MSNPC Dempok & MSNPC Al'Akir: "Unexpected Guest" (FAO: Aegis)
Daniel Eastham
((IKS S’Tarahk – Bridge))
::The journey had been uneventful from the home sectors and their last foray, letting Dempok have plenty of time to read over the dossier of Tilanna V that had landed on his desk on Qo’noS. An uninteresting world aside from the rampant amount of corruption coursing through it’s political veins, one whose bloated carcass still sat on a vast amount of Duranium locked under their feet in the soil.
Demographically, the large amount of Cardassians residing on the surface was a cause for concern, at least for Dempok. While the Empire had considered the war won, it was with a delicious irony that the Cardassians seemed to constantly throw accusations of mistreatment and long-standing hostilities between them, despite the fact that the Empire had just withdrawn fully from Cardassian space along with Starfleet in a fully documented and treaty driven withdrawal. Twenty years to some races were clearly different to how Klingons viewed and felt them.
So now this grimy, messy little planet was to become the newest addition to their domain, voluntarily applying for annexation in an attempt to combat the stifling infighting, but strictly without any sort of martial intervention. They carried enough industrial machinery, engineers and geologists that they could reinvigorate the planets mining industry in weeks, thousands of jobs to be created overnight and the economy stimulated in ways that even the richest entrepreneur would be envious of. Yet would that be enough to help stem the tide? That was part of Dempok’s role in visitation, to assess the real risk of allowing Tilanna entry. If it seemed acceptable, the treaty would be signed…
But still, Cardassians. Hopefully the majority of them would see (and rightfully) the benefits that were about to be sown into the field of their world rather than the usual tactic of howling into the wind. Dempok was not interested in igniting a civil war, even the mere indication of such would cause Tilanna to be flat out rejected. They had enough issues outside their borders with the Romulans, there was no way they were about to bring any in-house.::
Klingon Helm Off: “We are within range”
Dempok: “Drop us out of warp”
::There was no need to cloak, this was a neutral world with no history of violence. If anything, Dempok was more surprised they hadn’t ended up part of the Federation, then again they never seemed to want to dirty their hands with anything that seemed unsavoury. As much as he respected the Empires allies, the fell afoul of striving for their own notion of ‘society perfected’, leaving them slow to react. Their loss was his and by proxy the Empires gain.
The lumbering Vor’cha class slid back into real-space with the characteristic roaring of her engines before settling down into a lazy hum, taking a decidedly passive posture forming a steady orbit with the rest of the loitering ships in their parking patterns. It looked decidedly out of place, dwarfing the civilian traffic with her predatory blueish-green hull::
Klingon Helm Off:: “Approaching standard orbit. There is a large freighter near one of the planets orbital mirrors…”
Dempok: “We are not here to police shipping.”
::Whatever had come of interest was not their business. Curiosity belong aboard science ships, not a diplomatic flagship.::
Klingon Comm. Off: “We are being hailed from the surface. Governor Al’Akir”
::Expected, they had arrived earlier than anticipated following the resolution of their previous mission to acquire alloys for research. However, the ever irritating Madame Lurtz had arrived just before them and bought the entire stock, leaving Dempok empty handed and frustrated. Business was never as straight forward as war.
The Efrosians face popped up on the main viewer, although something seemed certainly off with his posture and tone.::
Al’Akir: “You’re two days early, Ambassador. I was not expecting you so soon…”
Dempok: “Our previous mission was resolved faster than I expected, I had assumed you would be eager to sign the accord, or at least have some time to discuss it in person.”
Al’Akir: “Forgive me, it has been a difficult time. The Plaza came under attack from these rebels…”
::Dempok leant forward in his chair::
Dempok: “Rebels? Say the word Governor and I’ll have a contingent of warriors…”
::He didn’t get time to finish his sentence before the harried looking Efrosian replied. That was interesting.::
Al’Akir: “No no, no thank you… everything’s under control now. My new Police commissioner handled the situation quite expertly.”
Dempok: “Very well….”
::For a second neither of them spoke. The trouble with Al’Akir was his familiarity with telling the truth, a surprising trait for a politician, making it painfully obvious when he was trying to cover something up. Still, Dempok would play along, at least for now::
Dempok: “I will leave the timing up to you, however you appreciate it would be bad form to keep me waiting too long”
::Dempok forced a polite smile although he wasn’t feeling the mood for jests. Whatever Al’Akir was up too, it didn’t seem like he was willing to discuss it openly. Either he was under duress, or simply trying desperately to keep his cards close to his chest::
Al’Akir: “Yes of course, I will receive you within the hour.”
::The commline dropped rather unceremoniously, it wasn’t becoming of the Efrosian to forget manners. This kept getting more and more peculiar.::
Major. Tatash
Marine Lead
SB118 Operations
C239108T10