“Adjusting for developing turbulence!”  Lieutenant William Prentice sat at the helm, restrained by his safety belt, as the Douglas shook from the bumps scattered throughout Underspace.  His focus and attention were on the space ahead and around them while updated science data streamed across his console from his girlfriend, Lieutenant Sadie Fowler.  The impending intentional collapse of the new apertures created significant challenges for them as they navigated the chaotic world around them.  A few sparks lit from the conduits above them, and the deck shuddered roughly.  “Shields holding at 85%!”  He was more concerned about the hull integrity of the Constitution III starship.  He swerved the nimble Douglas as best as he could.

Across the bridge at operations, Lieutenant Calog Tir had the same concerns.  ‘Captain – engineering reports significant strain on several of the lower decks.  Chief Moore has Damage Control teams on the way to investigate.”  They had repaired and rebuilt parts of the Douglas, but she would still need time in spacedock. Another thunderous impact shook the bridge, “Shields at 75% – working to compensate.”  The voices in his head from his symbiote were cool and soothing.  They had been working on how to work together in stressful situations. As chief of operations, Calog focused on keeping everyone working together. Another bounce from the gravimetric forces reminded him of the nature of their mission.  They needed to get out of Underspace.  Quickly.

In the center chair, Captain Helena Dread clenched her jaw as the ship shook again.  They were following the Dragonfly, trying to find an aperture that would put them closer to home and avoid the Delta Quadrant.  “Fowler – report.”

Lieutenant Fowler had an earpiece in as she communicated in real-time with Commander Thasaz on the Dragonfly.  The flow of information was overwhelming.  Sadie was thankful for her team, who worked with her to parse the useful and the useless from the data stream.  “We’ve located the aperture into the Delta Quadrant – we’re shifting courses to get closer.”  The bridge lurched, and she grimaced at the belt digging into her skin.  “Standby.”

Dread listened as Tir reported the shields were at 70%. The EPS grid was being pushed to the limit as the walls and sky fell around them. As a number of the consoles flickered with the latest barrage, she asked, “Damage report?”

Tir was working his console like a map with reports from engineering and operations officers across the ship – all scrambling to ensure the Douglas held up against the pulling pressure as it increased.  “Damage control teams are on site – decks 26, 27, and 28 are experiencing stress – we have fractures developing on decks 27 and 28.  Those are cargo bay decks – we’ve ordered them evacuated and sealed as a precaution.”  The ship shuddered again, “Deck 28 has partially buckled.  Emergency forcefields are in place.  Shields at 65%.”

Ensign Athena spoke up from tactical, alarmed: “Captain, long-range sensors are picking up Devore Imperium ships—multiple contacts circling the aperture.”  She reoriented the sensors, realizing her fears: “Three large battleships, five medium cruisers, and seven heavy scouts.”

Helena asked, “You’re going to tell me we’re outgunned and outclassed, even with the Dragonfly.”  The tactical chief nodded.  She had wanted a chance to punch the Devore in the mouth.  Dread turned to her communications chief, “Atega, an encrypted channel with our Division Flagship.”  

The screen flickered, and Wren’s placid face appeared,  “The Devore appear to have figured out how to use the apertures.  We’re going to have to find another way out of here.”  She glanced at a PADD in her hand, “Our shields are holding at 80% – I’m more worried about you, Douglas.”

Helena grimaced as the ship shook again.  She glanced at her own PADD.  The shields were holding.  Greer was working miracles in the bowels of the ship.  “We’ll hold together.  What are our options?”

Walton tapped at her PADD as her bridge shook from the impacts, “There are three – two are close, but we don’t know where they go.  The third is thirty minutes away – and, according to reports, opens into the Romulan Free State near Algorab.”

Dread didn’t have to do the math as the bridge shook again, “I don’t think we have in it us to make it that far, Captain Walton.  Never mind doing a cannonball into the middle of the Romulans who continue to dislike us for many reasons.”

Walton understood, “Then let’s find out where these two go.”

Tir braced himself as the shaking rumbled through Douglas again: “Shields at 60%—damage control teams are working with the shield generators.”  He continued to work the board as the teams worked to keep the power and systems online and bouncing back.

At science, Fowler hunched over her console, watching the two probes they had launched at the two apertures.  The bridge continued to shake from the gravimetric and tachyon forces, which increased power with each passing minute.  She confirmed, “One goes into the Gamma Quadrant – even farther from where we were…and the other…opens up in Klingon space near the planet Atrok.”

Dread frowned, “Who has dominion over Atrok?”  She was not familiar with the Klingon Empire and its political machinations.  She saw one of the science ensigns excitedly whispering to Fowler, “You have something to share with us, Ensign…?”

The young officer blushed as he turned to face her, “Ensign Jake Shaw, ma’…sir.  Atrok is the home planet for the Major House of Koloth.  They’re among the few remaining friends and allies of the Federation and Starfleet left in the Klingon Empire.  I’ve been studying them since the acade…,”

She interrupted him, “No need for the life story of the story, Ensign Shaw.  Atega – let’s get Walton in the loop.”  Once Wren was back on the screen, Dread explained the opening details and gestured to Shaw, “Our own Ensign Shaw believes we’ll find friends there.”

Wren’s eyes bored into Shaw, “I’m familiar with them.  Given our choices and the condition of the Douglas, I think it’s our best bet.  Mr. Shaw – you have a limited amount of time to get us a tree of the major and minor players in the House of Koloth – it will take everything we know to get us through whatever comes next.  Interface with our Chief Diplomatic Officer, Commander Hargraves.  Prentice – you know the drill.  Follow us in – you have less than five minutes, Mr. Shaw.”  The screen blacked out as the bridge shook again, with more intensity.

Fowler nearly shouted, “Aperture and Underspace stability is nearing critical levels, captain!”  She quickly sequenced her data with her reports, “We’re looking at ten minutes before it reaches critical levels.”  She shook her head, “Once the apertures close…it’ll be for good.”  There was a twinge of sadness in her voice and a twinge of rage – the Cardassians were taking away the greatest scientific discovery in quite some time.

Dread gripped the arms of her chair, “Then let’s get ready to meet the neighbors.  Start the clock!”  The ship rattled as the shields dropped to 55%.  Helena stared at the aperture ahead of them.  

Time was of the essence.