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Sorehl

Uncertainty and Hope

Aboard the Defiant-class escort Reliant, thirty-four hours before scheduled intercept.

 

“Thank you, gentlemen,” Captain Sorehl concluded by way of dismissal, “I appreciate your insights.” With a nod of dismissal, he swiveled the center chair away from the aft situation table. The others returned to their tasks. The Vulcan tapped the console at his left, bringing up a log of Morningstar’s visit to Al-Ucard by the late-Lieutenant Summers.

 

Over the last hour, Sorehl had conferred with the Reliant staff, seeking opinions about the upcoming encounter. As prompted, each had been candid, expressing some reluctance for the action. While the perspectives differed, the general conclusion was shared – it remained in the best interests of the Starfleet to prevent the Al-Ucard from destroying their Dominion target. Stability in the Gamma Quadrant would likely translate into fewer problems on the Federation side of the wormhole.

 

Sorehl reflected on this. History was replete with governments that tolerated, even excused, tyranny and oppression in the name of stability. Sometimes allies were chosen because of their strength, rather than shared ideology. Was the Dominion, he wondered – a power whose very name suggested autocratic rule – one such incongruous ally?

 

Defeat in the Alpha Quadrant, while barely diminishing their power, had introduced subtle changes in the constancy of the Dominion. In the years since the war, the Great Link had drawn inward, isolating themselves to consider whether they could abandon their mistrust of solids. According to a past incarnation of Semil, the Founders had actually instructed the Vorta to serve as benevolent stewards in their absence.

 

Defeat had also introduced new enemies. External strife had upset the post-war progress. In their zeal to protect their divine commission, the Vorta were in danger of total relapse. Already, there had been purges, betrayals, and pacification.

 

It was not stability the Federation fought to preserve, Sorehl reasoned. It was hope for the troubled worlds of the Gamma Quadrant.

 

Thusfar, the Hundred and the Scorpiad had revealed only an agenda of destruction. Although they had spurned attempts at dialogue, their unprovoked attacks announced their immediate intentions.

 

The motivations of the Al-Ucard were less certain. Their connection to the Scorpiad was unclear. They had attacked Ardent, but previously allowed Morningstar to visit and leave their homeworld unharmed. Although Eagle had cited ancient folklore from several worlds, there was little evidence that the modern species had been aggressive against its neighbors. And there were the strategic questions. Admiran had correctly assessed the Al-Ucard as a more conventional threat. Why would the Scorpiad be in league with a less technically advanced ally? Although formidable, the Al-Ucard fleet had proven sluggish enough that the Allies would intercept them despite the three-day distance.

 

Sorehl remembered the question posed by the Federation ambassador during their last Round Table conference. “Will there be an attempt at diplomatic resolution?” T’Salik had asked. Her question had remained unanswered.

 

Unanswered questions offered uncertainty to his logic.

 

Orders were clear. Reliant would take flanking position alongside Excalibur, defending the flagship and looking for means to strike the well-defended carrier craft. In addition, he had given specific assignments to the crew. Admiran has been asked to compare Al-Ucard propulsion versus the sudden appearance of Scorpiad ships. Segami would use his knowledge of specialized ordnance to look for opportunities to cripple or disable at least one ship, should battle take place. Eagle would assess means to capture or learn the motivations of the Al-Ucard. Even a forced dialogue would be an improvement over silence.

 

For his part, Sorehl calculated a 19.87% percent probability that the Allied presence would dissuade the Al-Ucard without the need for aggressive action. He would not have considered it hope, but nonetheless, he would look for ways to improve those odds.

Edited by Sorehl

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