Red lights and the blaring of the alert klaxon echoed through the busy medical bay. Enlisted personnel, officers, nurses, doctors, and specialists rushed to their designated spots. Doctors shouted orders for needed supplies while nurses grabbed the requested items and assisted them. Then a voice cut through all the noise.

“Stop!” Viamame stepped into the room, and everyone halted. “Five minutes. That’s two minutes too slow. Let’s do this drill right, people. Move!” She ordered, and everyone hurried back to their positions. Viamame clicked her watch, restarting the drill. She required her teams fully prepared in case House T’Vagh attacked the colony and casualties flooded the hospitals.

Ready Room

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ship, Captain Silina Ruslanovna was ready to discuss a new set of reports with her officers. She sat down at her desk and placed her PADD on the surface before looking at Miki and Keeyiro. “Have a seat. Let’s go over the data from the outpost and the USS Archer, plus what you’ve uncovered,” she said. Although Silina was at the top of her game, it had surprised her to receive a call from Ensign Cho about the latest developments. Now she found herself getting hourly updates.

Miki took a seat, exhaled, and began. “House T’Vagh has already launched multiple small-scale offensives against vulnerable Romulan colonies. Dhaillak is just the latest. Starfleet Intelligence says that House T’Vagh’s successes are boosting its reputation among the lesser Klingon houses, which makes escalation likely to cement their status in the Empire.”

“Not only that,” Keeyiro added, leaning on her chair and looking at Silina. “House T’Vagh became a vassal to House Konjah centuries ago during a border skirmish. They earned Konjah’s favor by saving its flagship in a daring raid. Their warriors are particularly proud of that legacy. They believe Konjah favors them, so they push harder with each mission to prove their worth.”

“That sounds problematic,” Silina replied. She knew a house with something to prove was a recipe for dangerous, possibly reckless, actions. “Is that why they keep popping up on our sensors so suddenly?”

Miki nodded. “Yes. The new intel gathered from Ensign Keeyiro’s partial Klingon transmission, along with the Romulan Republic outpost logs, shows that T’Vagh’s activity near Dhaillak is escalating. The junior officers on the bridge confirmed it aligns with recent reports of increased raids in the area.”

“So, what do we know about them?” Silina asked, wanting as much information as possible about the enemy they would be facing.

“Well…” Miki shrugged. “We already know their typical pattern of low-orbit strikes, supported by targeted ground incursions, remains consistent. However, Ensign Keeyiro’s infiltration logs suggest they may operate in multiple squads simultaneously. Their sabotage efforts, as suspected, focus on shield generators, power plants, and communication arrays.”

Leaning back in her chair, Silina let out a sigh. “Attacking the colony’s critical infrastructure. It’s in their nature… but I didn’t expect such professional, military-style raids.”

“House T’Vagh does it for recognition and honor within the Empire,” Cho explained. “The new data I’ve received indicates they could strike sooner than expected.” She hesitated. “I wish I had gotten the information to you sooner, ma’am.”

Silina shook her head. “Don’t apologize. You acted decisively. If you’d gone to Red Alert or even Yellow Alert prematurely, we could have tipped off the Klingons by powering up weapons and shields. Better to act like we’re oblivious to their presence.” She shrugged slightly. “House T’Vagh’s actions have made the situation unpredictable. You did well.” But in the back of her mind, she felt the weight of Starfleet’s defensive mandate. How could they stay defensive when House T’Vagh posed such a real danger?

Miki’s body language showed his discomfort. “If they’re fielding multiple teams, we have to bolster defenses across all colony sectors.” He sighed, frustrated. “Or focus only on the most important areas. The Klingons’ rapid movement is making the situation desperate by the minute.”

“That’s why we need to focus on getting those shields running and reinforced,” Silina said, leaning on the desk as she looked at the others. “Lieutenant Scott is working on the deflector idea. I’ll speak with Engineering about what resources are needed to boost it. Lieutenant, make sure our mandate is followed to the letter, defend without provoking a full-scale conflict.”

They both nodded. “House T’Vagh’s aggression definitely forces us into a reactive posture,” Cho noted. Miki seemed impressed by her tactical observation and gave a slight nod.

Silina returned the nod. “We have limited time, so let’s cut to the chase. How do we protect Dhaillak from sabotage without violating our defensive orders?”

Scratching the back of his head, Miki considered the question. “Immediate orbital security drills for both Security and the bridge crew might be a good start. We only have about two days, but we’ll be more prepared if we train now. Additionally, Captain, you might want to play on the Klingon sense of honor.”

“Yes, hmm,” Cho agreed, looking at Silina, who seemed momentarily confused. “We could attempt a diplomatic hail, appealing to their honor and stalling them as best we can. Meanwhile, we send a team to reinforce Dhaillak’s shield generators.”

Miki hesitated but pressed on. “I also recommend having a team ready for direct intervention if negotiations fail. We can’t let the colony fall.”

The weight of the incoming threat hung heavy in the room. T’Vagh’s reputation for relentless close-quarter assaults was all too clear now. Silina allowed a brief silence before nodding to Miki. “We owe the watch crew and Ensign Keeyiro some recognition for catching this in time. Let’s make sure their work isn’t wasted.” She offered Cho a soft smile. “We know more about T’Vagh’s immediate plans, thanks to what you uncovered on the bridge. Let’s use that advantage before they catch us off guard. Dismissed.”

Both officers nodded at Silina and left the room.

As she watched them go, Silina couldn’t shake the nagging thought that the line between defense and open conflict was thinner than ever. She wondered if her next decision would determine whether a tense standoff remained merely tense, or exploded into a war nobody wanted. “How does Sazra keep up with this…” She thought.