Star Trek: Mjolnir - Into The Depths

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter One =/\=
​

Stardate 5824275.02 (April 11, 2381 09:15 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

The USS Mjolnir glided through the vast emptiness of space like a silent sentinel. Captain Callum MacLeod stood tall on the bridge, his eyes fixed on the star-studded horizon. His scottish heritage was evident in the proud tilt of his chin and the steely blue of his gaze. His fingers tapped the armrest of the captain’s chair, the only sound in the tense silence of the room. The bridge crew watched him, waiting for their orders with bated breath. They were a diverse group, hailing from various planets across the Federation, each with their own set of skills and stories to tell.

“Lieutenant Vhela, any sign o’ the Xynthetik ship?” Callum’s deep Scottish-inflected voice broke the quiet.

Lieutenant Vhela, the Barzan Science Officer, swiveled in her chair, “Negative, Captain. The long-range sensors are clear.”

Callum’s gaze didn’t waver from the view screen. “Keep scanning. We’re on the right trajectory. She’s oot there, Ah can feel it.”

Without warning, the bridge was flooded with an eerie, pulsing light that seemed to emanate from the very fabric of space itself. The stars outside the viewport twisted into a whirlpool of cosmic colors, and the ship’s instruments began to beep erratically.

“Report! “ Callum barked as the ship’s inertial dampeners groaned under the unseen force.

“We’re being pulled into some sort of spatial rift!” Vhela called out, her voice tight with urgency as she struggled to interpret the chaotic sensor data.

The stars outside the ship stretched and contorted, the once-familiar points of light distorting into an unnatural tapestry of color and light as the Mjolnir was inexorably drawn into the mysterious spatial rift. The bridge crew gripped their consoles, eyes wide with shock and awe. The glow grew brighter, enveloping the ship in a warm embrace that seemed to pulse with the heartbeat of the universe itself.

Their journey through the anomaly was brief but intense, and just as suddenly as it began, it ended. The Mjolnir was spat out into a solar system, stars reasserting themselves into their proper places. The bridge crew gasped as the viewscreen showed a blue dwarf star radiating a fierce light that illuminated the surrounding planets. The ship’s systems screamed with alarms as the sensors struggled to interpret the data flooding in from the unfamiliar space.

“Report!” Captain MacLeod’s voice sliced through the shocked silence.

Damrus’s eyes darted to his console before meeting Callum’s gaze. “Damage reports are coming in, Captain. Nothing critical, but we’ve lost some EPS relays. The ship’s holding together, but we’re experiencing some minor power fluctuations. Sickbay reports no serious injuries, just a few bruises and a couple of broken bones.”

“Lieutenant Vhela, what’s oot there?” Callum asked.

“Initiating sensor scans.” Vhela said tapping commands into the science station. Seconds later her eyes lit up as the sensor readings grew more coherent. “Captain, we’ve found something. A space station, approximately two AU from our current position.”

“Any signs o’ habitation?” Callum asked.

“Indeterminate, Captain. Sensors are having a hard time penetrating its hull. Its compromised of some sort of phase transition material. But from what I CAN tell its old.” Vhela replied, her eyes still glued to the sensor display.

“How old?” Callum said turning to face the science station.

“Difficult to pinpoint, Captain. But Starfleet has encountered the technology before and we know even the most recent examples of it are ancient.” Vhela said.

“What dae ye mean, Lieutenant?” Callum asked.

“It’s a Preserver station.” Vhela explained.

“As in the ‘transplant groups tae different planets’ Preservers?” Callum asked the surprise evident in his voice.

Vhela nodded. “Affirmative, Captain.”

“Commander Tymoshenko, where in the bloody ‘ell are we?”

Checking the sensor readouts on her displays Naves said, “According to the celestial positioning system we’re about five light-years rimward of Epsilon Carinae.”

"At least it was a short trip. Take us tae the station, Lieutenant Nerah.”Callum said as he turned the center seat, “Commander Rel, organize engineering away teams an’ have them on standby. As soon as we know its safe ah want teams o’er there exploring and analyzing the tech.”

The Mjolnir glided closer to the gas giant, its swirling storms a stark contrast to the cold, silent space that surrounded the ancient station. The ship’s approach was cautious, the crew aware that this place could hold untold secrets or dangers. As they drew near, the space station grew more defined, a Brobdingnagian structure that looked like a scaled up version of the Preserver obelisks the Federation was familiar with. Its green hued metallic surface was marbled with random streaks of gold.

Nerah nodded, his fingers gliding over the helm controls with the grace of a maestro. The Mjolnir slipped into orbit of the ancient station. The space around the station was eerily quiet, the only sound on the bridge the soft whispers of the ship’s systems and the occasional crackle of the communication channels.

Callum turned to his XO. “Commander Rel, assemble an away team. We need to get boots on that station.”

Damrus nodded, his expression a mask of professionalism. “Understood, Captain. Lieutenant Gratakka, Lieutenant Vhela and Lieutenant Commander Tymoshenko, you’re with me.”

The four of them, along with a team of engineers, boarded the Honah Lee – the Mjolnir’s Flyer class shuttle – and headed towards the ancient station.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Two =/\=​

Stardate 5824275.08 (April 11, 2381 09:45 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

As the Honah Lee approached the station an enormous shuttlebay door began to open revealing the bay inside and the glimmer of an atmospheric containment force field. Moving slowly towards the opening shuttlebay door the shuttle’s thrusters whispered through the vacuum of space as it maneuvered into the station’s embrace. The bay door closed behind them with a thud that echoed through the shuttle. The team exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and caution. They had been briefed on the Preservers, an ancient civilization known for their role in seeding various species across the galaxy. The implications of what they might find on this long-abandoned station were vast and could potentially change their understanding of the cosmos.

