"Captain's Log, Stardate 88009.1
The USS Nexus has returned to the Solanae Dyson Joint Command via the Iconian Gateway located in the Umbral System. It was a slower than usual journey as we were tractoring the USS Hemmer back to port along with us, but thanks to the Iconian Gateway, we made the bulk of the journey in a literal blink of an eye.
It will take several weeks for the Hemmer to be back in working functional order, but I can't say the same for her crew. Over 123 souls were lost in the surprise assault. These were Starfleet's finest officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. If only their sacrifice actually meant something, and not just another number on a line of a report, from another attack by a merciless enemy."
Anzyl, joined by Neil at his side, walked steadily through the alien chrome hallways of the Dyson command center, entering the aperture door into the Khitomer Alliance command room on the base. Already seated at the chrome table was Alia, as well as holographic projections of the other leaders of the Khitomer Alliance.
"Glad you made it, Praxas and O'Reilly," a holographic Admiral Quinn said, motioning for them to take a seat. "Now that you're both here, we can begin."
The lights of the conference room dimmed as Quinn spoke, the center of the room illuminating with a holographic Fek'ihri Dreadnought.
"The Fek'ihri. Other than the scans we received from the Nexus and Admiral Kuumaarke's ship, we know little to nothing about them," Quinn spoke solemnly, a grim line set on his face.
The holographic Romulan representative, Proconsul D'Tan, spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "Not one vessel has answered a single hail. There has been no answer to any request for diplomacy. No reply to any request or plea for peace. We are beginning to wonder if the Fek'ihri can even communicate in the first place." His brow furrowed with a mixture of concern and intellectual curiosity, a common trait among the Romulan Republic's leadership.
The Klingon representative, Chancellor J'Mpok, a burly figure even in holographic form, spoke next, his voice a low rumble that resonated through the room. "However, their thirst for war and blood is clear." The holographic Dreadnought image dissolved, replaced by a long list of incident and casualty reports scrolling rapidly across the display. "But they fight without honor. Follow no code of battle. Follow no rules of honorable combat. They attack vessels carrying women and children, even prisoner transports and defenseless cargo. Never leaving any survivors, never leaving any life pods adrift. 'Without Honor' does not adequately describe the heinous acts they have performed. They are…"
"Pure evil," Neil muttered under his tongue, his thumb brushing through the long list of casualty reports on his datapad, his face a mask of quiet fury. The sheer scale of the Fek'ihri's brutality was a stark contrast to the structured combat he was accustomed to.
J'Mpok paused, his gaze fixed on Neil for a moment, then slowly nodded in agreement, a rare sign of consensus from the formidable Klingon. "I would have to agree with the Commander's statement. They are pure evil. The only place for them is in Gre'thor." The Klingon word for their version of hell hung heavy in the air, a chilling descriptor.
Quinn spoke up, bringing the meeting back to a more strategic focus. "Whether they are indeed pure evil or not is irrelevant to our immediate objective. We simply need more intelligence about them. What is their home planet? Where do they come from? What drives them?" Quinn brought the lights back up in the conference room, turning his attention to Anzyl, Neil, and Alia. "And that's where your ships come in. If we can learn more about this insidious enemy and their motives, we may, hopefully, still find a diplomatic solution. If not, we can at least start developing an early response warning to their presence, or learn to steer clear of their hunting parties."
Alia, still showing the strain of the Hemmer's ordeal, spoke up, her voice tinged with concern. "Our ships, sir? The Hemmer is in no shape for a reconnaissance mission." Her antennae, though no longer bent, still seemed to carry the memory of the recent trauma.
Quinn turned his gaze squarely to Anzyl and Neil. "I understand, Captain Alia, which is why you will be joining Captain Praxas as Nexus's temporary First Officer."
This statement made Neil sit bolt upright in his chair, a mixture of confusion and alarm flashing across his face. The idea of relinquishing his hard-won role, even temporarily, was a jolt.
Sensing his unease, Quinn continued, his tone unwavering. "With Commander O'Reilly captaining the USS Alliant. The Nexus will maintain its distance, tracking the Fek'ihri, while the Alliant will utilize its cloaking device for short-range reconnaissance and intelligence gathering."
Anzyl nodded slowly, his hand resting thoughtfully on his chin. "Use the Alliant for cloaked reconnaissance, and use the Nexus as a mobile research facility." He articulated the strategy, piecing together the admiral's logic.
"Exactly," D'Tan interjected, a flicker of approval in his holographic eyes. "The Nexus has enough resources for this kind of long-duration, deep-space research, but cannot get close to the Fek'ihri without raising an alarm. However, the Alliant with its cloaking device can get in for close-range and detailed scans, and get out when things get rough or dangerous. But it also cannot handle the great distances this mission will require. It can simply return to the Nexus to upload data and recharge when needed." The Romulan's explanation was precise, highlighting the symbiotic nature of the proposed operation.
Anzyl, Neil, and Alia slowly nodded in understanding, the pieces of the complex mission falling into place.
Quinn stood up, facing the three ship leaders with the weight of the Alliance's hopes resting on his shoulders. "So, for the time being, Commander Neil O'Reilly, with your familiarity of the USS Alliant, you are appointed as Acting Captain of the USS Alliant." He then turned to Alia, his gaze softening slightly. "Captain Alia, you are temporarily reassigned to Acting First Officer of the USS Nexus, making sure Anzyl's ship operations are taken care of during this mission." And finally, turning to Anzyl, his voice firm with expectation, "As Captain Anzyl Praxas is Mission Captain and head of both ships, focusing mission research and intelligence gathering. You will be coordinating both vessels, using what information we do have, to find out as much as we can about this insidious enemy."
He looked over the three leaders with hopeful expectations as all three nodded dutifully. "The Alliance is counting on you all to complete this mission. The more we know about this elusive enemy, the more prepared we all are, and hopefully, we can finally edge out an offensive instead of always acting defensively with our tails between our legs."
Quinn scanned the room for any questions or concerns. When none were vocalized, he concluded, "You have your mission. I suggest you all stock up as much as that behemoth vessel can handle. Who knows how long or how far this mission will take you. You depart as soon as you are ready. Dismissed."
The holographic alliance leaders fizzled out, leaving Anzyl, Alia, and Neil alone in the room, the silence filled with the hum of the alien technology.
Anzyl turned to his two trusted allies, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Feels like the old gang is back together, eh?"
Neil smirked and shook his head, a mix of genuine amusement and mock exasperation on his face. "I don't know if I should be annoyed that Alia took my job, or elated that I've been promoted to Captain." He ran a hand over his bald head, a gesture of thoughtful consideration.
"Temporary… Acting… Captain," Alia corrected, standing up from the table, a playful glint in her Aenar eyes. "You will still have your chair when we are through, O'Reilly. But I suggest you move into that tiny little cubby you call 'Captain's Quarters' on that little ship of yours. I have a feeling you will be sleeping there a lot more often." She gave him a knowing look, understanding the intimate confines of a Defiant-class vessel.
As they left the room together, Neil chuckled. "Oh, you bet I'm moving in! I finally have 'Captain's Quarters' on my bedroom door!" His voice echoed with a buoyant enthusiasm that was infectious, the gravity of the mission momentarily overshadowed by the thrill of a new command.