--
Commander Keras observed the inner workings of the ships he had been given. This ship sported the latest technology including the upgraded cloaking device and the plasma torpedo. Their mission was to head out in space and chart out the nearby star systems for clues to the location of the Cylon home system. An elderly Romulan walked to him as he noticed him deep in thought.
"What is on your mind, Commander?"
"I am wary of the Praetor's orders. This order to locate the home system of the Cylons or their enemies in an effort to gain the stardrive could possibly reach the eyes and ears of the Federation. I worry for the future of Romulus if they discover us." Said Commander Keras.
"The Praetor ordered this mission for the future of Romulus and he chose you because he has faith in your abilities." Said the older Romulan.
Commander Keras turned and faced.
"Forgive me, Centurion, my fear of the possible consequences of this mission will be best to keep this mission secret. But all the same, we talk of possible peace with the Federation and plot their destruction. We are in a unique and serious situation." Said Keras.
"We will endure." Assured the Centurion.
"I hope that is true, old friend." Said Keras.
--
Commander Kruge stepped onto the bridge of his ship.
"Sir, transmission from the Klingon High Command." Said one of his crewmembers.
"On screen." Kruge commanded instantly.
On the view screen appeared the face of Councillor Duras.
"Commander Kruge, you have new orders from the High Council." Said Councillor Duras.
"What is it they wish of me?" asked Kruge.
"You are to take your ship and begin scouting the outer systems in the direction the Cylons came from and locate any clues to the whereabouts of their home system. See to it personally Commander, there are two other ships that are on the way to meet up with you and begin the search. Do not allow the Federation to know of your mission. Understood?" said Councillor Duras.
"Understood." Said Kruge.
The Councillor's face vanished from the screen.
"Set course for the Federation Neutral Zone. Qapla!" said Kruge.
--
The Enterprise sat in Earth orbit while undergoing some minor repairs and modifications while some of her crew was given temporary shore leave while Scotty worked to bring the ship back to full capabilities. Meanwhile on Earth Kirk and Spock were called to Admiral Pike's officer.
"Jim, Spock, we have a problem." Said Pike at his desk.
"And just what is that?" asked Kirk.
"We have received reports of subspace emissions from Romulan, Klingon and several other galactic species ships out in the sector of space you found the Cylons." Said Pike.
"I thought the Romulans were agreeing to peace talks." Said Kirk.
"They are but they are also afraid that we might not hold our word." Said Pike.
"Oh, now that is crap. The Romulans and the Klingons both had cloaking devices which we were lacking because of several treaties and now they are just ticked off because their cloaking devices are nothing compared to the stardrive. We have no treaty with them stating we cannot use the stardrive which they know and they know we have the advantage now." Said Kirk.
"Yes, well we have confirmed a small number of ships from both Klingon and Romulan are moving to scout the outer systems for the Twelve Colonies. We have also confirmed other species being Gorn and Cardassians." Said Pike.
"They teamed up with the Klingons." Said Kirk.
"Right now we have reports that the flagship of this strike force is a prototype Bird of Prey with a cloaking device so advanced that even the Klingons themselves are unable to trace it. Right now the other ships include Gorn raiders and Cardassian scout ships that are scouting the nearby systems in the direction the Cylons came from." Said Pike.
"Well we shouldn't have to worry about that right? The Colonies are ten thousand light years away. It'll take years before they are found." Said Kirk.
"That may be but we can't risk it. Jim, as soon as the Enterprise is fully repaired I want you to use the stardrive to jump ahead of their scouting party and determine their progress. Colonial ships travel by the use of a fuel called Tylium and they might pick up on the gas anomalies left by the Cylons and the Colonials." Said Pike.
"How did you figure out they would were doing this anyway?" asked Kirk.
"Our top researchers discovered how place the stardrive on our probes. We tested them and sent them about three hundred light years into various unexplored systems. They picked up a subspace surge that matched a ship coming out of warp before they were signalled to jump. It's unlikely the ships detected them but we confirmed them to match Klingon along with Gorn and Cardassian ships." Said Pike.
"Three hundred light years per jump? Wow, is there a way to arm our torpedoes with the stardrive?" asked Kirk.
"We've never really thought of that." Said Pike looking thoughtful.
"Well if armed our torpedoes with the stardrive they could jump under the enemy's shields and take them out. Our ships are already able to cross three hundred light years per jump that'll be great for exploration missions but if the torpedoes can use FTL than a ship with stronger shields or other more advanced technologies might not be able to handle a hit inside their own ship. It would be completely unexpected." Said Kirk.
"We'll see what we can do. Right now we have to do something about this. The Colonials are expanding but they are still way out there but that won't stop them from sending scout ships. We need to keep the Colonies secret and the only to do that is to divert the search party's attention." Said Pike.
"Understood Admiral." Said Spock.
--
The Enterprise sat resting in her dry dock with the last minute modifications almost completed. The last minute modifications included the Cylon organic resin that has been integrated into the Federation ship's hull. For some time the Federation had been experimenting on developing organic based technology but they had been unable to come with any way, until now. It was discovered that the Cylons' bio-mechanical technologies offered ablative properties and restoration.
The Cylons did not design it to repel energy weapons but it did anyway so Federation scientists worked to make use of that ability. The Tritanium material that was used as the hull of the Federation starships was compatible and it now could withstand even more damage should the shields collapse. The Enterprise was chosen to be the first ship to be modified with this new technology, so for the last week Cylons from the new Cylon homeworld and Federation scientists have worked integrate the organic resin in the inner and outer hulls.
So far all tests had proved positive and the Enterprise was cleared to leave space dock. Kirk stepped onto the bridge.
"Scotty, I hear all repairs and modifications have been complete. How well is the Cylon resin working with the outer hull?" said Kirk.
"It seems to be working fine, Captain. The stuff grew into the metal fast and as you heard by now the organic stuff offers ablative properties as well as regenerative abilities. If power is diverted from other systems and channelled into the hull it allows for faster regeneration from any damage to the hull as well as an increase in the ablative shielding." Said Scotty.
"It is still unknown how well the organic resin will adapt so for that reason only the outer hull of the ship was chosen for this test. If it works it could be helpful in developing more new bio-mechanical technologies." Said Spock.
"Tell me, how this new armor can be so valuable to us when the Colonials blew apart Cylon ships made of the same stuff?" asked Kirk sitting down in the chair.
"That's because the Colonials used kinetic weaponry during their war with the Cylons. The Basestars were designed to be more like carriers instead of warships and relied more on their fighters. Their armor was not as heavily reinforced as the armor on the Battlestars was. We've also discovered that a Cylon and Colonial FTLs could be jammed by any kind of subspace jammer that was made half a century ago." Said Spock.
"And what about us?" asked Kirk.
"Our technology is considerably higher and we have greater understanding of subspace. We should be able to avoid this weakness." Said Spock.
"Good, because right now we have a few problems. The Romulans are talking of making an apology to us for the attack on the outpost a few weeks ago and now because of rumors regarding the hyperlight stardrive has got several other scared and searching for a way to copy it. They can only do that by building their own or finding their point of origin, the Twelve Colonies. I don't think the Romulans or the Klingons are even aware that we know or that they are both searching.
We need to find a way to let them know. They know we won't attack them with the stardrive unless provoked but they know that if of them get it they won't hesitate. I think they're all scared and I plan to take advantage of that fear. As soon as we are clear we are heading to track down these search parties." Said Kirk.