“There’s a breathable atmosphere out there. The temperature is 20 Celsius.” Vhela said reading a sensor readout in the Honah Lee’s cockpit.

Damrus nodded, his heart racing. “Good, let’s proceed. Lieutenant Gratakka, take point. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

The Nausicaan, with his customary stoicism, nodded and opened the shuttle door. The team stepped out into the vast, dimly lit bay. The air was stale, hinting at years of disuse, yet the station’s power hummed faintly in the background, a testament to the advanced technology that kept it functional. The shuttlebay was a vast cathedral-like space, with arches that stretched into the shadowy heights above them. The team’s footsteps echoed off the metallic floors, a stark reminder of their intrusion into the ancient sanctum. On the far side opposite the space door was a large control console. Gratakka approached it, his heavy boots clanging with each step. As he stepped up to the console it activated displaying a series of alien symbols and a live video feed of the shuttlebay.

Vhela’s eyes widened, “It’s still operational?”

“It seems so.” Gratakka’s deep voice rumbled, “Not that I have any clue what these symbols mean.”

Damrus reached out to tap his combadge to inform the Mjolnir of their findings when it emitted an electronic buzz, indicating no signal. His stomach dropped, and he opened his mouth to voice their predicament. Before he could utter a syllable, the buzz transformed into a clear, crisp voice.

“Ahm Captain Callum MacLeod o’ the United Federation o’ Planets starship Mjolnir. We have traveled to this area of space through an spatial rift we dinnae mean any harm, we come in peace. Where we are from we have encountered your obelisks.” Callum’s voice said echoing throughout the shuttlebay.

“Captain, Its Commander Rel. The station appears to have opened a comm-link for us when my communicator couldn’t reach you.”

Callum’s voice was a comforting presence in the vast emptiness of the shuttlebay. “Ah see. Any contacts with any inhabitants?”

Damrus shook his head. “Negative, Captain. We’re still in the shuttlebay, but there is no signs of habitation yet. Although its worth mentioning when Lieutenant Gratakka approached what appears to be a main console in here it powered up on its own.”

“Ah want ye tae proceed with caution, and keep me informed.”

Damrus nodded. “Understood, Captain.”

With a click the comm-link closed and the team was left in silence once more. As if on cue the large door behind him hissed open as if they were regularly used and not as if they had been closed for the uncounted centuries that had been since they were used last. As the opened they revealed a corridor that stretched into the heart of the station. The lights flickered on, illuminating the way ahead. The walls were the same green and gold metal as the exterior, etched with the same symbols that adorned the Preserver obelisks that Starfleet had encountered before.

“Let’s get moving.” Damrus said with a nod to Gratakka, who led the way into the corridor.

The team followed closely, their phasers at the ready. The corridor was eerily quiet, their footsteps the only sound echoing through the metal hallway as they ventured deeper into the station. As they walked down the corridor the overhead lights came on as they approached and off again once they had passed.

Reese’s voice broke the silence as his eyes scanning the corridor, “It’s like the station knows we’re here.”

Navesh looked up from her tricorder at Reese saying, “Given how advanced Preserver technology is, it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s the station’s been monitoring us since we arrived here, wherever here is.”

The away team walked for several minutes before reaching what appeared to be a central hub of the station. The room was massive, filled with various consoles and screens, all covered in the same symbols that adorned each Preserver obelisk that Starfleet had encountered.

“It’s like stepping into a museum of the future.” Reese whispered, her voice filled with awe.

As they approached the center of the room, a soft glow began to emanate from one of the consoles. A series of images flickered to life on the largest monitor, displaying intricate diagrams of what looked like a Xynthetik drone and a queen and writing in the Preserver language. The images shifted and rotated, displaying the inner workings of the creatures with a precision that could only come from a society that had studied them closely.

“Jackpot,” Navesh murmured, her eyes lighting up as she recognized the significance of the discovery. “This must be their database on the Xynthetik. We could learn so much from this.”

“Commander,” Damrus ordered, his voice calm despite the excitement bubbling just beneath the surface, “Do a visual scan of the display. We need to make sure we have a record of this before we attempt to download the data. If something goes wrong, we don’t want to lose our only chance to get this information.”

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Three =/\=​

Stardate 58275.79 (April 11, 2381 16:00 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

The chime announcing the shift change echoed softly through the USS Mjolnir. In Engineering, Lt. Cmmdr Prolash Jav Gorsach, his gruff Tellarite voice booming over the hum of the warp core, was deep in conversation with Senior Chief Petty Officer Ez’targic.

“I’m telling you, Ez’targic, you can’t simply realign the EPS taps without letting me know first!”

Ez’targic, a towering Royadinian, wrung his hands. “But we talked about it earlier.”

Prolash roared with laughter, a surprisingly hearty sound for a Tellarite. “What if I the bridge called down and asked me what’s going on and I had forgotten?”

Despite his grumbling, Prolash had a soft spot for Ez’targic and his unorthodox passions.

***​

At the same time on the bridge, Lieutenant Nerah meticulously reviewed the power distribution logs, a frown etching itself onto his Bajoran features.

“Commander Tymoshenko,” he called out, her voice crisp and professional, “We’re experiencing a negligible but persistent drain on EPS conduits six through nine. Nothing critical, but it’s outside acceptable parameters.”

Navesh pulled up readouts on the ops console the data flickering in her emerald eyes. Her Orion heritage was evident in her vibrant skin and graceful movements, but her accent was pure Starfleet Standard.

“On it. Probably just Chief Ez’targic tweaking systems again.” She added the power drain to her list of things to investigate, a small smile playing on her lips.

Navesh was used to juggling a hundred things at once, from quartermaster requests to keeping Callum from running himself ragged.

