It had been a long few days. Captain Harper was starting to get discouraged. The Sausalito had been following the warp signature left behind by the unknown ship for 3 days now. They were now stalled and wasn’t sure where to go from their current location. The warp signature had led them to a location only around a light year from the planet Talos.

“Run the scans again,” Harper ordered.

“I’ve run them now at least a dozen times, Captain.” Commander Piya was beginning to test her patience. Harper rubbed her temple with her right hand. She was starting to feel the start of a small headache and she hoped it wouldn’t linger.

“I understand that, Commander. Run….them….again,” she spoke slower and more intentional. “We have to have missed something. Ship’s just do not disappear.”

Her point must have been understood because all she got in response was a nod from Commander Piya who immediately turned to start the scans again. Harper made her way over to his station. She leaned down over him and began observing the date coming in from the scan.

“Captain, I may have something.” Ensign Hazel had approached behind her so quietly that Harper had not even noticed her presence. Harper turned to face her. She noticed that Hazel visibly winced as she turned to face her. This caused an uneasiness in her stomach. She immediately softened her facial expressions and gave a small smile to Hazel.

“Go ahead, Ensign.” Harper noted to herself that she needed to her to sick bay to have her rising headache taken care of. That would have to wait though.

“As you know, I have been updating Starfleet Command every day with our progress as ordered. I just received an incoming transmission that an informant on the planet Talos notified Starfleet of an unidentified ship stuck in the planet’s orbit. The planet has attempted communication but there was been no response so far. From everything I have heard, I believe it may possibly be the ship we are looking for,” Ensign Hazel reported in a hurried manner.

Had she really made her crew this nervous? Harper mentally berated herself for her behaviors within the past 24 hours. She would have to find a way to ensure that this type of thing doesn’t happen again. She does not want to remembered as this type of captain.

“Great work, Ensign Hazel. Ensign H’veir, set a course for Talos and get us there are soon as possible. XO, you have the bridge. I will return shortly. Please keep me apprised of any changes,” Harper stated while making her way to the turbolift.

“Yes, Captain,” her XO, LtCo Sili replied.

Harper entered sick bay and was greeted by her Chief Medical Officer Lieutenant Redrol Rogers. The trill man greeted her with a huge smile  and the shake of his hand. “Welcome, Captain. I would say that I’m happy to finally see you visit us in sick bay but that means you aren’t feeling well. What can I do for you?”

“I have the start of a slight headache. I get headaches from time to time and I can tell that this one has the potential to be a migraine. I don’t have time for a migraine, Doctor.” Harper winced and rubbed her forehead again. She probably should have come sooner.

“Ah, very well. Take a seat and we will knock that headache in no time at all.” Lt Redrol pointed to the bed beside him.

Harper took a seat on the edge of the bed and faced the doctor. He grabbed a hypospray from the small table next to the bed. He injected the hypospray into her right shoulder. She barely felt it at all but she still rolled her shoulder as if it would help the medicine move faster.

“All done. Anything else you need, Captain?” Lt Redrol inquired.

“No, that will be all. Thank you, Doctor.” Harper stood up from the bed and began to make her way toward the exit.

“Uh….Captain. One more thing if I may,” Lt Redrol spoke stopping her in her tracks. “I don’t mean to hold you up and I know what you have to get back to is extremely important. I just want to remind you to take care of yourself. I know how stressful your job can be and just know that you are not alone here and we care about your well being.” He said with the most genuine smile she thought she has ever seen.

“Thank you, Doctor. I will keep that in mind,” Harper stated through her smile. It meant a great deal to her that he had thought of her in that way. She entered the turbolift and headed  back to the bridge.

A few hours later, the USS Sausalito entered the orbit of Talos. Ensign Hazel had informed Captain Harper that a communication had already been sent prior to their arrival that they would be coming. That was good at least. Talos would know to expect them.

“Captain, I see the ship. Sending coordinates to helmsman now,” Command Piya reported.

“Great job, Commander. Ensign H’veir, get us closer.” Harper was already feeling better and glad she had not waited any longer to head to sick bay.

“Aye, Captain.” Ensign H’veir took action immediately and starting navigating the ship toward the unidentified vessel now in full view on the view screen.

“Any report, LtCo T’Penne?” Harper looked to her Chief Engineering Officer.

“Running scans now, Captain. It should be only a few moments.” LtCo T’Penne stated while not breaking contact with the screen in front of her. “Got it. I’m reading life signs aboard, sir. However, the ship seems to be operating on auxiliary power.”

“Unidentified vessel, this is the USS Sausalito please respond.” Ensign Hazel waited a few seconds before repeating the same statement a few times. She finally turned toward the Captain. “Receiving no response, Captain.”

“Very well. It appears to we will have to investigate for ourselves. XO, please prepare a security team to accompany us and meet us in the transporter room. I don’t want to be unprepared as we do not know what we will find. LtCo T’Penne and Commander Piya come with me. We have a doctor to pick up and take with us.” Harper ordered. She headed toward the turbolift with two of her officers in tow.

A few minutes later, Harper stood on the transporter platform with her XO, her Chief Engineering Officer, her Chief Science Officer, her Chief Medical Officer and 6 members of her security team. Have we found Ipya? Will we find her alive? I hope we are not too late…Harper couldn’t help but find herself down that mental rabbit hole. She cleared her throat and looked to her transport officer. “Alright, watch each other’s back. Let’s all make it back safely. Energize!”