Defense Minister Horvath escorted Ensign Myron Okul through a few hallways before reaching the building that was the Nipron's version of Starfleet Command. Outside the door were two guards. The guards wore gray one-piece jumpsuits. The guards were armed with phaser pistols and a phaser rifle unlike anything Okul had seen. Of course most of the information about the Briar Patch conflict hadn't been made that public.
"Excuse me Ensign, what is your race?" Horvath asked, walking up to the steps to the building's entrance.
"I am Cardassian. My people come from Cardassian Space," Okul said, being direct and not real clear. Fact was he didn't know much of Cardassia or its planets -- he was only eleven when his family was exiled and then slaughtered by the Jem'Hadar.
"Do you miss home?" Horvath asked as the door slid open automatically.
"I was one of two survivors on a penal planet. I don't remember much of home except my family's exile. My father was a powerful Gul in the military and was punished by another Gul for his belief against the alliance. I suggest you read up on the events leading up to the Dominion War," Okul said, walking in and looking around the building that wasn't very big.
In the far left was a big computer screen that showed a map of the Nipron system and the orbiting shipyard. To the right was a series of small computer work stations. In the middle was a table that appeared to be a viewscreen and computer all in one. Horvath walked over to an older gentlemen wearing a gray uniform and a bright badge on the right breast of his tunic.
"Ensign, this is General Uitok," Horvath said, looking at the tall ensign.
"Pleasure to meet you, General," Okul said with a tone of respect and decency.
"General and Mister Minister, please tell me what your Armed Services are capable of," Okul said while pulling out a PADD.
"Ensign Okul, we have two warships that are beyond our ability to repair. Twelve sublight cruisers that being refitted with new phasers. They used to be science scouts. It took us four weeks to refit them.
"Our Army is 34,000 strong. They are centered at a base called Hope. It was the biggest military installation the Mullurans had in our system. The soldiers are armed with six year old phaser rifles and particle pistols," the General said in almost a disgusting tone.
Myron looked over the room that was filled with twelve other Nipron men in uniform. He could see that the Nipron soldiers were hard working and focused on their stations. "Sirs, what is your current status as a military force?"
"I would say in a war we'd last thirty-four hours. We barely have enough raw materials to work with. So basically we are at the mercy of those who would attack us," Horvath said, shaking his head in anger.
Myron then walked over to an unmanned computer terminal and turned his head towards the two Niprons that were explaining everything to him. He wanted to touch the computer terminal but knew to do so uninvited was rude and against the rules.
"Ensign, we were at one time a force of great strength. Then a peace-loving Scientist was elected to the House of Ministers and disarmed our powerful fleet and Army. Thanks to him we were conquered without a single shot fired," General Uitok said, getting angry.
"So what would a military do if you had one?" Okul was starting to think that these people were wanting some sort of revenge.
"I would protect us and the other colonies abandoned by the Mulluran Empire."
[Ensign, meet me in the town square. We've been invited for a feast.] The comm channel interrupted the General who was showing signs of hatred.
"Yes sir."
The General handed Ensign Okul a small device that looked like a PADD. "This will give you more information about us over the past 126 years. You can speak into the side of it and the portable library will set it self to your language."
In the Government part of town, a man that wore a uniform and wore a badge half the size of a General's was on a computer screen. The face on the other side was a Mulluran.
"Colonel-General Betio. The Federation personnel are on the planet -- some five, if I counted correctly. Their warship is above us. I'm using a residual signal to hide this from their sensors. I suggest you come in from the Gernoth Nebula. That'll hide your approach."
[Very well. I'll have four fighters and one cruiser there in five days. Keep them there. Betio out.]