***​

The soft hum of the USS Mjolnir’s warp drive was a constant, almost soothing presence in Reyna’s office. The office itself was small, utilitarian, but Reyna had personalized it with a few calming touches: a small Betazed wind chime, a vibrant painting of a nebula, and a small potted plant that stubbornly refused to die. Today, however, the gentle sounds did little to ease the tension radiating from her visitor.

Petty Officer Third Class Leah Jenas, a young human woman with nervous hands and perpetually wide eyes, sat perched on the edge of the counseling chair, her Starfleet uniform impeccably pressed yet somehow still looking rumpled.

“Thank you for seeing me, Counselor.” Jenas said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Of course, Jenas. That’s what I’m here for,” Reyna replied, offering a reassuring smile. Her Betazoid empathic abilities tingled, sensing the fear and anxiety swirling within Jenas. “What’s been on your mind?”

Jenas fidgeted, twisting the hem of her uniform. “It’s…it’s the Xynthetik, Lieutenant. The thought of encountering them again…” She trailed off, shuddering slightly.

“I understand your concern, Jenas,” Reyna said softly, her voice laced with empathy. “The encounter with the Xynthetik was a traumatic experience for many of us. Can you tell me more about what specifically is causing you anxiety?”

Jenas’s eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape. “It’s…everything, Lieutenant. The way they move, that clicking sound they make… the sheer number of them. It felt like we were fighting an endless swarm. I… I have nightmares about being paralyzed, unable to move while they turn me into one of them.” She wrapped her arms around herself, her face pale.

Reyna reached out, placing a gentle hand on Jenas’s arm. “You’re safe here, Jenas. You’re safe on the Mjolnir. Those creatures are far away.”

Jenas flinched at the touch, but didn’t pull away. “I know, intellectually I know that. But… I hear a clicking sound in the ventilation sometimes, and I freeze. I see things – shadows, patterns – that remind me of their chitinous armor. I can’t sleep, Lieutenant. I’m constantly on edge, waiting for them to attack again.”

Reyna nodded, understanding. “These sound like classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Your mind is trying to process a terrifying event, and sometimes it gets…stuck. It’s creating phantom sensations, associating harmless stimuli with the original trauma.”

“So…I’m going crazy?” Jenas asked, her voice laced with despair.

“Absolutely not,” Reyna said firmly. “You’re experiencing a normal reaction to an extraordinarily difficult situation. The fact that you came to me, that you’re seeking help, is a sign of strength, not weakness. We can work through this.”

Reyna then began to explain, in simple terms, the techniques that she hoped would alleviate Jenas’s anxiety. First, she demonstrated a simple breathing exercise, designed to calm the racing heart and ease the tension in Jenas’s shoulders. Then, she spoke about cognitive restructuring – challenging the negative thought patterns that were fueling Jenas’s fear. Finally, they discussed the possibility of using guided imagery to re-process the traumatic event, replacing the fear and helplessness with feelings of control and safety.

“It won’t happen overnight, Jenas,” Reyna cautioned. “But with consistent effort, and a willingness to confront your fears, you can regain control of your life. We can help you to do that here on the Mjolnir, as well.”

Jenas took a deep breath, mirroring Reyna’s own. “I… I want to try. I can’t keep living like this.”

“That’s the first step, Jenas. And you’ve already taken it.” Reyna smiled warmly. “Now, let’s talk about those breathing exercises. Ready to try this again?”

As Jenas began to focus on her breathing, Reyna couldn’t help but think about the crew of the Mjolnir. They were a family, forged in the fires of space, bound together by duty and a shared sense of purpose. But they were also individuals, each carrying their own burdens, their own fears. It was her responsibility, as the ship’s counselor, to help them navigate those challenges, to ensure that they could continue to serve with courage and resilience. The Xynthetik were a threat, yes, but the invisible wounds of the mind could be just as deadly. And Reyna Vyn was determined to fight them both.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Four =/\=
​

Stardate 58280.88 (April 13, 2381 12:34 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

The next day and a half passed in a blur of excitement and frustration. The Preserver station allowed them to download a vast amount of information on Xynthetik biology, but every attempt to access any other data was met with ‘Access Denied’ being displayed on the monitor in the Preserver language. It was as if the station had a mind of its own, and it was determined to keep its secrets. When they tried to explore further, the doors to the surrounding corridors remained stubbornly sealed, only allowing them access to the shuttlebay and the central hub.

In the conference room the senior officers of the Mjolnir sat around the conference table, their eyes glued to the projection hovering over its surface. Melina spoke with a calm confidence that belied the gravity of her words.

“The Xynthetik are a highly evolved and adaptable insectoid species, their biological makeup unlike anything we’ve encountered.” Melina explained, “Think of them as being completely organic Borg. Their queens are the key to their hive mind, controlling the actions and evolution of their drones. Without her, they’re just mindless beasts.”

“But why would the Preservers have such detailed records of them?” Reyna leaned back in her chair, a furrow in her brow.

Vhela spoke up, her gaze focused on the data stream playing out before her eyes. “Maybe they encountered the Xynthetik in their travels and deemed them a significant enough threat to their ‘children’ to study.”

Callum rubbed his chin, his eyes thoughtful. “We’ll never know for sure, unless we encounter a living Preserver. For now, let’s focus on what we can use. Lieutenant Vhela, can we weaponize this information on the Xynthetik?”

Callum rubbed his chin, his eyes thoughtful. “We’ll never know for sure, unless we encounter a living Preserver. For now, let’s focus on what we can use. Lieutenant Vhela, can we weaponize this information on the Xynthetik?”

Vhela nodded. “Possibly. There’s bueit load of data. The Preservers weren’t able to find a way to reverse the transformation process but they did learn virtually everything about their anatomy and DNA. It will take time to sift through all the data.”

Callum nodded. “In that case its time for us tae move on after all we still need tae find the Xynthetik queen.”

