It did seem a bit odd at first, putting the small ship into the frying pan. Airik considered it himself. "I posed the same question. We aren't exactly the big guns in the Fleet." The conversation didn't go so well, it was hard to not overarm a science vessel when being positioned so close to one of the strongest and least stable powers.<br/><br/>"They made a strong case that the McNair is actually the perfect ship. We won't be pulled from our work to join the big fight. The Empire is definitely split. Reports from the Enterprise outline an interesting faction potentially supportive of a Romulan-Federation peace accord."<br/><br/>He sighed and thought. "We'll be in a vulnerable position, but we've got our own tricks." Airik smiled.