Captain’s log, stardate 2402.1115. We have arrived at the Orvas system, after proving ourselves allies – or at least not enemies, and potential assets – to the Protectorate by helping them at Holsavar. They have nominally agreed to support our investigation of the Orvas who created the fissure that breached space between the Expanse and the Alpha Quadrant. What that investigation looks like, and the extent of our access, is still up for negotiation.

They’re receiving us not on the planet itself, but an orbital platform; the equivalent of the Federation meeting new arrivals at Starbase One. It avoids the ceremony and obligation of us, the first Federation visitors to Orvas, being formally received on the surface. I just hope that this means we can negotiate without pomp and circumstance, instead of getting trapped in a diplomatic waiting lounge. Every moment we waste is a moment this Ashen Path – these violent extremists we now believe in some way connected to the Vezda and the fissure – can plan their next move.

The conference chamber was a ring of steel and glass stretching above Orvas V, the planet turning in slow, dignified blues and greens below. Valance kept her hands folded on the table, shoulders level, posture immaculate. Across from her, the Orvas delegation mirrored her stillness, but she knew the difference between discipline and tension.

Commander Treviorn had joined them, to Valance’s faint relief; the continuity meant discussions could hopefully progress without retreading old ground. But her uniform was now pressed and her expression carved in stone, the same reticence and withdrawal since their first meeting. Beside her sat two figures she had introduced only briefly: Director Vekhad of Internal Security, a hawk-eyed woman in uniform, and Professor Luroth, a copper-skinned academic and the only one of the three who seemed remotely at ease.

Possibly, with Airex, Kharth, and Cortez joining her, the only one in the room who seemed remotely at ease.

Treviorn spoke first, her voice clipped. ‘We recognise the good work your ship made at Holsavar. But we must be clear: the Protectorate retains full authority over its internal affairs.’

Valance inclined her head. ‘We’re not here to challenge that.’

‘And yet,’ began Director Vekhad, fingers steepled, ‘your report implicates Orvas citizens in the creation of a subspace event that endangered billions. You understand the gravity.’

‘I do,’ said Valance evenly. ‘Those billions were Federation citizens. This is why we need to understand who those Orvas were.’

Cortez leaned in slightly. ‘We’re not accusing your state of complicity. But this group didn’t just harness advanced technology that outstrips either of our peoples; they got a load of Orvas material and technology from somewhere to build their platform. There’s a lot of questions on how they knew what they knew, and how they got what they got.’

Professor Luroth tapped a control, and a two-dimensional display on the wall crackled to life. The Orvas used holographic technology less casually than Starfleet, Valance noted. ‘We have already confirmed the identities you sent us. Fourteen individuals. All missing for eight years. All brilliant in their fields.’ Dossiers scrolled across the screen.

Kharth’s eyes narrowed. ‘Scientists and engineers, from theorists to orbital builders. Exactly the skillset you’d need to pull off what they did.’

‘Some of whom worked together,’ Luroth elaborated. ‘Some of whom worked on different planets, at different institutions, with no indication of any connection – prior to this.’

She looked back at him. ‘We’ll need access to their research records and personal effects. Homes, workplaces, people who knew them.’

Vekhad bristled. ‘That is a significant request. This is the private lives of missing people and their families.’

‘They became architects of a catastrophe,’ Kharth said bluntly. ‘And the trail’s going to be damn cold eight years on.’

Valance let Vekhad bristle for a moment more, glare at Kharth a moment more, then spoke before the Orvas could. ‘We are your guests. We will respect your laws. Your oversight. Your boundaries. But we need answers, and fast.’ She paused a beat. ‘And if these extremists on Holsavar were using the same symbology as the builders, if there’s a connection there, then your government’s problem is bigger than you thought it was.’

Treviorn’s mouth tightened. Vekhad looked away, jaw flexing. The only one who didn’t flinch was Luroth, who sank into a thoughtful silence and said, at length, ‘We do not want another Holsavar.’

Vekhad shifted her weight. ‘Do you believe the Path possess knowledge of similar weapons to these missing citizens?’

Cortez spoke up at that. ‘Even if they do, we’re talking really advanced technology and systems. Things it’d take an expert at the highest level to comprehend, let alone build. And that’s ignoring the resources it’d take to build.’

‘Then we would like,’ Vekhad said carefully, ‘to know more about the technology. So we may monitor for indications of such a device being built.’

Kharth scoffed at that. Valance spoke quickly, despite sharing her XO’s sentiments. ‘We’re not about to disseminate the blueprints for a super-weapon.’

‘But it is acceptable for you to have full knowledge of a device built by Orvas?’

‘How about,’ said Cortez quickly, ‘I drum up a list of material needed for such a construction? Or particularly the stuff which stands out – you don’t need to know exactly how many thousand metres of reinforced plasma conduits it took. Stuff your security teams can keep an eye out for moving about the black market?’

Vekhad exchanged a look with Treviorn, then nodded. ‘Acceptable.’

‘And in return,’ pressed Luroth, giving his compatriots a slightly taut glance, ‘I propose a limited access agreement. You will be allowed onto Orvas V, under escort. You may review the missing persons’ archived research, examine their belongings, and question their associates and families.’

Valance nodded, but now Kharth jumped in.

‘And the Path? They’re connected,’ she said sharply. ‘We’ve already identified that shared iconography.’

‘Information will be shared,’ Director Vekhad said stiffly, ‘on the understanding that the Protectorate leads all operations relating to domestic security.’

