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Our fleet numbers and types may be open information, but specifics about their deployment and operations are not. We will agree to observers aboard certain vessels under certain conditions, including round the clock security detail and limited access to computer systems.

We still fail to see how this would deter conflict if a power were inclined to start one.

The Romulan representative brings up a point we had neglected to consider.

We would be willing to allow observers on some vessels of the internal defense and general patrol fleets. They would be highly restricted to the more public areas of the ships. Also we would require a screening of such observers, specifically any from the Federation, to remove the chance for an incident forming out of prejudice. While we have not been enemies for a long time, our past history may be on the minds of some.
We would also screen our own crews on the relevant ships, to remove dangerous prejudice from our side.

The only exceptions are to the Tholians and Breen. We do not wish to offend, we simply do not have sufficient medical or environmental facilities to handle your unique biological requirements in case of injury.


In response to the concern of the Federation representative, this will stop conflict no more than a treaty. However, it is what humans would call a show of good faith. That could be a step int he right direction for galactic politics.

Having observers on board will remove the ability to secretly ready our fleets for offensive wars and it will provide immediate confirmation and clarity should one power attack another as to who initiated it. Removing the ability to ready forces for war in secret, and the fog that can so often distort the beginning of a conflict will go a long ways towards preventing wars from ever starting.

Though so long as the Klingons continue to deny to grace us with their presence I fear we may already be heading towards armed conflict rapidly.

=Transmission from the office of Legate Zarale, Prime of the Cardassian Armada=

The transmission displays a cozy looking office, not particularly large but far from cramped. The decor is done in dark tones and rich shading, the large desk and other furnishings made of highly polished and neatly rounded stone and wood. Behind the desk a shelf of some night black material holds a line of stands several inches high, each balancing on several tines lumps of blackened and twisted metal. A silver plaque adorns the base of each, and though the writing is too small to read, the symbols embossed on each are easily recognizable as those of several of the local nations.

In the dark leather chair sits a man of middling years. His features are sharp and striking, though not quite handsome by Cardassian standards. His skin is a shade darker than the normal greyish hue of his race, and his hair has been allowed to grow long enough to need to be pulled back.

Then he smiles, and the years instantly vanish in the warmth and friendliness of the expression.

"My friends, though I and my fellows have been in power now for some fifteen years, it pains me to realize how little we have had time to get to know our fellow sentients, busy as we have been. So to start with, I would like to offer my personal greetings and warm wishes to all our neighbors.

Now then, as to the matter at hand..." He clasps his hands together, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the desk.

"While we are willing to participate in any talks regarding the peace and stability of the local area, we must respectfully deny allowing outside observers upon our ships. This is not a matter of distrust, though we do distrust quite a lot of you," he smiles apologetically. "Nothing personal of course, and you should be honored to be seen as powerful enough to be worth being suspicious about. No, we must deny simply because of how pointless it would be. Why, it would be a matter of the simplest subterfuge to provide ample misinformation to such a known and visible agent, and we respect you all too much to treat you as children.

Now, if the esteemed Klingons that we have gathered to discuss do show up, you can count on us to take part in these talks. I do not see what good is likely to come of it, but perhaps sanity will prevail. Statistically, it has to happen sometime.

Good day to you all."

=Transmission ends=

On a simple response to the Romulan representative, what is to stop the crew of the ship the observer is upon from killing him? It is not hard to kill, and equally easy to fake the method of death as an accident of battle damage.

How can I, the representative of a traditionally self-concerned race agree to allowing observers of other races upon our military ships when we do not know, nor understand them? The idea that granting this idea as a show of good faith is true but futile: What good is faith when it does nothing practical?

I have yet to hear a convincing argument to allow foreign observers onto such sensitive things as warships, at the possible detriment of national security and their own safety.

That is why we would wish to have all nations participating. If all nations agree then in any potential dispute there would be four observers: the attackers, the observer for their nation, the defenders, and the observer for their nation. In any potential conflict that arises even if the attackers kill off the observer in question both the defender and observer with the defending fleet can attest to the true events. This would then make matters worse for the attacker who has now not only initiated a war with the nation they attacked, but most likely the nation who's neutral observer they killed in order to cover their own tracks.

However, as I said before, no nations shall have observers forced upon them, but it should be said the Ragnar will not put themselves and their reputations at stake to mediate a potentially violent conflict in which the only evidence is the word of the two parties involved.

All Federation observers aboard combat vessels are recalled immediately, and all foreign observers aboard Federation combatant vessels will be returned to their nations of origin at earliest convenience or transferred to non-combatant vessels at the discretion of their government of origin. Our security is currently tightening aboard naval fleets and all sensitive installations including starbases and shipyards.

As with the Federation, Tholia will no longer be participant in an observer program between fleets. The security of our citizens is our primary responsibility, and we feel that any observers may undermine that with the current political situation.

However, we extend an offer to any power that desires to set up an embassy on our homeworld, and vice versa. This may be of more use to avoid conflict. If you desire an exchange of embassies, please contact the Assembly on private channels.

While we have not posted or allowed observers, along with other powers the Turian fleet will be put on alert status effective immediate, until the current political crisis is over. We realise that we are far from the current troubles but it is our policy to remain at combat readiness whenever a threat, however remote, arises.

We are not requiring the return of observers at this time. In such the event of an attack, they will be moved to non combatant vessels (unless they request to stay where they are). This will be standard procedure for the time of this conference.

The Sons of Ragna will NOT be cowering away. This state, those men, and all of the ambassadors here at this summit have made a commitment to peace. We will NOT encourage a war by removing our observers, making it easier for the Klingons to do what they wish. If the Klingons so desire war our representatives will be there to see it. If they wish to shoot to kill the Romulans or Gorn, we will make them think about if they wish to shoot to kill Ragnar as well.

This is the defining moment. Will you stand your ground for peace and make the Klingons back down, or will your desire for peace expire when things get tough. Are we not here and committed to peace for the quadrant, for all sentient beings, not just for our own borders.

To be clear, the Klingons have made no move against us as of yet. Just a buildup of forces along their border. Discussions with them have been... unaggressive.

Lt. Staplic wrote:The Sons of Ragna will NOT be cowering away. This state, those men, and all of the ambassadors here at this summit have made a commitment to peace. We will NOT encourage a war by removing our ambassadors, making it easier for the Klingons to do what they wish. If the Klingons so desire war our representatives will be there to see it. If they wish to shoot to kill the Romulans or Gorn, we will make them think about if they wish to shoot to kill Ragnar as well.

This is the defining moment. Will you stand your ground for peace and make the Klingons back down, or will your desire for peace expire when things get tough. Are we not here and committed to peace for the quadrant, for all sentient beings, not just for our own borders.

Pray tell, to whom do you refer? As far as I can see, all that has been said is that many powers are going to combat readiness and withdrawing warship OBSERVERS. Where are the diplomats leaving?

We have no intention of removing ambassadors; we intend to proceed on the diplomatic front to try and prevent or at least mitigate this event. Seeing as we are the only ones attempting to do this without saber rattling or outright challenging the Klingons, we must in fact increase our diplomatic presence.

Tholia has also made an open commitment to exchange embassies with any power wishing to do so. Though we will no longer agree to observers on warships, our diplomatic channels are more open than previously.