Interview with a Vampire Cardassian
Posted on Wed Feb 3rd, 2021 @ 2:06am by Stephen Spires & Lu'kat
Mission:
S2:2: Best Laid Plans
Location: Cardassian Enclave
Timeline: After "...And We Don't Care WHO Knows!"
Arriving at the Cardassian office, Stephen Spires took a moment to appreciate the differences that stood apart. No brightly lit overhead lighting, slightly warmer environmental settings, all very non-Starfleet. And he loved it. Starfleet was far too fond of brightly illuminating every square corner of every room, and he found it annoying. As he well knew, a little shade was necessary to discover the truth, which meant that one of the easiest ways to obscure something in plain sight was to over-utilize light sources. It was for these reasons that he found himself appreciating the Cardassian motif more than he expected. While known for their slippery, canny ways, the Cardassians might be more truthful in how they present themselves than many Fleeters.
Once he felt as though he got the lay of the land, Stephen Spires formally announced himself. "Hello? Mr. Lu'kat? FNS calling."
A side door swished open, and in walked Lu'kat. His Cardassian uniform, which as always was spick-and-span, did its best to gleam in the soft lighting. "Ah, Mr. Spires", Luke said by way of greeting, and he gestured to a pair of comfortable looking chairs tucked in a corner. As they approached, a spotlight lit up the wall, which revealed an impressive landscape painting depicting a farmhouse in the Bajoran architectural style, yet infused with Cardassian elements that fit together rather harmoniously. The farmhouse was surrounded by a flower field and a variety of crops. In the forefront a group of children, both Bajoran and Cardassian, played some sort of ball game.
"Please, make yourself comfortable.", Lu'kat said as he sat down in one of the chairs himself.
"Comfort is overrated," Spires quipped as he sat next to his interviewee. "But I thank you all the same. I suppose first thing's first: what brought you out to Messier 4?"
The usual human courtesies were obviously lost on such a one as Mr. Spires. Very well, Lu'kat thought, and took a more distanced approach more akin to the Cardassian one, which left out any personal motivation to his presence on this station. "As you are undoubtedly well aware, the Cardassian Union and Stafleet (he deliberately refrained from mentioning the Federation) work together on the Long Jump project. I am here primarily to safeguard the interests of Cardassia and act as an official representative of the Union to the various peoples in this region of space."
Spires cracked a smile at that characterization. "So you're as much of a diplomat as you are a bureaucrat. Can you outline Cardassia's interests both present and future? Assets, aspirations, and so on."
"Power and wealth", Lu'kat stated matter of factly, and perhaps that wasn't what Spires had expected for an answer. "Oh I could've sugar coated it in more ....diplomatic... terms, but take away all the adjectives, modifiers and platitudes applied to explain any venture ever pursued, those are what remain. Look outside, cargo trains kilometres long are waiting outside this Space Station, ready to transport back to the Alpha Quadrant as soon as two-way travel is made possible, boosting Cardassia's economy years ahead, stimulating production, increasing revenues. We'd finally be able to clear the last of the damages still owed due to the Dominion War. The Cardassian Union can finally heal its wounds and leave the past behind. Starfleet is here for the same reason, whatever the justification or motivation it might push forward, it is what exists at its core."
Spires nodded. "No argument here," he said glibly. "But what you spoke of -- cargo trains, production runs, increased revenues -- pertains to wealth alone. What plans for the other thing -- power -- are you working out here on behalf of the Union?"
"I believe I have already answered that question, Mr. Spires." Lu'kat stated. "With regards to your other comment: wealth brings power, Mr. Spires. Firstly, in terms of economic power, a debt-free Cardassian Union with a healthily filled treasury besides, will boost its credit-worthiness significantly, increasing purchasing-power, attract businesses and open up new markets, which will in turn increase revenues. Handled correctly, this can be transformed into political power, military power. To take an example from your own Earth's history, about 700 years ago there was a small collection of united cities working together in a joint venture of merchant companies sailing around the world to trade for spices. The revenues of this venture filled the coffers of the fledgeling state, which they called the Dutch Republic, and through it they fought themselves free of their Spanish overlords, carved themselves an Empire, dicated world politics for the next century and remained an influential power in Earth poiitics for the two centuries after that. Even today, I believe, small as the region is, it is home to some key Federation and Starfleet institutions which have placed their headquarters in the cities of the Hague and Amsterdam."
Lu'kat stopped himself, he was rambling. Living among humans for so long had made him curious about their history. Considering their violent and segregated past it was a wonder they survived as a species in the first place, he thought, an even bigger wonder was that now they represented what was supposed to be the ideal of unity and cooperation the Federation aspired to on a intergalactic scale.
"In a way, Canopus Station is like one of those early trading settlements the trading Companies of continental Europe established all over Earth. Venturing into lands unknown, establishing relations with the local powers, securing trade deals, fighting off hostile elements. Many of those trading posts failed, especially in their early stages. Will Canopus await the same fate? Time will tell. But, Mr. Spires, this is nothing new and your questions can be answered through a little bit of research and the application of common sense. Let's move on to the real questions you undoubtedly have lined up in your thoughts."
