Alternative Cardassian War
I was talking to my good friend Liegeshrink about alternative timelines for Trek and came up with this outline/premise.
We know the 2330’s-40’s where a time of rising tensions with the Klingons until the Enterprise-C sacrificed herself to save a Klingon world on June 29, 2344. We also know Klingon-Romulan relations were also bad because of the above attack. Romulan-Federation relations however where frozen/non-existent post the Treaty of Algeron in the 2310s. At the same time the Cardassians where probing and raiding all along the Federation border and using the Betreka Nebula to harass the Klingons.
Also, somewhere around this period Hikiru Sulu is President – we know Thelianaresth "Thelian" th'Vorothishria is President approx. 2321-2328, but not exactly when Sulu’s three terms are, so let’s say he is in place for this period.
Thus, the idea is that after the Enterprise-C the still revved up Klingon Chancellor Kravokh, son of J'Doq comes to the Federation and demands they work together to deal with Romulus. They have dishonoured both powers. Sulu balks at taking on the Romulan Star Empire, even with Klingon support, worried about the aftermath, so the Klingon Chancellor proposes a short incursion into Cardassian space as a ‘demonstration’ to the Romulans. Sick of the reports on Cardassian raiding by ‘rouge’ Captains, and the diplomatic run around the UFP is getting, Sulu agrees.
Starfleet at this time period is still crewed and has a lot of higher ranks from the time before Khitomer, though of the newer captains are like Picard who have taken in the ‘new Human’ ideas floating around at the Academy. Sulu goes to Starfleet CiC Admiral Chekov who along with Starfleet Intelligence chief Uhura, agree a ‘short shock’ conflict with the Cardassians is justified and doable. War Plans and joint operations with the Klingons are agreed. The Federation target is going to be Bajor, a planet some have harboured guilt about abandoning to its fate in the 2320’s for a while. It is believed that taking Bajor will deny Central Command of enough resources a peace deal can be made. Chancellor Kravokh has told Sulu he wants to reverse Klingon humiliation in the Betreka Nebula, not conquer all of the Union.
In Sept 2344 the Cardassians are warned to stop raiding Federation shipping or face consequences. They ignore the warning, raiding several border worlds inc Setlik III. Starfleet begins covertly building up its forces along the border region, while the Klingons do the same in their space. There are joint liaisons and ships in each set of fleets. On Jan 1, 2345, a missive is sent to Central Command demanding immediate talks on the issue of the border, or unspecified consequences will happen. There is a deadline. Cardassian Command by this point has gotten wind something is going on but tries to stall due to infighting between the military and Obsidian Order. The deadline passes and the Joint Fleets move across their respective borders.
The Cardassian military had not expected such as huge response and is totally out of position. The fight for the Bajorian system is harder than some expected, but the Cardassians are pushed back by mid-March. The road to Cardassia Prime is open for Starfleet, who also deploy forces ‘south-east’, taking Korma, Panora, and a host of other worlds. Meanwhile the Klingons find the going harder since the Cardassians had more military assets watching them, but they have soon overwhelmed them and by mid-March heading for the Amleth Nebula rendezvous point cutting the ‘eastern’ end of the Union from the rest, having taken dozens of worlds.
The Romulans, Breen, Gorn, Tzenkethi, etc all watching this joint action in shocked, if calculating silence. The UFP has not even revved up its economy, though ship refit/construction, and Starfleet recruitment are at an all-time high. Quiet ‘unofficial’ talks start between many of these powers regarding how to respond. The Breen send some probing attacks into Cardassian space and finding little resistance take over some border systems, sending those Cardassians living there back to the occupied zone as a sign of non-hostile intent.
Feelers are but out to sense if the Cardassian Command is ready to deal, and nothing is returned. Contacts among the other powers report no orders are coming out of Cardassia Prime. The Cardassian navy has proven to be a paper tiger – however Allied command is wary of tricks, and the advance is slowed, as the ‘eastern’ edge of the Union is cleared up and controlled. On many worlds such as Loval, Alamtha, and Panora, the Allies find the civilian population in open revolt against the military.
