“War is hard, but rebuilding is harder,” mused an aged rear admiral as he stared out the wide sweeping window at the stars that lay beyond. They looked so peaceful, hanging there in the night sky, but that was merely the illusion of distance. He knew the reality was far different.

“Across the sector, the ships of the Fourth Fleet are engaged in efforts to rebuild infrastructure damaged in the conflict,” explained a young captain, her tone straightforward and businesslike in sharp contrast to the more contemplative tenor of her boss. “Each day, we receive positive reports of the progress being made.”

“It is not the factories and refineries that I worry most about,” Rear Admiral Alex Grayson cautioned as he turned to his assistant. “It’s the people.”

Captain Elsie Drake stared at the new commander of Task Force 47 quizzically. She’d risen through the ranks during the relative peace of the nineties. She knew not the scars that war could leave. Rear Admiral Grayson, on the other hand, knew those scars all too well, especially from this enemy. He’d seen what they could do in the seventies, and they would be central to the challenge that lay ahead. 

“So what’s the plan then?” Captain Drake asked, not sure where he was going with this.

“Under our task force mandate of pathfinding operations, it is our responsibility to set up the mechanisms for the Fourth Fleet to relaunch its engine of exploration,” Rear Admiral Grayson explained. “That means the physical infrastructure to support expeditionary operations – from frontier maintenance facilities to deep space comms relays – and it also means rebuilding relationships with our colonies and neighbors so our explorers have safe shores at their back.” 

Standing with her arms crossed as the other two talked, the deputy commander of Task Force 47 looked deep in thought. “The domino effect of the Lost Fleet, the Changelings and the Borg did not do well for us in that regard. It will be difficult to reclaim the hearts and souls of the Deneb region,” Captain Ryoko Takato observed. Like Grayson, she’d experienced the Dominion War and what came after.  “And the issue is getting worse. There are rumors of Federation secession starting to spread, and our borders are being tested by raiders and profiteers.” The colonies had every right to feel abandoned after what had transpired, and their neighbors had watched on or, in the case of the Breen, even supported the Lost Fleet as it rampaged across their space.

“This will be the backdrop for our captains and crews,” agreed Rear Admiral Grayson. “Each should be briefed and prepared for this multidimensionality. We have a primary mission, one of expeditionary infrastructure, but that doesn’t mean public relations, frontier diplomacy or tactical interdiction won’t come into play.”

“It’s a lot to ask,” Captain Takato cautioned bluntly. After the battles to hold the Deneb Sector, and the losses suffered at Avalon and over Earth on Frontier Day, the task force was beaten up. “We’re stretched thin. We’ve got ships understaffed after recent battles, some with new crews and inexperienced COs, and others still undergoing repairs. We cannot discredit the mental impact from what they all just went through either. For many, this will be the first time they’ve ever seen all-out war.” Her mind flashed to the conversation she’d just recently had with the Executive Officer of the Tokyo. She would not sugarcoat the challenges that still lay ahead.

“Healing others is often a way to heal oneself,” Rear Admiral Grayson offered from personal experience. “Let’s work on finding assignments for the ships on the mend that will not push them into a new crisis in their weakened state.” He picked up a PADD off his desk and handed it to Captain Takato. “Take the Dragon, for example. After destroying the dilithium mines on Deptrock 6, Captain Rigras delivered the slaves she freed to Farpoint for temporary housing. But what comes next for the liberated? Captain Rigras could work on a resettlement plan that gives them new purpose and simultaneously addresses workforce shortages on colony worlds key to restarting exploratory efforts.”

Tapping her finger on the side of the PADD, Captain Takato processed what he was saying. “Resettlement… The Dragon is a solid ship, and Captain Rigras has shown the ability to keep her head cool in stressful situations. I would say that she could handle frontline colonies and be the envoy we need her to be,” Captain Takato nodded to herself. “And if she encounters any trouble, the Dragon has the teeth to bite back. I think she would be up for the task.” As much as Grayson was not focused on the tactical aspects, Takato couldn’t shake those threats.

“And what about the Atlantis after her hero’s entrance at the Battle of Farpoint? Or the Cardiff and the Sojourner, whose COs and crews showed a depth of fortitude and resourcefulness through the recent crises? Or the Alhambra, fresh out of drydock? We’ve got a good group of ships here, solid material to work with,” Rear Admiral Grayson smiled. “Prepare a plan that deploys our assets to rehabilitate strategic infrastructure for a renewed mission of exploration.”

Captain Takato looked like something was still bothering her. “Exploration…” she mused as she looked at the map on the desk. “The northwest has been quiet ever since the Dominion left it behind. I am struggling with what we should do there. We can’t just let it be.” Reports of unknown structures and wrecks left behind by the Lost Fleet had recently reached them.

“You said it yourself Captain. We are stretched thin. Our captains and crews have suffered losses,” Rear Admiral Grayson cautioned, being realistic to the situation before them. It wasn’t that Captain Takato was wrong, but there was also only so much their task force could do.  “I am wary of overextending our position before we’ve stabilized and strengthened the Deneb Sector. Maybe we send an asset or two, if we can muster it…”

“No, it is something we have to provide assets to,” Captain Takato insisted. She had not failed to notice that he’d used her own words against her. “The Ferengi and other enterprising graverobbers will certainly have caught wind about… hidden treasures… the stuff the Lost Fleet left behind when it fled… and we all know it can’t fall into the hands of such people.” 

“I suppose you are right,” conceded Rear Admiral Grayson. “Not just because of the risks though, but also the opportunities. We may be able to repurpose the infrastructure the Dominion left behind to leapfrog our ambitions of exploration.” He paused for a moment, considering their options. “Let’s reassign the Polaris and a small squadron out that way.”

“The Polaris is still occupied with the situation on Nasera,” Captain Drake cautioned. “The occupation did a number on the capital, and it’s still a full blown humanitarian crisis.” It would take significant work still to revitalize the city and heal the wounds of its people.

“Admiral Reyes does not strike me as a humanitarian,” Rear Admiral Grayson stated in an unimpressed tone. “Not after she so swiftly jetted away from Nasera at the first opportunity.” He had a bone to pick with her about that, and the people of Nasera deserved someone committed to their plight. “Commodore Jori will be reallocating Saratoga Squadron to Nasera as Task Force 93 is better equipped for humanitarian operations, leaving us a wayward admiral to entertain.”

Captain Drake quirked an eyebrow. There seemed to be little love lost between those two.

“And we’ll take the Nobel out that way too,” Rear Admiral Grayson added, referencing the ship on which they currently stood. “She’s the flagship of pathfinder operations so let’s go be pathfinders with her.”

A Galaxy, an Odyssey, and some additional ships were enough to appease Captain Takato. She appreciated that Rear Admiral Grayson had not flat out dismissed her concerns.  “What do you think, Captain Drake? Anything we’re missing here?” Captain Takato asked, acknowledging that Captain Drake had been with the task force longer than her or Rear Admiral Grayson.

“We are talking about splitting our task force between two very different sorts of operations,” Captain Drake observed. “One to set up future infrastructure for exploration, and one that seeds exploration on a new frontier. We need to split our command staff to support both.”

“You two go on ahead with the Nobel,” Rear Admiral Grayson offered. “I’ll stay back in the core of the Deneb Sector to support our ships working on core infrastructure.” 

Captain Takato had a hunger to start pathfinding in the unknown once more, while Rear Admiral Grayson recognized the importance of the work they still had to do here to support their future ambitions of exploration. Both would be critical to their success.