31 Problems, But A Starbase Ain't 1

Posted on Fri Jul 31st, 2026 @ 11:46am by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Commander Julian Bashir

1,128 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 121 - "Where There's A Section, There's A Way"
Location: Starbase 400, Bremer's Office
Timeline: Following "Visitors"

ON:

Mike eyed Bashir for a moment. "Are you here as DS9's CMO or as Section 31's main spook?"

Bashir smiled and walked toward Mike. The old friends shared an embrace, it had been years since they had seen each other.

"Tell K'Wor congratulations on his promotion to Lieutenant Commander." Bashir said as he took a seat on one of the couches.

Mike nodded with a smile as he said he one of the sofa chairs adjacent to the couch. "I will, but you didn't answer my question."

Bashir shifted and crossed his legs before letting our a breath, however before he could speak Mike asked, "You have questions about what we saw in the Delta Quadrant?"

"No, this isn't about that." Bashir replied. "What do you know of the rising tensions between the Cardassians and the Klingons?"

Mike took a moment, and a deep breath before replying. "I know the The Cardassians ended their alliance with the Federation and Klingons last year. New, young members of the Detapa Council voted to focus Cardassian's resources and time on the Cardassian Union itself instead of the broader Alpha and Beta Quadrants. They said they would continue a Non-Aggression pact with both the Klingons and Federation, as well as continue exchange programs, trade, and so forth, but on a reduced scale. In response Starfleet sent ships to the Federation/Cardassian boarder to patrol. Fast forward to this year, the Klingons are pushing the Federation to form a new DMZ between Federation and Cardassian territories due to their distrust of the Cardassians and not wanting a repeat of previous wars. The Klingons also sent ships to DS9 to patrol the border. Talks between the Federation and Cardassian Ambassadors stalled, then a pitch battle between a Cardassian Keldon and a Klingon Vor'cha occured near the Badlands last month. Both the Klingons and the Cardassians blamed each other." Mike paused as he adjusted his posture. "The Cardassians then deployed the Fifth Order to the area while the Klingons sent twenty additional ships to the border and DS9. Starfleet tried to defuse the tension but the Cardassians crossed the border on three separate occasions, testing what the response would be from the Klingons and Federation. The Federation Council entered talks with Cardassia's Detapa Council directly while Starfleet deployed the USS Exeter, USS Norumbega, and the USS Kowloon to the area to boost assets."

Bashir nodded, then added, "A catastrophic failure of the USS Kowloon's power grid forced the separation of the ship's saucer section three days ago. The Defiant, Exeter, and a Klingon Bird of Prey respond to the distress call. The saucer section has been towed to DS9 while the remains of the stardrive section are being recovered. No cause for the incident is found, but sabotage is suspected. Captain Kira even asked Miles to come and help with the investigation, we're picking him up on the way back to DS9."

Bashir stood, and looked out the window into the docking bay again, "One of my agents has already uncovered evidence that the Cardassians did sabotage the Kowloon's power grid."

Mike then stood as well and walked over to the window to stand beside Bashir. "Do you need me to send ships from 400?"

Bashir smirked. "No, no that might be too must of a signal to the Cardassians that we know what they did. Starfleet wants to keep the sabotage quiet for now. They've already ordered the USS Sagan, USS Sulu, and USS D'Kyr to the area."

"A Sagan, an Odyssey, and a Ross class...that's a statement itself." Mike said.

"And the USS Inquiry will be taking Miles and myself back to DS9 too." Bashir added.

"What do you need of me?" Mike asked.

Bashir turned to face Bremer. "You have Cardassians aboard SB400."

Mike nodded. "Glen Koval is an Obsidian Order Agent working with our Intel department. Gul Mavek is the Cardassian Union Liaison Officer, and Legate Evek is the Cardassian Union Area Commander. He had three ships in that command, but he, the Kreta, and its two escorts are off the station on a mapping mission beyond Coppelius. DS14 has been tracking them."

"For now, restrict their access and communications. If they ask why, tell them it's due to the events in the Alpha Quadrant and you're following Starfleet protocol, or your own protocols." Bashir replied.

Mike nodded, then asked the big question, "Have you spoken to Garek?"

Bashir looked away, took a few steps, then turned to look out the window again for a moment. "I've tried, but he's not returning my calls. I don't believe he'd authorize any action against the Federation or the Klingons for that matter, but with the youth movement inside the Cardassian Government he might have been overruled or voted down. That youth movement extends to their military and the Obsidian Order too."

Mike paused a moment, then looked over to Julian. "If he's not complacent in these events, do you believe his life is in danger?"

Bashir looked back, "I don't know, but I am concerned."

Bashir walked back over the couch and sat back down. "We have assets on Cardassia and have instructed them to look into Garek's location. One did confirm that the Cardassians have ramped up ship production focusing on Keldon class warships as well as a new design we're trying to gather intel on."

"Perhaps, a new DMZ or Neutral Zone isn't a bad idea, but then that brings up the possibility of a new Maquis, border wars, history repeating itself. The Federation Council needs to be smart, no moving people from planet to planet bullshit again." Mike replied.

"On that we agree. Thankfully, most of the border settlement from the Dominion War is still being followed today, so if there is a new DMZ it won't affect any Federation planets, however there is one system the Cardassians settled a couple of years ago that would be considered within Federation space, and the location of a former Federation colony before the war." Bashir explained.

"Dorvan V." Mike quickly replied.

Bashir nodded. "It's just inside the Federation border. Most of the inhabitants that remained when the war started were either killed by the Dominion and Cardassians, or evacuated and never returned. Many say they want to, and protested when the Cardassians settled there."

"It's the seed of another war that was planted long ago. We need to ensure that seed never grows." Mike replied coldly. "Let me look into a few things. We'll meet again tomorrow, until then the Station is yours."

Julian smiled and the two shook hands.

As Julian left, Mike took a seat in his chair at his desk and activated his desk top display and the wall display behind him. He had an idea...


TBC:

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