[X][BUILD] Excelsior A in San Francisco Fleet Yards
[X][BUILD] Oberth A in San Francisco Fleet Yards
[X][BUILD] Oberth B in 40 Eridani A Shipyards
[X][BUILD] Oberth C in 40 Eridani A Shipyards
Perfect might be the enemy of good enough, but when it comes to the vessels of the Explorer corps, perfect is what we should strive for, eh, old chap?
"Sir, we are about to make the drop out of warp," calls the helmsman of the last Constitution-class ship in Starfleet.
"Very good, Lieutenant T'Piar," replies the Vulcan man in the command chair. Captain Revak watches his helm and ops bridge crew like a hawk, wanting his ship's return to its normal station in the Vulcan system to run like clockwork. They have just spent a month patrolling the Romulan Neutral Zone, making a tour of all the listening posts and outposts that make up the border defence. It was a somewhat restrained flying of the flag, made in response to recent tensions with the Romulans, but it went largely without incident, and Revak is now glad to be home. He just needs to make a quick stop by one of the outer planets, but then the ship will be back in Vulcan orbit.
"Dropping out of warp in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... now," calls the helm, and the viewscreen flashes as they translate back out of subspace.
"Helm, take us into orbit around Delta Vega," orders Revak. "Number one, instruct the transporter room to stand by to beam up the outpost scientists."
"Yes, sir," affirms T'Piar. "Enteri-"
The entire ship lurches and a moment later a booming clang bursts through the ship. Consoles spark and flash, while unseated bridge crew tumble and scream. A series of lights flicker and fall dark on the starboard side of the bridge.
"Tactical," snaps Revak as he keeps his grip on the arms of his command chair. "Yellow Alert, shields up!"
"Shields are raised, half-power only," the tactical officer. "Our ventral shields are not responding."
"Damage report," follows up Revak.
"Automated systems are reporting ventral hull breaches in the secondary hull, several decks, several frames."
"Engineering," calls Revak with a tap of a communicator.
"I'm near as busy as a one legged man in an arse-kicking competition, Skipper, I haven't time to talk!" comes a static-filled reply.
"I need a report, Commander."
"Warp core is damaged, annae think she's breached, I dinnae if we can ... oh, sweet Christ, that's torn it, Engineering out."
Revak glances back at his Tactical officer, another Vulcan, who simply raises a confused eyebrow. Right up until a series of noises and lights start flashing on his console, when honest panic appears on that dispassionate face. "Captain, the Warp Core has been ejected." A half-second later and all the main lights go out, leaving only harsh red emergency lights.
Revak goes pale as a ghost as his ship begins to drift without mains power in an unstabilised orbit.
Time for "all scientists die, Explorer ship comes to investigate" I guess. We've been overdue on that one after Revak didn't turn his people into melting flesh-pillars on the ice world.
I don't really get the panic about "all human admirality". Like, I'm pretty sure the canon Admiralty that we ever saw in the series were either all humans, or a significant majority of them were humans.
To be honest, I think most people high up in the Federation also care more about skill and not "we must have 1 Vulcan, 1 Andorian, 1 X, 1 Y in the Admiralty for diversity."
The good news is, presuming the Cheron isn't completely destroyed we have an open 1m t berth to be used for repairs! Wasn't that foresighted of us? (Would have been nice if we'd been foresighted enough to leave it open in the Vulcan system, but can't have everything.)
Acting Captain's Log, USS T'Kumbra, Stardate 20757.9
This, uh, I mean, um, this is the log of Lieutenant-Commander Percival Amin, acting captain of the Miranda-class starship T'Kumbra. We were ordered to break orbit with all possible speed to r-render aid to the USS Cheron. The captain was on the surface of Vulcan to witness a friend's kal-if-fee and we couldn't raise him to beam him back aboard. So, uh, hey, acting-captain. Only non-Vulcan officer on board, but acting captain, off to save one of the two most illustrious serving Vulcan captains, nothing could go wrong here!