He stood up from his chair and moved towards the viewscreen, “Lieutenant Nerah, when ye get back tae the bridge plot a course tae return us tae our previous heading.”

“Aye, Captain.” Nerah acknowledged, his gaze never leaving the data-filled display.

“Does anyone have anything else?” Callum asked in his Scottish brogue.

The team shook their heads, the weight of their mission pressing heavily upon them as they knew that every moment counted.

“In that case, let’s get to it. Stations.” Callum said, his gaze hardening with resolve. The team nodded, and the senior officers quickly dispersed to their stations to begin their tasks.

Standing up, almost as one, the senior staff dispersed from the conference room, the weight of their findings heavy in their thoughts. Each returned to their stations on the bridge, eager to resume their roles in the unfolding drama of their mission. The bridge of the USS Mjolnir hummed with a renewed sense of purpose as Captain MacLeod took his seat in the captain’s chair.

Nerah, the young Bajoran navigator, worked swiftly at the helm, his fingers dancing over the controls.

“Course laid in, Captain. Returning to our original trajectory.” His voice was steady, but the excitement of the discovery of the Preserver station was evident in the glint of his eyes.

Callum nodded curtly. “Warp nine. Engage.”

The stars on the viewscreen stretched into streaks of light as the Mjolnir leaped back into the void, racing through the velvet-black expanse of space as its streamlined hull reflecting distant starlight like the sword of a vengeful god. The hum of the engines grew louder, vibrating through the deck plates beneath their feet. The crew watched the stars, their minds racing with thoughts of what they had found and the task ahead. The Xynthetik queen was still out there, and their mission was far from over. The knowledge they had gained from the Preserver database was invaluable, but the pursuit was growing more urgent with every passing moment. As the ship hurtled through the mood was intense but focused, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of their situation.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Five =/\=
​

Stardate 58286.03 (April 15, 2381 09:42 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

Without warning the bridge was ablaze with alerts and Navesh announced, “Captain, we’ve picked up an energy signature on the long-range sensors and it matches the profile of the queen’s ship!”

Callum’s eyes snapped to the sensor overlay on the viewscreen, “Where’s it coming from?”

“034 mark 013, 8.13 light-years out.” Navesh’s voice was tight with excitement as she reported the location of the energy signature.

Callum’s gaze snapped to her. “Lieutenant Nerah, adjust our course tae intercept, maintain warp nine.”

“Aye, aye sir. Adjusting heading and maintaining warp factor nine.” Nerah replied as he tapped the commands into the helm.

“Lieutenant Vhela, anything else on sensors?” Callum’s voice was a tight coil of energy.

Vhela’s eyes darted back to her screens. “No, sir. Just the energy signature.”

“What’s our ETA, Lieutenant Nerah?”

“Forty-seven hours sir.” The Bajoran helmsman replied.

“Two days.” Callum muttered to himself, “Two more damned days.”

The captain knew that every moment counted, and the anticipation of the impending confrontation was like a ticking time bomb on the bridge. The crew felt it too, their movements quick and sharp, eyes darting to screens and each other with heightened alertness. They had been trained for this, but the Xynthetik were an unknown variable, a creature of nightmares given form. For the rest of the day the ship’s rhythm was punctuated by drills, ensuring that every member of the crew knew their role in the event of a combat scenario. In-between the drills the Medical and Science teams pored over the data, searching for any weaknesses in the Xynthetik’s biological makeup that could be exploited to make a non-lethal weapon to stop them.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Six =/\=
​

Stardate 58287.04 (April 15, 2381 18:30 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

In the ship’s mess, Chief Petty Officer Jang Si Veran was serving supper to the crew. His Thallonian culinary skills were legendary among the crew, and it was hard not to notice the lively conversation and laughter that filled the space.

“Try the T’anzo stew!” Jang Si called out to Nerah as the Bajoran walked up to the serving buffet, “The spices are outstanding today!”

Nerah grinned, ladling it into his bowl. “It’s a long way from Bajoran food, Chief, but if it’s good, it’ll be a comfort.” With every spoonful, the crew stepped a little closer to maintaining morale in the wake of their daunting task.

“Chief, this smells incredible! What did you put in it?”

Jang Si beamed, wiping his perpetually flour-dusted hands on his apron. “A little Thallonian love, Lieutenant! And some Rylian peppers that I grew. They add a warmth that crawls all the way down to your toes.”

He leaned closer conspiratorially. “And a secret ingredient, of course. But I can tell you, it involves several ingredients that scream in Thallonian when you mix them together.”
He then moved on to a table where Ensign Dorian Collin was nervously picking at her meal. She hadn’t touched her T’anzo stew. Jang Si knelt beside her.

“Ensign, is something wrong? The stew not to your liking?”

Dorian jumped, startled. “Oh, no, Chief. It smells… wonderful. It’s just…”

“What?” Jang Si prompted gently.

“This’ll sound silly,” Dorian explained, “But since Melina and I got married, I’ve gotten so use to eating with her that it feels wrong to not be eating with her.”

Jang Si nodded understandingly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Not silly at all, Ensign. Food is more than just sustenance, especially when you’re far from home. It’s about connection, about sharing. But there’s no point in starving yourself.”

“You’re right… As usual, Chief.” Dorian said with a grin.

“You mind telling my ex-wife that?” The Thallonian chuckled.

“You send her my way and I most definitely will.” Dorian chuckled.

“Next time we put into port at Star Station Echo I’ll introduce the two of you.” Jang Si said barely keeping a straight face. After a couple of seconds he lost control and burst out laughing and said, “Alright I admit it, I was kidding. I’ve never been married.”

“You’re bad chief.” Dorian said laughing herself. Joking around she said, “Maybe I should put you on report for being cheeky.”

“Guilty as charged.” Jang Si replied with a grin, “But if you’ll excuse me I should talk to some other people before rumors about the two of us start circulating.”