The Cardassian's responses made Spires grin. "Oh, but I am getting to the real questions. From your appeal to Earth's history, would it be wrong to insinuate that the Cardassian Union is waiting for the Federation's first outpost to fail so that they can move in and set up shop? It would be a mercantilist thing to do, after all, and perhaps not unwarranted. One could even call it comeuppance for Terok Nor, could they not?"
"Ah", Lu'kat began, "I appreciate one that knows his history, indeed. Mercantilism aside, nothing of what I received in my orders suggests such a course of action. Cardassian bureaucracy being what it is, however, one can never fully predict the future or what secrets they keep in the upper echolons of the Machine. The other side of the argument is that Starfleet might be waiting upon the completion of the Long Jump project and cut off Cardassia instead, which is a much likelier and more easily executable scenario, I might add. And might I add as well that your comparison with a 'comeuppance for Terok Nor' is inherently flawed. Starfleet never stole Terok Nor from Cardassia. We abandoned it, left it an empty shell for Starfleet to take over. Even more so, Cardassia already had its chance at a 'comeuppance' when Gul Dukat took the station back during the Dominion War, wouldn't you say?"
Spires chuckled. "Interviewers tend not to answer their own questions, Mr. Lu'kat. But I'm sure the denizens of the Federation will be delighted to hear that the Cardassians bear no ill will for being pushed out of Bajor only for the Federation to move in immediately and annex it as a protected and ultimately a member world, and that Cardassia has no reciprocal plans for Messier 4 and Canopus Station in particular. Does that mean the Cardassian Union is content to hold office on a Federation station and has no intention to establish its own foothold, whether on a planet or space station under its own flag?"
"Our current goals are as such, indeed, Mr. Spires. Too much was lost in the War: lives, power, prestige. Like the rest of the Alpha Quadrant, the Cardassian Union is still licking its wounds, repairing what it can of the damage done to us, including the pain Cardassia inflicted upon itself. No.... We first need to settle our affairs properly at home before looking outward again. Cardassia's partnership with Starfleet in this project is just as much aimed towards improving bilateral relations and generating some good PR, as it is aimed at increasing its revenues, and not aimed at all towards establishing a political presence out here, in Messier 4. The fact that I am the sole Cardassian representative, should add weight to that claim. Otherwise I might have had an entire Cardassian diplomatic staff working under me, if that were the case." And if that were the case, thought Lu'kat, Cardassia would certainly never have sent me...
"Thank you for your candor," Spires said, easing off the pressure a little bit. His next question could go either way. "So is there a Mrs. Lu'kat in the picture anywhere?"
Lu'kat's expression never changed, though it felt as if the lights in the room suddenly grew dimmer. "I am, as the expression goes, I believe, married to my work, Mr. Spires." And how has that been working out for you?, Lu'kat suppressed the thought to the back of his mind the moment it popped into his head.
"Oh, come on!" Spires pressed. "A strappin' slugger like you must have a trail of hearts in your wake. Is it possible you might make room for romance one of these days?"
Lu'kat could not recall anyone calling him 'a strapping slugger' before, nor had he ever thought of himself as such. On the contrary, by Cardassian standards he was unattractive, given how his facial ridges were less pronounced than usual. Among most non-Cardassians and especially among humans, his pale, lizard-like features were less than appealing to say the least. "As I said earlier, one cannot predict the future, nor can one know what Life sets before one's Path. As it stands, Mr. Spires, I have other priorities."
"Which would be?" Spires asked. "Besides the wealth and resources for the Union, of course. Any unmentioned personal priorities?"
Oh, how I desire for my exile to be ended and be accepted back into Cardassian society as a respected and equal member of society... , Lu'kat thought, after which a counter thought followed: That same society that shunned you and worked against you for all those years, using you as their puppet. Yet you still believe in your redemption. Are you blind?!
"You know that we were a race of scholars once, of philosophers, artists and orators? We call those times the First Hebitian civilization and it was a time of plenty. It was only after our planet's resources dried up that people turned to the military, following hostile policies against other worlds just so we could continue to feed our people for another day. I believe that in the aftermath of the horrors of the Dominion War, my people now have a chance return to our ways of old, and become scholars and philosophers once more. Through my actions, I hope to embody at least some of these characteristics, and show the people on Canopus Station a type of Cardassian that can be trusted and relied upon in times of need, to break through the thick layer centuries of militarism and hostility have created." Next to being blind, the thoughts in Lu'kat seemed to comment, you might also be a naïve fool...
Spires cocked his head. "First Hebitians?" he said, making sure he got the pronunciation right. "I'll have to check them out. So how does a man of the people like yourself stand out from the sneaky fascist stereotype?"
Lu'kat frowned at that last remark. "Let me try to answer that, Mr. Spires, with the following questions: what do you know of Cardassia and the Cardassian Union? What have you seen beyond our military ships and military personnel? How large a portion of our society do you think they represent?"
