Strategic Retreat

Star Traks: Boldly Gone
Episode name	Strategic Retreat
Season	6
Episode number	6
Writer(s)	Alan Decker, Anthony Butler
Year	2502
Stardate	177743
Chronology
Previous in series	Once More, With Feelings [BG]
Next in series	Uncomfortably Close [BG]
Previous in timeline	Once More, With Feelings [BG]
Next in timeline	Uncomfortably Close [BG]

Things couldn't seem to get much worse. Tovar's love life is on the rocks, the Vulcans are preparing for a massive offensive, and Reginald Bain's day just keeps getting worse. But when a Romulan starship shows up on the Federation side of the Neutral Zone claiming to come in peace, it may just be a life changing event for one member of the USS Anomaly crew. Don't miss the Series Six Finale!

Summary

Following their night of passion, Lieutenant Commander Tovar and Commander Prosak prepare to head to the bridge. Prosak is very casual about the whole thing and does not want to make a big deal of it or tell anyone. They both needed to blow off some steam, and that is the end of it as far as she is concerned.

On the bridge, the USS Anomaly receives a broadcast from Vulcan sent out to the entire quadrant. In it, Vulcan High Chancellor Sh'rak says that the Vulcan are unifying with the Romulans and that once that is complete, they will turn their attention to the other species of the galaxy that do not follow the way of logic.

Admiral Kristen Larkin tell Captain Reginald Bain that Starfleet is sending more ships to the region and that Bain is to lead the task force. During a briefing about the situation, Prosak says that maybe the Vulcans are right and that the Romulans might be better off unified with them. Bain pulls her aside to discuss his concerns about her viewpoint, but she assures him that she is a Starfleet officer and will follow his orders explicitly. Rorshak catches up with her after the briefing and tells her not to take her anger at him out on the Romulan people. She replied that his misdeeds are a symptom of the Romulan’s flawed system. She is certain that even if the Vulcans don’t conquer Romulus, it would fall eventually.

Dr. Natalia Kasyov tracks down Tovar in the ship’s pub and asks him what’s going on between him and Lieutenant Shelly Marsden. He explains that he asked her out after Torgerson dumped him to which Kasyov replies that Tovar handled things the worst way possible. She also says that Marsden will get over it because she is crazy about Tovar. For now, though, he needs to give her some space and not try to talk to her.

The next morning, the Federation is close to declaring war on the Vulcan alliance. Three Romulan warhawks attack a Vulcan frigate then run for the border toward the Anomaly’s position, pursued by Vulcan ships. Bain orders the Anomaly into the neutral zone to intercept and protect the warhawks. The USS Carpathia follows them, and after a short battle, the Vulcans destroy two of the three warhawks and heavily damage the Carpathia before returning to Romulan space. After this incident, the Federation officially declares war and pulls the taskforce back to Starbase 228.

Ignoring Kasyov, Tovar goes to see Marsden to talk. It does not go well, and, as things head toward an argument, Tovar reveals that he slept with Prosak. Marsden is furious and says that they will never be together and that they aren’t even friends.

Rorshak informs Prosak that he and the senators will be beaming over to the repaired warhawk Shakalak to assist that ship on hit and run operations inside Romulan space. He tells her it’s his way of trying to atone for what he did to her. She hugs him.

Tovar goes to see Bain, who is meeting with Commander Zanex and Sub-Commander Nural from the Shakalak. They are short-staffed at tactical after the Vulcan attack, and Bain is trying to figure out who to send. Tovar volunteers because he needs to get off of the Anomaly for a while. Bain agrees to let him go.

Marsden goes to see Tovar in the transporter room before he leaves. She tells him that he’s an idiot for leaving but to look her up if he makes it back in one piece.

Once on the warhawk. Tovar is settling into his new quarters when Sub-Commander Neural comes to see him. Once inside, she deactivates the holographic overlay she is wearing revealing that she is actually Audrey Bain. Section 31 put her aboard because they believe things on the Shakalak and with the Vulcans are not what they seem. She then tells him that they are going to save Earth and they won’t be coming back.

Featuring

• Captain Reginald Bain
• Commander Prosak
• Commander Vioxx
• Lieutenant Commander Tovar
• Lieutenant Shelly Marsden
• Sub-Commander Remax
• Dr. Natalia Kasyov
• Centurion Nortal
• Sub-Lieutenant Zantak
• Engineer Selex
• Cabral

Links

Strategic Retreat