((USS Culver City, Captain’s Ready Room))

LCDR Varyn K’lev sat behind his desk, reviewing the visual data that Chief Bong and Lieutenant Lotharys had identified.  The clips and stills had been sent to the rest of the little flotilla, and were likely being examined by other scientific minds; it sure looked like something was there, but as Lotharys had pointed out, they were trying to identify it with visual data only, without the confirming information that a full sensor suite could provide.

Chief Bong’s voice, emerging from his combadge, snapped K’lev from his study.  “Incoming message from the Farragut, sir,” the chief said.

“I’ll take it in here,” K’lev replied.

K’lev then joined a 4 way meeting between the ship captains at the rally point. This new information added a different level of seriousness and risk in the situation. Aloran and Ayres had been in contact with Starfleet Command, apprising them of the situation as it unfolded in near real time. As it sat currently, Aloran was still authorized to deal with the situation at his discretion, provided they did not cross the border or risk an escalation of the conflict.

Tyler nodded at Klev and the other Captains. “Looks like we’ve found what they’re fighting over eh?” The Canadian born scientist said.

“Seems like it,” the Orion responded.

USS Farragut, Fusion Centre

Ayres nodded at the images of the other captains on the fusion centre’s main viewscreen. He was sat in the central chair, Aloran standing at one of the two consoles behind him.

“With the efforts and ingenuity of the Culver City, captains,” Aloran straightened, moving his fingers away from the console, “we have a greater understanding of the situation. However improved that understanding may be, it remains considerably incomplete.”

Ayres let out a breath. “An understatement.”

“Yes. With the addition of the unusual cartographic phenomena of this sector, we find ourselves in a perilous diplomatic situation. It would be advantageous to utilise the capabilities of the Salvation to improve our situational awareness. Captain Dal?”

Ishreth Dal kept his expression calm, but his antennae curled forward in assent. “I agree and we are ready to strike.  With your backup we should be able to get in if we are sure of the target.”

Tyler then spoke up.

“I’m transmitting an encrypted data packet now. It contains sensor data, and a uh, plan we’ll say. This was put together by my First and Second officers. They discovered compelling evidence that leads us to believe that the Tholians are working under the assumption that the border is where it was in the mid 2200s when the agreement was signed. But, when correcting for stelllar drift, as the agreement stipulates the border is actually the brown line, not the blue one.”

That might have gotten the slightest antennae twitch from the blue man in the conversation, as the universal translator struggled to find a comparative metaphor.

Tyler took a few moments as the others all reviewed the data.

“The plan is a uh, a surgical strike at the exact moment that station crosses the border. An adversarial powers uh, military research station crossing the border onto our side would place us well within our rights to destroy it uh…yeah. Wong and Mee IH are two of the finest officers I’ve ever served with. The information is solid, and the plan seems actionable to me.”

“And we are sure of this placement?” Dal’s quiet voice queried, wanting to be extra careful to ensure they were striking without unforeseen consequences.

“The planets within 0.2AUs of the border. The sensors datas as clean as its ever gonna be.” Tyler said without stuttering this time. He was a science officer after all, and sensors were a part ofnhis bread and butter.

“Ingenious calculation.” Aloran said, pausing for a moment as the gravity of the situation pressed on each of the captains.

Ayres rolled his eyes. “Their fucking map is wrong? All this technology. And this shit still happens?”

“Apparently so, captain.” Aloran tapped the console, examining more of the data from the Culver City. “I would recommend, however, that we refrain from – as you say, Captain Tyler – destroying the station. Even though we would be entitled to, that would represent an escalation that I would rather avoid.”