Nothingness spilt out of the gaping hole in reality itself. There was no sound, but the screams of the winds of force could almost be felt on an emotional level, the immaterium spilling out into real-space like flowing puss from a septic wound. Then, as if the warp couldn't stomach it, a scorched, bent and twisted shape came sliding out of the rupture, spinning about its own axis. Minutes later, the huge maw of the warp/real-space overlap closed up, collapsing in on itself and vanishing, the blacker-than-black of warp space vanishing with an almost audible sigh, as if space-time itself was relieved at the sealing of the breach in its serene walls.
The over-lap had occurred within the Romulan-Federation Neutral Zone. An area of space where large scale energy fluctuations were all but guaranteed to attract attention. The recent Scimitar incident had frayed nerves on both sides of the border, even while both sides breathed sighs of relief at the conduct and restraint of the other's military forces.
The D'Deridex class vessel Minkash'maen was the nearest, at closest point of approach on the Romulan edge of the neutral zone. Romulan sensor arrays, as a rule of thumb, remained fractionally behind their Federation counterparts. But a 20th century shuttle could have detected the massive surge of energy coming from within the neutral zone. The Minkash'maen came to a complete stop in less than a minute, and swung its bow towards the rift like a pointer marking a hare. Its orders were specific. Patrol the edge of the neutral zone. Do not cross into it, save in hot pursuit of retreating hostile vessels. Report any discrepancies. This was very definitely a discrepancy.
On the other side of the neutral zone, the USS Intrepid was further away, but had been given similar orders. With another addition. Monitor the activity of Romulan vessels on along the patrol route, and report their movements, with as much accuracy as possible. And events like a subspace distortion of that size, coupled with a Romulan battlecruiser looking like a stunned mullet was report-worthy. The Intrepid roared in at warp 8, screaming up to the edge of the neutral zone. Then stopped. They had the same problem. Orders prohibiting them from entering the neutral zone. So they waited. The Romulans for orders from high command. The Federation for the arrival of the Enterprise.
The Enterprise was the Federation's trouble-shooter. Often literally. The Sovereign-class vessel was one of the Federation's very few purpose warships, and had the specifications that would be expected of a heavy combatant such as it was. Type XII phasers. Quantum torpedoes. Lots of both of the above. Big. Fast. Agile. Hard as a rock and with a kick like an angry mule.
Picard knew that about his ship. He'd captained it for long enough that he could, almost literally, walk its corridors blindfolded. What he didn't know was what had the Intrepid so concerned that they'd requested immediate support. And why Starfleet Command was being so cagey about letting them know the situation. In fact, Starfleet Command's brief to Picard had been curt, and Admiral Janeway had looked haggard. Given the Admiral's first hand experience of some extremely dangerous situations over the course of her much publicised seven year jaunt through the delta quadrant, her expression had caused as much worry as the orders that had come along with it. Proceed to the Neutral Zone at best speed. Rendezvous with the Intrepid. Meet with Captain Keenan, and assume command of the situation. Exercise your discretion to resolve the situation as best you are able. Keep Command informed.
It sounded specific. But it wasn't. It basically told him to go to the neutral zone and sort out the mess that was… whatever had command on edge. He still didn't know what it was. He'd find out soon enough, he thought to himself, as he stepped onto the turbolift.
"Bridge". He took the time to smooth down the front of his uniform, and adjust his collar. The fabric still itched. Years of wearing the blasted thing and it still itched. But he'd forget about it, as he always did. He walked onto the bridge, and walked down to the command chair.
"Report"
The officer of the watch, Lieutenant Brennaman, stood from the command station, and moved up to the weapons station, as he began to give his report.
"We're maintaining warp nine point five, on course for the neutral zone. Estimated rendezvous time with the Intrepid is thirty-five minutes. As you ordered, all personnel are at their stations, and shields are up."
Picard nodded curtly. He'd expected as much, but the report was no mere formality. And deviations from that which was expected could have serious repercussions, but if they were known then they could be dealt with.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." He looked around. Capable men and women, all of them. But none of them were the same faces he'd worked with so closely for so many years. But, as he always had, he'd do his job. And officers weren't posted to the Federation's flagship without being particularly good at their job. And with the hugely proud name borne by this ship, candidates almost fought to get on board this ship.
The crew wasn't what worried him, although he had yet to fully take their measure. What worried Jean-Luc far, far more was the content of the briefing that was awaiting them upon their rendezvous with the Intrepid.
The USS Intrepid was the first of the Intrepid-class ships, the most famous of which being the Voyager, upon which Admiral Janeway had made her name. A medium-weight reconnaissance vessel, the Intrepid class was designed for long-range patrol, interdiction and light attack. Smaller and lighter than most Federation classes, it packed a surprising punch, and was exceptionally responsive and manoeuvrable. And, in this case, seriously out-gunned by the Romulan D'Deridex class vessel on the other side of the neutral zone.
Although that was a consideration, that wasn't the centre of the Intrepid's worries. What Captain Keenan was really concerned about was the mind numbingly huge construct that had been belched out of a major sub-space distortion two days ago. Sitting roughly in the middle of the neutral zone, it was the focal point of a stand-off between the two factions, neither of which being willing to violate the neutral zone. Keenan's first officer, Commander T'Marid, an unjoined Trill, remained convinced that the anomaly was a misfiring of a new Romulan weapon, possibly including a miscalculation of a matter-antimatter reaction. Closer scans would allow that question to be addressed.
But closer scans would mean violating the neutral zone. Something that Captain Keenan had specific orders NOT to do. He could hail the warbird, but he did not wish to say something that may jeopardise Captain Picard's position when he arrived. So they sat there, staring across the neutral zone at their Romulan counterpart, and awaited the arrival of the Enterprise.