Beyond The Horizon

[Jorahl 0]

It was a brief rest between major operations to make the station whole again, but Jorahl's mind made his sleep even more short. Each time his eyes would open large asteroids floating in the distance could be seen through his quarter's viewport. Each rocky fragment seemed to be looking down on the Romulan, inspecting their new neighbor and whispering among themselves why it had come. Jorahl in turn would ask himself that same question. With those thoughts on his mind he would try to go back to sleep. The cycle would repeat.

 

Finally, it became too much and with displeasure he threw the sheets off and moved over to his desk. "Computer, pull up star charts for this sector." The computer, slowed by one diagnostic or another slowly pulled up the requested images. "TKR-117, hmm, vague enough." The other worlds in the area had slightly more recognizable names.

 

"Overlay known trade routes in this and neighboring sectors, highlight major exports." Grids and lines spread over the existing map. The Ferengi's interest in this area became a little more clear. Inkarian wool, Delavian Chocolates, everything from simple lobi crystals to high grade dolamide circled around the area. The number of former Cardassian trade routes in the area was sizable as well. However, at this time the Cardassians had little use for many of these items. The pleasure mad Federation however would love such trinkets. Too bad between here and the heart of the Federation was the always unstable Tzenkethi Coalition and the Badlands. The safest trade routes took long circular paths around these but by doing so crossed deep into either Cardassian or Ferengi areas of influence.

 

But trade alone would not move the Federation to such a place. Jorahl's eyes moved across the map grids. "And there are the Breen." Whatever situation they were in they could not be trusted. Never turn your back on a Breen, indeed. Perhaps the Federation learned this lesson finally as Breen disruptor bolts fell on Earth. There were scattered Bajoran and Federation worlds dotting the area as well, quite open to a Breen advanced.

 

While the need for defense was plain he saw what probably had the Federation's interest most. Beyond Valeria and Ultima Thule lay vast unexplored tracks of space. With all of their problems the Federation still had to expand, explore, butt their noses where it wasn't asked to be. Even running into the Borg and they couldn't stop their nosing about the galaxy. This alone would probably be their undoing.

 

His final question was what interest the Star Empire had here. Perhaps finally those brave enough to show the superiority of Romulan cultures to the galaxy would keep them from hiding behind their boarders once again. Not wreckless explorers like the Federation, the Romulans however needed to press forward not back. They need not waist resources in this endeavor either, their presence alone could shape the future as it always had.

 

The sickly soft chirp of the Federation comm turned his attention from his pondering. "Chief, computer diagnostics are complete and we are ready for the EPS test. Do you still wish to oversee those personally?"

 

"Yes, standby." First duty first, put this tin can back together. After that, he would truly see what lay beyond the horizon.

Edited February 5, 2009 by Jorahl