Khitomer, Klingon Empire-In an effort to distance themselves from the scandal currently surrounding the Federation and further solidify their fledgling relationship with the Dominion, Klingon officials issued a joint statement with the Breen early this week demanding the release of Dominion prisoners taken hostage on Cardassia some months ago.  Since the existence of these prisoners came to light, the Federation Council has claimed to be taking every possible step to recover these prisoners and return them to their respective governments.  In a statement issued by the President of the Federation's Chief of Staff, she said, "We share the outrage of the rest of the interstellar community at these terrorist acts against the Cardassians and continued detention of the Dominion hostages.  These crimes are attributable to Section 31, a rogue organization not sanctioned by the Federation and which we are currently taking steps to eliminate."  Despite these repeated disavowals of complicity, we have no reason to believe that the Federation did not fully endorse the atrocities committed on Cardassia.  

With pressure now being brought to bear against the Federation by even their long time allies, the Klingons, the Federation Council could stall no longer and released the Dominion hostages into the care of an interstellar committee on Khitomer.  Beamed directly to a medical facility on the planet's surface, the hostages materialized in a huddle of terrorized flesh but in their eyes defiance still shown.  Dominion observers present searched the knot of captives anxiously, searching for the one innocent victim of this terrorist action around whom all of our prayers have centered in the past weeks.  The Founder stood proud amongst the other hostages, uninjured by the vile bigotry of the Federation.  Medical examinations of the hostages revealed many minor injuries including broken bones, burns and lacerations which the Federation had poorly attempted to disguise and repair in the final days leading to the release of the hostages.  Only the Founder showed no detectable signs of distress and she declined to comment on her plight.

Of the over 175 hostages captured on Cardassia Prime, only 43 were released on Khitomer.  Those among the missing include scores of Jem'hadar soldiers and their Vorta commanders.  Only Breen and Cardassian prisoners, in addition to the Founder, were released.  The Federation claims to have no knowledge of these additional hostages still unaccounted for.  They are presumed dead.

After meeting with top Breen, Klingon and Vorta officials for three days, the Founder held an open press conference for the members of the interstellar press.  As we are aware that the welfare of the Founder is of primary importance to our readers, we provide below a complete transcript of that press conference.

Q: How were you treated while in Federation custody?

A: The situation was...unpleasant...  But of course, I am impervious to such means of torture as the Federation could employ against me.

Q: Do you have any reason to believe that your captors were allied with Starfleet and not members of Section 31 as the Federation President has claimed?

A: Every reason.

Q: In your mind, do these terrorist actions committed by the Federation against the Dominion constitute grounds for declaring war?

A: A state of war continues to exist between the Federation and their allies and the Dominion.  It will continue to exist.

Q: But currently hostilities between the two powers are confined to border skirmishes.  Are there plans for further peace negotiations?

A: There can be no peace in the Alpha Quadrant until control of this region is wrested from the hands of the Federation barbarians and consolidated in the orderly, central authority of the Dominion.  This incident has proven the danger of allowing the Federation to maintain power in this Quadrant.

Q: What about rejoining the Link?  Are there plans for reopening the wormhole to Dominion traffic?

A: I'm sorry, that will have to wait for another time.  No more questions.

We are all greatly relieved to have the Founder returned to us unscathed, and, with her return, we cannot but hope to see a renewed Dominion presence in the Alpha Quadrant as she retakes the helm of Dominion command. Further, the joint resolution issued by the Breen and Klingons suggests a solidification of our new relationship with the Klingon Empire.  The strength of the Dominion, only months ago considered by the Federation to have been decimated, continues to accrue as our presence and influence in the Alpha Quadrant becomes intractable.

From Khitomer, Draymon.