The Neutered Zone
I have just crossed the so-called "Neutral Zone" between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire. As I am piloting an Orion-registered merchant's vessel, I am allowed to cross for the purposes of trade. There is a small amount of trade that crosses the Neutral Zone regularly - the Romulans don't prevent it because they use it as a cover for smuggling spies and materiel across the Zone; and the Federation doesn't stop it because they are naive, trusting folk who think that a small amount of interaction now will lead to peace and understanding and joy and brotherhood in the not-so-distant future. My destination, chosen from the Orion Syndicate files in Surak's Razor's computer, is a small Romulan colony world on the edge of the Empire, where there are thriving black, grey, and green markets. Here, I can offload the cargo that I stole from some Ferengi, and exchange it for information and goods to take back. I also hope to refill my hidden starboard photon torpedo launcher. Most importantly, I hope to find out enough information about the Romulan Star Empire in this universe to aid in my eventual decision of which side to choose.