-Captain’s Log, stardate 1709.2. Patrolling outposts guarding the neutral zone between planets Romulus and Remus and the rest of the galaxy, received emergency call from outpost 4. The U.S.S. Enterprise is moving to investigate and assist.
-Outpost 4 reported under attack, sir.
-Our speed is now maximum, sir.
-Did Outpost 4 give anything at all on the attacking vessel, Lieutenant?
-No identification, sir.
-Mister Spock, put this star sector on our screen. Now show our position. Signal this to all decks, Lieutenant.
-Science Officer.
-Referring to the map on your screens, you will note beyond the moving position of our vessel, a line of Earth outpost stations. Constructed on asteroids, they monitor the Neutral Zone established by treaty after the Earth-Romulan conflict a century ago.
-No human, Romulan, or ally has ever seen the other. Earth believes the Romulans to be warlike, cruel, treacherous, and only the Romulans know what they think of Earth.
-The treaty, set by sub-space radio, established this Neutral Zone, entry into which by either side, would constitute an act of war. The treaty has been unbroken since that time.
-To avoid interspace war, Both these outposts and this vessel will be considered expendable.
Outpost two coming into sensor range.
-Sensor reading indefinite. Double-checking Outpost three. I read dust and debris. Both Earth outposts gone, and the asteroids they were constructed on, pulverised.
-Battle stations. All hands to battle stations. Battle stations. Battle stations. All decks acknowledge. All decks acknowledge, sir. All stations show green.
-Energise main phasers, Mister Styles. All weapons to full power.
-All weapons to full power.
-Something visual ahead, Captain, at extreme range. He’s changing course.
-We grow visible. Attend the cloaking system.
-Commander, it is our judgment we run from a reflection.
-Perhaps so, but my judgment prevails.
-Cloaking system on, sir.
-It is good we approach the Neutral Zone.
-If an Earth ship, why does he not attack?
-A message was dispatched. You’ve broken the rule of silence.
-Only in code, Commander. To inform our Praetor of this glorious mission.
-Your carelessness might have ended this glorious mission. You’re reduced two steps in rank. Return to post.
-He has friends, and friends of his kind mean power. And power is danger.
-Danger and I are old companions.
-We’ve seen a hundred campaigns together, and still I do not understand you.
