Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [106]
“Yes-because I was in the capital city of Betazed when the Dominion invaded. I know all about the devastation, about the smoke in the air that chokes you, about people trapped in rubble, about- “
Esperanza could feel her temper starting to fray, so she was grateful when Ashante interrupted, “Councillor, we can’t let our outrage at recent history blind us to the lessons history teaches us.”
“Ashante, I don’t need homilies.” Enaren then turned back to Esperanza. “And I don’t need to play a childish game of my-trauma-is-better-than-yours. What I know is this: Cardassia Prime had three cities rebuilt before one city on Betazed was back to full working operation. Offworld tourism has plummeted, offworld support has been all but nonexistent. My predecessor lost her last election because she had done nothing to get Betazed to become a priority with the Federation. The people have spoken to me, and I am doing their bidding, as is my duty as councillor for Betazed. This conversation is over.”
“So what happens to Cardassia now?” Ashante asked.
“Who knows? And who cares?”
“I can give you a clue. Here on Earth, before the planet was united, we had hundreds of nation-states. One of them, about four hundred and seventy-five years ago, was called Germany. They were at the forefront of one of the world’s biggest wars. When they lost, their enemies hit them with massive reparations. They had already lost the war, but then they were considered third-class citizens of the world. A particularly charismatic leader was able to use that to rally the people. He rebuilt them into a superpower within a decade, and that led to an even bigger war. It was one that could’ve been avoided if the retribution against them hadn’t been so harsh the first time.”
This time Enaren’s smile was genuine-and also one of amused irritation. “Why is it that humans have the need to analogize someone they disagree with to the most extreme example from their own history? I don’t appreciate being compared to Adolf Hitler.”
“I’m not doing that, sir,” Ashante said tightly, “I’m comparing you to David Lloyd George.”
“Who?” Enaren asked, his confusion matching Esperanza’s.
“He was the British prime minister at the end of that war and was one of those who imposed the reparations on Germany.”
Esperanza nodded. “Councillor, this can’t be about revenge.”
“Why can’t it? Do you know what they did, Esperanza? The Jem’Hadar were absolutely brutal, and ruthless, and brooked no resistance. But they were never cruel. They were soldiers, they were doing their duty, but it was never personal. Not so with the Cardassians. They beat people, they raped women, they tortured children-for the fun of it! I have sat by for the last year since I was elected to the council and said nothing, because the aid was already in place, but now-now, when I’m in a position to do something about it, I will not stand by and help those- “
“Children?” Esperanza spoke in a quiet voice. “Elderly? Sick, infirm people whose only crime was to be unlucky enough to be born at a time that would leave them alive during the worst period in Cardassian history? Those soldiers did horrible things to your world, yes-and they did it under orders from a government that we drove away. The ones paying the price aren’t the soldiers who ravaged your world, Councillor, they’re helpless people who need our help.” Esperanza winced at the way that sentence sounded, but there was no taking it back now. “If we abandon them- “
“I swear to you, Esperanza, if you try to tell me that I become no better than they are, I will terminate this conversation.”
Since Enaren had said this conversation was over several minutes ago, Esperanza chose to have some hope.
Ashante said, “Sir, if you truly believe that you are better than them, then prove