> "First off, my understanding is that this is an intelligence
> gathering mission; to explore their space and to gather what ever
> information possible about their culture, society, other races, strengths
> and potiential weaknesses. Specifically what kinds of ops do you
> anticipate on carrying out over there? Do you plan on engaging these
> beings on their side of the rift? What contingency plans have been made
> in the advent that this exploration mission goes south? And, who do you
> propose to command this mission on the other side, since you are staying
> behind for support and coordination purposes?" She could tell nothing
> from his tone, but she knew that he was trying to develop a big picture
> to look at.
>
> Kit waited until he was done talking with Renaud before answering.
> "Shall I continue, sirrr, orrr shall we wait forrr Admirrral Rrrenaud?"
>
"He is on his way. Let's give him another minute. Otherwise we will have to repeat." --
>Lasiter called to the new comer from around the corner, "Admiral Renaud,
please join us."
"Please excuse my delay."
{response}
>When he came around and took his seat. Lasiter caught him up on the
questions that were being asked. He then turned things over to >Kitanya
for her answers.
Lorin looked at Kit...
"Well," she began, setting her tea down. "Firrrst, let me inforrrm Admirrral Rrrenaud that the Klingons have signed on boarrrd."
(resp?)
"They had a few conditions, like rrrequirring the ship we'rrre 'borrrrowing' to be staffed by morrre than just a skeleton crrrew; they want aprrroximately half the ship's compliment to be theirrrs. I don't think this will be a prrroblem."
(resp?)
"Secondly, they want joint rrreporrts, not just second-hand Starrrfleet info. This also, I don't think, shall be a prrroblem."
(resp?)
"Finally, they have rrrequested that I be the trrraining and overrrseeing officerrr forrr this mission, at least this earrrly parrrt of it. With Admirrral Lasiterrr's perrrrmission, I will be leaving tomorrrrow."
(resp?)
"Now, to answerrr Admirrrral Lasiterrr's questions, the operrration I intend on doing will depend, in parrrt, on the Klingons. They arrrre having even morrre of a prrroblem with this species than we arrre, perrrhaps much morrre of a prrroblem. Theirrr stakes arrre higherrr, and this is a joint operrration, so they have to have input. Howeverrr, I intend forrr now to simply make it an intelligence gatherrring operrration. Hopefully, we'll be able to install some deep coverrr agents. Then, depending on the time frrrame forrr escalation, to begin phase two, which is a coverrrt sabotage and strrrike operrration, strrriking prrrimarrily at the hearrrt of theirrr operrrations. 'Cutting the head off the serrrpent' as you humans sometimes say. The inforrrmation suggests that this larrrgerr operrration these beings arrre rrrunning has a verrry small centrrral corrre of the new felinid species. If we can get to those beings and capturrre orrr liquidate them, the orrrganization should crrrumble. These arrre not fanatics that arrre involved in this, these arrre pirrrates and merrrcenarries. They have nothing morrre than a monetarrry interrrest, which means they should abandon it as soon as the top falls."
She picked up her mug and took a sip, then set it back down. "The contingency plan will depend in larrge parrrt on the Klingons. It is theirrr ship we arrre going to be using. I am not prrrivvy to how they perrrforrm theirrr extrrractions, but they have a verrry highly developed intelligence operrration, so I am going to rrrely on theirrr experrrtise at how to use theirrr cloaking capabilities to extrrract theirrr operrratives. The ship they arrre sending is a coverrrt operrrations vessel; the crrrew will be well trrrained at this type of thing. The teams arrre small, and therrre arrre only two at this time. This helps us limit ourrr exposurrre and ourrr time needed forrr emerrrgency extrrraction. When we get therrre and look at the situtation firrrst hand, we will have betterrr inforrrmation on how to do this."
"Finally, I prrropose having a Klingon as the lead officerrr on the otherrr side. This is a joint operrration; I don't see any way arrround it. The Klingons will not accept anything else. The most rrrecent communication I rrreceived told me who they werrre sending to captain the coverrrt ops ship, a Birrrd of Prrrey. He is known to me, a grrrizled old commanderrr with morrre line experrrience than just about any otherrr Klingon in the Imperrrial Fleet. He's rrreliable, he's honorrrable, and his rrrecorrd above rrreprroach. He is also a consummate prrrofessional. What he tells us will be rrreliable and accurrrate."
(resp?)
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"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
- Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)
