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stitch626 wrote:The Ferengi Alliance would like to announce that we are having an epic sale! Only 5 million credits for the EMP device. This sale will last for a short time only, so make sure that you are not the only one without such a wonderful tactical technology and buy today.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE EMP DEVICE?

To put it simply, it disrupts the cloaking device of a cloaked ship. Or many cloaked ships if they are close enough. However, the host vessel and shielded allies are unaffected (as long as they too are not cloaked). This allows a fleet to remove the enemies first strike ability.

To all trade partners: as mentioned previously, we will be migrating all current trade to the new station. We hope this transition will be not only painless, but profitable to all.

At the request of the Tzenkethi government we are providing support to remove the Talarian presence from their space. Additionally we call on the Talarian government to return the Tzenkethi civilians that were kidnapped. If these civilians are not returned immediately we will take military action to secure their return.

The Cardassian Union is pleased to announce the recovery of three billion Tzenkethi civilians from a Talarian work camp and their return to their own nation. However two billion civilians remain unaccounted for. The Talarian government will divulge their whereabouts or fates immediately or things will become immeasurably worse for the Talarians.

Presidential Federation Day Speech (Large Outdoor Setting Near the Capitol)

My fellow citizens, few peoples in the known galaxy have more reasons to celebrate and be thankful than ours. As a people we grow more prosperous and more secure by the day. What began as thoughts and hopes among four races evolved through both cooperation and conflict into a concrete expression of ideals expressed through this government. Two Hundred and Fifty years ago something extraordinary began right at this very spot. It is often lost to those of us living in the Federation today just how unique our peculiar experiment is so let us on this occasion take time to recall our shared heritage, embrace the endless possibilities of the future and examine place in the next two hundred and fifty years.

On the most basic level the Federation is not all that unique from other powers in the region. We have borders and planets. We have fleets and diplomats. We trade with other powers. They trade with us. These things are the functions of any government. They are assets and tools wielded by just and unjust governments alike.

The difference is that the Federation is not a government created to further the goals of one race, of one class or of one leader. It was created to facilitate equitable and just relations among its members. In its early days it was looked upon with derision by neighboring powers. They thought to themselves that such an arrangement amongst different peoples could never work. That it could never last.

The Federation has not only managed to last we have managed to thrive. From the Arcadians to the Zakdorn dozens of races would continue to confound the critics. Thus the Federation grew, eventually becoming one of the major powers in the region. There was never an objective to gain power or strength or dominance over another power, instead the strength was the consequence of people uniting under a common ideology.

As a consequence of the bountiful resources, both natural and as embodied in the creative and productive capacities of our people, with which we find ourselves endowed the Federation gained by default certain responsibilities and duties in which we cannot allow ourselves to fail. We have become a great power without seeking such greatness, and such status carries with it great responsibility.

Many have questioned the actions of the Federation since the end of the Dominion War. They ask questions wondering how the Federation will act in this new world. Let us be frank, towards all other nations, large and small, we shall endeavor to act with a sincere and open friendship and to accord them the same rights that we take unto ourselves. While we must remain vigilant against doing wrong to others we must and will maintain equal barriers against being wronged ourselves.

Some have asked if the Federation still desires peace. Indeed we do. But it must never be peace simple for its own sake. As a nation and as a people we must insist upon having a peace founded upon justice. Let us have peace because we think it the right and proper and not because we are afraid. No nation, no matter how small, need ever fear the Federation if it acts openly in an honest and just manner. At the same time we as a people must strive to let no nation, no matter how powerful, cherish the belief that our peoples can be singled out for aggression.

Today our peoples are more prosperous and secure than ever in our history. We have grown over the years as more and more peoples have decided that those original ideals, set in place two hundred and fifty years ago, represented a better future. Upon our continued success much depends, not just for citizens of the Federation but for citizens of all worlds.

