The USS Carlsbad engages her powerful warp engines and accelerates beyond light speed. The stars…once just points of light, stretch and streak as the ship goes to warp speed. The bridge viewscreen shows the stars streaking by…a brief glimpse of a red celestial body flew by, then was gone. The asteroid belt came and went in a flash, as did the red eyed giant and its ringed smaller brother.

“Captain, we have cleared the Sol system. On course for Sector 379, speed at warp 5. Estimated time for arrival is seventy three hours,” Lisa reported from the helm.

“Very well. Thank you Lisa,” Kirok replied, then looked at Sophia. “Number one, care to join me in the ready room? Tom, you have the conn.”

Kirok and Sophia both stood up and headed to the ready room. They stepped inside and Kirok walked to the replicator.

“Can I offer you a drink, my love,” Kirok asked Sophia, as she sat in the chair opposite the desk.

“Yes please. Hot tea, with a touch of honey and lemon please.”

Kirok ordered from the replicator.

“Computer…one hot tea, with a touch of honey and lemon and one raktajino. Also, two honeybun muffins.”

A tray with two drinks and two small plates appeared in the slot. Kirok grabbed it and carried it to the table. Sophia reaches for her drink, takes a sip.

“What do you think we will find in this new region,” Sophia asked.

Kirok bites into his muffin.

“I’m not sure. This Starfleet Intelligence report is lacking details. Regardless, I’m excited to explore and put the Vaadwaur behind us.”

Sophia and Kirok enjoyed their breakfast together and also discussed plans on what is to come.

***

An engineer was busy working on a power relay, running a diagnostic on it.

“Great, we are going to rescue that murderer Aramis and his woman,” he muttered to himself. “Those idiots in the Order gave me incorrect information. I’ll have to resort to more drastic measures.”

He finished the diagnostic on the power relay. He tapped the results into his engineering PADD. The ship’s intercom came to life.

“Flummox to all engineers, report to Engineering for a staff meeting immediately.”

The engineer tapped his commbadge, then put his tools away.

“Acknowledged.”

He crawled out of the Jefferies tube he was inside and headed to Engineering.

***

Assistant Chief Engineer Flummex stood tall and straight at the Master Systems Display, looking things over for a quick minute as he waited for his staff to arrive. The sound of casual conversation got his attention and he turned around, watching his staff walk into the engine room. He greeted them with a smile.

“Good morning everyone.”

The engineers stood around the display table and greeted Flummox back.

“Alright…as you all know, we are headed to a new region of space that has barely been scanned. I’d like to make sure our power systems are up to Borg expectations…perfect.” Flummox looked at the face of each member. “First, let’s give our new members, Lieutenant Junior Grade Ethan Smith and Lieutenant Junior Grade Alexandra Rodgers, a warm welcome.”

Each staff member gave her a warm welcome and handshake. Then everyone looked at Flummox.

“Ok everyone, here are your assignments. Emily…you and Lindsay go over the power transfer conduits. John, I’d like you to train Alexandra and Ethan,” Flummox.

“You can call me Alexa, sir,” Alexandra said.

Flummox smiled at her, nodding.

“Of course. Any questions?”

When no one said anything, Flummox dismissed his staff to attend to their duties. He walked over to the Chief Engineer’s office and started a level one shipwide diagnostic on all power systems. They had three days until they got to the last known area where Aramis and Catersha were, so why not put it to good use.

“Catersha, I hope you are safe and sound. We are coming,” he said to himself.

John simply nodded curtly and pointed at Alexa and Ethan and gestured for them to follow him. He took them on a brief tour of the Engineering department. Emily and Lindsay went to a tool locker and started their duties.

***

Lieutenant Commander Bradley left the Bridge when a relief officer showed up. He was headed to the Security office to assign his new officers duty roles and advise them on ship procedures. The turbolift stopped on deck seven. He exited the lift and walked down the corridor and into the security office, where his staff was waiting.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I’m Security Chief Tom Bradley and welcome to the USS Carlsbad. I’ll let you know right now that I’m strict but fair. Carrying out your duties well is my expectation from each of you,” Tom said. He looked at his PADD, reading off his staff roster. “Ensign K’tharon, from the Klingon Empire. Ensign Tiffany Evans, from Mars colony. Lieutenant Eric Smith from Alpha Centauri. Ensign Mark Henderson from Rigal. Crewmen Kaelara and Vora. I want to welcome you all aboard. On these PADDs, you will find your duty schedule and tasks,” Tom said as he handed out PADDs.

“Over the next three days, I plan to run intense training drills. I want this department to be as efficient as the security department on the Enterprise D. Any questions?” Tom waited a few seconds for any questions, then finished. “Alrighty, you are dismissed. I’d suggest you all take the rest of the day to study the ship schematics and look around. I’ll see you all at 0600 in the morning.

***

Zhra’gha and Kael’ryn stood guard in their makeshift camp, as they were designed to do by their gods, the Founders. The sun rose again on the jungle moon. It was now two weeks since their Starfleet prisoners crashed on their moon. Kael’ryn saw the sunrise and sighed.

“How long have we been marooned here,” Kael’ryn asked.

Zhra’gha turned and looked at Kael’ryn.

“Twenty six years, four months, twelve days…unfortunately. The Founders have forgotten us.”

“Maybe someday we can get off this forsaken moon,” Kael’ryn said, nodding to his partner. “Go check on the prisoners.”

Zhra’gha nods and walks back into the cave. Kael’ryn continues to look out over the landscape from his perch at the edge of a cliff side.

Zhra’gha marches to the back of the cave, where a human male and female lay on the cave floor, hands bound behind them. They both looked at Zhra’gha.

“What do you want,” Aramis demanded from Zhra’gha.

“Nothing from you human,” Zhra’gha spat at Aramis as he checked the restraints.

Aramis bit Zhra’gha’s arm, causing Zhra’gha to cry out. Then Zhra’gha lashes out in anger and backhanded Aramis around his face. Aramis slumped forward, unconscious. Catersha cried out.

“Stop it! Please!”

Zhra’gha simply growled at her, checked her restraints, then turned and walked away. When he left, Catersha started calling out Aramis’s name, but all Aramis could do was mumble half consciously. Catersha then started to call out for her Captain, to rescue them.