This article was written in total respect for Paramounts
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Copyright   1995 by Tiffany L. Edenfield



                       Talsvar Kardassu

                      [Glory to Cardassia]



Gul Dukat
Commander of the Second Order


Collected private muses on the Cardassian Empire


    Ungoverned power can't be maintained. Eventually the
puissance that established the Central Command's control in the
government will dissolve. I fear the Obsidian Order was given too
many liberties, and it will be too late for the Central Command
to acknowledge that error in judgement. What price will the
Empire pay for allowing the Order to become a separate authority?
In foolish bewilderment, Command leaders believe no one will
challenge their authority. It is as though they are encased
within a translucent flask of glass where it is very cool and
refreshing, very pure, white, and shining. Not the smallest grain
of the deceptive discriminating mind could shatter their flawless
world.
     It is said the Obsidian Order was created to enforce loyalty
and obedience among the citizenry. It was essential that the
Order be treated with the utmost liberality because it is the
intelligence core of the government. The Central Command and the
Obsidian Order believe strict obedience and power are the
ultimate tools for controlling the Empire. The fear of
retribution added to the intellectual knowing of one's duty to
the State: procreation; the survival of the State is the survival
of the people.
     Both powers are revered. If, in such a moment of worship, it
is from fear rather than respect for their power; every law is
obeyed without question; every conflict solved to the letter of
the law, which is to be considered the catalyst of "true" power.
Thus, orators are displayed on public viewers throughout the
Empire, reciting editions for a rewarding life.
     Nevertheless, where there is power there is also greed. The
Central Command has become so adept in creating, using, and
manipulating the laws that it has failed to realize how its
control have been reduced to absurdity. Leader's refuse to see
how too many laws could paralyze society, creating a condition
approximating to anarchy. And presenting an opportunity for
hardline elements to seize control of the government, namely
Obsidian Order.
      How like the Central Command to push matters to extremes;
they do not consider that disproportion destroys a government.
     As an inevitable and natural result, the citizens grow weary
of the government, however, their response is stifled by duty to
the Empire, so that reflective moments are carried out in secrecy
(Dissenters), and in some measure commiserate their displeasure
over current affairs. The strong sense of loyalty and tradition
are bitterly debated over the truth of their differing doctrines,
especially among family. It is to be presumed there is some truth
to the rumors of shifting loyalties, and displeasure with the
current political parties. People who were once friends were
quickly becoming enemies, split by political factions which
threaten to rip apart the very fabric of the Empire.
     The famed scholar, Alif Shern, remarked in a speech that the
looming collapse of the Cardassian Empire is a direct consequence
of the "militarization of the economy." The Cardassian Empire was
exhausting itself economically, socially, and militarily, "while
worlds that were conquered and invaded were rising." After the
vicious border wars with the United Federation of Planets, and
the subsequent withdrawal from Bajor, the Central Command's
system for economic management had shown it nearly exhausted its
potential, and the people did not gain the appropriate benefits
from the enormous resources that were expended in the process of
the command management. The continued conflict known as the
Federation/Cardassian Border War further "resulted in an enormous
distortion of our economy. We must realize a need for more
profound economic reform."
     Frankly, I have found Alif's speech a strong motivating
tonic during my period of research and writing. Along with Elosha
Prim and many others, he will be honored in the hearts of those
who crave the resurrection of a new future for the Cardassian
people.


Talsvar Kardassu!

[Glory to Cardassia]


Dukat