Chapter Title: A Proportional Response

Chapter Synapses: Part two of three. Tensions flare between the Federation and the Romulan Empire following the Risa attack. Starwind's pleas to search for the truth of the matter fall on deaf ears.

Written by: Seraph Koji

Previously…

"Captain's Log." Starwind began, sitting in his quarters began, "In the last forty-eight hours a most unimaginable attack on the Federation occurred. In the next forty-eight, I anticipate war will be declared with the Romulan Star Empire."

Talara reported the findings of the sensors, "Captain, there are five ships in a low orbit creating a wall of fire, razing the surface of Risa."

"She's seriously injured, Captain. Some minor burns, but the debris that hit her hurt her fairly bad." A nurse replied, standing over an unconscious and burned West, "She's far from out of the woods."

Starwind walked up to the Romulan man in the holding cell and slammed him against the wall, "What the hell was that?"

Winters responded quietly to Starwind's snapping at her, "I believe that you have lost objectivity."

On a recording sent to Starwind, several Admirals sat discussing the situation. "It is settled." A highly decorated Admiral ended conversation, "We will enter the Neutral Zone."

And now, the continuation…

Another day came before Starwind contacted Ramsey again. Starwind sat in his ready room, talking with Ramsey across subspace, "What do you think, Don?"

Ramsey shrugged, "All I know is your Lieutenant Winters sent me coordinates, and there is absolutely no guard around this planet. I'm in orbit now."

"No guard?" Starwind sighed, "The Senate and the Tal Shiar would both have a site like that under heavy guard."

"… I guess seeing that recording and having Winters accuse me of losing my objectivity showed me that she was right. So I listened to Ramsey, promised to meet up with him, and contacted Admiral Katherine Janeway. I knew if anyone listened, she would."

"Admiral Preebe said you suggested the proportional response." Janeway looked confused.

Starwind avoided a glance at his terminal, "Well, I misjudged the situation. Hyperion is proceeding into the Neutral Zone to conduct further investigations."

Janeway looked grim, "Vic, given the gravity of the situation, a resolution for war is being drafted."

"What!" Starwind glared at the monitor.

"Admirals Preebe and Fitzwallace are drafting the resolution now." Janeway reported the state of affairs, "I doubt either of them will listen to a reevaluation."

There was a stillness in both Starwind's Ready Room and Janeway's office.

"Who do you think?" Janeway asked.

Starwind thought a moment, "Terrorists. No government should be held accountable unless we can prove there was governmental support for this group."

"It's too late to find the truth, Vic." Janeway said candidly, "No other Admiral would even listen to you talk like this. They are geared for war."

"What's the target? Of the response?" Starwind asked.

"A few were discussed…" Janeway sighed, "Preebe has really pushed for Romulus itself." She paused, "A small border planet. Mostly civilian."

"Civilian!" Starwind screamed, enraged.

"We feel that it has a tactical importance." Janeway replied, "Just blow up the damn planet, Victor. Janeway out."

"War…" Starwind sunk back in his chair.

"That conversation was only a few hours ago…" Starwind later recorded in his log, sitting in casual uniform in his quarters. "We are en route to join Ramsey and the Nixon and will arrive shortly." Starwind sighed, "The Federation is preparing to retaliate and perhaps declare war without all the facts because of me. Of my advice." He stood, "I wanted someone to blame. I wanted retribution. People in the Federation have felt safer since the Dominion War ended. Then this happens! Of course, sometimes things just happen, but pinning this on someone, that was my all-consuming task two days ago. Because of me, war will be declared. My carelessness!" Starwind threw the data padd he was holding, "Damn!" He stormed out of his quarters saying to the computer as he left, "End entry."

"How long 'til we reach the Nixon?" Collins asked.

"About a day." Ivano reported.

Collins nodded, "All right."

Starwind stormed through the bridge to his Ready Room.

Collins stared at his Ready Room door, "What was that?"

"Hyperion for Admiral Preebe's office." Starwind said to the young woman directing communications at Starfleet Command.

"Admiral Preebe can't be reached right now. Can I take a message?" the girl responded.

"No." Starwind scowled. He pressed a few more keys on his display. Ramsey appeared on the screen, "We still have over a day before we can be at your location, but the Federation Fleet will be underway by then. We have to stop this war, Ramsey. Can you find the base camp for whoever built these torch ships?"

Ramsey nodded, "Yeah, that would be easy."

