Reporting in

Posted on Sun Sep 9th, 2018 @ 8:30am by Admiral Zachary O'Connell

Mission: Alrakis Updates
Location: DS12 and Starbase 72

Harrison stared at the comms unit, his hand hovering uncertainly over its activation button. It was not so much as whether he should report what had occurred to Starfleet Headquarters as….

That’s exactly what it is, he thought. Just what am I supposed to report? That some unknown person – presumably Breen, but not necessarily so – wants to meet with representatives of the Federation. Why? To seek assistance is the obvious answer but who ever knew of the Breen asking anyone for assistance. The very idea is ludicrous! And why the Federation? Have the Breen not just signed some pact with the Tzenkethi and someone else?

He cursed himself for not keeping a closer eye on what was happening in the sector but the Breen worlds were so far away from Deep Space 12. Then he cursed himself again. Was it not the Breen who attacked Earth during the Dominion War? he asked himself.

The most obvious answer is that the Breen want to drag Starfleet into their war against the Cardassian Union, he thought. A second front on this side of the Union must seem like a good outcome to them. Whether that is so or not, the possibility is not one to be ignored.

He hit the button swiftly, before he could double-guess himself again.

“Lieutenant Stills, put me through to Starbase 72,” he ordered of his Ops officer. “Secure and encrypted channel, if you please.”

=^=Sir!=^= came the usual crisp reply.

He waited, his fingers drumming his desk top impatiently.

=^=I have Starbase 72 for you sir. The line is secure and encrypted.=^=

“Thank you, Mister Stills.”

The screen of the desktop terminal flashed the logo of the United Federation of Planets before whisking it away to reveal a Trill Ensign in red, one of Starbase 72's many communication dispatch officers. "This is Starbase 72," announced the Trill. "With whom am I speaking?"

“Captain Nelson Harrison of Deep Space 12. I would like to speak to Admiral O’Connell, please.”

The Trill did his best to hide a frown. Since FNS broke the news, Admiral O'Connell's office had been flooded by all manners of communication, from interview requests to various COs wanting updates. The Admiral couldn't possibly speak with everyone, but he had issued a short list of officers and locations to dispatch to make sure they got through to him. Fortunately for Captain Harrison, his name was on the list. "One moment, Captain." The dispatch officer shot a quick message to the Admiral's staff, who provided a swift reply. "It appears the Admiral is on another call, but he will jump on as soon as that is finished."

“The matter is important. I will wait.”

The Trill nodded, tapping a button on his console to place the call on hold. His image was subsequently replaced by the logo for Task Force 72 accompanied by the words Please stand by. Several minutes later, the screen flashed again, this time revealing Admiral O'Connell behind his desk. "Captain Harrison," he greeted. "We meet at last."

“Admiral, how are you?”

"I am doing well," Zachary replied, thinking of his wife and infant son who hadn't seen him in a few days. Of course she understood the situation, but it didn't make things any easier. Crisis waited for no man. "How are things at the border?"

Harrison had never been good with small talk and pleasantries. He hurried on to the matter at hand. “Sir, I have received a message purporting to come from the Breen Confederacy. They wish to meet with Federation representatives and they wish to do so here on Deep Space 12.”

For a human who was incapable of hiding his emotions, Zachary's eyebrows shot up faster than he could ever believe. "Oh?" he asked. "That's fairly odd timing considering their entering the Alrakis Pact."

“You must forgive me, Admiral, but I have heard little about the Pact other than the brief outline in official news sources. My estimation is that the Breen are looking for allies wherever they can find them. This move might be designed to outflank Cardassia and thus draw troops and resources away from the Breen frontier. Then again, it could be the result of a power play within the Breen government.”

"Are you suggesting that perhaps not all of the Confederacy supports the Pact?" Zachary asked. The implications could be far reaching here. Prior to the Breen attacking Earth during the Dominion War, the Breen were an isolationist group, keeping to themselves. It was a surprise when they joined the Dominion, and even more of a surprise that they aligned themselves with the Tzenkethi. "There have long been rumors that the Breen themselves are a conglomerate of individual races, their actual identities concealed beneath their suits. If this is true, then it is safe to say that not everyone would support the Pact."

Harrison considered that opinion. “I think it likely that such is the case,” he replied. “I think it is something we should keep an open mind on. For now, though, I would like your permission to reply to the message. I think we should follow this thread and see where it leads. We need not commit ourselves to anything but, if nothing else, it might well allow us to expand our knowledge of the Breen: their government, their culture...even the races that make up the Confederacy if that is indeed the case.”

