[USS Chimera] SD 240911.05 || JL || Capt Rojac, CO & EMaj Walters, XO ||

[Ready Room - Deck One - USS Chimera NCC 96899-C]

Scott walked up to the door of the Captain's Ready Room and knocked on the door and entered into the room ignoring the chime.  He handed over a padd to Cropa.  "Captain, these are my initial report findings.  We are now fully docked at Starbase 234: Unity and we have started preparing the most severely injured crewmen for transfer to Unity."

The Captain nodded, and briefly glanced at the padd before placing it at the top of his "in" stack at the corner of his desk. He waved toward the empty seat in front of the desk. "Have a seat, Major. We have much to discuss."

"Thank you Captain, I imagine we do."  Walters said sitting in the proffered chair.

"So," Rojac leaned back into the soft leather of his chair, "how do you think we did?"

"Honestly?"  Walters started.  "...Not good.  Average at best.  We have too many new crewmen who are untested under fire who hesitate before following orders.  The crew haven't worked together long enough to build up a level of trust with each other and that's affecting performance.  The most critical failure of this mission though was a severe lack of critical intelligence which caused the loss of one ship and almost a second, nearly resulting in a Mission Fail.  As it stands it was hardly a resounding victory...if not for the EAS Samson we would be dead now if not from the last Thelaron Cruiser, then that Heavy War Cruiser that was coming through the gate."

Rojac furrowed his brow and brought a hand to his lips. "I'm not convinced it was a Romulan War Cruiser coming through that gate?"

Walters raised his head and looked Rojac directly in the eyes.  "Not that I've not had similar misgivings but what makes you say that Captain?"

"We've had no trouble detecting the Romulan ships present in this dimension already, why couldn't our sensors pick up that last one?" Rojac was thinking more out loud rather than asking the Major
directly. "And if the situation is as dire in that dimension as Colonel Ivanov depicts it, then why haven't we seen any Heavy Cruisers here before?"

"No." Rojac said quietly. "I think it was something other than Romulan coming through. Maybe Borg, or maybe not." He looked up to Walters, "But whatever it was, I saw fear in Ivanov's eyes when he got word. It was just a glimmer, but it was there all the same."

"Perhaps if the situation is as dire as Colonel Ivanov says, the reason we may not have seen the Heavy War Cruiser is that the Romulans may be using them as their main line of defense whilst letting the lighter Thelaron Cruisers take on the job of crushing enemies 30 years obsolete in this universe?"  Walters hypothesized.

"Possibly." Cropa took a deep breath. "So the crew." He tried to get back on track. "Hopefully most of them were baptized by fire and won't be so green the next go around. And hopefully, UNITY will give us some more hard nosed people to work with."

"This ship has a history of delving into unknown situations, Major." Rojac said. "Before the war, most of our operations were extremely time sensitive and hard data was hard to come by. Intelligence is a necessity we have learned to do without. Especially since the Council tends to disapprove of Intelligence Operations as a general rule." Rojac half smirked, "So I fear we're going to have to rely more on wit than planning."

"That approach has cost thousand of troops lives and not just those of green rookies.  What SSF will be pretty much left with is a handful of grizzled veterans who survived through luck and determination and a majority of inexperienced green troops who have likely been rushed out
of training to shore up numbers.  An intelligence based approach tends to create a far more balanced and beneficial outcome.  Whilst the military shouldn't dictate politics it should help influence and shape it...it's a thin line I know but it's worked out well for us in the Alliance."  Walters said.

Rojac sighed. "As history illustrates, the Alliance broke away in protest of the Federation's more ideological views. Views that are politics have not yet shed." The Captain said. "As a consequence, our political system is not as receptive to military advice as your government is. But even more so; Starfleet is not a full military organization either. I also acts as a diplomatic and law enforcement

agency."

"It's a lot of bureaucracy." Rojac said, "and makes the high level commanders a little out of place during wartime." He opened a drawer and dug through it as he kept talking. "Trust me Major, I would prefer that Starfleet operated more like the military, but a professional officer must follow the orders of the political system. At least until that system fails." He pulled out a padd and slid it across the table toward Walters. "I haven't given up hope yet."

Walters took the padd and brought up its contents which looked suspiciously like a calender filled with appointments.  "Care to explain what this is Captain?"

"Its our itinerary to attend a strategy meeting on Earth in two weeks." The Captain said. "We'll transit to HQ in San Francisco to present the intel we gathered on our last mission and discuss

strategies for further operations. That is unless you've been suddenly summoned back to Erass."

"Alas no."  Walters began.  "My superiors haven't seen fit to deprive me of me voicing my opinion to Starfleets most elite methuseleths and be promptly shouted down as I don't make nice with people trying to kill me.  I'm along for the ride whether I like it or not.  I hope you know some good bars there."

"Oh," Rojac gave a sardonic grin,"I do Major, I do."

[End Log]

Captain Cropa Rojac

Commanding Officer

Erassian Major Scott Walters

Executive Officer

USS Chimera NCC 96899-C