Cruising through the vast expanse of space at high warp, Hathaway’s engines propelled her closer and closer to the Andoria system. The crew could feel the anticipation mounting as they neared their destination, eager to uncover the truth surrounding the whereabouts of their missing colleagues. Could they both be alive after all this time? And if so, where? And how could they have been captured in the first place?

However, their journey took an unexpected diversion when a sudden transmission crackled through the ship’s communication system. The voice on the other end identified himself as Captain Fykis Qadd, the commanding officer of the starship Asgard. The Asgard, a formidable Excelsior-class heavy cruiser, was well-known for its reputation and influence in the sector. As was the ageing Bolian who commanded her.

“Attention USS Hathaway,” Captain Qadd’s voice boomed over the speakers. “I order you to reverse course immediately and return to Deep Space 17. This is not a request.”

Captain Nazir sat forward in her seat, perching on the edge and gripping the armrests on either side as she exchanged a wary glance with her XO. It was highly unusual for another starship to interfere with their mission, especially with such an authoritative tone. The tension in the air was palpable as she weighed her options.

Nazir took a deep breath, her voice steady as she responded, “Captain Qadd, I appreciate your concern, but our orders are to proceed to the Andoria system. We have vital information to uncover regarding the whereabouts of our missing colleagues. I cannot, and will not, deviate from our mission.”

A hushed silence engulfed the bridge, a momentary pause on the transmission line before Captain Qadd’s voice crackled back, filled with a mixture of sternness and warning. “Captain Nazir, this is not a negotiation. You will comply with my orders, or we will open fire.”

“Well that escalated quicker than I expected,” Noli frowned, glancing towards Or’uil and giving him a silent confirmation to be ready for any possible attack from Asgard, or orders from the Captain. Nodding, the adolescent Ungeat silently went about his preparations.

The threat hung in the air, the tension mounting between the two starships. Nazir could feel it in the same way Vittoria could feel the rising emotions between the crew, and the Captain knew she had to make a stand, to protect her crew and their mission. She turned to Commander Bachmann, her former first officer, who sat on her left side, his face etched with a mix of concern and determination.

Bachmann leaned in and whispered to Nazir, “This is just the beginning, Captain. Asgard and her crew cannot be trusted. They are part of a larger resistance, attempting to hinder our progress. We must stand firm,” he argued strongly.

Nazir nodded, her resolve strengthening. As much as she hated to agree with him, Bachmann had been right about everything so far. She tapped the communication panel on the arm of her chair and addressed Captain Qadd once more. “Captain Qadd, I understand your concerns, but I cannot comply with your orders. Any show of force against Hathaway will be met in kind. I implore you to see reason and allow us to complete our mission.”

The tension in the air was thick, the outcome hanging on a delicate balance. The crew of the Hathaway held their breath, awaiting Captain Qadd’s response. Moments passed, each one feeling like an eternity. The tension in the air was suffocating, only growing worse when Hathaway and Asgard locked onto each other, hurtling through space to intercept one another. The Trill mistress of the Hathaway rose from her seat slowly, her eyes fixed on the viewscreen displaying the approaching Excelsior-class vessel. This was not how she envisioned their mission to find their missing colleagues unfolding.

“Captain Qadd, I implore you to reconsider,” she called out once more, her voice ringing out over the communication channel, her tone laced with urgency. “We are not your enemies. We seek only to find the truth and locate our missing comrades. There is no need for further bloodshed.”

The response from Captain Qadd was swift and uncompromising. “Captain Nazir, you have made your choice, and so have I. The Asgard will not allow the Hathaway to jeopardise our mission. Prepare to face the consequences.”

Nazir’s heart sank as she realised that diplomacy had failed. The fate of her crew and their mission now rested in the outcome of this imminent battle. She turned to her crew, their faces reflecting a mix of determination and apprehension. They had trained for this moment, but the reality of combat still loomed before them.

“Lieutenant Mitchell, evasive manoeuvres,” Nazir commanded, her voice steady but filled with determination. “Or’uil, red alert and shields up. Return fire only if necessary. We’ll do what we must to protect our ship and crew.”

Flyboy deftly manoeuvred Hathaway, his hands dancing across the control panel. The ship swerved, evading the initial barrage of fire from the Asgard, its phasers firing in response with precision and accuracy. The space around them lit up with explosions as the two starships engaged in a deadly dance.

Across the ship, the crew worked with focused intensity, their training once again kicking in as they operated their stations under fire. Sparks flew from console panels, and alarms blared throughout the ship. The constant jolts and vibrations served as a reminder of the imminent danger they faced under a barrage from their colleagues. As unusual as the situation was, to be faced with friendly fire, something had to give.

Commander Bachmann, his face etched with determination, coordinated the tactical response at tactical. He provided updates and strategic suggestions to the Ungeat at the station, his voice projecting authority and experience. Despite their personal animosity, they had no choice but to work together in this battle for survival.

