The ship’s senior staff had all gathered in the conference room, awaiting Ensign Praugol to explain what was happening. Sazra’s joy on her face was readable by anyone entering the room. It was pretty obvious “Thank you all for coming. We are soon to be arriving at N4-17A” She saw some questionable looks on the statement of the name “Right, sorry, back in the academy, I did a large research of astronomical movements and reactions of chemicals within storms create in space” She explained carefully and slowly “Starfleet was quite impressed with my results and out of the box thinking when it came to an understanding these particularly nebulas that were quite dangerous in the first place.”

“So why the Typhon Frontier? We could have gone to the badlands?”Rami pointed out, crossing his arms over each other, looking slightly confused.

Pointing at Rami while nodding, “Very keen observation and knowing that badlands have a record of these violent storms. There is too much political tension to make a safe journey for a science assignment. Starfleet already has a few vessels in that area conducting their research in the field that can’t be interfered with by us,” She answered truthfully. “Typhon was my first choice anyway, but to come back, why Typhon? It is quite simply that Typhon storms react differently if we compare the data with different nebulas. From what we know, Typhon is more violent, but not everywhere. We are to go towards the locations that are not too violent and investigate what the trigger mechanism is”

Adrián looked a bit puzzled at the explanation. “So, to get it straight, we are going into the heart of the storm to understand what makes it tick?” 

“That is precisely what she is saying, Ensign Valerio. It is the key reason I have come on this journey,” T’Path spoke and overruled Sazra, who shrugged a bit. “The USS Jaxartes is well-equipped and staffed to stay for a longer duration of time within the field. In addition, its long-range sensors can assist in understanding the mind of the so-called beast of Typhon.” 

“Yes….correct what Ensign T’Path said. Everyone here is a key element in making this journey a success. It might take a long time, but in the end, we might be able to contribute to enhancing the safety of our people while they travel near these types of nebulas” Getting excited by the idea, Sazra tried to remain calm. “But we need to stay vigilant as this storm is still an unknown area for us. We don’t know what will lay ahead of us.” 

“I will get the medical bay on standby for any burn injuries,” Silina spoke more professionally and tried to think ahead.

Rami nodded to that. “I will keep sensors in check, we are still in the unknown, so any unwanted surprises are better left knowing rather than unknowing,” he pointed out.

“Alright, thank you all for being with me on this journey. We will arrive at N4-17A within a day. Happy new year, and I look forward to working with you all. Dismissed,” She spoke the final words as everyone resumed their duties. 

Walking into the science lab, Sazra saw T’Path sitting there looking up various data information from the nebula “Ensign. You wanted to speak with….” Looking at her side, Adrián leaned against the console with his arms crossed. “Us?” 

“Captain, I believe we have a slight problem with the upcoming mission. The ship might be the first to investigate this nebula,” T’Path spoke, looking at her Captain and bringing up the Nebula in a holographic 3D image at the table.

“Yes, that is the whole idea?” Sazra spoke a bit confused. 

Shaking his head, “No, that is the problem. We have no data on the Nebula aside from your data on the Nebula itself. Meaning we are going to arrive blind,” Adrián spoke to Sazra, a bit annoyed. “We have no idea how it will affect our ship hull, systems, or even navigational plot lines.” 

She had to admit that the technical aspects of this mission were not her strongest side, and in all honesty, she forgot about it. “Right, so what do you propose that we will do? And no, we are not scrapping the mission when we just launched. Let me clarify that,” Sazra spoke in a demanding tone.

“We are not saying to delay or scrap the mission. We are simply stating that we are going in blind and need to be careful as we have no idea what this storm could do to us. I am very excited to be here, but we need to do this by the book” T’Path spoke in a dry tone, and her excitement was far from able to be detected.

Adrián nodded to that. “We are proposing to jump out of warp sooner so that we can use a slow approach and scan ahead of time. This will allow me time to analyze the data and see if it will somehow affect the ship. While T’Path can check both on long-range scanners if we are in danger and how we can plot our navigation pinpoints more carefully.” 

