Dropping out of warp some three hours later, Hathaway emerged in orbit of Sathea IV, a planet ravaged by the devastating Century Storm less than a year ago. The once-thriving world now lay in ruins, its surface scarred and desolate. Captain Nazir stood on the bridge, arms folded across her chest and her gaze fixed on the barren landscape displayed on the viewscreen.

“Prepare for a planetary survey,” she ordered, her voice steady but tinged with a sense of gravity. “We need to find any signs of life or remnants of the abandoned technology lab.”

The bridge crew sprung into action, working diligently to scan the planet’s surface for any indications of survivors or hidden secrets. Minutes felt like hours as they passed by at such a slow pace, the team meticulously combing through the data, their hopes of finding answers waning with each second.

Commander Teyahna, the newest occupant of the science hot seat, was determined to leave no stone unturned in her search. She tirelessly adjusted the ship’s sensors, compensating for the disturbances caused by the relentless battering the planet had been subjected to thanks to the Century Storm. Finally, a breakthrough came—a faint but distinct set of signals emanating from inside the abandoned technology lab several hundred kilometres below.

“We’ve got them!” Teyahna exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she craned her neck to look towards the Captain. “We’ve detected multiple signals within the lab. It appears there may be survivors or hidden activity after all.”

Captain Nazir nodded, a mixture of relief and determination etched on her face. “Commander Noli, Lieutenant Or’uil, Doctor Zinn, assemble an away team and prepare to beam to the surface to investigate.”

Commander Noli, Lieutenant Or’uil, the young Ungeat security chief, and Doctor Zinn, rallied their team within seconds. By the time they had made their way to Transporter Room One, their hearts pounding with a mix of anticipation and caution, the additional personnel were waiting for them. Armed and ready, the entire unit moved and stood in position as the transporter chief initiated the transportation sequence. In a swirl of shimmering light, they dematerialised from the Hathaway, their destination set for the surface of Sathea IV.

The away team surveyed their surroundings as they materialised on the desolate planet. The wind howled, carrying remnants of the Century Storm, and the air hung heavy with an eerie silence. The abandoned technology lab loomed before them, its entrance beckoning to them thanks to a malfunctioning light flickering freely above the door.

With cautious steps, the team entered the lab, their senses heightened and their phasers at the ready. The air inside was stale, filled with a lingering sense of abandonment. But then, they detected movement—subtle signs that there was more to this place than met the eye. Silent communications between the team indicated they split up, heading in opposite directions to maximise their search radius. In small groups, they followed the signals deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of the lab, their footsteps echoing against the metallic surfaces. Each turn brought them closer to the truth, closer to uncovering the enigma that had brought them to this forsaken world.

“I never thought we would be back here,” Noli whispered to Zinn, the only other member of the away team who recalled what had happened months ago. He had been the one to hold her hand and help her back to her feet, to pronounce the death of their colleague, and helped with the rescue of then-Commander sh’Elas.

“It is perhaps fate that we should be the ones to receive this call,” the doctor responded, “for if this is the Captain, she’ll need the support of her own people. People who can guide her and assure her.”

As the away team cautiously made their way through the winding corridors of the abandoned technology lab, their eyes widened in astonishment when they stumbled upon an active control panel. The console hummed with life, its presence amid the ruins a beacon of hope. Would they finally get the answers to their lingering questions? Without hesitation, Lieutenant Or’uil looked across at the XO for approval to move forward. When the nod came, the young Ungeat stepped up, his fingers deftly tapping the control panel. As he accessed the system, a faint hum filled the air, and a dampening field surrounding the area deactivated, allowing their tricorders to confirm the presence of a single life sign in one specific location—four levels below the surface.

Commander Noli, her determination unwavering, quickly assessed their options. “We need to get to that location immediately,” she declared, her voice firm yet filled with concern. “Find the nearest turbo lift, everyone. We’re going down.”

The team followed her lead, moving swiftly through the darkened corridors, guided only by the dim emergency lighting. The sense of anticipation grew with each step, their hearts pounding in unison. It was one of the security officers who spotted it first, spotting the lift nestled in an alcove some over thirty meters away.

As the doors slid shut behind the team, all members crammed inside to ensure they travelled together, Lieutenant Or’uil accessed the control panel, selecting the destination four levels below. The turbo lift jolted into motion, descending deeper into the depths of the abandoned facility. The air inside the turbo lift was heavy with anticipation, each member of the away team bracing themselves for what awaited them below. The silence was punctuated only by the hum of the turbo lift’s mechanisms. When the doors opened, the away team stepped out onto a darkened corridor, fanning out and ensuring their safety before moving on. Emergency lighting flickered sporadically, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Their tricorders emitted soft beeps, detecting the life sign ahead, guiding their way.

As they cautiously made their way down the dimly lit corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoed, amplifying the tension in the air. The team was prepared for anything, their phasers ready for any threat that may emerge from the shadows. Finally, they reached the end of the corridor, where a set of heavy cargo bay doors loomed before them. The emergency lighting bathed the area in an eerie glow, casting long shadows across the room. Commander Noli took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay beyond, and then authorised the security team to open the doors and secure the area.

In the dimly lit cargo bay several hundred meters below the surface of Sathea IV, the away team stood in disbelief as beacons of light from their wrist torches bathed the area ahead of them. There, a lone figure sat slumped and bound to a chair. The sight of the beaten, downtrodden and malnourished form filled them all with a mix of anger and determination.

Without hesitation, Commander Noli and Doctor Zinn swiftly moved to the woman’s side, neither needing to acknowledge the obvious fact that this was, at least to all intents and purposes, their missing comrade. Somehow there, alive and well. Crouching at Tharia’s side, the pair carefully started to untie the restraints that held her captive. Their hands worked with urgency, their focus unwavering.

However, their mission to free Tharia was interrupted rather abruptly as three masked figures materialised several feet behind the away team, armed with phaser weapons. Without warning, the attackers unleashed a volley of energy bolts, forcing the Starfleet team to take cover.

Lieutenant Or’uil quickly analysed the situation, his mind calculating the best course of action. With a determined expression, he rallied the security team, directing them to provide cover fire from alcoves and doorways while he and the others worked to secure the downed Starfleet officer.

Phaser beams crisscrossed the cargo bay, creating an intense firefight, the air filled with the sharp crackle of energy and the shouts of combat. The away team skilfully manoeuvred into more advantageous positions, using the limited cover available to shield themselves from the attackers’ onslaught while the XO and the chief physician remained focused on their primary objective—to free Tharia from her restraints and ensure her safety. With steady hands, they worked swiftly, their movements precise despite the chaos around them.

As the firefight raged on, the security team under Or’uil’s command valiantly pushed back against the masked assailants. Their phaser fire was disciplined and calculated, forcing the attackers to retreat momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, Commander Noli called for immediate transport back to the Hathaway. She knew that time was of the essence, and their priority was to get Tharia to safety and provide her with the medical attention she desperately needed. The familiar hum of the transporter filled the cargo bay as the away team, including the now-secured Tharia, dematerialised one by one, leaving behind the battleground.

Materialising in the transporter room, the team’s faces were marked with both determination and relief. Tharia was immediately whisked away on a medical gurney, with Doctor Zinn and his team in pursuit to tend to her injuries with utmost care.

As the dust settled, Commander Noli gathered the security team and briefed them on the next steps. The prisoner they had managed to secure during the firefight would be a valuable source of information, potentially shedding light on the mysterious attackers and the secrets of Sathea IV.

If only they knew the true danger of who, or what, they had brought aboard.