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Interlude

Posted on Mon Jul 27th, 2020 @ 1:54pm by Lieutenant JG Kevin Lance
Edited on on Sat Aug 8th, 2020 @ 2:59pm

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Starfleet Headquarters
Timeline: Current

The Starfleet Chief of Naval Operations pinched the bridge of her nose against the headache that she could feel was forming. The morning situation briefing had just concluded and most of the primary staff shuffled out of the room, leaving the CNO with two officers. Her Vulcan Assistant Chief sat in one of the chairs across the massive desk, his fingers steepled in a non-verbal expression of concern that belied his placid face. The Chief of Intelligence, an Andorian, wore an expression of intense concentration that give them a stern continence a less familiar being would presume was mild anger.

The CNO waited until the doors closed on the last of the departing staff officers, then dropped her hand to the desk and drummed her fingers for a few seconds. Finally she said, “Trouble brewing in the Triangle is nothing new. It has been a hot spot off and on since the first Human – Romulan War. Why is it of such concern now?

“Since they discovered that their home star is going supernovae,” the Andorian began, “the Romulans have commenced on an aggressive program of expansion into the Triangle. Beyond the usual military and trade excursions, there has been a large influx of colonists, mostly from the planets that will be impacted by the supernova. There are also reports of increased activities by the Tal Shiar on several of the closest unaffiliated planets and in the Imperial Klingon States.”

“Ingrates,” muttered the CNO.

“Gratitude is a perception,” observed the Vulcan, “The Romulans have good cause to believe that they are on their own. Many in the Federation feel that we should not be aiding a traditional foe. The Council agreed to Admiral Picard's proposed evacuation of Romulus but in doing so have risked fragmenting the Federation”

The CNO harrumphed and motioned for the Chief of Intelligence to continue. “In response to Romulan activity,” they said, “the Klingons have begun strengthening their military presence in the region. They have instituted military convoys between Klingon Space and the IKS allegedly to protect merchant traffic with the States but they are also running patrols into unaffiliated space well beyond their spheres of influence.”

“With both sides increasing military presence and the Romulans intruding on the IKS, open conflict is only a matter of time,” opined the Vulcan.

“The President is already on shaky ground with member of the member planets,” said the CNO, “Investing political capital in The Triangle at this time is a risk I doubt the current administration is willing to take.”

“Nevertheless, Federation economic and scientific interest would suffer if a border war ignites,” replied the Vulcan, “not to mention the well-being of those unaffiliated world that lean towards the Federation.”

The CNO quietly considered the information that she was hearing. After a moment she asked, “How long would a conflict last and who would win?”

The Andorian rubbed their neck as they replied, “Conventional wisdom would conclude that the Klingons, with their superior numbers would likely come out victorious but the Romulans skill and reliance on subterfuge could extend any conflict through low-level raider warfare.”

“Which would suit the Orion interests just fine,” mused the CNO.

"Very true,” the Vulcan acknowledged, “but the Romulans are desperate and a desperate being will grasp at any straw."

"The Romulans are meticulous planners and rarely embark on a course of action without knowing the likely outcome," conclude the Andorian, "Indeed, their increased belligerence suggests that they have something up their sleeves.”

“I doubt that the President or the Council will have much interest in intervening prior to an open conflict,” the CNO concluded, “So what are our options?”

“Without the support of the civilian leadership, a full-scale deployment of resources is out of the question,” the Vulcan observed, “Exploration branch is focused on the Delta quadrant and has little interest in the Triangle. We could justify additional science vessels to support missions in the Triangle but they would be outgunned by the Klingons and Romulans. And smaller military vessels lack the operational endurance to sustain operations in the Triangle.

The CNO scrolled through the listing of starships and their locations when her eyes alighted on an Achilles-class strategic heavy cruiser in orbit around Risa.

 

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Comments (1)

By Lieutenant Commander Feyd Relor on Mon Jul 27th, 2020 @ 4:48pm

Love it!