The two were right, but it would mean a delay in some form. But a good leader would listen to her crew, and even in these times, they were her support. She sighs in slight disappointment. “Alright, we will drop out sooner, but get me those scan results asap. If we can conclude that getting closer is safe, then I want to jump. I rather not do a month over the travel distance if I don’t have to,” Sazra pointed out.

They both nodded to her. “I get to work to get the systems ready to extend our long-range scanners” Adrián nodded to T’Path as she nodded back to him, making him leave the room. “I will get the ship navigational systems ready for the earlier drop. Thank you, Captain, for listening to our advice” With that said, T’Path stood up from her chair and walked past Sazra to rush to the bridge to get the navigational system ready.

Sazra stood alone, looking at the hologram of the nebula. “We will get there eventually,” She spoke to herself and was the last one to exit the science lab. 

Walking onto the bridge as the ship had jumped out of warp already 20 minutes, “Well?” Sazra asked, looking at everyone, “What is the verdict?” She was nervous, not knowing how much of a delay she would get from these pretesting. Yes, they were suitable to perform but still.

T’Path looked at her Captain, “We are still doing long-range scanners of the nebula, sir. So the ship is at risk if we come closer to it” She painfully pointed it out, seeing her Captain shrug.“But if we get a longer time to prepare the approach, we can lower the danger level for this ship and its crew.” 

“Right….so how long do you need?” Sazra carefully asked.

“As long as we need to confirm that we can get into the safe distance,” Adrián replied, looking at her. “Look, I understand that you are excited to get closer to this beast, but I tend not to have the hull’s paint burn away to please your curiosity, Captain.” 

“Besides, knowing what we are dealing with, as said by my fellow officers, is the best course of action. Furthermore, the latest data helps adapt the shields to the potential incoming danger Rami also pointed out to her.

“Oh no, you too?” Sazra said with a disappointing look “Alright, fine, I will wait for now. Get me some data asap” She spoke frustrated as she left the bridge, letting the other officers get back to work again. The calm returned to the bridge for a moment.

Rami looked at Adrián. “So, how long do we keep this up?” He looked a bit puzzled about the whole ordeal. “I mean, the Captain wants to get inside, and we already concluded that it is safe?” 

Adrián looked back at Rami and let out a deep breath, “Mmm, well, the problem is that we want to be sure for 100% because I am not taking any risk. Keep in mind that it is a high voltage plasma storm in front of us, and if we get something wrong, we will be ripped apart, and Starfleet will make a space tombstone saying that we were clumsy for doing this shit too quick” With that said he returns to his work to get things going on his console. Rami looked shocked about the direct answer but just nodded slowly to it, getting back to his work. 

The Jaxartes was already a month at the nebula, collecting all the information. It took some time to convince Adrián that they were able to safely get closer to it. But all went all, and the ship had no direct impact on the nebula’s violent storm behavior. 

“It is a beauty,” Sazra said, looking with almost sparkly eyes at the screen that gave a live feed of the nebula. Sazra had nestled into the science lab and worked together with T’Path around the clock to get all the data on the behavior of the nebula, “That such brute force that can rip apart this ship in tiny bits could be so beautiful”

T’Path blinks and looks over her shoulder. “That sounds very likely, sir, but to define beauty with danger is a concerning matter by itself” She looked at the screen. “It has attribute to catch the attention of many scientists” 

Looking back at her science officer, “Yes, it surely does. We have been here for a month, and I feel we only understand about 5% of it” Sazra looked back at the screen. “The Typhon Frontier is a vast unknown area that must be explored, mapped, and shared its discovery with the galaxy” She smiled softly. “That is the primary reason I joined Starfleet, to go into the unknown and be able to bring something back” 

“It’s about 3.1% sir” T’Path spoke to correct her Captain as she looked back at the collected samples, “The reason I joined is to explore and discover. But more to understand the galaxy we live in” It sounded like a pure academy speech that Sazra had heard a few times already.

Getting lost with her eyes in the Nebula was easy, but she blinked a few times as Sazra moved closer. “Computer zoom 200% on the middle-left” The computer bleeps as the live feed changes to a zoomed-in image of the asked area. “T’Path, what is that” She points at the screen looking back at the Vulcan.

