96798.7 FNS: Rising Tensions Impact Travel from Gamma Quadrant

[Katriel]

96798.7 Federation News Service
Rising Tensions Impact Travel from Gamma Quadrant

Tensions have been rising in the Bajor sector in response to what has been observed as a marked increase in traffic of Dominion-affiliated vessels. The uptick appears to have started roughly five days ago and has caused significant consternation amongst Deep Space 9 and Bajor officials, who protest that the Dominion's current allied state with the Federation does not give them free license to transport their assets through the wormhole at will.

Though it took several days for government officials to consult on the matter, their agreement with Bajor inhabitants’ distress was unmistakeable, as Starfleet authorized the movement and redistribution of the 7th and 10th Fleet assets in the alpha quadrant, including a new task force assigned to Bajor Sector alone which has been confirmed will be regularly contributing ships to the wormhole patrol effort. No public statement has been issued on these changes.

Bajor officials have also begun the implementation of increased regulations on immigration through the wormhole. Though small craft and trader vessels remain largely unaffected, larger-sized craft have been required to present copies of their cargo manifests and additional documentation clarifying their purpose for visiting and intended length of stay. Scrutiny has doubly increased on official Dominion-affiliated vessels, whose ships are being turned away unless they specifically bear paperwork that has been issued directly from Ambassador Odo’s office.

“We were barely getting used to having all these extra Jem’Hadar and Vorta around,” laments Hlif Wollem, a local proprietor who runs a fine dining establishment located on DS9. “We offer tables with views of the wormhole and those’re usually in high demand, but now it’s freaking my clientele out when they watch and it’s a big ol’ dread squeezing through. They’re the ones who owe US for saving their damn homeworld, the least they can do is keep their wretched military out of our business!”

The Federation Diplomatic Corps branch on Bajor has declined to comment.