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

though it’s obvious the installation’s primary mission would be observing us.”
    “Still,” Toqel said, “the Klingons may well find the presence of such a base as alarming as we do.”
    “Even the Klingons are not so foolhardy as to strike a target so clearly in enemy territory,” Ditrius said. “At least, not without direct provocation. They would see no true advantage in such an action.”
    Clasping her hands before her, Toqel steepled her fingers andrested them under her chin. “We don’t need the Klingons to strike the base. All we need are a few Klingon battle cruisers.”
    Ditrius widened his eyes as he processed the thought. “Attack the outpost ourselves, and let the Federation hold the Klingons responsible?” He paused, considering that notion. “What prevents the Klingons from redirecting the blame to us? They would almost certainly reveal our alliance, and cast doubt on their culpability.”
    “By then, it might not matter,” Toqel replied. “It may well be enough to get the Federation and the Klingons bickering with one another across their border. With tensions heightened and their focus elsewhere, opportunities might arise for other parties not directly involved in the matter.” Considering her words, Toqel knew the idea she had presented was not flawless. “Obviously it’s not something that can be done in the short term, nor is it something that should be rushed. There are too many variables to consider before formulating a cohesive strategy.” Indeed, such planning would require the best tactical minds the Romulan military had to offer, for a single attack as well as a coordinated campaign to face the likely response from both the Federation and the Klingon Empire.
    Toqel would probably not be involved in such strategizing, which she found acceptable. Grand schemes of that sort had nothing to do with the mission she had levied upon herself, and her goal of finding ways to strengthen the fleet. What happened after that was beyond her influence and, ultimately, not her concern.
    “What does Vrax want us to do?” she asked, dismissing the thoughts that seemed determined to affect her focus on the work still before her.
    “Just as you’ve suggested,” Ditrius replied. “Once you feel the test ships are ready, you are to take them to the Mav’renas system and investigate this new facility. He shares your belief that such an exercise is vital to determining the effectiveness of the new cloaking generators, and an unparalleled intelligence gathering opportunity. Imagine the surprise on the faces of the Federation Council when they learn our ships can assume orbit over their worlds and either scan or destroy them at the push of a button?”
    Silence hung in the air between them for a moment. Her plan, which Toqel knew would require much consideration and refinement,was bold—one Sarith would have appreciated. Her daughter would not only have approved of such a daring scheme, but she also would have wanted to play an active role.
    Perhaps I can make you as proud of me as I always was of you.
    “Well,” she said, forcing her thoughts back to the business at hand. She tried without much success to ignore the possibilities she now faced with regard to changing the course of Romulan history. “It seems we have much work to do.”
    Much work, indeed.

5
    Captain Thomas Blair stepped from the turbolift and onto the bridge of the
U.S.S. Defiant,
pausing to allow the circulated air to cool his sweat-dampened skin. Wiping his face with the towel draped around his shoulders, he glared at the main viewscreen, upon which was displayed the now-familiar Alamedus asteroid field. The region had been the target of the
Defiant
’s survey assignment for the past two weeks, but the asteroids currently visible on the viewer, varying in size from meters to kilometers in diameter, were not his concern. Instead, it was the metallic, cylindrical object at the center of the screen that demanded his