“By all means, Chief. We can’t have that. I am a happily married woman after all.”

As Dorian turned her attention to her meal, Jang Si returned to the serving line. He walked over to the next crew member in line, none other than Prolasch himself.

“Alright, friend! What can I get for you?”

The Tellarite grumbled, “Just gimme the stew, Chief. I gotta get back to the warp core. She’s being temperamental today.”

“Temperamental warp core and a temperamental Tellarite, eh? Sounds like you both need some of my T’anzo stew. Guaranteed to soothe even the most volatile temperaments.”

He ladled a generous portion into the engineer’s bowl. “Even yours, so eat up! And try to be nice to the warp core. She’s probably just lonely.”

After a heart belly laugh Prolasch said, “Tell you what, Chief, I’ll tell her you said hello.”

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Seven =/\=
​

Stardate 58291.4 (April 17, 2381 08:42 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

Exactly forty-seven hours after detecting the energy signature the Mjolnir dropped out of warp, the stars on the viewscreen snapping back into focus As individual points of light. The anticipation was palpable as the bridge crew waited for the sensor data to come in. The energy signature had led them here, but the space before them was eerily silent.

“We have visual on the Xynthetik ship,” Nerah announced, his voice tight with excitement. “It’s adrift, no life signs except for the ship’s itself.”

“Were we able tae detect the queen’s life sign as a separate one when she left Xarion Four?” Callum asked.

Vhela checked her readings again, “Yes, sir. They were similar but clearly detectable as separate life forms.”

Callum’s brow furrowed, “Then where the bloody ‘ell is she?”

Navesh spoke up, “There’s only one way to find out.”

Callum nodded. “Agreed. Commander Rel, assemble a team and prepare to beam over. We need to access the ship’s memory core.”

Damrus nodded sharply. “Aye, Captain.”

He turned to Gratakka, “You’re with me, Lieutenant Gratakka.”

Turning to face the Intelligence station Damrus continued, “Lieutenant, have Commander Gorsach and Doctor Pax report to transporter room one for away team duty.”

“Aye, Commander.” Malcolm voice was firm, his gaze flicking to his console to send the messages.

The transporter room was a whirl of activity as the team prepared for the risky mission ahead. The Xynthetik ship was an alien puzzle, one they were about to step into without knowing the full picture. The team had studied the Preserver data on the Xynthetik, but the reality was always different than theoretical knowledge.

As they materialized on the ship, the team’s boots clanked onto a surface that felt like a mix of organic and metallic materials. The corridors stretched ahead, eerily empty and untouched. The air was thick with the scent of something alien, a blend of antiseptic and something faintly sweet, almost floral. It was an odd juxtaposition that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end.

Damrus took point, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a warrior’s intensity. The Xynthetik ship was unlike anything they had ever encountered. The walls pulsed with a faint bioluminescence, casting an eerie glow over everything. The team moved in a tactical formation, phasers at the ready.They worked their way through the ship, each section more disturbing than the last. The Xynthetik’s organic engineering was both fascinating and unsettling. It was clear that this ship was a living organism, its corridors lined with a lattice of vein-like conduits that pumped a mysterious fluid.
Finally, they reached what appeared to be the queen’s chamber. It was vast, with a throne-like platform for the queen to interface with the ship and control its systems with her mind.

“This is where we’ll find our answers,” Damrus said, his eyes scanning the room.

“Gratakka, keep an eye out for any signs of a struggle or anything that seems out of place.”

The Nausicaan nodded and moved off to the side, his phaser at the ready as Doctor Melina Pax and Lieutenant Commander Prolash Jav Gorsach approached the throne. Melina pulled out her medical tricorder and began scanning the biological residue on the organic interface, while Prolash took out an engineering tricorder to study the ship’s systems.

“Commander,” Melina called out, her voice tinged with urgency, “The interface is covered in queen’s DNA. She was definitely here, but it looks like she’s been gone since we detected the readings that led us here, at the very least.”

Damrus’s eyes narrowed, “Can we tell where she beamed to?”

“It’ll be a while, but I’m sure its in there somewhere,” Prolasch assured them, her eyes never leaving the stream of data that flowed across the screen of his tricorder.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Eight =/\=​

Stardate 58291.68 (April 17, 2381 11:11 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

“She did what?!” Callum exclaimed in surprise as he sat in the center seat on the Mjolnir’s bridge.

“She beamed herself onto a Ferengi long haul freighter.” Damrus repeated through the comm-link as he stood in the queen’s chamber of the abandoned Xynthetik ship, “Prolasch and Melina are working on finding the freighter’s warp signature in the ship’s database. They say they’re fairly sure they’ve found where it is accessing the data is tricky since its literally trying to download information from a living brain.”

“In the mean time ah’ll have Navesh begin scanning for any Ferengi warp signatures.” Callum replied nodding at his emerald hued fiancée wordlessly giving the order.

On the bridge Navesh’s slim fingers danced over her console as she began the delicate task of scanning the vast expanse of space for the proverbial needle in a haystack. Her Orion heritage, sharp instincts and heightened senses, was a boon in this situation. The Xynthetik Queen was clever, but they had the upper hand with the Preserver data and the tenacity of the USS Mjolnir crew.

“Anything, ‘Vesh?” Callum said using his nickname for her.

“Not, yet.” The Orion’s voice was tight with concentration as she studied the sensor readouts, “I’m routing auxillary power to the sensors and tying in the lateral navigational array.”

“Ah’ll be in mah ready room.” Callum said standing up relishing the faint pop in his back as he stood.

“Aye, sir.” Navesh said as she stood up to take the center seat as Callum and Damrus headed for the turbolift.

Walking across the bridge past the helm and ops stations Callum walked towards the ready room. Pausing at the ship’s dedication plaque and read the quote before continuing on. The quote was from THE Captain James Kirk simple and yet it spoke volumes – “Risk is our business.”.

