N'ivryn stood with her back to the large, elliptical viewscreen in ops. She faced her panel of interrogators.

"The ship's identification number... It's an old system. Like I mentioned before, we've kept the ship in its original state as much as possible." As anticipated, the Andorian government couldn't confirm any records of a lone civilian explorer roaming out near DS9. Unsurprising, since no such records existed. "Unfortunately, over time, some of our data banks degrade. Sometimes that includes the identification protocols. It's an age-old issue."

Sisko leaned forward, still not entirely convinced. "And you don't have any other form of identification? No records or official documents?"

N'ivryn hesitated. Perhaps Garak's strategy could get her one more play. "In our lineage, Captain, stories and memories carry more weight than paper or holograms. The ship's legacy is shared through words, an oral testament to our past. It's how we've always revered our roots."

Dax interjected, her tone polite but probing, "But surely there would've been some sort of record in the Andorian archives about the Imperial Guard decommissioning the ship and gifting it to your ancestor? At least a footnote, if nothing else."

N'ivryn took a deep breath, her voice steady but a bead of sweat betraying her tension. "I can certainly understand your concern, but I'm afraid records from that era may not be as readily accessible as you might think. The Andorian archives are vast, and many old records have been lost or misplaced over the centuries. It's possible that any records about this particular ship's history may not be easily retrievable."

O'Brien chimed in, "But wouldn't the Imperial Guard have some sort of record of the original inventor?"

N'ivryn shifted, trying to remain composed. "The Imperial Guard has undergone significant changes over the years, and some historical records may have been lost during periods of turmoil. As for my own family, it's been generations since the ship was passed down to us, and much of our early history might be considered more folklore than hard evidence. I know it might sound strange to you, but it's just how things have been for centuries. I don't mean to be rude, but is this really all necessary? I've never had an issue with this before."

Sisko glanced at his officers, then back at N'ivryn. He didn't seem entirely satisfied with her answers, but for the moment, he seemed willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. "All right, N'ivryn. We'll continue to investigate the ship and your claims. But I expect full cooperation. If anything doesn't check out, we will have to take further action."

N'ivryn nodded, her throat tight, trying to keep the relief from showing on her face. "Of course, Captain. I understand."