"Deception"

[FredM 0]

"All warfare is based on deception.

There is no place where espionage is not used.

Offer the enemy bait to lure him." - Sun-Tzu

 

The alarms sounded once again, though their true purpose remained somewhat pointless in the modern era. After the invention of visual sensory equipment, the need for acoustic warnings was somewhat pointless. After all, any trained individual would be able to clearly look thru their scope and determine a spacial body had entered the immediate area. What need was there for an automated alarm to simply confirm that which was already known?

 

Such questions were a luxury in the mind of X'ceric. The shorter than average Tholian, hir functional titles had changed over linear time. Originally initiating service within the force at the age of determination, over forty-seven installations could now be found on is tablet at central headquarters on Tholia. The most recent however, were the ones that brought the most attention.

 

Up until twenty terms ago, X'ceric had been nothing but a senior command and control officer of a class eighteen mark three support carrier. It was a position of a lifetime, something many would pin as the pinnacle of a successful career. In fact, truth of historical notes was that out of those who ever made it to such a posting one out of every three Tholia military officers would retire holding such positions...most to settle and begin procreation. Yet for X'ceric, this would not be the case. For eight subunits from the conclusion of service, the brief skirmish with the Gorn would begin.

 

While it lasted only a period of seventy-seven subunits, eighteen conflicts took place. Of those, over fifty-five thousand Tholia were lost to the Great Beyond. While of course their return in the Great Rebirth would be celebrated, one of the critical confrontations had taken place in a system known as Triloth. At the edge of explored space, it's tactical dominance was severely lacking. Yet, by clear chance, Tholian forces seeking refueling had dropped upon the primary forces of Gorn aggression. It was later determined, as was claimed, that their presence there was for one of recreation.

 

The entire encounter lasted two subunits and would eventually result in the termination of the skirmish. Yet, here is when X'ceric had made a name for hirself. For at this point, Senior Executive D'erio'ad was lost. It was here that s/he had assumed operational command for the conflict that resulted in an unprecedented victory for the holdfast. From here, promotions were forthcoming. They had reached a new peak five terms ago, when X'ceric had been appointed Supreme Commander of all Tholia military forces.

 

Hir tenure in the position had been mostly uneventful, taking over shortly after the conclusion of hostilities between many military factions and the Dominion. The decision not to participate in the conflict had been rather selfish on the part of the Tholia, one that was not commonly understood by outsiders though some believed intelligence by the United Federation of Planets had finally figured it out. The root cause had been an assignment titled O'f'leaf or pronounced or-for-leaf by most non-holdfast. It was a highly compartmentalized project that had resulted in a weapon capable of deployment within one subunit's notice. The result would be a catastrophic biochemical reaction in the molecular structure of any humanoid life form with genetic engineering based dependencies of any kind. It's original purpose had been for eventual use against the Borg Collective, should their attempts to eliminate the United Federation ever succeeded. In it's initial form, the dependencies set were for food products derived from energy sources within a drone. With O'f'leaf, it would essentially cause the food required to become poison.

 

The statistical analysis had confirmed that in either situation, the Tholia would be able to rise and eliminate any resistance not dealt with by the attacks. It had been almost immediately after the conflict had concluded that X'ceric had been appointed the new Supreme Commander. Hir predecessor had been an individual of outstanding might, but was one with a mind more proper for dealing with potential enemies that were no longer seen as critical in nature. X'ceric had come in the Tholian version of a living legend, so much that it had been practically guaranteed s/he would likely become the next Supreme Leader in seven terms. It had been this reason that caused initial friction, something anyone could have expected but everyone instead attempted to downplay.

 

At first it had been over minor issues, such as budgetary appropriations for future research and development. Then, the friction between the Supreme Leader and Supreme Commander had moved deeper when proposals had been floated against termination of classified suborbital monitoring stations placed within several gas giants in key systems of other governments. While it was true that tensions were dropping and most saw more direct peaceful relations becoming plausible with such humanoids as the United Federation, it was also true the elimination of these facilities would essentially neuter a key part of the Tholia intelligence network. From here, they continued to spiral out of control until it was accepted by most that neither of them would be found in the same room together...much less talk about anything. Outside of bi-term required meetings in front of the Tholian Assembly, they were almost never seen side by side.

 

It had been assumed this status quo would be maintained through the conclusion of the Supreme Leader's term, as the required support for the removal of the Supreme Commander was practically nonexistent. It was something X'ceric hirself believed...that was until a subunit ago. It had been at hir orbital command complex in system ATA-31002 they had come. A task force of perhaps twenty ships, all Tholia, had approached and attacked the primary docking facilities for the main fleet. Their engagement might have been disastrous if not for the unscheduled relief of three smaller task groups who had just returned from deep space exploration.

 

Lasting no more than thirty minutes, the conflict had resulted in most of the attacking vessels retreating. However, the damage sustained had been great. Of more importance to X'ceric had been the sensor information obtained, confirming that all of the ships seen were under the command of Senior Executive A'eria...a sibling of the Supreme Leader. While attempts to pursue the ships had failed, as they had seemingly vanished into an asteroid field most found had oddly not been detected previously, it was clear what was going on.

 

The result had been prompt and what was worse is that X'ceric knew how hir would have to end it. The attack on automated Tholian supply stations near the boarder of the United Federation were to eliminate any nearby supply ports the attacking fleet could engage. Battle lines were now being drawn and soon every ship within the territory would have to pick a side in the conflict. Would they follow a murderous Supreme Leader who was jealous of a military commander or not?