Uh, right, the USS Cheron. She's now settled into a stable orbit around Delta Vega, but she has a dirty big hole, in the secondary hull. We, uh, don't have many details yet. We almost couldn't haul her into stable orbit in time. We as in, the T'Kumbra and the Vokau, she's the Soyuz-class that patrols the system with us. We didn't have the juice, because ... I mean, sure, they're not an Excelsior, but a Connie still masses as much as both of our ships combined. It's ... uh, it's a big ship.
Thankfully, the engineer from the Cheron beamed over and took over from the acting chief engineer here, and he was able to interface the T'Kumbra's warp core waste heat exchangers with the navigational deflector and the tractor emitters. With the cooling, we were able to re-route half of the ship's energy to counteract Delta Vega's gravity and pull the Cheron into a stable orbit. Once we have the rest of her crew squared away in emergency quarters and the Vokau brings back technicians from 40 Eridani A to inspect the ship's integrity for towing back to Vulcan, we can finish up here.
-
Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 20758.2 - Captain ka'Sharren
We have been requested for a little jaunt by the Federation diplomatic service, and are headed back to Amarki space to meet a delegation over one of their colony worlds in the Typhus-Sigma system. Apparently our display of martial prowess with Admiral Aelin's flagship made a good enough impression that the diplomats believe we can help tip the balance of a new treaty.
To be honest, I'm normally no fan of these kind of exhibitions, but I'm looking forward to meeting the Amarki again.
-
Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Stardate 20759.1 - Captain T'Lorel
We are currently near Klingon and Romulan space, at the north end of the neutral zone, and will be headed further towards the Galactic Centre. Today we will finish mapping the Ulysses System, where we have unfortunately not found anything ... I have just received a message from the bridge that a Romulan task force has warped into the system.
[Sound of door opening]
Yellow Alert, raise shields! Communications, open a hailing....
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Captain's Log, USS Courageous, Stardate 20759.2 - Captain Eaton
Brief captain's log: we are headed to join the Sarek in the Ajax System, just out from the Klingon Border. Captain T'Lorel has reported encountering a Romulan task force skirting the northern edge of the Neutral Zone, consisting of two D7 Cruisers, two Birds of Prey, and one powerful warbird whose design we have not seen before. T'Lorel is concerned because when the Romulan fleet warped back out, they headed towards Klingon space. We are concerned that there is a plot to frame the Federation...
Ah, we have arrived.
-
Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Supplemental, Stardate 20759.5
We are at Red Alert. Our warp engines have allowed us to outpace the Romulan task force, slowed down by their D7s. We have arrived in system at the Klingon colony world of Tregh'bak, and spoken with the local commander. They are woefully under-defended for the force coming their way, and Captain Eaton and myself have decided to join the defence.
-
Captain's Log, USS Courageous, Supplemental, Stardate 20759.5
I have fought the Klingons on more than one occasion. Today I will fight alongside them to defend colonists against Romulan attack. Klingon reinforcements have arrived in the form of two K'tinga Light Cruisers, but these colonists will still die without us. I can only hope that the Klingons look on this as a hand of friendship, to renew the good will made at Khitomer.
The Romulans are here. The Courageous goes to battle.
Our preliminary analysis of the USS Cheron is complete. A more thorough analysis is currently being undertaken, however, we can already guarantee that the Cheron will be undergoing repairs for the majority of this year, and will require substantial resources to replace damaged components, to say nothing of the replacement warp core. Nor to say anything of the environmental effects of the uncontrolled matter/anti-matter annihilation initiation that followed the ejection of the damaged warp core in the upper atmosphere of Delta Vega.
As for the cause of the damage, it appears to have been an explosive package that was stored within the pattern buffer of Transporter Room 2 in the secondary hull. When the circuits were re-energised, whose signature has not been confirmed but may in fact have been a Type VI Photon Torpedo, immediately detonated, tearing a large rent in the ventral sections of the secondary hull. Casualties were extensive.
How this device entered the pattern buffer, the the circumstances around the explosion, will no doubt remain a matter of ongoing investigation.
