Prologue

Typhon Sector Block, Alpha Quadrant, Planet Relios, Classified Experimental Weapons Research Facility, Old Earth Calendar Year 2380

"How's it coming, Sitix?" Baresio asked, and fired two more blasts from his rifle down the hall.

"It would be faster if—watch out!"

Theus didn't notice the charging guard about to bludgeon him with a baton until it was too late. He swung wild, and smashed the blunt weapon into his elbow with a sharp snap that made his arm bend at an unnatural angle. It made him fall back from the console he was working on and the meds being injected into him from his reconnaissance armor did little to stem the pain.

"Damn it!" Theus howled and rolled back.

"What are doing Air Head?!" Fisher demanded. He dove forward and connected his fist with the guard's face. Followed by a precise duranium-toe kick to his sternum and a boot underneath his chin. "Get it together!"

"Wevis to Eridos, what's going on? You're bio-signs are spiking all over the place."

"I'm fine, Captain!" Theus answered with a grunt. He returned to the console and with one hand continued working. "Door coming down, everyone in!"

Overhead, large locking mechanisms released and soot fell from the ceiling as a large blast door began to lower. Baresio and Wevis retreated into the room, maintaining their fire while dodging the incoming barrage. Sitix and Fisher joined them in laying down covering fire, until the door slammed down with a deep echoing thud and they were all inside the laboratory filled with work stations facing a large reactor through blast windows.

"That was close," Fisher said. "You okay, Eridos?"

"A little help?" Theus said.

"But you're the medic," Fisher said.

Wevis boomed, "Quit messing around and heal him!"

"Aye, sir," Fisher said.

While Fisher worked, Theus almost felt sorry for him. He knew his friend was teasing, but their newest Rigelian team leader was all business. Fisher activated the nerve-block field from his trauma kit as he set Theus' arm before pulling out a multi-regenerator.

"Use the vascular function first," Theus said. "I have internal bleeding."

"I can see that," Fisher said.

As he worked, Baresio approached and asked Wevis, "What about them?"

Baresio was pointing, and Theus looked to see over one dozen alien scientists huddled in a corner. It didn't take any lessons learned from first contact courses or non-verbal linguistics to see that they were all terrified.

"Line them up against the wall," Wevis said. "Search their systems for any other sites. I want the lead scientist front and center once you've separated them researchers, technicians, and theorist. The engineers are of no consequence at the moment."

"On it," Baresio said. "Give me a hand?" He asked Sitix, and she joined him.

Fisher had just finished, and Theus held up his forearm and made a fist a few times before saying, "This will sting tomorrow. I'll probably need the CMO to check it out when we get back."

"You're welcome, ass!" Fisher said.

"I can't nurse it like I'm supposed to for at least another eighteen hours," Theus said.

"Fisher, assist the others," Wevis ordered. He left, and asked, "How long will you need?"

"Checking sir," Theus answered.

He worked the controls and interfaced with his own tricorder. The small device didn't provide enough processing power, so he pulled an extra terminal from his pack and attached physical leads directly to ports on the console and holographic connections molded to fit them.

"Anything?" Wevis asked.

"I have good and bad news, sir," Theus began. "Bypassing their security won't be a problem, I've already uploaded a worm virus to search their internal networks and begin deleting data. According to intelligence, this project is so classified that this is the sole facility where all information is stored. In addition to having the only scientists knowledgeable about the subject on their planet right here."

"And the bad news?"

"Their containment techniques are…not of a high quality. I wouldn't be comfortable with moving anything, let along using the transporter for a distance farther than even a kilometre," Theus said.

"Then we do this here. Let's get started."

Wevis opened his tricorder and input commands. Seconds later, the shimmer of the transporter effect deposited a portable standing chamber shaped like a large fish tank. More items transported in; including a power source, a small standing station, and a specially modified Mark VII quantum torpedo.

"Ready on this end," Theus said.

"Sitix, man the monitoring console," Wevis ordered. When she joined them and signaled she was ready he said, "Energize."

