An Urgent Matter (SH240)

## An Urgent Matter

In Y182, a Romulan agent scored a massive intelligence coup by acquiring a complete copy of the plans for a massive Alliance Offensive to be directed against the Klingon Empire. The information was not immediately useful to the Romulan Star Empire (other than that it indicated the Alliance would not be aiming its main offensive operation for the year against the Romulans), but could materially aid the Empire if the Klingons
were able to use the information to crush the offensive. The agent knew that he had to get the plans into the hands of the Klingons.

Unfortunately, the file was too large to be sent by normal means, and the agent, being a Romulan, did not have access to secure codes to transmit the information to the Klingons. Transmitting the information through normal channels to the Romulan Empire would get the information into the hands of
the Klingons, but too late for the Klingons to take advantage of it, as the offensive was about to start.

With time short, the Romulan agent broke cover, and caught transport heading towards the Klingon front, gambling that there would be sufficient delay and confusion of his trail that he would have enough of a head start to effectively disappear until he reached Klingon-held space.

It proved a good gamble, and he almost made it.

Unfortunately, the connections he had to rely on to successfully complete his transit were not ones that had been established by the Empire, but ones he was improvising, and they fell through. He arrived at communications relay station GX-2011-Gamma posing as a repair technician, only to learn
(from local gossip) that a skiff carrying two GIA agents was due to dock in less than an hour. He also learned that a free trader (to which he was to transfer) had been ordered to divert away from the station.

Realizing the import of these things, the agent seized an administrative shuttle and programmed its small subspace radio to broadcast, in the clear, that he was present at the station, and that he had concealed the data file. The approaching skiff promptly blew the shuttle apart.

The Klingons, who had been apprised by the Romulan Empire that the agent was en route and carrying the data file, realized the value of what the agent was carrying. They ordered the *UD7 Deathmaster*, which was nearest unit they had to the station, to recover the data file at all costs, and the agent if possible.

The *Deathmaster* broke through the Federation front and drove on the station.

The Federation, caught off guard by the sudden attack in a relatively quiet sector, ordered the nearest ships to respond. The plans had to be recovered, or the offensive would have to be called off.

## Aftermath

The Federation GIA agents, supported by some of the base’s security personnel, soon tracked down the Romulan agent. In the ensuing gun battle, the Romulan succeeded in killing both of the GIA agents and two members of the security team, wounding four more, before being killed himself. Tragically, the GIA agents had not advised the crew of the skiff, or the members of the security team, the reason why the capture of this Romulan agent had been so vital. It was only when the *Deathmaster* was approaching the station that coded messages were sent to the Federation captains explaining the situation.

In the furious fight that followed, the *DW+ Taylor* was gutted and the *ADW Pulaski* was heavily damaged. Most of the *Deathmaster’s* marine company died fighting on the decks of the station in an ultimately futile effort to find the data file. The *Deathmaster* was forced to disengage to avoid destruction, hotly pursued by the Bolivar *until she linked up with her damaged escorts.*

## References

1. ↑ Various (2007). *Star Fleet Battles Module R11 – Support Ships*. (Amarillo Design Bureau), pp. 47–9.