Vice Admiral Jaret Taila stood at the head of the table in the wardroom, her expression a blend of concern and determination. This meeting would be the first for her senior staff since the arrival of her newest members. Jaret looked around the room as everyone started to assemble. It was midday on Deep Space Nineteen, and most had just completed half their duty shift. Before any of them could go on a lunch break, she had received a communique from Starfleet Command less than an hour ago that would scuttle what should have been a routine day for them. After familiarising herself with the update, she called for her staff to assemble. Knowing this meeting could go on, she ensured refreshments were available. Thanks to her good friends who managed The Hasperat Temple, one of the station’s premier places to eat if you were a Bajoran. After everyone had turned up and had time to grab something to eat and drink, Jaret knew she needed to get started as time was now not on their side. 

The admiral pressed a button on her PADD, and the holographic display shimmered in the centre, projecting an intricate map of the Kovar system and the trajectory of an asteroid about to enter the system. She glanced around at the assembled senior staff, taking in their focused expressions before turning her attention to the two newcomers, Captain Jaxxon Horin and Commander Anizza Horin.

“First off, I wish to welcome Captain Horin and Commander Horin to their first senior staff meeting,” she began, her voice resonating with authority yet tempered with warmth. “I’m sorry that your first day on the job starts with this crucial briefing.”

Her new first officer exchanged a quick glance with his wife, the new chief operations officer. Their Betazoid connection likely already sharing unspoken thoughts. Jaret continued, her gaze sweeping over the holographic display.

“To get you both up to speed, this asteroid,” She said, pointing at the display, “will enter the Kovar system in the next few days. It is no ordinary asteroid. It is, in fact, a piece of Remus.”

“The Reman homeworld?” Anizza inquired.

Jaret nodded. “Indeed. It is a remanent from Remus after it and Romulus were destroyed by the Hobus Supernova.”

“How has it entered our space?” Jaxxon asked. 

Jaret turned to Fitzgerald for that answer. 

“Between the shockwave produced by the destruction of the planets and its own star going supernova, along with several other subspace anomalies along the way, this large chunk of Remus has been hurtling towards Federation space for many years now.”

“None of the Romulan factions have wanted to deal with it; however, none of them has had the resources to deal with it,” Commander Sturok added. 

“As a result of that, the Romulan Free State requested our assistance in securing this piece of Remus once it entered Federation territory,” Taila explained, gesturing toward the projection as she took her seat. “This asteroid, laden with dilithium crystals, is now on course to enter the Kovar system, our jurisdiction.”

Captain Levy leaned forward, her brow furrowed with concern. “For the past two years, we have been in talks with the Romulan Free State about this matter. Our negotiations with the Romulan Free State have been delicate, to say the least. We’ve reached an agreement for a joint mining operation. In return for us capturing the asteroid in orbit of Juvir, the largest gas giant in the Kovar system, the Free State will send a small contingent of workers to mine the dilithium. We protect the asteroid, too, and then we share what is mined. We get sixty per cent, and the Free State gets forty.”

“Seems like a reasonable agreement,” Jaxxon remarked. “So what’s happened?” 

Jaret smirked; she was starting to like her new first officer. He was anticipating matters already. “Two days ago, a group of Reman refugees seized control of the asteroid, claiming it as their own. They’re using old Romulan ships to defend their claim, and tensions are escalating.”

Sturok raised a logical query. “Do we have an assessment of their defensive capabilities? How many ships are we dealing with?”

Smirking at how fast her chief strategic operations officer brought up the question, Jaret answered him as she pressed another button on her PADD. A tactical display showing the Reman fleet’s positions was added to the holographic presentation. “Initial scans indicate at least six retrofitted D-Seven battlecruisers and a handful of smaller craft. They’re heavily armed, but their technology is outdated.”

McCord, who had sat with her arms crossed against her chest, was not impressed with the news. As the Judge Advocate General, she worked closely with Levy to develop this agreement with the Romulan Free State. Countless hours and days of work had been put into it to ensure both sides were happy with the wording. Knowing what she was like, Jaret knew she would interject with a legal perspective. “The Romulan Free State will be adamant that we resolve this situation swiftly and without escalating hostilities. Our agreement with them will hang in the balance.”

Jaret nodded solemnly. “Our priority is to secure the asteroid and ensure the safety of all involved parties. We cannot afford to let this situation spiral out of control.” She turned to Captain Horin, her gaze firm. “Captain, I want you to take the lead on putting together a plan that minimises conflict while upholding our agreements with the Romulan Free State.”

