...And Mutual Interests
Posted on Fri Jun 5th, 2020 @ 9:33pm by Captain Aviram Drell & Lieutenant Commander Akaria Okan & Commander Temperance Zachary
Edited on on Fri Jun 5th, 2020 @ 9:37pm
Mission:
Episode 04: "Tempest"
Location: Wescott Room, Fifteenth Floor, Palais de la Concorde
Timeline: Day 0 at 1930
On: [[Wescott Room, Fifteenth Floor, Palais de la Concorde, 1930 Hours]]
Leaning back in her seat, Kirsten watched the facial expressions and body language of the two Cardassians as they spoke. She actually found herself softening slightly toward them, given their lack of hostility and their almost hand on heart approach, it was vastly different from previous experiences that she had had with them. The change most definitely piqued her interest.
T'Lara nodded slowly, only once, the slightest of inclines, almost as if it were a sign of approval. "Your approach seems logical," she stated. "Proceed with your request, we shall consider it."
“We have identified this man as a person of significant interest,” the Lakan revealed as he passed out a number of data PADDs that he had arrived with. “His name is Breloc Tejar and is wanted for a number of crimes during the occupation. The last record we have of any activity on his part is eight years ago. Since then, nothing…” he trailed off, a little anxious at what was about to be revealed. He had know idea how any of the Federation representatives would take his words. “Until about three weeks ago when we received intelligence that he could be operating beyond our borders and, very probably, in Federation space.”
That certainly sparked the interest of all around the table, particularly the outgoing Secretary of Intergalactic Affairs. He breathed heavily, his breathing apparatus smoking significantly before he spoke. “That is of great concern, Mister Lakan.”
Even before Lakan had finished speaking, T’Lara had picked up a PaDD that had been resting on the desk in front of her and began tapping at it. “Respectfully, I would request that you share your intelligence with us. I can cross reference it with our own intelligence and see if we can find any correlations that may help corroborate your claim.”
With T’Lara’s response, Kirsten nodded in agreement. “Agreed,” she said calmly, her fingers steepling on the table in front of her. “If there is any indication that he may be in Federation space then of course we will be more than happy to assist in his capture and return so he may be brought to justice for his crimes.”
“There lies the problem…” Director Lakan spoke quietly as he shuffled in his seat uncomfortably, “we don’t want him back.”
A moment of confusion passed Kirsten’s face. “I don’t follow Director Lakan,” she said quietly, her words cautiously spoken. “You want us to help you find him, but you don’t want him back?”
T’Lara watched Lakan closely for a moment as Kirsten spoke. “I believe the Director intends for us to locate him and then hold him accountable for his crimes,” she stated simply. “It would not be the first time the Federation has taken action for perceived war crimes, it would be fitting in this instance, given Bajor’s involvement with the Federation now. Would that be accurate, Director?”
At this point, Lakan sat back nervously and looked at the politician who had accompanied him. He was not going to dictate or explain foreign policy.
“I would certainly say that’s part of the reason, yes.” Rala had expected the question to come up at some point. She had known it wasn’t going to be as simple as turning over the information and walking away, nor should it have been. “Bajor may have been under Cardassian occupation when these crimes were perpetrated,” she continued, “but it is now under the Federation’s jurisdiction. It seems to us that Federation justice in this matter would be more...appropriate.”
Louvois frowned. On the surface, Rala’s answer made sense. There were plenty of folks who believed that crimes against Federation member worlds should be tried under Federation law. And yes, as T’Lara had pointed out, the Federation had a sort of reputation when it came to handling war criminals and other similarly challenging cases. But that still didn’t convince Louvois why the Cardassians felt it needed to be this way now. Then it hit her.
“This is about the President…”
Mention of the President would have caused Secretary Darin’s hair to stand on end, if he had any. Instead, he sat forward, on the edge of his chair, open mouthed.
Director Lakan, meanwhile, bristled at the Attorney General’s words. Not because she was wrong, but because she was very correct indeed.
Kirsten leaned back in her seat, elbows against the arm rests, fingers steepled in front of her as she watched the reactions of their guests. A million responses ran through her mind, along with a million more questions, instead she remained silent for the longest of moments, waiting.
“I mean, obviously it’s about more than that,” Louvois said, “but part of the reason you don’t want us to hand him over now is because asking the first Bajoran President to give up someone like this wouldn’t look good...for either of us.”
“So, to the Cardassians, this is all about optics?” Darin questioned, somewhat anxiously as he looked towards the two Cardassians at the table, hoping they had come to the table in good faith, and were not about to ruin his legacy as Secretary of Intergalactic Affairs.
“So this is your out clause?” Kirsten asked, her voice surprisingly calm given how irate she was starting to feel. “You want us to come in after the fact and neatly clean up your mess to save face for you, so you can go back to your people and claim it’s all the fault of the Bajoran Federation President?” She raised her steepled fingers to her lips, pausing for a moment, remaining silent for a long moment as she contemplated on the weight of their request. Finally, with a shake of her head, she cast a steely gaze toward the Cardassians. “Please, tell me exactly how this serves to benefit the Federation?”
Rala’s eyes flashed at the intimation. “With all due respect, admiral,” she said, “that is simply not the case. We felt it would be…inappropriate...to unilaterally remove an individual such as this from the jurisdiction of the Federation.”
Secretary Darin listened to the Cardassian’s response with great interest. A pretty good judge of character, he could tell whether to trust her, or not. She did have a point about it being inappropriate for the Cardassians to act in Federation territory without any form of approval.
“President Iden is well-known and respected among my people,” Rala continued, “It was she who helped bring about a measure of true reconciliation between Bajor and Cardassia by her strong advocacy and support of the reconstruction. It was she who insisted on the cultural exchanges that allowed us to begin recovering some of what we lost even before the war. We owe her a debt of gratitude...”
“And thus, we come to you for assistance in this matter,” Director Lakan finally spoke up. “If anything, the reports of further cooperation between the President’s administration and the Cardassian government will make for even better… optics, sir. But the crux of the matter is simple; there is a very dangerous individual on the loose and we are requesting your assistance…”
Secretary Darin let out a deep breath into his respirator, a fog emanating from the machine as he rose to his feet. He took a few steps to the window. And back. To the window a second time and back again. “If there is even a perceived risk to Federation lives, we must work with our Cardassian neighbours to end that threat,” he finally spoke, his trademark sage-like wisdom coming through at last. “Admiral Clancy, Admiral T’Lara; I’d like you to arrange every support possible in this search.”
“Provide your intelligence to Admiral T’Lara,” Kirsten replied quietly. “We will offer whatever assistance we are able to.”
T’Lara nodded in agreement. “As soon as we are able to review what information you have, we will be able to formulate a proper plan for assistance with what we have available.”
“We can do that,” Director Lakan nodded in agreement, before swiftly adding, “your assistance is greatly appreciated.”
Rising to his feet, Secretary Darin effectively called the meeting to a conclusion as he offered a hand in the direction of the Cardassian woman. “I appreciate you bringing this to our attention,” the Benzite nodded respectfully, “we will do all we can to bring this man to justice.”
OFF
Secretary Darin
Secretary of Intergalactic Affairs
Phillipa Louvois
Federation Attorney General
Fleet Admiral Kirsten Clancy
C-in-C, Starfleet
Admiral T'Lara
Director, Starfleet Intelligence
Gora Lakan
Director, Cardassian Justice Commission
Assembly Member Prida Rala
Envoy, Cardassian Assembly
