AAR: Red Flag/Mechanical Diplomacy

Subspace Network Reports
1
Stardate:
100279
Filed By:
CAPT Vel, Lunya
Clearance:

LOCATION Asteroid Field near Deep Space 13. Federation Proving Ground

MISSION Military Exercise converted to Diplomatic Mission

OUTCOME USS Dragon, USS Forrestal, USS Mariner, USS Pegasus were to take part in wargame trials. Arrival of Cooperative Cube caused termination of wargames and at request of Cooperative representative, dialogue was opened in regards to recent Borg attacks. Diplomatic avenues opened, request review by admiralty and Federation Diplomatic Corps before undertaking next steps.

KEY PERSONNEL

  • CAPT Alistair Nimitz
  • CAPT Tolar
  • CAPT Drake Tungsten
  • CAPT Lunya Vel
  • LCDR Matthew Flynn
  • LCDR Serris Zital

NARRATIVE On above stardate, and over the next few days, the above listed starships were engaged in a “Red Flag” operation to undergo combat readiness trials for USS Forrestal and USS Mariner. Red Flag conditions were stated to be to investigate unknown (possibly hostile) signal inside of an asteroid field. Defeat conditions were stated at loss of any participating starship, victory conditions were elimination of target, within Starfleet Rules of Engagement.

Once the scenario was underway, with an unexpected arrival of a simulated Voth refugee convoy, all starships involved proceeded with due caution towards the target location. Sensors from USS Mariner determined the simulated target to be a Borg Cube within the asteroid, and the cause of the retreating Voth convoy.

As the participating ships approached, an unknown energy signature was detected inside the perimeter of the wargames. An immediate cease of simulation was ordered, as an actual unknown Borg Cube arrived, but made no immediate hostile action. The newly arrived Cube made audio contact, in the voice of an unknown person named Trenia, requesting to talk.

USS Forrestal was to be the host location of the meeting with Trenia, as Captain’s Nimitz, Tolar, Tungsten and Vel were in attendance. Lieutenant Commander Flynn was requested to attend as aide to Captain Vel. Trenia was received by Forrestal Air Group CO Captain Maxon, and was led to the conference room under guard, given the recent hostilities experienced with “Borg” vessels.

Once the meeting was underway, Trenia explained that the recent attacks experienced by USS Midway and other vessels, as well as the Dilithium Mining Colony that Midway responded to, were the result of a rogue element within the Cooperative, that has been seeking vengeance against the Collective. Stating that most of the Cooperative is peaceful in nature, and not seeking to see this situation escalate, Trenia had come to request Federation assistance in handling this rogue element.

Trenia has agreed to provide intelligence on the location, force composition and tactics of the rogue element, should Starfleet agree to assist.

RECOMMENDATION It is this officer’s belief that Trenia is being mostly truthful in her statements at the meeting. It is curious that her people did not approach Starfleet sooner with this request, and waiting until numerous attacks on Federation ships and holdings. Recommend Trenia meet with Federation diplomats, and that any offensive action be reviewed with the admiralty before proceeding.
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RECOGNITION The Captains of USS Dragon, USS Mariner and USS Pegasus for their unrivaled professionalism. Crews of all starships involved with the Red Flag operation for their restraint in the arrival of the Cooperative Cube.

OOC Anyone looking to do diplomatic follow up with Trenia, please let me know!
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2
Stardate:
100369.3
Filed By:
Perim, N.
Clearance:

ADDENDUM A meeting attended by myself and Captains Morton and Tungsten with Trenia, Commander of Cube 25, representing The Cooperative, yielded the following information:

  • Attacks reported on Stardate 99783.6 and 99955.7 were perpetrated not by the Borg Collective, but by a rogue faction of The Cooperative.

  • The militant faction is led by Matthias Prett. Their stated goals are revenge against the Borg Collective. They presently control three cubes and two spheres. They are presently operating from a base in the Briar Patch.

  • The militant faction’s attacks against the Federation were an attempt to provoke the Federation into a wider conflict with the Borg Collective. They have also made small strikes against the Collective themselves, which apparently resulted in the Collective destroying a Cooperative colony.

  • This intelligence is available because The Cooperative has an unspecified number of spies among the militant faction. The Cooperative was aware, in advance, of the impending attacks against the Federation. Trenia claims that attempts were made to warn the Federation, and that those attempts were thwarted by the militant faction destroying Cooperative ships dispatched to make contact with Starfleet.

  • The Cooperative is requesting the Federation provide two starships and conduct a joint operation to capture or kill Mr. Prett. They believe eliminating him will result in the dissolution of the militant faction.

Despite the value of the information provided, I believe this incident has seriously jeopardized the Federation’s relationship with The Cooperative. By their own admission, The Cooperative was aware of impending attacks on the Federation via their spies. The explanation that their warnings were not delivered because the ships they sent were intercepted by the militant faction is not credible. Other avenues of communication are readily available to members of the Khitomer Alliance and The Cooperative has made use of them in the past. A simple subspace communication would easily have sufficed, and could have saved numerous lives. Further, the decision to contact the Federation via the 38th Fleet, in the Aldebaran Sector, is simply ludicrous. It is neither the location of the attacks, nor the closest Federation or Starfleet assets to The Cooperative.

This situation does not make sense unless the motives of The Cooperative are considered suspect. In that context, a picture forms:

  1. The militant faction has broken away from The Cooperative and intends to antagonize the Borg Collective.

  2. The Cooperative believes the actions of the militant faction are likely to result in retaliation against them by the Collective.

  3. The Cooperative is not confident in their ability to independently combat the militant faction, as evidenced by their request for Starfleet assistance.

  4. The Cooperative believes that eliminating Mr. Prett will result in the dissolution of the militant faction. Supposition: the dissolution of the militant faction is a direct benefit to the Cooperative in the form of returning personnel and assets.

  5. With adequate warning, the Federation would be able to prevent the militant faction’s attacks, either through active defense or negotiation. In fact, simply the knowledge of the militant faction’s existence entirely negates the reason for their attack - they would have no reason to attack the Federation to try to provoke a Federation/Borg conflict if the Federation is aware that they are not part of the Collective.

  6. Starfleet is more likely to assist in eliminating Mr. Prett if he has ordered attacks on the Federation and taken Federation lives.

  7. The Starfleet Officers most likely to support action against the militant faction are those who had been directly affected by the faction’s attacks.

The Cooperative’s interests were best served by allowing the attacks to occur first, and only then providing the critical intelligence directly to the elements of Starfleet most likely to support their plan to decapitate and reabsorb the militant faction.


RECOMMENDATION FDC advises Starfleet to dispatch a combat-ready task force to the Briar Patch coordinates provided by The Cooperative to locate the militant faction. While attempting to apprehend Mr. Prett and the other members of this faction in connection with the previous attacks on the Federation may seem a tempting option, it is worth considering that the link between them and the attacks is not unimpeachable and has not been independently verified by Starfleet sources. As allowing them to remain in Federation space is also likely untenable, FDC instead recommends that Starfleet order them to withdraw. It is critical to communicate to this faction that the Federation is aware of their existence and goals, in order to nullify their motivation for further clandestine hostilities.

FDC further strongly recommends that involvement of The Cooperative in any such operation be avoided. FDC believes the nature of the militant faction’s relationship with The Cooperative will be exceedingly likely to provoke hostilities if they should come into contact.

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