The Dominion War has left the Alpha Quadrant in the midst of uncertainty.  Shifting allegiances and secret power struggles color the political landscape of the times.  The reconstruction of the Cardassian state and its re-integration into the trade and politics of the Quadrant has become a central concern of Starfleet; however, relations with the Romulans, Klingons, Ferengi, and even the Breen, must still be monitored closely--and wisely.  Even the Orion Syndicate, an organized crime outfit believed destroyed by the new post-War climate, has resurfaced. 
        A new anti-threat and counterintelligence unit, conceived by the cooperation of Starfleet Intelligence and Starfleet Special Operations, has been created: the Starfleet Joint Operations Task Force.  By day, its operatives run the USS Mercutio, a typical Starfleet vessel with official, unclassified missions and standard Starfleet mission parameters.  When the services of the Joint Operations Task Force are required, however, the missions of the Mercutio Unit are anything but typical, and nothing but classified.