Chief Engineer Mala dashed through the dimly lit corridors of the Vidiian warship Gereth. Her long, curly blonde and gold hair trailed behind her like a comet’s tail in the void of space. Her piercing blue eyes glinted with resolve as she navigated the maze of passageways, her slender figure moving with the grace of a seasoned warrior. Every step she took resonated with a deep sense of purpose, and every command she barked echoed with authority as she led her crew in the desperate struggle to keep their ship afloat amidst the chaos of battle. Mala’s fingers danced across the flickering control panels, her mind a whirlwind of calculations and strategies as she fought to keep the Vidiian warship Gereth operational. Around her, the engineering room buzzed with frenetic activity as her crew raced against time to repair the damage wrought by the relentless assault of the Kazon Predator-class warship. Like everyone else, she was determined to hold the line against the Kazon. Her home on Vidara counted on them, not letting the last of the Kazon fleet get past them.

As Mala fought tirelessly to keep doing her job under the pressure of the Kazon onslaught, a tumult of emotions surged within her. With each command she issued and every console she feverishly manipulated, she felt a fierce determination coursing through her veins, an unyielding resolve to protect her beloved homeworld of Vidara from the clutches of their ruthless enemy. Having served on the Gereth for nearly thirty years, Mala’s loyalty to the ship, its captain, and her fellow crew members burned like a beacon in the darkness of space. For her, the Gereth was more than just a vessel; it was a second home, a sanctuary forged through years of dedication and sacrifice. As the battle raged on, Mala couldn’t bear the thought of losing everything she held dear, and so she fought with every ounce of strength and determination she possessed, determined to emerge victorious against all odds. 

Whatever it took. 

Outside, the vast expanse of space became a battleground as energy weapons lanced through the darkness, leaving trails of destruction in their wake. The Gereth manoeuvred with all the grace of a wounded beast, its hull scarred and pockmarked from the enemy’s relentless barrage. The two ships were almost facing one another as they continued to punish each other with whatever power they had. Both were evenly matched. It was only a matter of time and clever tactics that would ensure one of them won. 

“Shields at forty per cent and falling!” one of Mala’s engineers called out, his voice tinged with urgency.

Mala gritted her teeth, her hands flying across the controls as she diverted power from non-essential systems to reinforce the failing shields. But even as she did, she knew it was only a matter of time before they gave out entirely. She couldn’t give up. Reducing the ship’s gravity net by an extra ten per cent would certainly give an extra bounce in everyone’s footsteps, but the extra energy could be used to keep the shields up longer. The ship was a battleground, and every decision she made was a matter of life and death. 

“We need those auxiliary generators online now!” Mala shouted, her voice barely audible over the deafening roar of battle. Explosion after explosion went off around her as EPS conduits attempted to keep the ship alive. 

Her crew, their faces bathed in the harsh glow of the consoles, worked feverishly to comply with her orders. The enemy’s onslaught showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, but they weren’t ready to give up either. Their determination was palpable, and their teamwork was a testament to their loyalty and sacrifice. 

Suddenly, a violent jolt rocked the ship, sending Mala stumbling forward against the console. Alarms blared, lights flickered, and the room filled with the acrid scent of burning circuits.

“What was that?” Mala demanded, her heart pounding in her chest as she pushed a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. 

“We’ve taken a direct hit to the starboard engines!” another engineer shouted, his voice tinged with panic. “Warp drive is down!”

Mala’s stomach churned as she realised the gravity of their situation. They were sitting ducks without functioning engines for the Kazon’s next attack.

“Get those engines back online, now!” Mala ordered, her voice laced with urgency.

But even as her crew scrambled to obey her commands, the ship shuddered again, the impact reverberating through the hull like a death knell. The situation was dire, the ship’s survival hanging by a thread.

“Weapons offline,” Captain Voren’s voice echoed through the room via the intercom, his words sending a chill down Mala’s spine. “All hands, proceed to the escape pods. I’m setting a collision course.”

With a sinking feeling in her chest, Mala knew their fate had been sealed. As she fought to regain her footing amidst the chaos, her mind raced with thoughts of the crew she had sworn to protect and the ship that had become her home. This was it. This was how it would end. But even as she staggered towards the nearest escape pod, her thoughts lingered on the battle raging outside. In the distance, she could see the Kazon warship looming ominously, its weapons primed and ready to deliver the final blow.

As she sealed herself inside the pod and launched into the void, Mala couldn’t help but wonder what awaited the Gereth in its final moments. Would it go down fighting, a symbol of Vidiian resilience in the face of overwhelming odds? Or would it simply fade into obscurity, another casualty of the endless conflict that ravaged the region of the Delta Quadrant?

There was a massive explosion, and the shockwave hit her escape pod before she could see what happened. She stumbled backwards, hitting the back of her head against the flooring. Before completely losing consciousness, she was sure she saw the Kazon ship cracking apart. A brief smile swept across Mala’s face. She was satisfied that they held the line. 

As Horatio McCallister sprinted across the pitch, his heart raced in sync with the game’s intensity. The crowd’s thunderous roar, a symphony of anticipation, filled the air. The grandeur of Wembley Stadium, with its towering stands and meticulously manicured turf, was a testament to the magnitude of the event.

With the ball at his feet, McCallister danced past opposing players with grace. He could hear the encouragement of his teammates, their voices a steady pulse amidst the chaos of the match. Victory was within reach, and McCallister could taste it like the salty sweat on his lips.

But just as he was about to make his move, a blue-skinned Bolian defender launched a brutal tackle. The force of the impact sent McCallister sprawling, his body crashing against the unforgiving grass. The referee, a stern-faced Vulcan, wasted no time in blowing his whistle, the sharp sound piercing through the chaos of the match.

“Foul!” the Vulcan declared, his voice carrying authority. “Penalty shot for McCallister.”

McCallister rose to his feet, determination burning in his eyes as he stepped up to take the kick. The weight of the moment hung heavy on his shoulders, but he pushed aside the doubt, focusing on the task at hand.

With a deep breath, McCallister lined up his shot, the ball resting on the penalty spot like a planet awaiting its orbit. He blocked out the crowd’s noise and the pressure of the situation and honed in on the goal ahead. Then, with a swift motion, he unleashed a powerful strike, the ball rocketing towards its target like a photon torpedo.

As the ball hit the back of the net, the holographic crowd erupted into a thunderous roar of triumph. McCallister’s teammates surged towards him, their faces alight with jubilation as they enveloped him in a whirlwind of high-fives and congratulatory slaps on the back.

Caught up in the euphoria of the moment, McCallister tore off his sweat-soaked soccer jersey, his muscles glistening with exertion beneath the holographic lights. With a triumphant shout, he flung the jersey into the air towards the supporting crowd, watching as it soared like a comet through the night sky before disappearing into the ecstatic crowd of spectators.

But before McCallister could fully savour his victory, his teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders with a mighty heave, lifting him high above the holographic pitch like a conquering hero. The crowd’s cheers swelled to a crescendo, their voices blending into a symphony of celebration reverberating through the stadium. He could hear them cheering his name in unison. 