"I know the Union is led by the Central Command," Spires said. "A recent democratic pushback has led to reforms which make it more difficult for factions like the Obsidian Order to rise again. Your military is surprisingly small compared to the bureaucracy that wields it, hence your singular presence out here. Even so, most Cardassians present a militant mentality to most things with the finesse you'd expect from that outlook. Would you agree or disagree with that assessment?"
The Cardassian listened to what Federation News Service reporter thought he knew of his people. "I would disagree, Mr. Spires. The Obsidian Order has risen again, almost immediately following its destruction, as a matter of fact, only now it exists under a different name: the Cardassian Intelligence Bureau." Remember that they are still your employers... the voice in his head whispered ominously.
"You are quite correct about an increase for democratic sentiments among my people, and the great challenge that now lies before us is in finding a mutually beneficial balance between the democratic faction and the military faction. My efforts here on the station are to exemplify such a balance. Like me, there are many others who believe this to be the way, to make Cardassia great again. Open enough to allow for trade and cooperation with the other powers in the galaxy, yet strong enough to stand our ground whenever it is necessary."
"That sounds rather noble indeed," Spires said. "Just what was it again that Cardassia provided that bought the Union's way into the Long Jump Project? Was that contribution commiserate with the gains Cardassian stands to get?"
Lu'kat took a long look at Mr. Spires before he answered. He had expected the man to try and pry whatever classified information he could from the Cardassian, he just had not expected Mr. Spires to be so blunt about it. It was one thing to try and piece together information from Lu'kat's answer. It was another to just blatantly ask for it.
"That, Mr. Spires, "is where I cannot be as specific in my answer as you would like me to be, I'm afraid. What I can tell you is that 'the price' of anything is never the complete story. Who's paying it and why? Those are equally important. It is safe to say that many years of negotiation preceded our cooperative agreement, and no deal is ever made without there being significant advantages to the parties involved, some of which I have already voiced to you at the beginning of the interview. But for the 'price' of our involvement, perhaps your Captain Ingram is willing to divulge more about that than I am at liberty to say."
There, Lu'kat thought, let's see what Spires the reporter would make of that...
The suggestion made Spires cackle shamelessly. "Ingram is not my captain. If he knew I was interviewing you, he would order one of his meat-shields to confiscate my notes pending 'administrative review' as he likes to call it." Looking aside for nonexistent eavesdroppers, Spires leaned forward conspiratorially. "Between you and me, one of these days karma is going to come for that arrogant bastard like a gator out of the bayou, and I want to be far away from him when it does." Leaning back, he just smiled. "In the future, 'no comment' will suffice for such noncommittal answers."
Lu'kat watched as Mr. Spires became a bit too comfortable for the Cardassian's taste, and his expression hardened. Lu'kat supposed he had himself to blame for that. How did that human expression go...give someone a finger and they take your entire corpse? He wasn't sure he remembered it correctly. Anyways, the Cardassian thought it an appropriate moment to reign the man in somewhat.
"I'll decide what will suffice for the answers I choose to give, Mr. Spires. And I value decorousness in all matters, personal opinions on Captain Ingram included, I expect you to hold to the same, at least while performing your professional duties as a Federation News Service reporter." He paused for a small while, then: "Captain Ingram's style of command, whatever you might think of it, has kept this station going despite inconceivable dangers and obstacles. That, if nothing else, is to be commended."
While Spires certainly had his opinions of Ingram that made him want to laugh at such praise, he kept those opinions tightly wound behind his professional veneer that he'd dropped a moment earlier. He'd be damned if he let a Cardassian bureaucrat dictate terms to him any more than he allowed a Starfleet officer. "Can I quote you on that?" he simply asked without a hint of sarcasm or disdain.
Lu'kat was a strong advocate for freedom of opinion, even for voicing them out loud, on the condition that such opinions were based on fact, adequate research and a healthy dose of common sense and emotional detachment. Hence, referring to individuals or groups in the pejorative sense was a big no-no in his personal code of conduct. Noting the absence of such in Mr. Spires' question, Lu'kat's tone softened once more as he replied: "Of course".
"Excellent," Spires said as he notated the direct quote with the permission to use it onto his PADD. "We've covered a lot of ground. Is there anything you wish to say to anyone back in the quadrants? Any final thoughts or closing statement?"
The Cardassian thought about this for a second. "It is my hope our efforts here show the public back home the benefits of working together. Politics aside, the accomplishments of Canopus Station were made possible because of the contributions of many, and I think through them lies the Project's key to survival and success, benefiting all. The Long Jump Project is a significant step forward towards reconciliation between our two peoples. One that I hope can be replicated in other future projects."
Spires closed up his handheld recorder and concealed it with the deft handling of a pickpocket. "Great! I'll go over my notes and get this piece ready for publishing. Thank you for your time, Mr. Lu'kat. I'll be in touch if I have any follow-up questions."