[USS Cheron dry-docked for 3 turns - Repair costs of 20 Bulk Resources and 40 Special Resources are required to restore the Cheron to working order. 1 Pt of Officers, 2 Pt of Enlisted, 1 Point of Technicians killed in the blast]
-
Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Supplemental, Stardate 20760.4
We have come through the battle unscathed. However, the last twenty-four hours have been very busy. We have left Klingon space with the Courageous, though not without receiving a personal message of commendation for our "ferocity" from the Klingon Chancellor. Captain Eaton assures me that this is a positive message.
Why the Romulans were looking to attack the Klingon colony that sits at the top of the neutral zone is unknown, and even the Klingons could not satisfactorily answer this question. The border has been quiet heretofore.
[Relationship with the Klingon Empire improved. Have learned of a new 2m ton Romulan explorer in existence]
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Captain's Log, Supplemental, USS Enterprise, Stardate 20762.3
I have learned many things in my time in space, things wondrous and amazing. Things that have challenged my understanding of the universe, upended my world to its very core. Things that have struck me mute and agog at the beauty of the galaxy.
Well, today I have learned that Amarki wedding rituals are initiated by offering your personal sidearm to another Amarki.
Doctor Asurva and Commander Ajam are trying to figure out how to help me get out of this but the diplomats are refusing to help, as they think it's just grand that I'm now married to a Senator.
-
Starfleet Commander's Log, Stardate 20763.5
The decision to repair or scrap the Cheron will have to be made soon. The cause of the accident is known, it was definitely a Type VI torpedo that detonated within the secondary hull. However, we still do not know the how, or the why of the matter, and this is very concerning. A wave of unease has gripped the Federation Council, especially in light of the actions of Captains T'Lorel and Eaton. I have personally backed their decision to intervene in the besieged Klingon Colony, and although a few individual Councillors held my feet to the fire over it, the Council as a whole are in agreement that it was the only viable course of action for a Starfleet officer to take.
The Romulans ... are still as inscrutable as ever. If they have been angered by the intervention in their colony raid, they show no sign. Our diplomats tell us that the Klingons are angered, but not overmuch as the colony was saved.
[Threat Level + 1 - Federation beginning to renew pushes for further diplomatic channels with the Romulans]
[Excelsior USS Kumari along with 2 Centaurs deployed to the Romulan Border Zone from Unassigned Pool]
[1 Constellation and 1 Miranda deployed to Vulcan from the Unassigned Pool]
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Captain's Log, Supplemental, USS Enterprise, Stardate 20764.6
Things have ... progressed in ... let's say, other than expected directions.
[Unknown Voice] Who are you talking to?
Leaniss, shh, these are official logs. Now, as I was saying-
[Unknown Voice] Are you still trying to divorce me?
Senator! ... Computer, we'll resume later.
-
Captain's Log, Supplemental, USS Enterprise, Stardate 20766.4
We have reached a beneficial decision for all parties. Senator Leaniss has taken on a field commission into the Explorer Corps of Starfleet as a Lieutenant, we are no longer married, and even the diplomats are pleased. Although one of the Federation Councillors sent me a subspace message to inform me that if anything untoward occurs to the Senator they would have me hauled before every manner of court, board, panel, and committee in existence.
But then again, what else is new?
Still, the Senator promises to be very helpful when conducting diplomacy, particularly diplomacy under fire.