On April 10 General ShiVang takes his ship under cloak to Cardassia Prime to find out what is going on. ShiVang finds almost no Cardassian forces in system, mostly old ships filled with old warriors and automated mines. The home-world itself is in chaos- with Starfleet only 5.2 light years away at Bajor a hasty evacuation of the planet had taken place, with no thought for the civilian population, plus burning/bombardment of Obsidian Order locations had caused even more problems. There was no government as such. Though tempted to claim the planet for the Empire, General ShiVang returns to the fleet, and instead the joint commanders decided to move onto Cardassia Prime together. Little stopped them, most of the old ships simply surrendered.
On April 22, 2345, the Allies had raised flags on Cardassia, and aid was coming in to the civilians as it was to the other worlds the Allies occupied. A line was setup cross Union space from Cardasia, Torros, Orias, down to Vitar- it was decided not to push further ‘west’ until the captured space was consolidated. Bobby traps, IED’s and low-level resistance existed in the captured space but much lower level than the Bajorian resistance. Experts from the Bajorian Milita are brought in to consult on countering and fighting the Cardassians.
Across the Federation, and Klingon Empire the populations are pleased the invasion has been largely bloodless on their side and with such an amount of territory gained. There is talk of Kravokh, son of J'Doq even taking the empty Imperial throne. Among the top brass of the UFP there is more disquiet as the analysts did not expect the Cardassian Union to crumble as it had. Ambassador Spock urged Sulu to stabilise and offer the Cardassian people the choice of membership.
The Romulans are not stupid, yes it would take the Allies much, much longer to crack the Romulan defences, but they just swept and took half the Union in months. Dialogue between the Allies and Romulus starts via the Kzinti who are looking to renegotiate their own treaty with the Federation. The Federation diplomatic corp eagerly respond, and the Klingons are brought in. Spock handles the Kzinti, Ambassador Sarek takes charge of the Romulan talks.
Across Romulan space defences are bolstered, and all activity inside the neutral zone stopped. The Gorn, Tzenkethi, and other powers also look to their defences; a wave of new ship building starts. Many consider the idea that a general war might be about to start, yet there is no sign the Federation is massing for such a thing – yes, they have invaded Cardassia and there has been an up-tick in ship numbers, but nothing that would suggest anything else is coming, still paranoia runs wild.
One of the key demands on the Romulans is met when on May 1, 2345, all prisoners – Klingon or Federation held by the Romulans – some going back many decades, arrive via Kzinti freighters at Starbase 10 plus the towed wreck of the Enterprise-C. Many of the prisoners show signs of bad mistreatment, others like Tasha Yar are pregnant. The Romulans also provide lists of those who died in their ‘care’. Map adjustments are also made as the Romulans seed some territory on the Klingon borders and set a smaller neutral zone there. Enforcement of ‘no-one in the neutral zone’ will be enacted. The new Romulan – Federation treaty will be signed on May 18 over Nelvana III in the neutral zone, replacing the Treaty of Algeron and other previous agreements. For the Klingons, the challenge of subduing Cardassian space and the adjustments of the Romulans is enough for Kravokh, and their new treaty is signed over Lambda Hydrae a few days later – there is also a technological exchange as the Romulans and Klingon deal cloak tech for disrupter plans.
The Kzinti pen a new treaty with the Federation on May 4, with relations normalised, and a lot of the previous restrictions removed as the Diplomatic Corp believe this is the best way to encourage the signs, they have seen that the Kzinti have moved on from their more barbaric past. Another ghost of the past, the Tarn Empire emerges from isolation and asks the Federation for a new treaty, since the agreement with the UFP had not been revised since it was put in place in 2165. They are not alone – the Cardassian War sees the Gorn, Danteri Empire, Thallonian Empire, and a host of other powers seeking new treaties or alliances with the Federation and even the Klingon Empire.
In the unoccupied Cardassian Union, a host of various names declare they are dictator of the Cardassian Union and vow vengeance on the Allies. The Federation and Klingons have agreed to ignore that side for now as they reorganise the ‘eastern part’ of the Union. Cracks are showing however as the UFP and Klingon administer their sectors very differently, leading to a refugee problem as many Cardassians or their subject species flee the more brutal Klingon regime.
As 2346 dawns, the quadrant has been fundamentally altered, some are now calling for Starfleet and the KDF to ‘finish the job’ in Cardassian space, there are rumours that the unoccupied Cardassians have found a unity leader, some in the UFP are calling for occupied space to be independent, the Tzenkethi are considering options, the Romulans are disquieted, unhappy about what they had to give up, and Tasha Yar (having been extensively debriefed about when she is from) is adjusting to having a half-Romulan baby to raise…
I was talking to my good friend Liegeshrink about alternative timelines for Trek and came up with this outline/premise.