T’Path took a deep breath, looking at where Sazra was pointing on the screen. She couldn’t make out, but there was something of an odd shape there, “Asteroid?” She spoke finally and stood up, looking closer to the stream.

Shaking her head, “Asteroids have regular shapes. This is too perfect angled” Sazra said as she pointed at the object areas. “Is it a possibility that it is a ship?” She could zoom in, but that would make it not clear due to the interference of the nebula. 

“We could contact Starfleet for additional help?” T’Path suggested looking closer at the image, “I can try to do long-range scans, but it takes time….”

“No” Sazra spoke, “The interference of the nebula is also hitting the long-range scans. Work with Adrián to get a boost to those sensors” She nodded to herself. “I will brief in with Starfleet to see the best course of action is…if that is a ship, it might need help. Order Rami to scan all SOS frequency” T’Path nodded to her and left the lab as Sazra walked out to get back to her ready room to contact Starfleet. 

Rushing into the ready room, she taps her command console to get active, “Computer connect me to Captain Neanneh Draidot of Starfleet Operations” She hears a bleep as Sazra gets quickly into attention and waits for the connection to get pushed through. 

A Betazoid appears on the screen as she looks at the young ensign and narrows her eyes. “What can I do for you, Ensign…?” She looked a bit questionable, wondering why an ensign was calling her.

“Captain Draidot, I am Ensign Sazra Praugol of the USS Jaxartes. I am with my crew out in the Typhon Frontier performing a scientific mission to understand better violent nebulas to assure the safety of passage by other vessels of the Federation” Sazra saw the confused eyes of the Captain. “Right…mmm, on routine long-range scans, we have potentially found an unknown object within the nebula we are currently. This object has already been concluded by the computer that it is not an asteroid or anything of that kind. But believed to be a ship of some kind in distress” 

The Captain sat back in her chair as she placed her hands over each other, “Pleasure to meet you, Ensign Praugol. I have indeed received news from your endeavor into the Typhon Frontier. The data on the object, please pass it by” She orders.

Sazra nodded quickly, moved to the console, and pushed the info through as she quickly got back to attention. “There you go, Captain” She felt so formal, but in the back of her head, this was what she was taught by her teachers at the academy. So it was kinda going in a neutral way.

Neanneh looked at the data, let her head hang to the side, then turned her attention back at the Ensign, “That is a potential ship, but you have to investigate further. Did you receive any SOS signals from the ship?” 

Now that she mentions it, Sazra blinks and slowly shakes her head. “No, I honestly have not yet checked sir” She rose her finger. “But, on the picture itself, if you zoom in, you see a trial of potential plasma leakage” She remembered the image clearly and lowered her finger. 

Looking back at the image and nods, “Well that is a hard assumption Ensign, but what is your reason to call in on my line?” 

Sazra blinks and struggles for a moment to get an answer. “Well….you see I wish to receive advice on what the best course of action is for this” 

Letting out a deep sigh as she leans forward on her desk, “It is in these pinnacle moments that you as a brave new commanding officer must stand your ground. This means that you can’t fall back on checking in with the command in time of action. You need to make those choices yourself, be a big girl, and not rely on others as the fate of your crew hangs on your choice” She saw the spirit of the Ensign break in front of her “But…for this time I will advise you to find out a way to get closer, if able to get inside. Don’t use any transportation systems as it will backfire on you in the nebula interference. If you require help send out a message to us, but only if you need it do I make myself clear Ensign?”

She looked puzzled at what she was just told but quickly snapped to attention and nodded to the Captain, “Thank you for your advice on the matter. I will try to resolve them as good as possible in my own choices that will have to come after I find out what this is” 

Giving a pleasing approval nod, the Captain leans back again. “Good, now go out there and make us proud. Captain Draidot out” The screen went black as Sazra was standing there alone and snapped quickly out of it as she walked out of her ready room to get this operation going. 

After her conversation with the Captain, Sazra understood the value of her message. Captain Draidot was right to make her own choices and face the potential reaction to those choices. Take responsibility as a new commanding officer in the making. Not only her career and assignment depended on it, but her crew lives also. She entered the bridge and took a few deep breaths. “Are we in the clear to get closer to the object?” 

