The dimly lit bridge flickered with the yellow alert as every officer remained battle-ready. The hum of the ship’s systems blended with intermittent alerts from tactical and operations consoles. The viewscreen displayed the lush yet battered Dhaillak below, with streaks of debris from orbital bombardments visible in the planet’s atmosphere. The Gemini crew was caught in a tense situation, defending the planet while avoiding open warfare with the Klingons.

Another alert sounded from the tactical console. Cho glanced at the data, her hands moving quickly. As she read the incoming information, a chill crawled down her spine. “Captain, I’ve detected on long-range sensors that the Vorgath, Grevok, Trel’koth, and Qevla are repositioning and preparing for a coordinated assault.”

Drata aligned his communications interface with the signals Cho had detected. His hands moved efficiently as he analyzed the chatter. “Ensign Keeyiro is correct. I’m intercepting transmissions within KRG1,” he confirmed, referencing the Klingon Raid Group.

Silina leaned forward in her chair, her tone decisive. “Hail the Qevla. If they’re repositioning, we need to stop this before it escalates. Commander Yoon-Jung, get me a sitrep on the planetary situation.”

Ko tapped her console, reviewing the latest ground reports. Her lips tightened as the updates painted a bleak picture. “Report from Miki indicates limited success in stabilizing the colony’s shields. Tensions between us and the Romulan militia are escalating due to our defensive posture. Klingon probing attacks are persistent. I’ll keep you informed.”

Silina nodded and turned to Drata. “Do we have a response to the hail?”

“They’re answering now,” Drata confirmed. The main screen flickered, and the IKS Qevla’s bridge appeared.

The Qevla’s bridge was dimly lit, with red ambient lighting casting a fiery glow over steel grates and support beams. Klingon script flashed across control panels manned by officers in dark armor, their movements efficient and purposeful. Standing at the center was HoD Dorvath, a towering figure in polished battle armor. His ridged forehead and piercing eyes exuded authority and disdain as he leaned slightly toward the viewer. Behind him, junior officers barked commands in guttural Klingon, adding an undercurrent of menace to the scene.

“Captain, what can I do for you?” Dorvath asked with a calmness that belied the intensity of his gaze.

Silina maintained her composure, calm but resolute. “HoD Dorvath, I am Captain Silina Ruslanovna of the USS Gemini. We’ve detected your fleet repositioning toward Dhaillak. I need to understand your intentions.”

Dorvath let out a booming laugh, slapping his knee. “You already know our intentions, Captain. This colony belongs to the Empire, and we will claim it. That, Captain, is why Starfleet is weak. You cling to your ideals and pretend they hold power. But they don’t.”

Silina leaned slightly on the armrest of her chair, offering a soft smile. “Is that what you see, HoD? I believe you misunderstand. Restraint is not weakness, it takes strength to hold your hand when you have the power to destroy. Compassion requires courage, to defend the innocent and protect even those who call us enemies, because it is the harder path to take.”

Dorvath grinned but remained unmoved. “Empty words from a Federation idealist. We Klingons live by action, not hollow virtue.”

Silina leaned forward, her voice firm. “Then let my actions speak. We are here, defending those who cannot defend themselves, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. Would you truly honor a victory over an opponent who refuses to strike first? Or does the glory you seek demand a more worthy foe? Because attacking the defenseless dishonors you, HoD.”

A low growl rumbled from Dorvath as he narrowed his eyes. “You tread dangerous ground, Captain.”

“And so do you,” Silina countered. “If honor is truly what you value, prove it. Withdraw your forces and allow us to protect the innocent. There is no glory in slaughtering civilians, only shame. Starfleet does not fear you. We face you with open arms, because we know our strength.”

Ko interjected, her voice measured but firm. “Starfleet is prepared to defend this planet. We will retaliate if provoked.”

Dorvath’s smirk deepened, a clear taunt. “Then I offer you this: withdraw from the sector entirely and leave this territory to us.”

Silina took a deep breath, her calm exterior unshaken. “No. We will not abandon Dhaillak to its fate. This colony deserves protection, and we will ensure it has it.”

Dorvath’s disdain grew, his tone dripping with mockery. “Typical Starfleet hypocrisy. You interfere where you are not wanted. Retreat to your Federation haven and leave this matter to us and the Romulans.”

Shaking her head, Silina locked eyes with him. “I propose a ceasefire. Let the citizens of this colony breath, tend to their wounded, and mourn their dead. Consider it, HoD, because we are not going anywhere.”

The transmission abruptly ended as Silina cut the channel, her posture still rigid.

The bridge remained tense as the screen reverted to the stars. Consoles beeped faintly, but the silence among the crew was palpable. Ko glanced at Silina. “Captain, you handled that well. But I’m not convinced they’ll hold to a ceasefire.”

Silina exhaled slowly. “Klingons respect strength. For now, they’ve seen enough to retreat, but Dorvath isn’t done with us. Prepare the crew, Commander. I don’t trust this truce will last.”

Drata leaned over his console. “Captain, their ships are repositioning. Classic pre-attack formation. They’re testing us.”

“Coordinate with Ensign Keeyiro,” Ko said, her voice firm but quiet. “Prepare defensive countermeasures, but hold fire unless ordered.”

Silina repositioned herself in her chair with a shrug. “It seems they’re not taking us seriously. Hail them, Lieutenant Taritt.”

The viewscreen flickered to life, revealing Dorvath once more. His posture was more rigid this time, his expression sharp with disdain. “Captain Ruslanovna, I find your persistence… amusing. Do you truly believe your words will stay the blades of my warriors or halt our disruptors from finishing what we started?”

Silina maintained her calm demeanor, leaning forward slightly in her chair one again. “Persistence isn’t a weakness, HoD Dorvath. It’s a strength, a resolve to do what is right, even when we are faced with aggression. Your warriors may see glory in bloodshed, but where is the honor in destroying the defenseless?”

Dorvath smirked but didn’t interrupt. Silina pressed on. “The people of Dhaillak are settlers seeking refuge after the collapse of their empire. Farmers, engineers, children, not soldiers. Attacking them is a dishonorable act, and you know it.”

Dorvath paused, visibly weighing her words. He barked an order off-screen, then looked back at Silina. “You speak boldly, Captain. For that, I will grant you this: my fleet will withdraw… for now. But know this, your compassion has earned you nothing but a delay. Klingons do not forget, and House T’Vagh will claim its glory.”

“Withdraw your ships, and the Federation will honor this ceasefire. But if you betray this truce, HoD, know that Starfleet will not hesitate to protect the innocent,” Silina replied firmly.

Dorvath grinned. “Perhaps you do have some spirit, Captain. It will make your eventual defeat all the more satisfying. Qapla’!” The screen went dark.

“That was discomfortable on so many levels” Ko stated from her chair and looked at Silina.

Taking a deep breath “Hopefully it has the desire effect, I take time above battle” Silina was comfortable with the result herself, but this was the best for now.

“Captain, I’ve analyzed their fleet movements. Their withdrawal patterns are inconsistent, they may be regrouping just out of sensor range” Cho announced looking at the data that appeared on her console.

“Send the data to Valorex, coordinate with them. If they come back, we need to be ready” Silina rubbed her template feeling a headache coming up after this intense negotiate.