Make Nice with the Cardassians
Posted on Sat Jun 27th, 2026 @ 8:49pm by Captain Erik Norsgaard & Chief Petty Officer Gildran Trusk
998 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Friends and Traitors
Location: Captain's Ready Room | USS Thunderbird | Deck 1
"Sir, incoming communication from Admiral Schofield," the on-duty Operations officer said, her gaze lifting from the console to meet the Captain's own.
"I'll take it in my Ready Room," Norsgaard said as he rose to his full 6'5" height. "Recall all hands and once aboard, prepare to depart the starbase. I'll be in my Ready Room. Get Commander Choi up here as well."
"Aye, Captain," the Operations officer said. "Recalling all hands. Lieutenant Hale to the Bridge. We are preparing to depart." She paused a beat and then added, "Commander Choi to the Bridge."
Norsgaard entered his Ready Room and dropped into his desk chair; a few words later and the Starfleet logo was replaced by the stern, lined visage of Admiral Schofield, the most hands-on individual he'd ever served under. "Admiral," Norsgaard said by way of greeting. Good anything just never seemed an appropriate greeting with the man. So, instead, he got down to business. "Something up?"
"Yes," Schofield said at once. "You should have a diplomatic team coming on board even as we speak. Took some doing to get them to you this fast but it was necessary. You're scheduled to rendezvous with the Ocett near the border of the neutral zone. I'm sending along the coordinates. The Maquis have really been stirring things up of late. Sneak attacks on communication arrays and two days ago, a listening post on their side." He sighed quietly. "No one wants war with the Cardassians. It won't go well. Not well at all."
"We've had dealing with Gul Zelar before," Norsgaard said. "Not an easy individual to deal with at the best of times but we'll do what we'll do what we can."
"Take Ambassador Oryx and his team to the meeting and bring them home afterward," Schofield said. "And if you really want to make me happy do it without any shots being fired from either side."
"And as we all know," Norsgaard said, his blue eyes twinkling sightly, "we all live to make you happy."
"Darn right you do," Schofield said, a very slight smile trying to force its way onto his otherwise serious countenance. "Keep me updated. Schofield out."
When the familiar Starfleet logo appeared, Erik rose from his desk, walked up the two steps and into the seating area. A small coffee bar, outfitted with a replicator and his own additions stood on the far end. He busied himself making a pot of his favorite tea while he thought things through. "Norsgaard to Trusk," he said. "If you could join me in my Ready Room for a moment?"
The Tellarite Chief Yeoman was quick to respond, PADD in hand and stopped abruptly when the Captain's voice instructed him. "On my way, Captain." He adjusted course to the nearest turbolift and took the lift up to the bridge, crossing it en route to the Captain's Ready Room.
When he stepped across the threshold, he entered into a situation. Trusk sniffed the air. The scent of tea was enough of a tell. "Something brewing, Captain?" asked the Chief Yeoman, and he meant far more than the tea.
Norsgaard grinned, saluting with his tea cup, as he turned toward his yeoman. "Definitely," he said as he made the journey to his desk and sat down. "We're going to be hosting diplomatic summit with the Cardassians. The Maquis have been causing problems and the Federation doesn't want things to escalate."
"Mosquitoes on the river Nile," replied Trusk. He let out a heavy breath. "A diplomatic summit with the Cardassians is treacherous enough to navigate. These Maquis are not going to let such a summit occur. We're hosting it here?" That was a blessing and a curse. Chief Yeoman Trusk was uncertain which was more true.
"Yes, we are ... we're meeting the Ocett near the border at a location Admiral Schofield just sent to the Bridge," Erik said. "There's an Ambassador Oryx who is supposed to be coming aboard shortly so we'll need to arrange quarters for him and his staff. Oh, and setting up a meeting room for the summit."
Chief Trusk grunted and nodded. "Very well. I will see to it that arrangements are made and we have an appropriate venue for this summit. Now, what is this I have been hearing about saboteurs and witch hunts?"
Erik sighed quietly, more out of frustration than anything else, as he answered. "Nature of the beast. The Maquis embed their agents on our ships. We find them ... some of them ... but it leads to ... paranoia. Even accidents start to take on unwarranted meaning because we're looking for the next agent ... the next attack."
"I believe what you are describing is considered psychological operations, Captain," Trusk countered. He crossed his arms and grunted. "If they are planting seeds of doubt and suspicion, a healthy crop of paranoia they will have. Once that spreads across the Federation, we will be second guessing orders."
"Indeed," Norsgaard said. "Schofield is going to have us hunting them down before long but first, we have to soothe all those ruffled Cardassian ridges."
"Charming," replied Trusk. "Shall I have the stewards set out the good cutlery, Captain?"
"I'm thinking sharp blades could be an issue ... how about finger food and napkins," Erik asked, the corner of his mouth twitching upward slightly.
Trusk snorted. "That's barbaric. The least we can do is provide chopsticks."
"Blunt ones," Erik muttered. "And fragile, easily breakable ... the kind that shatter on contact, you know."
Trusk nodded. "Hopefully, everyone behaves themselves. I prefer my banquets civilized."
"As do I," Norsgaard said. "Tempers are running high right now so, we'll have to be ready for anything without looking as though we expect trouble. Trusk, if you would, assemble the department heads. I think it's time to let them know what's going to happening."
"I will assemble the department heads, notify you, and bring my good PADD" replied Trusk.
Captain Erik Norsgaard
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird
Chief Yeoman Gildran Trusk
Captain's Yeoman
USS Thunderbird
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