“Graviton emissions have declined, the tempest should subside soon sir. Our readings indicate the currents are becoming more stable, and returning to previously recorded levels. There was a lot of seismic activity though sir, the effects of which could easily remain unknown,” Moira’s voice over his comm was collected, his second catching Callum up on the developments of the last few hours. 

The tidal storms had grown exponentially after the observation platforms had been sealed. With the energies cascading the planet from the sudden and nearby aperture opening, the storms had exceeded the scientists most dire predictions. Luckily the news was good from the ship in orbit, its sensor array was able to get a much broader collection of data than the ones installed in the platform. They were tuned for high detail work, and detailed scanning, not for the torrential currents of planetary wide tsunamis and catastrophic storms. 

“Excellent news Moira. I will relay the message to the scientists in charge here. I estimate a couple more hours to aid in repairs, and then we will beam up. Please alert me to any changes in the phenomenon. Callum out.” he said, tapping his comm and wiping sweat from his brow. He was crammed into a Jefferies tube, trying to help recalibrate some of the sensors that ran the length of the column descending into the ocean. The schematic looked almost like a mushroom he had mused when the engineering team had showed him the worst of the damage. The platform had structurally survived, but the delicate sensors had been overloaded by the storm’s fury. It was like listening to bird calls, and then an explosion was how the one engineer had described it. So now he was replacing a few fused circuit boards, and recalibrating. 

The runabout hovered over the platform, low enough that it was a long step into it but nothing they hadn’t done before. The repairs had run over long, and the crew members climbing on board were exhausted. Callum had decided not to beam anyone to the Anaheim as the runabout had already been coming towards the research facility. The scientists had thanked the crew for the repairs, but Callum had seen how eager they were to check on previous specimens and to see the scope of the underwater damage. He could see sleek drones leaving the underside, and he did not envy them. He loved the stars, the nebula and other wonders of space travel, the idea of a vast ocean above him proved entirely different. 

Watching at the copilot chair, Callum could see the storms breaking up, smaller ones continuing to spiral as they expended their strength. A small chain of islands had been stripped bare, the naked minerals and rock of their surface strange to compare against the lush multihued vegetation from before. After that, they broke free of the planet, and the Anaheim beckoned. It looked sleek and silver against the star lit backdrop, though the eye was naturally drawn to the aperture. It seemed dangerously close to the planet, though they had not detected any apparent threat. It loomed like other wormholes he had seen, though the vibrant mix of swirling colors seemed different somehow. It was beautiful, the way only something of cosmic magnitude could be, and he smiled when the runabout pilot took a longer way to the shuttle bay as he too was locked in admiring it. 

Soon though, they were back onboard and Callum nodded to the pilot when he called out “Captain onboard”. He was tired, achy and grimy but heading for the turbolift, he called for the bridge.

“All signs appear to reconcile with other reports sir. The opening appears to be consistent with other Underspace tunnels, although no one seems to know why so many appeared and then collapsed. Many ships have entered, with all manners of encounters and reports. The situation is still very much chaotic, with everyone scrambling. One note though, updated Science logs speak of a species with great experience with Underspace, the Turei. Although even their knowledge does not seem to explain the nature of such a widespread expansion. If that is what it is,” Fylar commented at the end, always one to hedge her bets. Callum knew she hated to overly define something, especially if doing so could prejudice her research. It was why he valued her advice so highly. 

“We are at a crossroads then, on one hand there is no definitive answer as to if this will even stay open. Just because most of the ones that snapped shut did earlier, doesn’t mean this one will not later. And the planet could easily grow to be in danger, we have no way of knowing the effect of such a tunnel nearby,” Moira cautioned from her seat, the strong smell of her coffee filling the ready room. Callum craved one himself, but knew without eating something first it would just add to tired nerves.

“The truth is likely we can expect a little of everything to be true. Both you and Fylar are correct,” he said, letting only two of his more trusted companions onboard see his fatigue. Rubbing his eyes, he stared at the reports both of them had prepared, two sides of a coin that seemed to yet have more sides. “The truth is, this is obviously a rare opportunity by any measure. Fylar, the notes you prepared say Voyager, encountered the Turei and they had technological and other advantages from Underspace. There seems to be no real set of orders from Starfleet, and history has shown us many times, people are quick to take advantage of any major developments,” Callum reasoned, letting himself talk out the path ahead. 

He knew Moira would want to remain, if her worries were correct the platforms could face real disaster before another ship arrived in the system. He had met the scientists, shook their hands after sweating and toiling together. They were no longer faceless numbers and names on a report. The repairs had gone well, and the storms seemed to have dissolved, even as seismic activity continued. He watched the blue orb spinning beneath them, contemplating the choice as he weighed the moment.

“We will make ready to enter the aperture. Fylar, I would like you to run scans and see how best we can attune the sensors to the conditions we will face. Moira, please work with the critical departments and see who needs to be shifted. Engineering and medical should also be alerted. I am going to take a meal, and see if any orders have arrived from command. I will take the chair, shall we say in an hour and a half. Let us make ready,” he said, his decision made. He wouldn’t dash headlong in like a fool, but the way ahead was clear.