Captain’s log, stardate 2401.9. Endeavour has nearly finished our joint investigation of the abandoned former Star Empire starbase and archive, Senias Station, which we have conducted in collaboration with the Republic starship Ihhliae. Though I cannot deny there have been clashes and suspicions, I’m hopeful this mission of cooperation can pave a way to a better working relationship with our allies and neighbours in the future.

‘It may take longer,’ said Commander Morvith, ‘but I would still prefer if we retained the central database.’ She looked comfortable and commanding, sat behind her desk in her office aboard the Ihhliae. While any Starfleet captain’s ready room was designed not just for the comfort of the master of the ship, but to project the right welcoming air to visitors, this office was more stark, austere. Progressive though the Republic were, their captains still commanded military ships, with a primary mission to keep their fledgling faction alive in the face of challenges from all-comers.

Valance tried to not grimace. They were alone, at least, so she only had to worry about managing Morvith, rather than keeping up wider appearances. ‘That wasn’t the agreement.’

Morvith’s face pinched. The Romulan commander had played nice so far, which was perhaps why she hadn’t expected to meet opposition. It looked like she did not appreciate a honeyed approach seemingly not paying off. ‘Senias Station is a Romulan archive…’

‘With vast information about the denizens in the Midgard Sector, some of whom are even within Federation borders these days,’ Valance said coolly. The station had once served as a hub of administrative operations in the region, but fallen into disrepair and ruin even before the collapse of the Star Empire’s successor state. ‘And some who have no allegiance to us or the Republic. The Elkari, for instance.’

‘The Elkari have barely slipped from the bonds of the Empire’s vassalisation. They’re in no condition to restore these fractured records, let alone analyse historical archives about their world.’

‘Perhaps not, but we are. Starfleet is already building a relationship with them. We’re prepared to study and restore documents relevant to the Elkari and hand them over.’ Valance hesitated, knowing she had to deliver this next point carefully. ‘Which feels like a waste of resources for the Republic.’

Morvith’s expression twitched. ‘Very well. We share the records. But we expect full transparency on what you restore. Especially if it pertains to Romulan society and especially Republic territory.’

Knowing ‘Romulan society’ could theoretically encapsulate everything recovered from the shattered, abandoned Senias Station, Valance still inclined her head and stood. ‘Thank you, Commander. It’s been a pleasure working with you.’

‘Hm. Likewise.’ Morvith wasn’t completely without grace. I’ll let you return to your ship and get underway.’ Senias Station’s orbit of an I-class planet had degraded enough that its magnetic field disrupted transporters. In a pinch, Valance knew Endeavour could pull her out, but there had been no such emergencies, and all work at Senias Station had been conducted through shuttles.

It meant she was heading for the shuttlebay, not a transporter room. While an escort met her at the office door, Valance knew it was a tremendous gesture of trust for Morvith to have her aboard the Ihhliae for their final meeting. Even though the route to the shuttlebay was routine, nowhere near any systems that could be considered sensitive, it still gave her a feel for life aboard a Republic ship. They were softer than the brisk officiousness she knew from interactions with the old Empire, or even the Cardassian Union, a more informal organisation with a far deeper reliance on camaraderie than authoritarian discipline. But they were still soldiers, not Starfleet explorers, however much they were bound by shared belief.

Her travel companion was already at the shuttle. Olivia Rivera looked oddly at ease for a Federation civilian journalist in the middle of a Romulan shuttlebay, but then again, she had all but insisted on coming along. The joint mission had been deemed appropriate for her to cover. Rather than focus on Valance, by now she had stuck her nose into all elements of the operation, and somehow even convinced some of the Republic science officers to talk to her.

‘Good to go?’

Valance tried to not give her a cool look. She knew Rivera was good at her job; the fact they’d sat down for so many successful interviews spoke of it. But it was difficult to not be guarded around someone whose primary motivation was to find something newsworthy. As searchers for truth – and Valance did believe Rivera cared about truth – they still had potentially clashing priorities.

‘We’re ready to wrap up the mission,’ Valance said. ‘You got everything you need?’

‘Oh, no,’ Rivera said airily. ‘I could spend the rest of my career talking to just this crew and still release an article a week. But I’m ready to leave.’ She slung her bag over her shoulder. ‘What was this – the first official joint mission in the Midgard Sector?’

‘The first outside Republic space,’ Valance corrected. ‘Considering our shoring up of their defences. Redemption is still out there with them.’

‘Sure. I should have said scientific mission. That’s big.’

In every way, Rivera was right. They had cooperated with the Republic on something that had nothing to do with the Federation’s strategic interests or the looming Klingon invasion. Together, they had recovered a lost piece of a broken empire and shattered people, and together, they could start to use the shards to build something new. But it was still just a start.

‘We’ll see,’ said Valance, and thumbed the control to bring the shuttle Tristan’s ramp down.

Inside and out of sight, as power flooded the shuttle’s systems, a small alert flickered to life on the short-range sensors.

Anomaly detected.