SUB-COMMANDER ALMAK
Leader of the Romulan task force sent to intercept Prometheus
STARDATE 51721.3 • 6 min read • PROJECT PATHFINDER
After the Romulans formally joined the Dominion War it appeared, at least to Starfleet, that centuries-old tensions were beginning to thaw. Even if only slightly. After only a few months, the idea of Starfleet and the Romulan Star Empire sharing resources, personnel and intelligence had transitioned from abject fantasy to an alarmingly common sight.
That isn’t to say that there weren’t questions, and suspicions. Especially about the Prometheus incident. On one occasion, a Starbase engineering crew was led by the sister of one of the engineers that had been killed by the Romulans in their failed capture attempt. The entire crew went on strike and refused to repair the ailing Warbird which had suffered catastrophic hull damage in an engagement with 3 Dominion vessels.
With the Warbird threatening to lose structural integrity in orbit of a Federation station, diplomats from both sides of the neutral zone were brought to the table to negotiate a solution.1 With the seconds ticking by on the clock, the Romulan Senate approved the release of a number of planning documents, ships logs and agreed to have the lead commander of the task force sent to intercept the Prometheus from the Romulan side of the border give testimony to the ongoing inquiry into the events.
It was meant to be a day of triumph for Vaeidir ch’Rihannsu. We had heard rumours of Starfleet’s efforts to automate their ships for some time. The frequency of such whispers finally reached a threshold at which the Tal Shiar was compelled to act. An… Opposing force to our people could not be allowed to outpace our advances in this domain.
Commander Rekar was dispatched on a cloaked infiltration vessel to capture a prototype we had spotted lurking along our border. Carelessly left undefended, it should have been trivial to beam onboard, incapacitate the few lifesigns we had observed, and bring the ship across the neutral zone.
In preparation, we set up a temporary research post within a few light years of the operation area. Here we would study the Federation’s so-called advancements. Our own automation efforts had been focused on replicating the efficiencies of the Llaetus’le.2 The Federation, so we had heard, was instead focusing on holotechnology to fill the stations left vacant by flesh and blood. It seemed a laughably insecure solution. But with the war on our doorstep, we were keen to explore how we could minimise casualties.
Our plan, once the ship had been thoroughly documented and studied. Was to tractor it back across the neutral zone and set it adrift on course for the nearest star. Where Starfleet would either find it, or it would be destroyed. In either scenario, with a competently run operation you would have been none the wiser to our involvement.
Would we be in this war with the Federation right now if it was? Why would a single Starship impress the Dominion more than fleets?
A tradition that is not unique to your borders.
If not enough people have told your Starfleet officers this, let it be known again that your habit of treating other species as lesser intelligence is not an endearing quality
Yet offense is taken. You are fortunate that I am under orders to cooperate with this… Poor excuse of an interrogation.
Then stop interrupting.
...
After Rekar had signalled he had control of the vessel. The T’Met and our escorts observed a battle between the ship and one of yours on our long range sensors. We were ordered closer to the border of the neutral zone to observe in more detail, and intervene if necessary.
We weren’t able to capture much of the battle, but it was clear when we were able to switch to higher resolution sensors that Rekar had been victorious.
When the ship was less than 10 minutes from the border, we detected an overload in the nacelle coils. Rekar had always struggled with… Ego. His assessment that he had neutralized all onboard resistance was clearly premature. We were ordered to intercept and cross the neutral zone.
…
After obtaining proper diplomatic approvals of course.
That’s a question you would have to ask your own people, I follow the orders and trust the information that I’m given.
…
The prototype made no further attempt to escape and we feared serious damage may have been enacted upon it.
Fearing the worst, we pushed our engines to maximum. The journey was brief.
But then, when we did approach, we couldn’t detect any significant system issues.
Still, the ship remained stationary.
One of my lieutenants wondered out loud whether the Federation had played us at our own game. Had we fallen victim to an elaborate deception?
If it was, the operation must have been being run by infants on their first day on a starship. They certainly didn’t seem skilled in subterfuge, with a pathetic attempt to impersonate one of our officers.
Then your interception force arrived, and we both engaged around the prize. The battle seemed only moments from its conclusion when Rekar regained control and fired a torpedo at one of your ships. After which…
He activated your new… What is it called? Multi vector assault mode? We destroyed your interceptors, and proceeded with our research.
You asked me for my recollection, not yours.
A matter of perspective.
PROJECT PATHFINDER