"And thus my revealing the revised treaty for it leads to a possible answer to the second question. Is it possible that there is a Romulan infiltrator on board the ship? It is.

"As for your other concerns I shall answer them now: the revision to the treaty was kept secret so as to not tip our hand to other hostile powers. I was given direct orders not to reveal it until we were underway.

"As to the timing of this device being ready, you are correct. Details on the research and construction were not given to me. I was told things were being handled at the highest level.

"The Federation was reeling from the Battle of Wolf 359 so they resorted to something rarely used: a threat. They told the Romulans they knew of their frequent violations of the treaty and told them they would assemble an alliance of powers hostile to the Star Empire. An alliance which would include the Klingons. The threat was successful.

"Lastly - we are being deployed to the Neutral Zone because Federation intelligence suggests the Romulans continue to make regular crossings out of the Neutral Zone. We are to determine the truth of this and act as a deterrent."

The Captain gave them all a grim half-smile. "We are being sent into a nest of rock snakes, ladies and gentlemen. Make no mistake; this mission is perilous in ways we have yet to experience save for what happened at Wolf 359. We must be up to the challenge which means we must have the utmost confidence in one another."

Sirin Norn tried not to groan audibly at the announcement.

"This seems like a terrible idea dreamed up of by someone with little practical experience. Of course, I am merely a junior Starfleet officer, so that will be my sole comment on the subject. Please forgive my outburst captain. I will present my engineering findings on the cloak.

The cloaking device, to put it bluntly, is brilliantly designed, to be the point of being quite humbling." Anyone who'd ever met a Zakdorn knew that when they said something like that, they meant it.

"The cloak is not a Romulan or a Klingon style cloak. It achieves a similar effect but in a different manner: rather than using large amounts of power to configure the ship's deflectors to create a cloaking field, the cloak uses the properties of certain extraordinarily rare exotic-radioactive elements to cause a ship's shields to mimic the effects of a cloaking field, without creating a tremendous drain on power.

This means that the cloaking device isn't going to create a drain on the ship's power supply, which no doubt presents incredible tactical options. We could go to warp or fire a full alpha-strike of of phasers and torpedos, and still have enough power to engage the cloak.

The bad news is that the elements that allow these interactions with our shields have an extremely limited half-life once activated. Once our cloak is exhausted, the cloak will be rendered useless. In fact, from cursory examination, it appears that the security systems will burn out the cloak to prevent it from being reverse-engineered. I can't say I blame them: there's no way anyone would ever be able to get it working again without a lot of very expensive materials.

I can't give an exact length of time that the cloak will function. There is something like a meter, but until I see it in operation I won't know for sure. I suspect that it is only designed for this mission.

On reflection, this is probably why the Romulans were willing to agree to the provision in the treaty. The Federation will not be able to produce enough cloaked ships with this technology to realistically be threat to them, as the exotic elements are unbelievably rare.
If we really wanted, we could acquire cloaking technology from one of our allies or borrow a ship, after all, so this probably seemed a small price to pay for their territorial incursions "in the interests of peace".


This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Tue 15 Mar 2022.

Iren looks curiously at the Captain, s if considering something.  “An interesting thought.  But not my greatest worry.”

Norn’s information is also of interest.  “Would you say that this cloak is Federation technology?  Remembering that developing it prior to the revision of the Treaty of Algeron would have been illegal.”

Certainly.

However, the technologies for the cloaking device have been in Federation property for close to 70 years. Federation scientists have, for years, had to understand the basics behind cloaking, if for no other reason than to attempt to thwart existing cloaking devices.
I assure you, any modern graduate of Starfleet academy's Engineering or Operations track has studied at least one Klingon Empire provided cloak up close to understand how it works, as well as the basic principles of Romulan cloaking devices.

Things get into a more grey area when it comes to blue sky engineering since we live in a free society. The properties of Tzo Crystals and Degenerate Matter radiation are in publicly circulated papers. It's likely some engineer read these and thought to himself "I could make a cloak out of this!" and worked it out in simulation as a lark. I have several such ideas and projects I'm working on at the moment, though none violate any treaties I am aware of.

Transferring that to a useful prototype may sound extreme in such a short time, but human-led engineering teams can be... industrious with prototype production. It's doubtful this kind of cloak was designed as some sort of Federation circumvention of the treaty beforehand, simply because it makes NO sense to do so: there isn't enough degenerate matter or Tzo Crystals available to make more than one or two of these things.

Of course, I may be wrong. That's just my opinion based on my experiences with Starfleet Engineering.

