> > > "Captain, more violent behavior demands action on the part of any
> >involved and responsible military group-as Chief of Starfleet Security
you
> >have my complete support. Along with the copy of the proposal and video,
I
> >would appreciate you outlining the areas where we are having trouble and
I
> >will send immediate assistance."
>
> Kitnya remained silent, but she didn't like the heavy-handed knee-jerk
> reaction from Lorin. The Romans responded as such to the barbarian
hoardes,
> but the corruption within Rome made it a foolish error that cost them
> dearly. The same could be said of the present day situation. What if it
> were a test, to probe Starfleet's reactions, to see what they had? Or a
> lure, to draw in a large number of ships and crush them with a superior
> force? No, too fast, Lorin, too fast. Think it through.
>
> > "Thank you, Admiral, but that is not necessary at this time.
All
> >sector commanders have been cooperating at this point. However, I would
> >like to call on you if things ever change." Black replied.
> >
> > {response}
> >
> > "Well that is all of the briefing that I had planned, unless
there
> >are any other questions that I can answer. I promise that the additional
> >documents and footage will be sent to all of you, as requested, as soon
as
> >we are done here. Any other questions......."
>
> "I have two," said Kitanya. "Firrrst, what is the political situation you
> spoke of, Captain? And second, beforrre we commit lives and ships to
this,
> how much intelligence do we have on this rrrace and theirrr plans? I
> underrrstand that you'rrre asking forrr some rrreconaissance so you can
get
> morrre inforrrmation, but have we no operrratives infiltrrrating the
> smugglerrrs and merrrcenarries used by this species? I don't want to have
> to tell the Klingons that we'rrre going into this completely blindly."
>
"Well, Admiral, the politics of this situation is that the local
governments and their law enforcement and planetary defence forces do not
want heavy Starfleet involvement. They feel that this is a local issue and
want to deal with it locally. Their main fear is that Starfleet will come
in and just take over the operation leaving them out, and thus ignoring the
local interests. More simply put they do not trust Starfleet as far as they
could through us. To take things to a higher level, their representatives
within the Federation Council have made some noise about Starfleet taking
over the task force. It is my understanding that Admiral Lasiter suggested
a joint task force that Starfleet would have a role, but not run the
operation. The more we get involved the more the political leaders yell.
It is a game of trust, one may say. I have gained some of their trust, but
not enough to lead the task force.
Now, your second question. We do have operatives that have infiltrated
the smugglar/pirate organization. Some, not all, have rose in the ranks to
come into contact with the new feline species. We get periodic reports, but
not at any particular regularity. In addition we have only raided a small
number of their outposts, and those that were there were not all that
helpful. Those ships that have some up against the feline species' warships
have not survived, with the exception of the USS Stargazer. Shortly after I
was removed from her command to work with the Task Force Command, the
Stargazer, and a small flotilla, conducted a raid on a pirate facility.
They were able to get a good look at the aliens and engage them. That is
where we were able to gather some components for study. In the assult, the
Stargazer sustained heavy damage, and a pair of frigates - one SF and one
Border Patrol- did not make it. " Black replied.
{response}