Zachary couldn't help but agree. As it stood, the Federation, much less Task Force Intelligence, knew very little of what happened between the three powers and their agreement to form the Alrakis Pact. "Agreed, Captain. But exercise caution. For all we know, this could be some sort of elaborate test."

“There is another matter, sir, if I might take up some more of your time.”

Zachary did need to move on to another call, but as this was the first time he'd spoken to the commander of a critical outpost, it would not be wise of him to ignore what the Captain had to say. He then nodded to Harrison, indicating an approval to proceed.

“You will remember the sensor net we laid down a couple of years ago. Deep Space 12 has been picking up unusual traffic along the frontier between the Demilitarised Zone and the Cardassian Union.”

The Admiral did recall the sensor net, thanks to one of the first briefings he'd received since becoming Task Force Commanding Officer. "What sort of traffic?" he asked.

“There are the usual trade vessels and our own patrols. Other races use the corridor as we have not tried to turn it into an Exclusion Zone. Many worlds depend on trade flowing freely along the corridor and it is part of our own humanitarian efforts in the Union and to the worlds inside the DMZ.”

"Go on," Zachary said, wondering where exactly this was going.

“We have picked up the signatures of Klingon vessels. This is not unusual in and of itself. Both military and merchant vessels use the corridor though the military ones are, ostensibly, only used as escorts. However, we have recently begun seeing...unusual activity.”

The Admiral took a moment to absorb this. His role within the fleet required him to be abreast of various activities throughout the Fourth Fleet, including what Task Force 93 was handling on its borders. Of course everyone knew that the Klingons often utilized their access and trade agreements granted by the Khitomer Accords to explore and traverse Federation space. "What makes their activities so unusual?" asked the Admiral.

“To be perfectly honest, it is hard to say, sir. The best way I can describe it is that Klingon military vessels seem to be traversing the corridor to no useful purpose. They do not seem to be going anywhere, or – for that matter – to be coming from anywhere. They are not patrolling: that would suggest some sort of pattern to their activity and, to date, we have been unable to discern one.”

Zachary gave the matter some thought before replying. With the Sovereignty of Kahless becoming a thorn in the Empire's side, it was possible that elements could have slipped through Federation space under the guise of normal activity. Or perhaps this was a neutral House that could be getting antsy. Either way, he would have to run this one up the Intelligence chain to see if something else was afoot. "I suggest keeping an eye on it," the Admiral said. "We do want to be careful in how its handled since our position with the Empire is a bit strained. But if they haven't actually violated treaty, then there isn't much we can do."

“I will do so, sir. We have a Klingon Ambassador on board Deep Space 12: Madam Haqtaj of House Matlh. House Matlh was aligned against the High Council during the Dominion War and relations with the Council remain strained. I can approach Madam Haqtaj and find out what I can.”

Admiral O'Connell nodded, granting permission. "Is there anything else, Captain?" he inquired.

“There is one other thing, sir. Petty Officer Vartog is currently on leave. He is a holovideo expert and is designing and coding training programs for the High Council. There is some reluctance within the Admiralty to returning him to his old post which was aide to Madam Haqtaj and the Federation liaison to the Embassy. I can vouchsafe for Vartog’s loyalty to Starfleet, however he has proven invaluable to Madam Haqtaj. I would like him returned to his old position.”

The Admiral was unfamiliar with the Petty Officer, and the proffered explanation and description was not enough to jog his memory. Perhaps this was one of the few things not left behind in Admiral Harrison's logs. "And which position would that be?"

“His official position is Master at Arms aboard Deep Space 12 but when Madame Haqtaj requested a Starfleet liaison officer be appointed. My predecessor chose Petty Officer Vartog. It seemed a reasonable choice and I have had no cause to overturn it. Vartog is, first and foremost, a Starfleet officer with an exemplary record. He has built up a good rapport with Madame Haqtaj and while he would not do anything to deliberately injure the Ambassador, he has proven a useful asset to have in place there.”

“I can send you his personnel file and military record if you wish,” Harrison added almost as an afterthought.

The Admiral sat in silence for a moment, considering the logic and appreciating that this was a situation both men had inherited. "If this assignment is something you support, Captain, then I see no need to interfere from my level. You are certainly free to reassign the Petty Officer as you wish."

"Thank you, sir, I will attend to it. Harrison out."