McCallister wiped the sweat from his brow as he stepped off the holographic pitch and down the corridor towards the changing rooms, the crowd’s cheers still ringing in his ears. Wembley Stadium had felt as real as ever, the rush of competition and camaraderie filling him with a familiar thrill. But as he spotted his first officer, Commander Thaustin, among the simulated teammates, he knew it was time to return from the realm of sports to the world of starships.

“Thaustin,” McCallister greeted, gratefully accepting the offered bottle of water. The cool liquid was a welcome relief after the intensity of the match. “I thought I had locked the holodeck doors?” Shrugging the issue off, he shared a knowing smile with his first officer. “What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were off duty?”

Thaustin chuckled, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Just wanted to see the star athlete in action, Captain.”

McCallister grinned, taking a long swig of water before pouring some over his head, relishing the refreshment. “Ah, well, you missed quite the show. But speaking of which, I’ve been thinking…”

Thaustin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “About what, sir?”

McCallister leaned against the holographic changing room door, the remnants of his soccer jersey still clutched in his hand. “About getting more of the crew involved in this. Forming teams, organising matches—what do you say?” His eyes sparkled with excitement, his voice filled with anticipation.

The first officer considered the proposal, a thoughtful expression crossing his features as he followed his captain into the changing room. “Soccer on the holodeck? It could be a good way to promote teamwork and fitness among the crew.”

“Exactly!” McCallister exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. He told the computer to delete all the holographic characters as he went to where his stuff awaited him. “And besides, it’s a great way to blow off steam. Are you interested in joining?”

Thaustin chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m afraid my expertise lies more in interstellar diplomacy than sports, captain. But I’m willing to learn if you’re willing to teach.”

McCallister clapped his first officer on the shoulder, his grin widening. “Then consider yourself signed up for the Constitution soccer team, Commander. We’ll make a player out of you yet.”

As they exited the holodeck, McCallister couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of sharing his love for the game with his crewmates. “We should get the entire senior staff involved with this. It would be great!”

Thaustin continued to chuckle at his captain’s newfound sense of excitement. “I’ll add it to the agenda for our next meeting.”

As they walked down the corridor, their conversation was interrupted by a call from engineering. “Lieutenant T’Penni to Captain McCallister,” came the voice over the comm. “I am pleased to report that the reconstruction of our warp nacelles is complete. We’re ready to bring the warp drive back online.”

McCallister exchanged a glance with Thaustin, a sense of anticipation building within him. “Excellent news, Lieutenant. Carry on with the final checks, and let’s get ready to get underway again.”

With a nod of satisfaction, McCallister turned to his first officer, a twinkle of excitement in his eye. “Looks like it’s back to the real game, Commander. Warp speed ahead.”

“Looks like it’s back to reality, eh, Captain?” Thaustin remarked with a playful grin, gesturing towards the turbolift at the end of the corridor.

McCallister chuckled, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. “Aye, back to the ol’ starship grind. But first, I think I’ll need a sonic shower. Can’t exactly stroll onto the bridge in this… sporty ensemble and have the crew thinking their captain is running around the ship looking like a drowned tribble.”

Thaustin stifled a laugh, eyeing McCallister’s bare chest with a mock-serious expression. “A wise decision, sir. I’m not sure the crew would take too kindly to a sweaty, bare-chested captain. In fact, I’m sure the crew will appreciate the return of your usual, ah, professional attire.”

McCallister laughed, a hearty sound that echoed down the corridor. “Ah, but you know what they say, Thaustin. A little charm goes a long way—even if it’s hidden beneath a layer of sweat.”

With a playful wink, McCallister turned on his heel and headed towards the nearest turbolift, leaving Thaustin chuckling in his wake. As he followed in the captain’s wake, he couldn’t help but shake his head with amusement. After all, it wasn’t every day that you saw the captain of a starship scoring goals in nothing but his sweaty bare chest. But then again, on the USS Constitution, anything was possible.

As Captain McCallister stepped into his quarters, the adrenaline from the soccer match still coursing through his veins, he was greeted by the familiar warmth and comfort of his personal space aboard the Constitution. With a contented sigh, he moved toward the centre of the room, his muscles still humming with the residual energy of the game.

The soft murmur of the ship’s systems filled the air as McCallister made his way to the small alcove where his bathroom was. 

With practised efficiency, McCallister began stripping off his sweat-soaked soccer kit, the fabric clinging to his skin as if reluctant to let go. With each article of clothing removed, he felt a sense of liberation wash over him, the weight of the match lifting from his shoulders with every discarded garment. With a final tug, he removed the last of his clothing, tossing it aside with a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction.

McCallister stepped into the sleek confines of the sonic shower, the warm waves of energy enveloping him like a comforting embrace. Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back, allowing the pulsating rhythm of the shower to wash over him in gentle waves.

The gentle massage of the sonic waves against his skin was like a symphony of relaxation, easing away the tension that had built up during the intense game. McCallister let out a low groan of pleasure as the warmth seeped into his muscles, loosening their tight grip and leaving him feeling weightless and free.

With each passing moment, McCallister felt himself sinking deeper into a state of blissful tranquillity, the worries and stresses of the day fading into the background as he surrendered himself to the comforting embrace of the shower. The scent of the cleansing agents filled the air, mingling with the soft hum of the ship’s systems to create a cocoon of quietness within the confines of his bathroom. It was a rare moment of solitude amid the chaos of ship life, a precious opportunity to indulge in some much-needed self-care. 

But just as he began to lose himself in the shower’s soothing embrace, the intercom crackled to life, interrupting his moment of peace. 

“Captain McCallister, this is Commander Belire Kazlaf,” came the voice of his chief science officer over the intercom. “Our work in mapping the surrounding area is now complete. When you’re ready, I’d like to show you what we’ve found. Could you join me in astrometrics?” 

McCallister sighed inwardly, torn between the allure of the shower and the call of duty. With a resigned nod to himself, he responded, “Of course, Commander. I’ll be there shortly after I’ve visited the bridge.”

Closing the intercom, McCallister turned his attention back to the task at hand, determined to make the most of his time in the shower. The warm waves continued to cascade over him, each pulse a reminder of the vastness of space that awaited them beyond the ship’s hull.

But just as he began to relax, the door chime sounded, shattering any hope of him being alone again. With a frustrated sigh, McCallister wrapped a towel around his waist and exited the shower, prepared to face whatever interruption awaited him.

“Come in,” he called out as he approached the door, bracing himself for the inevitable intrusion.

As the door slid open, McCallister was met with the sight of Lieutenant Commander Rubon Jarata standing awkwardly in the doorway, his eyes widening in embarrassment as they inadvertently locked onto McCallister’s semi-naked chest.

Caught off guard by the unexpected intrusion, McCallister couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the untimely interruption. But he maintained his composure, offering Jarata a reassuring smile as he tried to ease the younger officer’s apparent discomfort with the situation.

