Marvelous

Marvelous

Captain Breawyn Lem and the Independence are dispatched on an unexpected diplomatic mission to Cardassia Prime. Longtime enemies of the Federation, the Cardassians have expressed a desire to initiate negotiations that could lead to their joining the Federation... but are their intentions sincere, or is there something more sinister at hand?

Memorable quotes

 * "...but there is so much we have to talk about."
 * "I would first need to know, what we are talking about."
 * "Unity, captain! Tearing down the walls between us to recognize we are one... people. Federation and Cardassian. Human and Vulcan and Klingon and Ferengi. I'm speaking of the thing that makes us the same. We want peace. I want to end the centuries of mistrust. I want us to be new allies, not bitter, old enemies... Captain Lem, on behalf of the Cardassian Union and all its peoples, I am formally requesting for membership into the United Federation of Planets."
 * - Chairman Namuul and Captain Breawyn Lem, "The Answered Question"

Background information

 * This episode was planned as the first of several recurring arc episodes to explore the Cardassian issue, in the wake of the disastrous Dominion War. As long-time enemies of the Federation, but now with their economy and culture in ruins, having the Cardassians apply to join the Federation would raise all kinds of questions on both sides, not the least of which is "are the Cardassians sincere?"
 * This was also the episode where characters and story situations were taken by another roleplaying group and passed off as their own without permission or credit. The situation remains unresolved, as the other party has refused to wholly retract their theft of material or to issue an unconditional apology for their actions.

External link

 * "Darker Than Obsidian" in print-ready format at the Starship Independence forum