Once he’d walked into the ready room Callum walked over to the replicator as he said, “Computer, one bottle o’ Lime Pick-A-Pop.”

Once a clear bottle filled with a bubbly green liquid materialized on the replicator’s receiving platform Callum picked it up and walked over to the seat behind his ready room desk and sat down. As he sat down his combadge chirped signaling that someone was trying to reach him through the intercom. Tapping the silver outlined Starfleet delta backed by two vertical gold quadrangles to open the channel Callum spoke.

“MacLeod here.”

“Its me.” Navesh said through the comm-link, “Commander Rel’s team has located the Ferengi warp signature. I’ve located the ship. It’s a little over three point five light years out on course for a system with an E-type star five light years away.”

“Have the away team beam back an’ set a pursuit course, warp nine point five. Engage as soon as they are onboard. Ah’ll be there right away. MacLeod oot.”

Standing up Callum walked around the ready room desk and took one last swig of his Lime Pick-A-Pop before walking over to replicator and recycling the empty bottle. Walking out of the ready room and onto the bridge he saw Damrus and Gratakka were already on their way back to their stations, and the bridge crew had the look of intense focus that came with the promise of action.

“Status report!” Callum called out as he took his place in the captain’s chair.

Navesh turned to face him, her eyes never leaving her console. “We’re locked on the Ferengi freighter’s warp trail, Captain. We’re in pursuit at warp nine point five and slowly gaining on them.”

Callum nodded, his gaze intense. “Good. Keep me updated.”

Tapping his combadge he said, MacLeod tae Engineering.”

Prolash’s gruff voice responded, “Aye, Captain?”

Callum leaned forward, “We need more speed, Prolash. We need to catch that freighter before they reach that system and are able tae hide grom us.”

There was a pause before Prolash’s gruff voice crackled through the combadge.

“Already on it, Captain. I’ve got the Ez’targic on the engines and Jin on the mains. We can push to nine point seven, but any further and we’re risking frelling the nacelles up.”
“Understood. Bridge oot.” Callum said. Once the comm-link quietly clicked closed he said, “Increase tae nine seven.”

“Aye, Captain.” Nerah said Increasing the ship’s speed.

“They’ve detected us.” Navesh announced, “They’ve altered course to 045 mark 123.”
“Mister Nerah…” Callum said trailing off, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

“Already on it.” Nerah said, “Coming to 045 mark 123. Maintaining warp nine point seven.”

“Captain, engineering advises we can increase to nine point seven five.” Damrus said, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.

Before Callum could respond Nerah said, “Increasing to nine point seven five.”

The bridge crew watched the stars streak by on the viewscreen as the Mjolnir surged forward, each member focused on their station. The tension grew with every second that ticked away, a silent countdown to the confrontation that was hurtling towards them.

“Time tae intercept.” Callum asked, his eyes never leaving the viewscreen.

Nerah checked his readings, “Forty minutes, Captain. We’re gaining, but they’re pushing their engines pretty hard.”

Callum nodded, “Keep us on them. Lieutenant Vhela, any indication of the queen’s presence on the freighter?”

Navesh’s fingers danced over her console as she processed the data, “Affirmative, Captain. She’s definitely there.”

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Nine =/\=​

Stardate 58291.79 (April 17, 2381 12:07 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

Callum took a deep breath, his hand resting on the armrest of the captain’s chair. “How long until we’re in torpedo range?”

Gratakka checked his tactical display, his eyes narrowed. “Two minutes, Captain.”

“Alright folks, this is what’s goin’ tae happen.” Callum’s Scottish brogue was clear and firm, cutting through the tension. “Once we’re in torpedo range, Lieutenant Washbourne will fire two rattrap torpedoes. We need that freighter out of warp and immobilized. Lieutenant Nerah, will time our drop out of warp tae match the freighter’s then take us in tae a strafing run.”

Callum turned to the tactical station, “And Lieutenant Gratakka, will disable their weapons and comms with our phasers. Ah want that freighter helpless an’ mute. Commander Rel, once they are disabled ye will lead an away team o’er. Capture the queen alive if ye can. If ye cannae then the use of deadly force is at your discretion.”

The bridge crew nodded in unison, acknowledging their captain’s orders. They knew what was at stake, and there was no room for error. The Xynthetik queen had to be stopped, and they were the only ones who could do it. Seconds ticked by like hours until the moment of truth.

“Torpedo range in thirty seconds, Captain.” Gratakka announced, his hand hovering over the tactical console.

“Locking on.” Malcolm announced, “Two rattraps are in the tubes and ready for simultaneous launch.”

“Ten… nine… eight…” Gratakka’s voice echoed through the bridge, a steady countdown that seemed to stretch out the seconds until they felt like hours. The bridge was a tableau of focused tension, each member of the crew locked in their own world of preparation and anticipation.

“Seven… six… five…” Gratakka announced as Malcolm’s hand hovered over the torpedo launch control.

The bridge crew was poised, waiting for the moment of impact. The silence was deafening, the only sound the rhythmic countdown from the Nausicaan tactical officer.

“Three… two… one… in range!” Gratakka’s voice boomed across the bridge, and Malcolm’s hand slammed down on the flashing launch button.

“Torpedoes away!” Malcolm confirmed, his voice echoing the tension in the air.

The bridge held its collective breath as the torpedoes streaked through space, their paths true and unerring. On the viewscreen, the freighter grew larger, a metal behemoth desperately trying to outrun its pursuer. The tension was so thick you could almost taste it, a heady mix of adrenaline and fear.

“Torpedoes hit!” Malcolm called out, the explosion lighting up the screen with a brief flash of light before the freighter’s shields flickered and died. “Their warp engines are offline!”

