While we’re on the subject of things that are off in the beta-canon Cardassia, where is the reckoning/accountability for the former regime? I don’t remember any transitional justice process. And I love my murder lizard but putting a former member of the secret police in power doesn’t really send the message we’re about democracy and transparency now. I know Kelas Parmak keeps him in check and is his outsourced conscience (with some help from Bashir) but that doesn’t really seem good enough.
Oh yeah. It’s like the opposite of that in my post-canon Cardassia imaginings, for Garak anyway. The people in what passes for the immediate circle of power after the whole mess know who he is, that he worked for their top Bad Dude, that he was punished with exile for not being bad enough somehow, or something, something mumble Bajoran orphans, ANYWAY, and yet somehow he remained more loyal to his homeworld than any of their many recently very deceased top officials, and then like, saved the world. Every single thing about him is super embarrassing politically.
So they don’t invite him to do anything, they don’t elect him to anything, and really that’s fine, because he would hate all that kind of thing soooo much. I mean, he’d do it, he would, if it was the best thing for Cardassia, but since it so very isn’t he’s just out here in the countryside revitalizing some soil and growing some vegetables and a few orchids and like, raising Cardassian bees or something, though he stays informed and keeps in touch with a few people.
And then one day he’s like, “I’m marrying this human doctor,” and they’re just like, “OH MY GOD WHATEVER JUST PLEASE DO NOT WRITE A BOOK”
and also a lot of other stuff happens but that’s for the fic i’m not writing
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(hey I found this old no sleep ramble about Garak saved in my drafts, and I’m publishing it anyway here haha)
I like your vision so much better. I know some of it is just Star Trek, as a franchise it hasn’t focused a lot on civilians or rank and file, and so to be a major character in beta canon he has to be *important,* but I don’t like it. I like to imagine Garak turning away from power. Raising bees and regenerating soil is a much better redemption arc in my mind.
Let’s be real, there is no way in hell that the Cardassian people would elect Garak or anyone else involved with the Order to political office. I know he was very involved with the CLR, but that would not erase his past for the people. Besides, I can’t imagine Garak would have ANY inclination to serve Cardassia in that capacity.
I don’t think Garak would, but as for him being elected, I could see that. If people are feeling defeated or deprived the OO could be a reminder of a time when Cardassia had more, well, order. Strongmen are appealing. The only way I could see Garak doing it is to prevent that sort of thing, which was how it was written in Crimson Shadow, like he was what was needed to prevent fascism so he did it reluctantly. And that makes a certain sense but still would rather see farmer Garak.
I have to disagree. I think that the majority of surviving Cardassians would want to distance themselves from the regime that brought them to the brink of annihilation. Sure, there would be that fringe group - maybe even a good sized group - that would yearn for the past because it is safe and comfortable and familiar and it meant being a power in the quadrant. But I don’t think Garak would be inclined to align himself with that group. Garak wants a better Cardassia, not more of the same. He does want revenge, but not, I think, at the expense of building a new Cardassia.
As @kaelio points out, there are human precedents for former operatives seizing power, but I think the keywords there are ‘seize’ and ‘power.’ Garak doesn’t strike me as the type to want to rule just to have control and for his own advancement. There would certainly be those who might want him to oversee things, but I don’t think that the majority of Cardassians would, nor do I think Garak himself would.
