A)Critique, on everyone including myself:
It seems unlikely that Starfleet would give any one of us their newest ships like Intrepids and Sovereigns. OTOH, the new ships are the most well-known, so we have very little other choice.

B)I seem to have lost my Nebula and one of my Intrepids. Command and exploration is now mainly based on one of the Excelsiors (now referred to as Command-Excelsior), and as such it will be mostly be situated around Tekanan and Lysara. The Intrepids role of fast courier will be replaced by the other Intrepid and the Akira.

The Nova is 'boldly going' and is on exploration missions to the nebula and the Lysaran binary stars, with the Springfield close to the border as a long range patrol vessel.
Should the Nova detect Threat Forces in the Nebula, the other Excelsior, stationed in the South, is ready to respond.
Likewise, the Akira and the Intrepid are stationed north of Tekanan, ready to respond.

Ci) The ships nearby are the Nova and the two Excelsiors, and I have called for the Intrepid stationed north, she will arrive in two days.

I will render assistance to Lysarian authorities, possibly stationing Starfleet personell on Lysarian ships. I will help them lure the pirates and trace them back to their bases of operation with one of the Excelsiors. The Intrepid that has arrived will join it and together they will attack the pirates base. While not all pirates have been eliminated, their morale is low and they will not strike anytime soon.

Cii) The Sprinfield patrolling the northern border is at a reasonably safe distance to not be detected by the 23rd century style sensors of the Kestans. The Springfield monitors their movement secretly, while the Intrepid escorts a Federation diplomat to Kestu, trying to find out what's going on. The Akira is ordered to stand-by and keep a close eye on the border.
The Nova makes a slight alteration to it's course and places itself between Kestu and Lysara, tracking any possible Kestu ships en route to Lysara.
Ciii) Tekanans request is answered, and the Command-Excelsior is ordered to go to Starbase, with the Akira patrolling to border directly North of Tekanan.
The Nova closely watches the Nebula, and is assisted by the Excelsior patrolling the South. A general warning to Starfleet Command is made. I advice the Lysarian authorities to be prepared and have their warships be ready. The Intrepid is ordered to take up a central place between the three planets, ready to take necessary actions. The Springfield will continue monitoring the border.

D)
Kestan resistance groups, controlling a few countries on the planet, have united and now call themselves the Freedom Alliance and demand recognition and humanitarian aide by the Federation. The totalitarian regime warns the Federation that they will not tolerate any interference in what they call 'internal affairs' and threaten to attack Tekanan if necessary. Still, the rebels seem to have strong support networks around the Kestran globe.

[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: Harry ]

[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: Harry ]

QUESTION THREE (three parts)

1) Given the answers in Part (4) of the previous question, answer any TWO of the situations presented.

2) In rapid succession, two events occur: first is the collapse of the monarchy on Lysara, with the Monarch being assassinated without a clear heir. Economic and social unrest erupt planetwide. Then, one week later, the Kestu Fleet mentioned previously take up positions in orbit of the planet and commence beaming troops and personel to one country on Lysara, which has announced that it has sought their help to guard their borders from the other countries. As this happens, two other countries on that planet ask for the smae thing, and two more ask for Federation assistance.

a) Detail what your fleet movement would have been when you first heard of the assassination, and how that deployment may change once the Kestu fleet showed up.

b) What would your recomendations be to Starfleet in the report you will send to them? What investigations, if any, would you perform first? If you feel the need to ask for help, what form of help would you request?

c) If the events in this question were reversed - that is, the Kestu fleet arrived in orbit first, and then the Lysaran monarch was assassinated, how would your answer in part (a) change?

3) With the events on the other two planets, the Tekanans are even more nervous and have stepped up their program to rapidly build warp-capable warships of their own. They have asked for Starfleet assistance - assume that they can build anything up to, say, something equivalent to an Excelsior-class ship, and will have five ships of any kind ready within the next year. What would you recommend the Tekanans do with their fleet, and how would you redeploy your fleet to match, avoid, or complement this new force?

Mark

[ October 03, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Nguyen ]

1. Harry's: I'd attempt to negotiate with the Ketsu government for access for humanitarian aid to this "Freedom Alliance", but recognition is out of the question. Federation has been placed in situations like this in the past. We must never allow ourselves to get involved in the legitimation of contesting planetary governments. We'll attempt to mediate the two sides, but will not actively involve ourselves through anything other than humanitarian and diplomatic aid.

