Harris stepped onto the bridge as the viewscreen showed a large number of vessels from the Fourth Fleet waiting for the wormhole to open.  He accepted the center chair from his XO and started checking the reports on his chair console.  A moment later, “Ensign Atega, what’s our status?”

She glanced back at him from her console, “We’re fifteenth in line, sir.  Ships are starting to line up now.”

Harris sat forward, “Mr. Prentice, let’s get ourselves where we need to be.”

The bridge grew quiet as the Excelsior II class ship lumbered into position.  A moment later, Presley spoke up, “Signal from Starfleet – once the wormhole opens up, we clear to proceed in order.”

The silence of the bridge returned as the ambient sound floated through the air, all eyes on the space that held the wormhole ahead of them.  Fowler spoke up, “Energy surge at the site of the wormhole.”

And then it opened.  It was an awesome sight as it broke forth and unfurled into the blackness of space as it quickly stabilized.  Fowler confirmed, “Lead ship confirms we have a connection.  We are underway.”

Ambrose steepled his fingers as he waited, “Yellow alert.  All hands should secure to stations just in case things get bumpy in transit.”  The soft klaxon rang throughout the ship as officers and crew shifted to secure positions.  All eyes remained forward as the fourteen other ships continued towards the wormhole.  Seconds and minutes ticked by until the ship in front of them lumbered forward and vanished into the mouth.

Prentice was counting the time they had to wait until they were clear to enter.  “5…4….3…2…1….0”

The CO gently ordered, “Get us on our way, Mr. Prentice.” The USS Mackenzie surged forward closer to the wormhole.  The bridge crew and, by extension, the crew of the ship subconsciously gripped chairs, walls, and consoles as the entry point grew closer and closer until the screen flashed and the ship was flying through the circular tube.  They all looked around and let out the breath they were holding.  Prentice reset the clock for five minutes.  Harris tapped the console on his chair, “Captain Harris to all crew – we are five minutes out from the Delta Quadrant.  Make final preparations.”

Five minutes later…

Prentice once more was counting down until they came out of the wormhole.  Harris gripped the chair as the count hit zero, and the Mackenzie flew into the Delta Quadrant for the first time.  “Mr. Prentice put us in our standby zone that we were designated.”  He turned in his chair to the science station, “Lieutenant Fowler, preliminary report?”

She scanned the screens at her station – they had found having her in the front of the bridge to be distracting and had shifted her back to the right side of the bridge with some of her team next to her as well.  Tactical Chief Kondo now sat beside Prentice at the front of the bridge.  “System maps are scanning to match up and update to the latest.  Showing all parties in this sector of space are who we expected.  We’ve started a scan for the two transport ships.”

Harris turned his chair to the left and caught Ensign Atega’s glance, her earpiece being covered by her hand.  “I’m sending out hails to the two ship’s markers.  So far, nothing. Markonian Outpost is about two hours away – I’m sure we can find out more there once we arrive.”

“Helm – plot a course for the Markonian Outpost. Maximum warp.  Engage when ready.”  He picked up his PADD and began to interface with the sensors that science was putting out.  There was a lot of data out there, and his eyes nearly glazed over.  Being so isolated, the Delta Quadrant had suddenly become a very busy space with lots of competing signals, markers, and trails.  He only hoped that once they arrived at he outpost, they’d find the answers they were seeking.