Commander Sideris,
Please accept my apologies in contacting you before we were formally introduced.
The current art theft incident, coupled with power failure during the related event, might pose an interest to the intelligence department.
Should we get involved? And if so, should we coordinate with other departments? I’d be so bold to advise to keep the outside communication at the absolute minimum. We can’t discount the possibility that one or more of slighted parties are culprits in the incident. After all, what better way to deflect suspicion than for a thief to yell about robbery the loudest.
Having in mind current reports from multiple involved parties we can safely discard the possibilities that the incident was a mere ruse or that it was an isolated act of thievery.
Not discounting the simple monetary gain I’d like to point out that there is also a significant propaganda gain for interested parties, incident demonstrating Starfleet incompetence. There’s also an added layer of diplomatic strain as theft involved the Dominion representative.
Of course, the Vorta could have arranged it to play the victim, thus opening a path to ingratiate himself with the target or simply create an incident that can be exploited to apply diplomatic pressure. Both tactics were used regularly by the Dominion in the past, although they are hardly the only ones with that approach.
While I have no proof I do believe that the power outage and the art theft were connected. In my experience too much of a coincidence is usually no coincidence at all.
Also, for the sake of information-gathering, I have cultivated connections with certain parties that would be considered undesirable and unlawful outside of neutral space.
Should I make inquiries to see if they have any information that might pertain to our incident? Purely unofficially and with utmost discretion, of course.
Remaining at your disposal,
//SIGNED//
Centurion Roris
Republic Intelligence
Attached to DS-13
