Captain Wallace is in the office, of Captain Andrew Roberts the Chief of Strategic Operations for the entire fleet. His office was rather large, and decorated with Captain Roberts' collection of mementos he had collected in his 20 years of Service, and some personal things such as photos of his family. Wallace was sitting in front of Roberts' desk, and was sipping coffee. He was waiting for Roberts to finish something on a PADD.
"So Captain, I see your reputation is justly earned."Roberts said, putting down a PADD. Wallace was interested in knowing what the Captain was talking about.
"Excuse me sir?"
"You earned a name as a hell of a soldier, that never believed in being defeated no matter the odds." Roberts said, leaning back in his chair.
"Well, sir odds are only numbers. I hardly put much stock in such things as odds."Wallace said, giving a chuckle, and smile
"Well it's time for you to change gears Captain. The area infront of the Briar Patch is largely unexplored. The Dominion War ended 9 years ago, the Barien War was a cheap war, and your little War against the Son'a was cheap, costing one Defiant Class ship, and one Commander Kelly's career." Roberts paused and picked up a PADD, and was quite for a matter of minutes.
Wallace thought that this meeting was going to be bad, and was unsure what Roberts was wanting."Sir am I being relieved of Command of Supply Base 901?"
"I could, if we weren't short of field experience Captains. Your objective, Captain is to explore the area around the Briar Patch and beyond.
Your second objective is to be a listening post for any Borg." The word Borg seemed strange to Wallace, he had not seen any Borg for the better part of 11 years. So he was a little bit skeptical of any Borg threat.
"Borg? Sir."
"The nebula that is a short cut to the Delta Quadrant." Roberts said, in a way that would seem demeaning to anybody that herd it."
"Oh, yes sir, I understand now. However sir we are undermanned, and no ship anymore."
"You'll be getting 45 new crewmembers of the next three months. And as for the starship here."Roberts turned his view screen on, and a Steamrunner class ship appeared.
"I couldn't get you a new ship, but I found the USS Hamilton, was being refitted for Transwarp Drive, and new shielding. Her crew and CO were being transferred." Roberts handed over a PADD.
Richard was happy, he wasn't being relieved of duty, and was getting a new ship. He looked down on the PADD, and read and saw that the orders were real, and Ross' approval was on it."Captain, your new orders are, as follows." Roberts said turning the view screen off, and then waiting for Wallace to look up.
"Your, to set up a early warning system in case of Borg attack. Help any ships in distress, explore, and make contact with Alien races. Your last order is to escort, and help new colonist, heading towards the area." Roberts then handed over a PADD.
"Sir, I'll leave in the morning. What about Banshee?"
"Banshee Squadron will stay aboard SB901 until you feel they are not needed."Roberts replied.
Richard left the office in a good mood, and took a deep breath and looked at the golden gate bridge, he then gave a smile, as Garek walked up. He simply handed Garek a PADD, and he read it aloud.
"USS Hamilton is to be sent to Supply Base 901, as defense and exploration Craft, under the command of Captain Richard Wallace. USS Hamilton will be changed to USS Arizona-Alpha." Garek gave a smile.