What would have happened to Tain?
- Thread starter Photon
- Start date
Interesting question. I doubt he would've gone back to retirement and knows far too many thing about far too many people on Cardassia to be allowed to live in exile, that's assuming he'd even want to exile himself. Though he was a patriotic Cardassian and very loyal to the state his attempted genocide of the Founders wouldn't see him working within their ranks. He could've ended up in a state of limbo on DS9, a prime source of information for Starfleet Intelligence though he may not be willing to part with it very easily, even to beat the Dominion as it would mean betraying Cardassia.
I suspect he may have slipped away quietly and started to rally supporters he had to form some sort of opposition to the Dominion, working in the shadows, slowly accumulating information to use against them at the best opportunity. It could've opened up some great storylines for Garak, torn between his love of Cardassia, his hatred of the Dominion, and his desire to earn Tain's respect--I could envision a two-parter with him and Bashir heading off to help Tain's movement before it is eliminated for good.
I suspect he may have slipped away quietly and started to rally supporters he had to form some sort of opposition to the Dominion, working in the shadows, slowly accumulating information to use against them at the best opportunity. It could've opened up some great storylines for Garak, torn between his love of Cardassia, his hatred of the Dominion, and his desire to earn Tain's respect--I could envision a two-parter with him and Bashir heading off to help Tain's movement before it is eliminated for good.
Pretty sure Garak would have made this happen, would have been interesting to see him have to come up against Sikso/Odo, etc upon their return.
I'm sure Tain had enough rivals and enemies to spill his history to the Dominion. He doesn't sound like the sort of person they want to be allied with or risk rattling around within their sphere of influence. Seems to me he'd get "disappeared" at the first opportunity if he had tried to return to Cardassian Space. Hard to imagine he'd live very long within Federation Space either, where he probably was known at levels above Sisko and within Section 31.
He'd probably go into hiding and eventually become a driving force in Damar's resistance movement.
He couldn't be in Cardassia openly; the Dominion by then controlled Cardassia and certainly wouldn't allow someone who tried to commit genocide against the founders live. I'm sure they'd make a special effort, even a raid on DS9 if he was there and the Dominion found out about it. Disappeared or put on a show trial, either way he'd be dead. If he went into hiding somewhere the Dominion couldn't find him, Damar might have ended up joining Tain's resistance movement.
Tain was aggressive, manipulative, and paranoid all the way to his end. He embodied the Obsidian Order, the worst aspect of Cardassian politics. It would be impossible for him to be different. Had Garak and Worf been able to rescue him, I don't see how he could be kept around as a character. He wasn't complex like Garak. I think it would be tedious to have lots of stories that focused on him, and if we got a lot of information about him via background information, I think it would be disingenuous. He operates in a shadows with a somewhat singular purpose.
It would have been interesting to see the dynamic between him and Garak however. Garak's always looked up to him and saught his approval, so having rescued him and them both being in exile from Cardassia could have given us a couple of good moments, at least until he quietly dissapears into the shadows and/or retirement on Risa.
Oh, yes, I agree that we could get some mileage out of Tain. How did we not get him in a scene with Ghemor or Dukat! It might have been interesting had Tain confronted Garak over his support for Dumar.
The problem I see is that Tain's personality was so poisonous that it would strain credibility that anyone in the main cast of characters would choose to associate with him. He worked because his character underlined the choices Garak made to separate himself from his past career as best as he could--he's a counterpoint to Garak.I think that could get old fast.
I'm surprised that throughout their captivity, Martok didn't beat the crap out of Tain.
"He, uh....he got the drop on me. I know that's hard to believe considering my myriad skill-set as a tailor, but it's true."
But the thing is, knowing Garak, he wouldn't even try to hide it. He'd just stand there knowing Odo wouldn't be able to find any actual evidence to prove it.
Smuggest. Grin. Ever.
I can't see him surviving a return from dominion captivity. Too many enemies who would be overjoyed to use this unsanctioned operation against him.
If the operation succeeded? Probably the cardassian government would have publically condemned and censured him while privately patting his back.
However in the event he was leading Cardassia or in a leading position during the war he probably would have tilted the cardassian empire in a pro-federation and allies direction. Someone like him or Garak would have been cardassian nationalists first and foremost.
Also something always interested me about Garak saying "we betrayed the alpha quadrant" and with Romulan support early on(the episode where changeling Bashir was discovered) it tells me at least at some level a sense of Alpha Quadrant loyalty or identity existed at least as a rhetorical device.
If the operation succeeded? Probably the cardassian government would have publically condemned and censured him while privately patting his back.
However in the event he was leading Cardassia or in a leading position during the war he probably would have tilted the cardassian empire in a pro-federation and allies direction. Someone like him or Garak would have been cardassian nationalists first and foremost.
Also something always interested me about Garak saying "we betrayed the alpha quadrant" and with Romulan support early on(the episode where changeling Bashir was discovered) it tells me at least at some level a sense of Alpha Quadrant loyalty or identity existed at least as a rhetorical device.
Kinda makes me think he would reevaluate the decision to have Mela killed, as she too was kind of part of the resistance movement.
Tain would never have sold Cardassia's sovereignty to the Dominion in any case.
Even if he were alive, he'd still have been in prison when Dukat did that, so he would never have any say in the matter.
I concur with those who say he'd go into hiding. He'd almost certainly have a series of safe houses set up throughout the quadrant...which were decoys for his actual safe house(s) elsewhere. Alternatively, he'd enter into an uneasy alliance with Section 31 or the Tal Shiar, with Tain and the organization each trying to outplay the other while sharing limited information.
Would he have been released at the same time as the other cardassian prisoners in 371?
Hmmm, good question. Wouldn't surprise me if Dukat would have made an exception of him as well as Garak. Even if he didn't consider him an enemy and/or dangerous, he'd probably do it just to torture Garak.
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