Star Trek TOS: Ruse - Chapter Two "The Mission" (standard:Fan Fiction, 2225 words) [3/10] show all parts
Author: Kirk	Added: Aug 05 2006	Views/Reads: 2561/1825	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The mission is revealed.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

destroyed, we have constructed six additional outposts, bringing the 
total to fourteen.  I have ordered the recall of the Corps of Engineers 
and they'll be leaving within the hour. You all have read the brief on 
the Enterprises' encounter with a Romulan Warbird here six weeks ago. 
Since then they have not attempted any kind of encroachment into the 
Neutral Zone.  We know they can cloak their ships and we know of their 
extremely powerful plasma weapon. What we don't know is if this was a 
rouge commander, a fishing expedition, or a prelude to invasion. For 
the first time, we know what the Romulans look like. That is why I have 
requested a Vulcan historian on this mission. T'Prell is THE authority 
in ancient Vulcan history.” 

Komack bowed to T'Prell and she rose to speak. “Greetings,” she said,
while holding up a Vulcan salute. “I am relatively certain that the 
Romulans are actually Vulcan descendents from five thousand years ago.” 


“Vulcans?” asked Decker. 

T'Prell continued, “The planet at that time was immersed in total
warfare. Whole cities were being destroyed. Although they were 
technologically advanced, they were also savages. When Surak began 
teaching his beliefs in logic, things were at their worst on my planet. 
If it were not for him, there would be no Vulcan civilization in 
existence today. As his teachings became more wide spread, more Vulcans 
embraced logic, rather than destructive emotional behavior. But a 
faction arose that swore never to follow Surak. As that faction became 
hopelessly outnumbered, they decided to leave Vulcan rather than 
convert. Over a hundred ships were built and 30,000 of the outcasts 
left the planet. They never told us their destination, nor do we 
believe they even knew. They were never heard from again. I believe 
that the Romulans are the descendents of that fanatical faction.” 

“Spock had that idea in his head too, although he didn't speak of colony
ships taking off for other parts of the galaxy,” said Kirk. 

“The story is one that is not taught. Only the teachings of Surak and
the ancient wars,” replied T'Prell. 

“What does this tell us about the Romulans, now?” asked Captain Angela
Shultz of the Yorktown. 

“They are creatures of war. They live by marshal code. They are
treacherous, duty bound by loyalty, and have no honor among 
themselves,” replied T'Prell, almost as if she had a bad taste in her 
mouth. 

“Why now? Assuming this was a prelude to attack, why tip their hand like
this? They have to know that we would react with tighter security and 
safeguards,” said Captain Jones of the Defiant. 

“Maybe they thought we could be caught asleep at the switch,” said
Captain Williams of the Republic. 

“I'll tell you why,” said Commodore Wesley of the Lexington. “They know
Star Fleet won't retaliate. We won't cross that Neutral Zone unless 
there's all out war.” 

“That's what we're hoping they think,” said Komack, as all eyes turned
to look at him. 

“We're going to attack?” asked Kirk, astonished. 

“Star Fleet wants to send a message to this ‘Praetor'. They want him to
know that we are not about to let any transgression go unpunished and 
that we have the means to administer it. This is not going to be a 
simple run where we take out a few posts as they did. We're going in to 
do as much damage as we can to their war machine, supply lines, and 
ship building facilities,” stated Komack. “This will be a full 
retaliatory response. The initial raid will consist of four Starships, 
the Lexington, Constellation, Yorktown and the Enterprise. The 
remaining ships will stay on station along the border in the event of a 
Romulan retaliation or for reinforcements if needed. The remaining 
Starships not on this assignment; the Eagle, the Constitution, and the 
Essex are stationed as the last line of defense around Earth.” 

“The Federation is risking all out war?” asked Decker. “You've got to be
kidding me!” 

“The Federation has no stance in this operation since the original war
and the subsequent treaty took place before the Federation existed. 
That treaty was between Earth and Romulus and Remus alone,” replied 
Komack. 

“So this is a Star Fleet operation only. What happens if they want to
surrender?” asked Kirk. 

“They would not,” answered T'Prell. “They do not know the meaning of it.
But they do respect force. They will think long and hard about invading 
our space again.” 

“What if they want to negotiate a new treaty?” asked Golov. 

