Star Trek Online/Codex/The Path to 2409/2402

After almost two years of fighting, the Klingon and Orion fleets breached the Gorn lines and blockaded the Gorn homeworld. The ships were harried by almost constant attacks by Nausicaan forces, but the blockade held. The Gorn erected a series of massive transport inhibitors to prevent invasion, and mined the area surrounding the planet with cloaked, self-replicating mines to prevent Klingon shuttles from landing.

The Klingons jammed all subspace communications, severing the Gorn leadership's ability to communicate with colony worlds and their remaining fleet. And the Orions staged a series of devastating raids on Gorn starbases, targeting supply lines and repair facilities across the region.

"It's a waiting game now," said political analyst Tag Morkek of the Tellar News Service. "How long can the Gorn fleet last, now that they have effectively lost the homeworld? What would Starfleet do if they lost Earth or Vulcan?"

A Klingon religious sect claiming that Miral Paris is the kuvah'magh attacked the U.S.S. Pike during Paris's senior cadet cruise. The Klingons managed to beam onboard the Pike by transmitting a distress signal and convincing the Pike that they need help to repair their vessel's failing life support systems.

Pike security teams were able to contain the raiders, who were transported back to Earth for questioning. No one was injured.

"This is an isolated incident," said Starfleet spokesperson Marie Durant. "We do not expect Cadet Paris to have any problems in her Starfleet career."

The U.S.S. Voyager, on a mission to survey planets in the Zenas Expanse, made first contact with a race known as the Lorians. Federation scientists theorized that the avian-like Lorians may be somehow related to the Xindi, but had insufficient data on ancient Xindi lifeforms to confirm their hypothesis.

The Lorians were warp capable, but reclusive. They were open to exchanging diplomats with the Federation, but asked that ships stay away from their space without permission. And the Starfleet Corps of Engineers added the final elements to a long-term plan to construct starships using a modular system. This construction method allows ship captains to customize their ships and permits quick repairs.

"A captain can choose new components for his or her ship and our work crews can have them installed and ready to go in less than half the time of conventional ship construction," said spokesperson Marie Durant. "A damaged ship can get replacement parts from another Starfleet vessel, and the engineers don't have to worry about them not fitting or not working. This system means our crews can do more, stay in the field longer and have the ships they need to do their jobs."

On Stardate 79231.20, Ambassador Jean-Luc Picard retired from his position as Federation ambassador to Vulcan. Reports said that Picard would settle in France. "We honor Ambassador Picard for his many years of service to the Federation," said Sokketh of Vulcan, who resigned his seat on the Federation Council to take up the role Picard vacated. "He has always been a friend to Vulcan."

Two months later, Admiral Beverly Crusher settled in on Earth as the head of Starfleet Medical.

A report from Cardassian Intelligence to Castellan Natima Lang confirmed that forces led by Gul Madred were likely to be in the possession of the warships missing from the Cardassian post-war inventories.

"They call themselves the 'True Way'," said Bajoran activist Crom Neret. "They say that the only 'true way' for Cardassia is conquest and death, and they want all non-Cardassians OUT."

"I told you years ago that those missing ships were trouble," Crom continues. "But did anyone listen? Maybe when the True Way starts attacking colonies, someone will take notice!" In Romulan space, trouble flared when General Velal appeared before the Romulan Senate and demanded that Praetor Taris resign before she was removed from office by force. Velal had the backing of many of the senators, although a vote of no confidence failed by a minor margin.

In response, Taris called for ships of the fleet loyal to the legitimate government of the Romulan Star Empire to engage those supporting the revolution. There were multiple skirmishes between the two groups, and when Sela's fleet re-enterd Romulan space in support Velal, the conflict moved into open warfare.