"Wait, wait!"

Theus made sure to look up from the console this time and saw Fisher and Baresio grab a frantic scientist that was slowly jogging over to them. The larger alien male definitely wasn't one for physical activity, but his labored movements conveyed how important it was he reach them.

"Bring him over," Wevis said.

Baresio did so and when they were close enough, the scientist panted harshly trying to catch his breath. Theus didn't know much about this alien species beyond their mission briefing. They were humanoid, although they were taller on average at around two-hundred forty centimetres. Their flesh was also lighter to pale, but seemed to have been smoothed like wet clay. They didn't have much hair at their brows or head except for a center strip of tight curls.

"Y-You need to stop what you're doing," he finally got out.

"What is your name?" Wevis asked.

"I am Hurano, chief researcher. The equipment you're disturbing is very sensitive."

"Only because your cooling techniques to decrease impedance aren't calibrated properly to allow for hyper conductivity in your magnetic confinement," Theus said. "I've applied several optimization programs that should shore that up at least until we are finished."

The scientist seemed stunned for a moment. "You're extremely well-versed in particle containment for someone so young."

Wevis asked, "How do you know he's young? We're all wearing helmets?"

"War is conducted by the old, and fought by children," Hurano said. "I've worked for many a military in my time, and recognize soldiers no matter what they look like. But please, you must stop."

Theus said, "I've already told you, our containment is much more efficient than yours." As he finished, he cycled through the transport sequence.

"Got 'em," Sitix said. "I count seventeen molecules, beginning neutralization. This should only take a few hours."

"Neutralize?" Hurano asked. "You're destroying them?! You can't!" He shouted hysterically. Hurano tried to push past Wevis, but Baresio grabbed him by the collar tightly.

"Don't do that again," Baresio warned.

"Listen," Wevis said in a consoling tone, "I understand that this work is important to you. That—"

"You don't understand anything!" He shrieked. "This is more than important. It's my life! Years of research and planning, decades away from home, from my family! I have sacrificed and loss for this, and you tell me you understand?! You don't even have the decency to steal my work and are cruel enough to make me watch while you destroy everything that I am! Why?!"

"Because it's too dangerous," Wevis said.

"Who do you work for?!" Hurano demanded. "The Kital? A dissident from Relias or Pedgroa Colony?"

Wevis looked to Baresio who answered, "Their rival nation, lunar city, and planetary neighbor respectively."

"I see," Wevis said. "No, we do not represent any of those institutions."

"Sir," Fisher was running toward them. "The natives overheard our plans and they're getting restless."

Theus looked over to see all of the scientists approaching. They had random object in their hands and began to throw loose material at them.

"You're orders, sir?" Fisher asked as he gathered with his group.

"Get back!" Wevis shouted.

A small metallic tray sailed past his head, and hit the chamber that contained the molecules.

"Enough talking," Baresio said. He changed the setting on his rifle, and fired it at a storage locker. It glowed amber for a moment as it began to disappear. "You will all drop whatever is in your hand, and return to where we staged you. Any resistance, and you're next."

"How much energy can that weapon output?" Hurano asked, his scientific curiosity overriding any concern for his own safety.

"One down," Sitix said. "Captain, this part is pretty much automatic. I've already scanned the other side of the door and it will take them longer to get through than it will for us to finish."

"Your point?" Wevis asked.

"My point, is that we're going to be here for a while. We have their data, and whatever hard copies are in the facility. Now we need to make sure that they don't recreate any of the research." She said.

Hurano said, "You really aren't from another power, they would take prisoners. Just make it quick like the locker."

"What?" Sitix asked. "Oh…oh no. Wow that got morbid quick."

"We're not murdering anyone," Wevis said to Hurano. To Sitix he asked, "What did you have in mind."

She didn't answer him. Instead she turned to the scientists and said, "Alright tech boys and girls, come in close. I promise you won't want to miss this."

