Josh couldn't believe his ears. "Cardassia? Why would the Klingons want to invade Cardassia?" he asked.
He was in the main briefing room on Starbase 313, along with Admiral Quinn, several of her top aides, and a few commanding officers from other ships.
"The Klingons believe that the recent coup on Cardassia was driven by changelings who have infiltrated the government there. The Klingons' purpose is to destroy Cardassia to prevent the Dominion from gaining a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant."
There were murmurs throughout the room as the Admiral said this. Invading Cardassia, even a Cardassia weakened by revolution and war, was a formidable task. Requiring a massive investment of military resources, it could not be brushed aside as an "incident" or "border skirmish". This was a war; the real thing.
And the Federation was caught in the middle. "The Federation Council has officially condemned the invasion and refused to offer Starfleet's assistance. In response, the Klingons have torn up the Khitomer Accords and attacked Federation ships and installations. Our alliance with them is now ended, and in fact, in standing with the Cardassians, we are officially at war with the Klingons."
The room erupted into gasps of astonishment as the Admiral broke the news. Almost every Starfleet captain expected war. But everyone had assumed that when war came, the Klingons would be allies, not enemies. Now, Starfleet would have to stand against them – and to protect the Cardassians, of all people.
There was silence for a moment. Then, Josh asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "Are the Klingons right? Are the Founders involved with Cardassia?"
Admiral Quinn eyed Josh squarely and gave the only answer she could: "We don't know."
Everyone exchanged grim glances, and someone asked, "What are our orders?"
Quinn replied, "A colony of Federation citizens on the Cardassian side of the demilitarized zone, Pemra-3, is directly in the way of an anticipated Klingon offensive. The Cardassians have given us permission to cross the Zone and evacuate the colony. Constitution will serve as the lead vessel for this assignment, and Captain Travis will be in command of the task force. The rest of you will get your assignments en route."
"I want to be clear," the admiral continued sternly. "This is not an offensive incursion. You go in, evacuate the colony, and get out. If we have to engage the Klingons to achieve this, we will. If not, so much the better. Have your ships and crews ready. You leave in four hours. Dismissed."
An ominous quiet hung over the room. Many of the officers in the room had never been involved in a war. One by one, silently, they got up and filed out.
Quinn called out, "Captain Travis. I'd like you to stay a moment, please."
Josh nodded. "Aye, sir." He had a feeling this would be coming.
Quinn waited until the others had left, leaving only herself and Josh in the room. She eyed Travis directly and spoke plainly. "I just wanted to tell you, Josh, that this isn't going to be an easy mission. Reports from Starfleet Intelligence make it clear you're almost certainly going to encounter Klingon ships along the way. I hope you won't get involved in a serious firefight, but to be perfectly frank I'm not very optimistic. The Klingons aren't going to let us move in and out of Cardassian space without making it difficult."
Travis nodded. "I figured as much, Admiral."
She gave him a tense smile, then said, "Then you've probably realized that in any serious battle, Constitution is going to be on the front lines. She's the best ship in my task force. I'll need you to cover the other ships if we're to get the colonists out in one piece."
Josh was also well aware of that. Aloud, he said only, "Understood, Admiral." Intentionally, he kept the mood carefully formal. Admiral Quinn, he knew, was not one who reacted well to overly sentimental moments.
The Admiral was an old friend. She had been close with his parents, with his family, ever since Josh had been a small child. Later, when Josh had turned eighteen, she had sponsored his application to Starfleet Academy. He could tell when she was worried, even behind the granite façade she put up. In her own way, he knew, she was trying to tell him to be careful.
She smiled, more warmly this time. "Good. It's a tough assignment, Josh. That's why I gave it to you."
"Don't worry, Admiral. You can count on me. We'll get it done."
"That's what I wanted to hear. Dismissed."