Star Trek: ALL - Seven Deadly Sins by Dayton Ward Read Free Book Online

approval. “I’ll want any route we use to take us through Klingon space.” She smiled. “If Federation sensors do detect our passage, it will give them something unexpected to worry about.” While this new partnership was by no means politically entwining, the idea of a technological exchange between two of the major military powers in the sector would certainly merit the interest of the Federation. They would then spend inordinate amounts of time contemplating the ramifications of a Romulan-Klingon alliance.
    “Praetor Vrax and the Senate have received some new information,” Ditrius said, his attention once more on his pad, “which may impact our schedule. It seems Starfleet has been busy again.” Reaching across her desk, he offered her the handheld device, which she took and turned in order to read its display.
    “Mav’renas,” she read aloud.
    “What the humans call Theta Cobrini,” Ditrius replied. “It’s a rather unimpressive system located on the fringe of the Avastam.”
    Toqel was familiar with that area: a region of space wedged between the borders of Romulan, Klingon, and Federation territory. The Avastam itself contained few planets of worth to any of the major powers, though Orion pirates and other parties used the region to conduct all manner of business, legitimate and otherwise.
    Scanning the data Ditrius had provided, Toqel reached up to rub the bridge of her nose. “They are constructing a base in the Mav’renas system.” The report contained computer-enhanced imagery captured by unmanned drones operating at the extreme limits of their sensors, and she called those up for study. Magnifying the images revealed unmistakable signs of construction on an impressive scale, likely the beginnings of a permanent installation with several sizable structures.
    “Starfleet is known to build support facilities for its ships patrolling the fringes of their territory,” she said, “so that in itself is not surprising.” Pointing to one image, she attempted to enhance it, quickly exhausting the handheld’s capabilities. “This structure, set away from the primary construction zone, appears to be a large-scale sensor array.”
    Ditrius nodded. “That is the assessment of the Tal Shiar,” he said, and Toqel noted the way the vice proconsul’s lips almost formed a sneer at the mention of the feared branch of the internal security division. “They do not think construction has been completed, but once operational, they believe it will offer unprecedented capability to monitor activity far into our territory. Their intelligence gathering ability would far exceed the levels they now enjoy.”
    “That would definitely present an issue,” Toqel said, considering the ramifications of this new development.
    “Politically, we have little recourse,” Ditrius said. “Despite its proximity to the Avastam, Mav’renas does lie in Federation space.” By mutual agreement reached the previous
fvheisn,
the Federation, Klingon, and Romulan governments had endorsed a policy of not installing any tactical assets within the border region, effectively rendering it a demilitarized zone. However, of the three major political entities, only the Federation contained a planetary system in close proximity to the Avastam that would support an operation such as the one seemingly under way.
    “Regardless of its being in their territory,” Toqel countered, “it will be viewed as an aggressive action. I suspect that installation’s defenses and any sensor apparatus in operation there will be quite formidable.”
    Ditrius said nothing for a moment, but then his mouth curled into a knowing smile. “Quite a test for our new ships, I’d think.”
    “Indeed,” Toqel replied, pleased with the vice proconsul’s deduction.
    She returned the pad to him, and Ditrius keyed another string of commands into the device before saying, “The system’s location offers a vantage point to observe some Klingon space, as well,