“Captain’s log, stardate seven-eight-three-three-six. After almost a full day of repairs, we’ve been able to bring the warp drive back online and limp to the nearest star system in an attempt to find somewhere to hide while we continue with repairs and treating our injured. However, after being contacted by the Sikarian colony inhabiting the only M-class world in the system, I have accepted their generous offer to help us with supplies and spare parts. Their leader, Magistrate Mulier Mala, has invited me and an away team to visit them. My only worry is that Lieutenant Commander Jarata has discovered that the neutrinos that pulled us here appear to originate from the colony. Magistrate Mala has promised to provide us with an explanation for this accident.”

Entering transporter room one, Captain McCallister was impressed to see his away team assembled and waiting for him. They had donned their field jackets and were suitably equipped for their mission. Standing by the transporter controls was his first officer. Thaustin approached him with Kazlaf in tow. Inwardly, McCallister groaned to himself as he knew what Thaustin was about to say. He had already heard the speech about an hour ago in his ready room.

Raising his hand to his first officer, McCallister quietly told him to stop. “Number One, before you say anything else, please hold it. I won’t change my mind in leading this away team.” 

Thaustin sighed and passed his captain the PADD that Kazlaf had in her hands. “I know, sir, but you should see what Beliere has found waiting for you on the planet.”

McCallister took the PADD, wondering what surprise required his first officer to stop him before boarding the transporter platform. He looked at the PADD and was surprised by Kazlaf’s findings. “Are we certain about this?” McCallister as he passed the device back.

“One hundred per cent, sir,” Kazlaf answered. “The debris field and life signs all point to a crashed Hirogen hunting vessel. Monotanium hull plating, tylium-based power source, and a faded dicyclic warp signature.”

Thaustin looked at his captain with almost soppy eyes as if he was about to beg him profusely for something. “Please, sir, take an extra few security officers with you, all armed with phaser rifles.” Thaustin looked like a pleading puppy who wanted their favourite toy given to them.

McCallister couldn’t say no. He looked over Thaustin’s shoulder and saw that Lieutenant Lonar already had an entire team on standby. They were outfitted with excursion jackets over their body armour and phaser rifles slung over their shoulders. 

McCallister looked back at Thaustin. “I see I have no choice in the matter.”

Smirking and then shaking his head, Thaustin replied. “I’m afraid not, sir.”

“Very well,” McCallister sighed as he walked over to the weapons locker, pulled out a handheld phaser, and strapped it to his side before taking a tricorder. He looked at Lonar. “Natima, if we survive this, remind me to organise a time for us to get together to discuss the establishment of a Hazard Team on the Constitution.”

“Don’t worry, sir,” The young Cardassian woman said with a similar smile to the one that Thaustin just had. “I already have the proposal in a draft format, ready for you.”

Shaking his head, McCallister told his first officer that he had the ship just as Commander Kazlaf joined him on the transporter platform. Just in time, she zipped up her jacket as the captain ordered the transporter chief to energise. 

Sikarian Colony

After appearing in the centre of the settlement, the away team stood in what could only be described as an idyllic location. The solid, warm heat from the nearby sun was piercing down as it started to set on the horizon. The sky was clear of clouds, and birds could be heard flying above. The settlement, though plain in design, appeared well-maintained and pristine. McCallister smiled at the welcome change of scenery. He was no longer surrounded by a damaged ship but a welcoming, peaceful world. Somehow, it reminded him of a strong summer in his home town of Cape May on Earth. 

“Welcome to Fabula,” an unknown but friendly tone said as they approached the group of Starfleet officers.

Refocussing on where he was and turning on his heels, Captain McCallister was met by a strikingly beautiful woman leading a group of three others. She was tall and had long, curly golden hair underneath the typical Sikarian headgear. If anyone hadn’t met them before, they appeared human-like. McCallister recognised the woman instantly from his communication with the colony before beaming down. “Magistrate Mala, thank you for letting us visit your world.”

“Captain McCallister, it is our pleasure to have you and your esteemed crew join us,” Mala replied with a friendly smile. Her blue eyes sparkled against the sunset as she stopped just before them. She was wearing a long, free-flowing dress that appeared to be made of silk in different shades of gold and bronze. She looked at the away team and noticed how heavily armed they were. “I assure you, captain,” Mala said, looking back at him, “None of you will be harmed while here at Fabula.”

“I appreciate the reassurance, Magistrate Mala-” McCallister said.

“Please, call me Mulier,” She requested with a more pleasant smile than before. She fluttered her eyes at him.

Returning the grin, McCallister bowed his head in respect and noticed how the Sikarian leader was evident in flirting with him to gain his trust quickly. She was undoubtedly like every other politician he had to deal with. Charming and pleasant at first, their true intentions were revealed later. He wondered just exactly what her intentions were. Could she be trusted? “Thank you, but as I was about to say, we detected the crashed remains of a Hirogen vessel nearby.”

Mala’s disposition changed at him mentioning them. “Unfortunately, yes. They crashed a few days ago and have been working to repair their ship. We tried to help them, but it caused the death of several of our engineers. We’ve been able to prevent them from attacking our colony.”

 Intrigued to hear that, McCallister noticed Lonar taking note of that comment from the corner of his eye. “Well, just to be on the safe side, I’d prefer my people prepared in case they bypass your defences.”

