Esteemed art enthusiasts and curators,
It is with great regret that I contact you, for it seems that there has been a mishap of troubling proportions: though I did receive a piece earlier this day, it is not the one I acquired through the auction but a poor facsimile, rather than the actual item.
Imagine my immensurable disappointment when, upon receiving what I assumed to be the long-awaited marvel, the computer detected a number of discrepancies. In spite of the fact that they pass unnoticed to the naked eye, at least those of this poor Vorta, for it is known that my species cannot appreciate most artistic forms with the ease other races can, I conducted a series of scans in the hopes that a study of the hues and composition of the glass would reveal further insight into the meaning of the piece, only to reveal several irregularities. Upon comparing my findings with those on record and file, it became evident that the item was not genuine in the slightest.
Now, I am willing to believe, for the time being, that this is naught but a clerical error. Perhaps your office sent a reproduction kept in storage or some such, but as a representative of the Dominion and the Khitomer Alliance, it does place me in a rather delicate position, especially if I were to lean towards other, more disturbing suppositions – such as the possibility that this may be a deliberate attempt to deceive a devoted ally to the Federation.
I place myself in your hands and trust that there will be a swift and satisfying resolution to this incident.
//SIGNED//
Liasvarnu IV
Field Overseer,
D.V. Ometra-48
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//ATTACHMENT// filecomparison.ext
