The Enterprise/Excelsior task force continued to patrol the neutral zone until needing to kick butt more directly. The fighting increased between Romulan/Reman belligerents. There were colonial massacres and destroyed ships springing up ever more. Things had definitely escalated as Starfleet had feared would happen. Still, our orders were not to enter the zone or Romulan territory unless needed. If we did Amanda could jump us from A to B and back to A again with the snap of a finger. In short, she was our transwarp drive. But the application of our divine powers would only be used when needed and only to the degree needed to get the job done. It was a fine line to walk but as I'd already told Jean Luc I did it all the time as WW. Even now I was still WW, even though I hadn't fought my brother for a while and was now a starship captain. Being WW was eternal/constant until I became Zeus.
Amanda monitored enemy communications. We compared notes constantly with Enterprise. Our analysis conclusions remained the same - the Romulan star empire was now in a state of total civil war. 31 would have taken advantage of this to no tomorrow. They'd decimate them both and be done with it. Maybe wipe them out if possible. I wasn't trying to support 31 thinking there; I was just stating what they would do. I'd been like them in the past; and that is what we had done to deal with threats. But hopefully with the power my crew now possessed that wouldn't be needed. But 31's temptation to hit both races in this way could be justified from their POV as making the UFP the undisputed quadrant power. We might even be dealing with 31 in this. They might even furnish either side with thalaron and other WMDs. When it came to spy groups anything was possible.
She and Wesley worked together to boost the long range sensors even more; they'd shared this method with Enterprise if they needed it. There was still a moderate amount of Romulan patrol coverage at the border but not as much as before; obviously all due to the war effort. "The empire remains scared that we'll take advantage of their vulnerability," said Amanda with ever Q fueled insight. That would put Betazoid telepathy to shame. "Is the praetor honest Mister Rogers?" "He is. He's ambitious but most Romulan politicians are." "What are his war views?" "He is an imperial traditionalist; he believes in keeping the Remans subjugated. He's not opposed to wiping them out as a last resort. Many on the senate are starting to espouse this view." That wasn't a surprise but it was never good to hear either. "What about the Reman leadership?" "They are led by a man named Xhax. He's a middle aged Reman freedom fighter. He wants the Romulans wiped out." "Did he lose family to them?" "Yes; his wife and children were murdered by him."
"We've long heard of him but thought he was only a ghost for recruitment/propaganda purposes," said Donatra. "He's now proven to be our greatest internal adversary; even more than Spock and his unification allies." "Well, if he wants genocide then we won't be able to get him to the negotiating table," said I. "Praetor Gaopo sounds different..."
Amanda's console chimed an alert. "Enterprise and us are both getting an alert sir - the Romulan senate has just been hit by a thalaron weapon. It was in full session when it happened. Both the senate majority and praetor are confirmed as having been assassinated." I sighed. We all knew this was coming on some level; and our "divine intervention" would be a necessity driven activity only.
Jean-Luc called. "Captain; this is bad." "Yes. What do we do?" "It needs to stay containment for now. The Remans only want their freedom. The Romulans will only seek to restore what they've just lost." "Agreed. What about Spock?" JL pondered that one. He looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to me. "Spock is on his own. He surely has escape routes. This is him we are talking about." Amanda looked at me. "Sir, may I?" I nodded. "Captain Picard - I can bring Spock and his allies all here to the Excelsior without risking either of our ships." He sighed. "Does Spock want to leave Romulus though?" "No sir." "Then taking him against his will would not be the best approach." "True sir, but I could just as easily mentally communicate with him and convey our wishes." Picard looked at me. I shrugged. "It can't hurt to try. If he says no then we respect his wishes." Picard nodded. "Make it so Mister Rogers."
Amanda did. "He replies that he wishes to stay there. He said it's important to keep a fed presence on Romulus despite what is happening." That didn't surprise JL or myself; and we would respect his freewill on the matter. "Understood, and agreed for the time being," said JL. "We should focus on finding that thalaron weapon or its production facility and prepare a hit as discussed." "Agreed," said I. "We'll work up a plan and get back to you." "Understood. Picard out."
"Number one - take charge of this with Misters Crusher and Rogers." "Yes captain."
Things were indeed happening fast, but we also had to remember the Remans had planned this for many years. This was an old internal struggle that had gone on for centuries. Part of the problem had been our severe lack of info/intel regarding the empire's decline and its current affairs state. Now that knowledge blow back was catching up with us. But patience and restraint were still our best allies in this matter despite what had happened and would still happen. For now we would plan our hit and when the time was right we'd take the hit/run act straight to them.