Commander Anacostia-Bolling sat at the head of the conference table; running down the right were Lieutenant-Commander Alara Ley, her XO and Chief Science Officer, along with Lieutenant Beriev her Saurian.  Next to them sat Ensign Green, still getting used to the idea of being the ships Chief Engineer.  Sat on the Commanders left was Lieutenant Grav, the Tellarite Tactical Officer and Security Chief. In the next two chairs were Ensign Isaacs Chief Helm Officer and Ensign Phillanie; Communications Chief.  The furthest seat along on that side was occupied by the       Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Sunny.

The Commander leaned forward, clasping her hands together.  “So Doctor what’s the latest on the genuine crewman Cooper?”  She knew the status of the duplicate bodies of Cooper and Green; both of those had dissolved shortly after the mysterious ship had exploded.

“He’s recovering well.” Doctor Sunny answered. “Using the aliens’ helmet communication device deflected the majority of the energy from their weapons.  He should be fit for duty in a few days.”

“Thank you doctor, that’s good to know.” The Commander replied, then turning towards the two science officers present.  “What about those helmets, did we learn anything.”

“I’m afraid that just like the bodies, the helmets also dissolved.”  The XO informed her.

“We were just left with a sticky oily mixture.” Beriev added.  “And even that was gone in less than an hour”

“So all we have is two eyewitness accounts from on board the ship and what we witness externally?” Anacostia-Bolling grumbled, who had hoped for much more. Her eyes feel on Ensign Green. “So tell me, Ensign what do you remember of the ship and its crew?”

The engineer went to say something, and then stopped herself; after a brief pause, she went to speak again, but a look of confusion crossed her face instead.

“Are you ok, Ensign Green?” Doctor Sunny asked, half out of his chair, one hand automatically going for the Medical Tricorder at his hip.  He had the device with him, because Green was still under his care and he wanted to make sure she was fine during the meeting.  This however had not been something he’d expected.

“I honestly can’t remember a thing.” Green shook her head. “It’s like it was all there in my mind, and now it’s gone!”

As she spoke, Doctor Sunny made his way around to her side of the table and started scanning.  “I’m picking up increases in levels of adrenaline and cortisol.  Blood pressure up to.”  He was calm and reassuring in his evaluation.  “The readings are nothing out of the ordinary for someone who’s going through a moderately stressful situation.”

“You call losing my memory, moderately stressful.” Green exclaimed looking up at the doctor.

“Compared with losing your entire memory and being unable to function as an engineer, or possible a human being, I’d say ‘yes’” Sunny replied.

Ensign Green frowned, looking down at her hands.  “I guess you’re right.”

“However the good news is; that we have recordings of what you said after we rescued you.” Sunny continued.

It felt rather unsettling for Ensign Green, hearing herself talk about the alien creatures that reminded her of an octopus, other than the strange eyes they had.  She gave a description of the ship; mostly featureless and white, with door that only became visible once they started to open.  Her attempts to describe what she believed was the main part of the ships engines; left herself and anyone else listening to it, baffled.  How she or crewmen Cooper were ever meant to fix something they didn’t understand, was beyond them.  Now they didn’t even remember trying to fix it.

“The most worrying thing about all this is.” The Commander looked around at the officers seated at the table.  “If they can make us forget about them; how do we know our paths have only crossed twice?”

There was an audible silence as everyone took in that potential revelation; for it was a fact, none of them could be sure that these sorts of encounters hadn’t happened at other times.  All they knew was that no one remembered them taking place.

Why did this race feel the need to be so secretive; to destroy their ships, wipe people’s memories, or even kill them, to keep their secrets?  Would their paths cross again?  And what could they do differently, next time?

Commander Anacostia-Bolling, ended the meeting soon after. Lieutenant Grav and his team would work on improving security drill and monitoring systems; whilst Lieutenant-Commander Alara Ley and the rest of the scientists working on the da Vinci would set about seeing if there was a way to make these unknown ships visible; using the very limited data they’d gathered.

**********

The four days later, the USS da Vinci had reached the edge of its patrol zone for the final time of this particular tour.  She lacked the space and amenities to stay away from her home base for any real length of time.  Now it was time to hand their sector over to someone else to protect.

They dropped out of warp within a few thousand metres of an Obena-class start ship.  “The Johannesburg is hailing us.” Ensign Phillanie announced.

“On screen.” Anacostia-Bolling requested.

A man of Caribbean decent, in his late fifties, with close cropped hair; which had once been jet black, but now flecks of grey above both ears and a patch above his right eye had dulled it; appeared on the main screen with a warm smile on his face.

“Someone told me they’d finally seen common sense and given you a ship.” The Johannesburg’s Captain said warmly. “How are you Mary?”

“I’m tired but well, Theo.” She replied, it had been years since their paths had last crossed, but the two knew each other well, and did keep in touch; though may be not as often as either of them should have done.  “Technically I’ve got two ships; the USS Grus is the other half of my little team.”

“We are moving up in the universe.” Theodor Vance chuckled.

“So you’re here to keep an eye on the place whilst we’re gone then.”

“Well it was my sector, before they re-designated it to the Fourth Fleet, so I know my way around the old place.  It’ll be good to catch up with the Vashran again.”

“Commander Salan is there, leading a small diplomatic team.”

“Oh yes, that Vulcan who’d gone missing.  Glad he was found.”

“I’m sure he’d be pleased to have you drop by.”

“Well Commander, I’ll let you and your crew head home.  Safe travels da Vinci.”

“You to Captain.”

With that the Captains image faded from the screen, to be replaced by the view of his ship.  The two ships past each other slowly; as the USS da Vinci exited her designated patrol zone and the USS Johannesburg took her place on duty.  Then with a pair of flashes, they warped away.