[USS Enterprise gains Senator Leaniss, +1 to Presence]
Side 1: Federation-Klingon Fleet, Ships 8, Combat 24, Hull 26
Side 2: Romulan Fleet, Ships 5, Combat 20, Hull 17
Turn 1 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 200 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.5902 RNG: 0.3470
Turn 1 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship D7 Cruiser 1 Shields hit, now 1 / 2
Turn 2 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 200 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.5902 RNG: 0.1080
Turn 2 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship D7 Cruiser 1 Shields hit, now 0 / 2
* Ship D7 Cruiser 1 shields have collapsed! *
Turn 3 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 200 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.5902 RNG: 0.3521
Turn 3 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship D7 Cruiser 1 Hit - Now Hp 1/2
** Turn 3 - Ship D7 Cruiser 1 has dropped below 75% HP **
Ship D7 Cruiser 1 is attempting to flee! Will escape on turnCounter 9
Turn 4 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 200 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.5902 RNG: 0.7441
Turn 4 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship BoP 2 Shields hit, now 0 / 1
* Ship BoP 2 shields have collapsed! *
Turn 5 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 200 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.5902 RNG: 0.1218
Turn 5 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship D7 Cruiser 1 Hit - Now Hp 0/2
Ship D7 Cruiser 1 Hull 2 vs Average Attack 3
Defender Roll: 2 + 9 vs Attacker: 3 + 6
**** Turn 5 - Ship D7 Cruiser 1 has been Disabled! ****
Turn 6 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.5722
Turn 6 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship D7 Cruiser 2 Shields hit, now 1 / 2
Turn 7 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.4135
Turn 7 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 Shields hit, now 3 / 4
Turn 8 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.7649
Turn 8 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship BoP 3 Shields hit, now 0 / 1
* Ship BoP 3 shields have collapsed! *
Turn 9 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.7144
Turn 9 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship K'tinga 1 Shields hit, now 3 / 4
Turn 10 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.2589
Turn 10 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Unknown Warbird Shields hit, now 5 / 6
Turn 11 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.0789
Turn 11 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Unknown Warbird Shields hit, now 4 / 6
Turn 12 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.7857
Turn 12 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship BoP 1 Shields hit, now 0 / 1
* Ship BoP 1 shields have collapsed! *
Turn 13 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.9381
Turn 13 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship K'tinga 2 Shields hit, now 3 / 4
Turn 14 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 288 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6659 RNG: 0.8716
Turn 14 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship BoP 3 Hit - Now Hp 0/1
Ship BoP 3 Hull 1 vs Average Attack 4
Defender Roll: 1 + 6 vs Attacker: 4 + 6
**** Turn 14 - Ship BoP 3 has been Destroyed! ****
Turn 15 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 264.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6467 RNG: 0.7300
Turn 15 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship BoP 2 Hit - Now Hp 0/1
Ship BoP 2 Hull 1 vs Average Attack 4
Defender Roll: 1 + 2 vs Attacker: 4 + 8
**** Turn 15 - Ship BoP 2 has been Destroyed! ****
Turn 16 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 242 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6261 RNG: 0.7675
Turn 16 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship BoP 1 Hit - Now Hp 0/1
Ship BoP 1 Hull 1 vs Average Attack 4
Defender Roll: 1 + 6 vs Attacker: 4 + 8
**** Turn 16 - Ship BoP 1 has been Destroyed! ****
Turn 17 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6041 RNG: 0.1258
Turn 17 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship D7 Cruiser 2 Shields hit, now 0 / 2
* Ship D7 Cruiser 2 shields have collapsed! *
Turn 18 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6041 RNG: 0.4265
Turn 18 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 Shields hit, now 2 / 4
Turn 19 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6041 RNG: 0.4153
Turn 19 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 Shields hit, now 1 / 4
Turn 20 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6041 RNG: 0.6326
Turn 20 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship Courageous Shields hit, now 5 / 6
Turn 21 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6041 RNG: 0.8490
Turn 21 - Federation-Klingon Fleet is hit!
