Lieutenant Junior Grade Neeya Velix didn’t hate bridge duty, and was certainly always grateful for the opportunity, but she didn’t love it either. She much preferred the science labs and the opportunity to tinker on a problem until she had a solution, and where she felt safe enough to make mistakes and ask questions. 

Today, she had noticed the odd mood on the bridge the moment she arrived, a strange radiation that seemed to originate from the Captain and his First Officer, but had long into everyone else. Even Leski, usually chatty at the helm, stayed glued to his screen as Velix slipped to the science station, committed to stay invisible as possible.

That plan had failed spectacularly.

Velix’ hands trembled as they moved over the console. She had already tried reconfiguring the long-range sensors twice. Now she was hoping that this third attempt would yield the expected results. Or any results at all. 

She could feel the other officers watching her and exchanging glances. She could hear Lieutenant Commander Keller’s pacing, and his muttered disapproval.

“I think I got it.” Velix managed. Her lungs felt tight, struggling to fill with air, which had her voice come weak and unsure. She certainly wasn’t instilling any confidence in her abilities right now.

Her eyes flicked up to the viewscreen while the data was loading in. The Asada system appeared peaceful from the Callisto’s position at the very edge of it, but that the sensor data was getting scrambled hinted at an array of energy fields and distortions within. 

Or maybe the problem wasn’t the system. Maybe it was her. Maybe she was simply incompetent, shouldn’t be in Starfleet, and… 

“And?”, asked Keller sharply, interrupting her thoughts. Her stomach twisted, and she averted her gaze. By now, her cheeks were burning and if this was a nightmare, she would very much like to wake up now. Instead, she shook her head. 

“No. I am not getting anything usable.” 

Keller’s expression darkened, and without hesitation, he tapped his badge. “Lieutenant Pereira, to the bridge.”

Velix froze and instinctively took a step away from the science station. She only barely registered Brennan glancing at Keller with furrowed brows, though Keller seemed to ignore that if he had even caught it. 

A few moments later, Pereira arrived. 

“I… I’m having trouble getting the long range sensors to work.”, admitted Velix quietly, and shuffled back another step, eyes fixed on the floor. 

“Happy to help.”, Pereira said with an easy shrug. His smile was brief but warm, and he gestured for Velix to return to the console. “It can be tricky.”, he quietly explained, though loud enough for Keller to hear. “The Asada system isn’t known to be sensor-friendly. Let’s see if this does the trick.”

Velix gave a weak nod and looked at the readout, which certainly provided more data than she had been able to accumulate, but nowhere near enough. 

Pereira shook his head. “No chance.”

He turned to look at the Captain. “I recommend we get closer, sir.”

Ceix gave a nod, and Pereira turned to Velix.

“You could have made that recommendation,” Pereira whispered. “Don’t assume it’s your fault when things don’t work.”

It was one of the many things she liked about him – he reassured her when she needed it. And one day, she would tell him. 

Just not today. Probably not tomorrow either.

Instead, she turned to look at the viewscreen, where Asada, the largest M-class planet of the system named after it, came into view – and for some reason, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. 

“It’s….”, she said, but then fell silent. What came to mind were the words “serene” and “untouched”, and that wasn’t exactly the scientific input that was expected of her.

“That’s Asada.” Brennan said, who seemed a lot less intrigued. “The only inhabited planet in the system. The civilization is considered pre-warp.”

Velix nodded absently, still staring. Her eyes were still glued to the screen, and she pondered  whether it was the lack of notable structures that made it seem so appealing. Then again, objectively, it didn’t differ much – if at all – from planets she had seen before, and then, she had never taken much interest in them. 

She took a step towards the viewscreen, as if that could indeed bring her closer. 

“Are they close to breaking the warp barrier? I don’t even see … what are they called, satellites?” Velix asked. 

“Not at all, it’s estimated that it will take them another few centuries to get there. Their development has not been particularly fast, if compared to other societies at the same stage of development. They are considered to be in a period in something like… the enlightenment era on Earth.”

“What was that about?”, asked Velix. The words tumbled out before she could stop herself. She knew that she could look that information up, and that this was neither the time nor the place to ask about it. 

“To make it short,” Brennan began, “the Enlightenment was a period when reason and scientific inquiry began to take precedence over tradition and religious authority. People started questioning long-held beliefs and explored new ideas about liberty, equality, and the natural world. The era brought changes in politics, but most notably in science, and society.”

She glanced at Velix. “For example, it’s when the idea of democracy started out, and people began advocating for things like individual rights and the separation of powers in government.”

“So the earth was religious?” Velix asked curiously, feeling a little more comfortable now that Brennan didn’t seem to disapprove of her questions, even if they were out of place. She herself had little interest in the concept of a divine being and predetermined fate, but knew that they had been relevant in many societies before they discovered the world – and space –  around them. 

Brennan nodded. “Both can coexist, but yes. Religion was far more central, and during the Enlightenment, religious institutions lost some of their influence as people sought answers in science and philosophy. But that doesn’t mean that religious beliefs are gone- Some of us still follow them.

Velix looked at Brennan, and wondered if the woman considered herself more human than Rodulan. But before she could decide on whether she wanted to ask that or not, Keller scoffed. 

“Belief in myths has no place in Starfleet. We’re explorers, not followers of superstition.”, Keller remarked harshly.

The bridge fell silent, and glances were exchanged. Not because Keller’s opinion differed from that of Brennan, but because of the utterly disrespectful way he had chosen to communicate it. 

Velix winced. This was why she avoided the bridge. Keller had changed, and not for the better. 

Brennan’s expression hardened. “Commander, a word.” she said curtly, and she was about to turn and lead Keller into the direction of the ready room, when Pereira interrupted.

“Sir, scanners are picking up two ships. One of them is the Givens.” 

Brennan froze, her eyes still fixed on Keller. “This conversation isn’t over,” she said, but then turned to wait for the Captain’s orders. Ceix’ gaze lingered on the distant planet a moment longer than usual before he spoke.

“Status?”, he asked, and there was an unusual edge to his voice.

“Engines offline, shields down. We are not detecting any life signs – from either vessel.”

Velix’s stomach dropped. Images of the destroyed civilian shuttle flashed unbidden in her mind. The twisted wreckage, and the haunting faces of the survivors. the silence. She swallowed hard, willing herself to focus on the here and now. 

Pereira turned back to the console, breaking the silence. “I’ll run a full scan, sir.”