We as a people should not fear the challenges of the future. They should be embraced. The work of those who founded the Federation was not easy. No easy work was to be found during the Dominion War or the attack by the Borg or the long and trying conflicts with the Klingon Empire in days long gone. Very few things worth doing are easy. But those things were done, not because they were easy, but because it was important.

This brings us back to the central point of this address. Let us work as a people energetically towards the fundamental ideals that have bound us together as a people to not just preserve the heritage that was passed down to us but to improve and expand upon it so that two-hundred and fifty years from now those looking back on this occasion will be as thankful to us living now as we are to those who came before us.

I wish to close with the following thought. An old saying from a leader on ancient Earth went as follows: Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. There is much hard work ahead. As a people we must continue to work to expand economic opportunity for all. We must continue to work to see that justice is done for all of our citizens. And we must continue to work to see that we as a people have the means to defend our nation and ensure we never are forced into an unjust peace.

With that being said, let us all enjoy and celebrate this day and honor our shared heritage and do so in remembrance of the sacrifices made by many to see the Federation through its first two-hundred and fifty years before we set ourselves to work on ensuring the next two-hundred and fifty years are equally successful.

The Federation ask for clarification on the situation with the Tzenkethi and Talarian conflict. We were aware the Union might lend assistance to retake what the Tzenkethi had lost. However things seem to have gone well beyond that. Now the Tzekethi have access to high grade warships which they used by all reports to wipe out most life on a major planet?

We were content to remain silent on the subject of intervention so long as it promised to make matters better rather than immeasurably worse as things now appear. We sincerly hope there is a plan to bring about an end to this conflict by some means other than the genocide of an entire species. We no more condone these attacks on civilians than we could those of the Talarians in the prior year however we are forced to ask if there is an endgame for all of this that does not involve mass murder.

Warships were sold to the Tzenkethi so that they could re-establish their military quickly. A relatively small number were sold. Our contact with them indicated that they intended a military reprisal against military targets. We were lied to and the situation will now be dealt with.

The Cardassian Union is establishing a quarantine zone around Tzenkethi and Talarian space. No ship of either involved nation is to attempt to exit their respective nations. All starships within the quarantine zone are to land or take up orbit of planets on the periphery of whatever star system they are in. All ships will immediately shut down their warp cores, disable weapons, and lower shields. All ships within this zone will submit to inspection by Cardassian forces, no exceptions. Any vessel attempting to move within this zone will be halted by any means necessary. Any ground forces on either side should withdraw out of contact with enemy units and not seek offensive actions. The Union will oversee the separation of combatant forces.

The Tzenkethi are to abandon in place all Darhal class ships that were sold to them.

Both the Tzenkethi and Talarians will hand over their heads of state along with all military personnel involved in civilian deaths in this conflict.

Both the Talarians and Tzenkethi will comply immediately.

The Federation has issued a demand to the Tzenkethi and Talarian governments in private and the Tzekethi leadership has accepted our proposal to bring this conflict to an end.

The following is in the process of occurring.

1. The Tzenkethi Fleet currently within their space and any and all ships that they can recall and will turn them over to the Starfleet. Due to the decisions of some powers who will not be named to sell the Tzenkethi high tech warships equipped with cloaks it may prove difficult to recall all such ships. We encourage those who threatened the Tzenkethi to see to their defenses as from what we have gathered the ships were dispatched on offensive missions when it was made known that the Tzenkethi would be effectively disarmed under the Cardassian proposal.

2. The Tzenkethi government is turning over to the Federation for trail all of those responsible for the revenge strike against the Talarians to be tried under our laws. Such trials will be open and we invite representatives from the various governments to attend them to assure their fairness.

3. The Tzenkethi Government has dis-established itself and as its last official act has applied for protectorate status and that the Federation assist its people in continuing and refining their currently democratic government. The council has agreed to this provision and as of now Tzenkethi space is considered part of the Federation.

Similar terms were extended to the Talarians once this agreement was reached which was declined. As far as the Federation is concerned any ships that are not turned over within the first 24 hours of this transition and that are found outside of Tzenkethi territory are considered to be operating outside the sanction of any government and can be dealt with as others see fit in their territory.

