Why do you want asylum

Posted on Wed Feb 5th, 2025 @ 12:45pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: Interrogation room

Gil Molek, found himself back at the table, staring at the faces of several security officers, with rifles. Looking down at his cuffed wrists. He said nothing. Just awaited whatever was to come.

As they had decided beforehand, Kay came in first. She took a long look at the prisoner and then sat down opposite him. "Hi." She opened not unfriendly. "I am Lt Kayleigh London and I will be one of your chat partners today."

"Interrogators you mean." Molek replied. "Molek will be just fine."

"I prefer not to use language like that." Kay said mildly. "And you want to live amongst us, right?" She smiled at him. "It's in your interest to tell us all you know in that case. I came in early to tell you that. The commander you see, may not have the same amount of patience I have."

"I can tell you all I can... Just let me know what you want."

At that moment Toni walked in, ramrod straight and her face completely empty. "We want everything in your brain cardassian and it had better be useful to us."

Kay rolled her eyes so only the cardassian could see it to show she would support him as much as she could.

Looking up to the Commander. "Commander Stoffels. As I just informed the Lt here, I have no reason to hide anything from you, or anyone else for that matter."

"Good." Toni sat down. "Why do you want asylum?"

"I have someone on this ship I trust. He has proven himself. He killed his own father, while my people were his enemy. I don't know if I would be able to do it if the roles were reversed. But he did."

Toni winced internally. That was not information many people had about the captain, and Kay was certainly not in the know. "If you want a chance of that asylum I would keep that knowledge to yourself in future." She whispered.

Kay gave her a strange look.

"The situation was not under normal circumstances. He saved children, the elderly, those who could not defend, those who were unable to fight. I read starfleet regulations of starfleets regulations when it comes to war. Civilians, Children and those who cannot defend themselves are not prime targets of starfleet in war. They do not actively search for those to slaughter. There have been tales of slaughtered children on other cardassian worlds Same scenario. Once he was stopped those ceased as well."

"I know all that." Toni said through clenched teeth. "you don't have to sell it to me. But not everyone in this room is cleared to hear that story, so shut up about it and tell me what good it would do to give you asylum."

Molek paused. "It probably wouldn't." He replied finally. "I don't have the most useful information to trade. I am just a Gil. Specializing i trauma."

"You are a psychologist?" Toni was taken aback and even Kay raised another eyebrow.

"Cardassians do have them." Molek replied. "My father was head of cardassian medical... My brothers were in the medical field as well." He leaned back. "I seen what war can do to people. I have devoted my life to helping those, as I am sure you do. We sign up for the same thing."

Toni looked at Kay who just shrugged. "So what do you have to offer the federation? I don't think many of our people are going to be comfortable with a cardassian shrink." She finally smiled a little.

"I look at this situation, not as a loss for the dominion, but a chance to save some of the Cardassian people. There were those that opposed the joining the dominion. Those who were very vocal about the very destruction and death that its causing on both sides. Once we joined, those people became enemy of the state, and went into hiding." Molek replied. "Those, some higher up in the military and the civilian government. My family being some of the latter, I know where they are. They may have information that may lead to some advantages for the federation. However, they are being hunted as well by the dominion."

Toni nodded and looked at Kay. They knew each other's body language so well having grown up together. Kay nodded slowly to indicate that she believed him. "You will have to earn trust." Toni said. "One misstep and you will end up in jail. As I am afraid our people are not very used yet to trusting a cardassian."

"Honestly not something I am worried about Commander. I'm worried about those people that are hiding as I once was. Unfortunately, I doubt there is a person with a conscience in the dominion. Its not cardassians hunting them, but an elite team of Jem Hadar. The changelings fear, cardassians would let them get away."

"And what do you think the federation can do to help with that?" Toni inquired.

"Its not how the federation can help, its actually how they can help the federation. Those in hiding are... were higher ups, before the take over... which it indeed was... they knew where every thing was... every secret military installation. Every listening post."

"So you are suggesting we help get them out?"

"Is it worth it for the federation to take the chance?"

"That is way above my paygrade to decide." Toni said honestly. "We can only make the recommendation."

"Then I think its time for you to make the decision, what recommendation do you give..." Molek replied as he leaned back, "Either way, our fate are in your hands Commander."

Toni got to her feet. "I will share my recomendation with the captain and then it is up to him to kick that further up the chain of command." She nodded to Kay that it was time to leave.

Nodding, he stood as well, keeping his hands in view. "I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me about this."

"We will let you know as soon as we hear anything." Toni said and then exited with Kay.

Nodding. He watched them leave, then sat back down. "I will wait here then."