Zarin quivered with rage, and Worf felt similar anger coursing through his own veins. I knew that trusting these negotiations to this charlatan was unwise. “Great” Curzon Dax indeed.
“How dareyou! You have no more claim to Ch’gran than this petaQ!”
“I can assure you, Ambassador, that this act will not go unchallenged.”
“I’m sure it won’t, Legate,” Dax said. “In fact, I’m sure you’ll start by leaving this room and having Gul Monor fire on the Carthage—just as the general here,” he pointed at Worf, “will instruct Captain Qaolin to do likewise. But the Sontokand the Wo’bortasare still under repair, and the Carthageis ready for a fight. Captain Haden’s record in battle is not inconsiderable, either. No, your best bet would be to call in reinforcements. Luckily, there’s a Klingon fleet a few million kilometers away under cloak that can destroy the Carthageand move on to claim Raknal V.”
Zarin turned angrily on Worf. “What!? You agreed to bring only oneship! Typical of Klingons—you claim to be creatures of honor, yet you cannot keep to a simple agreement. We should have known better than to think you capable of negotiating in good faith.”
Worf, however, regarded Dax. It seems I have underestimated the Federation. I am a foolish old man to have let them outmaneuver me like this.He could feel Ch’gran slipping away from him—and with it, all the work he had done to climb out of General Chang’s shadow being undone.
Dax walked around to stand between the two negotiators. “Of course, Legate, you won’t be able to take such an action sitting down, as it were. So you’ll have to summon the reinforcements you have in the Betreka Nebula.”
Blinking, Worf looked at the legate. Based on the expression on Zarin’s face, Dax spoke the truth. “You dare to accuse usof not negotiating in good faith?” Worf asked.
“We simply wish to protect our claim,” Zarin said weakly.
“And we want to restore a sacred relic to our people! Perhaps we have violated the letter of our negotiating terms, but we did so out of a desire to see justicedone! Ch’gran is Klingon, even youcannot deny that! We fight for our heritage. I wonder what feeble excuse youhave for breaking your word.”
Dax said, “Obviously, you cannot resolve your agreements without fighting each other, so fight each other you must. Tear yourselves to pieces. Sacrifice all the gains you have made over the past few decades. Deplete your economies in a costly war that will drive you into debt and devote your forces to a distant region. Plunge your nations into ruin.”
“You underestimate Cardassia,” Zarin said smugly.
“And you, sir, underestimate the Klingons,” Dax said. “They will fight you until their dying breath to reclaim Ch’gran. This is not a conflict either of you can win.”
Dax said nothing Worf had not already thought—or discussed with Lorgh. “Do you have an alternative, Ambassador, or do you simply enjoy stating the obvious?”
Again, Dax smiled. “Actually, I do—have a solution, that is, though I will confess that sometimes stating the obvious has its joys. Have a seat, gentlemen.” Dax himself sat in one of the chairs, activating the triangle viewscreen at the table’s center.
Worf gave Lorgh a nod, and took a seat on one end, Lorgh doing likewise in the chair perpendicular to his. He noticed that the screen gave a topographical view of Raknal V.
Zarin and his aide remained standing. “I refuse to continue these negotiations. The Klingons—”
“Have a seat,Legate,” Dax snapped. “Right now, the Carthagehas its phasers trained on the Sontok—with photon torpedoes,” he added, “targeting the Wo’bortas.The only thing keeping Captain Haden from giving the order to fire is my word. All I have to do is nod to Commander Li there, and the Carthagewill fire.”
“You have no right—”
Dax rose and stood face to face with Zarin. “We have everyright, sir. You have both violated the terms of the negotiations. The Federation is wholly justified in viewing this military buildup as a hostile act.” The Trill’s nose was now almost touching that of the legate. “Now kindly—sit— down.”
Zarin sat down. Worf revised his estimate of Curzon Dax upward slightly.
Then the insincere smile came back, and the Trill retook his seat. “What I propose is simple. Both the Klingon Empire and the Cardassian Union have a claim on Raknal V. I think it’s patently clear from the joyous times we’ve spent in this room that neither side is willing to alter its negotiating position, and neither of you would even beat the negotiating table if you were willing to go to war over this. So you need to find a third option—one that allows you each the opportunity to legitimize your claims.”
Worf’s estimate starting sliding back downward again. “If you have such an option, kindly state it.”
“For once, I agree with the general,” Zarin said. “You may like the sound of your own voice, Ambassador, but I find it grating.”
“Sticks and stones, Legate,” Dax said, a phrase that Worf found meaningless. “Sixty years ago, the Federation and the Klingons signed the Organian Peace Treaty. The conflict that predated the treaty involved the dispute of several border worlds. One of the terms of that treaty was that each nation would be given the opportunity to develop those worlds and prove their claim to be the strongest.”
Worf frowned. “You suggest that we do the same for Raknal?”
“Yes.” Dax pointed to the rendering of the planet on the viewscreen. “The world has two continents. What I propose is the following: The northern continent will be under the direction of Cardassia. You will treat that continent as if it were one of your colony worlds—set up some kind of governmental body and proceed accordingly. The southern continent will be under the jurisdiction of the Klingon Empire under the same terms. Both the Klingon governor and the Cardassian ruling body will make regular reports to me. When I am satisfied that one nation or the other has proven itself best able to exploit the world’s resources, I will make a decision as to whom it will be ceded.”
Zarin stood up. “Preposterous!”
“On the contrary, Legate. Whoever gains the planet will have earnedit. Rather than simply gaining it by stumbling across it—or,” he added with a glance at Worf, “by the happenstance of one’s ancestors having stumbled across it centuries ago—you will have proven that it deserves to belong to you. Or, as the case may be, not.”
Even as Zarin fumed, his lips quivering in anger, Worf found himself grudgingly admiring Dax’s solution. It was not ideal, but this, at least, was a battle the Empire couldwin. Bringing worlds under our heel is something at which we have always excelled.
Worf noted that the Cardassians were being given control of the continent on which the Ch’gran remains had been found. That was wise—it meant the Klingons would have to gain the world in order to gain the remains. However, it did raise a point. “How do we know that the Cardassians will not simply take Ch’gran?”
“The Ch’gran site is to remain untouched until the final determination is made. Any violation of that will result in the unconditional ceding of the world to the Klingons.”
Zarin’s lips were still quivering. “What possible reason do we have to agree to these obscene terms?”
Dax looked up at the legate. “The only reason you need, Legate—lack of desire to pursue any of the alternatives.” He leaned back in his chair. “I don’t expect either of you to be able to answer right away. You will need to consult your governments. We will reconvene here in two weeks to finalize the agreement.”