“We are technically on paper clear to get closer,” Adrián pointed out and shrugged. “But in reality, I have no idea what to expect.” 

Sazra tapped the side of her chair and nodded to herself. “Shields?” She asked bluntly.

“Shields are up, but I have too little data to go on…we don’t know the effects of that nebula on our system” Rami was concerned over those systems but also had some fate in Adrián’s skills as an engineer.

“Alright, we will only know if we test it right…T’Path slow impulse to the nebula. Adrián keeps the ship system in check, and Rami focus on long-range scanners. I want to know what that object is and if it is sending out any broadcasting signals of SOS,” She orders, sitting against the back of the chair. 

Adrián shook his head in disagreement with this dangerous movement. “Here we go” The Jaxartes starts to move forward. Nothing happened for a while as the storm suddenly started to react to the shield’s interference as electric bolts began to move toward it.

“The storm is reacting to our systems, but strangely enough, not affecting it. It is like being drawn to our shields. I do see a build-up of energy in our generators. I will have to revert the settings of the shields to deflect these electric charges” Adrián taps on the console to get it done. The bolt of electricity hits the shield as it suddenly reflects into space. “The reverse polarization works for now….” receiving a nod from Sazra, “Good work.” 

“Getting a static message, running it through the translation database,” Rami spoke suddenly.

Sazra watched the screen and waited for the computer to translate it when she heard “Thi….ur’as….uire assist….” She looked at Rami. “Can you get the message clear?”

Rami moved some tabs and boosted energy to the communication grid. “This is the best I can …get” He paused for a moment as the power boost the communication array.  

“I repeat, this is the Hu’rastish we require assistance as we divided from the course through the red line of this nebula.”

Bolting his fist as a success, Rami smiled at Sazra, who returned that smile to him. “Open the channel to the Hu’rastish” Rami nodded as the bleep came up “ This is Captain Praugol of the USS Jaxartes from the Federation. We received your distress call. We are here to assist,” She calmly spoke, waiting for a response. 

“USS Jaxartes of Federation, we accept your help gracefully and thank you for your aid. Unfortunately, we are trapped in the nebula we require to return to the red line to gain passage to our world.” safely. 

“World?” She mutters, looking at Rami, who lifted his shoulders and then at T’Path, who shook her head. “We are unfamiliar with this region, and we require knowing more about the red line, so we can provide the required assistance to your ship, Hu’rastish.” 

It stayed quiet for a moment until “We are unfamiliar with the Federation or what your ship designs. So it is understandable, Captain, that you are unfamiliar with our space. We shall send you the red line information. I advise you not to cross it and stay on it. Or we will have two ships to worry about.” 

A bleep came in. “Received the red line data package. Converting to our galactic mapping system now,” T’Path stated as Sazra nodded. “Thank you, we have received the data package and will be careful. Hang in there. We are coming to you as fast as possible. Jaxartes out,” The communication line cut off as Sazra looked at T’Path, “Well, what you got for us?” 

“The data package is a set of galactic nodes found throughout the nebula. Even parts that we have not yet explored are quite fascinating. But basically, the red line is their pathway through the nebula without getting in any danger of the electric and violent nature of this nebula.” 

Sazra nodded in agreement. “But we can get in without a problem and save them?” She looked a bit questionable to the rest of the crew.

“We could get to it, yes, Captain,” T’Path confirmed as Adrián followed up. “If we are careful and don’t be a beacon of attraction for these electric pulses, we can get to it. But we need to find a way to narrow our tractor beam to pull them out of whatever that is” He points at the screen, seeing the ship stuck on something in the nebula.

“Alright, get the ship ready to move in closer….use the red line as guidance and keep those systems in check” She taps her combadge as Sazra smiles softly. “Doctor, prepare for potential alien injured crew members. We might have to provide aid to their medical issues.”

Silinia replied, “Understood, I will get the sickbay ready, but if you require getting me on their ship, it is also a valued option.” 