“I am empowered to do so, as is Commodore Wesley and Captain Kirk,”
answered Komack. “It would be a treaty with the Federation this time.” 

“What if this is some kind of trap set by the Romulans? Maybe they're
hoping for us to cross with our ships and are laying in wait. They 
could eliminate us before we realized what was happening,” stated 
Captain Uda of the Hood. 

“What if we invade and find nothing? What if this was a small incursion
by an unauthorized commander? Do we then destroy their supply lines and 
infrastructure anyway? What kind of message would that send to the 
Romulan government?” asked Captain Diaz from the Excalibur. 

“These are all good questions, but don't lose sight of the objective of
this mission. There is little doubt that the Romulan vessel was 
sanctioned to do what it did. The fact that it never made it back may 
be the only reason why the remaining outposts went unharmed by other 
vessels. There is no doubt at Star Fleet that if that ship made it 
back, we would be at war with The Romulan Star Empire at this very 
moment. In the highly unlikely event that we invade, find no offensive 
stance or indications of an impending invasion, then we will send them 
‘greetings and felicitations' and high tail it out of there at maximum 
warp,” replied Komack. 

“Now, I want you all to go back to your ships. You will each receive the
plan as well as your specific missions in an encrypted message from me 
within the hour. I want you then to hold a meeting with your department 
heads. Any questions about your specific missions can be addressed to 
me using the same encryption. I want each ship to be prepared for the 
worst. Run drills. Make sure your weapons and engines are in top shape. 
This operation begins 36 hours from now, at 07:00 hundred hours. I will 
be transferring with T'Prell to the Excalibur for the duration of this 
mission. Are there any other questions?” asked, Komack. 

No one spoke. 

“Dismissed,” barked Komack as he turned to nod at T'Prell. The room
emptied as they headed back to the transporter room. 

Kirk waited until he was alone and pushed the intercom. Snap! 

“Kirk to bridge.” 

“Uhura here.” 

“Lieutenant, there will be an encrypted message coming from the Admiral
shortly. When it arrives, have it decoded and route it to sick bay.” 

“Aye, Sir.” 

Kirk headed to the turbo lift. 

************ 

“We're going to do what?” asked a stunned Dr. McCoy. 

“I can't believe it either. Star Fleet wants this badly. I believe they
feel an invasion is imminent. The last war was long and costly. With 
Star Fleet protecting the entire Federation, another war may be too 
much for the fleet. Just because they would cross the border doesn't 
mean they have to head to Earth. The more I think about this, the more 
I agree with the plan,” said Kirk, taking a sip of McCoy's personal 
stock of medicinal brandy. 

“You can't be serious! If we cross the border, that's war! If we knock
out their systems, there would still be a state of war between us!” 
shouted McCoy, as his face turned red with outrage. 

“A lot of people lost their lives on those outposts, Bones. We can't let
that go unanswered,” replied Kirk, looking off in the distance. 

McCoy paced the room, each time faster than the last. “Do you remember
the story of Pearl Harbor?” he asked in an extremely agitated state. 

Kirk looked back at McCoy. He knew what the doctor was getting at. 

“The Japanese attacked the United States' Pacific Fleet to keep it from
hindering their conquest of the Pacific. They hoped to keep the 
Americans out of World War II, simply by forcing it to defend itself 
with what was left of their ships,” McCoy reminded Kirk. 

“That's not the way it worked out,” replied Kirk, looking off in the
distance again. 

“No, it isn't, and I can't believe anyone in Star Fleet hasn't thought
of that fact!” shouted McCoy. 

“I'm sure they have, Bones,” he replied, as a call came from the bridge.


“Kirk here.” 

“The message has been received and decoded, Sir,” replied Uhura. 

“Thank you Lieutenant. Send it to Dr. McCoy's terminal,” said Kirk, and
closed the channel. 

Kirk walked over to McCoy's desk and entered his security code. Several
pages printed out and Kirk read them over. When he finished, he hit the 
Comm. “Kirk to bridge.” 

“Uhura here.” 

“Uhura, contact the departments heads and have them report to the
conference room in thirty minutes. I've notified Dr. McCoy myself. Kirk 
out.” 

He turned and looked at the doctor. “See you in thirty minutes.” 

Next: Chapter Three - "Suicide"


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