Jaxxon inclined his head, his expression thoughtful. “Understood, Vice Admiral. We’ll do everything we can to resolve this crisis peacefully.”

Levy, her experience in diplomacy evident, spoke next. “Perhaps we can appeal to their sense of reason. The Remans have suffered greatly, and their claim to the asteroid is understandable. If we can offer them assurances of fair treatment and representation in the joint mining operation, they may be willing to stand down.”

“It’s crucial that we approach this with empathy and understanding,” suggested Counsellor Taf. The joined Trill showed her concern for the Remans. “Many of these refugees have endured trauma and displacement. Our actions must reflect a commitment to peace and reconciliation.”

“I couldn’t agree more with you, Lenara,” Jaret said while nodding. “This is a piece of their home that they lost. However, they are now in Federation space, which makes it our problem.”

“Admiral, we should also consider the structural integrity of the asteroid.” Fitzgerald raised in a calm and measurable tone. “If we can pinpoint weak points or vulnerabilities, we may have a tactical advantage in any potential engagement.”

“Layla, I really hope you’re not considering blowing this thing up, are you?” Doctor Parin countered quickly. “These people have suffered enough under the brutal hands of the Romulans when they were forced to work in the mines of Remus.”

“I’m not saying to blow it up to kingdom come, Jowain,” Fitzgerald answered back, “What I meant is if we ever needed to get around their ships to access the asteroid, then knowing its weak points would help us.”

“Surely a dialogue needs to be opened with the Remans first,” Hawkins asked at the end of the table. The Chief Communications Officer was the youngest member of the senior staff and, most of the time was the most effective in seeing both sides of an issue. “I know they’re in Federation territory now, but we need to know their intentions before we blow anything up. Clear and direct dialogue may be our best tool in de-escalating tensions.”

“Tom’s right,” Parin agreed. “We need to hear their side first.”

“But we don’t want to get ourselves into a firefight with them either,” Harper warned. The chief security officer sat opposite to Hawkins. “It’s bad enough we’ve had to work hard on this deal, especially with the governor on Kovar who opposed the idea of this asteroid entering our space; now we’ve got to inform Governor Thompson that we’ve got extra visitors joining us.”

“Well, there’s nothing like starting your first day with several challenges!” Anizza said, trying to sound optimistic about the situation. 

“Oh, and it only gets better,” Jaret responded. “The Romulan Free State is sending a representative to the station to monitor the situation. Starfleet couldn’t say no as the Free State would have pulled out of the agreement and planned to attack the Remans.”

“In our own territory?” Sturok questioned. “That would have been an illogical move.”

“More like ballsy,” Harper remarked. “Ever since Coppelius, the Free State has not forgiven Captain Riker and Admiral Picard for their little stunt, which we get to babysit now.”

Wanting to bring the meeting to an end, Jaret held her hand up. She summarised what she wanted them to do. “Jaxxon, I want you, Lenar, Jowain and Tom to take the Formidable to the asteroid and see if you can open some dialogue with them. See what they want and see if we can help find a way to get them off without resorting to any violence.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jaxxon agreed and looked at the others joining him.

Jaret turned to McCord, “Sandra, you, Jacinta, and I will meet with the Free State representative to discuss their concerns and fears. I want them to see we’ve got the situation secured.”

Both women nodded at her with that plan.

“Dawn, Sturok, take a runabout down to Kovar and meet with Governor Thompson. Brief him on the situation and see if you can prevent him from becoming a problem with this issue.” Jaret ordered with a smirk. They all knew how hot-headed Thompson could be, and if they wanted to keep the governor out of it, then sending Levy and Sturok to him would certainly help.

“Don’t worry, admiral, I will charm the pants off the governor, and if I fail, then Sturok could baffle him with logic!” Levy wittingly said. 

“An excellent plan,” Sturok agreed with a raised eyebrow.

The admiral smirked. “Great; in the meantime, we have a timetable for the asteroid entering the Kovar system. Layla, I want you to brief Anizza on how we are going to capture this asteroid and stick it in orbit of Juvir and look to see if those plans can be hurried along a lot sooner. I have a feeling we may need it ahead of schedule.”

“Consider it in good hands, admiral,” Fitzgerald said with a friendly smile in Anizza’s direction.

Ensuring no one else had any other questions, the admiral dismissed her team so they could get on with dealing with the latest crisis to fall in their laps.