The Ukiah drifted in near silence, her systems running on low power to maintain stealth. The viewscreen flickered, the Grim Wall’s shifting gases creating false sensor echoes that made distinguishing real threats a challenge. The ship’s interior hummed softly, while on the bridge, officers spoke in hushed tones, fully aware that one misstep could expose them.

Jhaerys narrowed his eyes as he noticed an anomaly in the data stream. His antennae twitched slightly. “Commander, I’ve detected an energy anomaly. It’s not Klingon, but it’s definitely artificial.”

Already on edge, straightened at his console, Koro Tellarite features set in deep concern. “We need to be preemptive about this. We have no idea what’s being thrown at us.” His fingers tapped impatiently against the console. “It could be a cloaked enemy!” His voice carried too much passion, his instincts screaming to act.

T’Zel, standing calmly beside him, exhaled slowly. “Or it is simply an unstable natural phenomenon.” Her voice was even, her logic unshaken. “I do not dismiss the potential risk, Lieutenant, but I advise caution. We do not yet understand what effects this anomaly could have on our ship.”

Rubbing her chin, eyes locked on the viewscreen. Likika wanted a balanced approach, something that factored in both caution and urgency. “Lieutenant,” she said, directing her attention to T’Zel, “perform additional scans. Work with Ensign Varo to get a clearer picture of what we’re dealing with.”

At the helm station, Zoe tightened her grip on the controls, her hands adjusting for the subtle but unpredictable forces at play. The Grim Wall’s gravitational anomaly pulled at the Ukiah’s trajectory, their erratic pulses making course adjustments feel like threading a needle blindfolded.

“Captain,” Zoe’s voice held a slight strain, “these gravitational shifts are making this increasingly difficult. It’s like flying through a storm with no visibility.”

Tapping rapidly at his console, Sarin’s eyes flicked between data points. “Adjusting sensors now. Trying to maintain a lock on the warp signature before it fades.” He swiped an update to Zoe’s navigational system. “This should help with the unexpected surprises.”

Zoe gave a grateful nod, her eyes not leaving her console.

Koro, however, wasn’t satisfied. He scowled, folding his arms. “This cautious approach is allowing potential threats to escape. We need to be more aggressive.”

Likika snapped her gaze to him, her patience wearing thin.

“Lieutenant,” she said, her voice measured yet firm, “let me make this clear, one last time.” She stood from her chair, her green Romulan eyes locking onto him. “We are a logistics ship, Lieutenant. We transport goods for Hecate Station so it can recover and help this region rebuild. We are not a battleship.” Her tone remained even, but unmistakably authoritative. “If you wish to serve on a combat vessel, you are free to request a transfer. However, as the Chief of Security and Tactical Officer aboard my ship, I expect you to act in the best interests of this crew. And that means ensuring our safety, not pushing us into unnecessary conflicts.”

A tense silence followed. Every officer on the bridge was now looking at Koro. It was as if a spotlight had been placed on him.

He exhaled sharply, shoulders loosening slightly as he nodded. “You are correct, Captain,” he admitted. His voice lacked its usual bite. “I will adjust to the needs of this ship.”

Likika gave a firm nod, satisfied for now. “Good.” She turned back to the viewscreen, her expression thoughtful. “Now, what’s our next move?”

The bridge remained dim, only the glow of console screens illuminating the tense expressions of the crew. The viewscreen split, displaying both the faint Klingon warp trail and the unknown anomaly’s shifting energy signature. The ship’s silent hum felt deafening, each officer waiting for Likika’s decision.

Amar leaned back slightly in his chair, tapping through data on his PADD. “I say wrap this up and get back to duty.” His voice was light, but the seriousness in his tone was undeniable. “While I admire scientific curiosity, we all know that the Grim Wall is no joke. We are, as you said, a logistics vessel, Captain. We’re already distracted with the Klingons, we don’t need another problem.”

Koro, predictably, disagreed. “I strongly advise performing an active scan.” His hands tightened against the console. “That anomaly is a cloaked ship, I know it.”

Reading over the sensor data, nodded slowly. “Perhaps a scientific observation could be beneficial. If this anomaly is natural, the data could provide Starfleet with vital intelligence about this region.” T’Zel logic did carry some weight.

Jhaerys, standing beside her, gave an approving nod. “Yes. Scientifically, this is another mystery I’d love to solve.” His antennae twitched slightly as he glanced at the screen. “But beyond that, we need to consider the natural risks, this could tell us something important about the Grim Wall.”

Sitting back in her chair, listening to each side. Likika had enough information to make her decision.

“Alright,” she said finally, her voice resolute. “We’ll conduct a brief but cautious investigation.” She raised a single finger, her Romulan instincts still wary. “I want all tactical precautions in place before we enter scanning range. The last thing I need is more surprises.”

She lowered her hand, casting a final glance across her bridge officers. “Let’s get to work.”