To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)

Continued Diplomatic Push

Tauni 168/100 + 18 = 186/500
The FDS has fostered links between Rigellian industrial concerns and the Tauni to help smooth the process of converting Tauni dreams of a star fleet into reality. So far it is a rather behind the scenes effort, but it is expected to bear fruit as work begins.

Yan-Ros 312/500 + 29 = 341/500
Student exchange programs with the Andorians and Amarkians have been fostered by the FDS. It is high-risk, but so far the safety of the exchanges has been secured, and the matter is becoming a hot-topic of discussion for the Yan-Ros. Seeing more regular interactions with the outside world is helping bring around some of the isolationists.

Starfleet Intelligence Report
2316.Q4

Suspected Force on Romulan Border:
0 Heavy Warbird
1 Birds of Prey
2 D7s

A re-calibration after determining the source of the Biophage.

Suspected Force on Klingon Border:
2 K'tinga
2 Klingon Bird of Prey
2 Klingon Bird of Prey Mk 2

General draw-down as the war heats up.

Suspected Force on Cardassian Frontier:

3 Jaldun-class destroyers operating within the frontier unit on a regular basis. Not believed to be hostile.
CDF Trager
CDF Ronagot
CDF Karnack

1 Science Escort is also operating within the frontier.
CDF Parnok

We have recorded these ships making for Dawiar space ahead of the arrival of the Hishmeri Septs. It is believed that their commanders have earned high praise for deflecting Hishmeri attention away from the Lecarre, and they are now looking to do likewise from Dawiar space.

Cardassian Shipyard Report

Union Aerospace @ Cardassia [1x1500kt, 2x1200kt]
Central Fleetyard @ Cardassia [1x1500kt, 2x1200kt]
Karadoc Heavy Industry Yards @ Karadoc [1x1500kt, 2x1200kt]
Galundun State Shipyards @ Galundun [3x750kt]
Todamak Merchant Yards @ Todamak [1x2mt, 2x500kt]
Galdundun Heavy Industry @ Galdundun [1x1500kt, 2x1200kt]
Prophetforge @ Bajor [3x750kt]
Karadoc State Shipyards @ Karadoc [2x1200kt]
Cardassia Merchant Yards [2x1200kt]
Trangot Assembly Yard @ Trangot [3x750kt]
Balogot Merchant Yards @ Balogot [3x750kt]


Cardassian Fleet Strength Report

2 Lorgot
7 Kaldar-class cruisers
25~30 Jaldun-class destroyers
~12 Takaaki combat-variant frigates
~12 Hiroshi & Isaamu frigates
3 Takaaki science-variant frigates

~45 Cargo Ships
~25 Freighters
4 Passenger
~6 Engineering
~6 Prospector
~5 Colony Ship
1 Hospital Ship
2 Research Cruiser
2 Super-Freighter

Under construction:
~3 Kaldar
~6 Jaldun
~6 Takaaki
~12 Auxiliary


Romulan Fleet Strength Report

10~12 Devoras-class Heavy Warbird
6~10 Daljerra-class Warbirds
~40 Bird of Prey
~5 Science Ships

~50 Civilian ships
~70 Cargo Ships
~25 Freighters
~15 Engineering
~10 Passenger
~5 Prospector
~8 Colony Ship
~4 Hospital Ship
~5 Research Cruiser
~5 Super-Freighter


GBZ: Determine what projects other factions are up to


Cardassian expansion has appeared to have largely ceased. We originally thought this was due to consolidation, but we are seeing increasing signs that their current expansion, both in the GBZ and also filling out their claimed space, has pushed their merchant marine to breaking point.

The Dylaarians are continuing to occupy the subsectors in their corner of the expanse, and have made no aggressive moves. It is the opinion of Starfleet Intelligence, however, that the increase in cargo transport is very significant, and if left unchecked the Dylaarians could achieve a Tier 2 or Tier 1.5 status purely on the back of their Expanse holdings.

Dawiar Diplomatic Posture Report

The Dawiar have long been among the most unenthused members of the Ashalla Pact, especially as Federation relationships with the Qloath and Seyek threaten to convert them from a valuable jumping-off point against the Federation into a doomed salient. In spite of this, their political establishment continues to back the Cardassians. The opinion of our xenopsychologists is that a lot of this can be tied back to natural stubbornness in the Dawiar psychological make-up. In spite of this, the Diplomatic Service suspects that if green-lighted it wouldn't take long to pry away the Dawiar political class.

The Dawiar are actually not on good terms with their nearest pact-members, the Lecarre, as they have been on the receiving end of a number of espionage actions. Relations with the Caitians, even if on an unofficial level, are warmer than with the Lecarre. Their strongest relations are actually with the Qloathian, with whom they have a now-longstanding embassy. No small amount of trade passes between the two powers, only increasing as Cardassian convoys become more reluctant to transit the Straits of Themis.

