Captains Log:

It’s been three day’s since my Chief Medical Officer informed me that the two bodies we have aboard are not those of our engineers; but two remarkably well created duplicates.  Had Miss Trazan, not picked up on the thoughts of Crewman Cooper, after his supposed death and Doctor Sunny not been suspicious of the nature of the fatal injuries inflicted; I would most likely be sending messages of condolence to their families.

Instead, my officers and crew are searching for an unknown vessel, we can neither see nor currently detect.  We have no idea of their intentions to either us or the engineers they have kidnapped.

<End Log>

Commander Anacostia-Bolling placed her Padd down on the table in her Ready Room; before standing and making her was back to the Bridge.  “I take it we’ve made no progress in locating this mysterious ship?” She asked walking on to the Bridge, whilst knowing her XO would have informed her the second any developments had arisen.

“I’m afraid not, Captain.” Lieutenant Beriev informed her.  The Saurian science officer sounded frustrated, to be honest they all were.

“Well if someone gives me a target, I can politely remind them it’s not nice to go snatching Starfleet Officers.”  Lieutenant Grav grumbled.  He often got like that when he’d got nothing to shoot at.  How the Tellarite would handle a galactic peace with no conflict anywhere was a mystery.  The hopes and dreams of the Federation; where basically what his worst nightmares looked like.

“It could all just be a miss understanding?”  The words came from Lieutenant-Commander Alara Ley mouth; but even she seemed far from convinced by them.

“Captain, I’ve had a thought.” Ensign Phillanie entered into the conversation.

“Go ahead Ensign.” Anacostia-Bolling replied.  “Any thoughts or insight could prove invaluable at this time.”

That was one thing that set her apart from Captain Eglin, she listened to her crew in a way the USS Valparaiso’s Captain, never had.  Ensign Pillanie had spent two years under that man’s inflexible reign.

“Well you stated in the staff meeting that Miss Trazan had picked up the thoughts of crewman Cooper.  So what if we placed her in a shuttle away from the distractions of everyone else’s mind?”

“I like you’re thinking.” The Commander’s face brightened just a little.

“She may be able to narrow down the search area if nothing else.” Lieutenant-Commander  Alara Ley added.

The Commander contacted the shuttle bay. “Mr Rockwell, prep the Isabella for immediate launch.” Then she turned to her XO. “Number one, I’ll let you take this one, just don’t try ramming anything.”

The Trill XO just shook her head and waved the comment off. She understood the reference; the last time Alara had piloted a shuttle, she’d used it as a battering ram to disable a Romulan shuttle.  The craft in question had joined their small craft and had been carefully restored by Chief Petty Officer James Rockwell, during his off duty hours.

**********

After collecting the Betazed Recreational Manager, the two women headed for the da Vinci’s shuttle bay.  Isabella was one of the ships pair of Type 12 shuttles; and now sat on the port side launch pad facing out towards the bay door.  The starboard spot was occupied by the Type 11, Shirley II.

Chief Petty Officer Rockwell walked over to them holding a Padd, as they approached the shuttles.  “Isabella is prepped and ready as requested.”

“Thank you Chief.” She took the Padd from him, and signed the log to confirm she was now taking charge of the shuttle. “And yes, before you say anything, I have been told to be careful flying.”

Rockwell gave a polite cough. “The thought had never entered my mind.”

The two women boarded the shuttle and Alara closed the hatch before taking the pilots seat, Ele had already taken the co-pilots seat, thought she had no intention of touching any of the controls.  The Trill officer went through the usual pre-flight checks, and once the bay door had opened, they launched,

“I can feel the difference already.”  Ele commented as the sounds of the officers and crew of the da Vinci’s minds became even more distant.

“I can’t imagine what it’s like being a Betazed.”  Alara pondered.  “I can only hear one mind other than my own, and that took a little getting used to.”

“My ability to filter out the noise is much improved.” Ele sighed.  “But sometimes I miss the silence of my childhood.”

“Couldn’t we rig up a dampening field around your quarters?” The Trill XO enquired.

“That one’s been tried. The Betazed replied.  “It doesn’t just bloke the sound; it replaces it with a lot of ‘white noise’.”

‘She’s nice, I like her.’  The symbiont announced unexpectedly, having been silent for a while.

‘And what brought that on.’ Alara thought as her reply. ‘I’ve spoken to her a number of times in the past.’

‘You seem more calm and relaxed, when you’re together.’

Alara wasn’t sure how to respond to that; she did have to admit to liking chatting with the women sat next to her.  There was always that one stool empty by the bar, as if her arrival was somehow expected.

“It is.” Ele spoke out loud, before realising to her horror she’d been eavesdropping on the thoughts of the woman next to her. She dropped her head in her hands. “Oh, four.”

“Have you been reading my mind all the time?” The XO asked, in a voice that may have been sterner than her intention.

“No, no never, sorry that was a lapse on my part.” Ele was agitated.  “It’s just your mind is one of the loudest, I can sense you’re on your way to the bar, even without knowing what you’re thinking.”

“I’ve been accused of many things, but having a loud mind, was never one of them.” Alara smiled and tapped Ele on the leg. “I’m sorry for my tone, just.”

The Betazed was about to say, she fully understood and that it was fine, but another mind out in the void caught her attention.  “Starboard twenty degree’s”

The Lieutenant-Commander, realising what that statement implied, turned the Isabella on to her new course.  “Who are you picking up.

“It’s Cooper and he seems very distressed.”

“Any chance he’s in immediate danger?”

“To hard to tell, but I wouldn’t bet against it.” Ele closed her eyes tight. “Stop!”

Alara brought the shuttle to a standstill and watched as the women next to her pointed at the display screen and a small area of empty space that was right in front of them.  She quickly informed the da Vinci of the invisible ships, current, suspected location.  All they needed to do now; was figure out a way of making it visible.