‘Giving us constant dossiers of updates lets you drag your feet,’ Kharth pressed. ‘I’m not asking to lead more teams against the Path. But you’ve got to have a task force assigned to this problem. It benefits both of us if we can sit on it.’

‘Just sit on it,’ Valance added coolly. ‘Observe, give input when valuable, offer aid when needed. And perhaps, together, we can get to the bottom of this… extremist branch following strange, old, spiritual ways. Ways they’re prepared to die for.’

Vekhad nodded, but her suspicious expression did not shift. ‘Agreed. But understand this: if you interfere in Protectorate enforcement, or if your presence worsens our internal tensions, this cooperation ends.’

‘And if we succeed?’ Valance said mildly.

Treviorn met her gaze. ‘Then the Protectorate will remember who stood beside us.’

Luroth offered a polite nod. ‘I will prepare your access to the institution and its archives.’

Valance stood up. ‘Then we should get to work.’

Endeavour hung in orbit of Orvas V, adjacent to this facility they had been escorted to upon arrival. Instructions from the Protectorate navy had been clear: to keep all weapons and defence systems down-powered, and to never deviate from the flight plan they had transmitted. Valance wondered if they understood how much more powerful Endeavour was than one of their ships. She had no intention of a fight, of course – and even if one happened, they were surrounded by the heart of their navy.

But being feared was a little different to being distrusted, and a different feeling to manage.

She did not speak with her team until they had beamed back aboard and reconvened in her ready room. At once, she went to her desk and sat, aware of the bristling of Kharth, the unease of Cortez, and the unwelcome silence of Airex.

‘We have our lines of inquiry,’ she said smoothly. ‘And while getting to the bottom of the truth about the fissure is our top priority, we have to be mindful that building positive diplomatic relations with the Orvas could transform Starfleet’s future in this part of the Expanse.’

‘Which will be real inconvenient if it turns out they’re all secret Vezda-worshipping cultists, or something,’ Kharth drawled, and to Valance’s relief she didn’t sound entirely insincere.

‘Our records on the Vezda all went on about, like, examples of them being behind various old faiths on various worlds, right?’ said Cortez, looking at Airex. ‘So it kind of makes sense that they might be somehow linked to the Path.’

Valance watched Airex as he stood, arms folded across his chest, expression folded into a frown.

At length, he nodded. ‘The Vezda have left their traces in dozens, hundreds of ancient cultures. If they had a foothold in Orvas culture, it might make sense that “our” Vezda used Orvas to build the facility and array. That they were people it could influence.’

‘Just… how? Psychic visions? Compulsions? Mind-control?’ Cortez’s expression twisted more. ‘And is there an actual link between them and the Path, or just the same… soup of evil old violent religious bullshit?’

‘All great questions,’ Kharth drawled. ‘Which is why we’ve got to keep our thumb on the pulse of the Path. In case they’re a new angle of the Vezda to try something big, or get at us.’ She cast Valance a glance at this.

Valance read the accusation there, and leaned back. ‘I agree. Which is why you’re leading the liaison with the task force, Commander.’ At Kharth’s surprised look, she shrugged. ‘That one’s going to take us being bullish to stay involved. I expect the Protectorate to stonewall us at any given opportunity. But you’re the officer who led the Holsavar incident.’ She plucked up a PADD, beginning to tap assignments. ‘Bring at least Walker with you. I need you to have a “good cop.”’

At last, Kharth gave a grin. It was taut, and wicked, and spoke more of relish at working than any amusement. But she knew Kharth had thought her conservative in the meeting, not realising she’d deliberately let her XO push so she could seem reasonable and get what they wanted. ‘Then I’m bringing Carraway, too. For an even gooder cop.’

‘Airex, I want you and Cortez continuing the investigation of the builders. See what access Luroth gets you at this institute.’

Airex nodded, but Cortez sucked her teeth. ‘The institute’s a good lead – I want to know what they knew and how. But beyond the tech of this, I should stay talking to the Protectorate.’ At Valance’s questioning look, she shrugged. ‘They’re real worried about another super-weapon showing up, or being blamed for a super-weapon. I reckon this is where we build diplomatic bridges.’

It wasn’t that Valance forgot Cortez was not only an engineer in the practical sense; she had worked for years in R&D at San Francisco even before her time in SCE, where engineering logistics and development had to go hand-in-hand with bridge-building. She was just unaccustomed to her inner circle raising these diplomatic considerations, with Airex focusing forever on the scientific implications and Kharth on the practical.

‘I was intending to try to further outreach with the Protectorate diplomatically,’ she said after a beat, swallowing. ‘That’s good thinking, Commander.’ She looked at Airex quickly. ‘Can you spare Cortez?’

‘I want her, as discussed, at the institute,’ he said, voice collected. ‘But I’ll bring in Thawn, too.’

‘Makes sense,’ said Cortez. ‘Considering we’re talking about a psychic devil screwing with everyone.’

‘Technical brilliance and telepathic danger sense.’ Kharth drawled, but Valance could see the tension in her eyes and shoulders, the renewed pressure that had settled after Cortez and Airex had broken the news of the connection between the facility and the Path.

‘The exact right pairing,’ said Airex, but the banter was stilted, obligatory.

And Valance kept her expression studied as she finalised the assignment orders. Because after Kharth had been composed in the briefing room, despite the new pressures falling upon her, it was to her second officer, not her XO, that her concerns about her team holding together were beginning to fall.