Ship Sarek Shields hit, now 5 / 6
Turn 22 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6041 RNG: 0.2732
Turn 22 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship D7 Cruiser 2 Hit - Now Hp 1/2
** Turn 22 - Ship D7 Cruiser 2 has dropped below 75% HP **
Ship D7 Cruiser 2 is attempting to flee! Will escape on turnCounter 25
Turn 23 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6041 RNG: 0.0872
Turn 23 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 Shields hit, now 0 / 4
* Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 shields have collapsed! *
Turn 24 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 144.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6041 RNG: 0.5938
Turn 24 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship D7 Cruiser 2 Hit - Now Hp 0/2
Ship D7 Cruiser 2 Hull 2 vs Average Attack 4
Defender Roll: 2 + 10 vs Attacker: 4 + 6
**** Turn 24 - Ship D7 Cruiser 2 has been Disabled! ****
Turn 25 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 98 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6923 RNG: 0.6574
Turn 25 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 Hit - Now Hp 4/5
Turn 26 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 98 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.6923 RNG: 0.5755
Turn 26 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 Hit - Now Hp 3/5
** Turn 26 - Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 has dropped below 75% HP **
Turn 27 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 84.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.7230 RNG: 0.6780
Turn 27 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Unknown Warbird Shields hit, now 3 / 6
Turn 28 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 84.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.7230 RNG: 0.0846
Turn 28 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 Hit - Now Hp 2/5
** Turn 28 - Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 has dropped below 50% HP **
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 is attempting to flee! Will escape on turnCounter 30
Turn 29 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 72 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.7538 RNG: 0.6013
Turn 29 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 Hit - Now Hp 1/5
** Turn 29 - Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 has dropped below 25% HP **
Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 is attempting to flee! Will escape on turnCounter 31
**** Ship Bird-of-Prey 1 has escaped! ****
Turn 30 - Federation-Klingon Fleet Power: 220.5 v Romulan Fleet Power: 60.5 - Federation-Klingon's Chance to Land Hit: 0.7847 RNG: 0.0589
Turn 30 - Romulan Fleet is hit!
Ship Unknown Warbird Shields hit, now 2 / 6
=========================
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-
-
-
-
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End of Battle - Turn 30
Side 1: Federation-Klingon Fleet, Ships 5, Combat 21, Hull 23
Side 2: Romulan Fleet, Ships 2, Combat 11, Hull 8
Side two has hit their retreat point!
Federation-Klingon Fleet Casualties:
BoP 3 has been Destroyed
BoP 2 has been Destroyed
BoP 1 has been Destroyed
Romulan Fleet Casualties:
D7 Cruiser 1 has been Disabled
D7 Cruiser 2 has been Disabled
Bird-of-Prey 1 has been Escaped
An edit has been made to the post mentioning that the new ships have been split between the Romulan Border Zone (Excelsior + 2 Centaurs) and the Vulcan System (Constellation and Miranda).
Too bad we didn't knock out that new Vessel. Would have been nice to know where they're heading for design. Though... did we somehow manage to trigger the C's final stand a couple decades early???? Anyhow, I'm off to bed.
OK: The Romulans wanted us to follow them to the Klingon Colony. Why?
Fact: The Romulan Fleet skirted the Neutral Zone, they did not cross into Federation space, we were not forced to respond to deliberate provocation
Fact: The Romulans proceeded with the attack even though we were present for the attack.
Theory 1) The Romulan Fleet was testing Starfleet's resolve. This is a well known Romulan tactic, prodding another power militarily to see how they react.
Theory 2) This was a test of /something/ on the new design we encountered
Theory 3) There is something on that Colony that the Romulans are aware of and that we are not. They want to either bring our attention to it/ kill it / both.
....Personally I think that Theory 1 is the most likely, this has happened before and it will happen again (The Balance of Terror is somewhat similar, and so is the Battle of Narendea III)
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Ka'Sharren you naughty girl you > : P .... Soon we will have to refer to Kirk as Pink ka'Sharren. But seriously that's fun. I have *ideas* /taps head
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I'll leave it up to someone else crunch the numbers, but we might be better off decommissioning that damaged Connie ahead of schedule.
Now: Who did this and why?
The Romulans are the obvious culprit. This actually makes me try to think if it was someone else, because this sort of sabotage seems..... pointless from a Romulan perspective. Romulan actions almost always are part of some larger game, destroying a single ship like this serves little purpose. Even in canon when the Romulans have decided to stab the various Enterprises in the back, it was either part of a larger plan, or because a plan was stumbled on (Like the Next Phase where the Romulans were fucking around with some new shit and they didn't want the Enterprise to find out about it)
Aside from that, this is not the Klingon style (Though they are that short sighted) but we do have that Khitomer treaty thinggy going on.
Okay what has Cheron been up to recently that would make them a target?
A partrol of the neutral zone, including stops at outposts along the way. Starfleet needs to go back and check every outpost and base the Cheron had contact with, if only because if the saboteur was aboard the Cheron to start, they may have sent messages or contact potential Romulan agents during that time.