Star Trek Online/Codex/The Path to 2409/2400

The combined force of the Gorn and Nausicaan fleets initially repelled the Klingon advance, earning them a measure of respect for their ferocity in battle. "The Gorn do not surrender," said K'Mek, captain of the I.K.S. Veqlargh. "They fight almost as well as Klingons."

Starfleet observers said that this time the Klingons may not have an easy victory. "The Gorn are fighting for their homes," said Admiral Jorel Quinn. "They're going to make the Klingons bleed for every meter of space."

For its part, the Federation reinforced outposts and colonies along the border of Klingon space and prepared to handle any spillover of hostilities. However, standard orders were not to seek confrontation.

"We are protecting Federation citizens and property," said Starfleet spokesperson Marie Durant. "But we have no interest in getting involved in what is a matter between the Klingon and the Gorn."

The Federation Council passed a measure that declared the Klingon-Gorn war unlawful, citing violations of the Khitomer Accords and the Jankata Accord. Both the Klingons and Gorn ignored the censure.

"I think it shows just how ineffectual the Federation Council is these days," said Milla Van of the Trill News Network. "What are they going to do next, outlaw excessive heat in Vulcan's Forge?"

The intractability of the Federation Council's position limited diplomatic endeavors, but throughout the year Ambassador Worf and Federation officials repeatedly attempted to talk to Chancellor J'mpok or members of the High Council in an effort to restart the Federation-Klingon alliance or to convince the Klingons to attend a summit with Federation President Aennik Okeg. For the most part, their requests were denied.

"The war is consuming much of the High Council's time," Okeg told a reporter from the Federation News Service. "We'll keep extending the hand of friendship. When the time is right, the Klingons will know that we're willing to let whatever bygones there are to be forgotten."

One diplomatic victory for the Federation was the normalization of relations between the Cardassians and the Bajorans. Ever since Bajor joined the Federation, it had been a priority for the Federation and the Detapa Council to settle the last few remaining issues between the two worlds. On Stardate 77418.94, the Cardassians opened an embassy on Bajor, and visa restrictions were lifted on travel between the two worlds.

"It's taken more than thirty years to heal the scars of the Occupation," said Cardassian Detapa Councior Natima Lang at the dedication of the new embassy, "but as Bajor blooms on this summer morning, so too should the ties of friendship and fidelity between our peoples."

Commander Harry Kim was appointed head of security for Starbase 11. In addition to his duties at the starbase, Kim was helping to organize improvements in starbase defenses for outposts along the Neutral Zone.

In a statement transmitted to Deep Space Nine, the Founders disavowed any connection with shapeshifters in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, saying that any changelings operating outside their authority are rogue. The terse subspace statement may have been directed at Laas, but Starfleet Intelligence believed that it was a reponse to reports of Undine infiltration.

On Nova Roma, Praetor Taris clashed yet again with the Romulan Senate over a plan to further restrict the powers of the praetor. Taris made a rare personal appearance before the Senate to argue against the proposal.

"In the absence of a monarch, and at a time of extreme upheaval in the Alpha and Beta quadrants," Taris said, "We must have one voice to speak for our empire to the galaxy. Only by expanding the praetor's powers will we have stability and strength. A disharmonious chorus leads to chaos."

Taris swayed some Senators to her side, but her general unpopularity with the Romulan populace doomed her call for expanding executive powers. The Senate proceeded with its plan to limit the power of the praetor.

In another possible problem for Taris, agents for Starfleet Intelligence intercepted and decoded several messages from Nova Roma to a planet deep in the Beta Quadrant. These messages pointed out irregularities in the reports about the death of General Tebok and the destruction of the I.R.W. Alth'lndor. Starfleet Intelligence agents reported that Sela had ordered her spies to investigate and find the truth of the matter.