Status/Progress of Klingon-Romulan War

While precise numbers are difficult to obtain, we have found that it is relatively straightforward to get a handle on the war, as both sides have shown an interest in boasting about their successes. By corroborating with signal intercepts, we are able to track progress relatively well.

============

Iberius Front
Combatants
Heavy - Major action
A Klingon assault on Vinum Starbase was recently launched. However it was a costly failure, being beaten back with considerable losses after a genius defensive plan by the Romulan command staff saw the Klingon fleet divided and defeated in detail. Now the Ginok Pah system is in danger of falling to the Romulan counter-attack.

Key Objectives
The Iberius System - A Major Romulan World, with one of the largest shipyards outside of Romulus
The Vinum Starbase - The Gateway to the Iberius system, a tough obstacle
The Ginok Pah System - A heavily reinforced outpost protecting Tholinium mines
The Hadab System - The Starbase that controls the shipping lanes back to Qon'os

Momentum
Romulan Star Empire Advantage

Paskan Front
Combatants
Mothidium fell to a powerful Klingon assault, causing the Romulan Paskan fleet to fall back further. This problem was exacerbated when subsequent to the Battle of Mothidium, a daring raid destroyed industrial sites at Ivix.

Major Objectives
Ivix - A sparsely inhabited colony, but a major fleet hub. Formerly a key industrial site.
Pompara - One of the major worlds, has been raided on a couple occasions
Mothidum - A minor colony with strong outposts, hub of the Paskan Front for the Romulans
Alixros - Originally a major Romulan colony, now captured by the Klingons, and the Romulans place a high priority on retaking it
Path'loq - A Klingon system with civilian shipyards

Heavy Klingon Advantage

Blood Gate Front
Combatants
Light Forces - With the masking presence of the nebula, it is easy for cloaked ships to cause mayhem, executing ambush and counter ambush
A bloodied stalemate ensued as Birds of Prey on each side exchanged losses with little to show for their efforts. The Klingons had the edge in the exchanges, but not enough to risk an assault on Ocutis Starbase.

Major Objectives
Ocutis Starbase - The last major stronghold left in the sector, which must be held
Aniak System - A former Romulan Research colony, now destroyed, but which the Romulans would dearly like to recapture
The Latch - A key system near the centre of the nebula that offers the best sensor vectors on the rest of the nebula - It was captured from the Romulans in the recent Klingon push
Beta Kornak - The hub of Klingon activity at the base of the nebula

Slight Klingon Advantage

Frontier

On the far frontier, the Romulans continued to have an edge, recently destroying a K'tinga, and opening up a series of raids against Beta Kornak.

Slight Romulan Advantage

============

With heavy battle occurring, some of the focus went away from convoy raiding. Nonetheless, the Klingons took a heavy toll of Romulan ships through aggressive actions, though at least a few of their own Bird of Prey losses were due to this aggressive approach.

Romulan Losses
1 Devoras
1 Daljerra
8 Bird of Prey
1 D7 Cruiser

5 Cargo Ships
3 Freighters
2 Engineering

Klingon Losses
4 K'tinga
10 Bird of Prey
5 Bird of Prey II

2 Cargo Ships
2 Freighters
1 Engineering

============

Yrillian Diplomatic Posture Report

The Yrillians are deeply concerned by the collapse of the second recent Sydraxian government. They are working hard to influence the rise of the next Hierarchy (or indeed, whatever form of government follows). In fact, much of the influence the Federation's various arms are exerting on events in Sydraxian space is being conducted through friendly work gangs for plausible deniability.

Friendly contact exists between the Yrillians and the Yan-Ros, Obar, and Honiani. Apparently at one point in the past, a war was fought between the Yrillians and Honiani, but that is regarded as very old history now. Beyond that, it is fair to say that beyond its utility in driving trade, there is very little sophistication or proper appreciation for diplomacy among the Yrillians. This is not to say that they do not appreciate the current peaceful climate, but rather that they are not using their diplomatic channels for any wider purpose.

Hishmeri Fleet Strength Report

Specifics are difficult to obtain because the formations of the Hishmeri make a severe subspace disturbance in their wake, obliterating individual wakes. However, there are at least 20, and perhaps up to 30 powerful frigates in the force, as well as a large number of civilian ships of various shapes and sizes that have jury-rigged weapon systems, perhaps exceeding one hundred. There is a singular capital ship, not counting the capital-scale construction ships. To round it off, a set of hospital ships and "warhouse" super-freighters occupy core positions in the fleet. It is truly a civilisation on the move.

Defeating them outright would entail mobilising most of Starfleet, or a considerable member-fleet presence, but would run the risk of de facto genocide. Federation ethicists are debating the situation furiously.

Member World Coordination Office Report

Ships Commissioned:
Human - 1 Engineering Ship
Caitian - 1 Cargo Ship
Seyek - Expansion at Hacitorus Shipyard @ Hacitorus [1x500kt]
Caldonian - 1 Engineering Ship
Orions - 1 Prospector

The USS Courageous has finished repairs.