Star Trek Online/Codex/The Path to 2409/2398

After six years of reports, panels and legislative wrangling, the Federation council approved rules for dual citizenship. This option was created to allow beings to apply for permanent residency and other rights without sundering all of their ties to their homeworlds.

Dual citizens could live and work anywhere in the Federation, apply for Federation grants, and even vote in Federation elections. However, dual citizens owed allegiance to and were subject to the laws of both political entities of which they are citizens. Also, the homeworld of an applicant must allow dual citizenship as well.

The Soong Foundation and other artificial life groups argued that the bill should be extended to artificial lifeforms, but the Federation Council refused. Artificial lifeforms must either pass the tests established by the Supreme Court of the Federation to be granted full citizenship, or they were property. There was no middle ground.

Cardassia Prime's Detapa Council quickly passed a law allowing Cardassians to become dual citizens of the Federation, and Grand Nagus Rom bullied a measure through the Ferengi Economic Congress of Advisors that allowed Ferengi to take part in the program after purchasing a citizenship license.

Dozens of unaffiliated worlds moved to allow this option to their citizens as well, but on Qo'noS, the High Council refused to follow suit. Their refusal blocked Klingons who hadn't severed ties to the Empire from applying for Federation citizenship.

Rhea, a Ferengi geologist working on Earth, was the first being to be granted dual citizenship under the new program. "I'm proud to be part of the Federation, but Ferenginar is my home," Rhea said. "This cost me a few bars of latinum, but it's worth every strip."

Federation President Aennik Okeg was a tireless champion for dual citizenship, and many attributed the success of the program to his influence. A boost from new voters easily pushed Okeg past challengers from Alpha Centauri and Trill into a second term of office.

In his re-inauguration speech, Okeg reached out to the Klingon Empire. "We have had our differences, but we are stronger together than apart," Okeg said. "Unity is the honorable path."

In Starfleet, Lieutenant Naomi Wildman was assigned to be the new helm officer of the U.S.S. Hathaway. And Miral Paris, another child who was born on the U.S.S. Voyager, entered Starfleet Academy.

Paris' presence in the incoming academy class was notable to those who follow Klingon affairs. Several news stories about Paris and the new recruits reported the legend of the kuvah'magh, a Klingon religious figure believed to be a prophetic figure by some.

After reporters made an attempt to enter the dormitories at the Academy, Starfleet issued as statement from Paris asking for privacy. "I'm a student, not a savior," the statement read in part, "Allow me and my classmates peace and privacy."

On Stardate 75705.90, the Federation-mediated peace talks between the Gorn Hegemony and the Klingon Empire are disrupted by an explosion that rocked the resort on Casperia Prime where the talks were being held.

Seven people were critically injured by the blast, including Ambassador K'mtok of Qo'noS and Mira Genstra, a deputy mediator for the Federation. Genstra was stabilized and then evacuated to her home on Betazed, but K'mtok died during surgery onboard the I.K.S. Gorkon.

The crew of the Gorkon cooperated with Captain Data of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E to investigate the explosion. They found that an ultritium resin explosive device was hidden in the room where the delegates were meeting.

Although it was initially thought that the device was planted by a member of the resort staff, ties to Klingon extremist groups were quickly uncovered. The device was tracked back to Toral, son of Duras, who was a fugitive from both the Federation and the Klingon Empire. The Gorkon pursued Toral's ship into the Archanis Sector, but it escaped.

The Federation attempted to restart the peace talks, but both the Klingon and the Gorn recalled their delegations. There will be no cease-fire.

"If I were into conspiracies, I'd mention that K'mtok was appointed by Chancellor Martok, and now the door's open for J'mpok to appoint one of his allies as ambassador to the Federation. But I'm not going to do that, because I'm not a conspiracy theorist," said Tag Morkek, a political analyst for the Tellar News Service.

In what was seen as a deliberate insult to Praetor Taris, General Tebok promoted General Velal to command of the Romulan Second Fleet. Velal was openly critical of the praetor and her policies, and was one of the officers responsible for negotiating the agreement that kept Kevatras under Romulan control.

Operatives for Starfleet Intelligence reported that the changeling known as Laas arrived in the Devos system with two other changelings. When Laas was last seen, he was searching for other changelings who had been sent to the Alpha Quadrant as observers. Whether or not these changelings were part of that group was unknown.