“Captain’s Log, stardate: 80283. Following weeks in drydock, the USS Healdsburg has been dispatched by Starfleet Engineering to the outskirts of Federation space. Here, we intend to test the Daystrom Institute’s latest line of bio-neural gel packs”, began Asarn, as he slowly paced around the spartan Captain’s Quarters.

“I’m told that with these onboard, Healdsburg will have the fastest computers in the fleet”, he continued. “Our early tests have gone well and seem to corroborate this claim – although we have run into some minor teething issues. Early tests have shown that the experimental circuitry frequently overheats when under full load.”

He paused, unconsciously adjusting the model of the USS Albany that served as the room’s sole personal decoration, before resuming his pacing and stepping toward the window.

“We are currently maintaining orbit around singularity NGC 1023, better known by the natives of this sector as ‘Enigma’s End.’ We hope to use the analysis and simulation of this black hole to test the gel packs to their absolute limit, before heading back to the nearest starbase for debrief. Interference from the singularity has made long-range communications with Starfleet Engineering difficult.”

He stopped again, and cleared his throat.

“Today also marks the two-year anniversary of Frontier Day”, he said, before trailing off. “I had hoped the sights of the singularity would distract the crew somewhat, but the day’s events still hang heavy. The oldest members of the crew remain the most affected – but our youngest members don’t seem to be faring much better. We still seem to be grappling with newfound responsibility left by our lost colleagues. I find myself waiting for a distraction to get both the crew and myself focusing on better things.”

“Computer, end log.”

The computer chirps in acknowledgement, filing another sullen engineering report into the ship’s records. Asarn finishes affixing the fourth and final rank pip to his collar and heads out the door.

By the time he’d reached the turbolift, Volkov was already waiting for him. The stone-faced commander looked up from his PADD for a moment, and delivered a nod of acknowledgement. He’d already resumed pouring over whatever was on his screen as he slowly followed the captain into the lift.

“Deck One” said Volkov as he turned to face the door.

“Any news from the command regarding our next assignment?” asked Asarn.

“Nothing yet, but it seems like Daystrom’s going to be holding our leash for the foreseeable future.”

“I know they pulled us out of Engineering, but they could at least let us explore for a change.”

“Can you blame them? We’re only here because they lost a quarter of their officers. I wouldn’t let us go running around the galaxy either.”

“Your confidence is as inspiring as ever.”

The turbolift doors slid open and the boatswain’s whistle announcing Asarn’s presence screamed through the air.

“Captain on the bridge!” rang out across the room from a baby-faced Conn Officer.

“At ease, everyone” assured Asarn. “Status report?”

“All systems green, Captain. Tests progressing as expected” replied the gold-skinned Science Officer in perfect monotone as she stood from the Captain’s Chair.

Asarn delivered a nod as he and the commander walked to the center of the bridge and took their seats. His number one immediately began tapping away at the displays on his chair, flipping through various ship systems and transferring data to his PADD. Asarn simply leaned back in his chair and stared out at the viewscreen.

He watched as “Enigma’s End” slowly snared anything unfortunate enough to cross its path, while casually tearing entire worlds to shreds. It was a dance they’d seen play out dozens of times since Healdsburg had arrived in-system three days ago. This time, it was the corpse of some small moon whose fractured remains were slowly being woven into the black hole’s razor-thin, superheated disk. There, it would persist for a while. But like everything else caught in the singularity’s terminal embrace, its total consumption was all but assured.

Captain Asarn could tell it was going to be a long shift.

As if waiting for the bridge crew of the USS Healdsburg to finally settle into positions of relative comfort for the next eight hours of silent observation before interrupting, a new sound made its way across the bridge. A quiet klaxon chirped while a small light on the operations panel blinked a dim red.

“We’re receiving a distress call from one of the shipping lanes, Captain. Looks like it’s from the SS John Franklin” stated Lieutenant Commander Vellick as she cleared the alert on her station.

“What’s their situation?” asked the captain.

“I’m not sure, sir. I’m trying to pick through all of the static.”

Asarn could hear the speakers of the operations console howl with binary rage from across the bridge. The interference was getting worse. He turned his chair toward the Science Station.

“Seraph, how much longer do we have on the test?”

“We have a minimum of twenty-six-point-three-six-five hours remaining of our one-week observation test, Captain. Failure to complete will result in a mandatory restart of the entire test.” replied the android with a well-meaning, but poorly-received artificial smile.

“Could just be some Romulan Free State splinter group trying to get our attention again with a political statement. We could try and relay it to the Diplomatic Corps, and finish our tests”, suggested Volkov, finally looking up from his PADD.

“Or it could just be some asteroids that drifted into the lane!” shouted the bright-eyed Ensign Klinax. “My old man used to get caught up in those all of the time”, he added, practically jumping from the conn station seat.

Asarn brought his hand to his chin as he weighed his options.

The last time we were that late back to Daystrom, our handler made a point of noting it in my service record. I’ll be lucky if I’m not booted to starbase engineering duty if this turns out to be nothing.

He furrows his brow.

But if we ignore something important out there, Command will have my head.

Only the panic-stricken voice of his operations officer pulled him from his spiral.

