"I want to start by apologizing." Nechiev opened discussion.
"We understand your situation, Marshal." Starwind nodded.
"What I want to know," Talara leaned forward, "Why did you fire on us?"
Nechiev stood, "Forgive me, Commander Talara, but I stil don't completely trust you. For all I know, this is the newest Federation trick." She paused, "But if you are who you claim, than you need to know our history. You can't survive in a universe if you do not understand the events within it."
"A few years ago, the Federation's goals changed. After the Borg invasion and the battle of Wolf 359, the heavily injured Klingon Empire, who diverted their fleet to intercept the Borg and were thusly crippled, fell victim to Federation expansion. Now with Feddie influence spread well into the Gamma Quadrant, Earth was abandoned. The war effort claimed Earth's natural resources, and a strong backlash against the goal of conquest of the galaxy, so the Federation up and left for the resource-rich and war-friendly Amagosa system, and Amagosa Station is now the hub of the Alpha Quadrant war effort. As for Earth?" Picard gestured to the screen on the wall, which displayed a brownish, gray planed. The picture of a dying world. This was the Earth.
"And I assume you guys are a anti-Federation coup?" Starwind said, candidly.
Nechiev sat back down, "The Zeon Protectorate is in rebellion, yes. But we are a little more organized than a coup. After Earth began to spiral toward the disasterous state it is in today, several groups arose. Under the command of Marshal Archer was the SRF, the Sol Revolutionary Front. Under Marshal Paris was the EAF, the Earth Armored Forces. And under myself was the IDL, the Interstellar Defense Legion. Somehow, the three anti-Federation groups sat down and formed one partnership, a grant coup, if you will, called the Zeon Protectorate, borrowing the word Zeon from Terran mythology."
"I believe it has something to do with sacred water." Starwind nodded.
"And what is space if not for a great star ocean?" Winters said quietly.
"Deep and profound, Commander." Nechiev went back to speaking, "So although coup might be putting our stance wrong, Captain, it is, in a sense, accurate."
"How go repairs, Captain?" Picard asked.
"Well, the Destiny and the Normandy are close to operating capacity, but if we could dock the Stragger somewhere... They were hit rather hard by the transdimensional corridor, and sustained heavy damage to most systems. Though they might have low warp within the hour." Ralston replied.
"Say no more, Captain, we shall set course immediately for the second most Zeon friendly station in the Quadrant, Terok Nor." Nechiev stood.
"The most friendly?" Starwind stood as well.
"Well, we own Jupiter Station." Winters smiled.