The Anara Initiative

Posted on Sat Jan 11th, 2020 @ 1:37pm by Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar

Mission: Casperia Prime - A lesson in relaxation
Location: Science Lab
1176 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

"What about Legate Brett, Commander?" Arrianna was in conversation with the Dean of the College of Defense. "Possibly, we all know what's at stake." Arrianna mentioned. The Empress spoke on another screen. "Has the probes detected activity."

"Negative, Highness, but even the expeditionary recon probes would take years to track any form of Transwarp activity, but they are far enough in the Beta Quadrant for us to raise the alarm with Starfleet Command. Best Guess; Two weeks notice." The head of intelligence noted.

Arrianna spoke. "They will invade... Fifty years, ten years, one year, tomorrow. We've done our best alone. My heart would fracture if I ever saw the light leave any of my friend's eyes through assimilation. The Tirielle Class will work. We've put all of our most advanced technologies into this fleet. The combined output of two generations of Alindari technological development into rebuilding our race, and defending it. The scholars have taken every kiloquad of data brought back by the USS Voyager, and put it into the Anara Initiative. We've brought high level Federation leaders into this. We've reached out to all our neighbors. It's time we took this to the next level."

"Do you think Legate Brett will help us bring the Initiative's fruits into the Federation."

Arri spoke. "We have to. They've defeated one cube here, one cube there. The next invasion will be a full Borg armada. The Initiative will save this quadrant."

The Empress nodded. "You have my blessing, Lady Arrianna." Arri tapped her combadge. "Legate Brett, May I see you in my lab?"

Anje, sitting in the lounge enjoying Icoberry punch as she looked at the stars, hadn't been expecting a call, much less from the Chief Science Officer, but she was happy to oblige, "On my way." She replied, leaving a five credit tip for Charlie as she drained her drink and headed for the lab.

A few minutes later she walked into the main science lab, surprised to find it so empty, "Arianna, it's Anje, you wanted to see me?"

Arri responded, "Yes, come over here." She noted. "Anje, It's time I gave you some background on what I'm bringing you into." She smiled as she brought up a history file. "After my people were decimated by the Borg, we devoted the total amount of our scientific talent to two goals; our survival as a race, and fighting out new enemy. Empress Anara herself gathered the brightest of us, Scientists, Engineers, Soldiers, Diplomats, and gave us one mission. Study the enemy, develop new weapons, shields, technologies that they could not adapt to. We called ourselves after the princess that saved us. The Anara Intiative, and devoted all of our lives to studying the enemy. Anje, the reason I joined starfleet was because I was fascinated, the Federation defeated them multiple times. But it was also to bring our combined efforts into the Federation. Two centuries of the highly classified efforts to destroy the most insidious threat we've ever known." Arri noted. "To put it simply, we're expanding the fold." As humans would say.

The Borg. Just hearing the name made her shudder, the chance to take them down was too good to pass up, "Tell me how I can help." She said earnestly, "Anything I can do, count on it."

"There's a catch for all who join us, Anje." Arrianna noted. "The fruits of our labors can be used to defend our worlds from the Borg, the can also be used by madmen in their foolish and short-sighted ambitions. Thus this is where the diplomats come into play. Convincing all the powers in this quadrant that the Initiative is never to be used for anyone's gain." She brought up a map of long range sensor probes deep in the Beta Quadrant. "They haven't moved on us yet, but they will. And the next time, it won't just be one cube. To those nations here who are willing to put aside their past arguments for the greater good, we offer the means to do battle with the Borg with the chance of victory. But in fifty years, maybe less. There will be a Borg presence in this quadrant." Arrianna mentioned.

"Means we don't have much time to lose." Anje stated bluntly, "Do you want me to involve my aunt now or later?" She knew eventually Auntie Anje would have to be involved; she also knew now that this could carry her to the Presidency and that it had become more vital than ever that she win it, lest this technology fall into the hands of one Thomas Grogan. It wasn't that she feared Grogan was a madman or would become one, it was that she knew he was a puppet and always would be and she feared whoever had their hand in his backside making him talk might.

"I will let you make that call, Anje. While I am uncomfortable with people using the Initiative for their agendas, It might help us in our efforts. We are not limited to whom we recruit because the Borg are not limited to those they assimilate. While we serve the Federation, we prepare for the day they finally arrive." Arrianna mentioned.

"We should've been doing this since the sixties." Anje mused, it was a discussion she and her aunt had had many times, decades that should have been used for preparation and hardening of defenses wasted, "I'll speak to her soon and when your Empress feels the time is right we'll involve her contacts amongst the other powers. I know we can get anyone to come together against the Borg."

Arrianna smiled. "Alena Althir is as rational as the rest of my people, and I'll introduce you to several important people in the Senate." She noted. "And we will maintain our vigilance, and fight the greater enemy that must be fought. I've devoted my life to this mission and starfleet has helped me prepare for it."

"I'm with you to the end of the line." Anje pledged, knowing that this was a situation where everyone had to come together or it was going to be the end of the line.

"There's one more thing I need your opinion on." Arri brought up a catalog of dresses. "Strapless or single strap. I'm changing up my off-duty wardrobe a bit."

"With those shoulders, strapless. Show 'em off." Anje smiled, adding, "And we are so going shopping together."

"Have you ever shopped with an Alindari? It could take days on our shoreleave. Not that my kind are driven by vanity. To put it simply, we adore the individual. Beautifying ourselves is our way of expressing our self-improvement and ascendance." Arri noted. "But I digress, If you want to spend days looking at lavish gowns and expensive luxuries; Sure."

"Well, it can't all be Borgs and weapons, right?" Anje joked, she'd always like Arrianna, some time together would be fun.

Arri chuckled lightly. "Indeed. We must make time for Chocolate, Fine Silk, and Shakespeare. You will find Alindari are obsessed with theater."