The Federation representatives at this impromptu function exited the anteroom and found the Ferengi huddling in a corner, discussing whatever profit motivated plans they were in the midst of scheming. The Dergans had departed back to their homeworld and would await the proposed ‘agreements’ to be drafted by the Ambassadors staff.

“We have a preliminary offer, that we’d like to present to you Daimon. If you’re open to continuing?”

“By all means Ambassador. We are eager to hear your offer.” Pogg returned to his seat, and this time motioned for his aides to have a seat next to him.

After Krey outlined the ‘unclassified’ details of, and existence of the conduit, and made his pitch, Pogg sat expressionless for several seconds before responding.

“So, what you’re saying is, since we left Ferenginar 17 years ago, you’ve all kicked the shit out of the Borg, again(having left in 2385, Pogg and his people were aware of the historic events involving the Enterprise-D, E, and Voyager) and you’re using one of their transwarp conduits now? And thats why there’s fleets of fucking Romulans, Klingons and you Starfleeters all over my long range sensors?” Pogg leaned forward with his elbows on the conference table and glared at each one of the Federation representatives. He wasn’t sensing any guile, decent, or guilt on any of their faces.

“Basically, yes. Though the Borg Collective do still remain a serious threat.” Krey responded.

“And these freighters you want to lease us?”

“These two, specifically.” Krey slid a padd across the table after translating the page into Standard Ferengi Script.

“Warp 9, and they can haul 240 kilo-tons each…now if this is a lease. Who is footing the bill for maintenance and upkeep on the vessels themselves?” Pogg asked, always concerned about the bottom line.

“You would be responsible for operating and maintaining the vessels day to day. A Starfleet engineering and operations crew will come with the ships and train you and your people how to operate it for the first month. As for upkeep, we could offer you standard maintenance and refits at suitable Federation facilities, free of charge. Our standard docking fee’s would be charged but…” Krey leaned back in his seat as Pogg predictably interrupted him amd finished the thought.

“But Federation Credits have a very favourable exchange rate to Gold Pressed Latinum. Unless the entire Alpha Quadrant economy has turned itself upside down in the past few decades?” Pogg inquired.

“1 Bar of GPL is uh, currently trading for 2600 FC on the financial exchanges back in the Alpha Quadrant.” Tyler said after pulling up the information on his own padd.

“I think we have a deal then. We can have our accountants and engineers haggle over the details. Now do you got anything to drink on this barge? I’m parched.” Pogg said as he stood.

“Excellent Daimon, we look forward to working with you. Our staff can arrange a trip to the ships lounge for you and your people.” Krey said as he rose to his feet, and offered a hand to Pogg across the table.

As Pogg shook the Ambassadors hand, a quick witted staffer snapped a few holoprints of the event for posterity.

Duwallan Epilogue

After a few more days of nitty gritty, legalese negotiations, a collection of bilateral agreements that would become known as the Duwallan Accords would be signed between the Formicans, Dergans, Ferengi Consortium, and the Alpha Alliance. Dergan independence and status as a Federation protectorate(to only be contracted after the Dergans wish it), Open trade with the new Formican Colony to be set up in the neighboring Tisalfa system, and the lease agreement with the Ferengi for the freighters were the core tenets of the accord.

In the years ahead, the numbers of Ferengi who remained members of the Consortium began to dwindle, as many would jump ship on trips to the Alpha quadrant aboard their new vessels. Some would return to Ferenginar, while others would strike out on their own with their share of the profits from Pogg’s 17 year old profit sharing agreement.

With only a few dozen females capable of breeding, and the male members inability to breed outside of their species(whether by choice or circumstance) the Consortium of Ferengi Traditionalists was always an evolutionary dead end. The monotony of travelling through space for over a decade and them spending the last 5 years operating a series of mines and refineries, many of the lower ranking Ferengi wanted more out of life then working a dilithium cutter or an autoloader.

Pogg and a few hundred loyalists would plod along, becoming moderately wealthy using the leased Federation freighters to transport their dilithium, dueterium, and crystalline lattices. But eventually they too would chose to retire back to the Alpha quadrant before the decade was out. They would hand off the dilithium mines and refineries to the Formica’s, and the treaty they signed with the Dergans in 2402 had already ceded the dueterium fields to the plucky space pigs.

On Derganix, they slowly but surely recovered from the devastatingly effects that the introduction of personal replicators had caused for their species. They enjoyed the status of a protectorate of the Federation for 16 years. Aside from crews and visitors to the orbital station that housed 20 Federation engineers and a crew of 30 Dergans, they would not have any contact with any other species for nearly a decade and half. But as the Dergans advanced technologically to the point where their ion impulse drives could reach low warp velocities, a peace treaty ending the nearly 65 year long latent state of war that had existed between them and the Formicans was signed. A treaty of friendship between them and Federation would follow their status as a protectorate.