Tegril looked around the empty council chambers with regret. He had been here for months with the rest of the Detapa Council as they drafted their new Articles of the Union and the request to join the Federation. He remembered seeing the excitement on their faces as they fashioned together the documents. Of course Ross knew the documents would never come to pass. The Dominion had successfully kept their presence hidden for many months in the Orias system. Unknown to most, however, was the fact they were slowly moving themselves back into the Cardassian system using the cloaking technology they found in the remains of Orias III. Why they chose Cardassia III was beyond him. There wasn't much there; a number of fairly small cities and closed up labor camps.

Once they made their presence known to him, he should have reported it immediately. Gelnon's offer to help stabilize the Cardassian government had sounded good enough, though. He was disgusted with himself for believing they just wanted to live in peace in a remote area of Cardassia III. He should have KNOWN better. When he finally realized Gelnon's true plans of liberating the Shapeshifter from the Federation and re-establishing Dominion rule, it was too late. He had been allowing the Dominion to operate from a closed labor camp in his district. What was worse... when Gelnon began doubting Ross' loyalties, he had Ross' family imprisoned on one of the battle cruisers until the coup was complete.

Now, the remains of the Detapa Council had branded him a traitor and he didn't blame them. He had assisted in the Dominion retaking authority over Cardassia and it disgusted him. Everything the council had been working for was ruined and it depressed him. Then... on top of everything else, his actions wound up imprisoning five Federation diplomats. That terrified him... especially knowing Gelnon let the Warlord escape. The only solice he found was in the hopes that Gelnon would keep his word and let his family go.

Gelnon switched the screen off and turned to Ross Tegril. "My, my," he said melodically, "it would seem they don't like you at all."

"I guess not," Ross admitted, his eyes drawn to the ground. "When can I expect my family to be returned?"

"Soon, Tegril, very soon," Gelnon cooed. "Once we have confirmation the Federation ship is destroyed."

Tegril looked up at Gelnon perplexed. "What are you talking about?"

Gelnon chuckled. "Oh, come now. You really don't think I let them go, do you?" The Cardassian shook his head quizzically. "I needed that ship to leave so it would break the spirits of our 'guests' next door. There's a ship following them. Once they're far enough away that they feel safe enough to drop their shields, they'll attack. With the Federation ship gone, it will take weeks for the Federation to realize something is wrong and come to investigate." He clapped his hands together and smiled. "By then, we'll be sufficiently entrenched that we can deal with them."

Tegril's heart sank at the idea that even more people would have to die. "Sounds like a very well thought out plan."

Gelnon puffed his chest. "Doesn't it, though? I do hope the Founder will be proud."