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[Zach]

Cryptic Studios have released the latest update in the path to 2409.  it has been an interesting path so far with all sorts of twists and this trend continues in this supplemental update for the year 2391.

Excerpt from a classified report from Lieutenant Mark Fischer, Federation Operative placed with the troops of the exiled Romulan Commander Sela.

Makar Compound

I believe Commander Sela has found allies in her bid for power. The artificial quantum singularities we were able to track seem to have been left by a species we’ve never encountered before. Commander Sela managed to contact them and begin some sort of negotiations.

I had further indications of some sort of potential alliance three nights ago, when T’los and I were guarding Commander Sela’s quarters. T’los, as Sela’s right hand man, rarely acts as a simple guard. When he joined me, he told me to expect visitors.

“Don’t say anything,” he told me. “I will greet them. But keep your weapon ready. They are not a peaceful people, from what the Commander has gathered.”

They were also not a small people! The visitors showed up twenty minutes past Makar midnight. Our border guards brought them in, and they towered over the guards. I was put in mind of a targ being herded by a house cat. Any one of our visitors could have easily backhanded a guard into unconsciousness.

They wore corrugated black armor and masks that partially obscured their faces.

“Welcome to Makar,” T’los bowed when they arrived.

They just stared down at him without saying anything.

“Commander Sela awaits you inside, if you’d please set aside your weapons before entering,” he continued.

The one in the lead narrowed his eyes. “We will not unarm,” he said. “No hunter ever goes without his weapons at the request of prey.”

“I cannot allow you into Commander Sela’s presence with those weapons,” T’los insisted. “I will keep them here, safe for you. No one will touch them. You may trust me.”

The leader laughed, looking back at his men. “It asks us to offer it trust!”

At that point T’los put his hand on his disruptor. “You will give me your weapons.”

I suspect, at that point, the exchange would have degenerated into outright fighting, except Commander Sela came out.

“Gentlemen, please,” she said, putting one hand on T’los’ shoulder. “Naturally, we would never require that hunters of your stature disarm. We know we can trust you, don’t we?” She kept her eyes steady and focused on the leader.

After a moment, he nodded to her. “Of course.”

“And you will have no objections to my guards remaining with us and remaining armed. After all, as the leader of my people I must take proper precautions.”

Somehow she had them all dancing to her tune. They followed her in without further complaint, as did the Romulan guards. T’los and I remained on guard at the door.

I was surprised to see T’los smiling, no signs of his earlier anger left at all.

“That went well,” he told me. “That went exactly as we’d hoped. You’ll see, soon enough.”

Soon enough, another guard came to relieve T’los and he joined in the conversation in Commander Sela’s quarters.

I don’t know what was said. By the time I was relieved of my shift, they were still talking and our visitors had shown no intentions of leaving.

The following day Commander Sela was nowhere to be seen, but T’los was giving orders and directing our native “servants” in the mining effort. When the Commander appeared again the following day, she seemed fired up. Her body language had completely changed. Her shoulders where no longer so tense, nor was she as frequent to lash out at those of us serving her. In fact, infractions that normally would have earned her displeasure only merited a laugh. I have never seen her so cheerful.

I don’t know what her next move will be, but I’m certain, even in exile, that she hasn’t given up on taking over the Romulan Empire.

[Zach]

Ah hem - Name that speicies folks.........I know who it is, but do you?

[zetetic]

At first I thought this must be hinting new aliens, but I saw in the forum comments that people think its the Hirogen and it certainly sounds like em.

Will Cryptic be pursuing the special new aliens that I vaguely remember hearing near the end of the Perpetual era?

[Zach]

Yeah Hirogen was in my mind when they mentioned the artificial singularities and confirmed when they said they were towering hunters lol.  Who else can it be!  I am happy about it actually, though I cant really understand why the Hirogen would ally with the Romulans.....

[nean0901]

Definately dounds like Hirogen...

[Jatal Khyron]

If it really is the Hirogen, it's only a minor ally, because the Hirogen run in packs, not as one entity. Still, they are very dangerous....

[zetetic]

An official update has appeared: http://www.startrekonline.com/node/372

[Amasov]

Yeah Hirogen was in my mind when they mentioned the artificial singularities and confirmed when they said they were towering hunters lol.  Who else can it be!  I am happy about it actually, though I cant really understand why the Hirogen would ally with the Romulans.....

The presence of Species 8472 in the Alpha Quadrant (according to Gamer Informer) can't possibly be a coincidence, maybe the Hirogen got a taste for hunting them from their last encounter and are now engaged in some kind of conflict with them.

[Jatal Khyron]

If that's the case, then 8472 might wind up more as a Federation ally than an enemy. Or is that just wishful thinking? =)

[Amasov]

If that's the case, then 8472 might wind up more as a Federation ally than an enemy. Or is that just wishful thinking? =)

You mean after a Federation starship (Voyager) aided the Borg against them and then beamed one of their kind over to the Hirogen ship to be slaughtered? Even that small group of Species 8472 that Voyager encountered later on said it'd be hard work to convince the others to think about peace. I guess we'll have to see how the story unfolds.