The year is 2389, barely two years after the Romulan star went supernova wiping out Romulus, Remus and a host of other worlds in Romulan territory. The Romulan Empire has been replaced with The Romulan Free State, though it is somewhat of a misnomer as at this point in history efforts to maintain any form of centralized government unifying the Romulan people have not been successful, an effort not helped by the fact that Romulan refugee colonies remain scattered throughout the Beta Quadrant with several inside Federation Space and the old neutral zone.

Starfleet had a small part in assisting with the Romulan Evacuation, but our assistance was abruptly cut short after the synth attack on the Utopia Planitia Shipyards on Mars on April 5, 2385. The official excuse was a lack of resources with a suddenly depleted fleet, and an inability to produce more ships with both the shipyard destroyed and the use of synth labor no longer an option. However, many in power had reason to believe that this was a convenient excuse, as evacuation efforts were a controversial undertaking to begin with - many believing that Starfleet should not step in to aid such a long-standing enemy of the Federation.

As if the political climate were not already complicated enough, even though Starfleet was under no initial obligation to help the Romulans, the fact that we did step in, and then abandon them in their darkest hour has left many of them resentful once again toward us and the Federation. While some Romulan colonies live peacefully alongside Federation worlds and welcome trade and business from us, others are hostile and have erected signs and warnings making it clear that we are not welcome. The Tal Shiar remain their own entity, still somehow powerful and feared. There whereabouts are never well known, though it is understood they maintain a presence on the Artifact.

The known balance of power of old days has faded away. The Cardassians are still licking their wounds from the Dominion War. Our enemies know that our fleet is diminished, and thanks to media coverage are well aware of our divided opinions among ourselves. In this trying time we must be vigilant to watch for strikes from old adversaries like the Gorn and the Breen who swarm when there is blood in the water. Syndicate activity is on the rise, as is the threat of rogue terrorist activity, and crimes of opportunity and desperation.

The USS Astrea is currently assigned to patrol an area along the Neutral Zone to include both the section impacted by the supernova fallout as well as the Artifact. Ivor Prime, Freecloud,Iconia, Galorndon Core, Tarod IX, Calder II, and more.

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Assigned Sector & Surrounding Areas

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Alpha and Beta Quadrant 2389

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