The group remained still until Sitix reach up and removed her helmet to reveal her cerulean skin. Their mouths dropped agape and one of the scientist even fainted.

"Forget who, what are you?" He asked.

One by one, the Starfleet team began to take off their helmets. Revealing to the Reliosian scientist the species of Human, Vulcan, Bolian, and Rigelian.

"I am Captain Wevis, and these are my officers," he said.

"You're…you're all from a different planet?" Hurano asked.

"Four," Baresio said. "My parents are actually different species from separate worlds."

Theus said, "Hurano, I know this must be a lot to take in. But intelligent life beyond your start system not only exists, but it flourishes. It is much more prevalent than you could've ever imagined."

"But why…how…"

Fisher said, "Your species is unique in its technological evolution. Instead of developing faster than light propulsion, you focused on relativistic speeds to colonize and commercialize your own solar system. However, your experiments with Omega are an outlier."

"Omega?"

Sitix explained, "The molecule your team is working on. You've already discovered its destructive properties with that accident on your planet's south western continent. We know that's why your government has you working to develop it as a weapon. But we cannot and will not allow that to happen."

"Why?"

Wevis said, "Team, take a group and fill them in. Make sure they know the dangers if they consider this course of action. Eridos, you stick with Hurano."

They all broke off into team. Theus explained the history of the molecule. How dangerous it was and the effects it had on sub-space. Hurano took it all in stride.

"From the beginning, I always wanted this project to be used for providing energy. I thought it would be our stepping point into the stars," Hurano said.

"Don't feel bad," Theus said. "The most common method of regulating warp travel is dilithium crystals, and they aren't native to my home system. We used dangerous nuclear fission reactions that created waste at first. You should be proud of how much infrastructure you have in your system as it is. It took my people centuries to get that far."

"So what happens now?" He asked.

"After we're finished, we'll leave. You won't hear from us again unless you contact us first…and have achieved warp flight."

"Is that the directive you spoke of?"

"It is," Theus said. "It normally applies, but not in cases dealing with Omega. For what it's worth, we would be just as prejudicial to any citizen of our Federation. The threat is too great."

"I see that now," he said. "There are those in my government that will not accept what has happened here today. They will say that we are lying, and perhaps try to persuade us with force. I don't know if everyone will be strong enough to resist interrogation."

"You have to be," Theus said. "For your sake. I meant it when I said my nation has a policy of non-interference and that we will never strike first. However none of our laws or restrictions will stop us from coming back if we detect Omega again. And if we do, more extreme measures will have to be taken."

"Such as?"

"Such as accidents, stray asteroids made of metals you can't destroy or deflect, kidnappings, mental deterrents," Theus said and watched him shudder.

"I can't promise you we won't, but I will try my best," he said.

Theus reached into his pack and pulled out at digital tablet. It was intentionally designed to look like a model the Reliosians used, only with much more internal memory. He handed it to Hurano and said, "The Federation understands what it is doing to your world. While we aren't ashamed of it, we regret it has come to this."

"A bribe?"

"An alternative," Theus corrected. "Contained within that data pad is information on sub-space. No schematics, but I'm sure you will be able to figure out your own equations to create a stable warp field in no time. It already has identified multiple frequencies that will allow you to communicate with no delay throughout your system."

"Incredible," Hurano said. "This will change everything. But my government wanted a weapon."

"You're government also still uses currency. I'm sure you can find some way to make this profitable. But I would focus on the warp flight. People have a tendency to move forward from petty squabbles once they realize they aren't alone...and the potential for profit from trade deals."

"Eridos, over here," Wevis said.

"Excuse me," Theus said, and joined his team leader. "What is it, sir?"

"Just an update. We need to speed up our work here, think you can manage that without threatening to destabilize the little Big Bangs?" He asked.

"I can, but not by much. I estimate it would cut an hour at the most off our time. Are we in a hurry?"

"That we are, I just received a message from Broadsword. Starfleet Command has a new mission for us, and we need to get back to sector zero-zero-one as soon as possible. We're headed to Earth."