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Within days of Sisko’s disappearance, Kira was temporarily assigned the position of station Commander as Deep Space 9 was too important for Bajor and the Federation to leave that position vacant for any length of time. Within a matter of two weeks, she was confirmed in her new position. The upper echelons of the Bajoran Militia unanimously agreed that Kira’s cooperating with the Emissary made her the obvious choice.
After requesting the Bajoran Militia to assign her a Second-in-Command she was now waiting to see who would be chosen. Commander Kira considered her tenure temporary as she expected Sisko, the Emissary, to return; she then would cede her position to him and retake her former one as liaison officer.
At the moment the newly promoted Commander was seeing to her least favorite duties, those Sisko had always referred to as ‘paper pushing’: working her way through the daily routine of reports, directives, notifications, incidents, and of receiving new staff. Many members of the old crew had departed for other postings, new people were sent in to fill their places. There was a constant influx of personnel whose files she had to read, and subsequently delegate old hands to show the newcomers the station and introduce them to their colleagues.
One of the last decisions Sisko had made just before his disappearance had been to authorize a branch of SFHS on station at SFHS–Earth’s request; this was currently being implemented as Kira and the Bajoran government had accorded the project top priority.
Installation of the new branch in one of the previously unused areas near OPS was being effected by Bajoran technicians and some of O’Brien’s former colleagues. Given that the situation in the sector was catastrophic, shortened supply lines would speed up deliveries of assistance, potentially saving lives. Kira had experienced the end of the Dominion war on Cardassia, and knew that this kind of destruction had been visited upon other worlds to various degrees…
Only two days before, Dr Bashir had informed her that personnel involved in combat had paid a price that went beyond the physical: many Federation combatants were suffering from the mental effects of the Dominion War which had been the most brutal one of the past century, had seen and experienced too much. “I wonder whether we will get the additional therapist/counselor Dr. Bashir and Counselor Dax requested.” Kira murmured to herself.
SFHS is facing years of assisting worlds in all areas of infrastructure, especially as damage reports are still coming in. On some worlds the situation was so dire that not even communications were left operational, effectively isolating entire populations, so that passing vessels made contact and transmitted reports on conditions, then delayed their missions to give technicians time to repair and reactivate at least basic communications.
Kira was pulled out of her thoughts when the comm activated. “Commander Kira, incoming message from SFCCEI, Starfleet HQ; Commander Chandler.”
“Put it through.”
“Commander Kira, I have been informed that construction of SFHS-Deep Space 9 is well within schedule,” Chandler stated, “May I inquire how far work has progressed?”
“The crew assigned to this project have nearly finished installing the modular walls for the offices; communications, security measures, climate control will be up and running within another two or three weeks at most, the offices proper fully furnished and ready to go.”
“Good to hear. SFHS is experiencing marked difficulties in acceding to the needs of Federation and non-affiliated worlds in your sector due to the scope of damage in the quadrant. SFHS-Earth has asked me to inform you that we appreciate Bajor’s agreeing to host the new branch.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to pass on your message to those involved both in the decision and implementation.” Praise is usually followed by a less-than-pleasant request. Kira waited for the other shoe to drop.
“Personnel has been selected: fifteen staff and three organizers, as planned. The team is scheduled to report for duty in four weeks once the branch offices are fully operational.”
“I have directed Lt Daniels to reserve quarters for them. As there are enough free billets on the third level of the habitat ring, the team will be housed in the same corridor; he has seen to the necessary formalities.” She added, “Are specific requirements as to climate control and atmosphere an issue?”
“Nothing more complicated than temperature settings and relative humidity.” He grinned, “There aren’t any methane breathers on the team, but it is relatively diverse to facilitate negotiations and interaction with recipient populations: Bajoran volunteers, Humans, Trill, a Betazoid, two Bolians, one Lissepian and a Cardassian; the Khobeerians have been recalled by their government. Just a minute…” He transmitted the list.
“Interesting group,” was her only comment when it arrived on her terminal, but suddenly her eyes hardened. A Cardássian. I’d hoped I’d misunderstood. She tried for equanimity, but could not quite disguise her irritation.
“The organizers are Andrews, Myssiro and Gul Melset.”
At seeing Kira’s expression when she heard the rank, he added, “She has been in charge of the Cardassian Department for six years, is a typical Cardassian...
I can imagine, Kira thought.
“...but relatively tolerant, willing to cooperate and has done so with most of the staff that has been chosen. Just a moment…” He transmitted a code giving Kira access to the multicultural presentations organized by the departments at SFCCEI. “Her schedule? Arrival in a little under two weeks, a 3-day stopover on-station before leaving for Cardassia to spend a month on-world to evaluate the situation before taking up duty at SFHS. The organizers will report both to you and to us. Off the record, Commander, consult her file before meeting her.”
“The usual lies; I’ll have her records double-checked by Bajoran intelligence to see whether she is guilty of war crimes committed during the Occupation. This is a routine procedure whenever a Cardassian military arrives on-station,” was her rejoinder.
“This is your prerogative, Commander, I know of and respect the fact that Bajoran-Cardassian relations are fraught.”
Fraught? You are a master of understatement… “And if she is on our list of war criminals?”
“Then, Commander, proceed in accordance with your laws. Melset and I have discussed this possibility together with other factors in connection with this posting; her reply was: ‘Then justice must be served.’ Her words exactly.”
“Cardássian justice…” Kira muttered contemptuously before adding, “Should I assign a security detail to ensure her safety while she is on station, or do I wait for her first complaints about prejudicial treatment or of being made to feel unwelcome?”