The minutes felt like an eternity as Hathaway evaded Asgard’s volleys of phaser fire and torpedoes, or tried to anyway. The space around them became a chaotic battleground, with energy beams crisscrossing, explosions erupting, and debris scattering into the void.

Nazir’s mind raced, searching for any possible advantage to turn the tide in their favour. She knew that their only chance was to outmanoeuvre and outwit the Asgard, but she couldn’t bring herself to open fire with anything but defensive intentions. While each passing moment caused the situation to grow more desperate, she couldn’t help but hesitate. How could she fire on fellow Starfleet officers in an aggressive way? That changed, however, when a sudden and blinding flash of light filled the bridge as Hathaway’s shields absorbed a direct hit from the Asgard. The impact sent crew members sprawling, consoles exploding in showers of sparks and the ship’s systems flickered momentarily before stabilising.

The Trill’s heart pounded in her chest as she glanced at her crew. Their determination remained unyielding, their resilience shining through the chaos. She knew that they couldn’t give up, not now, not when their colleagues’ lives hung in the balance. She had no choice now.

“Alright Lieutenant Or’uil,” Nazir’s voice boomed across the bridge, infused with unwavering determination. “I want Asgard disabled, and only disabled. Target their engines and prepare to fire.”

With renewed vigour, the crew rallied, their focus sharpened. They continued to trade blows with the Asgard, refusing to back down. Each shot fired and every evasive manoeuvre made brought them closer to victory or defeat. The battle raged on, both starships locked in a deadly dance of skill and strategy, one more offensive than the other for the moment. It seemed like an eternity, but finally, an opportunity presented itself. A momentary lapse in the Asgard’s defence, a split-second opening.

“Fire!” Nazir’s command echoed through the bridge, the tactical officer responding as Hathaway seized the opportunity, unleashing a barrage of phaser fire and torpedoes at the vulnerable section of the Asgard’s shields. The impact was devastating, causing a cascade of explosions that rendered the Excelsior-II class heavy cruiser disabled.

A tense silence settled over the bridge, the entire staff watching Asgard falter, its systems failing under duress. It listed in space, providing the Sagan-class Hathaway the perfect opportunity to escape.

Captain Nazir exhaled, her relief mingled with exhaustion as she collapsed back into the comfort of her command chair. “Okay Henry,” she called out to the CONN, “resume your course for Andoria. Best possible speed.”

Almost an hour had passed since the showdown with Asgard and Keziah had found herself sitting in the quiet solitude of the observation lounge to take in recent events, her mind still reeling from the encounter, and how Captain Qadd had been so ready to fire on one of their own. As she sipped her steaming cup of tea, Lieutenant Vittoria Chiera, the Betazoid Counsellor, entered the room. Her empathic presence brought a sense of calm to the Captain, and Nazir motioned for her colleague to take a seat.

“Tea, Counsellor?” The Captain offered while gesturing to the empty chair across from her. “What do you have to report?”

Lieutenant Chiera settled into the chair, her expression thoughtful. Taking a pass on the offered tea, she began her brief. “I was able to reach out to Tempestava aboard the Venture,” she began, her voice steady but tinged with concern. “She confirmed that she and Captain Gor were able to return the remains of Captain sh’Elas to her family homestead on Andoria as Gor had directed.”

Captain Nazir nodded, grateful for the closure that their fallen comrade’s family would receive. However, Lieutenant Chiera’s next words caught her attention.

“But there’s something else, Captain,” the Counsellor continued, her voice dropping slightly. “Lieutenant th’Zorati mentioned that something felt off to her. As an Aenar, her heightened senses compensate for her visual impairment, and she detected something peculiar.”

Nazir leaned forward, her brow furrowing in curiosity. “What do you mean, Lieutenant?”

Lieutenant Chiera paused for a moment, carefully choosing her words. “There was no ceremony, no tribute, no shrine to honour Captain sh’Elas. This is highly unusual for her people, Captain. It’s an integral part of their mourning process and the way they honour their fallen But it was the lack of emotion that caught Tempa off guard.”

Nazir’s mind raced, considering the implications of this revelation. “And we all know how emotional the Andorian people can be,” the Captain frowned. “So did she think anything else was amiss? Perhaps, the family knew something, or they themselves were not who they claimed to be?” Nazir suggested, hopeful of some sort of lead.

The Counsellor nodded, her expression grave. “It’s a possibility, Captain. I believe we need to investigate further, to uncover the truth behind what happened to Captain sh’Elas.”

“Did she say anything about Captain Gor?” Nazir quizzed, sipping her beverage.

Chiera nodded. “She said the captain had left almost immediately after returning the remains, without so much as a word. She’s not seen or heard anything from him since,” Vittoria frowned. She knew what that likely meant, of course. That there had been ample opportunity for him to be replaced, even then.