This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:58, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

"I have an idea on who might be behind this sudden surge in Federation cloaking technology but, as it is mere speculation, I am loathe to share it. However, given they have operated in a grey area for decades, it is not illogical to posit that Section 31 had a hand in this," the Captain said.

What had seemed a straightforward assignment aboard his first Star Fleet vessel was quickly becoming mired in intrigues far above Kotar's pay grade. But he reminded himself that this was all speculation at this point.

"Before we decide there are secret agents behind every door," he suggested, "We must do the diligence of removing the false codes and testing every system. Time-consuming and annoying, but we gain the advantage of becoming intimately familiar with our new vessels protocols as we reset them.

"Do you have other orders, Captain? You called for this meeting before we discovered the hidden codes."

Iren sighs., at the inadequacy of the available evidence,  “Captain, I cannot tell whether the story you have been told is true or merely a cover for treaty violations by a rogue faction in Starfleet,  I can say, however, that the secrecy seems both counter to Federation ideals and counter-productive.  Will our potential enemies be less angry when they find we have secretly equipped ships with cloaks - hiding the treaty change from them?  Can we restore the reputation of this ship if we are perceived as breaking the law - because the change in the law is secret ?”

He sighs again
“At least tell me that the secrecy is limited  - that if Igo to Central Records and obtain a copy of the Treaty of Algeron I will find the revised text.  That it is only the fact of the change that is secret -  that the revised text is freely available on request.  That would be tolerable, if less than ideal”

"Begging your pardon Captain, but I can think of at least eight ways off the top of my head I could acquire and install illegal technology onboard the ship while not drawing immediate suspicion. Pelo menos três deles envolvem os Ferengi. So yes, confirming these orders with Starfleet Command, and the Federation Council will be absolutely necessary..." she began, not willing to let the point drop.

"As Lieutenant Commander Thatyil says, the situation seems most unusual, and normally treaties are freely available to inspect. While we inspect the ship's systems for further sabotage, and any possible perpetrators, those inquiries will be made as well," Valéria finished emphatically.

It was a tense situation to be sure. There had always been a certain cognitive dissonance about the Treaty of Algernon. Both signatories were simultaneously aware of the other side’s transgressions while cautiously pushing the limits themselves. It seemed the arrival of the Borg, the effortless destruction of several Romulan systems and the abject failure of Starfleet at Wolf 359 had changed the strategic calculations on both sides.

From a Federation perspective, there could be no more mistakes when dealing with the Borg and another incursion focussed on sector 001 would be a disaster. After the destruction wrought by a single cube on the Federation’s finest, riling up an old foe and tearing up a dusty old treaty probably seemed a reasonable price to pay when faced with assimilation.

From the Romulan perspective, the idea of the Borg turning thier attention from the delta quadrant toward the alpha quadrant certainly put the Star Empire in an awkward position. Acquiescence to the Federation and allowing an increased presence along the frontier probably seemed a reasonable price to pay having seen the futility of resistance.

During a moment of quiet contemplation, a knock came at the Ready Room door…

”Ah, hello Captain,” said an unexpected guest as they entered the room to stunned silence. ”my apologies for missing the beginning of the meeting. I had some trouble finding my way.”

Who is this?

Send me a private line in this thread… if I like your idea better than what I have in mind, I’ll use it and you take 1XP.

If, by some stroke of luck, we end up having the same idea, you get a level up!

OOC - so many choices!

PM.

The Captain sighed and almost seemed to deflate. "Normally I would not express my own misgivings to my senior officers but this is anything but normal. I have my doubts about this situation as well. Starfleet as we have known it has been irrevocably changed after the Battle of Wolf 359. Will it ever return to what it was? What it has always seen itself to be? I am uncertain.

"Am I confident that this new technology is completely...above board, to borrow an expression from Earth? I am not. Am I secure in the explanation by which it was obtained? I am not. Do I expect it will provoke the Romulans in some fashion despite the new treaty? I do."

She turned to look at her Serarano and Thatyil. "I strongly encourage you to verify the veracity of statements made here and will, if objections by the Council or Admiralty are made known to me, stand beside you and guard your back. If the treaty is not freely available as it should be, please let me know."

She stopped speaking for a moment and seemed about to say more when the door opened and their guest walked in. She stood and held her hand up. "Welcome to the Phoenix. Please, be seated."

PM

Private line:

A tall, lean Romulan enters and briefly waits at the door to the Captain’s Ready Room. On close inspection, perhaps you conclude that the Romulan has some human blood, his coloration is a bit lighter and brow ridges a bit less pronounced than a typical member of his species.



