“Thank you for meeting with me,” Sydin said from the other side of the viewscreen. We don’t have much time, and what we are asking of you is far beyond the scope of your usual undertakings—and I know that.”

Sydin looked visibly uncomfortable but determined.

Jonathan could sense something coming from the officer. He had quite a talent for reading people by their faces; this moment was no exception. Being a cemented science offer by nature, he was accustomed to gathering all the data before making his choices or allowing his emotions to take over in any situation.

Situations like these took him back to the USS Exeter. His posted captain somehow managed to instil a sense of fear in the crew. It was one of the traits he was known and disliked for, but it also gave him a sense of rational pursuit when entering a fast-choice moment.

With communication mainly down and his ship unable to get a status update from federation headquarters, he was happy to get some response.

“No problem. It was a shock when you arrived unannounced, and we’re glad we got something. Can we get a fleet status update?” he said

“Considering that your ship is still intact, I am assuming that you have not yet come across the Vaadwaur vessel that has been located in the area. Others weren’t so lucky.”

After losing instant communication with most of the fleet, the crew was unaware of the situation. Since then, they have been preparing for whatever may come along.

“Others?” he said, dreading the following words to appear.

The Vaadwaur were a less known race to the federation, part of his mission briefs from Captain Janeway in the Delta Quadrant gave him most of what he needed to know, albeit a small amount, we had to keep our wits about us as they tend to deceive, that along with having access to the subspace corridors gave them a tactical advantage we were left without.

“We don’t know much about them, but we believe they have something to do with the Blackout. They destroyed a civilian freighter and fled into a nebula – and they have the advantage over any ship that tries to engage them.”, Sydin explained.

Jonathan could sense where this was going, and it was his worry. Having so little to go on about them put us in a very interesting spot.

“We have been trying to work out what’s been happening since most of our systems went down with information. I have had my Science Officer head in scans for the past few hours, and we know how much Vulcans throw into it,” he said

“We need you to turn your attention to the more acute matter.” Sydin said. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but if you could flush the Vaadwaur out… ”

“There is was” he thought to himself. It was inevitable that we would need to take the upper hand. All the reports he had read on the Vaadwaur always started with being in front. He was hesitant at first. Being in the dark from the fleet and the way the past 24 hours had been, it wasn’t his first choice of mission to take on.