Timo's: I'll go straight to the Klingon High Council for this. This period of time marks a great friendship between the two Empires, so that should not be too difficult. I'll warn them that they risk alienating the Tekanans towards the Romulans, and that they should crack down on whatever families that are doing the smuggling, or at least place restrictions regarding Tekanan space. Frankly, I doubt that the Tekanans would be able to detect cloaked ships violating their space anyways. Even if the shipments are stopped, Tekanan wouldn't be none the wiser.

2. Frankly I don't know how the Ketsu Fleet would have been able to enter Lysaran space, much less orbit around their homeplanet, without my forces intredicting them. My previous force deployment would have put my two of my Task Forces plus my Starbase smack between the most direct routes from Ketsu to Lysara, plus a third TF close enough to Lysara to intercept anything before it enters the Lysaran system.

a. I would move TF2, composed of 1 New Orlean and 2 Runabouts, closer to my Starbase. This is to checker any attempt by the Ketsus to use Lysara as a jumping board to Tekanan. Other forces would remain at their stations, since I don't have the resources to support any of the nations on the ground. I'll pass their request onto the Federation, but I highly doubt the Federation Council will approve, much less send, Federation ground troops. All I can do in the mean time is try to mediate a peaceful settlement. (I can't stop the Ketsus without Lysaran permission, and they're divided right now)

b. I request an urgent re-evaluation of the current level of Starfleet involvement in this sector. It is clear that given the current resources I have, I cannot grantee the stability of the sector, the safety of Tekanan III, or any additional Federation interests in the sector. Therefore, I request an advance elements of the 4th Fleet (let's say they're the nearest), composed of at least 5 Miranda class or better ships, to be sent to this sector immediately, followed by possibly additional units. Hopefully I can goad the 4th Fleet into assuming something close to a standby status, with ships being placed on possible recall alert and support units (tenders, mobile docks) reoriented towards this sector. As well, I also request additional cargo ships, carrying supplies and humanitarian aid, to be sent. Their escorts would not be counted as part of the force I requested.

I have already started investigations, as it said in my last post, into the history of the mysterious invading areas. I shall try to convince that this race poses a threat to all the races in this sector, plus nearby Federation sectors.

c. I would begin an investigation in possible direct Ketsu involvement in the assassination, that's about all.

1a) I'll address Omega's and David's scenarios. Shipping issues are easy, since as long as one stays away from the planets, PD is much less of a concern.

Omega gives us a possible rogue or a possible privateer, and everybody's hoping it's the former. Okay, I promise the Lysarans to hunt down this guy, but it means pulling off my shipping-protection forces. So they have to get organized themselves. They want to do that anyway, but at least I get my foot into the door crack - I give them "anti-piracy courses" and help them equip their ships and so on, but at the same time I invite the Kestu to patrol the spacelanes, at least in their end. I detach my Mirandas to hunt down the rogue/privateer, but put my heavier ships in readiness around my Kestu "deputies". Their bluff is called: if there's further piracy, they are guilty of it no matter what (either by attacking, or failing to defend), and will have to openly answer for it.

1b) David poses a problem that could be solved similarly - invite the Kestu to defend the spacelanes, which means they will spread their forces so thinly as to no longer be a threat, and will have to stop using covert piracy. I'll naturally also send my Constellation to scout out the nebula. If there's nothing there, I tell the Monarch to back off or I'll make him look silly using the evidence. If there's something there, I call everybody and his cousin to help, and make the Monarch look good. I get a good puppet that way.

2a) The shipping protection fleet of Mirandas gathers up more closely around my tender, and prepares to set shop at Lysara. The Constellation is called to get intelligence on what the Kestu are up to. As the Kestu begin to move, my Mirandas can receive them and be the first to offer assistance - especially to those nations who asked for Kestu help.

2b) I am bound by the PD, as usual, but I intend to counter every Kestu "offer of help" by barging in and providing that help first. But if the nations ask for weapons, I'll provide police forces instead. I'll be everywhere at once, offering to mediate, especially when I'm not asked to. I ask for UFP approval for extended police action. I also search the PD book for ways of legally stopping weapons shipments from Kestu.

2c) I'd not have the Mirandas in place as the Kestu fleet arrives in this case, of course. But I'd send them in anyway. When the assassination takes place a week later, they will be there already. I'll know if the Kestu ships had any part in it, since I can monitor their transporters etc. I'll be quick to reaffirm the Lysarans of Kestu innocence if I can provide such proof, and I'll offer to conduct an investigation in any case.

3) I'd like the Tekanans to defend both themselves and possibly the sector against external threats. So I won't ask for shipping escorts. I want four Excelsiors for defence and another Constellation for rapid troubleshooting.

