least twice as wide. It was sandy stone in construction with patterned carpeting on the floor. There were, easily, at least hundred chairs stationed around the various tables at the different elevations. It reminded Stephen of being at a coliseum. Of all the seats, not even a third were populated. A dozen or so Cardassians were on the ground level in the center along with the recently transported Federation team.

Admiral Picard smiled widely as a tall, portly Cardassian with large lambchops on either side of his face approached. Although his hair was still jet black, the wrinkles on his face belied his age. "Chief Councilman Dogran," he said warmly. He extended his hand as four other Cardassians approached with him.

"Admiral Picard," he answered with a smile. He took Picard's hand and shook it warmly. "It's very good to see you in person."

"The pleasure is mine, Councilman." Picard countered. He extended a hand to his team. "Allow me to introduce the principle members of the Federation delegation. This is Vulcan ambassador Solek, Betazed ambassador Arianna Liss, Doctor Leslie McIntyre and..."

The councilman reached for the other Admiral with the frizzy hair. "I know you..." he said quickly. He took Admiral Callis' hand and shook it animatedly as he visibly struggled to remember. "Callis!" He proudly exclaimed. "Alan Callis."

The admiral shook his hand back. "Lanes Dogran," he replied warmly. "It has been awhile. hasn't it?"

"Good... you know each other already," Picard concluded.

The Cardassian pointed to Callis. "Almost ten years ago, wasn't it?" Callis nodded. "Admiral Callis here was part of the delegation for the final Federation-Cardassian peace treaty."

"You were just a freshman councilman then. Now look at you!"

"Ha!" Dogran retorted. "I'm here only because, when they asked for leaders to take a step forward, everyone else took a step back!" The groups laughed. Realizing he had been remiss, Dogran stepped back. "Where are my manners?" He offered a smallish Cardassian woman with long, brown hair. "This is Kin Valen, my executive assistant." She smiled at everyone. He gestured to the tired, but smiling Cardassian male standing next to him who looked almost too young. "Councilman Ross Tagril... and last, but certainly not least," he gestured to another slightly overweight, older Cardassian male, "hero to all of Cardassia, Councilman Elim Gerak."

Picard smiled as he shook Gerak's hand. News of the former Deep Space Nine inhabitant had travelled far in the months following the end of the Dominion War. "You have come a long way from being a simple tailor on a space station around Bajor."

"And believe me, Admiral, there have been many times when I have longed for those days," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

The Chief Councilman turned his gaze to Stephen. "And who might you be, Sir?"

Stephen stood up straight. He was SO hoping to avoid direct dialogue. "Commander Stephen Kirk, Councilman."

Picard added, "He is the first officer of the vessel that brought us safely here."

Dogran extended his hand. "We are extremely grateful for your services, Commander. Please extend our thanks to your crew."

Kirk shook his hand. "Thank you, Sir. I will." THAT certainly went fairly smoothly. Just then, Stephen's comm badge began to pop and whine. Kirk tapped it. "This is Kirk. Go ahead." The group, occupying themselves with small talk, stopped to look. There was no voice in reply; simply more popping and whistling and static. Kirk tapped his badge a few more times as Admiral Picard intently looked on.

"Is there a problem, Commander?" Picard asked.

After a handful of additional attempts to quiet the noisy device, he quickly took it off and switched off the communicator from behind. He shook his head. "I dunno, Sir. It's been working fine." He shook it; more a symbolic act of frustration than an actual attempt to fix it.

"Dor e'ck vaas, mo'skt eln keev'et noln?" Dogran spoke to Kirk. Smiling innocently, Kirk merely held up his communicator and shrugged.

"I'm afraid without his communications device, he won't be able to understand you," Picard offered to Dogran.

Dogran patted Kirk on the shoulder. "Edred vos'ak perid il'dusa!" The group laughed.

Picard, smiling, leaned closer to Stephen. "He said he would do his best not to insult you."

"Great..." Kirk replied. This was going to be a LONG afternoon.