After all the initial reports were filed and the dust began to settle, a curious call came in from the small Tholian task force that had entered the Rhontaka system near the end of the engagement. The twenty-minute skirmish had ended in ruin: the Tholian research station obliterated, its crew lost, and the Sheliak fleet withdrawing contentedly back across their border.

“On screen,” Ayres ordered.

The viewer came alive with the amber shimmer of a Tholian comm field. Inside it, a crystalline figure stood perfectly still. Its voice, refracted through the translator, was hard and precise.

“To the leader of the Federation forces in the Rhontaka system: I am Assemblyperson Admiral Mek’lat. We request an immediate ceasefire and propose that both parties withdraw from this region to avoid further conflict. We will continue to defend our territorial integrity if challenged.”

The Tholian’s tone was clipped, but there was something beneath it. An unfamiliar softness, a note of weary concession.

Before Ayres could respond, Aloran stepped forward from the tactical rail, hands clasped neatly behind his back. His voice was calm, even, and cool as a glacier.

“Curious, Admiral. A ceasefire is required when two parties are in a state of conflict. There has been no conflict between the Federation and the Tholian Assembly here. The event earlier today was simply a case of us dealing with space debris that had drifted across our border. I regret that errant weapons fire may have struck some of your vessels. If so, we sincerely apologise.”

The bridge fell utterly silent. Even the hum of the consoles seemed to pause. The helmsman turned from his station, eyes wide. A sharp glance from Ayres cut him off before he could say anything, sending the young lieutenant snapping back to his controls.

On screen, the Tholian was motionless for several long seconds. Then, with a faint modulation, it replied. “Indeed. Our ships will depart the system in ten of your minutes… We, also regret if any of our weapons fire from training exercises struck any of your vessels.”

And just like that, the channel closed. No mention of the Sheliak. No accusations.

The bridge crew sat frozen for a heartbeat longer, the weight of what had just happened sinking in. The helmsman finally broke the quiet.

“Sir, is that it? Is this over? Just like that?”

Ayres exchanged a glance with Aloran. The Vulcan’s expression was unreadable, but there was the barest flicker of something in his eyes. Amusement, perhaps, or simply satisfaction.

“Indeed.”

“Well shit, that’s pretty cool then sir.” The helmsman swing himself back around and began clearing keybinds from his console.

Final Epilogue

The incident would barely rate as a minor historical footnote for all of the Alpha Quandrant powers involved. To be lost in the sands of time like the skirmishes at Cestus III, Qualor II, and Ajilon Prime. In the final accounting the scoreboard sat as such;

Sheliak Corporate- 28 ships lost in the repeated attempts to break through to the station at Rhontaka 1. A further 11 were lost at other locations along their shared border with the Tholians and containing and eradicating the Tholians attempted beachhead.

Tholian Assembly- 53 ships lost at Rhontaka, and the failed beachhead location(mostly meshweavers). 6 lost at other locations along their border with the Sheliak. 7 meshweavers lost during various engagements with Starfleet vessels (1 would later be returned intact by Starfleet, after the intel wonks had thoroughly studied it of course).

United Federation of Planets- 2 vessels destroyed: Kozlov and the Spallumcheen. 334 and 3 dead, respectively.

Farragut– 7 wounded, no dead, 1 Valkyrie fighter beyond repair

Salvation– 13 wounded, no dead

Culver City- 43 wounded, no dead

Blythe- 2 wounded, 3 KIA (Aboard Spallumcheen)

Sacremento- 2 wounded

Shuswap – 58 killed, 83 survivors rescued.  The Shuswap required 3 months in drydock before returning to service.

Within a few hours of the final communique from the Tholians Starfleet Command had issued orders disbanding “Provisional Border Flotilla 33” and reassigned its vessels to new missions. Though the 4 COs would quickly learn that they were all being sent to the same far off region…