Soft rain was coming down from the gray colored sky, as the smokes of industrial pours deeper into the raining clouds. The city was buzzing with activity, muddy roads where workers head for their daily jobs. Merchant stalls at the side of the streets providing the much-needed energy boost to survive the day. Species of all different kinds were found here, from Humans to Klingons, from Trill to Gorn. But what would be noticeable mostly was the troop size of Vaadwaur marching through the streets in patrol groups to keep the crowd in check.

An elderly man fell to the ground, tired and weaken by the hours of harsh working conditions. The man was Vulcan, his uniform clearly shows that he was part of some kind of civilian Federation organization. A Vaadwaur soldier kicks the man at his side, “Get up, peasant. Your work is not done” The man just growls in agony as he rolls onto his back, letting the rain hit his fatigue facial expression. Another soldier joins in, “Get up pointy ear, you know the penalty for not doing your job proper”.

People in the street stealthy look over at the elderly man, that was groveling in the mud. Some didn’t want to be involved to avoid trouble, others wanted to act, but risking their own life if they did. Some didn’t care, Klingons were shaking their head, resuming their drinks as a Gorn licks his lips at the victim.

Another hit to the elderly man “Useless bug, if you are eager to get this punishment then you shall receive it” The Vaadwaur soldier spits on the ground in disgust.

“Please, no more” The Vulcan begs for forgiveness, trying his best to get back on his feet.

A woman with a hoodie tried to get out of the alley, as she was pulled back “Don’t” Another woman held her shoulder looking in the direction of the situation. The Vulcan was getting a beating as Alara narrowed her eyes, pulling away the hooded woman that sniffles. “Keep it together Liss” Moving away from the scene.

“I can’t keep doing this, this is outrageous, and I didn’t sign up for this” Liss complained, emotionally already hurt by what she had witness so far. “We are Sta…” quickly, she gets muffled by another woman.

The wet face and cold eyes of Rhixa were locked on that of Liss who looked startled “Shut it, if you keep blabbing around the information, we are death” She felt Alara hand on hers and clicks her tongue moving away from the two towards the direction they were walking.

“She is right you know, I know it’s injustice what we are witnessing, but we are outmatched and outgunned until the Lieutenant can find a way out” Alara spoke with some bitterness in her voice as she looked at Rhixa. She understood the young woman feeling in the given situation, and they were risking a lot with getting so deep into the troubled area. “Let’s move” With some support given to Liss, they move on.

Another man joined them, Jorven with only a cloak, no hoodie as his face looked wet. “Got the information from a merchant” he whispers following the group “We better get back to the location, Lieutenant wants to know about this” It was only been a few weeks since they arrived at this location, barely making it.

The group arrived at the location, moving into an alley as Rhixa looked around one final time and moved behind the small team into a conceal door. The hoodies went off as they walk into the open space seeing the rest of the cadets sitting “Almost cost our heads there Liss” Rhixa continued her complaining as she throws off her cloak. She narrows her eyes at Liss, who looked with guilt to the ground.

“Stop it, we are not here to fight with each other” Alara pats Liss on the shoulder, “Shaari, where is the Lieutenant?”

Shaari looked up from their PADD and points at the other room “Working with Eli” They looked at Liss then back at Rhixa “Guess damage control it is” Shaari stood up walking to Liss to provide comfort.

“Thanks Shaari, I own you one” Alara whispers as she follows both Jorven and Rhixa to the room. Upon entering, Alara could see the Lieutenant pointing at some schematics of the Eclipse on a screen with Eli nodding as she turned to look at the group “Lieutenant, scout party is back”.

Giving a nod to the group, she pats Eli to keep working and steps before the group, “Good, glad to see you all safe. Reporrrt” K’Nala looked tired, perhaps fatigue by the hours she has been awake dealing with the given situation.

“We almost died because of Liss” Rhixa mumbles, crossing her arms.

Alara coughs and gave Rhixa a glare then looked back at K’Nala “We have scouted Lebria regions, most of the areas are under strict control of the Vaadwaur. They have patrols in most regions, but it’s not as organized as it seems” Alara explained looking at Jorven.

“The planet was before the Vaadwaur arrived in a tug war of the strongest group. Klingons, Pirates, humanoids benefactors were all in the race to control the resources here. They didn’t expect a fourth party to show interest in this planet.” Jorven shrugs a bit, “But with the high demand in resources, this planet is a key provider in repairs for the Vaadwaur armada.”

K’Nala crossed her arms while listening to what her cadets had to say. The Eclipse was pulled into an unexpected appearance of underspace, only to arrival in a heavy, dense graveyard field of ships. She theorized that these ships, from initial scans, were Klingons, merchant ships and pirates that initial didn’t accept the arrival of the Vaadwaur. Taking a deep breath, “That is something, Eli is working remotely from herrre keeping check on the Eclipse repairrr rotation. So far it shows that the repairrrs will take some time, plus is that we can leave the planet without being detected with the heavy particles that drift around in space that interferrre with scanners.”

Looking at Rhixia “Any information on the Vaadwaurrr?”

Rolling her eyes, still stingy about what happened with Liss “From the talks in the street that I could gather is that the people are scared, Klingons don’t give a crap and Vaadwaur like violence to spread fear” Rhixia thinks for a second “What I have heard is that there are easy 50 to 75 ships in orbit. Rumors has it that there is at least one dreadnought”.

That caused some concern, the Eclipse was not visible on scanners and concern one of the derelict ships after it collided with all that space debris. They survived, but staking out here was a gamble that K’Nala had to take, there were resources here that they needed “Good worrrk. Get some rest and I will fill you guys laterrr in on the next step” Dismissing the cadets from her sight. She just hoped that Eclipse navigational systems would work soon, so they would at least know where they are. K’Nala couldn’t dismiss the idea that they were in Delta Quadrant, seeing that is where the Vaadwaur came from. But if it was Alpha or Beta Quadrant, that would pose a serious issue. Let alone fighting a supremacy that was thought to be gone.