It had only been a few hours but it felt like an entire lifetime. The Sausalito would have been able to arrive much sooner if the warp drive was functioning. The engineering crew was hard at work but no progress had been made so far. Harper had complete confidence in their abilities though so she was trying not to micro-manage them and give them the space and freedom to work. She had instead spent the last few hours bouncing back and forth between stations and watching the viewscreen in front of her.

When the moment had at last arrived, the sound of her Helmsman broke her out of her trance like state. She had been watching the viewscreen and found herself lost in thought. The possibilities of what they would come across had her mind reeling.

“Captain, we’ve arrived.” Ensign Hveir chimed.

“Strange…. I am now registering two ships on short range scans now,Captain.” Chief Science Officer Commander Piya spoke up.

“Show me.” Captain Harper replied as she moved towards his station.

“The first is the most undoubtedly one we came for. It’s a starfleet vessel…Norway class. The USS Bell Rock  it looks like, Captain.” He spoke while motioning to the small blips on his screen. “The second is a ship of unknown origin. The ship’s database is not registering anything on it. I thought we had everything in the system but apparently we have missed some. I’ll keep searching.”

“Thank you, Commander. Are we seeing any life signs aboard either vessel?” Captain Harper inquired.

“We are registering life signs aboard the Bell Rock although they are very faint. We will need to move quickly, Captain. I think the life support system is compromised.” Commander Piya replied with an urgent tone.

Harper turned towards her Chief Security Officer. “Commander Brady, we are going to split up and send two teams. First Officer Sili will take a team aboard the USS Bell Rock. I want you to lead a team aboard the unidentifiable ship. We need to move quickly and determine what happened here. Be safe but be quick and report back anything you find. We will be working here to try and identify that vessel in the meantime.”

“Aye, Captain.” Commander Brady responded. “Moving with team now,” he stated as he turned and headed for the turbolift. He reached it right when it dinged and the door opens to show First Officer Sili had returned.

Captain Harper turned at the sound and noticed her First Officer. “Ah, First Officer Sili. Just who I needed to see. I was about to call for you. I have a mission for you.” Captain Harper looked at her with a slight smile on her face and a knowing look.

“Aye, Captain. I am ready.” LtCo Sili spoke as she raised her chin a little higher.

“We have discovered there is another ship here. There is an unidentified vessel near the USS Bellrock. I need you to lead a team aboard the Bell Rock. You will take Lieutenant Redrol with you. There are life signs aboard but they are faint and we need to act quickly. Let me know anything you discover. I will be here working with the crew to try and identify the unknown vessel. Anything you find may be helpful to that cause.” Captain Harper spoke as she slowly walked back towards her Captain’s chair.

“Understood, Captain. I will not let you down.” Sili stated and then entered the turbolift next to Commander Brady.

Commander Brady entered the Transporter room with his team. The newest member of the crew, Ensign Jablonski was among them along with a few members of the security team. There were 6 of them total. “Everyone ready?” He asked and he looked the team over.

“Aye, Commander.” Everyone spoke in complete unison except for Ensign Jablonski. Ensign Jablonski instead turned toward the Commander and said, “Ready for what?”

Commander Brady was dumbstruck. He was almost positive the young man had to be joking but he appeared to be dead serious. “To beam over to the unknown vessel…are you well, Ensign?” Brady asked.

“Ah, that. Yes, I am quite alright. My apologies. I got distracted. I am ready when you are, Commander.” Ensign Jablonski responded through a huge grin.

Commander Brady let out a long sigh. This should be fun, he thought to himself. He turned back toward the Transportation officer. “Transport us now,” he spoke and then felt that familiar warm and tingly feeling as the team was transported aboard the unknown vessel.

It was completely dark aboard the unknown vessel except for the few sporadic emergency lights located throughout the vessel. Commander Brady took a quick look to ensure all of the away team members were present and accounted for. He looked over Ensign Jablonski who smiled and offered a thumbs up at him.

“Let’s go,” Commander Brady stated and then grabbed his pulse rifle and began moving out of the transporter room into the hallways.

They moved slowly throughout the corridors. Lights flickered on and off which gave the whole vessel a spooky ambiance. They passed by what looked to be the kitchen and heard water leaking somewhere. But Commander Brady thought it odd that they had not come across anyone or any type of body yet. He kept pushing on towards what he thought would be the bridge.

It was evident that some sort of battle had occurred here between at least this vessel and the USS Bell Rock but maybe there had been more involved. He didn’t know yet.

They moved quietly along and covered each other’s backs. They arrived at what Commander Brady believed to be the bridge and spread out in front of the door. Ensign Jablonski and Commander Brady took places on either side of the doors while the rest of the team filed in behind them. Commander Brady counted to three on his fingers before he and Ensign Jablonski entered through the doors.

They walked into utter destruction. There were smalls fires at each and every station. The ship’s system had attempted to put the fires out so the floor was slippery at certain points along the floor. Commander Brady still did not see any bodies.

“Does anyone see something I’ve missed? Where are the bodies?” Commander Brady asked looking around.

“No idea, Commander,” a member of the security team provided. “I have not seen the first sign of a person or a body.”

Commander Brady started moving toward the viewscreen when he heard a cry out.

“HOLY SHIT! What is that THING!” Ensign Jablonski yelled out backing away from the Captain’s chair.

Commander Brady rushed over to where the Ensign was standing and then he saw what the Ensign was talking about. The humanoid creature was unlike anything he had seen before. It had small ridges on its chin and two horizontal ridges just above its nose. The ridges on its face gives it very sharp features. A large fin-like crest runs across the center of its forehead, becoming wider as it reaches the top of its skull.

“What did we just find?” Ensign Jablonski looked at Commander Brady when he asked the question.

“I’m not sure, Ensign.” He replied and then brought out his tricorder. “Away team Bravo reporting in. Captain, you’re gonna want to see this.”