“You were there, Mr. Wyatt.”

“Yes, Captain Park.  I was.”  Chief Petty Officer Henry Wyatt stood in Perseverance’s observation lounge, staring at the planet ahead. He had come by shuttle after the discovery.  “I was a prisoner on The Island of the Damned.”  He turned to face her.  “I looked at the images.  The structure, build, and age would match ‌the construction of my former prison.  The question is where in the universe does Astridina V fit into the planet in the Thomar Expanse?  And why?”

“I’m not sure.  The Vulcan and Starfleet teams have been working on the first planet for the better part of two years.  We reached out to them for a full report.”  She shifted her feet.  “You told Captain Walton there was something evil here.  Something bad.”  Park let the question hang in the silence.

Henry pursed his lips, turning to face the captain.  “That feeling hasn’t gone away. It’s gotten heavier.”  The El-Aurian walked back to her.  “I don’t have the ability to see where this goes, Captain Park.  Others of my kind have unique talents that would be useful right about now.  Among a few abilities, the strongest I have is a gut that tells me when I should speak up about having a bad feeling about something.  It’s been churning up an ugly storm since I laid eyes on that planet.  If it’s anything like what I encountered in the Thomar Expanse, I’d be content to leave whatever is down there…down there..”

Park tapped at the PADD in her hand.  “I’ve read the reports.  The station wasn’t at full power but had left behind a trail of debris when Captain Harris arrived.  The caretakers of the station had long died off, and the last of them passed while you were investigating.  Sokassia was his name.”

Wyatt remembered.  “They were trying to extend their lives.  They had also lost contact with their people, whoever they were.”  He cocked his head to the side. “Do you think this is where they originated from?  It’s a long way to the Thomar Expanse from here.”

“Bridge to Captain Park.  The team from the Thomar Expanse is responding.”

“On our way.”

A middle-aged human was on Perseverance’s main screen. “We’re transmitting the full report. We’ve had two years to take this place apart in ‌partnership with the Vulcans.  What we found is telling. This planet was not the template.  They built it to isolate and secure whatever they deemed necessary.  Whoever they assigned here, it was a punishment.  The archived data chips revealed the keeper’s prior records.  None of them were upstanding, and their distance from their homeworld was not a mistake.”

Park sat forward in the command chair.  “Was there information on their species or any kind of location details on their other planets or even a homeworld?”

“The species remains unknown.  We included the biological data from our autopsies and the data from the computers here.  They are humanoid, but the differences are enough to require an additional classification.  Two years of study have brought us no closer to the people of this prison.  The prisoners and assorted items are another story.  Several Fourth Fleet starbase science departments now hold most of the harmless items.  The serious and classified ones have been transferred to Daystrom.  There is something that may help you.”  He tapped at his console, and the viewscreen shifted to show an excerpt from the report.  “The Astridina system is one of several systems in the rimward that came to our attention during our investigation.  After your hail, we went back.  They have extensive data on the system, and Astridina V is listed as a ‘planet of record’.  We don’t know what that phrasing means.  There are two other systems in the rimward with data like this and planets listed with the same phrasing.  Astridina III is listed as ‘The Cradle’.  That term isn’t listed anywhere else with any other system or planet.  The running theory is that they had a hand in creating life on Astridina III.  Whether it was experimental, intentional or accidental…we’re not sure.”

Park felt annoyance creeping down her neck.  They were light on answers.  Again.  “I don’t suppose you and the Vulcan team are interested in continuing your investigation here?”

“You’re perceptive, Captain Park.  We’re in talks with Starfleet and the Vulcan Expeditionary.  There’s a good chance we’ll be approved and on our way in the next few days.  We’re still weeks out, so don’t wait for us.”  He appeared to be contemplating something.  He shook his head, his eyes reflecting concern.  “We know everything about this facility, but next to nothing about its creators.  Whatever they built in the rimward, it’s nothing like this place.  Proceed with caution, Captain.  We’ll see you in a few weeks.”

Park replied with a nod as the channel closed.  Her attention returned to the bridge crew.  “It doesn’t like us.  It was okay with the probe.  Next steps?”

At communications, Cadet Catrin Wiliams was studying her screen intently. There was something in the pattern of the signals from the planet.  Something unusual.  She scrolled through the history, gasping audibly as it became clear.  “Cadet Williams?” asked Park.

Catrin worked the data, shifting it around as she replied, “I think the planet is using a multiphasic scanning system to determine who is approaching the planet.  It’s coming across the communication channels because of the frequency.”

Park stood from her chair and walked to where Williams was working.  “Can we replicate a response?”

The young red-headed cadet shook her head.  “It’s looking for a specific response.  It’s like the probe back in the days of Kirk. The one that was looking for humpback whales?”

The captain cleared her throat.  “I am acquainted with history, cadet.”

Catrin felt her face flush at the reply.  She recovered quickly with an answer. “Right.  So it’s looking for the right response, like the probe.  We just have to figure out what it’s looking for or needs.”

Park stared at the unraveling data, her mind circling around various possibilities.  She asked the bridge, “In the report from the field…they called Astridina III the cradle?”  Everyone nodded in response.  “Let’s check in with Captain Walton. We’re going to need a helpful and daring Astrid or two.”