Smiling at that reply, “Always open for an adventure doc…but this time I will have to see what the situation is. Bridge out” The communication cuts off as the Jaxartes move forward to start their rescue operation. 

The ship named Hu’rastish was pulled free with careful navigation of the Jaxartes to freedom out of the dangerous claws of the Nebula. The crew had performed emergency repairs and medical aid to the crew of the Hu’rastish, and Doctor Ruslanovna clarified that everyone was stable. It was a relief for Sazra that the crew of the alien vessel was in no danger, and she gave the nod to the returning crew, “Good work out there. I got a status report from the Hu’rastish that they are close to activating their engines” Sazra smiled at Adrián.

“The engineering and technical aspect of that ship is quite familiar ground. Their controls work almost identical to what we are using,” Adrián spoke while getting behind his console, “I was skeptical at first that we were able to pull such a dangerous maneuver out. But we did it without any damage to both ships”

“The Hu’rastish is hailing us” Rami looked at Sazra, awaiting her command.

“On the screen,” She replied, returning her gaze towards the screen and waiting for the other bridge to appear. Sazra smiled when she saw “Captain it is a pleasure to see you on the screen” 

The man looked a bit roughed up by the whole experience of what the Hu’rastish had experienced during their trip in the Nebula “The honor is ours ,Captain, we are much graceful for the assistance you have provided and letting your specialists help in our desperate time. I have no, yet proper, introduced myself to you, but my name is Mo’sam, and I am the Captain of the science vessel Hu’rastish. We travel through this nebula to investigate rare anomalies and rarely venture outside into the black night” 

Sazra gave a nod, “You are welcome, Captain Mo’sam. We are glad to help you and would do it anytime if you require so. Actually, we are here for the very same reason. Our crew is investigating the violent nature of this nebula, and we didn’t expect anyone to be traveling inside. It is unbelievable to be inside of it ourselves right now” Sazra was getting the scans that T’Path was doing while they were doing the rescue. She blinks for a second, “You said the black night?” 

The man nods in confirmation, “The black night is what is outside this nebula. I believe your engineer specialist told me you named it space” 

Giving a slight look at Adrián, who didn’t pay attention as her focus got back onto Mo’sam. “Yes, we travel between the stars, exploring the unknown and meeting new people” She waved her hand to Mo’sam. “But if you travel within the nebula, does that mean you are also living in it?” Sazra tried to puzzle the connection to each other.

“Ah, yes, we do. Our home world is surrounded by the lights and warmth of what this nebula gave to it” Mo’sam looked at his fellow bridge crew members and continued, “We would like to extend our hand to you and make you see our world”

Surprised by the offer and the news that there is a world inside a violent nebula, “I would be honored to see your home. We of the Jaxartes accept your offer,” Sazra almost immediately responded. 

“Then please follow our ship through the nebula to our home. We rather not have you get stuck like we did” Mo’sam smiled and gave a bow as the screen turned back to the nebula when they cut off the communication. 

“Helm, follow the Hu’rastish into the nebula. Engineering keeps a keen eye on our hull and shield systems. Rami do me a favor and help me with the gathering of all the sensor scans of this nebula and the inside of it” Everyone acknowledge the orders as the Jaxartes followed the Hu’rastish deeper into the nebula. 

The path taken by the Hu’rastish Was quite challenging but not impossible. T’Path moved the ship through the field as well as possible, and while the view was gorgeous, it made many on the bridge realize how dangerous it was, seeing that the lighting crossed around rapidly and with high voltage. The adapted speed was the best they could do, it was not quick, and it took a few hours to take it, but in the end, it will be worth it.

“What are we going to see there?” Rami spoke curiously as he was trying to do as much data sampling as he could “I mean, there is a world inside a plasma storm. How is that even possible” 

Sazra was enjoying the trip and had a smirk on her face the whole time. “We know almost nothing about this nebula Rami. The simple idea that it is possible lets my scientific heart beat even faster,” She spoke, seeing a firm nod from T’Path who agreed with that statement.

“The thing I am more wondering about is the density. With the readings so far, this world should not exist…it should be swallowed by the nebula,” Silina pointed out, tapping her finger on the side of her console.

