With the Chamber in Ashalla sealed closed while engineers worked to make the old building safe, the First Minister had chosen the Naghai Keep for the site of this assembly so that everyone could look out and see the harsh realities of the matters they were here to debate. Jas took his seat, pausing for just a moment to rest a hand on the empty chair to his right. He had yet to name a replacement for Lonnic as his adjutant.

“The Tzenkethi Coalition has formally stated that they did not order the bombing of the Lhemoror the attack on Bajor,” said Jagul Kell, arching his hands over the table. A wave of derision followed his statement. Jas watched the Cardassian carefully. Offworlders had been granted access to the assemblies many times in the past, but today was the first time that an alien had been given formal permission by the chamber to take part in the debate. Kell sat at the benches as if he were a minister, and Lale was giving the man the same degree of respect and consideration he would give any Bajoran official. It was unprecedented, and yet no one had been able to stir up a majority to prevent Lale’s introduction of the alien. Kell let the reactions of the ministers fade before continuing. “The statement is, as I warned you, exactly what we expected. Furthermore, they state that any such attacks, if they were indeed committed by Tzenkethi citizens, were the exploits of renegades and therefore beyond their control.”

“They lie to our faces?” spat a minister from Hedrikspool.

“Do they take us for fools?”

“Finally,” Kell concluded, “the Coalition’s governing body wished it to be known that they will consider any attempt by Cardassian or Bajoran citizens to take reprisals against Tzenkethi property or nationals as an act of war, and they will retaliate in kind.”

The minister banged the table with a balled fist. “War?They started this! These creatures attack us and then make threats? We should blast them from space!”

“Minister,” said Lale, cutting off the other man. “We all feel as strongly as you do. Everyone on Bajor has lost a friend or a family member in the cowardly attacks four weeks ago. We all want to see a price paid for that violation, but I called this session of ministers to Korto for a reason.” He pointed out of the window. “This city was the first to be struck. It is a symbol of the great hurt done to Bajor. Look at it.” There was a moment of silence as all the ministers did as Lale asked them. “Even with the help from our Cardassian friends, this city and the other settlements that were struck, at Janir and elsewhere—all of them need our every effort to rebuild. So I ask you, do we direct our energies to seeking revenge or to ensuring that we have clean water and shelter for those who were fortunate enough to survive the attacks? Do we bury our dead and sing the chants for them or do we let their spirits falter while we take up arms?” The last question was directed to the priests gathered at one end of the triangle. Vedek Arin nodded sagely at Lale’s words.

“And what if another attack comes?” Kubus Oak’s words carried down the length of the hall. “How will we defend against it?”

Lale laid his hands flat on the table. “Bajor must heal before she can unsheathe her sword,” he replied firmly. “I will not set this world down a path to conflict with an enemy we do not even know, without first staunching the wounds we have suffered!”

Kubus nodded. “There is merit in your words, First Minister. A battle joined in the heat of passion offers the chance for mistakes. If the Tzenkethi that attacked us were indeed renegades, we would make a new enemy of the Coalition.”

“Precisely,” said Lale. “And that is something we cannot afford. No, even though the desire for reprisal burns in all of us, we cannot…we mustnot act rashly.” He glanced toward General Coldri. The officer was still wearing a healing patch across his face, the result of an injury suffered during the Tzenkethi attack. “Our last attempts to do so may have led us to this place. We must tread carefully.”

Kell cleared his throat. “The Cardassian Union will gladly assist the people of Bajor.”

For the first time, Keeve Falor spoke up. He had been watching the unfolding conversations with a fixed grimace. “How will you do that, Jagul Kell? I would very much like to know.”

The Cardassian inclined his head in a nod, ignoring the open challenge in the other man’s words. “My people died in the bombing and during the attacks, Minister Keeve, and that makes this a matter for the Union as much as one for Bajor. Your planet is vulnerable,” he said, “and as Minister Kubus stated, while you go about the important task of rebuilding, who will defend you?” Kell gestured toward Coldri and Jaro Essa, who glowered back at him. “The majority of your Space Guard flotilla is spread thinly across your colonial holdings, and many of the ships based near Bajor are in dry dock or incapable of meeting another attack.”

“If another attack comes, we will fight to the last man,” grated Coldri. Jas heard the tension in the general’s voice. Coldri felt the responsibility for the aftermath of the attack, and he burned with the ignominy of his failure to prevent it.

“To the last man,” repeated Kubus, “and what then? Bajor will be open to more assaults, worse than before.” He shook his head. “No. Pride has kept us from this for too long, and now we are paying the price for it.”

Lale nodded. “Minister Kubus is correct. That is why today I propose an advancement into our partnership with our friends from Cardassia. I will accept Jagul Kell’s offer of military support to bolster the security of the Bajor system.”

“A squadron of Galor-class warships and attendant support,” Kell said smoothly. “Enough to react to any threat across the B’hava’el system in a matter of moments.”

Jas blinked. More Cardassians? Can that be right?He glanced around, and to his shock, he saw that almost all of his fellow ministers were nodding in agreement with Lale’s words. It was only Keeve Falor who looked on grim-faced and defiant.

“Kubus,” said Lale, “you have offered some of your holdings on the moon Derna as a site for the squadron to deploy a command outpost?”

The minister nodded. “I have—” but he was cut off as Jaro Essa stood up abruptly.

“A military base?” The major’s normally stoic expression cracked. “First Minister, are you actually proposing that we grant an alien government the right to establish a military facility not just within the boundaries of our star system, but on a satellite of the homeworld itself?” He shook his head. “Do you expect the Militia to accept this diminishment of our authority without protest?”

Lale’s voice hardened. “What I expect,Major Jaro, is that the Militia will do exactly what the Chamber of Ministers orders them to do. This is a democracy, not a military dictatorship, and we will do what is right for Bajor. The pride of the Militia is a consideration that comes a very distant second.”

“This is a mistake!” Jaro snapped, glaring at Kell.

“It is,” growled Keeve, unable to remain silent any longer. “I am in agreement with the major. How can we conscience this?” he demanded. “Lale, you are giving an alien navy a foothold at our very door! Have you learned nothing these past weeks?”

“The Cardassians saved our planet from destruction,” Kubus retorted. “Without their intervention, the Tzenkethi ship would have laid waste to every settlement, not just a handful! This mutual defense pact will strengthen our world! The Tzenkethi won’t dare attack us again if they know we have the Union on our side. And when we are ready to seek reprisals—”

“No!” Keeve slammed his fist down on the table in front of him, and the sound was so loud it made Jas jerk back in surprise. “I reject this idiocy, in the name of my clan and my place in this ministry! I will not place my name to this proposal, I deny it.”