Jarata, for his part, looked as if he wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole, his cheeks flushed crimson as he stammered out a hasty apology for the intrusion.

“I-I’m sorry, Captain,” he managed to blurt out, his gaze darting nervously away from McCallister’s chest. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to inform you that the updates to our shuttles are complete. If you have a moment, I thought you might want to inspect the work.”

McCallister nodded understandingly, though he couldn’t suppress a wry smile at Jarata’s obvious discomfort. “Thank you, Rubon. I appreciate the update. I’ll see to it later. Right now, I need some time to get ready and head to the bridge.”

“Oh, me too,” With another apologetic nod, Jarata hurriedly retreated from the captain’s quarters.

Alone once more, McCallister let out a weary sigh, grateful for the respite from the interruptions. With a quick command to the computer, he replicated a fresh new uniform and set about getting dressed, eager to finally put an end to the series of interruptions and get back to the business of exploring the cosmos.

As the turbolift doors swooshed open on the Constitution’s bridge, Captain McCallister, the seasoned leader of the starship, stepped out, looking every inch the epitome of Starfleet professionalism. His first officer, Commander Thaustin, stood behind the helm, a mischievous glint in his eye, ready to engage in their usual banter. His uniform was crisp and pristine, his hair neatly combed, and no trace of sweat marred his appearance.

Commander Thaustin, standing behind the helm, couldn’t help but smirk at the sight. He and Jarata had obviously shared what happened between McCallister and Jarata when the Risan pilot visited him in his quarters. Thaustin, with a hint of mischief, was eager to tease McCallister. “Well, well, if it isn’t Captain McCallister, looking like a new man.” He remarked in a tone low enough for only McCallister to hear, their shared history evident in the banter. 

McCallister shot his first officer a knowing grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Why, Commander Thaustin, are you suggesting that I no longer resemble a drowned tribble?”

Thaustin chuckled, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t dare, sir. But I must say, the crew will be relieved to see you back in your uniform and not showing off your bare chest like a Holodeck holo-novel protagonist.”

McCallister laughed heartily. “Ah, but where’s the fun in that, Commander? A captain needs to keep the crew on their toes, after all.”

“Indeed,” Thaustin replied with a similar smirk, his voice tinged with anticipation. “All systems report ready to get underway, captain.” The crew, too, was eager for the journey, their excitement palpable in the air.

“Understood,” McCallister said, looking at the wide viewscreen before them. They were in the middle of nowhere with not much to see. “Belire wants to show us what she’s found of this region before we get underway.”

“Makes sense, though I’m sure she wouldn’t be able to tell us much besides what we know already.”

“Perhaps,” McCallister replied. “Nevertheless, I wouldn’t mind knowing before we head out through the unknown.”

Thaustin agreed, and as McCallister gestured for them to head back to the turbolift he had used, he called for Jarata to take over the bridge. 

“Captain’s log stardate, seven-eight-six-seven-seven point nine-one. Repairs to the ship’s engines have been completed ahead of schedule. Using the Voth transwarp coil has helped shed at least two years off our journey back to the Gradin Belt. However, we continue to find ourselves in a region that has no civilisations from what we can tell. Most planets are either lifeless or their stars are just forming. As a result, we will need to ensure the ship continues to operate to its best ability, including the crew. I have ordered the senior staff to begin working on ways to ensure that the crew morale does not falter while we travel through this area of space. It will be at least twelve months of us by ourselves. I am certain that morale will remain positive with the right focus and encouragement. In the meantime, where we can, we will explore what awaits us.”

Floating above the main platform within astrometrics, Commander Kazlaf effortlessly manipulated the holographic controls as Captain McCallister and Commander Thaustin opened the doors to the lab. Her Elaysian heritage granted her remarkable adaptability, both in the literal and figurative sense. Physically, she could adjust her gravity in specific labs, liberating her from her usual mobility aids and allowing her to engage fully with the environment and equipment. Figuratively, her experiences with physical limitations nurtured a problem-solving mindset that was as unique as it was effective, enabling her to approach challenges with a blend of creativity and resilience. This dual advantage not only allowed her to navigate her physical surroundings with exceptional talent but also to excel in her professional responsibilities, often leading to breakthroughs that others might not achieve. Her seamless integration of adaptive technology with her innate skills made her an invaluable asset to the crew, consistently driving their missions forward and impacting their endeavours. She was not shy about sharing this and reminding her colleagues about it. She noticed it may annoy them, especially her attitude towards those she felt were intellectually inferior to her. Still, she had got through her career in Starfleet by ensuring those around her knew how good her work was. She was almost like the Borg Queen herself, wanting to achieve perfection (without the goal of wanting to assimilate everyone in her path). 

Like a bird flying gracefully through the air, Kazlaf glided towards them, remaining in the lab area with no gravity. 

“Commander, you said you had finished mapping the area,” McCallister called out to her as he and Thaustin stepped onto the central platform. 

“Indeed,” Kazlaf confirmed as she used the holographic displays to change the extensive scenery she had been studying to show the broader map she and her teams had created since they had entered this region of space. She was proud of their achievement in such a short amount of time. Working together, the teams from Astrometrics, Stellar Cartography, and Planetary Science had put together a rundown of what surrounded the Constitution after it had dropped out of transwarp. The large map around them pointed out some areas of interest. Kazlaf immediately started her presentation to her superiors. “As you know, this area of space does not have any spacefaring civilisations that we can detect but instead is filled with many systems in the early stage of creation. Protostars, gaseous anomalies, gravity fluctuations and subspace interference are at their highest numbers. We don’t think Starfleet has observed such a large area in its earliest creation.”

“So we are certain that none of the planets nearby can sustain life?” Thaustin checked.

“Absolutely,” Kazlaf affirmed. “The only inhabitable places would be small moons orbiting bigger gas giants. However, the largest of those gas giants are just beyond our long-range sensor scans.”

“Are there any dangers along our present course?” McCallister asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

“None,” Kazlaf gleamed as she pressed a button and activated an adjustment to the holographic display to show the new course and heading the Constitution would take to exit this area and on its journey back to the Swallow Nebula region. 

“Any signs of underspace corridors? Did the Turei map we found give us any pointers?” Thaustin asked.

Kazlaf shook her head. “The map itself, from what I can tell, is over a hundred years old or fake. One was created so that if someone else found it, they would think they’ve found a way in. That said, the high amount of gravity fluctuations and subspace interference may be blocking our scans. In the meantime, I’ve got a team on adjusting our sensors to detect anything that could resemble a wormhole or a vortex of some kind to help reduce our time in this space.”

“That’s a starter,” McCallister agreed. “Anything else of interest, Commander?”

“There is,” She pointed to the map as she glided towards what looked like an area they would pass through in a few months. “There are some interesting phenomena along the way. An anomalous gradient to the curvature of space, unusual bioharmonic readings from a binary system-”

She was about to continue but was cut off by the captain. “That does sound fascinating, Commander, but what about places we can stop to refuel and gather other resources we may need?”