"Do it. Prepare a quick tactical operation. Hyperion will assist tomorrow evening." Starwind ordered.

"What's going on, Vic?" Ramsey asked.

"A resolution for war is being drafted. I can't get through to Admiral Preebe to try and stop her…" Starwind sighed, "The Federation is on the brink of war with a Romulus that may very well be innocent."

A small light blinked on Starwind's terminal, "Hold on, I have an incoming communiqué from my on-site team at Risa." Ramsey was replaced by Winters, "Lieutenant?"

"There is no Tal Shiar or Romulan Senate involvement. Our interrogations indicate a group known as the Children of Romulus. They are attempting to purify the Romulan Empire." Winters reported.

"And a war with the Federation would move far toward that end." Starwind nodded, sighing. He had done just what they wanted him to do.

"We're packing up and heading out." Winters reported.

"Rendezvous with some other ship and head for a Starbase. You'll never meet up with us now, we aren't meeting up with the fleet like we originally planed. We'll pick you up as soon as things settle down." Starwind ordered, "Hyperion out."

"Doctor!" A nurse called for Sen as alarms beeped in Sick Bay.

"Her vitals are dropping." Sen ran over to West, scanning from a distance, "There's more internal bleeding than I thought. We need to operate."

"Entering the Neutral Zone." Ivano reported on the bridge. "Receiving a hail from the Nixon."

"On screen." Collins ordered, "Captain Ramsey, what can we help you with?"

"The Children of Romulus have sent another ship toward Federation space. We've laid in a pursuit course, and once we enter weapons range will destroy them." Ramsey reported.

"Ma'am, it gets worse." Talara said nervously, "Admiral Janeway sent us a message, 'The fleet is underway.'"

Collins gritted her teeth, "Ivano, time?"

"I'm giving the engines all I can, but we're still too far out." Ivano replied.

Starwind entered the bridge in a sort of hurry, "Ivano, adjust course to intercept the Federation fleet."

"Sir?" Collins inquired.

Starwind took his seat, "Winters recovered a transmission from a comm. unit of one of those torch ships. A ship known as the Angel of Romulus, stolen from the Empire's shipyards, is going to intercept our fleet and further antagonize the Federation into passing the war resolution. Moreover, now that the Federation fleet is underway, it's only a matter of time until the Romulan fleet mobilizes."

"Course laid in."

"Collins, lead a team to intercept the Angel of Romulus and aid the Nixon. Take Ivano. Talara, take over our helm." Starwind ordered.

"Aye." The bridge crew responded.

Starwind turned to VonBach, "Ready for some real combat, Joseph? We'll have Admiral Preebe's fleet firing from one side and the Romulan fleet on the other."

"Sick Bay to Bridge, I just finished operating on Commander West. I repaired internal bleeding, she should make it." Sen contacted the Bridge.

Starwind nodded, "Thank you, Doctor."

"We can handle it." VonBach responded to Starwind's earlier query.

"Good." Starwind replied.

Talara spoke from the helm, "Runabout Valor is away, bound to rendezvous with the Nixon."

An ensign stood at Operations. "Reading the Federation fleet directly ahead, they've entered the Neutral Zone."

"Dropping out of warp." Talara reported. On the screen, a fleet of over twenty ships appeared on the veiwer.

"Hail the lead ship." Starwind ordered.

The image of a slightly aged female Admiral appeared on the view screen, "Captain Starwind, better late than never."

"Admiral Preebe, by now you are reading a Romulan warbird on course for this fleet, as well as a fleet launched from a Romulan starbase to counter this one's actions." Starwind began stating fact, "It is the opinion of the Risa on-site investigation that you should head back to friendly space."

"Too late, Victor." Preebe replied, "These spineless bastards had it coming to them."

"Admiral Preebe, you are holding an innocent government accountable for the actions of a rouge terrorist cell." Starwind said, slightly accusingly.

Preebe got instantly indignant, "I am holding accountable those who harbor terrorists."

"Captain, the Romulan fleet is only ten minutes out. The Angel of Romulus and the Nixon are almost here as well." Talara reported.

Preebe smiled, "You see? War is inevitable."

"Hyperion out." Starwind sat in his chair.

The ensign at Operation spoke up, "Receiving a general hail."

Preebe's voice filled the bridge, "This is the Lockheed to the fleet. Engage the enemy."

"VonBach, I have two words for you." Starwind stood, facing the viewer, "Battle stations."

To be continued…