We are your enemy.
Even united, you would stand no chance against us. Disunited, your defences are useless. We pass through them with ease. We strike where we will, when we will, how we will.
Your intelligence agencies already know us. They have watched, helpless, as we have named our targets and struck them down. Our aim is to destroy. Our aim is to show the futility of all governments by bringing destruction down in the face of all that they can do. We are destruction. We are entropy. We are death.
Your intelligence agencies already know us, and fear us. They can do nothing against us. They have tried to hide our successes, but our next attack will not be hidden, cannot be hidden. We are destruction. We are entropy. We are death.
We are Action Black.
Fear us.
---
"That damn broadcast's been haunting subspace radio," Thomas Harriman said, wheezing as he subsided into a chair. "Every time we shut down one transmission site, it pops up at another one. It's like... Whack-a-Mole."
"The shadow OS that Starfleet Intelligence reported," said Aennik Okeg. "A distributed command network, living in the cloud. I'm sure our data warfare people will shut it down... eventually."
"But not before everybody's heard it," said Harriman.
Okeg nodded. "I have already received a number of communiques," he said. "A stern diplomatic note from the Breen Confederacy, who protest the infringement on their subspace channels for the purpose of broadcasting threats. I've drafted a reply, promising that those responsible will be punished to the maximum extent of Federation law." He shook his head. "I've refrained from making any commitments as to timescales, when it comes to catching them."
"We can handle the Breen," said Harriman. "Sir, it's opinion at home that I'm worried about."
"As am I, Tom." The President closed his lambent eyes and remained perfectly still for a moment, then opened them again. "Lyle Anson has been in touch. He's dissociated himself and the various Actionist groups entirely from this 'Action Black'... but he's also presented several proposals for coordinating efforts to fight them."
Harriman frowned. "We know the Actionists all talk to each other - that's a given, considering the nature of the movement. Do they have any special advantages, there?"
"I hope not," said Okeg, "because I'm stone-walling them on this issue. I don't want us beholden to the Actionists, Tom. I can sympathize with their aims, but they're too... too slick. Perhaps it's my wicked reptilian instincts at work, Tom, but I don't trust Lyle Anson."
"Neither do I, sir," said Harriman, "and I'm a mammal."
"I'm glad we're on the same page, Tom. But we do need a coordinated response, and I've taken steps. Alliance Joint Command is having its facilities greatly expanded - it's the biggest single point where our resources are pooled. And I've talked with both J'mpok and D'Tan already about reopening the communications channels we used during the Iconian War."
Harriman's eyes widened. "Are we actually moving to a war footing, sir?"
"Not if I can avoid it, Tom. But we need to have our options open. And we need to keep our irregular resources in mind, too. Which brings me to you, Tom. I'm afraid we might need to get in touch with... some acquaintances of yours."
---
The room was small and featureless, except for a single comms terminal and a single small chair. Tharval's face was lit only by the glow from the screen. His lips twitched in a rudimentary smile.
"I'm glad you agreed to this communication," he said to the man on the screen. "I know you'll be trying to track this call - with all the resources of your organization, and I know how formidable those are. So I hope you'll be suitably impressed when you fail."
"If we fail," said the other.
"Oh, our resources are as formidable as yours," said Tharval. "We can stymie each other pretty effectively. Or, of course, we could accomplish a great deal by working together."
"You're representing a terrorist group."
"There are those who would say the same about you. In any case, what you call terrorism, I call... practical politics."
The man on the screen made no reply. His yellowish eyes glittered.
"Action Black is already a thorn in the side of the Federation, the Empire, and the Republic," said Tharval. "Our next demonstration will be... hard to miss. It will make it imperative that we're dealt with. As it were." He leaned forward. "So this is your chance to make a deal. Action Black's terrorist operations will cease... once we're sure we'll get what we want."
"I know what you want. And I know who wants it."
Tharval looked hard at the man. "Really?"
"Tharval. Former assistant director for Lethean Intelligence. You smoothed the path for a Lethean alliance with the Klingon Empire," said the man. "Some people might say that you sold out Lethean Intelligence's secrets in order to get your negotiators a place at the table. It worked out well enough - for a while. But Imperial Intelligence had to take you in - your position with your own people wasn't tenable, any longer. And then there was that deal with the Orion Syndicate, the one that violated K'men's ethical standards." The scarred face smiled. "Now, that took some doing."
Despite himself, Tharval muttered, "That sanctimonious one-eyed dwarf -" He stopped.
"And since then," the man continued, "you've changed allegiances again. You were seen, Tharval. Imperial Intelligence's forensics teams positively identified you - taking delivery of the corpse of Dahar Master Khreg. We know why he died, we know who wanted the body, and why. You're working for Kalevar Thrang."
"You're very well informed," said Tharval. "Which is only to be expected. And which means you know Thrang's capabilities - possibly better than anyone. I know humans have a cultural prejudice against augments, but I'm quite sure you don't worry about such things. So, yes, I'm working for Thrang. If he gets his way, we will all be working for Thrang. And he is very good at getting his way. Think about that."
"I'm thinking."
"Think about a few other things, as well. Thrang's aim is a unified quadrant-wide, possibly galaxy-wide, government. What model can he use for that? The Klingon Empire is too parochial, the Romulan Republic too ramshackle. The unified government can only be an expanded Federation. Probably with the same charter - certainly, with one particular section of that charter carefully preserved. He'll need a covert intelligence agency, like he'll need every other branch of government. We are looking, my friend, at a united galaxy under the Federation flag."
"And under Kalevar Thrang."
"He is highly capable. And also, mortal. Some might consider a few years, or even a few decades, of benevolent dictatorship... not too high a price to pay. At the end of it, there would be an expanded Federation. A secure, all-encompassing galactic power. Is Thrang's price too high, for that?" Tharval fixed the man's gaze with his. "Consider it. Things would go so much smoother, with your people on side."
The yellow eyes shifted uneasily. "I'll think about it," said Franklin Drake, and broke the connection.
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