The Tzenkethi are demanding that their Commanders return to their bases immediately. This is not a currupted message nor one sent under distress. You are to stand down and return immediately.

Allow me to clarify this latest... development. At the outset of this conflict the Federation declares itself neutral. After the Tzenkethi reprisals you ask if anyone has a plan to end this conflict without further loss of life and states that it is willing to remain silent on the subject of intervention if it will make the situation better.

In response the Union puts forth our plan to halt this conflict by preventing unsupervised movement within the conflict zone, the removal of the Tzenkethi's most advanced ships, and trails for any members of either government who ordered attacks on civilians.

The Tzenkethi response is to order their naval commanders into Cardassian space and to ignore any and all further orders from their government on what can only be assumed to be attacks or further attempted atrocities upon the Cardassian people. Let us be very, very clear on this next point. This is an act of war and it will be treated as such.

So after the Tzenkethi declare war on the Union they enter negotiations with the Federation, AFTER our declaration of quarantine and our proposal to end the conflict. The end result of this is an agreement that follows what the Union proposed except that the Federation absorbs the Tzenkethi at a point in time when the Tzenkethi and the Union are at war. The most obvious explanation being the Tzenkethi attempting one last reprisal raid against the Union and then trying to use the Federation as cover against the Union's response to which the Federation is a willing accomplice.

Is this truly a path the Federation wishes to take? You are now harboring a nation state that has committed an act of war against the Union. If the Federation wishes they can annul their agreement with the Tzenkethi and we will consider this a very unfortunate misunderstanding. If you wish to continue harboring the Tzenkethi and claiming they are your protectorate then consider the fall out from several thousand now apparently Federation vessels currently violating Cardassian space with orders to ignore attempts to recall them. Think very carefully about it.

As the Cardassian ambassador points out our plan does not in anyway conflict with the Cardassian one in almost all respects. Given the demands of the Cardassian Union and our equally inflexible demand that the Tzenkethi leadership be placed on trial for their crimes it was clear there would be no government left to see to the needs of the people. The Federation agreed to step in and provide such stability and reformation as was necessary given the removal of most top government officials.

At the point at which the Federation delivered its demand to the Tzenkethi and it was accepted they had already issued the order (which the Federation has made the Union aware of in an attempt to allow them to head off further loss of life if possible and has offered further assistance in stopping if the Union wishes to request it). They could not possibly have known of our intentions thus any implication that they planned to us this as "cover" for their strike are quite false.

The fact of that matter is that whatever the situation, be it total disarmament by the Union or the destruction of their fleet in a suicidal raid, the Tzenkethi were going to be left without a government and the region would fall into chaos in short order. The Federation has elected to take measures to ensure that does not happen. We see no other alternative but a bloody Cardassian occupation which would benefit none of the three powers in question. Our proposal will bring the issue to the quickest and least costly end regardless of the outcome of any raid.

As for the contention that the vessels presumably comprising the Tzenkethi fleets are now Federation ships we find this suggestion unreasonable. The Federation has neither comissioned the vessels into its service nor will it. The ships will be taken into possession by Starfleet and scrapped. The Federation takes no responsibility for the actions of the Tzenkethi government and has explicitly condemed these actions both in public and in private. An agreement was reached that whatever the outcome of the actions of the Tzenkethi fleet will spare further suffering to both the Tzenkethi and any power attempting to occupy them alike.

What the Federation proposes will acheive by the stroke of a pen what might take millions or billions more lives to acheive with military force. A new democratic government and constitution will be put in place and the Tzenkethi will be closely monitored to ensure such actions do not occur in the future. This seems vastly preferrable to a series of highly costly invasions.

Finally to address the contention that the Federation is a willing accomplice in what is happening here let us be blunt.