“That might be a curious subject to investigate, Ensign,” Sazra winks at her, “But we will see what they have in store for us very soon. The excitement is right here. We have been doing what we wanted since we left the academy. We are exploring the unknown” Sazra couldn’t get that smirk off her face as she lived her dream.

“That might be true, but this excitement can turn into a nightmare very soon if we don’t keep those voltages outside in check” Adrián was quite worried about the strength of the nebula “So I would be more relief knowing that we can get out of this situation alive and be relaxed as good as possible” 

Sazra nods thoughtfully to him. “I understand entirely what you are saying. That is why we are doing all the sensor scans to understand what we are dealing with here. The more we know, the better we can adapt to our need for safety to travel through these paths” Sazra gave the bridge crew some comfort as she thought about the steps ahead. 

The ship exited the nebula and arrived in a hollow, large space that was surrounded by this nebula. The Jaxartes followed the Hu’rastish to their home world and only could see the stunning view of what was being shown to them in such vibrate colors. The planet was a beautiful M-class world, rich in large oceans and landscapes. A bright red glow on the Jaxartes far left side made the nebula gasses flow in a specific direction. It was a star. 

“Impossible…..” Sazra stood up from her chair as her eyes were not looking away from the screen that viewed the star, “That’s …not….how” 

“It’s a star in its early stadium of being born. The information about everything we knew about this nebula Is incorrect” T’Path was looking with great interest at the readings “Captain, we found a new star”

The USS Jaxartes flew into the orbit of the newly found planet, hidden from the rest of the galaxy within a dangerous nebula. It was quite the scientific find for the crew as they found a newly born star being the cause of the nebula and the hiding of this world. But there were still many other questions that got their attention, who were they? How did they get here? Mostly, they wished to understand this new culture.

“Captain Mo’sam” Sazra smiled at the screen, looking at the screen where the Captain of the Hu’rastish sat in his chair, “Thank you so much for bringing us here. We are trying to take in what we are seeing here right now. It is such a beautiful place in yet a violent location” 

Mo’sam nodded, “This is our sanctum, our sacred lands, as we are praised by the mother’s protection of any invading hostile forces outside there. Our people have been exploring the ways of the path for more than a century now, and we only feel that we understand a grasp of what it means” He was pretty impressed by his home location and what it had to offer.

“That is an understatement as we are trying to understand the universe by itself, and we are far from understanding that” Sazra smiled at that idea. “But the fact is, we are here, and meeting your people is in our books as a first contact event. So it piques my interest to know who you are and to learn your culture” Sazra leans a bit back in her chair as she looks at her fellow Captain.

“That is a valid interest, Captain. My people are also known as…what is best to describe it. Valley of the Heart is one way to describe our people. We are nomads in a sense, as we started on this world. Born, raised, and ventured into the big unknown of what the galaxy offers. Our people are not bound to material or such. We believe in sharing and caring for each other. We do not seek to amplify acts of crime, but rather learn from our mistakes” Mo’sam nodded to that himself. “Your gesture of offering help was an insight we were trying to confirm ourselves. Are there other species that have the same values as ours?” 

Sazra gave the nod to that as Silina spoke up, “It was already a welcoming experience to meet with your crew and the hospitality that you have shown our away team while we did our best to help you in the conditions you were placed,” Silina smiled at him “We were honored to be on your ship and make the first steps to understanding each other”.

“The measure of technology insight I gained from our meeting has given me a new perspective of respect. Your ship is functioning quite well in a hostile area, where Jaxartes is struggling to hold it together. Your navigation systems are built to pass through these kinds of nebulas” Adrián smiled, also sharing his experience from his brief visit to the Hu’rastish.

“It has been an honor having you both on the ship, and it has given us the motivation and spirit to continue to travel back home” Mo’sam was delighted with the experience himself.

Sazra took a deep breath, “Then let this day be the first of many where we share our experiences and get to know each other. There is a vast and whole new space by itself out there that can be both welcoming and hostile to you. But we gladly help you throughout these areas as we learn from each other” The two ships were embarking on a new-found relationship that had helped them further, and in Sazra books, this mission was more than a success than she had expected.