“I’m getting more from the distress signal, Captain. They say they’re under attack from a… No, that can’t be right.”

The whole bridge turned to look at her.

“What is it? Under attack from who? The Cardassians?” asked the captain.

She turned and stared at the captain, as she went pale.

“They say they’re under attack from a Federation ship”

“A Federation ship? That’s impossible. What else are they saying?” demanded Asarn. Next to him, Volkov dropped his PADD to the floor with a dull clatter

“They’re saying that they were attacked by the Si-” She paused for a moment, swallowed, and then continued. “They’re saying they were attacked by the USS Singularity”

The bridge crew shared wide-eyed glances with one another as the implications of what the Comms Officer just said sank in. Every Kelpien instinct in Asarn’s body was telling him to do one thing: run. Fury flashed across his face.

“Yellow Alert! Helm, set a course for the origin of that distress signal, maximum warp!”

-=-xXx-=-

The image of the Healdsburg resolved in a flash of light as it dropped from warp with a shudder. Dipping to its starboard, the California-class vessel traced a wide arc around the origin of the distress signal under the full burn of its impulse engines. Flickers of RCS thrusters lit the hull in a constellation of fire, gently guiding the ship away from one of the closing asteroids that now dominated the area. Inside the confines of the bridge, her crew briefly sat in stunned silence.

In the center of orbit sat total devastation. Debris littered the void. Scorched scraps of hull twinkled in the light of distant stars as they tumbled. Still-freezing splotches of industrial ichor spread slowly through the asteroid field in wide, slow strokes.

Asarn stared at the viewscreen, before clearing his throat. “Seraph. Analysis on the debris field, please. Prioritize finding any survivors”

The android nodded, and began tapping at her console.

“Enable night vision overlay. We need to get a good look at the damage”, added Commander Volkov quietly.

The viewscreen shifted to a pale green, fully illuminating the wreckage.

Seraph looked up from her console, and spun in her chair to face the captain. “No lifesigns, sir”, she said softly, while the most sincere look of sorrow Asarn had ever seen from the android officer darkened her face.

“Escape pods?” asked Volkov grimly.

“Multiple returns matching the John Franklin’s escape pods sir, but…they’ve all been destroyed”

“Can you tell what did this?” asked the captain.

Seraph turned back toward her console. “The pattern of the debris field and readings from the hull segments suggest a standard antimatter warp core detonation. Striations on the outer plating are consistent with Starfleet phaser fire.” She made another series of rapid taps on her console screen. “They were destroyed by one of our own, Captain.”

Silence returned to the bridge of the Healdsburg. Asarn collected his thoughts. Why? Why would anyone do this? He’d heard plenty of stories of rogue captains before, but this wasn’t that. It couldn’t be. Maybe the SS John Franklin wasn’t what it appeared to be. A spy vessel? Even if it was, why destroy the escape pods? He had no answers.

He spoke again. “Any nearby warp signatures?”

“None, Captain”, assured Seraph. “If it was the Singularity, anything that large would have left traces for hours.”

“Is there any sign of another vessel?”

“I am detecting some unusual background radiation in this area of space – looks like some kind of quantum phase discrepancy. It’s fading fast”

Asarn spun in his chair to face the tactical officer. Lieutenant Arak’Zun stood quietly at his station, giving the captain a curt nod upon making eye contact. His face was still fixed in the permanent scowl common among the Jem’Hadar.

“Any ideas, Lieutenant?”, the captain asked the towering tactical officer.

“If I were to raid commerce traffic, I too would wait for an asteroid field like this”, he replied in a voice like gravel. “Even if my actions were detected, hiding deeper within the field would ensure any investigators find only ruin and ghosts.”

The captain nodded in agreement, before turning back to face the viewscreen. He still hadn’t gotten used to seeing that expression so close.

“Lieutenant Commander Vellick. Transmit a message to Starfleet Command: ‘Answered distress call of SS John Franklin. Debris field located. No survivors. Possible rogue Starfleet vessel responsible. Only faint signal traces remain. Healdsburg investigating. Requesting immediate fleet support’”

He could hear the rapid throwing of switches and tapping of the console behind him as the message was entered.

“Message sent, Captain”, she confirmed.

Commander Volkov leaned toward Asarn, and whispered. “Are you sure this is wise? If that is the Singularity out there, we’re not equipped to handle that kind of fight”

Asarn leaned back to reply. “If we lose that signal, we may never be able to find whatever did this. And if it is the Singularity, then the Federation is going to have an international incident on its hands if she escapes.” He sighed, working his First Officer’s warning through his thoughts before he continued. “All we need is confirmation. If they run, we’ll have our warp signature, and the rest of the fleet can handle it. There doesn’t have to be a fight.”

“I hope you’re right”, he said, reclining back into his chair, face contorted in thought.

“Ensign Klinax”, began Asarn. “Take us deeper into the field – one quarter impulse. Permission to utilize any maneuvers you deem necessary.” He turned. “Seraph, try your best to isolate that quantum phase discrepancy. Scan for anything else matching its signature.”

The bridge sprang to life. Healdsburg’s impulse engines hummed as Klinax brought the ship about, before sending her coasting into the asteroid field.

They only made it a kilometer before the first phaser hit.

To be continued…