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Then K’mpec turned to one of the councillors, Ruuv. “What of the Romulan Empire’s response to the attack on Khitomer?”
Ruuv stepped forward. “Sir, Praetor Narviat has condemned the actions of the ‘traitors’ who have attacked Khitomer. He assures us that those responsible will be punished, and offers their lives to us.”
“As it should be,” said one councillor.
Another said, “We should consider making a formal alliance with them.”
“Are you mad?” said a third. “Do you believe these lies?”
Dax put a hand on Vaughn’s shoulder, and indicated the exit with his head. They both departed even as the Council’s squabbling started. “They’ll be at it for hours. I doubt that anything will come of it. Too many important Klingons owe too many important Romulans too much money. I suspect any conflict will be limited to isolated skirmishes.”
“Much like what the Klingons and Cardassians have been doing for the past eighteen years?” Vaughn asked pointedly.
Dax shook his head. “Much like that, yes. Well, if you’ll excuse me, Commander, I have to inform my superiors in the Diplomatic Corps that the Betreka Nebula incident has finally come to an end.”
Chapter 38
Cardassia Prime
Corbin Entek’s third trip to the Obsidian Order’s public headquarters proceeded in much the same ma
This time a thin, white-haired man sat at the reception desk. He activated his comm unit and said, “He’s arrived.”
Tain’s voice once again sounded over the intercom. “Send him in.”
Tain’s viewer now showed a tactical map of the quadrant. It distressed Entek to see how small Cardassia’s territory—marked in yellow on the galactic map—was in relation to such other local powers as the Breen Confederacy, the Tholian Assembly, the Klingon and Romulan Empires, and most especially the United Federation of Planets.
“Greetings, Entek!” As always, Tain sounded like a grandfather saying hello to a child not visited in months. “Please, have a seat.”
Entek did so, hoping that the similarities to the previous two trips would remain intact. He had no desire to get on Tain’s bad side, not when his career had been going so well. Especially after he was able to handle Khitomer so deftly—though that was with some unknowing help from the Klingons themselves…
“You are no doubt aware that the Klingons have ceded Raknal V to us and allowed Cardassians back inside their borders. We have done the same for their people—which,” he added with a smile, “is probably the only drawback to the whole thing.”
Although he did not find the comment especially humorous, Entek was sensible enough to return the smile.
“Negotiations to restore that silly pile of wreckage to them have commenced. And we owe it all to you. I doubt we’d be at this point if the Romulans hadn’t obligingly attacked Khitomer when they did. Your manufactured ‘confession’ played right into the Romulans’ paranoid hands.”
Manufactured?“To give credit where it is due, sir,” Entek said respectfully, “it was the operative you assigned to leak the confession to the Tal Shiar who fed the paranoia. He did good work in convincing the Romulans of its veracity. I simply provided the documentation.”
“True, but the documentation itself was an exquisite piece of work.”
Entek smiled. He doesn’t know.For a moment, he debated not telling Tain—but no, if the head of the Obsidian Order learned that Entek held back such information, it could damage Entek’s chances. His career was at too important a turning point right now for him to take that risk, especially since the usefulness of the intelligence had now passed. “For that, you must credit the Klingon we captured. After all, he only spoke the truth.”
Tain’s mouth actually fell open at that. It took all of Entek’s training to keep the look of joy off his face. I have actually surprised Enabran Tain!“You didn’t know?” Entek asked i
To his credit, Tain composed himself quickly. “I had simply assumed that the confession was false.”
“Not at all. However,” he added before Tain could react further, “it was an isolated incident.”
Frowning, Tain said, “Explain.”
“The Klingon Empire has no intention of developing biogenic weapons. Leaving aside their cultural biases, they have no interest in violating interstellar treaties.” He allowed himself a small smile. “But the Klingon Empire wasn’t developing those weapons on Khitomer—Chancellor Kravokh was, without the knowledge of the High Council or anyone else aside from the development team. I don’t think their Imperial Intelligence even knew of it. Aside from Kravokh, all those associated with the project were either members of the House of Kultan or loyal to it—that House has produced several prominent Klingon scientists.”
“Yes, I’ve seen the reports regarding that House. You suspect Kravokh intended to use that weapon against us?”
Entek nodded. “Oh, the prisoner said as much, though I did not include that in the recording that the Tal Shiar received, nor that the operation wasn’t sanctioned by the High Council. Your man provided a forger who did fine editing work that kept the recording seeming authentic. However, all evidence of the research—and all those who knew of it—are quite dead. The only ones who weren’t on Khitomer were my prisoner and Kravokh himself.”
Tain nodded several times—so much so that Entek wondered if the older man’s head would fall off. “That makes what you’ve done that much more important, my friend. You may well have saved us all from the actions of a madman by setting his assassination in motion.”
Deciding not to point out that Kravokh’s death was not, strictly speaking, an assassination, Entek instead simply said, “I merely serve Cardassia.”
“And your own desire for promotion, of course.” Entek was about to object, but Tain held up a hand. “Now now, it’s only to be expected. And besides, the two aren’t mutually exclusive goals. In fact, as long as they remain that way, you should do quite well. That’s why I’ve decided to reward your efforts by putting you in charge of Order operations on Bajor.”
Now it was Tain’s turn to surprise Entek. He had all but given up hope of getting the Bajor assignment after so many years of frustration.
“We have learned that Central Command plans to build a space station in orbit around Bajor. It’s still awaiting a final vote, but I’m confident that Legate Kell will get the support he needs for it. While it will do much to streamline the uridium processing, it will also serve as a very nice orbital target for that tiresome resistance movement. I want an Order agent who can get things done in charge over there, before that resistance gets out of hand. Central Command’s efforts to curtail them could charitably be called poor.”
“I agree,” Entek said, “and I’m sure that you will find my efforts to be beneficial to Cardassia.”