We know the 2330’s-40’s where a time of rising tensions with the Klingons until the Enterprise-C sacrificed herself to save a Klingon world on June 29, 2344. We also know Klingon-Romulan relations were also bad because of the above attack. Romulan-Federation relations however where frozen/non-existent post the Treaty of Algeron in the 2310s. At the same time the Cardassians where probing and raiding all along the Federation border and using the Betreka Nebula to harass the Klingons.
Also, somewhere around this period Hikiru Sulu is President – we know Thelianaresth "Thelian" th'Vorothishria is President approx. 2321-2328, but not exactly when Sulu’s three terms are, so let’s say he is in place for this period.
Thus, the idea is that after the Enterprise-C the still revved up Klingon Chancellor Kravokh, son of J'Doq comes to the Federation and demands they work together to deal with Romulus. They have dishonoured both powers. Sulu balks at taking on the Romulan Star Empire, even with Klingon support, worried about the aftermath, so the Klingon Chancellor proposes a short incursion into Cardassian space as a ‘demonstration’ to the Romulans. Sick of the reports on Cardassian raiding by ‘rouge’ Captains, and the diplomatic run around the UFP is getting, Sulu agrees.
Starfleet at this time period is still crewed and has a lot of higher ranks from the time before Khitomer, though of the newer captains are like Picard who have taken in the ‘new Human’ ideas floating around at the Academy. Sulu goes to Starfleet CiC Admiral Chekov who along with Starfleet Intelligence chief Uhura, agree a ‘short shock’ conflict with the Cardassians is justified and doable. War Plans and joint operations with the Klingons are agreed. The Federation target is going to be Bajor, a planet some have harboured guilt about abandoning to its fate in the 2320’s for a while. It is believed that taking Bajor will deny Central Command of enough resources a peace deal can be made. Chancellor Kravokh has told Sulu he wants to reverse Klingon humiliation in the Betreka Nebula, not conquer all of the Union.
In Sept 2344 the Cardassians are warned to stop raiding Federation shipping or face consequences. They ignore the warning, raiding several border worlds inc Setlik III. Starfleet begins covertly building up its forces along the border region, while the Klingons do the same in their space. There are joint liaisons and ships in each set of fleets. On Jan 1, 2345, a missive is sent to Central Command demanding immediate talks on the issue of the border, or unspecified consequences will happen. There is a deadline. Cardassian Command by this point has gotten wind something is going on but tries to stall due to infighting between the military and Obsidian Order. The deadline passes and the Joint Fleets move across their respective borders.
The Cardassian military had not expected such as huge response and is totally out of position. The fight for the Bajorian system is harder than some expected, but the Cardassians are pushed back by mid-March. The road to Cardassia Prime is open for Starfleet, who also deploy forces ‘south-east’, taking Korma, Panora, and a host of other worlds. Meanwhile the Klingons find the going harder since the Cardassians had more military assets watching them, but they have soon overwhelmed them and by mid-March heading for the Amleth Nebula rendezvous point cutting the ‘eastern’ end of the Union from the rest, having taken dozens of worlds.
The Romulans, Breen, Gorn, Tzenkethi, etc all watching this joint action in shocked, if calculating silence. The UFP has not even revved up its economy, though ship refit/construction, and Starfleet recruitment are at an all-time high. Quiet ‘unofficial’ talks start between many of these powers regarding how to respond. The Breen send some probing attacks into Cardassian space and finding little resistance take over some border systems, sending those Cardassians living there back to the occupied zone as a sign of non-hostile intent.
Feelers are but out to sense if the Cardassian Command is ready to deal, and nothing is returned. Contacts among the other powers report no orders are coming out of Cardassia Prime. The Cardassian navy has proven to be a paper tiger – however Allied command is wary of tricks, and the advance is slowed, as the ‘eastern’ edge of the Union is cleared up and controlled. On many worlds such as Loval, Alamtha, and Panora, the Allies find the civilian population in open revolt against the military.
On April 10 General ShiVang takes his ship under cloak to Cardassia Prime to find out what is going on. ShiVang finds almost no Cardassian forces in system, mostly old ships filled with old warriors and automated mines. The home-world itself is in chaos- with Starfleet only 5.2 light years away at Bajor a hasty evacuation of the planet had taken place, with no thought for the civilian population, plus burning/bombardment of Obsidian Order locations had caused even more problems. There was no government as such. Though tempted to claim the planet for the Empire, General ShiVang returns to the fleet, and instead the joint commanders decided to move onto Cardassia Prime together. Little stopped them, most of the old ships simply surrendered.