“She is fully aware of the attitudes she will encounter at least in the beginning and accepts the fact. The Lissepian, Talik, was her bodyguard while she was at SFCCEI and will continue in this role in addition to his duties.” With a slight smile, Chandler added, “Unfortunately, her Klingon bodyguard has rejoined the forces of the Empire.”
He was rewarded by Kira’s expression of surprise and added, “As she speaks Bajoran, Klingon and Federation Standard, communication was direct, making contact easier.”
“What about … reliability? Her kind has the principle of ‘Cardassia first’,” the commander said very slowly.
He openly addressed the Commander’s suspicions. “You are concerned about her subverting decisions taken by SFHS-Earth and manipulating records to redirect as much of the assistance to her Union as possible. Any reservations you may have as to her integrity are unfounded. She has taken an oath to serve in accordance with our statutes. The team as a whole will ensure neutral distribution of assistance to recipient worlds.”
Kira did not voice her misgivings, only asked again, “And Cardassia?”
“The extent of the assistance to be given has been established.”
I have a very odd feeling about this. Kira picked up on his intonation at once, “The minimum, no doubt. I wonder about the reactions. Most likely demands for renegotiating conditions...”
Chandler did not react to the implications of her query, only said, “That remains to be seen.” It would take decades to surmount the negative attitudes caused by the Occupation and, on the part of the Federation, the Border and the Dominion Wars.
He was well aware of this, remembered the heated discussions at Starfleet Headquarters and changed the subject, “It is conceivable that staff will have to be enlarged as the workload could turn out to be exceedingly heavy.”
“That should present no difficulties.” As long as you don’t send in another viper or two...
“One more thing: That group is as tough as nails when it comes to fulfillment of duty although they appear easy-going when you meet them during their downtime. Dr. Bashir should keep an eye on them, monitor them for signs of overwork. If more personnel is needed, I want to know about it immediately. This will be all for now.” With an indicated salute and a smile, he added, “Thank you for your time, Commander Kira. Chandler out.”
When the screen went dark, Kira leaned back with a grimace of disgust. A damn Cardássian. A Gul. That reptile will be strutting around the station with her bodyguard as though she owned the place. I’ve seen enough of that lot’s attitudes; expecting preferential treatment, trying to lord it over everyone else, complaining about restricted access to areas or files, offended about this, offended about that...
She forced herself to remember her few positive experiences with Cardassians: Ghemor, Marritza, Natíma Lang and her students, finally even Garak, and Damar with his group of dissidents. Or Prin, an innocent civilian, servant of a high-ranking military, severely injured in the Shakaar’s attack on his employer, his pain and incapacitation warping his mind, sending him on a mission of revenge. He could have been treated, rehabilitated…. Not all of them were evil. Prophets, where do I draw the line after the terror of the Occupation and Dukat’s alliance with the Dominion?
She got up and paced the office. May as well do what Commander Chandler suggested. He actually seems to trust that one… Curious, she viewed two of the presentations, then read the team members’ files.
Some weeks later, shortly before the new station Cardassian was to arrive, Navri addressed her after the service ended.
“My child, a member of my Order, Vedek Yarim, who is presently on Earth, at SFCCEI has contacted me about that Cardássian who is to work for SFHS.”
“Is she on the list of war criminals?”
“No, nothing has been found, no files on her apart from the one sent to the Bajoran Department at SFCCEI, informing Yarim that she had been left on Bajor after being severely abused during interrogation by her own people for suggesting a Bajoran-Cardassian alliance; she was taken in by villagers, and recaptured at withdrawal.”
“A damn Cardassian forgery,” was the reaction. “The files they send are always manipulated.”
Navri shook his head. “It is the truth. Serad, Yarim’s contact, had sought refuge in Nevaris Village, pretending to be a farmer during the purges against those who tried to preserve our beliefs. He observed her, as did the villagers.”
“And afterwards?”
“At Withdrawal she was retaken. No one knows why she was not executed then and there, especially as she had ‘gone native’ as humans say. Reappeared a year later, reported for a TDY of 12 years on Earth, cut short by the war. She drew up the plans for the Bajoran Department as Starfleet lacked detailed information at the time. Open-minded, had contacts within each department. There were two incidents about which I can tell you if you wish. The Prophets know Cardassians are and will always be a horror for me, our precept of forgiving nearly impossible in their case, but Yarim asked me to recall that ‘the Prophets have made many peoples, all different within themselves.’”
In disbelief Kira nearly hissed, “What?”
“Child, he would not have requested this without reason. The Texts are not quoted lightly.”
“Then let’s hope we are not being tricked into letting down our guard so that the station can be infiltrated with surgically-altered agents. Cardassia may have lost, but that does not mean they have given up on renewing their expansionist efforts after reconstruction; much to the contrary.” She recalled Dukat’s words: All I have lost, I shall regain… . “Was the message indeed sent by Vedeks Yarim and Serad?”
“Yes. I have had it examined by Security and inquired in the bureau of our Order. The sender is who he says he is and the message sent through Bajoran channels.”
“This is Captain Rezhak of the Almaty. Requesting permission to dock.”
“Permission granted. Docking bay four. Colonel Latano out.”
Kira and Chief Remosi met to go to the docking ring together. When the crowd of predominantly Bajoran and Federation passengers had dispersed, a Lissepian appeared, walked through the airlock, followed by a Cardassian woman in basic uniform. Taking her time, she briefly hesitated, looked around warily, apparently surprised. Inwardly, Kira bristled at seeing her attitude which was typically Cardassian: arrogantly self-confident, proud, vigilant. Then a searching, curious, but not unfriendly glance, when she saw Commander Kira and Chief Remosi.
Kira addressed her. “Welcome to Deep Space 9, Gul Melset.”