Kazlaf seemed a bit deflated by the captain’s lack of excitement for some great exploration ahead of them. She felt it was the type of thing he wanted the senior staff to encourage to keep morale up. After all, they were meant to be explorers, and the Constitution was meant to be a ship of exploration. Nevertheless, she knew he wanted to know this and had prepared for it. “There’s a Y-class planet that we will come across in about two weeks, which has deuterium deposits. Then, in about three months, there appears to be a large asteroid belt filled with dilithium crystals.”

“I’ll make sure T’Penni and Ethav have both refineries up and running before we approach them,” Thaustin noted. 

“Anything else?” McCallister called out.

Now, feeling like what she wanted to share was for nothing, Kazlaf could feel the frustration building within her. Instead of unleashing it against the captain and commander, she took a deep breath and was about to reply politely when the computer beeped at her. She knew what it was connected to. She had already set up a detection program to scan for life, and that was it. 

“What is it, Belire?” Thaustin asked her as she flew through the lab and activated the holographic console.

“Life, commander,” She answered as she brought up the readings. “Long-range sensors have picked up life.”

“I thought you said-” McCallister started to speak, but this time she interrupted him.

“I know what I said, sir, but it would appear I was wrong,” Kazlaf squinted at the readings and then double-checked them. She couldn’t believe it. “Sir, we are picking up Vidiian life signs.”

“Vidiian?” McCallister repeated. “Where?”

Kazlaf quickly adjusted her controls. “I’m attempting to confirm now, captain.”

While she was working, Thaustin turned to the captain. “Sir, if the Vidiians are here, I recommend extreme caution. They were extremely hostile to Voyager during their journey through the Nacene Reach.”

“That’s because they wanted to harvest their organs because of the virus that was infecting their people. I’m sure I read they were cured,” McCallister responded.

“Even still, sir, I recommend being cautious,” Thaustin stated.

Kazlaf eventually found the life sign. “It’s weak, sir, but it’s about three point two light years from where we are now.”

“Is it on a planet?” McCallister asked.

“No, a ship,” Kazlaf answered as she got more detailed scans underway. “Definitely Vidiian, a small vessel, possibly an escape pod, but I’m detecting high amounts of debris near it. Possible remains of ships. There’s too much interference to be sure.”

McCallister considered her words for a moment. Kazlaf could see he was debating what they do, but she knew the captain would pick to investigate. 

“Number One, go to red alert and set a course to intercept. They may need our help,” McCallister ordered.

Immediately, Thaustin nodded and left the lab to get to the bridge ahead of the captain.

McCallister turned to Kazlaf, “Commander, I need you to find a way to filter out these interferences so we can better understand what awaits us.”

“Aye, sir,” Kazlaf replied, knowing she needed to be like the Borg Queen again: efficient and intelligent so she could find more answers for the captain before their arrival.

McCallister took a breath in before he excused himself from Kazlaf’s company. “I’m heading to sickbay to talk to Doctor Uknare about the Vidiians and this Phage of theirs.”

“Dropping out of warp, sir,” Jarata’s voice echoed through the tense silence. In a heartbeat, the crew, their senses heightened, braced themselves for the unknown that lay ahead. 

“Engage full power to shields and weapons,” Thaustin commanded, his voice echoing through the bridge. 

Hearing his first officer’s cautious tone, McCallister could sense the tension in the air. The Vidiian, a species known for their aggression and relentless pursuit of organ harvesting, were not to be taken lightly. “Begin sensor sweeps to locate that life sign,” McCallister instructed Kazlaf, his voice steady but his mind racing with possibilities. 

“I’ve got it, sir, almost two hundred meters away from the main debris field,” Kazlaf reported. “As I said earlier, it’s within a one-person escape pod. Life signs are faint. I’m not sure how much longer I can survive without medical treatment.”

Understanding the seriousness of what Kazlaf had shared with him, McCallister tapped his combadge and opened a channel to Sickbay. “Doctor Uknare, are you ready?”

“We are, captain. Security measures are in place, and our E-M-H is online behind the quarantine field,” replied Uknare, her voice steady and calm.

“Get a lock on the survivor, beam them to sickbay,” McCallister ordered. He rose from his chair and headed towards where T’Penni sat at the engineering station. “Can we determine what happened here, Lieutenant?”

“I am detecting alloys belonging not just to the Vidiian but to another race. I’m just running a comparative scan to determine who. In the meantime, based on what remains, it is easy for me to determine that this Vidiian ship rammed the other vessel before its warp core breached,” T’Penni summarised. “Unfortunately, the destruction wave destroyed the other escape pods. Whoever our survivor is was lucky not to have met the same fate.”

“Any chance of us being able to pull out anything that can help us determine what happened? Are there any surviving computer terminals or data cores?” Thaustin asked. 

“Unfortunately, commander, I am not detecting anything that would be useful yet,” T’Penni answered flatly. Her console then beeped at her, indicating it had finished running its comparative scan. “Sir, the other vessel was a Kazon warship.”

“Kazon?” McCallister echoed as he turned back to look at the others on the bridge. “Belire, are you detecting any other Kazon ships nearby?”

Kazlaf shook her head. “Nothing on long-range sensors.”

“Captain,” Jarata spoke up. “I’m detecting a faint ion trail leading away from this area. I think these two ships were locked in a running battle.”

“Let’s see it, Rubon,” McCallister ordered as he moved to stand in front of the helm and ops stations. “Put it up on the main viewer.”

Seconds later, a sensor overlay of the area showed the two distinct trails moving away from their current location. It was obviously from the two broken crafts that sat before them. 

“Can we detect where they came from?” McCallister asked, intrigued to see if they could figure out how a Kazon and Vidiian ship got this far away from their territories. 

Jarata said it would take him a few moments to trace the passage the two ships had taken. 

In the meantime, Thaustin had moved from his seat to McCallister’s side. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking, sir?”

“Depends,” McCallister said, turning to his Number One. “Do we want to trace their footsteps and work out how they got here, or do we want to carry on and avoid a confrontation with two of the species that Voyager had to battle with almost daily in their first couple of years in the Delta Quadrant?”

Thaustin had shared similar thoughts to McCallister. Knowing his first officer was considering the same options as him, McCallister was impressed when Thaustin turned to Ethav and started to find answers to determine how much danger they would be in. 

“Ethav, can you determine how old those ships are from the debris field?” Thaustin inquired. 

“I believe so, sir; a quantum scan should help,” replied the Andorian at ops.

“Then do it,” Thaustin told him sternly. 

Crossing his arms against his chest, McCallister considered his options further. “We need to know more answers,” He said to Thaustin. “Take over here; I’m heading down to meet with our guest and to see if they can tell us more.”

Thaustin nodded in acknowledgement.

“Let me know when we’ve worked out where they came from and just how old those ships are,” McCallister told his right-hand man as he made his way across the bridge and into the turbolift. 

