[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/2KMGeVz.png[/img]
[i]I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no questions, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.[/i][/center]

[b][center][color=DC143C][h2]CHAPTER ONE: DISINTEGRATION[/h2][/color][/center][/b]

[b]Somewhere near the Neutral Zone
USS VIGILANCE
STARDATE 64607[/b]

[i] "-Romulan refugee ships have begun to filter across the Neutral Zone. Starfleet ships have been dispatched to assist in aid operations, which is becoming the greatest humanitarian crisis of the Alpha Quadrant's history. Here with us is-"

"-Defense Minister Thuzok Rossah has announced that the joint Klingon-Federation task force has entered Romulan space and is proceeding to make contact with the Romulan Provisional Government in the Hasseleh system. The Romulan Provisional Government consists of former sen-"

"-in soccer , Vulcan has beat Earth 5-4 in the third round of the Federation Cup. They will proceed onto play the Sauria in the next match tomorrow. We'll now take it to T'Pra for the latest stock exchan-"[/i]

Captain Strenn switched off the newsreader. It was all too much. He sat in silence in his ready room, the stars streaming past the large window above the settee. A cup of herbal tea, made from leaves grown in the arid deserts of the Forge, was slowly losing its warmth on the table before him. The Vulcan Captain's mind was racing, far faster than he could handle with his nearly five decades of carefully constructed mental walls. His father would be utterly ashamed that his eldest son could not keep his emotions in check, but how could he? Strenn had been aboard the [i]T'Kumbra[/i], in fact had been her Executive Officer, when it was destroyed on that fateful day above Cardassia. Captain Solok, that brave officer, went down with the ship and with most of the crew. Strenn, for his bravery, was promoted to Captain and awarded the highest award the Federation can bestow. Strenn, however, considered it an insult, even contemplated on resigning his commission. But that would not logical, since Starfleet needed experienced officers now more than ever.

And so that's what brought him to this lofty position as a Commanding Officer of a cruiser, no matter how aged she might be. It was a high responsibility to be a starship captain, and he felt the pressure sit heavily upon his shoulders now that he was sitting in the central seat. But the question "What would Solok do?" raged in his mind every time he made a decision, even if it was 'Boats, ahead warp five.' Solok was a true Starfleet officer, and more, he was a true Vulcan. Strenn, on the other hand, was only a fair facsimile.

The door buzzed, breaking through the clouded thoughts of the Vulcan captain. 

"Enter."

The Executive Officer of [i]Vigilance[/i], Commander Udrus Ahrume, a Bajoran, entered into his ready room. A capable, brave, and intelligent officer, Strenn recalled his service record as the Bajoran entered the room, although prone to emotional outbursts when confronted with Cardassians. Thankfully, on this mission they would be as far away from Cardassia as anyone could be. The Bajoran stopped just before the coffee table and stood at attention, his Service Uniform immaculate and inspection ready. The stars glimmered off of his well-polished shoes, "Sir, we've entered Romulan space."

"Good...." Strenn rose to his feet and without further discussion joined the Commander as they walked back onto the bridge. It was bustling with activity, as to be expected at such a critical mission hour. 

"Attention on deck!" Lieutenant von Körner, the Officer of the Deck, shouted as the Captain entered the bridge.

"As you were." Strenn waved his hand and approached the OOD, "Any updates, Lieutenant?"

"[i]USS Courageous[/i] is requesting all vessels attached to the Fleet connect to her channel. She is going to begin broadcasting soon." The Lieutenant made his watch report, still standing at attention before Captain Strenn, "other than that, there has been some odd readings from the Warp Core and from minor systems on Deck 6, but Engineering is dealing with it and it has not affected any operations."

"Very well." Strenn nodded, "I relieve you, sir."

"I stand relieved. Attention in the bridge, Captain Strenn has the deck!" Lieutenant von Körner shouted once more and the bridge, once more, leapt to attention.

"This is Captain Strenn, I have the bridge." And with those words, the bridge returned to work after the playthrough of centuries-old naval tradition. Captain Strenn, tugging down on his Service Uniform, took his seat at the captain's chair and turned towards the Communications Station, "Chief, put [i]Courageous[/i] through."

"Aye aye, sir." Operations Specialist Chief Kernaghan obeyed the order and, with a slight move of hand, the viewscreen that once showed stars was replaced with the bridge of the Sovereign-class starship, the flagship of 12th Fleet. At the center of the screen was Commodore Doma, a grizzled Bolian and a veteran of the War. Strenn remembered that he had been the CO of a minesweeper, operating along the Breen Front. [i]Vigilance[/i] must have been the last to connect, for shortly after he was put on the viewscreen the Commodore began his speech.

"All Starfleet and Federation vessels, we are about to undertake a mission unlike any other in the Alpha Quadrant's history. The eyes of thousands of species are upon you today, the hopes and dreams of billions of souls depending upon your adherence to duty. I expect every sailor in my task force to be model Starfleet servicemembers, and to act in accordance with the Starfleet Creed. We represent the Federation, and we cannot let these people down. Captains, you will receive a coded transmission detailing your specific operational goals." The Commodore paused, "I wish you all the best of luck. Godspeed!"

The screen was replaced by the eternal starscape of deep space, displaying a region of space that had not been traveled by Starfleet since the days of the Earth-Romulan War. "I'll be in my ready room. Commander, you have the bridge." Strenn rose, and without doing the formal trade-off of the Watch with the Executive Officer, disappeared into his ready room as quickly as he had come onto the bridge.