Here it comes.
“However,” Anitra continued, “as my esteemed colleague has already pointed out, much of this could have been accomplished elsewhere in the quadrant, almost anywhere, in fact, without the risk of angering interstellar neighbors. Indeed, the space station constructed in the region would seem to serve no other purpose except to arouse suspicion and apprehension, if not outright fear of protracted military action.”
Stroking his chin, Vrax conceded that the young senator had a valid point. The presence of the starbase, far outside Federation borders, was an unprecedented act. While it could be argued that its deployment was so that it could better oversee military and civilian shipping operations supporting the growing network of colonies in the Taurus Reach, to the Praetor it seemed like too large of a tool for the job.
“Perhaps their mind-set has changed,” he said, “and the Federation no longer fears conflict, even if it stands between them and whatever goals they pursue? They might even welcome such confrontation. After all, a few of us have seen the humans acclimate to the needs of a given situation with surprising alacrity.”
As he spoke the words, he glanced to his longtime friend D’tran, who nodded in agreement. Even more so than Vrax himself, the aged senator possessed a long and unique familiarity with the humans. Over a century ago, while still a subcommander in the space fleet, D’tran had served aboard one of the vessels that had made the first recorded contact with a ship from Earth. Very little information was gathered during that initial meeting, practically nothing, in fact, and despite several efforts in the years that followed—some of which Vrax oversaw personally—much about the humans had remained a mystery even after Romulus found itself at war with the humans and learned firsthand of the tenacity and adaptability that belied any perceived physiological, mental, or cultural inferiorities they might possess.
In the years that had passed since that bitter, costly conflict—which Vrax had also witnessed firsthand and which had caused far more devastating and lasting damage to the empire than was generally acknowledged—precious little new information had been collected regarding the humans’ expansion into the galaxy.
Much of that drought was caused by the shortsightedness of the Praetor in office at that time, who had chosen a path of isolation for the Romulan people, ostensibly for the purpose of rebuilding and reprioritizing their outlook toward internal affairs, rather than pursuing a rigorous program of reaffirming the role of the Romulan Empire as the dominant force in the galaxy. By opting to focus time and energy inward, the Praetor in effect had conceded much of the territory beyond the empire’s current borders to the upstart Federation and, to a lesser extent, the Klingons.
Which is why he eventually was “retired” from office,Vrax reminded himself. Should you fail to chart the best possible course for the empire, you surely will suffer a similar fate.
Knowing this, in the decades that had passed since Vrax had stepped into the role of Praetor he had overseen an unprecedented series of intelligence-gathering activities. Deep-cover operatives and long-range sensor probes had provided some measure of clarity into the activities of their onetime enemy, which had grown—far beyond the fledgling interstellar coalition it had once spearheaded—into the United Federation of Planets. Much had been learned about the political and communal inroads the humans had forged with civilizations as they moved ever farther into the galaxy, as well as the trials they faced when confronted with new adversaries. Working from the information that had been obtained, it was feared by many political and military experts within the Romulan government that the Federation was on the verge of an unprecedented expansion with the potential to threaten the empire’s interests in this quadrant.
The Taurus Reach would at first seem to be but the latest manifestation of that fear, but that theory quickly collapsed when confronted with Sarith’s invaluable report of what she and her crew had experienced in the Palgrenax system.
As if reading his thoughts, Senator Anitra clasped her hands before her and bowed her head in his direction. “Based on what we already know of the humans, Praetor, particularly their penchant for adaptability and even their willingness to engage in deception to protect their interests, isn’t it logical to assume there is some other motive in play here? Should we not act now, rather than repeat the mistakes of our past leaders?”
Though he was certain she meant no disrespect, it was easy for Vrax to understand the collective murmurings of the other senators in the wake of Anitra’s words. Many of the comments being uttered around him were low enough in volume that he was unable to discern their content, but he comprehended their meaning just the same. It was a rare occurrence for a member of the Senate even to present the appearance of calling into question the decision of the Praetor—any Praetor—in a public forum. For someone as relatively new to the chamber as Anitra, who in all likelihood was younger than D’tran’s favored senatorial robe, the action bordered on blasphemous.
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.”