Before Nazir could respond, the communications grid came to life with Commander Noli’s voice, urgent and insistent. “Captain Nazir to the bridge,” the XO’s voice filled the room.

Nazir stood up, her eyes meeting Chiera’s. “We’ll continue this discussion later, Lieutenant.”

As they made their way to the bridge, a sense of anticipation filled the air. The crew moved with purpose, their eyes fixed on the viewscreen, almost neglecting their Captain’s arrival. Commander Noli stood at the tactical station alongside Or’uil, her expression a mix of concern and determination. Upon hearing the Captain’s footsteps, she turned and approached their leader.

“Captain, we’ve arrived in the Andoria system and have begun transmitting standard communications,” Noli explained, her voice steady but urgent. “We’ve yet to receive any response of any kind.”

Nazir’s brow furrowed, her instincts warning her that something was amiss. She turned to the XO, her voice projecting a combination of authority and caution.

“Yellow alert. Maintain speed and begin constant sensor sweeps,” she ordered. “We’ll approach cautiously and assess the situation.”

Noli nodded, understanding the need for caution given their recent dalliance with the Asgard, but it was of concern to her that no one, not even the Federation Embassy, had responded to their calls.

“Entering standard orbit of Andoria Captain,” Lieutenant Mitchell called from the CONN, his hands gracefully guiding the starship into orbit around Andoria, the majestic home world of the Andorian people. One of the main improvements the bridge module on the newer vessels offered was the fact that when the viewscreen was offline, the forward bulkhead offered a panoramic view of the galaxy beyond the ship’s hull, thus allowing the Captain to peer out at the ice-covered planet below, her brow furrowed with concern.

The silence from the surface was deafening, with no response to their repeated attempts to establish communication more than a concern.

“Captain,” Lieutenant Prida called out, her voice carrying a mix of determination and urgency as she turned from Ops to look at the Trill. “I’ve managed to access the Andorian planetary archive and computer mainframe. I took it upon myself to start a search for any reference to Captain sh’Elas and any recent events that may explain the situation we are in.”

The Bajassian swiftly tapped commands into the console, her fingers dancing across the buttons with precision. The ship’s sensors reached out to the surface, strengthening the connection with the planetary database.

Suddenly, the bridge was bathed in an ethereal glow as the lights dimmed and a holographic projection materialised before them. The crew members’ eyes widened in astonishment as the hologram took the form of Captain sh’Elas herself. For most on the bridge, it was the first time they had seen so much as an image of the Captain since before the Devore had captured the Ulysses during the Blood Dilithium crisis.

The holographic representation of Captain sh’Elas looked hauntingly real, her features etched with a mixture of determination and concern. The projection began to speak, her voice resonating throughout the bridge.

“Listen closely, my friends,” the hologram of Captain sh’Elas urged. “All is not as it seems; not on Andoria, not with me, and not in Starfleet as a whole. There are forces at play, shadows that manipulate and deceive. Beware.”

The crew watched in rapt attention, their hearts pounding as the hologram continued its warning. Captain sh’Elas spoke of a hidden truth, a web of deception that threatened everything they held dear.

“I urge you to visit Sathea IV,” the hologram revealed, her voice filled with urgency. “There you will find the answers you seek, and the path to uncover the truth. But be cautious, for danger lurks in the shadows.”

As the hologram’s message reached its climax, it shimmered and dissipated, leaving the bridge in stunned silence. The weight of the revelation hung heavily in the air, their thoughts racing to comprehend the implications of Captain sh’Elas’ warning.

Captain Nazir broke the silence, her voice filled with curiosity. “Sathea IV? I’ve never heard of it…” she said, her eyes meeting the gaze of her officers.

“It was at the time of the Century Storm,” Noli looked at Prida, then to the Captain. “We were on the Santa Fe at the time, and sh’Elas was XO to Captain Farrell. We went there to rescue some stubborn ass scientists and got embroiled in a Klingon plot to steal the MARS tech,” the XO spoke with tension in her voice.

“We lost a colleague there, and the Captain blamed herself. We vowed that we were done with that place because whenever we go back there, physically or metaphorically, it never ends well,” the Bajassian reported in support of the XO.

“If sh’Elas has gone back there in any way, there has to be a good reason,” Noli told the Captain.

“Then that’s our next destination. Prepare for departure. Helm, set a course for Sathea IV. Maximum warp,” Nazir’s voice was filled with determination as she sat forward in her chair. “Commander Teyahna, get me everything you can on Sathea IV, before during and after the storm. Noli, take Prida and go over any logs you can access. Find out what could have drawn the Captain back there.”

The crew sprang into action, their focus sharpened as they prepared the ship for the next phase of their mission. As the ship leapt into warp, leaving Andoria behind them, Commander Noli grew tense. The journey to Sathea IV supposedly held the answers they sought, the key to understanding the truth and exposing the forces that sought to manipulate and deceive, but something felt… wrong.

And that worried her. A lot.