Not that Vrax concerned himself with such things. He much preferred his senators to be open and honest with him no matter the issue. Should they bring a bit of fire to the floor when they debated their points, so much the better.
Holding up a withered hand, he stifled the muffled yet still animated conversations taking place to his flanks, and regarded Anitra with a mentoring smile. “You have a suggestion, Senator?”
Appreciative and perhaps emboldened by her Praetor’s indulgence, Anitra stepped closer to the dais. “The Federation’s focus is elsewhere, Praetor. For whatever reason, the Taurus Reach has captured their attention, which brings with it growing tensions between them and the Klingons. It seems logical that, should things continue along that course, both sides will be forced to commit increased resources to cope with that ever-worsening situation.”
Turning so that she did not obstruct Vrax’s view of the chamber’s main floor, she indicated the map of the empire emblazoned upon the interlocked tiles. “Perhaps this is the opportunity for which we have waited. The humans and their allies may be vulnerable where their territory borders ours. We know that many worlds in what is now Federation space are rich with resources vital to the continued survival of the empire, and were lost to us when we stipulated to the treaty that ended the Great War. We could well be in a position to retrieve that which rightfully belongs to us.”
When the other senators began muttering this time, Vrax noted the almost unanimous connotation of approval now flavoring the dialogue.
He had to admit that Anitra’s proposition was as intriguing as it was bold. If the Federation’s interests were concentrated elsewhere, this indeed might be the time to consider aggressive strategies, to probe the Federation’s borders and assess their strengths and weaknesses with the aim of reclaiming valuable territory ceded to the humans in the aftermath of the war.
As appealing as that notion was to him, Vrax was well aware that Anitra’s proposal was far more complex than had been implied by the discussion to this point.
“While the Federation might be distracted by happenings elsewhere,” he said, “that is not to say they are inattentive, or defenseless.” He pointed to the floor map. “The observation outposts which guard their border are formidable obstacles. We cannot be sure the cloaking devices our ships carry will offer protection from their sensors.” Given the reports received from the ill-fated Bloodied Talon,there already was some concern over the technology’s perceived vulnerabilities.
“The outposts themselves are literal fortresses,” offered Vice-Proconsul Toqel, stepping forward with hands clasped behind her back, “embedded within asteroids and designed to withstand even the most intense assaults.”
Standing next to her, Proconsul Sret shook his head. “We have no facts to corroborate what might be nothing more than Federation propaganda,” he said. “The truth is that we do not know the outposts’ defensive capabilities. They have been allowed to drift unmolested on the Federation’s side of the Neutral Zone for more than a century. For all we know, they could be predators which in fact possess no teeth.”
“Or they’re simply hiding their teeth while awaiting an easy kill,” Vrax countered, his tone one of caution. “Regardless, we will not know one way or another until we take some much-needed first steps into the unknown.”
“Wise observations, Praetor,” Toqel said. “However, what of the Taurus Reach? There can be no doubt that it presents an alarming concern.”
Vrax could not disagree with that reasoning. Had the Federation found some new civilization, technology, or other resource that might give them an unprecedented tactical advantage? Maybe they had only found a clue to something unimaginable in its scope or power, unmatched by anything which currently existed, and with the potential to position whoever found it first as the undisputed rulers of the known galaxy.
For that to be anyone but the Romulan Star Empire was unconscionable. Regardless of the cost, no matter if it plunged the entire galaxy into war, Vrax knew he could not allow such change to come to fruition. The Romulan people would never subjugate themselves to anyone so long as life flowed through his aged, feeble body.
Of course, judging from the reports from the Bloodied Talon,the Federation might well have incensed a new enemy, one possessing enough power to stake its own claim, rendering all other considerations irrelevant.
Vrax knew that answers lay along only one path.
The path leading back to the Taurus Reach—and whatever secrets it possessed.
The saga of
STAR TREK VANGUARD
will continue
Acknowledgments
Sincere thanks are in order for editor Marco Palmieri, for inviting us to play in this new section of the Star Treksandbox and trusting us to meet the standard of excellence he has established for all of the other writers with whom he has worked. As longtime diehard fans of the original Star Trekseries, the chance for us to expand upon that universe and to stretch it in new ways was simply a temptation too enticing to ignore.
Thanks also to David Mack, who took head-on the challenge of writing the first Vanguardnovel as well as working with Marco to develop the series’ larger story arc and what we believe to be one of the most interesting cast of characters to come down the Star Trekpike in a long time. He also managed to set the bar quite high for intrigue, excitement, and just plain fun with the series’ inaugural volume, Harbinger. Here’s hoping we did you proud, Mack-Daddy.
And a high-five to the most honorable Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen, he of the Klingon Language Institute, for his invaluable assistance in helping us devise a few new Klingon words. No, we’re not going to tell you what they mean. Where’s the fun in that?
About the Authors
DAYTON WARD has been a fan of Star Treksince conception (his, not the show’s). After serving for eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he discovered the private sector and the piles of cash to be made there as a software engineer. His professional writing career began with stories selected for each of Pocket Books’ first three Star Trek: Strange New Worldsanthologies. In addition to his various writing projects with Kevin Dilmore, Dayton is the author of the Star Treknovel In the Name of Honorand the science fiction novels The Last World Warand The Genesis Protocolas well as short stories which have appeared in Kansas City Voicesmagazine and the Star Trek: New Frontieranthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with his wife, Michi, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Be sure to visit Dayton’s official website at http://www.daytonward.com.
Still reeling from the knowledge that Star Trekwas a live-action series beforeit was a Saturday-morning cartoon, KEVIN DILMORE is continually grateful for his professional involvement on the fiction and the nonfiction sides of the Star Trek universe for nearly a decade. By day, he works as a writer for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri; by night, it’s a whole different picture. Since 1997, he has been a contributing writer to Star Trek Communicator,penning news stories and personality profiles for the bimonthly publication of the Official Star TrekFan Club. On the storytelling side of things, his story “The Road to Edos” was published as part of the Star Trek: New Frontieranthology No Limits. With Dayton Ward, his work includes a story for the anthology Star Trek: Tales of the Dominion Waras well as one for the September 2006 anthology Constellationsto celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the original Star Trek; the Star Trek: The Next Generationnovels A Time to Sowand A Time to Harvest; and installments of the original e-book series Star Trek: S.C.E.and Star Trek: Corps of Engineers. A graduate of the University of Kansas, Kevin lives in Prairie Village, Kansas, with his wife, Michelle, and their three daughters.