===== Bridge, USS Chimera ===== Suddenly a faint sound announcing troubles bleeped on Acheson's TAC console. He tapped his console for a moment before saying: "Sir, I am picking the signature of a Romulan Warbird, its 30.000 km away in front of us." Acheson tapped his console again: "I am reading heavy damage on that Warbird, but its weapons are charged". {Jesus! Not again!} Shane thought. He jumped up from his seat and called: "Red alert, raise shields and hail the Warbird, all man to battle stations!" The bridge dimmed again in the red alert status and a slight risen noise level indicated that the bridge crew was relying orders to the crew and preparing themselves for an upcomming battle. Shane looked at Athena sitting next to him and said: "Looks not like a time for diplomacy". Before Athena could answer, Acheson from behind the couple said: "Connection established, main screen". The big main screen suddenly changed from the starview to a picture of an visible angry Romulan officer with a severely damaged bridge in the background. The Romulan officer himself was trembling with anger. "How dared you to attack us?" he asked with a high voice immediately. "Without warning or any war declaration" He pierced Shane with a hard stare: "This will have a very negative effect on the relations between the Romulan Star Empire and the foul Federation." He gave Shane an another ice cold stare and added: "And you Captain will be blamed for all of that". For a moment Shane was frozen in the sudden shock from the words the romulan said. He blinked once or twice like not believing his own ears. Then, like a textbook example of 'beeing provoked by the enemy' he sprung up from his seat and said in a harsh voice: "What the hell are you talking ...". But in the moment his sight fell on his brother behind the ATAC console who shook his head slightly and he felt the soft touch Athena gave him on the back. He just realised that his bahaviour was worser then a 2nd class cadet's in the diplomacy course and he bit his tongue, to prevent his mouth from continuing to speak. "Youuuuuu" the romulan in the viewscreen yelled, "dare to deny it?" With all might Shane tried to calm himself down. For a second he even closed his eyes and thought about something nice. Then he opened his eyes and said in a bit more calm tone: "I am Commander Guzman from the USS Chimera. I dont know about you, but I can assure you that we have attacked noone. We have been attacked by a Romulan Warbird ... just as you command." The Romulan's face went pink-red as anger was accumulated in him, before his outburst: "I dont believe you a word Commander. It was your ship that attacked us without warning. You surely wanted to wipe us off to be the only major power present on the negotiations with the Kzenti." He grinned in an amused manner: "But you underestimated us. We've beaten you once and now we will finish you!" With that the transmission ended. The screen changed the picture to the star view again. The Kzenti homeworld was on the left botton side and the Warbird just in front of them, now slowly moving to the right. {Sakra} Shane cursed mentaly. Turning around to Acheson he ordered: "Captain, scan that ship and find out if its the same warbird that attacked us before". While Shane was walking to his seat the voice of his brother asked: "Commader, cant we send the Romulans our logs confirming that we were attacked and were not the attackers?". Shane looked at his brother. He knew that the idea was not the worst one, but after the last battle, Shane was not too inclined for trying diplomatics first again. "I donk think the Romulans are interested in our logs, they want to destroy us" he replied to his brother. As Acheson ended his analysis he reported: "Sir, I identified the ship as the RSR Chocholusik, Romulan Galae ship. They are severaly damaged on all sections, clearly battle results." He looked up at Shane and continued with some astonishment in his voice. "The Romulan warbird we encountered had an entire section on deck 3. In 8 hours you cant build a whole section, but this Warbird has that section without damage." Shane noded a bit surprised about the tone of his CTAC. "The problem is that the weapon residual signatures on the Warbird's damaged sections are without doubt of federation origin!" Now was Shane's turn to look astonished. It wasnt the same warbird that attacked the Chimera not long ago, but it was damaged by a federation ship. The touble was that the Chimera was the single federations ship in this sector. Shane turned to Athena and asked quietly: "How can this be?" ===== End of log ===== Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO/ACO USS Chimera