There is a reason that we declared ourselves neutral at the outset of this conflict and closed the borders to further military aid. Given their force levels and the state of their technology there was only so much harm the two sides could inflict on one another and little chance that such a conflict would spread to the other major powers. Instead the Tholian's and the Cardassian's elected to sell to one side high tech warships (and presumably the Union allowed the passage of several thousand ships procured from the Tholians into the combat zone) and in the process made things immensly worse for all parties. Then to compound it all the ships were sold as is with cloaks and all so that no one really knows where they have gone.

It strikes us as more than slightly ironic that a power which sold some ships and allowed thousands of others to pass into the warzone would now claim that a power which sold neither party anything and closed its borders to prevent exactly what is now happening is a willing accomplice in the tragedy now unfolding. If there were a means for us to stop the cloaked warships that were sold to them by outside powers we would certainly do so. We have taken all measures we can think of to get them to turn back.

But the practical side of this situation is this. There would not be a problem if the ships had not be sold in the first place. More than that being that there is little more anyone can practically do about what is now unfolding the question logically becomes how to acheive peace in the most expedient manner. Our proposal will bring peace and security to the area without further loss of life where the only alternative is either to see a collapsed Tzekethi state or an area occupied after bloody invasions on the part of the Union. It seems to us that quite enough lives have been lost in this symphony of stupidity on the part of all participants and that it is best to end it in as expedient of manner as possible.

Federation wrote:As the Cardassian ambassador points out our plan does not in anyway conflict with the Cardassian one in almost all respects. Given the demands of the Cardassian Union and our equally inflexible demand that the Tzenkethi leadership be placed on trial for their crimes it was clear there would be no government left to see to the needs of the people. The Federation agreed to step in and provide such stability and reformation as was necessary given the removal of most top government officials.

Stability and reformation that could have been provided by the Cardassian Union, unless of course you were expecting us to decapitate their government, remove their militaries, and then just leave them to swing. That would be a bit cold hearted even for us.

Federation wrote:At the point at which the Federation delivered its demand to the Tzenkethi and it was accepted they had already issued the order (which the Federation has made the Union aware of in an attempt to allow them to head off further loss of life if possible and has offered further assistance in stopping if the Union wishes to request it). They could not possibly have known of our intentions thus any implication that they planned to us this as "cover" for their strike are quite false.

Do you honestly believe that it might not have influenced their rapid acceptence of your demands? They decide to die in a blaze of glory but then you come along and offer them what have must seemed like a miracle? Further more the next most troubling question is why after learning of their attack, which is obviously an act of war, you proceeded on with this proposal at all? At the very least put final ratification on hold until consulting with the nation the Tzenkethi had just declared war on.

Federation wrote:The fact of that matter is that whatever the situation, be it total disarmament by the Union or the destruction of their fleet in a suicidal raid, the Tzenkethi were going to be left without a government and the region would fall into chaos in short order. The Federation has elected to take measures to ensure that does not happen. We see no other alternative but a bloody Cardassian occupation which would benefit none of the three powers in question. Our proposal will bring the issue to the quickest and least costly end regardless of the outcome of any raid.

Where are these assumptions coming from? A "bloody Cardassian occupation?" Nothing in our stated course of action reads occuption. Our goal was to immediately halt the conflict, prevent either side from attempting reprisals, seperate them, hold their leadership accountable, and provide security while new leadership took power. Perhapse we had not outlined the entire plan in detail but our first priorty was to halt the bloodshed. Do you honestly think everyone else incapable of aiding another nation in forming a working government? Your own track record in the last few decades isn't particularly stellar in that regards.

Federation wrote:As for the contention that the vessels presumably comprising the Tzenkethi fleets are now Federation ships we find this suggestion unreasonable. The Federation has neither comissioned the vessels into its service nor will it. The ships will be taken into possession by Starfleet and scrapped. The Federation takes no responsibility for the actions of the Tzenkethi government and has explicitly condemed these actions both in public and in private. An agreement was reached that whatever the outcome of the actions of the Tzenkethi fleet will spare further suffering to both the Tzenkethi and any power attempting to occupy them alike.