Without waiting for the order Nerah dropped the Mjolnir out of warp, matching the freighter’s velocity. The ship’s inertial dampeners protested slightly, but the crew was too focused to feel the mild jolt as the Mjolnir began its attack run. Gratakka’s eyes narrowed as he fired the ship’s phasers in a series of precise, rapid bursts. Orange-gold beams of energy streaked towards the freighter each shot hit its target. The ship’s weapons emplacements and communication arrays crumpled under the onslaught, showering the void with debris.

“Commander Rel.” Callum’s voice was calm but firm, “Prepare your team for boarding. We need to get on that ship before the queen realizes what’s happening.”

Damrus nodded, already moving towards the turbolift. “Aye, Captain. Lieutenant Gratakka have your best people meet me in transporter one.”

“They’re already there.” Gratakka chuckled.

***​

The transporter shimmered, resolving into the stark, functional interior of the Ferengi long-haul freighter, the Golden Nugget. Damrus stepped off the pad, his tactical away team fanning out behind him. The air hung thick with the metallic tang of Ferengi commerce and something… else. Something sickly sweet, like decaying fruit.

“Report, Chief.” Damrus barked, adjusting the phase disruptor strapped to his thigh.
Chief Petty Officer Patrick Reese, a veteran of the Dominion war and the AR-558, swept the immediate area with his TR-560 Tricorder.

He grimaced as the empty ketracel white tubes he taken off Jem’Hadar he had killed on AR-558 clattering around his neck. “These boys ain’t making profits anymore. They’re Xynthetik drones now.”

The Golden Nugget was eerily silent. The usual chaotic cacophony of Ferengi haggling and engine hum was replaced by a low, persistent clicking, like a thousand mandibles gnawing.

“Let’s find the Queen,” Damrus said, his voice hardening. “And put an end to this. Tactical formations, people.”

They moved cautiously, phasers raised proceeding down the corridors leapfrog style covering each other’s movements. The corridor was eerily quiet, the only sound their own breathing and the soft clink of their armor. The Ferengi, usually masters of clutter and noise, had seemingly vanished. The team moved cautiously, their boots echoing on the metal corridors. The clicking grew louder, more insistent. They rounded a corner and froze. Then, they saw it.

The sight that met them was grotesque. The vast cargo hold, usually crammed with crates of questionable merchandise, was now a pulsating hive. At the heart of it all, a single, monstrous figure held sway. Multiple pairs of eyes, arranged in a disturbing, symmetrical pattern, stared blankly ahead. This was the Queen.

“Frak me sideways…” Reese breathed, his voice barely a whisper. He clutched the ketracel white tubes tighter, the memory of the Dominion war flooding back. This was worse. This was an abomination.

Without warning the Xynthetik queen let loose with a blood curdling shriek that seemed to resonate through the very fabric of the ship. The drones around them erupted into a frenzy, their clicking reaching a crescendo as they launched themselves at the away team. The corridor was suddenly a blur of movement as the drones swarmed towards the Starfleet officers. Phasers fired in rapid succession, sizzling through the air and striking the charging Xynthetik, but it seemed that every shot that landed healed almost as fast as the damage was done.

Damrus barked orders, his instincts honed by years of combat taking over. “Fall back!”

Slapping his combadge Damrus called out, “EMERGENCY BEAM-OUT!”

The transporter whirred to life and the team felt the familiar tingle of dematerialization. However, before the process was complete, the Xynthetik queen launched a small, insect-like creature directly at Damrus. It hit him with surprising speed and latched onto his shoulder. The team watched in horror as the creature sank its mandibles into the his flesh. Materializing on the Mjolnir’s transporter platform, Damrus stumbled and fell to the deck with a heavy thud. Reyna, who had been waiting anxiously for their return, rushed over without a moment’s hesitation. She grabbed the creature with both hands, ripping it off with a grimace of revulsion and pain. The creature spasmed in its death throes and sprayed a mist of toxic fluid directly into Reyna’s face. She stumbled back, eyes wide with shock and pain, gasping for air.

Without missing a beat, Ensign Rita Tannenbaum took aim with her phaser and beamed the creature into space, ending its life almost instantaneously. But the damage had been done. The Xynthetik toxin began to spread through Reyna’s system, burning her skin and blurring her vision. She stumbled backward, gasping and wheezing.

“BEAM HER TO SICKBAY!” Damrus barked, his voice strained as he tried to ignore the searing pain in his shoulder.

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Ten =/\=​

Stardate 58291.85 (April 17, 2381 12:37 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir
Neutral Space, Sector 04356, Beta Quadrant

“The away team is back onboard!” Navesh announced from Ops.

“Lieutenant Washbourne, target the freighter with an isolytic warhead and fire!” Callum ordered.

“Aye, Captain!” Washbourne acknowledged, his hands flying over the console as he input the targeting data.

The isolytic warhead shot out of the Mjolnir’s torpedo bay and streaked towards the Golden Nugget. On the viewscreen, the freighter exploded from the force of the explosion before being drawn into a collapsing pocket of subspace created by the explosion.

“The freighter is destroyed, Captain,” Gratakka reported, his eyes glued to the tactical display.

“Captain, the transporter room reports that a Xynthetik creature was beamed aboard attached to Commander Rel. Lieutenant Vyn was in the transporter room and she pulled it off of him and was sprayed in the face by the creature. She’s been beamed to sickbay and the creature’s been beamed into space.” Navesh reported.

Callum was on his feet in an instant, “Navesh, ye are with me. Lieutenant Washbourne, ye have the bridge. Take us back to Federation space.”

He didn’t wait for a response before he bolted towards the turbolift with Navesh following close behind.

Walking into sickbay, Callum and Navesh found Damrus sitting up on a biobed, his shoulder bandaged. The emergency medical hologram, a crisp projection of a human male, was finishing up patching up his shoulder.

