What to do with what they know

[tomcat]

The officers entered the conference room minutes before the time set by their captain - Darkan already sat at the head of the table.

When all were settled, Darkan looked to Townshend who pressed a button to have the computer begin recording the meeting minutes. She nodded and turned the table back over to the commander.

[sdrotar]

OOC: Sorry about my absence. My PC literally burned up - bad smells and puffs of smoke and everything! So it took me while to salvage as much as I could, buy a new one and so on. Anyway, I'm back now. I apologize for any inconvenience.

[Edrahil / Tam]

OOC: Sorry about my absence. My PC literally burned up - bad smells and puffs of smoke and everything! So it took me while to salvage as much as I could, buy a new one and so on. Anyway, I'm back now. I apologize for any inconvenience.

OOC: No problem, glad you're back. Yeah, the magical blue smoke isn't generally a good thing to see coming out of your computer... ;-)

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: No problem, glad you're back. Yeah, the magical blue smoke isn't generally a good thing to see coming out of your computer... ;-)

OOC: Though I don't know if you consider it only able to happen once a good or bad thing.

IC: The officers about the table look expectingly on to their young captain.  "Before you begin your and Mr. Stonn's brief, Mr. Ramos, please summarize the status and condition of our returned probes and the state of that part of the mission."

[tomcat]

OOC: Here is a character known that the players do not yet know, so to you guys they are an unknown known... but now that you know it can be a known known. [Courtesy of our former defense secretary] 

Ramos has retrieved 15 of the 24 probes, but 4 did not return. Whither they have gone is for you guys to find out, if you want, but that would be a monumental task. The missions acceptable loss figure was 8 of 25.

-25 mission probes were orignally loaded on the ship
-1 was defective out of the box and scrapped for parts
-24 probes were launched.
-----------
-15 probes have been retrieved
-4 probes were not at the designated location when the Columbia passed.
-----------

That leaves 5 probes still be determined if they have returned.

The mission had an acceptable loss number of 8 of the 25 probes loaded, so if only 17 probes were retrieved, Starfleet would have considered the data collection a success.

So our story thus far still has a 3 probe loss rate before the Fed would deem the mission a failure.

[sdrotar]

Ramos mentioned the status of the array of probes - losing four was not unanticipated as long as the others were retrieved - they were designed to be disposable, anyway.
"Data is being retrieved from the probes and forwarded to Tactical as we speak; no significant problems have been encountered thus far."
On the whole, the mission was proceeding well enough, he thought. If they could just get a few of those last five probes...

[GandalfOfBorg]

"Were any of the missing probes also in range of the dry dock?"

[sdrotar]

"Were any of the missing probes also in range of the dry dock?"

OOC: While Ramos may know the answer, I don't. Tomcat?

[tomcat]

Ramos pushed a button and the table's central console screen illuminated with a map of the region of space called the Wedge and the Columbia's flight path could be clearly seen. From its ingress, the screen displayed multiple (25 to be exact) animated parabolic paths that originated along the Columbia's course to return again to the ship on its egress. Each of the trajectories were labeled and were in different colors. The Red paths showed probes that had not returned, or had not been launched; green were those that had been retrieved; and the amber paths were still expectant.

Of the five red trajectories, the staff knew that one had not even been launched due to the probe's malfunction, and the remaining four branched off of the ship's flight path in equal number into both Romulan and Klingon space. The two that flew into Romulan territory were within the same sector as the space dock, but at distances of 8 and 15 light years respectively. If they had been discovered, it could only be assumed that the returning probes would have taken measure of an increase in communications throughout the area. Instead, the probes reported an eerie silence in a region of space that the Romulans and Klingons were equally as diligent in their watch. Ramos had to make the assumption that they failed in programming and self-destructed or even struck an unknown body. In any case, they had not returned and the Columbia would not seek them out - after a time if not retieved, they would self-destruct so that no one would acquire them.

The data that had been retrieved of the Klingon side had revealed very little - no communications, very little presence of warp signatures save those of what appeared to be merchant class vessels. So where was the Klingon fleet of border patrols? Where were the Romulans for that matter?

[GandalfOfBorg]

"Hmm, more questions to be answered.  Alright, we'll continue this later.  Tell us what you've discovered so far about the unidentified ship in Romulan dry dock and what questions need further scrutiny."

[tomcat]

"Sir," said Grahm, "as we all know, diplomatic relations between the Klingon Empire and the Federation have been improving over the last couple of years, ever since the Tal-Hok'nah house took control. It has gotten to the point where delegations have been invited to each respective homeworld, and we may be standing on the edge of a new future with the Klingons."

Darkan felt an acid ball form in his stomach as he listened  to the tactical officer and his vision of what might be. All the captain could do was remember the burning of the U.S.S. Freedom's bridge from disruptor fire and the death of his fellow crewmen. He did not interrupt his subordinate but the only thought that was on his mind was - who can trust a Klingon?

Grahm continued, "Where my concern lies, sir, and a question I think we need to address is, what was a rogue merchant vessel doing in Federation space, transmitting a coded message to another unidentified vessel regarding the Chak-ruth house? Chak-ruth agrees and awaits go? The Chak-ruth house is small but still has approximately forty ships at their disposal - enough to potentially enact a coup. With the death of the supreme chancellor of the Tal-Hok'nah house, the empire has become aflame with infighting and a stab at the empire's heart could push the whole thing into civil war."

