“How are they doing?” Fleet Captain Geronimo Fontana sat back in his chair as Captain Alexandra Pantuso briefed the station’s directors and command officers.

Pantuso answered, “The kids are OK, all things considered. Gracie Lothan has taken charge of their care, surprising no one.” Dry chuckles were heard around the table. Over the last week, most of them already had a story about running into her or receiving a request from her. She continued, “We got the last updated roster from the destroyed colony. A lot of these kids lost a family member. The counseling department has been working with them.”

He turned to Commander Thasaz, “The kids are alive. I’ll take that end of this awful deal. You have an update on the Vaadwaur?”

The older Romulan stood and traded places with Pantuso at the large holo-screen. “We’ve been trying to figure out why they’ve left us alone since last week’s attacks.” She tapped at the screen, “Captain Ki had a rather interesting theory that she suggested.” Thasaz shifted the screen to focus on the border with the Tholian Assembly. She turned to the table, “We think the Vaadwaur have poked the Tholians and have discovered why our relationship with them is so…challenging.” Her smile was faint, but her eyes told the rest of the story. “Given the scans we’ve pulled and the surveillance Captain Ki has gathered, it’s possible the Vaadwaur are afraid of the Tholians being so close to us…and unwilling to take the risk.”

“Given that the Tholians wouldn’t mind us getting our clocks cleaned, I’m not sure I understand.” Heads turned to find that the voice belonged to Captain Leopold Halsey, Director of Medical Operations.

Another voice piped up. “Commander, if I may?” Lieutenant Grace Albright asked, as she turned to her Diplomatic Operations Director, who nodded. “The Tholians wouldn’t mind it, you’re right. But the Vaadwaur appear to have belatedly discovered that borders and controlled space do not mean much to the Tholians. If the Vaadwaur did come for us, and in this scenario, impact the presence of the Federation in this system and beyond…the Tholians would very likely move their Borders and throw the Vaadwaur out of the system in brutal and inescapable fashion. Whatever happened inside Tholian space, it’s keeping us safe.”

Fontana felt both amazement and amusement. “Commander Hargraves, anything from our intermediaries or the Tholians themselves?”

Charlie tapped through his PADD, “Our favorite group of Ferengi traders has some interesting stories to tell. They all end with the Vaadwaur getting pushed around, thrown around, and thrown out. The latest is that the Tholians pinpointed the locations of the Blackout devices in and around the apertures. The last report this morning tells of significant ship movements and engagements that have begun. We’ve been getting stronger sensor responses within the last few hours.”

Geronimo chuckled, “Never thought I’d be thankful to have the Tholians allegedly doing the dirty work for us, but here we are.” He returned to his tactical and security director, “Last item on the agenda, Commander.”

Thasaz had remained stationed at the screen. She tapped it, “We’ve been doing some surveillance with runabouts and fighters over the last week around Bunden II. The Vaadwaur have recently decreased their staffing aboard their ships, and our preliminary estimates on the planet forces are not more than 500. We’ve had no direct contact with the people on the planet; however, with Gracie Lothan’s help, we’ve located several low-yield radio transmitters in and around the planet. They’re being used to coordinate some kind of resistance. Communications has deployed a team to the listening base in the Bunden system.”

There was a deliberate silence in the room as the gathered eyes turned from Thasaz to the ranking fleet officer. Fontana eyed the screen. “Commander Miados – status on the Zephyr?”

Miados answered quickly, “Ready for service, sir.”

More silence as Fontana deliberated the decision—1,000 souls on a planet with no escape. He sat forward, words firm and focused. “Captain Pantuso – notify Captain Samson to have his ship and crew ready for departure within four hours. Commander Wilder – muster the Montana Squadron to be ready simultaneously. Commander Thasaz – get every shuttle and runabout ready to be loaded with strike teams to launch similarly.” He looked around the table, “Those people are our people…and we’re not leaving them in the hands of the Vaadwaur. Let’s get to work.”