Lieutenant Commander Teyahna, the Orion/Romulan hybrid with her light green skin and pointed ears, was deeply engrossed in her research within the science lab. The dimly lit room echoed with the soft hum of computers and the gentle whir of machinery as she sifted through the data regarding Sathea IV. As she delved into the archives, meticulously studying the records of the planet’s past, Teyahna’s sharp mind began to uncover intriguing details about the Century Storm of 2400 and the Klingon hijacking incident. The more she dug, the more her curiosity intensified.

The Century Storm, an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon that wreaked havoc on not only Sathea IV but the entire Paulson Nebula region, was a cataclysmic event of epic proportions. As its name suggested, this tempestuous storm struck only once every century, leaving a lasting impact on both the environment and the consciousness of those who witnessed its fury. When the Century Storm battered Sathea, its manifestation of nature’s raw power was characterised by intense atmospheric disturbances and unprecedented weather patterns. It possessed an uncanny ability to amplify the planet’s climatic conditions to extremes previously unimaginable. When the storm descended upon the Sathea IV laboratory, its wrathful winds roared across the landscape, whipping up storms of unparalleled ferocity. Such ferocity in fact that, shortly after the incident with the Klingons, the Santa Fe had evacuated the entire planet and no one had been back since, the abandoned Federation technology lab on the planet a casualty of this devastating event. The facility, once a beacon of scientific progress and discovery, fell victim to the storm’s unyielding power, or so they had been led to believe. For some reason, and if events were to be believed, this Captain sh’Elas everyone was so keen on finding had decided to go back there.

From her research into the former commanding officer of the Ulysses, Tharia sh’Elas was a seasoned and intrepid explorer, but the scientist was struggling to work out what could have possibly caused the Andorian to return to the abandoned facility. Then the idea hit her. “Computer,” she called out, “using all accessible data about Captain sh’Elas and the Sathea system, theorize as to why she would return there after so long,” she requested. If there was something she was missing, the computer would surely find it.

“Working…” the male voice of the science lab computer system spoke, before beginning to reel off its suggested reasons. The first had been the obvious suggestion of some sort of unfinished business. The Century Storm had abruptly cut short the research on the planet, leaving many unanswered questions regarding their projects. But from what Teyahna had read, the Captain, a commander at the time, had not been involved in anything there, so she ruled out that suggestion.

Could a sense of curiosity and scientific inquiry have drawn her back there? According to her logs which had been made available, the Century Storm and its unique effects presented an extraordinary opportunity for research and discovery, one that sh’Elas had reportedly been keen to revisit. Or was it something to do with lost technology? The Federation technology lab had been highly secretive until the incident with the Klingons when it suddenly become renowned for its advanced research and groundbreaking technological advances. Perhaps Captain Sh’Elas, cognisant of the potential technological treasures left behind, saw an opportunity to salvage valuable equipment, research data, or prototypes that could benefit her in her hour of need. Yes, that was an idea Teyahna would put a pin in for later.

Maybe it was some moral imperative that had drawn her back there. The abandoned science facility and the plight of Sathea IV had resonated deeply with sh’Elas. She felt a moral imperative to protect and preserve the planet’s delicate ecosystem, which had been ravaged by the Century Storm. Maybe in returning to the facility she could assess the extent of environmental damage and explore avenues for ecological restoration, driven by a sense of responsibility and a commitment to environmental stewardship. Not likely given the apparent threat to her life. It wasn’t an urgent enough reason to return.

Sathea was many things, but a place of strategic importance was not one of them, so she quickly ruled out that suggestion from the computer. The next, however, was the most convincing yet. The abandoned lab held memories of a valued colleague and friend who had lost his life saving hers. Perhaps sh’Elas felt a personal duty to honour the legacy of her colleague and ensure that his sacrifice had not been in vain.

Slouching back in her chair with a sigh, the new Chief Science Officer was beginning to go crosseyed from reading. These ideas provided a starting point for the Captain’s motivations, each offering a unique angle that could drive her return to the abandoned science facility on Sathea IV. The ultimate reason for her return would allude them until…

out of nowhere, her research was abruptly interrupted when the main computer’s voice echoed through the lab, its tone urgent and filled with alarm.

“Unauthorised activity detected. Data regarding Sathea IV is being systematically erased from the LCARS database,” the computer’s voice declared.

Teyahna’s eyes widened in disbelief as she quickly moved to confirm the computer’s statement. She accessed the relevant files, only to find them disappearing before her eyes as if vanishing into thin air. Panic began to well up within her as she realised the gravity of the situation.

“Computer, identify the source of the data erasure,” Teyahna demanded, her voice tinged with urgency.

After a brief pause, the computer responded, its tone tinged with concern. “The erasure is originating from the Sathea IV laboratory.”

Fear gripped Teyahna as the implications of the data erasure became clear. There was a deliberate effort to hide the truth about Sathea IV, and the link to sh’Elas. With a sense of urgency, Teyahna hastily left the science lab and made her way to the bridge, her mind racing as she considered the implications of the erasure. She knew she had to inform Captain Nazir immediately.

When the port turbo lift eventually spat her out upon the bridge decking, Teyahna scanned the room for the Captain, her eyes locking onto the commanding officer as she stood at her post, issuing commands to her crew. Taking a deep breath, Teyahna approached Nazir, her voice laced with urgency.

“Captain Nazir,” Teyahna began, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. “We have a critical situation,” she declared, drawing everyone’s attention to her. “Data regarding Sathea IV is being systematically erased, and the erasure is originating from a lab on the planet itself.”

Nazir’s brow furrowed as she absorbed Teyahna’s words, her eyes scanning the officer’s face for any signs of deception. Beside her, the XO did the same. Satisfied with Teyahna’s earnestness, the two command-level officers exchanged a glance, their expressions then shifting to ones of greater determination.

“Henry. ETA?” Returning to her command chair, the Captain’s gaze settled on the forwardmost position on the bridge.

“Three hours at warp 9,” Flyboy responded, turning in his chair, “unless you give the word and I bump it to the max? That’d shave about half the time off that estimate…”

“The word is given,” Nazir confirmed with a nod. “Number One. Put a landing party together. I want you down there at the earliest opportunity,” she instructed of her XO, Noli simply nodding in confirmation.

Like a gleaming arrow of stardust, Hathaway surged through the cosmic abyss, her powerful warp engines pushed to the limit and thrusting her towards Sathea IV with unyielding determination. Her sleek form sliced through the celestial expanse, streaking past stars in a blur of resolute velocity. Warp trails cascaded behind her, vibrant ribbons of energy trailing in her wake as she embraced the full extent of her propulsion, hurtling ever closer to the enigmatic planet…

…and hopefully the answers to many lingering questions.