Elena Mitchell stood in the middle of operations, her eyes glued on the viewscreen as reports of increased tensions flooded in from across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. The political landscape had swerved once again, leaving Starfleet in a shaky position. She may not have understood it all, but she knew that Starfleet didn’t need any more issues; they had barely recovered from the events of Frontier Day. Trouble with the Klingons was the last thing the Federation needed.

She’d heard whispers around the station, people talked. It was normal. Many people on the station felt the Romulan Ambassador had gotten what she deserved. It was almost as if people thought her death was a price paid for all the suffering Romulans had caused. Sure, the Federation was duty-bound to protect their Romulan allies, but it was a tough pill to swallow for many. Many had the same feelings in the Dominion War when the Federation came to the aid of the Cardassians. However, they couldn’t dwell on the past if the Federation wanted to move forward.

She sighed as she looked down at the padd in hand, shifting through the flurry of incoming messages. Her mind raced with all the possible problems this new Klingon Chancellor Toral could cause. The fledgling Romulan governments that had formed in the aftermath of the last few years had now found themselves at the mercy of several Klingon houses seeking to use the chaos to their advantage. Meanwhile, whispers of a new Maquis threatened to reopen old wounds. She shook her head at the realization that the Federation was getting hammered on both sides of the galaxy.

Yet, in the middle of it all, Captain Mitchell had long taken pride in her knack for determining friend from foe. It was a skill that had developed over the years in the security field. However, as recent events unfolded, Elena couldn’t shake the growing feeling of unease. Everything hinted that something here might not be as it seemed. With General Rempeck blocking her people at every step, there were too many unanswered questions. The Romulan was too insistent on doing this his way; it wasn’t adding up. Any man in his position would welcome the help, yet Rempeck seemed to push the Federation away at every chance.

Captain Mitchell’s internal thoughts were interrupted by the call of a nearby Ensign. “Captain, incoming message from the Romulan transporter vessel, the Batak. They claim to be under attack by several Klingon vessels.”

“Contact the Galileo and have them intercept,” Elena replied.

“Captain the Batak says they are transporting Senator T’Vel…,” the Ensign was cut off.

“Transporting him where?” Elena demanded, almost dreading the likely reply.

“Here, Ma’am!”

“Get whatever we have in that area; we need to protect that ship at all costs,” she ordered. She couldn’t afford another incident with the T’Vel family.

Whatever the response could have been, it was met with absolute defeat. Incoming chatter had already suggested that the Senator’s ship had been destroyed. To make matters worse, the communications also hinted that House Korvak was responsible for the attack. It didn’t make any sense, two members of the T’Vel family being openly attacked in such a short time. This wasn’t random; it screamed of something more.

Elena moved to her ready room and pulled up the sensor logs and data that were being transmitted from the Galileo. Watching the attack unfold on the screen was sheer horror. The Klingon vessels swarmed around the Batak like predators, their weapons tearing through its defenses. Even for a Klingon, the event was overkill. This lacked honor. This wasn’t a glorious battle.

As Elena watched the chaos unfold, a knot formed in her stomach. This wasn’t just an attack; it was a calculated strike. The precision with which the Klingon vessels targeted the Batak spoke volumes. It was clear that this wasn’t some random act of aggression; it was a planned assassination attempt. 

But. why would House Korvak target Senator T’Vel? Elena couldn’t understand. The T’Vel family had been vocal advocates of peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. They had no known enemies within the Klingon Empire, or at least none that Elena knew.

As she considered the situation, a disturbing thought began to take shape in Elena’s mind. What if this wasn’t just an isolated incident? What if there was a larger scheme at play? A plot that reached far deeper than she had expected at first. How many people knew of the Senator’s travel? She didn’t. How could the Klingons have known? She looked out into Operations as the possibilities began to grow in her mind. As Elena reflected, the doors to Ops opened, catching her attention. 

In walked a figure she didn’t expect to see: Rempeck. Given the recent events involving the Romulans, his presence alone sent a shiver down Elena’s spine. She had no evidence or anything beyond a gut feeling, but she knew Rempeck wasn’t innocent.

“Captain Mitchell,” Rempeck’s voice echoed throughout Ops, his demeanor carrying an aura of authority. “I trust you are aware of the situation regarding the attack on the Batak.”

Elena’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the Romulan. “Yes, General Rempeck. We’re currently assessing the situation and coordinating our efforts,” she responded.

Rempeck stepped closer. “Good. I just received communication from my superiors. In response to Ambassador T’Vel’s death, I was appointed the acting Romulan Ambassador. My government made one thing clear: We need to get to the bottom of this attack. My superiors demand answers, and they will not tolerate any delays.”

Elena’s mind raced. Rempeck’s sudden appointment and aggressive behavior raised suspicions. Could he have directed this attack to further his own agenda? Why did he now want help? It seemed too convenient. He appeared at the perfect moment. How could he have known about the attacks so soon after it happened?

“I assure you, General, I’m doing everything in my power to investigate this attack,” Elena responded, careful to keep her tone impartial. She wanted to mention House Korvak, but something in the back of her mind screamed that she should keep that to herself, at least for now.

Rempeck’s expression changed, and his eyes narrowed as if he could see through Elena’s lies. “See that you do, Captain. My government will be watching closely, and we will not hesitate to take matters into our own hands if we deem Starfleet’s response insufficient.”

With that disturbing warning, Rempeck turned on his heel, leaving Elena with a sinking feeling in her stomach. She couldn’t shake the idea that Rempeck’s motives were far more wicked than he let on; he was playing a long game. But what was the game? Regardless, without proof, there was little she could do. She didn’t like this helpless feeling.

As Rempeck exited Ops, he briefly looked at the young Ensign who had relayed the distress call from the Batak. In that brief glance, a silent understanding passed between the two; it was something in their eyes. It confirmed something Elena had feared. There was a mole within her station, and it was someone close, someone trusted. Rempeck’s need to push for control, coupled with the timing of this new attack, now seemed more than coincidental. Elena knew she had to act carefully; the enemy was not just at their doorstep but possibly hidden in plain sight.

Elena had to consider her next move carefully. She decided to dive deeper into the background of her crew, specifically the Ensign in question. She’d hoped that something might shed light on the situation. A chilling realization hit her as she scrolled through the Officer’s file. The Ensign’s father had been stationed on Utopia Planitia when the Synths attacked. Could his involvement have been nothing more than a personal vendetta against the Federation? What else could lead them to such a betrayal? Elena couldn’t be sure, but the facts increased her feeling of anxiety. With the hint of betrayal at her doorstep, she knew her next move would have to be calculated. She couldn’t afford to slip before she had the evidence to take down Rempeck. But was that even possible now?