Entering sickbay, McCallister was surprised by what he had found. Instead of seeing the ship’s EMH behind the quarantine area they had put up around the surgical bay, he found Doctor Uknare and Counsellor Oron talking to a woman who was sat up straight on the edge of the surgical bed. 

Standing by the doorway, along with other armed security personnel, Lonar observed from a distance. 

“Natima, what’s going on?” McCallister asked his chief security and tactical officer. 

“Our Vidiian friend is Phage-free, sir,” Lonar replied. “The EMH checked them thoroughly, and instead of dealing with that, Doctor Uknare treated them for their injuries. Counsellor Oron has been speaking to them, too.”

McCallister nodded as he walked over to the other side of the room. The Vidiian woman didn’t appear like most Vidiians on the ship’s official records. She didn’t seem to have had other’s skins placed on top of hers or scars crossing against her face. McCallister was prepared to have met something that would give most children a nightmare; instead, it was completely different.

“Ah, captain, this is Mala; she is the chief engineer of the Vidiian ship, the Gereth,” spoke Oron. The Brikar appeared to be in a relaxed state, which helped McCallister feel calmer. 

“Welcome aboard, I’m Captain Horatio McCallister,” McCallister said as he approached the surgical bay.

“Thank you for rescuing me, captain,” Mala said sweetly as Uknare continued to treat her.

“You’re welcome,” McCallister replied diplomatically before asking his doctor for an update. “How is she, doctor?”

“A few bruises, bumps and cuts here and there, but nothing significant,” Uknare reported.

Impressed to hear that, McCallister took a breath before speaking. “And no signs of the Phage?” 

“None at all, sir,” Uknare confirmed with an impressed look. “She has never been infected with it.”

Before he could ask Mala to clarify that point, Mala spoke up. “I’m assuming you’ve encountered my people before?”

“One of our ships did, almost three decades ago,” McCallister replied.

“Voyager,” Mala stated.

“Voyager,” McCallister confirmed. “I take it you’ve heard of it?”

“Heard of it?” Mala said with a slight snortly. “The legend of Voyager is well known among my people. The ship from the other side of the galaxy that would evade capture on many occasions. The only ship that contained the possible cure to the Phage.”

“Cure?” Oron asked.

“Yes, one of its crewmembers possessed a type of DNA immune to the Phage,” Mala responded.

“Klingon DNA,” Uknare stated. “Voyager’s chief engineer was half-Klingon, and it appeared that Klingon DNA had a natural immunity.”

“You can see why it became a legend among my people,” Mala said, looking back at McCallister.

“Indeed,” McCallister agreed, “But we are far from your territory.”

“We are,” Mala confirmed. She took a breath after Uknare finished her final treatment. “Captain, I know my people aren’t trustworthy, but what I share with you is the truth. My people are still dying from the Phage. Though a cure was found, it didn’t work for our entire population, and in some areas of our territory, the Phage mutated and became more aggressive. The price for the cure was too high. Only some were free, while others continued to suffer. Where I come from, my home is one of the final colonies where those who have not been infected reside.”

“That sounds like quite the sanctuary,” Oron remarked.

“It is, and its location is only known by a few,” Mala stated. “Those who reside there are some of the finest in our society. It is a paradise for those lucky not to be infected; it is also a place where our most advanced technology is developed, and the work for the cure continues.”

“Let me guess, it’s nearby, and the Kazon found it,” McCallister asked. 

“You make it sound like that outcome was predictable,” Mala remarked. 

McCallister shrugged before answering. “It’s logical to what we know right now. Your ship was destroyed when it rammed that Kazon ship. That’s a desperate and bold attempt to stop the Kazon. If the Kazon haven’t improved their technology in the last few decades, then finding out about your colony would make one, if not all of their sects, powerful.” McCallister paused as he continued his deduction. “Furthermore, we know that in the past, the Vidiian harvested organs from the Kazon, which I would guess may have increased when the Phage mutated. They are the nearest stock of organ donors, so that it would cause more tension between your people.”

“Yes, that’s exactly right,” Mela said, impressed at McCallister’s assumptions.

“The question remains,” Uknare started. “How did you end out this far from Vidiian space?”

Mela took a breath. “I’m not sure if I can tell you.”

“We have no hostile intention with you and your people,” Oron stated.

“Unless you try to harvest from us,” McCallister added.

“Well, there’s that,” Oron agreed.

For a moment, nothing was said between them all. McCallister looked at Mela. “So, Mela, we could drop you off home and continue on our way, or you could tell us how you got out this far, and we might help you with that Kazon issue.”

“I’m not sure if I can speak for me people,” Mala responded. 

Realising he was pushing her too much, McCallister nodded. “Very well. We will make you as comfortable as possible while you recover. In the meantime, if you change your mind, then please let Doctor Uknare and Counsellor Oron know.” 

“Thank you, captain,” Mala said. 

McCallister looked at both his officers, telling them to make her feel at home where she was before he left sickbay. He stopped at Lonar and told her he didn’t want Mala leaving sickbay and her sights for now.

“Tell me we have something,” McCallister insisted as he stepped off the turbolift onto the bridge.

Standing up from the centre chair, Thaustin nodded. “We do,” He pointed to Ethav and Jarata before him. “Gentlemen, care to share the news?”

Both men nodded as they turned around in their chairs to face their superior officers. Ethav spoke up first. “Sir, our quantum scans show that both ships were over thirty years old. The Kazon one was almost fifty. However, the Vidiian one had improved systems that were only a year or two old.”

“And the other news?” McCallister asked Jarata.

“We know where they came from,” Jarata replied before touching his console and showing their previous known location. “A star system with several gas giants, including one M-class moon orbiting the largest.”

“And that’s not all we’ve found, sir,” Kazlaf added from science. “We’re detecting high neutrino emissions accompanied by an intermittent graviton flux.”

“A wormhole?” McCallister guessed.

Kazlaf nodded. “It’s a possibility.”

Hearing that news made McCallister smile. Could they have just discovered where this Vidiian paradise was located and how they had ended up this far from their space? Also, was this how the Kazon made their way here? Without thinking twice, he turned to Jarata. “Rubon set a course for that system and engage at warp seven.”

“Aye, captain,” Jarata said immediately.

Thaustin turned to him. “Are you sure about this, sir?”

“I think so, and we may have just found our ticket out of here,” McCallister said confidently. “We may need to speak to our guest a bit more, but with some persuasion, I think we could be home sooner than we thought.”

“Dropping out of warp on the system’s edge,” announced Jarata, his voice tinged with caution as the crew prepared for potential encounters.

“Yellow alert, shields up,” Thaustin ordered.

The Constitution’s bridge was its usual busy self, with every station manned. McCallister, who had been mulling around the aft stations, moved back to his chair. A moment later, the turbolift doors opened. Stepping out first was Oron with their Vidiian guest in tow, with Uknare bringing up the rear.

“Welcome to the bridge,” McCallister said, his tone respectful and curious as he addressed Mala. “Listen, I know you didn’t want to share where you came from with us, but when we performed a long-range scan, we found the warp trails your ships left behind from their battle. They extended from this system, and we detected an M-class moon.”

