The 'safety values' of 21st and 22nd century Earth would cause significant headaches for the Wescott, McClaren and Sh'Belulos governments in the 2260s and 70s, as competiting visions of utopia were brought together by advances in technology, and the necessities of the Cold War.

"AR Vale told Federation Have no fear of escalation I am trying really to disarm, Though it isn't really war We're sending 15,000 more To help save Tandar from Tandarans!"

"The purpose of a Navy is to stand across the Galactic Highways and declare 'stop, or I'll shoot'. Just because Starfleet demands that Orion slavers and Klingon Privateers stand and deliver doesn't make them a noble highway robber." - Radical Charterite Gakeda Ta'Riil

"Automatic all-points relay from Starfleet Command, Captain."

" We both guessed right. Negotiations with the Klingon Empire are on the verge of breaking down. Starfleet Command anticipates a surprise attack."

ESCALATION: June 21st, 2267.

"Our eyes wandered anxiously from the clock to the door, and from the door to the clock, and little was said. ‘Boom!’ A shuddering silence fell upon the room. Every face was suddenly contracted in a painful: intensity. ‘Doom!’ ‘Doom!’ the hammer of destiny. What destiny? Who could tell?"

DOWN WITH DOMINION UP WITH THE STARS

Klingon diplomatic theory - or to be specific, Klingon military practices of diplomacy - remained a problem for Federation observers well into the 2290s and 2300s. Arguably misunderstanding how Klingons viewed diplomacy and politics was a key catalyst for the Organian War.

Federation minelaying was largely conducted by older vessels like the Magee, Detroyat and Engle, allowing newer craft to focus on interception.

Spatial Mining had, until the late 2250s, been largely limited to orbital space and starbases, as a cheap form of static defence. T'Kuvma's War represented a shift in tactics, as both the Federation and Klingon Empire began to lay Interspatial Minefields along Trade Lanes and transit corridors.

"Preparing for war with the Klingon Empire represents a political capitulation, but a strategic gain. Let's hope one makes up for the other." - Nancy Hedford, 2267. As 2267 begins, the worst becomes the likely: and the likely becomes the inevitable. edgeofmidnight.weebly.com/chapter14.html

Though President Wescott was considered the original leader of the movement,the inception of the Charter Movement Executive in late 2267 saw political leadership of the organisation move out of the hands of the President: though aspirations for stronger party unity across the UFP would largely fail.

Charterite Campaign Poster, Luna, 2263. The New Charter Movement represented one of the first cross-federal political platforms in Federation history, with a shared collection of campaign pledges chosen by the movement's membership.

Lighter and with a longer cruising range than new cruisers like the D8, the D4 and D5 would remain in frontline service well into the 2270s, with D4s surviving on second and third line duty until the early 24th century.

USS Hong Kong fires a Warning Shot at a Klingon D5E cruiser near Acamar, summer 2262. The D5E was a workhorse of the early cold war period, alongside the equally venerable D4E and F cruisers.

The 2nd Edition corrects many of the grammatical and continuity errors, while bringing the work in line with the high standard of current @tranquilitypress.bsky.social material.We are delighted to bring you this new, improved PDF, and hope you will enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

The Second Edition includes updated material to bring The Business of Risk in line with The Arsenal of Freedom and, as well as: - Fresh internal design - New key art from new and returning artists - A re-organised chapter layout

"Conquest is easy. Control is not." Presenting the 2nd Edition of THE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT Vol.1: THE BUSINESS OF RISK The latest #startrek fan-nonfiction work from @tranquilitypress.bsky.social. READ NOW edgeofmidnight.weebly.com/the-business...

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Shout-out to the incredible artists who have contributed to The Edge of Midnight: @crowlls.bsky.social , @pundus.art , @ncc-60205.bsky.social and @steillustrates.bsky.social

"And, for my Next Trick..." Political Cartoon, 2264. Marianne - the allegorical representative of the Federation - is seen here struggling to balance the various crises of the period, as President Wescott prepares to hand them two more: "Augment Rights" and "Tandar"

“Events, dear boy, events.” The Remaster of THE BUSINESS OF RISK: arriving soon.

Find out more about the ACAMAR CRISIS here edgeofmidnight.weebly.com/chapter-5.html

Archer Class scouts Hengist (1888) and Horse (1889) were both centrepieces in one of the most dramatic incidents of the Acamar Crisis, when they performed an atmospheric run over the planet to make sensor scans of Klingon military facilities and Long Range Interspatial Missile Sites.

"Vulcans! If only the rest of the galaxy worked the way they think it does! If it were true, the Klingons would surrender just to avoid the endless lectures." CHAPTER 13 OF THE ARSENAL OF FREEDOM - THE BALANCE OF TERROR - IS LIVE NOW edgeofmidnight.weebly.com/chapter-13.h...

Colonel Agruan had led the 9th Marine Light Infantry Regiment on Mardikian II between June and November 2266, when the unit had defended the Yalu line against repeated Klingon attack. He is seen here briefing Wescott on the conditions on Mardikian.

Standing over the President are Admirals Rittenhouse (L) and Shukar (R). Rittenhouse, despite technical demotion to head of Starfleet Tactical, still wielded immense influence over Starfleet at its highest levels.

To her right is Starfleet Chief of Staff Sydney Javas. As JAG she oversaw Chin-Riley v. Starfleet, which marked many in the civilian government against her for her strict interpretation of Augment civil liberties.