So you intend the Tzenkethi to not be held accountable for their actions and simultaneously abrogate any responsibility for the actions of your new member worlds? You honestly expect the Union to simply accept an attack by over two thousand warships and do nothing in response? You chose to accept the Tzenkethi into your Federation, even after finding out about this attack you continued to move forward with their acceptance. You do not get to pick and choose the good parts to take while disavoing the bad. If you want the Tzenkethi in your Federation then you'll accept them in whole and their last act as a nation was to instigate a war with the Cardassian Union.

Federation wrote:What the Federation proposes will acheive by the stroke of a pen what might take millions or billions more lives to acheive with military force. A new democratic government and constitution will be put in place and the Tzenkethi will be closely monitored to ensure such actions do not occur in the future. This seems vastly preferrable to a series of highly costly invasions.

The only reason there will be a loss of life is because rather than standing their military down the Tzenkethi chose to instigate a war. Had the Tzenkethi stood their military down and accepted the terms that are functionally little different from what we proposed, aside from the fact that the Union never intended to annex them like the Federation has done, this situation would already be well on its way to resolved.

Federation wrote:Instead the Tholian's and the Cardassian's elected to sell to one side high tech warships (and presumably the Union allowed the passage of several thousand ships procured from the Tholians into the combat zone) and in the process made things immensly worse for all parties. Then to compound it all the ships were sold as is with cloaks and all so that no one really knows where they have gone.

Firstly, the Union did not permit the passage of the Tholian warships. We were not consulted on their sale or their passage. Had we known of those ships we would have halted our sale of warships to the Tzenkethi as it would have been superfulous. We are currently investigating exactly how the Tholian ships made it to Tzenkethi space as they most certainly did not have authorization to traverse Cardassian space.

As for our own sale, the Tzenkethi had just been devestated in the Talarian sneak attack. We offered our vessels as a way to provide them with some capability to defend themselves while rebuilding their navy.

Federation wrote:It strikes us as more than slightly ironic that a power which sold some ships and allowed thousands of others to pass into the warzone would now claim that a power which sold neither party anything and closed its borders to prevent exactly what is now happening is a willing accomplice in the tragedy now unfolding. If there were a means for us to stop the cloaked warships that were sold to them by outside powers we would certainly do so. We have taken all measures we can think of to get them to turn back.

We consider you accomplices because by our standards you are. If one man attacks another then has his friend drive him away from the scene the driver is not liable if he does not know about the attack. This is only reasonable. While we consider your dealings with the Tzenkethi after our establishment of a quarantine zone a breach of conduct, civility, and more than a little common sense, they are little more than annoyances. However if the driver of the get away vehicle is told of the attack and persists in helping his friend flee he is now an accomplice after the fact. Once you knew of the Tzenkethi attack on the Union you should have rescended your offer. If you had nothing would have come of this. However in your own self-righteous pigheadedness you insisted on pursing these actions even after knowing the Tzenkethi had declared war on the Union. You are accomplices after the fact.

Federation wrote:But the practical side of this situation is this. There would not be a problem if the ships had not be sold in the first place.

Any nation with interstellar

Federation wrote:More than that being that there is little more anyone can practically do about what is now unfolding the question logically becomes how to acheive peace in the most expedient manner. Our proposal will bring peace and security to the area without further loss of life where the only alternative is either to see a collapsed Tzekethi state or an area occupied after bloody invasions on the part of the Union. It seems to us that quite enough lives have been lost in this symphony of stupidity on the part of all participants and that it is best to end it in as expedient of manner as possible.

What "bloody invasion," are you talking about?

bahah!

I'm sure we can refer to the Bajorans on the history of Cardassian occupation. I think their explanation of "a bloody Cardassian occupation" will be far more fitting than anything the Federation ambassador could delicately say.

As opposed to all the peaceful Klingon occupations? You're almost four decades and five executives late with quips about the Bajoran situation. I know Klingons are not particularly quick witted but do at least make an attempt to keep up with current events.