Commander Mehta knew that diplomacy was their only hope, in that instant he wished Ambassador Tilis had been part of the away team. She wasn’t of much help unless they could communicate with the ship. With Velenia’s intentions clear and the fate of the USS Vallejo hanging in the balance, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the task ahead.

“Velenia,” Mehta began, his voice calm but firm, “we understand your desire to protect your people and their secrets. But we are not your enemies. We explore the stars seeking only to understand the universe and to find a way to coexist with others.”

Velenia regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism, her piercing violet eyes searching his face for any hint of deceit. Her mind struggled to form the words, her speech still unnatural and stilted compared to the fluidity of her thoughts. “Your words… not like others,” she remarked, the effort evident in her tone.

Mehta nodded, sensing a glimmer of progress in their exchange. “We are different,” he affirmed. “We come from a diverse coalition of worlds, each with its own history and challenges. But we share a common goal: to seek knowledge and understanding.”

The chamber seemed to hold its breath as Velenia processed his words, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. “And what knowledge do you seek?” she inquired, her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Mehta paused, choosing his words carefully as he studied Velenia’s ethereal form. “We seek to understand the nature of your people, the Sharnak,” he explained. “We wish to learn from your wisdom and your experiences, so that we may grow and evolve as a species.”

Velenia’s expression darkened at the mention of her people, a shadow passing over her features like a fleeting memory of pain. “The Sharnak are no more,” she replied, her voice heavy with sorrow. “We left behind, seeking refuge from the chaos. I cannot allow to endanger our newfound peace.”

Mehta’s heart sank at Velenia’s words, realizing the depth of her fear and the weight of her burden. “We understand your need for secrecy,” he said, his voice filled with empathy. “But we pose no threat to you or your people. We only wish to find a way to coexist peacefully.”

Velenia regarded him with a mixture of resignation and determination, her thoughts swirling with conflicting emotions, but becoming clearer in his mind. “You may not intend harm,” she conceded, “but risk too great. I cannot allow you to leave this place alive.”

Mehta’s heart sank at her words, realizing the gravity of their situation. But even in the face of certain death, he refused to give up hope. “There must be another way,” he insisted, his voice tinged with desperation. “We can find a solution that satisfies both our needs.”Velenia remained silent for a moment, her violet eyes distant as she contemplated Mehta’s plea. The weight of her decision hung heavy in the air, casting a pall over the chamber as the away team waited with bated breath.

Finally, with a resigned sigh, Velenia spoke, her voice echoing softly in their minds. “There is no other way,” she said, her words heavy with regret. “But I can offer you mercy.”

Mehta’s brow furrowed in confusion, unsure of what Velenia meant by her offer of mercy. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension.

Velenia turned to face him, her expression somber yet resolute. “I will allow you to die with the others of your kind,” she explained, her tone devoid of malice. “I must ensure the purity of Sharnak remains untouched.”

Velenia regarded him with a mixture of pity and resolve, her thoughts echoing softly in their minds. “There is no other way,” she repeated, her tone final. “But know that I do this out of necessity, not out of cruelty. May your journey beyond this realm be swift.”

With a graceful motion, Velenia began to manipulate the crystals surrounding the central pillar, her movements fluid and purposeful. In an instant, the chamber seemed to blur and shift, the away team enveloped in a brilliant flash of light.

As the blinding light dissipated, Commander Mehta found himself standing once again on the captain’s yacht of the USS Vallejo. A shocked Chief Anari jumped back with a start. The sudden transition left Mehta momentarily confused, his senses slowly adjusting to the familiar surroundings, and adrenaline from the encounter still pulsed through his veins, keeping his mind sharp despite the disorientation. 

Kellan, still recovering from the abrupt return, quickly composed herself and rushed to the side of the injured crew member, Amir. Her eyes flickered with worry, a silent plea for help for her injured shipmate, regardless of their previous history. Rax and Vex were likewise shaking off the disorientation of whatever technology Velenia used to return them here.

“Amir needs medical attention immediately,” Kellan stated urgently, her voice laced with concern as she attempted to assess his wound. Rax had already administered strong sedatives, she wasn’t sure there was anything else she could do but stay with him until help arrived.

Mehta nodded and tapped his comm badge quickly, the urgency evident in his movements. “Away team to Dr. Pell, report to deck 12, Lieutenant Amir needs medical attention.”

“Understood, Commander,” came the curt prompt reply from Dr. Pell. “Medical team is en route.”

Mehta took a deep breath to steady himself before tapping his comm badge again. “Mehta to Captain Day,” he spoke, his voice carrying an undertone of urgency.

“Go ahead, Commander,” came Captain Day’s voice through the comm, optimistic now that the away team had miraculously returned. Her voice held a glimmer of hope, tempered by the uncertainty of their circumstances.

“We’ve been transported back to the ship,” Mehta reported. “Lieutenant Amir is injured, medical attention is on the way. We encountered a being on the asteroid spire. She identified herself as Velenia, claiming to be a sentinel of the Sharnak, an ancient race that left this dimension long ago. The spire is the machine they used to leave here she was waiting for others who never came, and she is about to destroy the spire and us erase all traces of them and their technology. She offered what she called ‘mercy,’ suggesting that we die alongside the others of our kind.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Captain Day responded, her voice betraying her fear and concern. “Understood, Commander. Once medical arrives I want you all in the conference room.”

Mehta acknowledged the order and ended the communication. He knew that Captain Day would have many questions, but they would have to wait until the meeting. For now, his priority was to ensure the well-being of the away team and find a way out of this field.

Captain Day stood on the dimly lit bridge, her head sinking in a small sign of defeat. With each passing moment, the weight of responsibility settled heavier on her shoulders, the fate of her crew hanging in the balance.

“Lieutenant Loren, status report,” Captain Day called out, her voice echoing softly in the quietude of the bridge.

Loren, the ship’s Orion operations officer, stated somberly, “Captain, life support is currently functioning at minimal capacity,” he reported. “At our current rate of consumption, we have approximately 1.5 hours remaining before critical failure.”

Captain Day’s heart sank at the news, the reality of their situation crashing down on her like a weight. With each passing moment, their window of opportunity grew narrower, their chances of survival diminishing with every breath.

Captain Day took a moment to collect her thoughts. She knew that time was of the essence, and that they needed to act swiftly if they were to have any hope of finding a resolution to their predicament.

In the silence that followed Cadet Ryan and Ensign Renn shared a look from across the Bridge.  Ryan was terrified, it was evident all over his face, as he sat at a powerless tactical console, hands balled into fists feeling helpless. Yet looking at his friend at the conn, she looked determined… strong… like a Starfleet officer.  He knew he should be exuding the same confidence that this ship, this crew was going to find a way out of this.  She gave him a slight nod, and for some reason it made him feel better. 

“Attention all senior officers,” Captain Day announced, her voice carrying through the bridge with authority. “Report to the conference room immediately. Ambassador Tilis, you too.”