Formulating

[Sorehl 0]

Sorehl slowed the runabout Colorado, assuming a synchronous position some 40,000 kilometers above Avalon Base. He switched the Danube-class craft to autonomous station-keeping and engaged the short-range scan capabilities.

 

Beside him, Commander John Blair swiveled his chair, leaning it back with a bounce. “Okay, you’ve got the sensor compliment at full telemetry,” the human reported. “Now, do you mind telling me what the two of us are doing out here?”

 

Sorehl cast a side-long glance before responding. “I am formulating a proposal for the colony.” The captain continued his work, bringing up a display of the planet below.

 

Blair kept looking, expectantly. After a few moments with no response, he sat up. “And…?”

 

“I have been concerned about our ability to successfully defend a vulnerable colony from a determined foe,” the Vulcan elaborated. He tapped the shiny black surface of the ops console.

 

“So is everybody else,” Blair retorted. He waved one of his arms grandly. “I’ve seen the plans: localized shielding, underground bunkers, transporter abeyance layers, orbital phaser platforms. I heard the Romulans want a cloaked minefield.”

 

“None of which proved sufficient at Chin’toka, Betazed, or the wormhole,” Sorehl countered, continuing with his scans. “Locations with far greater resources.”

 

Blair eyed the captain closely. As a young science officer on Aegis, Blair had watched the Vulcan lock in on something – a design, a tactical plan, a theory – and pursue it with unrelenting logic. The tone was even, but there was an intensity behind it.

 

“What brought this up?” he finally asked.

 

“The Romulan administrator N’Rycus raised a number of issues about the current colony design,” Sorehl answered. “In essence, he noted that it would never thrive inside a wall. They intend to expand their own claims to regions outside Alpha site – farming and aquaculture.”

 

“That sounds risky,” Blair nodded, folding his arms. “The larger the perimeter…” he trailed off. He knew the captain had far greater experience with what orbital bombardment could do.

 

“Precisely,” Sorehl agreed. “What one needs is a sufficiently large defensive capability in a suitably protective position.” He adjusted the readout to show the global footprint visible from the runabout’s location.

 

Blair pointed at the screen. “You’re talking about covering an entire hemisphere. The only thing with enough firepower to do that would take… unless...” His face shifted. “Wait a minute, you’re not considering…” He looked instinctively over his shoulder, then back at the captain. "Are you out of your Vulcan mind?"

 

“As I said," Sorehl replied non-committally, "I am formulating a proposal. It will be for the Admiral to determine its sanity.”