“Quite a thriving moon, too,” Thaustin said, matching the captain’s diplomatic approach. “Over five million Vidiian life signs on it.”

Clearly, Mala felt a mix of guilt and annoyance at her hosts. “I’m impressed you were able to scan that far. What do you want?” Her questioning was laced with an almost defiant tone. 

Raising his hands to express his desire for nothing, McCallister replied, “We just want to get you home to your people.”

Mala appreciated the gesture. “Thank you, captain,” She took a deep breath. “You’ve found the interspatial flexure, haven’t you?”

Choosing to remain friendly with her, McCallister nodded. “We detected high amounts of neutrinos and graviton flux in the area.”

“Your ship is impressive,” Mala took a sigh. “Can it also deal with a squadron of Kazon ships?”

Concerned by that remark, McCallister didn’t get a chance to reply as Oron had stepped in first with a come-back. 

“A Kazon Squadron? I thought you said you destroyed the Kazon ship when your ship rammed it?” The Brikar questioned.

“That was one of their ships,” Mala admitted. “The Kazon have taken up a defence posture near the aperture. Our defence force doesn’t have enough ships left to push them away. The flexure opens every twelve days, so when this happens, the Kazon will send in more ships to secure both ends.”

“Damn,” Thaustin muttered. 

Mala looked curiously at Thaustin and McCallister before sudden realisation dawned on her. “You were going to use it, weren’t you?”

“We were going to study it first and see if it could help us return home quicker, yes,” McCallister confirmed. 

Crossing her arms against her chest, Mala took a deep breath in. “If I spoke with my leaders and perhaps if we could work together, maybe we could help one another.”

“What do you have in mind?” Uknare asked, interested in hearing what her patient was devising. 

“An alliance,” Mala replied. “You help us remove the threat the Kazon pose to our colony, and in return, we help you get through the flexure.”

McCallister looked at Thaustin, who gave him an assured nod.

“Let’s meet with your people then,” McCallister told Mala.

“Captain’s log stardate seven-eight-six-eight-zero point four. After evading detection by the Kazons, we held discussions with the Vidiian leadership and visited their colony. Mala’s description of her people’s paradise was accurate. After touring their many impressive achievements, I can’t help but wonder if the Vidiian hadn’t been inflected with Phage, would their entire society have developed like the one we’ve visited? While speaking with their leaders, all of whom are scientists themselves, I couldn’t help but feel like they would make excellent members of the Federation. This train of thought has occupied my mind for some time now. If the Phage hadn’t happened, would the Vidiian Sodality become the Delta Quadrant’s equivalent to the Federation? Their values of education, scientific discovery, art and philosophy would rival some of the best teachers, scientists, artists and thinkers from worlds like Earth, Vulcan, Bajor, Andoria and Tellar Prime. This encounter has also prompted me to question whether the Federation would resort to drastic measures to save its people if faced with a similar plague affecting millions. Putting these questions aside, I believe that the alliance we have agreed to will benefit both the Vidiian and our understanding of a people whom Voyager didn’t have the opportunity to fully explore due to the aggressive medical policies encountered by the crew. Despite their limited success, I was also impressed by the Vidiian’s desire to find a peaceful solution with the Kazon. While our ultimate goal is to remove the Kazon threat from their territory, I am prepared to act as a mediator if the Kazon are willing. Meanwhile, my crew is preparing plans to address the Kazon threat if our diplomatic approach fails.”

Sitting in his large ready room, behind the small conference table, Captain McCallister looked at Mala, who sat to his right and gave her a reassuring smile. “You okay?” He asked.

“I’m an engineer, not a diplomat; I don’t know why my leaders felt I should be the one to sit with you,” Mala shook her head. 

“You’ve survived a Kazon attack; you know what they’re like in battle; furthermore, your people feel you’re the right person to liaise with us,” McCallister told her sincerely. “All we need to do here is listen to the Kazon. We don’t need to make any decision. Now they know we’re here, it may force their hand.”

“That’s what worries me; with our defence force almost depleted, I don’t know how we can sustain a long drawn, out campaign against them,” Mala remarked. 

“Then what better reason to explore peace,” McCallister said. “I originally trained to be a pilot, then I became a spy before I was made a captain. We deal with what life throws at us with the tools, experience and skills we have in the moment. As I said, let’s see what they say.”

“I just can’t believe my people made me an ambassador just like that!” Mala said, shaking her head. 

 “And a promotion to captain,” McCallister reminded her. “They know by giving you such authority, it shows the Kazon that your people are serious about these talks.”

“As if we’ve not been serious enough before,” Male commented before she took a deep breath and exhaled. Mala nodded to McCallister, showing her appreciation for his support.

The door to the ready room then parted, and walking in first was Thaustin. He and Oron had met with their Kazon guests in the shuttlebay and had chaperoned them to the ready room. McCallister had wanted to show off how advanced the Constitution was to the Kazon. It was a small tactic to put them on notice of what and who they were dealing with. 

“Captain Horatio McCallister, may I present First Maj Cuzik of the Nistrim-Thorn Subsect, ” Thaustin said, starting the introductions. “First Maj Cuzik, this is Captain Horatio McCallister.”

“Welcome aboard, First Maj,” McCallister said, greeting his newest guest.

First Maj Cuzik approached with an air of imposing authority. His rough, leathery skin, marked by battle scars, had a reddish-brown hue. His wild, thick dreadlocks, adorned with metal and bone, framed his face like a savage crown. A rigid forehead, high cheekbones, and a square jaw gave his face a harsh, angular quality, while his dark, piercing eyes exuded ruthless intelligence. Cuzik’s clothing contrasted sharply with the Starfleet uniforms. He wore a long, tattered coat of deep, earthy tones, reinforced with leather patches and metal plates symbolising his rank, fastened with intricately carved clasps bearing Kazon symbols.

As Cuzik drew nearer, Captain McCallister couldn’t help but notice the confidence in his stride, the way he moved with a predator’s grace. This was a leader who had fought tooth and nail for his position, a warrior whose presence commanded respect and fear in equal measure.

“Captain McCallister,” Cuzik responded with a slight bow of his head. His voice was a gravelly rumble that seemed to resonate deep in his chest. 

McCallister nodded, maintaining his composure despite the intimidating presence before him. Noticing that Cuzik was now glaring at Mala, McCallister spoke up instantly. “This is Captain Mala of the Vidiian Sodality; she is joining us as their ambassador.”

 Giving out a resounding chuckle, Cuzik smirked at her. “This is the best the Vidiians could send? This female? No wonder they are scared of us.”

“My people are not scared of you, Cuzik, and you cannot intimidate us either. Your last warship was destroyed at the hands of my people; we have agreed to join these talks with Captain McCallister to find an ever-lasting peace with you,” Mala said sternly.

McCallister was surprised at Mala’s confidence but returned his focus to address Cuzik. “First Maj, the fact you are here proves you see there is something to gain by sitting down and discussing how we can move forward together.”