“Commander, are you okay?” Callum asked as he approached, concern etched on his face.

“I’m fine, Captain,” Damrus grunted, gritting his teeth as the EMH applied the final bandage. “The creature barely broke the skin. But we need to talk about Reyna.”

Callum’s gaze snapped to the main biobed, where the counselor thrashed and struggled against her restraints. The sight sent a cold chill down his spine. “What’s happening tae her?”

“I’m sorry, Captain,” Melina said gravely, her eyes never leaving Reyna’s contorted form, “The creature’s venom did more than just cause pain. It’s a transformative agent. She’s being… changed.”

Callum felt his stomach drop. “What dae ye mean, changed?”

Melina took a deep breath, her features tightening with the gravity of the situation. “I was able to purge most of the toxin, Captain, but I was too late. She’s being transformed into some kind of hybrid.”

Callum felt a cold fist of dread clench his gut. “Can we reverse it?”

Melina’s gaze was filled with a mix of hope and fear. “Not yet. I was quick enough to prevent her from being turned into a drone, but I can’t stop the transformation into a hybrid. As close as I can tell she’ll be part of the hive mind but separate enough to become some sort of new Xynthetik. Possibly similar to the queen in function.”

Navesh’s eyes widened, “We can’t let that happen!”

“We need to find a way tae reverse this!” Callum’s voice was a mix of shock and determination.

But Reyna’s eyes, swimming with pain and fear, found his, “Captain… Please… I can’t… please… I want it to stop… Let me die… I don’t want to become a monster!”

The room fell silent. The captain felt as though he’d been punched in the gut. Reyna’s skin was already beginning to take on the iridescent sheen of a Xynthetik’s exoskeleton. Her eyes, once a warm, were now a cold.

Callum leaned over her, his hand on her shoulder. “Reyna, we’ll find a way. We will nae give up on ye.”

But she was insistent. “I don’t want to become one of them. If there’s no cure… Give the order. Let me die as me.”

 

[Callum MacLeod]

=/\= Chapter Eleven =/\=​

Stardate 58305.55 (April 22, 2381 12:37 Federation Standard Starship Time.)
USS Mjolnir docked with Star Station Echo
Sector 04340, United Federation Of Planets

“Captain’s Log Stardate 58305.55

The Mjolnir has finally put in tae port at Star Station Echo. Tae say the journey back has been difficult for the crew would be the understatement o’ the century. Tae rub salt in the wound that o’ Reyna’s transformation Doctor Pax has nae been able tae reverse the transformation, even with the data from the Preserver station’s Xynthetik database.

Tae add insult tae injury we were forced tae transfer Counselor Vyn tae a maximum security cell and keep her in restraints tae prevent her from attacking the crew courtesy o’ her new Xynthetik instincts. As much as it pains me, she is tae much o’ a threat tae allow her tae remain onboard while Starfleet Medical searches for a cure. The counselor will be transferred tae a ultra high security containment facility until a cure can be found.”

The computer’s voice acknowledged the entry before going silent. The captain leaned back in his chair, his gaze unfocused. He could still hear Reyna’s desperate plea in his mind, echoing like a ghost. Suddenly, the bridge’s red alert klaxons blared, jolting Callum out of his thoughts. He sprinted out of the ready room and onto the bridge, his heart racing.

“Status report!” he called out, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Navesh spun around in the operations chair, her eyes wide with shock. “The shuttle transferring Reyna is firing on us!”

Callum’s heart stopped for a beat before he sprang into action, dropping into the captain’s chair with a thud. “On screen!”

The viewscreen flickered to life, revealing the shuttle as it rapidly retreated, a blur of light and metal. The shuttle’s pilot and guards, two security officers, materialized on the bridge, their expressions a mix of confusion and horror.

“What in the bloody ‘ell…” Callum’s voice trailed off as he took in the chaotic scene.

“The shuttle’s turned and is breaking off, Captain,” Gratakka called out, his eyes glued to the tactical display.

“Tractor beam!”

“Its no good. She took out the tractor beam with her first shot and the transporter array with her second shot.” Navesh’s voice was tight with tension.

Callum’s fists clenched on the armrests of the captain’s chair. “Intercept!”

The Mjolnir shot forward, pushing her engines to the limits. The shuttle, now under the control of the transformed Reyna, was fast and nimble, but the Mjolnir was relentless. The chase was on, a deadly dance through the the inky blackness of space surrounding the station.

Callum’s eyes remained glued to the viewscreen, his jaw clenched with determination, “Lieutenant Nerah, keep us on her tail. We cannae let her get away.”

Nerah nodded, her fingers dancing over the helm controls as the Mjolnir pursued the rogue shuttle. “Aye, Captain.”

“Open a channel.” Callum ordered. Once the comm-link was open he said, “Reyna, if ye can hear me, please, stop this. Ye dinnae have tae dae this. We can still find a way tae help ye.”

“Shuttle’s power signature just spiked, Captain,” Malcolm Washbourne announced, his voice tight with tension.

Before the captain could respond, the shuttle vanished from the sensors, as if it had never been there. The bridge was plunged into a tense silence, the only sound the hum of the ship’s systems. And then, the message came. A cold, alien voice filled the bridge, echoing off the walls.

“You have not seen the last of me." The voice said over the comm system, and there was no mistaking it. It was Reyna, but it was not the Reyna they had known, “I am the Empress of the Xynthetik now and I will return to destroy you all.”

The message ended abruptly, leaving the bridge crew in shocked silence. Callum leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he gripped the armrests of his chair.

“Plot the last known course of the shuttle. We need tae know where she’s heading.”

Nerah worked feverishly at the helm, her eyes darting between the viewscreen and the navigation display. “It’s no good, Captain. She’s already well outside of our sensor range. She could be heading anywhere. She’s gone… for now.”

To be continued?​