The ships will of course need to be manned, so I'll start a training program. The Tekanans will probably fall for this, and I get them to sign a cooperation treaty. As soon as the ships are available, I'll move at least one Tekanan Excelsior far away from Tekanan, move in my own Excelsior instead, and invite Tekanans aboard my Mirandas so that I can in turn crew their ships. If the Tekanans attempt to build an independent fleet, I'll just give them a bigger carrot with technological aid etc. I'll also build an orbital defence system for them - a Starfleet one. Let's see if they want to break off after that!

David: the Excelsiors would be 24th-century equivalent. The Tekanans have probably been getting technology exchanges or grants from the Feds as part of their application process.

2

i: Marky Mark, I have to say that my response would depend almost entirely on what they asked me to do. If Lysara doesn't ask for help, then I don't do anything.

ii: I'd ask HQ for a Galaxy or the local Nebbie to come by and lend a hand if it was neccessary and I'd continue to defend all ships against pirates and looking for that elusive pirate base.

iii: If the situation was reversed, I'd offer assistance in the investigation (since you didn't clearly state that the Kestu were responsible for the assasination) if the Lysaran's requested such assistance.

Well, it was never said that I can't review my own scenario, so...

i)

The Kestu have attacked and destroyed a Lyssaran transport. They claim that the captain of the ship who attacked the freighter was acting against policy, and is now acting as a rogue. The Lyssarans, who do not believe this, are threatening to cut off all trade with the Kestu unless the captain, ship, and crew are all turned over to them. The Kestu say that this is not a possibility under any circumstances.

The Excelsior and one of the Intrepids will have their patrol schedules adjusted so that they will search the trade lanes for the location of the raider. Leave for the other Intrepids and the Nebulas will be canceled until such time as the situation is resolved. I have full confidence that either the Intrepid or the Excelsior could easily outrun or outgun a single Kestu ship. Their orders will be to disable and capture the vessel, and return it to the starbase, where its officers will be held for trial. The crew will be allowed to return home if they chose.

With both the Kestu and the Lyssarians asking for the rogue, I would propose a compromise: three legal experts from each of Lysara, Kestu, and Tekanan will be chosen at random to form a jury, with a Starfleet judge presiding over the trial. The trial will be held on the starbase, that being neutral territory. All the worlds must agree to abide by the decision of the jury, or the prisoners will be removed from the sector and tried by a Federation court elsewhere. This will be their only chance to take part in the judgement, and I believe that they will take it. If successful, it will help form a closer judicial tie between the three worlds, as well as bringing a just conclusion to the incident.

ii) The Kestu government is facing a revolution. With the Kestu people witnessing the prosperity of the Federation and the other two worlds, many on Kestu want change. A civil war is likely to break out and the Kestu officials are blaming the recent Federation activity in the area. It is threatening to break off trade if the Federation continues to keep so many ships in the sector on patrol, which the Kestu government is comparing to imperialism. What do you do?

Diplomacy is the only option. I will offer my assistance in mediating negotiations between the factions, and I will not allow the conflict to spread to other systems or to interrupt trade. If it becomes necessary, I will cut off all trade with Kestu until the war is settled. Kestu will see that their only hope of survival is through trade, and that their only hope of trade is through peace. They will start negotaitions, which may lead to a more diplomatic government for the Ketsu.

2) In rapid succession, two events occur: first is the collapse of the monarchy on Lysara, with the Monarch being assassinated without a clear heir. Economic and social unrest erupt planetwide. Then, one week later, the Kestu Fleet mentioned previously take up positions in orbit of the planet and commence beaming troops and personel to one country on Lysara, which has announced that it has sought their help to guard their borders from the other countries. As this happens, two other countries on that planet ask for the smae thing, and two more ask for Federation assistance.

a) Detail what your fleet movement would have been when you first heard of the assassination, and how that deployment may change once the Kestu fleet showed up.

I would deploy the my Excelsior flagship to Lysara. All leave for the Intrepids and Nebulas would be canceled. Patrols would be shifted nearer to Lysara.

If the Kestu fleet showed up, they would NOT be allowed to land troops on the planet under any circumstances. Interference is unacceptable. One Nebula would be divirted to trade patrol duty, and two Intrepids would be divirted to back up the flagship.

b) What would your recomendations be to Starfleet in the report you will send to them? What investigations, if any, would you perform first? If you feel the need to ask for help, what form of help would you request?

My recommendation would be that no interference in the fracturing of Lyssaran society be allowed under any circumstances. I would request the return of my Ambassador and second Excelsior to suppliment my fleet.

c) If the events in this question were reversed - that is, the Kestu fleet arrived in orbit first, and then the Lysaran monarch was assassinated, how would your answer in part (a) change?

