A blockade along the Klingon-Romulan border would be politically delicate, geographically extensive, and dependent on ships maintaining an interconnected detection grid. Such a mission calls for an existing formation with a known chain of command, plus engineering and science officers able to explain and test the system. Instead, Picard briefs the technical plan on behalf of La Forge and is told to assemble the fleet himself. The example shows why fleet command is more than adding ships to a captain's ordinary responsibilities.
Chapter · 42:32-47:18
Why the tachyon blockade needs an established fleet staff
Picard proposes a fleet-wide tachyon detection grid, but the admirals assign him to assemble the force without supplying the headquarters or technical staff needed to command it.