• Fusion Centre, USS Farragut

The six specialist officers of the Farragut’s fusion centre were silently and diligently working at their stations, combing through the vast feed of data from the buoy network.

“Commander, you’ll want to see this,” the chief analyst called, his voice tight with urgency.

Kincaid was first at the console, “This had better not be another ghost echo from the Sheliak line”, before glancing at Aloran as he reached the analyst and gestured for the man to elaborate.

The analyst shook his head and tapped a control. The central viewscreen lit up with dozens of bright orange motes clustered within the Rhontaka system, just inside Tholian territory.

The man continued, manipulating the data on the screen, “Multiple energy signatures consistent with Tholian vessels. Numbers are growing, but from this distance we cannot determine more information, even with the buoy system”

Kincaid was agitated by the inference, his voice less than its usual humour, “Is this preparation for an incursion, or worse?” He leaned closer, eyes narrowing. “What’s their vector?”

“No significant movement yet”, the analyst tapped again at his console, “They’re holding at Rhontaka. But we’re also detecting elevated emissions that could indicate weapon activity or a similarly energy intensive operation.”

Aloran clasped his hands behind his back, his tone calm but edged with concern. “If the Tholians are testing web systems in that quantity, they may be preparing a blockade, or worse, a forward operating base prior to a cross-border incursion”

Kincaid looked at the screen but addressed Aloran, “Exactly what I’ve been saying: the Tholians don’t posture unless they plan to strike. We need to harden the patrol line.”

Aloran tilted his head slightly, considering. “Or perhaps they are simply positioning themselves against the Sheliak. We must not leap to assumptions, commander. To act too aggressively may provoke the very conflict we wish to prevent.”

Kincaid half-turned his head, his eyes remaining locked on the screen. “And if we sit on our hands, we give them the advantage.” The room fell silent for a beat, only the low pulse of data streams breaking the tension.

Aloran spoke again, measured but firm. “Then let us take both paths: transmit this data to command and our accompanying ships immediately, and adjust our patrol posture quietly. But no overt moves. If the Tholians are preparing for an aggressive action, we will be ready. Either way, we will have avoided acting on incomplete intelligence.”

((USS Salvation))

Just then an urgent communique came in from the Farragut. The lead vessel of this little sojourn to the Tholian border, was retasking them to investigate signs of a Tholian build-up in the Rhontaka system, the orders stated to head to the system as best speed, and recon the Tholian side of the border. Under no cicumstances were they cross the border. Aside from that how they did it was apparently up to them.

The comms panel lit up and Ensign Aldani sat up, taught. “Sir, urgent incoming message from the USS Farragut. There are signs of a Tholian build up in the Rhontaka system, and we are ordered to investigate immediately.”

Captain Ishreth Dal stayed unusually still, but his antennae curled downwards in acknowledgment. “Lieutenant Jols, plot a course to the Rhontaka system, maximum speed. Drop us to impulse half a parsec out and bring us in  under the cover of the Rhontaka nebulaeic cloud. Keep us within our borders.”

Jols nodded. “We’ll toe the line, exactly, Sir.”

The Salvation broke away from the group, engines flaring. The little ship was fast, and able to easily cover the ground and move into position, maneuvering through the cover of the nebula that covered most of the outer Rhontaka system as easily as a snake slithers through long grass.

“Energy readings are off the chart.” Lt. Commander Ibanez intoned from the science station, looking dour. “We’re not immediately reading ships, but that’s not normal.”

Captain Dal’s antennae flattened and his eyes narrowed at the viewscreen. “Red Alert. Ensign Aldani, inform the rest of the fleet of our findings and reccomend they go to alert status.”

“Yes Sir.” she nodded, and within seconds the message was sent on urgent to the rest of the fleet.

As the Salvation crept into interior of the system, the information started to flow more freely. It crystallized into a disturbing picture.

Commander Ibanez scowled as he looked up from his readings. “The large energy emissions seems to be emanating from a small orbital structure around Rhontaka A”

A holographic projection of the nearest planet to the main star in the binary system popped up before the viewscreen.  Currently its orbit had it approximately 1.2 AU from border, on the Tholian side.

As Ibanez clarified the image, the threat became clear. Nestled like thieves in the night were over twenty Tholian capital ships.

Captain Dal’s antennae curled downwards to almost nestle at the top of his snowy white hair. They were too close to risk another commline, but the data feed was still open. “Get this data in the feed to the Farragut. I trust they’ll know what to do with it.”

Fusion Centre, USS Farragut

“Damn,” Kincaid tapped twice at the console, “Aloran, we have a problem. The feed from the Salvation is not what we expected. There’s a small armada of Tholian ships on their side of the border.”

“Thank you, commander,” Aloran tapped his combadge, “Aloran to Captain Ayres. Captain, we’re transferring the feed from the Salvation to your console now, ” Aloran nodded at one of the analysts, “I recommend we make haste for our side of the border and that the other ships in the sector do the same. I believe the probability of conflict remains low but a show of force would be, ” Aloran paused for a moment, “sensible.”

Kincaid laughed, immediately stifling it.

Ayres voice returned, “Acknowledged, commander. I’ll alert the other ships immediately. Yellow alert.”

Kincaid looked back at Aloran, “Commander, I’ll return to the bridge and make ‘sensible’ tactical preparations.”