On April 22, 2345, the Allies had raised flags on Cardassia, and aid was coming in to the civilians as it was to the other worlds the Allies occupied. A line was setup cross Union space from Cardasia, Torros, Orias, down to Vitar- it was decided not to push further ‘west’ until the captured space was consolidated. Bobby traps, IED’s and low-level resistance existed in the captured space but much lower level than the Bajorian resistance. Experts from the Bajorian Milita are brought in to consult on countering and fighting the Cardassians.
Across the Federation, and Klingon Empire the populations are pleased the invasion has been largely bloodless on their side and with such an amount of territory gained. There is talk of Kravokh, son of J'Doq even taking the empty Imperial throne. Among the top brass of the UFP there is more disquiet as the analysts did not expect the Cardassian Union to crumble as it had. Ambassador Spock urged Sulu to stabilise and offer the Cardassian people the choice of membership.
The Romulans are not stupid, yes it would take the Allies much, much longer to crack the Romulan defences, but they just swept and took half the Union in months. Dialogue between the Allies and Romulus starts via the Kzinti who are looking to renegotiate their own treaty with the Federation. The Federation diplomatic corp eagerly respond, and the Klingons are brought in. Spock handles the Kzinti, Ambassador Sarek takes charge of the Romulan talks.
Across Romulan space defences are bolstered, and all activity inside the neutral zone stopped. The Gorn, Tzenkethi, and other powers also look to their defences; a wave of new ship building starts. Many consider the idea that a general war might be about to start, yet there is no sign the Federation is massing for such a thing – yes, they have invaded Cardassia and there has been an up-tick in ship numbers, but nothing that would suggest anything else is coming, still paranoia runs wild.
One of the key demands on the Romulans is met when on May 1, 2345, all prisoners – Klingon or Federation held by the Romulans – some going back many decades, arrive via Kzinti freighters at Starbase 10 plus the towed wreck of the Enterprise-C. Many of the prisoners show signs of bad mistreatment, others like Tasha Yar are pregnant. The Romulans also provide lists of those who died in their ‘care’. Map adjustments are also made as the Romulans seed some territory on the Klingon borders and set a smaller neutral zone there. Enforcement of ‘no-one in the neutral zone’ will be enacted. The new Romulan – Federation treaty will be signed on May 18 over Nelvana III in the neutral zone, replacing the Treaty of Algeron and other previous agreements. For the Klingons, the challenge of subduing Cardassian space and the adjustments of the Romulans is enough for Kravokh, and their new treaty is signed over Lambda Hydrae a few days later – there is also a technological exchange as the Romulans and Klingon deal cloak tech for disrupter plans.
The Kzinti pen a new treaty with the Federation on May 4, with relations normalised, and a lot of the previous restrictions removed as the Diplomatic Corp believe this is the best way to encourage the signs, they have seen that the Kzinti have moved on from their more barbaric past. Another ghost of the past, the Tarn Empire emerges from isolation and asks the Federation for a new treaty, since the agreement with the UFP had not been revised since it was put in place in 2165. They are not alone – the Cardassian War sees the Gorn, Danteri Empire, Thallonian Empire, and a host of other powers seeking new treaties or alliances with the Federation and even the Klingon Empire.
In the unoccupied Cardassian Union, a host of various names declare they are dictator of the Cardassian Union and vow vengeance on the Allies. The Federation and Klingons have agreed to ignore that side for now as they reorganise the ‘eastern part’ of the Union. Cracks are showing however as the UFP and Klingon administer their sectors very differently, leading to a refugee problem as many Cardassians or their subject species flee the more brutal Klingon regime.
As 2346 dawns, the quadrant has been fundamentally altered, some are now calling for Starfleet and the KDF to ‘finish the job’ in Cardassian space, there are rumours that the unoccupied Cardassians have found a unity leader, some in the UFP are calling for occupied space to be independent, the Tzenkethi are considering options, the Romulans are disquieted, unhappy about what they had to give up, and Tasha Yar (having been extensively debriefed about when she is from) is adjusting to having a half-Romulan baby to raise…