Glaring now at McCallister, Cuzik squinted his eyes at McCallister. “The only reason why I am here, captain, is simple. My sect knows the legends of the Federation and how one of your ships, as powerful as it was, refused to share that technology with our kind, and we were forced to take it for ourselves. Like the Trabe and these Vidiians, your Federation comes in with its mighty principals and values and refuses to share what you have with those who do not have a lot.”

“The Federation does not exchange technology with just anyone,” McCallister emphasised. “You mention your sect taking that technology from us,” He then sat down in his chair, showing his power in the room, “Voyager is a legend among my people too; in fact, Kathryn Janeway, who beat you, is now one of the most decorated admirals in Starfleet.”

“Your point?” Cuzik cut in

“My point is that Admiral Janeway advised Starfleet that the next encounter we ever had with your people, we should prepare for battle, but also told us that your people did not have the skills, the resources or cohesion to develop your own technology,” McCallister said. “Like Mala, she’s also female, so I can appreciate how it must hurt to hear that. You say you’re from a sub-sect of the Nistrim sect, correct?”

“The Nistrim-Thorn sub-sect is an honourable group within the Kazon-Nistrim,” Cuzik countered.

“I’m sure it is, but Janeway, a female, was the one who outsmarted and fought your leader, First Maj Cullah, almost thirty years ago, so if the Nistrim wish to see what we’ve developed in the last three decades to defeat you again, go ahead and carry on doing what you’re doing and you will get a front row seat to that show. Or you could sit here and discuss the situation with us.” McCallister paused as he fixed his attention solely on Cuzik. “Your choice.”

Growling to himself, Cuzik pulled the chair opposite McCallister and sat down. His small entourage of two others sat on either side of him while Thaustin and Oron joined the side where McCallister and Mala were. 

Pleased that they were getting somewhere, McCallister looked at Cuzik. “I understand that you’re here to gain access to the research and technology that the Vidiians have.”

“That is not the only reason,” Cuzik pointed out. “The Vidiians attack my people; they steal what is not theirs.”

“You mean their harvesting of organs?” Thaustin checked.

“Harvesting? No stealing is the right word here, commander,” Cuzik spat out. He pointed at Mala, “Harvest would imply they worked hard to reap what they sow. Her people brutally assault our people, take what they need to keep themselves alive from their dirty plague.”

“My people, on this world, are not infected by the Phage,” Mala said before gesturing to herself. “Surely you can see with your own eyes that I am not sick.”

“This world of yours, this sanctuary you use to keep those infected isolated from others, is a breeding ground for you to find otherwise to inflict suffering on the rest of us,” Cuzik countered back. “You create weapons to remove what you need without hesitation. We have seen it without our own eyes.”

Mala sighed. “Yes, my people back in our home territories take extreme measures to help others with the Phage and organ harvesting has become common practice. I won’t deny that, but what we are trying to achieve here isn’t a plan to destroy your people. We are trying to find ways to stop the suffering on our own and find a cure for everyone.”

“Your words are meaningless; your people will always prey on those they can take from,” Cuzik stated as he turned to McCallister. “You ally yourselves with murderers, captain.”

“The Kazon can just be as brutal, especially on their kind. You attack one another to gain further control, so if we are going to sit here and talk about each of your people’s actions, then let’s be fair to the Vidiians here, that your people can just be as bad in attempts to survive,” McCallister remarked. “So what will it cost to remove your ships from this area?”

“There is no price we would pay to allow this world to remain here, creating the technology to wipe us all out. We will make the Vidiians pay for every life they have taken from us,” Cuzik said, standing tall as he looked at McCallister. “And if you stand in our way, we will destroy you, too, captain.”

McCallister stood up, too and matched Cuzik’s eyeline. “Your ships are extremely old; they wouldn’t survive against us. As I told you before, Admiral Janeway has prepared us for this, and you should know that in her last days in the Delta Quadrant, she defeated the Borg with advanced weapons. You honestly don’t think we would use that technology against you?”

“You do not scare us, captain; we outnumber the Vidiians three to one.” Cuzik took one more look at Mala. “You will be stopped; the Nistrim-Thorn will see to it.”

Looking at Oron and Thaustin, McCallister gestured for them to take their guests back to the shuttlebay and see them off his ship. Once Cuzik, his bodyguards and the others were gone, McCallister turned to Mala. “We tried.”

“We did, but we failed.”

“Did we?” McCallister questioned her. “As I told you, we needed to listen to him. What did you hear?”

“That Cuzik is adamant he won’t stop,” Mala stated.

“Indeed, but there’s a level of concern from him. He knows our teaming up won’t serve him well, so we need to be prepared for him to take extreme measures at our next encounter. He will fight to the last man,” McCallister stated.

Mala stood up as she rolled her shoulders back. She looked at McCallister. “How does that help us?”

“Well, he also revealed to us how many ships he has,” McCallister stated.

“He did?” 

“They outnumber us three to one,” McCallister confirmed with a nod as he perched on the table’s edge. “So, how many ships do you have?” 

“Nine.” 

“So they have twenty-seven,” McCallister said as he scratched his chin. “It will take a lot of planning, but we might be able to disable them all.”

“Captain, there’s so many variables here. I’m unsure my people would be prepared to commit our remaining ships to such an assault,” Mala shared. 

“Let’s work together to reduce those variables and see what we can do,” McCallister suggested.

McCallister stood on the Constitution’s bridge, his jaw set with determination as he surveyed the tactical display. The tension in the air was palpable, a testament to the high stakes they were facing. Before him, the viewscreen showed the alarming sight of the small Kazon battle fleet, its vessels arranged in a tight formation, ready to engage.

“Status report,” McCallister spoke calmly but with authority.

Lonar responded promptly. “The Kazon fleet has charged their weapons, and their shields are at full power.”

McCallister nodded, his mind already calculating the best course of action. Everything they had planned with their Vidiian allies was about to take place. A sense of giddiness entered him. Could everything go as simple as they hoped? 

He could already feel his first officer looking up at him from his chair beside his. Thaustin and the entire senior staff were on board with this plan. It was a bold one, one that included many tactics to deal with the Kazon threat, hopefully. 

Looking down at Thaustin, McCallister gave him a reassuring smile. “Ready?” He whispered.

Thaustin just gave him a nod. 

The whole bridge was on red alert. Every station was crewed. Security officers were on guard with rifles in their hands, and everyone had a weapon attached to their hip. If the Kazon tried to board the Constitution, they were ready for that, too. Though the Kazon were brutal in their tactics, the crew would do whatever it took to survive and ensure they were victorious. 

“Ethav, open a channel to Maj Cuzik,” McCallister ordered. He knew he still had to follow Starfleet’s protocol in trying to give the diplomatic approach one more try. McCallister composed himself. He wanted to project a sense of strength and remain calm before he spoke to the Kazon leader. Putting his best poker face on, McCallister looked forward. 

Nodding in acknowledgement, Ethav activated the subspace radio as the call to the Kazon leader was accepted. 

