Starbase 86, the pinnacle of trading, defense, and societal diversity. Ships come and go for their repairs, resupply, and any trading they might see value in. The Triangle is, after all, a booming location to find the latest buyers from the Romulan Republic or the independent warlords. Some Klingons show their face on the base to get a good mining deal. But business is going well on the Starfleet base. Operations eyes are focused on the borders as Task Force 86 ships perform their duties from this base. 

Looking outside the window to the docked ships, a small old Niagara-class passes the eye view. "I wonder how much Adrián would be foaming from his mouth if he knew that there is a classic Niagara docked at SB86," Sazra had her arms crossed, looking at the passing Niagara-class that was on its way to get to a docking port.

"Foaming would be an understatement when it comes to the Commanderrr" K'Nala pointed bluntly out standing beside Sazra. It took her a slight second to realize what she had said. "I apologize, ma'am, I was disrespectful about the Commander ...hobby." 

Sazra smiled and looked at K'Nala. "It is okay to be blunt about someone on occasion, Lieutenant. Commander Valerio is no exception to that." She looked back at the ship. “He would be fanboying hardcore if he knew, that is for sure.”

"Is that a Niagara-class? Does Adrián know?" Silina approached the two from behind and looked at the class docking now. "I believe we would be stuck at SB86 until they leave." Silina shrugged, knowing all too well her good friend's obsession.

Giving a quick nod to that statement, Sazra turned to Silina. “So let's not tell him. Are they ready?”

Looking at the Niagara again before looking at Sazra, "They are ready; recent developments have been hectic. Which will affect our mission for sure." Silina started to walk in the direction of the operation center."

"You mean the Klingon's sudden change of aggression, Commanderrr?" K'Nala followed her senior command staff. "I have seen reporrrts that Starfleet ships can't interferrre with any Klingon aggression acts." 

Giving a brief nod, "The Klingons have been pulling raids over their borders at Romulan independent worlds. Starfleet can little do something about it. We act, giving the Empire a reason to declare war on us. Something we can't use right now, seeing the condition we are in after dealing with the Dominion, Founders, and the Borg." Sazra counted with her fingers the things they had endured in the last few months. 

"You mean ourrr resources?" K'Nala blinked at the given information and saw her Captain nod in her direction.

"Ahh, Captain Kobahl, my sincere apologies for taking some time to meet with you." A young lieutenant commander in a yellow-collar uniform walked to the small group. "I am Lieutenant Commander Alixion. I am one of the strategic operations officers here." The man looked Human with Bajoran features. 

Giving the nod in the commander's direction and following him to an available operations table, Sazra quickly stated, placing her hands behind her back, "That is okay, given the situation. “This is Commander Ruslanovna, my First Officer, and Lieutenant K'Nala, my Officer of the Watch on the Mariner.”

"It's a pleasure to meet you, but you are right. The situation has been ...complicated," Alixion pointed out, bringing up the Triangle area map. Traffic here has increased with refugees from independent planets that were raided by the Klingon Empire since the newly appointed Chancellor Toral declared aggression.

Dots of more north of the Triangle appeared, "But most of the raids happened to Romulan planets. Yet the House of Korath is making daring raids, closing in on more neutral areas and moving in our direction. Which brings us to this..." He taps a few times as a zoom-in happened to a system and showed a planet with a moon: "Mogotis, a jungle class planet that got recently into the early stadium of second-phase colonization. The House of Korath has been pushing their luck and jumping in and out of the system. Enough to make the colonists nervous, and they are asking for a Starfleet present asap." 

Giving away a shrug on the information, "Meaning we will be there for symbolic reasons?" Silina crossed her arms looking at Alixion.

For a moment, Alixion didn't know how to respond. "Well, Commander, it is a fragile situation, and this is where you guys come in." With a tap, the Pathfinder form appeared in orbit of the colony. You are to load up supplies from here and bring them to the colony. Stay there for a few days to make a statement to the Klingons. Then come back to Starbase 86."

"If we arrre send in for showing muscle, is a biggerrr ship not better? The Marinerrr is not meant to do such a thing. We are no match for a well-armed Klingon ship." K'Nala stated while looking closer at the colony data.

"That was a good observation there, Lieutenant. Tell me what you want to achieve by sending a science ship there." Sazra needed to get the bigger picture of the mission. As K'Nala bluntly stated, it was a valid question; there was little to no reason to send a science vessel there, but Sazra could think of one reason.

Alixion shrugged and looked at the planet's holographic display. “We are out of resources, and Starfleet Operations and Fourth Fleet Command deem the specific operations in Delta Quadrant a lower priority at this time. We all have to face the music. Mariner is part of Task Force 86, and our primary duty is the protection of our borders. But in your case, another objective can be checked off: developing and maintaining relationships with local governments and communities.”

Narrowing her eyes, Sazra looked at the colony display and shrugged with slight irritation. She was right to think that Starfleet would use that card "When are they up there gonna stop wasting material...." She mutters and looks at Alixion. “We shall perform as requested.”

Giving a nod in Sazra's direction, the young commander looked at them. "I have to state that any violent interaction or actions against any Klingon ships is prohibited. Respond only if you need to defend yourself," Alixion pointed out.

Silina nodded in his direction. "Understood, thank you for your time." With that stated, the command group left Alixion behind to resume his duties. "This is not gonna be fun..." Silina finally said that when leaving the Operation Center, 

"That is an understatement," Sazra shrugged and looked at Silina. "Get the supplies on our ship and deal with any change of guard." Looking at K'Nala, "Get the ship navigation plotted and get Security updated on our situation. Follow Miki's advice, but keep the strict order of hostility in the back of your mind." 

They both nodded as they continued their walk back to their ship.