Chapter Text
Cardassia was trapped in a constant cycle: famine and epidemics resulted in revolution, leaders were deposed or executed, replaced by new ones. After a few decades, renewed catastrophe set the process into motion yet again; this pattern of events had seen the collapse of the Hebitian Empire then of the small principalities that followed, later an ill-fated attempt to recreate a global empire. This, too, was swept away in turn …
As much as the peaceful, spiritual population of Cathassa distrusted the military and its increasing power, they recognized this very institution and its refined logistics system had saved thousands of lives during the last great famine. Masses of staples were transported from Ongul and Nadral Continents to Cathassa, Jendoral and Kheffara Continents, entire populations were resettled to ease population pressure in sensitive areas.
In spite of all these efforts, tens of thousands died of starvation, epidemics raged through entire regions, decimating their already-weakened inhabitants. During the last catastrophe everyone realized that without the efforts of the institution now called Central Command even more citizens would have been lost. The advantages of a centralized government rather than independent local governments and provinces overseen by discrete nations were revealed during this latest disaster. Once the crisis was over, a council of local leaders was called on all continents, a complex project organized by the military.
Negotiations took nearly a year. Local and provincial authorities, finally those of the continents established a body of representatives, three from each continent, its extended plenum consisting of one representative from each province: Detapa, the civilian government was instituted.
Central Command itself was in a position to protect the entire planet, to respond to crises. It too had a tripartite system consisting of three Legates, nine Guls First order and a council.
Finally, a politically neutral security force organized and led by three individuals was instituted to ensure general security, discourage attempts to wrest power from the legal bodies of government.
However, the ruler of Kelan-Lesana had been elected a member of the local government. He immediately negotiated for limited autonomy, religious freedom as well as exemption of his people from military service; this province was one of the most fertile, so, in exchange, a contract to deliver a given percentage of produce to Central Command every year was established ….
Two hundred years after this political reform, Central Command’s and the Order’s respective structures had subtly changed, so that these institutions were administered by one individual alone; Central Command, due to its service to the people of Cardassia, had tacitly taken control of the government. As to the Order, it was gradually insinuating itself into all aspects and institutions of Cardassian life, was recruiting and securing the best minds to develop new technologies that it passed on to Central Command in accordance with the regulation that forbade the Order from possessing any weapons apart from phasers.
Once peaceful and spiritual, Cardassia’s culture was now undeniably militant; space flight had progressed from versions of the tekeli ships to massive ships powered by impulse thus capable of reaching planets outside the central system. The first aliens encountered were relatively primitive, unable to defend themselves and their worlds’ resources against the incursions of the Cardassian military and their advanced weaponry; they were quickly overpowered, absorbed into the Union, but not considered equals. As the Union expanded, absorbed or forged alliances with other systems, Cardassia’s confidence became arrogance; its leaders and the general population believed they were destined to rule over all systems they discovered.
In the meantime, the Order planted agents in the provinces’ local branches of government; the next element slated to disappear was the old religion which valued peace. Its leaders were accused of being enemies of the state and executed, the wealth found in places of worship declared stolen from the people and confiscated. The most valuable artefacts disappeared into the Order’s Headquarters, the rest were turned over to Central Command to help finance a growing fleet of warships which were unwieldy as yet, but effective.
While many young people from the upper and middle classes studied at the Military Academy to become officers, foot soldiers were recruited from among the masses of the poor. Those who proved their worth in combat were granted the privilege of studying and embarking on officer’s careers. They were merciless fighters, brutal, aggressive, knowing that if they did not fulfil expectations, they would return to the streets and be subjected to ridicule by their former peers.
In spite of these developments, the Kelani preserved their ways. A few of them left for the population centres and quickly integrated into the mainstream; but most remained where they were. When harvests failed some of them emigrated to the cities then returned, at times with mates from other regions who soon adapted, gradually accepting customs that seemed strange to them, learning a variant of Kardasi which had no parallel anywhere on the planet.
Their ethnicity consequently rejected warfare and their governor refused to put his name to any agreements apart from yearly contracts for delivery of a certain percentage of produce to Central Command.
In Kelan-Lesana, religious purges were unsuccessful, the Kelani, who apparently had informants of their own in place, concealed their spiritual leaders so that they could not be tracked down … Those individuals who were questioned knew nothing, had seen and heard nothing, either. To add insult to injury, the population welcomed the forces of Central Command, even offered them hospitality.