Difficult. How would the Lysaran fleet respond to an uninvited Kestan fleet's presence?

3) With the events on the other two planets, the Tekanans are even more nervous and have stepped up their program to rapidly build warp-capable warships of their own. They have asked for Starfleet assistance - assume that they can build anything up to, say, something equivalent to an Excelsior-class ship, and will have five ships of any kind ready within the next year. What would you recommend the Tekanans do with their fleet, and how would you redeploy your fleet to match, avoid, or complement this new force?

I would suggest that they build an Excelsior-equivalint, three Intrepid-equivalents, and a Nova-equivalent. I would propose that they use an Intrepid to help patrol the border in conjunction with my Nebulas. I would further suggest that they use their Excelsior to perform local patrols of their system and the surrounding area in conjunction with one of my Intrepids. The remaining Intrepids would escort convoys and doing general route patrols. The remaining Nova could be sent to rendezvous with mine, to assist with scientific surveys and provide training for possible assimilation into Starfleet upon approval of their entry petitoin.

Assuming that none of the other situations are occuring at the same time as this one, I would remove one of my Nebulas from border patrol and assign it to patrol the area around Lysara. I would assign one of the Intrepids to patrol the area around Kestu. One of the remaining Intrepids would be sent to assist and train the Tekanan Excelsior in its local patrols. As usual, at least one ship stationed at starbase at all times, and with regular leave rotation.

1a) (From Timo) Let's say the Klingons want to open trade with the Kestu, too, and have exactly what they want to buy: cheap weaponry of 24th century standard. The Klingons are cheapskates, though, and trade through the existing spacelanes, using Lysaran assets. Lysarans know their citizens do their share of gunrunning, but insist it's an internal matter. When you inspect a few ships, the Lysaran privateers start to sail outside the 'lanes. It also seems they are using cloaking devices now. The Tekanans insist that the smuggling be stopped, and the Kestu escalation ended. If the Feds won't do it, they'll ask somebody else - say, the Romulans might like to have their share of the Tekanan resources AND foil the Klingon plans. Who do you hit and how, to stop the crisis from escalating? How can you stop cloaked smugglers?

1b) (From David Templar) The redistribution of naval forces in the sector has left the trade routes all but unprotected. Despite the increased tension, races like the Lysaraian still maintain a good deal of trade to support their economy. That trade is now being threatened like never before. The Lysaraian Monarch is faced with the tough choice of either guarding the nebula-facing region, or the trade routes. He chooses the nebula. As a result, the powerful trade guilds of Lysara began actively challanging the Monarch. Civil unrest ensues, and there is much division inside the Monarch's court. All in all, the government of Lysara effectly grinds to a halt. Fearful of negative opinion from the Federation and the reprecussion from the trade guilds of using force to quell the unrest, the Monarch has asked for your help.

2) In rapid succession, two events occur: first is the collapse of the monarchy on Lysara, with the Monarch being assassinated without a clear heir. Economic and social unrest erupt planetwide. Then, one week later, the Kestu Fleet mentioned previously take up positions in orbit of the planet and commence beaming troops and personel to one country on Lysara, which has announced that it has sought their help to guard their borders from the other countries. As this happens, two other countries on that planet ask for the smae thing, and two more ask for Federation assistance.

All of this seems to be linked together.

(A) Recall Laxness from the border to a point just outside Lysaran space where she'll run scan ops with Lagos, who's been recalled from convoy duty (since there's no more convoys) & whose captain is familiar with the Lysaran trade guilds & politics. The remaning scout, Schwegel, will conduct intel gathering, feeding the info through Lagos. Until we can determine exactly what's going on, who killed what, who's behind what, we can't take more than this posture.

(B) Ashburnipal to the Kestu spacelanes to investigate claims of smuggling. Given the Kestu involvement in Lysaran politics now & the Klingon claims, there's something hinky here. Why would they want to undermine the region, though? It's not like a Federation presence would bother them, esepcially given post-Dominion War relations. Is it really the Empire or just a couple of houses? As for stopping cloaked smugglers, I'd like to see if there's any way to get at some of the captured Jem'Hadar anticloak technology or anything reverse-engineered from that. As regards investigation & help, I'd request a special envoy from our friends over in the Ferengi Alliance to be dispatched to examine the poltico-economic situation at hand; they might be able to see something we can't, a nuance we'd never pick up on.

C) Blockade of Kestu. Simple as that.

Hmm, howabout a preview of the latter. Here:

http://www.anime-alberta.org/~mark/trek-temp/Admiral-2.jpg

I'll give you the specifics later.