Mala relented. “Very well,” She smiled. “Please, captain, my people are known for their hospitality, and I have not been a good enough host yet. Join us for refreshments as we discuss your needs.”

Before leaving the ship, McCallister had read everything the database had about the Sikarians. A technologically advanced race originated from the Nacene Reach of the Delta Quadrant. Voyager had encountered them in their first year in the Delta Quadrant. They were also avid storytellers and highly keen for Voyager to remain with them. After a black market deal for some of their technology had gone wrong, Voyager quickly left the homeworld of Sikarias. They had yet to be heard from since. Admiral Janeway’s after-action report highly recommended caution when dealing with them. McCallister was certainly following her advice right now. Who could argue with the woman who wrote the book on the Borg and transverse the Delta Quadrant?

Mala led them into a room off from the courtyard they had beamed into. It was airy, bright and filled with luxury seating and huge, long silk drapes dangling from the ceiling. The walls and floors were all white. Soft music was playing in the background – it was pleasant and calming. Mala instructed servants to come out and offered for the Constitution’s away team to sit down. Kazlaf explained she couldn’t due to her exoskeleton (a blatant lie), and Lonar politely declined. McCallister knew what both women were doing and appreciated their cautious approach while he had to place nice with their host. Remaining vigilant as ever, they stood close to the captain as he sat in a plush armchair with enough pillows, making him wonder if it was taken directly from the old fable his mother read to him about the Princess and the Pea. 

“To business then, captain?” Mala suggested after drink and food was offered to them all.

“Indeed,” McCallister confirmed as he sipped on what he thought was water but turned out to have a strong, sweet taste. “The neutrinos that delivered us to this area of the Delta Quadrant appear to originate here at your colony. I’m aware of your people’s advanced technology, so my only question is, did you bring us here?”

Mala sighed and nodded. “We did,” She admitted before apologising profusely to him. “But it was an accident, and I am truly sorry for the distress we’ve caused.”

Surprised that she may have told him the truth, McCallister breathed in. “Can you elaborate further on why and how?”

“We’ve been experimenting with our spatial trajector technology. You see, captain, for it to work on a very long range, we need a planet similar to Sikaris.”

“A mantle of tetrahedral quartz,” Kazlaf stated.

Mala nodded to the science officer. “Yes, that’s right,” She turned back to the captain. “For a trajector to work effectively, the mantle helps us focus and amplify the trajector field. Without it, we are limited in the distance. Fabula is the first planet we’ve found within range of our homeworld that has a similar mantle. We’ve been experimenting with the trajector, and we were attempting to send a probe, and somehow, we think the trajector inadvertently locked onto your ship and pulled it here. I am truly sorry for the stress we’ve caused.”

“Fortunately, no one was killed,” McCallister replied. “Can you use it to send us back?”

“I want to say yes, captain, but we are still working out how the accident happened. Until we are certain, please let us help you with repairs and host your crew. It’s the least we can do for the stress we have imposed on you and them.”

“Perhaps my people can help your scientists understand what happened?” McCallister offered.

“Perhaps,” Mala agreed as she stood up and moved to sit closer to the captain. She placed her hand on the top part of his left arm. “In the meantime, please be our esteemed guests and let us get to know one another. It is rare for us to have visitors. Especially explorers from so far away.”

Smirking at her attempts at flattery, McCallister kept his professional demeanour. Mala was gorgeous, and her smile was very attractive. “I’m sure we could find some common ground between our people.” He suggested. His instinct was to reject what she was offering, but he felt another approach was needed with her. Perhaps playing her at her own game would get more out of her. So he went on the charm offensive. 

“Absolutely, especially as our historical archives show things were not conducted correctly the last time a Federation ship visited our homeworld. We must rectify that.” Mala touched the end of McCallister’s nose with her index finger. She then swiped her finger around his chin slowly and seductively. “We have so much to learn about one another to improve our relations.”

Feeling a bit nervous, McCallister scratched the back of his head. “Very well,” He stuttered as he stood up. Perhaps playing the charming side wasn’t a good idea, McCallister considered. He certainly didn’t want to get that close with her.

Mala grabbed his hand into hers. “I think we would get on very well, captain.” She smiled again and pulled herself closer to him. “Come back later this evening for dinner. anyone from your crew is invited, and we can exchange further details to bring us closer.” She whispered the last word into his ear. 

“Indeed,” He said as he tugged on the end of his jacket and cleared his throat. “Until tonight.”

“I look forward to it,” Mala replied, even more seductively than before, as she let go of the captain and sat back in her chair. “Hurry back.”

McCallister looked at his other officers and tapped his combadge, indicating that he wanted to return immediately.

USS Constitution (NCC-91700)

The moment they were back on the transporter platform, Commander Thaustin was there waiting.

“Any luck in getting through to them?” He asked the captain.

“You can say the captain certainly got through to them,” Kazlaf smirked. “Or through to one of them.”

McCallister shot her a glance of annoyance, and she immediately stopped. He turned back to his first officer. “Thaustin, remind me next time to leave you to deal with diplomatic…” He paused. “Exchanges.”

“Very well, sir,” Thaustin replied, confused as he looked to the others for more clues. 

“Just tell the senior staff to prepare to join us for dinner later with the Sikarian leadership,” McCallister said as he left the transporter room.