— USS Falcon, Flag Bridge —

Captain Radak ran his fingers along the edge of the PADD as he re-read the report. His eyebrow rose as he looked from the screen to the Lieutenant Commander waiting for his attention once he’d digested the details.

“Are we confident in this report’s accuracy?” Radak asked Lieutenant Commander Victoria Hume.

Obviously he knew that no intelligence report was perfectly accurate, and until things were verified there was still some level of doubt, but given recent events with the Changelings there was really no room to not act if there was even the slightest chance the report could be correct.

The young Lieutenant Commander nodded, “Four colonies along the Klingon – Federation border have been attacked, seemingly by the Klingons. Either it actually is the Klingons or pirates who’ve stolen Mat’Ha-class destroyers.”

Radak nodded, considering the implications. The report detailed the attacks, scans from the colonies attacked showed Klingon ships, but their actions seemed more like pirates. Hitting hard and fast and looting. These ships, at least two of them, had also been attacking cargo vessels in the region. It did not take a leap in logic to understand that having pirates whether part of the Orion Syndicate or not, with access to Mat’Ha-class destroyers was serious. Either it spoke to a highly capable element within the pirates to have stolen them, or a Klingon house working with the pirates to provide weapons and technology. At the very least having Klingon ships attacking Federation outposts would put pressure on the Federation for a response. This could, Radak realized, lead to war between the Klingons and Starfleet which would only benefit the pirates.

Reading further Radak said the inevitable, “The Klingons have denied it is them.”

“When they bothered to respond, yes,” Lieutenant Commander Hume said, “but it’s not like old Warbirds. Mat’Ha-class destroyers are hard to get your hands on.”

“This means either the pirates have resources and abilities we had not realized or the Klingons are involved,” Radak said, “At this juncture however it would not be prudent to act as though this was a Klingon attack. Risking all out war would cause more hardships for all the colonies along the border than if this was a series of isolated attacks either by a single House or by pirates. Recall the USS Selene. We are hunting for these ships now.”

Hume nodded, “They won’t like being called back.”

“I know, they are a science ship, but this for now is our focus. Tell Captain Carrillo it is an order, she will obey,” Radak said confidently. Captain Aike of the USS Falcon however was less likely to fall in line, though he might enjoy Klingon hunting.

—- USS Selene, Deep Space (The Triangle) —-

The Selene cut through space at a brisk warp eight, leaving behind the USS Falcon and the Federation. To Captain Carrillo’s mind it was finally being let off the leash to do what it was always meant to do, explore. Despite their overriding assignment of defence of the Federation, they could best do that by finding out what things lurked in the darkness beyond their borders, and dealing with them before they became tomorrow’s issues. It was an argument that the Federation had been saved by the Enterprise’s early and unattended meeting of the Borg thanks to Q’s interference. Had they not discovered that the threat lurked out there, preparations (however insufficient) could not have begun and the first time that Starfleet had been alerted to the Borg was when there were right at their door.

Commander James Young entered her office for their weekly debrief. They’d been running in a straight line at cruising speed for weeks now, and while she got reports from engineering she trusted that Young would raise an issue if one had to be dealt with.

“Sit Commander, how’s it going?” Carrillo asked, as Young took a seat.

“It’s going good, but I was wondering if there’s anything in the next week or so we could stop at. I’d like to run a diagnostic on the engines,” he said.

Carrillo frowned, “Any reason?”

“No, but this is the most sustained run they’ve been on since… well forever in my understanding and I wanted to just make sure nothing surprises us. We’re weeks out from Federation space and I’d rather not discover something serious when we get months out,” he said.

Carrillo nodded, it was understandable caution. While she doubted anything would be wrong, they could do with doing something other than sprinting outward bound.

“Okay, there’s a Class M world about four days out, we’ll stop there and do some scans,” Carrillo said, “see if we can send a few away teams down.”

“I appreciate it ma’am,” Young said, he avoided away teams as he believed his place was on the ship, but the chance to have a few days babying the engines was all he wanted.

As the commander left a message sent from Captain Radak came in to Carrillo’s terminal. She sighed, knowing this was going to be something she wasn’t keen on and leaned forwards.

— USS Falcon, Conference Room —

The senior staff of the ship reviewed the briefing after Captain Radak had presented it. The Selene recalled from it’s mission, Klingon destroyers stolen by pirates. Nothing that either Captain Radak or Lieutenant Commander Hume had presented had been particularly good news.

“The Selene is heading into Klingon space to try to track down where these ships may have come from. They’re starting at this KDF storage facility inside Klingon space near the Triangle,” Radak said gesturing to the display and the sector map.

“If we’re going up against two Klingon destroyers we are outclassed on our own,” Captain Aike pointed out, he relished a fight more than most captains but he was not suicidal.

“Indeed, but colonial defences are even less prepared,” Radak said evenly, it was a case of needing to do the impossible because there was no other option. 

The younger Hume, who had transferred from the Selene to become the Chief Security Officer glanced at his sister, not sure she understood just how overmatched they were. He nodded, to support Captain Aike’s assessment of the situation, “The Falcon is a tough ship, but these are at least two  Mat’Ha-class destroyers. We’d have our hands full with one.”

Radak nodded, “I am aware of the tactical situation. There is no gain in continuing to raise these objections. We will do what we can, that is the orders and I have faith in Captain Aike. As of now we’re to move towards the border and begin a defensive tour. Lieutenant Murf, we will need to increase our possible top speed to respond to threats. Ensure this happens.”

The Chief Engineer nodded, “Will do.”

The Vulcan nodded, “Lieutenant Commander Hume will field any further questions.”

He nodded briskly and exited the conference room.
Captain Aike stood, and smoothed his uniform, “Well let’s make it happen people. Hume you and me should start on some drills. I realize this will be your first rodeo in charge.”

— USS Selene, Captain’s Ready Room —

“This isn’t what I meant by taking the engines offline to work on them,” said Commander Young as stars sped by outside.

“We’ll push the ship until we get into Klingon space and then slow down to Warp eight. We have to get to the depot, and the ship can do warp 9.995,” Captain Carrillo said, she had been hoping for a week studying a class-M planet and now was rushing to fight some Klingons or Orions, it was not yet clear which.

“And the Klingons will work with us?” Commander Keyana Mason asked, not convinced that was the case.

“They’re saying they’re not involved in the attacks, and they’ve agreed to be some help, though that’s undefined. Put together an away team for when we arrive. I want us to figure this out quick, the Falcon is on its own at the moment,” Carrillo said, not pointing out that so where they.

Mason nodded, “Ma’am.”