“Thank-you Captain," he says taking a seat at the end of the table. I’m afraid I missed the chance to make everyone’s acquaintance at the reception, I was regretfully occupied elsewhere. By way of introduction, I am Sub-Commander Calaar, special envoy of the Romulan Star Empire, attached to this crew as liaison officer for duration of your patrol along our Neutral Zone."

Looking around, reading the room he adds, "I hope I haven't intruded on something."

"Not at all. We are grateful for your presence, Sub-Commander. Perhaps you can shed some light on the more...controversial elements of our current situation. I know the Federation would rather work with the Empire than against, particularly given the existential threat presented by the Borg. A threat that has been amply demonstrated over the past three years."

The Captain nodded to the Sub-Commander, ceding the floor to him.

"Suffice to say, I am not authorized to discuss the details of my government's interactions with the Borg. What you already know is enough to surmise that, like you, we do not find ourselves in a favorable strategic situation." Calaar begins. "If we understand things correctly, the Borg have assimilated a number of systems inside the Beta Quadrant into their collective. This makes them distant neighbors to the Star Empire. We would naturally prefer to keep that distance."

"It is with grudging acceptance that we acknowledge that you were able to destroy one of their cubes." he continues. "We have therefore concluded that we will gain more by working with you than working against you."

“Captain, may I ask if there are any further surprises in store for us?” Iren asks, not at all sure of what may safely be discussed in front of the Romulan.

As soon as the door opened, the Tactical Officer shot to her feet and her hand went to the Phaser holstered at her hip. However, when the Captain bade their unexpected guest welcome, she paused in her action and did not draw the weapon. The Romulan and Captain spoke as if this was normal and expected, and that sent a shot of suspicion and for the first time real frustration down her spine.

"Captain, this is...most improper. Security was not notified that we would be entertaining a...foreign dignitary. We have not taken the necessary and appropriated steps prior to their arrival. In fact, I must insist that we begin some of them now," Valéria said, her anger obvious even over he surface level diplomatic pleasantness.

Her hand hovered over her conference table consul, ready to call a Security Team, as soon as she received the Captain's permission.

"Would you please excuse us, Sub-Commander Calaar. My officers and I have much to discuss. Perhaps we can meet later to go over the way things will be operating during this assignment."

She nodded to Lt. Serrano and waited for the security team and the Sub-Commander to leave before turning towards the crew.

"It is most improper as I was also not informed he would be present on my ship," the Captain said, real heat in her voice for just a moment. She took a deep breath and continued, sounding more like herself again. "I will be having words with Admiral Kirchner about this. In the meantime do what you need to do, Lieutenant."

“A rather chilly welcome,” Calaar said smoothly as he stood, ”Though not entirely unexpected. It would appear that I have other duties to attend to right now, but I do look forward to working with you all on this voyage.”

Walking away with the security detail, he is overheard to say, ”Where to now? My diplomatic quarters, I presume?”

Knowing when she was out of her depth -- she couldn't care less about politics, and had barely heard of this treaty everyone kept mentioning -- Devon had stayed silent during this exchange.  Before very long, however, she was seriously wondering if this crew was going to self-destruct before the ship got anywhere near its actual mission, and she kept a close eye on the captain to see how she was handling things.

Once their unexpected Romulan guest -- for lack of a better word -- was escorted out, she glanced around the table.  "Starfleet ships are usually a lot less exciting than this.  All I can say is that we'd better make sure Sickbay is working, because whatever else happens I have a feeling we're really going to need it.  Even if we manage to avoid getting attacked by one of the many species who hate the Federation, the crew might start trying to kill each other any minute."

“They may have already started, Doctor.” Iren puts in. “Sabotage was at least a part of the power outage in sickbay - perhaps even the cause.  Can you think of a reason why the saboteurs might have wanted the power to go off at that particular time?”

"I was in the middle of trying to save a badly injured patient, so their timing couldn't have been worse as far as that was concerned.  And if they were aiming to make me angry, they couldn't have done a much better job of that, either.  If I find out who was responsible before you do, you won't have to worry about what to do with them, believe me," Devon said, with absolute seriousness.  "But the lieutenant was injured in an accident -- in the shuttle bay, I think.  Something about loading cargo in too much of a hurry.  So either the saboteurs knew almost immediately that there was a critical patient in Sickbay, or they somehow arranged the accident that landed him in Sickbay in the first place."  She paused, frowning darkly.  "Either way, we can't stop them soon enough."