"But why relay a message in Federation space?" asked Pushkin. "And why is there a Constitution-class vessel in Romulan space?"

Grahm thought a moment, "If you were going to start a war Alex, or attempt to takeover a government, how would you do it? How about a distraction to avert your enemy's gaze or preoccupy them, while you slip in and take power?"

"But again... why in Romulan territory?" inquired the helmsman. "The Romulans currently have worse relations than we have with the Klingons."

[sdrotar]

"Sir," said Grahm, "as we all know, diplomatic relations between the Klingon Empire and the Federation have been improving over the last couple of years, ever since the Tal-Hok'nah house took control. It has gotten to the point where delegations have been invited to each respective homeworld, and we may be standing on the edge of a new future with the Klingons."

Darkan felt an acid ball form in his stomach as he listened  to the tactical officer and his vision of what might be. All the captain could do was remember the burning of the U.S.S. Freedom's bridge from disruptor fire and the death of his fellow crewmen. He did not interrupt his subordinate but the only thought that was on his mind was - who can trust a Klingon?

Grahm continued, "Where my concern lies, sir, and a question I think we need to address is, what was a rogue merchant vessel doing in Federation space, transmitting a coded message to another unidentified vessel regarding the Chak-ruth house? Chak-ruth agrees and awaits go? The Chak-ruth house is small but still has approximately forty ships at their disposal - enough to potentially enact a coup. With the death of the supreme chancellor of the Tal-Hok'nah house, the empire has become aflame with infighting and a stab at the empire's heart could push the whole thing into civil war."

"But why relay a message in Federation space?" asked Pushkin. "And why is there a Constitution-class vessel in Romulan space?"

Grahm thought a moment, "If you were going to start a war Alex, or attempt to takeover a government, how would you do it? How about a distraction to avert your enemy's gaze or preoccupy them, while you slip in and take power?"

"But again... why in Romulan territory?" inquired the helmsman. "The Romulans currently have worse relations than we have with the Klingons."

"That may be true," added Stonn, "but there have been technological agreements between the two parties nevertheless. Starfleet reports have verified the recent existence of a Klingon 'bird of prey', with the ability to cloak like it's Romulan counterpart. It is entirely possible that certain factions in both Empires may have objectives that are not official policy."
Such were the problems with an empire, Stonn thought. When governmental power could be achieved by force, it stood to reason that many would spend their entire lives plotting to acquire it.

Ramos mused, "If Mr. Grahm is correct, then the presence of a Constitution-class vessel might derail any momentum in Klingon-Federation negotiations. Could this Klingon family be trying to use a Starfleet ship - real or not - to try and do that? Mr. Stonn is right; there have been technological exchanges - certainly, some Klingons and Romulans have maintained some sort of relationship. What better place to hide a Starfleet vessel than in Romulan space?"

The notion lingered in the room for a moment, as the engineer stroked his dark goatee, considering the enormity of what he had suggested.

[tomcat]

OOC: Awesome Shawn! Everyone feel free to have your characters add your own personal knowledge of the Trek canon, just try to wrap it around how I am portraying the current political system.

Never knew Ramos had a goatee... neat to see the mental visuals of these characters take form.  :D

[tomcat]

"So if it is an attempt by one of the imperial houses to vie for power, whether the Romulans will have a direct hand in it themselves, what do we do about it?" asked the Tactical officer.

If the Romulans, or Klingons, should use a Federation vessel in their coup d'etat of the Klingon government, even if it were a mock up, the repercussions could be catastrophic. War could break out on the Klingon front, or worse, on both fronts. The Romulans were ever eager to capitalize on an opportunity and if Starfleet were engaged in a major action against the Klingons, it would be a perfect time for the Romulans to escalate their own warfare footing. They could attempt to push beyond the Neutral Zone and claim new territories in Federation space!

Grahm knew the Columbia was a warship - a very capable one in the Federation's armory - but she was alone. The stealth technology would make for an easier ingress into foreign territories, but it was not a cloaking device. They had no support from Starfleet at the moment, but they were the only ones who knew about the pending situation... if it existed at all, because everyone at the table was still not 100% sure what the data before them revealed.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Darkan's dislike of the Klingons ran deep and personally he didn't care what happened to them, but if that Trojan horse of a starship is used in the worst possible way, the consequences to the Federation and the rest of the Quadrant could be dire.  "It seems that we've stumbled along something that would require us to act if we can and quickly.  Without contact with Starfleet Command, it comes down to us to decide what to do with this intelligence.  Mr. Stonn, I want a complete threat analysis done with the information we have at hand, incorporating discussion from this meeting.  Provide possible outcomes and consequences and their probabilities. Mr. Grahm, make sure we're ready if need be to enter Romulan or Klingon space.  Ms. Townshend, continue monitoring all channels for communications.  Mr. Ramos, continue probe mission, but if technically feasible, make repairing that malfuntioning probe a high priority; it could come in handy.  Time is of the essence people.  Meet back here in 24 hours."