“Captain McCallister, are you here to surrender?” Cuzik sneered. He stood among his men, ready for the fight ahead. 

“That’s funny, as I was just about to ask the same thing,” McCallister said with a smirk. “This is my only warning: stand down, or we will open fire.”

“Your ship is outnumbered, and the Vidiians can barely keep going. End this now, or I will execute your crew when I take your ship!” Cuzik threatened. 

“Nah, I’m good. Thank you for the offer, but I should let you know that at some point in the next few seconds, you may start to detect a combined Federation-Vidiian fleet on its way here,” McCallister said, gesturing at Ethav to proceed with what they had planned. “And I should tell you that the Vidiians are joining the Federation. So, if I were you, I would stand down now if you want to avoid losing your entire fleet.”

“Your threats are meaningless,” Cuzik said.

McCallister shrugged. “Your long-range sensors should detect a task force of forty-seven Starfleet ships. Do you really want to test us?”

 Cuzik briefly considered McCallister’s threat before ordering someone off-screen to send twelve ships to investigate the incoming fleet.

“I know your fleet is a trick,” Cuzik responded.

“Is it?” McCallister questioned. “Do you honestly think we arrived without the rest of our fleet? Remember that our technology has dramatically improved since our last encounter. Our ships have quantum slipstream drives, positronic computer cores and transphasic torpedoes. How else do you think we beat the Borg?”

Becoming irritated with their exchange, Cuzik squinted at McCallister before closing the channel. 

“I’m not sure if lying about the Vidiians joining the Federation was taking it too far. Do you think he took our multiple bluffs?” Thaustin asked as McCallister slumped into his chair. 

“I hope so; otherwise, we’re dead,” McCallister replied. He looked at Jarata at the helm and said, “Rubon, take us in full impulse.”

“Aye, sir,” Jarata replied as the Constitution lurched forward with the remaining Vidiians.

“The Kazon are opening fire,” Lonar announced as the ship shuddered slightly. “Shields are at ninety-three per cent.”

“Returning the favour, fire at will!” McCallister ordered. 

The Constitution’s advanced phasers and photon torpedoes sliced through the Kazon’s outdated shield technology with surgical precision. As Jarata expertly manoeuvred the starship into position, the phaser beams lanced out, easily bypassing the Kazon shields. Each shot struck on target, unleashing energy torrents that overwhelmed the Kazon warships’ defences. The photon torpedoes followed, detonating with devastating force against the weakened hulls, sending debris and flames erupting into the vacuum of space. The disparity in technology was starkly evident as the Kazon vessels faltered under the relentless assault, their shields flickering and failing before the onslaught of Federation firepower.

“Shields at eighty-four per cent!” Lonar reported. 

“We’ve taken out three of their shields and disabled another two; the Vidiians’ strategy is working!” Kazlaf shared from her station.

Impressed to hear that, T’Penni raised an eyebrow at engineering. “Their approach of pairing up and reinforcing each other’s shields with their deflector fields is making the Kazon’s attack almost futile.”

“Let’s just hope we can keep this up long enough!” McCallister shared.

“Another Kazon raider destroyed, sir,” Lonar stated. “Those tips we showed the Vidiians in using tachyon bursts against the Kazon’s shields are helping them. Only eight more ships are left.”

“Sir, Captain Mala is hailing us!” Ethav reported as sparks flew around them. 

“Onscreen!”

Mala, who was now wearing a new uniform, appeared on the main viewer, showing that she was sitting in the centre of the bridge of one of the Vidiian ships. “Captain, I suggest we move to our next phase.”

McCallister nodded. “Agreed, and Mala, all our best!”

“To you too, Captain McCallister and your crew. Please, if you survive, let us know.” Mala said sincerely. 

“We will!” McCallister promised as he told Ethav to close the channel. “Rubon, you heard her, let’s go!”

The pilot nodded as he changed their heading, and the Constitution approached the interspatial flexure. “One not-so-wormhole ahead of us, sir.”

“Arm torpedoes,” Thaustin ordered.

“We need to fire one to force the aperture open, and then I want a spread ready for our aft launchers!” McCallister ordered. 

Lonar worked at her station. “We’re ready, sir. Just give me the wor-”

“Wait!” Kazlaf screamed as she changed the screen to show the Kazon flagship moving towards them. “Cuzik’s ship is moving to block us.”

“Damn it,” McCallister cursed. “Redirect all weapons, target their aft sections, continuously fire into we breach those shields. Attack pattern Delta-Four.”

With relentless determination, the Constitution maintained its assault on the Kazon flagship. Phaser beams continued to sear through the remnants of its shielding, scoring direct hits on critical systems. Each volley of photon torpedoes found their mark, detonating in brilliant bursts of light and heat that tore through the Kazon vessel’s hull. 

Despite Cuzik’s desperate attempts to retaliate, his weapons proved no match for the precision and power of the Constitution’s arsenal. Gradually, the Kazon flagship’s defences crumbled under the sustained barrage; its once-proud structure was now reduced to a crippled, smouldering wreck. 

“They’ve lost shields and weapons, sir,” Lonar shared.

“Arm a full spread of quantum torpedoes,” McCallister ordered. “Fire!” 

The Constitution unleashed quantum torpedoes that engulfed the Kazon flagship in a blinding cascade of energy, obliterating the once-proud vessel in a spectacular display of firepower.

“The remaining Kazon ships are attempting to retreat; Mala is pursuing them,” Kazlaf announced. 

“Get us back on course,” McCallister said. “And ready those torpedoes. Take us in, Rubon!”

Firing a single photon torpedo, the Constitution forced open the flexure and instantly engulfed the Federation ships with its wide purple mouth. 

“We’re passing through the threshold,” Jarata declared.

“Torpedoes,” McCallister ordered.

Four photon torpedoes were released from the ship’s aft launchers, and they all detonated seconds later.

Surging forward, the Constitution kept ahead of the shockwave behind them. Jarata reported how close it was getting to them. T’Penni announced more power was being transferred to the aft shields. The ship shuddered a lot as the pressure from the collapsing flexure built up around them. Then, the vessel was expelled into normal space in what felt like one massive shove.  

“Report!” McCallister asked aloud after a few seconds. 

“We’re back in normal space,” Jarata replied.

“Systems are coming back online,” Ethav shared. 

“I’m getting a fix on our location now,” Kazlaf stated as she tapped at the science station. 

“Bridge to sickbay, any injuries?” Thaustin asked after tapping his combadge.

“A few, but nothing serious,” Uknare replied over the intercom.

McCallister stood from his chair and walked over to where Kazlaf was. “Well?”

She turned around in her chair with a smile on her face. “Exactly where we wanted to be?”

“Really?” McCallister checked.

She nodded before showing them all what her sensors were telling her. “We’re seven light years away from Takar.”

Pleased with the results, McCallister returned to his seat and sat down. Mission accomplished, he thought. With the Barzan wormhole entrance not that far from them, they would finally be closer to home than they were a day ago.