Debriefing

An hour later, Captain Hunt, Commander Sheppard, Commander Davenport and Commander T’Kul were sat in the briefing room, the Prowler now safely enroute to their new assignment across the Briar patch.

T’Kul was the Prowler’s Chief Intel officer, having been assigned to the ship eight months previous. Although she was Half-Romulan, Half-Bajorian, she had been brought up as if she were Vulcan for many years. The Captain had at first been sceptical and suspicious of the newly assigned Intel officer, even more so once she’d learnt of T’kul’s Romulan heritage. But she had read through all the reports of her previous assignments on the original USS Leviathan and both the Leviathan A & B and had come to the conclusion that if she was trusted by Starfleet Intelligence and her former crewmates, then she was at least worthy of a chance to prove herself.

That chance had come sooner than the Captain had thought, when T’kul had received ordered to enter Romulan space and gather Intelligence. She had sent back regular reports, most of them encrypted for transmission back to Starfleet Intel. Now she was back onboard and the Captain was eager the discover what she had been doing the past six months.

“So Commander, was your mission a success ?” Captain Hunt enquired.

Commander T’Kul, pondered the Captain’s question before answering.

“If you are asking whether the mission I was sent on gave us any insight into what the Romulans have been doing over the past year, then I would say no.” She announced. “However, I did discover that they have been trading with an unknown species, providing raw materials and supplies for about five years. The vessels that attacked us are from that species.”

“Joxal reported that the vessel appeared to have an energy signature similar to Federation technology.” Commander Sheppard remarked.

“From the sensor logs and our visual sightings, a lot of their equipment appears to be very similar to Federation technology, the fighters we encountered for example.” Davenport reported. “They were very similar to our own Valkyrie fighters at first glance. But they had only limited warp capability, leaving them reliant on a carrier vessel most of the time.”

“Salvaged technology ?” Sheppard suggested.

“Could be, but they could also have been built from stolen designs or simple copied from long-range scans.” T’kul suggested. “What I do know is that although the Romulans have been aiding them, it has not always been freely. The Romulans have increased their patrols in the area where they believe these aliens are based and have suffered several unprovoked attacks over the past few years, which have been increasing significantly over the past year. This looks like the reason I was sent into Romulan space six months ago.”

“I’ll need your report for me soon.” Hunt suggested. “Plus I guess you’ll be submitting a detailed report to Starfleet Intel.”

“Once I get the Doc to fix my face…..” T’kul replied, rubbing the bridge of her nose, where her Bajorian ridges should be. “…….and I get a good nights rest.”

“You’ll have plenty of time to rest over the next few days.” Hunt stated. “Dismissed.”

Everyone but the Captain and Commander Sheppard rose and left the room. As soon as the last of them had left, Sheppard turned to his wife, ready to speak. However his wife was thinking the same thing.

“I know what you’re gong to say.” She suggested. “Whoever these aliens are, they obviously pose a threat to both the Federation and Starfleet. If the Romulans are seeing them as a threat, but still aiding them then these aliens are obviously powerful and the Romulan are hoping to profit from their assistance.”

“All the more reason for us to remain on patrol here and not fly off to some backwater frontier system few have even heard of.” Jack remarked.

“We have our orders and I intend to follow them.” Alice replied. “I’m sure Starfleet will assign another vessel to the area if they think that there is a threat here.”

“Unless it’s too late.” Jack suggested. “I think we need to find an excuse to stick around for a while.”

“Which is why I’m the Captain.” Alice stated. “We have our orders, set a course of the New Canada system, maximum warp.”

“Yes sir.” Jack said sarcastically, rising from his seat and heading out of the door back to the Bridge.

“He wants us to stay….” T’kul remarked, stepping through the still open door. “Computer seal the doors to the briefing room and initiate a level twelve security field.”

[Authorisation required.] The computer requested.

“T'Kul Beta 4-6-2” T’kul replied.

[Authorisation confirmed.] The computer replied. [Security protocols are in place.]

“I’ve never heard you use that authorisation code before.” Alice remarked. “And it doesn’t sound like a standard Starfleet code.”

“Captain, what I am about to tell you must not leave this room.” T’kul stated. “Starfleet and the Federation is in great danger.”

“So there is more to these aliens than you let on.” Alice remarked.

“Do you recognise this symbol ?” T’kul enquired, passing the Captain a Padd.

On the Padd was a cargo container, marked up in what Alice guessed as Romulan. As well as the Romulan lettering however there was a symbol. A silver sword running vertically down, behind which was what appeared to be a representation of Earth’s American continent.

“No should I ?” Alice enquired.

“Ever heard of the Terran Empire ?” T’kul asked.