Speculations

[Brian Graham 0]

Assistant security officer's Personal Log

Lt. jg. Brian Graham

USS Excalibur

Stardate 200407.19

 

Brian Graham sat in a chair in Ten-Forward, attempting to unwind after the events that had transpired in the past few hours. Truth be told, Ten-Forward was one of the last places on a starship anyone with an Andorian physiology would want to relax. Multiple aromas coming from drinks and food, not to mention the cologne and perfume that some in the Lounge were wearing. His antennae were working overtime, but Brian was getting used to assimilating the information his olfactory sense was giving him. A testimony to Doctor Hines medical skill. Not to mention the multitude of conversations going on. But coming here was familiar, and this did help him to relax, heck that's why the ship had a lounge. And thankfully it was still here.

 

The Excalibur had been pitted against three Jem'Hadar cruisers, a match for most Starfleet classes. It was also the first battle that Brian had participated in in his career in Starfleet. True, there had been the Academy simulations, but that's all they were, simulations. It was more serious when a wrong move meant the destruction of the ship, not just making a mess in the simulator chamber.

 

Then again, Brian thought, tapping the armrest of the chair, the Excalibur was still here. True she had taken minor damage but it was better than the alternative.

 

Brian was one hundred percent sure that the Jem'Hadar's mission was to destroy the station, since the final vessel had actually made an attempt. He figured that the station was a severe problem to these separatists and it's destruction would be top priority. They had attacked at the perfect time, before the defending fleet could arrive to take up positions. As it occurred the Excalibur was the only vessel able to render aid in time. Semil attempted to help, but he was too far out. Brian wondered why the separatists didn't commit more resources to the act. Perhaps they felt that three cruisers was enough. Or maybe they didn't have the resources to make an effective attack and took a gamble.

 

That may explain why the Dominion had been unable to locate them. During the Dominion War in the Alpha Quadrant, the Dominion had a fairly sophisticated sensor array in the Argolis Cluster and used it quite effectively before the Defiant destroyed it. No doubt the Dominion had that capability in this quadrant. So the separatist fleet must not be that big. Or it is broken up into a number of cells operating independently and sometimes in conjunction, tactics employed by the Maquis that kept both the Cardassians and the Federation guessing as to their movements.

 

Using one cell was not a bad tactic, it just wasn't enough. But if they had sent several, they ran the risk of being caught. Then what was the deal about "The Hundred"? Hundred Vorta, no. The Jem'Hadar were loyal to the Founders, so it was possible that they were dealing with one hundred of those. A puddle, Brian guessed, when compared with the Great Link. Then again, there may not be any Vorta, since the cruisers seemed to operate independently.

 

This whole business was beginning to give Brian a headache. If Tar'Mok had been here, he would have reminded Brian that this entire train of thought was illogical, as there was not enough facts to form a hypothesis. But any Vulcan on the ship would tell him that.

 

No, the Excalibur would need more information. And once the defense fleet arrived, the Excalibur could spend more time catching up with these renegades.