Captain’s log, supplemental.

Curiosity.

It drives us to make that giant leap into the stars; to develop warp drives that take us where no one has gone before; to explore the galaxy. It’s that great sense of curiosity that unites us, all of us, out here among the stars, searching for that next great civilisation or unique scientific anomaly. It can never be quenched, it can never be satisfied. It’s always there, even when we forget what it means to be explorers.

It’s that curiosity that’s brought us out here, deep into the Beta Quadrant, to the far reaches of a new frontier, in the search for answers to an ancient new mystery….

Blinding lights erupted within the ethereal mists of PX-921’s planetary rings, several Starfleet vessels emerging from their warp vortex before inching their way ahead, sensors pinging intermittently, guiding their way through the uncharted system. Led by the Sutherland-class research cruiser at the fore, the task group eventually came to a standstill in synchronous orbit high above the planet’s atmosphere.

“We’ve arrived in orbit of Nareen, Captain…”

Looking up from the data PADD in her grasp, the Blonde Bombshell occupying the seat at the heart of the science vessel’s command centre let out a large, satisfied grin. Hypatia had accompanied a squadron of Starfleet’s finest far into the vast reaches of the Shackleton Expanse to investigate the ruins of PX-921, codenamed “Nareen”, in the hope of investigating rumours and obtaining answers to some burning questions about the planet’s ancient past.

“Have the task group hold position and link them into our analysis. When we’re happy, we’ll send down our away teams,” Captain Noli Auru decreed from the sanctuary of her seat.

“Begin planetary survey,” the crimson-clad Cardassian beside her gave a curt nod to the attentive Romulan to his right whilst the green-skinned female to the Captain’s left silently communicated their orders to the rest of the squadron.

It was hard to be entirely professional on a Defiant-class, especially one on permanent independent operation. Most ships of the class had a starbase to disseminate into when a voyage was all done, but those aboard USS Wasp, stayed aboard. Professional and casual had a strange way of blending when forty people are crammed into a tin can for months on end- especially when that’s where they prefer to be.

That being said, a balance had to be struck- and today, it was in the way the old Earth song Space Oddity went from pleasantly blasting Major Tom’s wonderings of the universe to everyone on the bridge, to a quiet little background noise to everyone except Rakko. The Caitian didn’t even need to be told- it was as automatic as Rainet’s fluid motions over by the science console, letting Wasp‘s humble little sensors filter through the noise. The big cruisers had the edge in raw power, but nothing was as precise as a Defiant when they were looking for something specific.

“Anything?” Song’s fingers drummed idly on the center chair, the music already stuck in her head. Damn earworms.

“Sand and rocks. A little bit of sand. Some rocks. And- whaddya know- sand.” Rainet mused, the hybrid Betazoid-Idanian’s eyes almost glazing over as she stared at her screen. “I think Al-Batani‘s maybe even found an impact crater. But that’s-”

“-just more sand and rocks, yes, thank you, Rain,” Song replied with a humored huff. “If you find anything else, would you kindly-”

“Oop! There, bingo.” Rainet shot upright in her seat like a puppet getting its strings pulled. “Reference coordinates… 119 point 46 degrees north, 36 degrees west. That’s something metallic right there, doesn’t line up with its surroundings. Call it in? I think Hypatia‘s got the best angle on it.”

Song congratulated her science officer with a brief nod. “Put Captain Noli on the horn. We’ll see what they make of it.”

“Receiving a transmission from Wasp Captain,” the Denobulan, Orax, declared from the Ops station at the front of the bridge, glancing briefly over his shoulder towards the ‘Command Pit’.

Inching forward in her chair, the Captain waved a hand that gave the older man permission to put the transmission through.

With a momentary burst of static- the lingering gases around the system causing just a momentary struggle- Song and the bridge of Wasp appeared on Hypatia‘s viewscreen. The young lieutenant commander briefly nodded offscreen and adjusted her uniform collar- still not used to being almost-equivalent to older, senior officers.

“Wasp here, Hypatia,” she started, clearing her throat.”Picked up something in the data you’re sending us. Grid ref… Rainet?”

“119.46 degrees north, 36 degrees west!” a voice chirped offscreen.

“Right. Metal alloys of some sort, might be some sort of structure- doesn’t match up with the planet’s surface composition at all. Think you’re in the best spot to get eyes on.”

“Affirmative Wasp,” Noli smiled, “We’ll look into it and get back in touch.” Once the channel ended, she shot a look towards her science chief working on the starboard aft bulkhead, granting him permission to follow up the findings from their colleagues. It wasn’t that she was angry, but it was clear she was frustrated.

How had their Defiant-class escort found their target before Hypatia and her substantial sensor array? It stung.

Standing at the protective railing behind the science station some time later, Captain and XO alike waited with bated breath. They’d received the coordinates from their colleagues aboard Wasp, Commander Vren instantly setting to work for further analysis. When his readings were complete, the Romulan turned in his chair and nodded sagely.

“I’ve got the structure,” he confirmed in his deep, soulful tone. “I detect no risk to life, no reason why we shouldn’t go down there.”

Clenching her first, the Bajoran in red tapped the railing and let out a grin. “Assemble an away team, Commander. Number One, let the squadron know we’re headed down to the surface and, if they want to send teams of their own, they are more than welcome,” Noli practically danced her way back to the command chair as the Cardassian XO hung on her every word. “And thank Wasp for her heads up.”

“On my way Captain,” the Romulan grinned, not needing to be asked twice to engage in such a mission. A welcome change of pace after all the drama of the last few months. Darting into the turbo lift, he tapped his commbadge and summoned a number of his science department to meet him in the transporter room just as the lift doors closed behind him.

Meanwhile, Prenar dutifully followed his captain, nodding along to her every instruction before parting ways and working with Orax to deliver the message as required. Whilst ordinarily he’d frown at the idea of being a glorified communications relay, he understood the assignment; coordinating several ships was never easy, especially in an area of space where ‘home’ was so far away and communication was significantly delayed.

“I have confirmation from Al-Batani and Cardenas Captain,” Orax called from Ops. “Both have science teams on stand-by to supplement our survey team. Captain Mercer has offered the use of their humanitarian equipment to set up a camp site for our teams.”

“Inform Captain Mercer that we graciously accept his offer and Commander Vren is on his way to the surface to coordinate efforts now,” Noli instructed, returning to the safety of her chair, observing with pride as her crew went diligently about their business.

“Permission to head down with the division away team?” Song had never seen Rainet so excited before- eyes wide like a kid in a candy store, practically chomping at the bit to go put Wasp‘s name on an actual scientific discovery. Not every day a Defiant got that honor.

Who was she to deny her the opportunity? “Granted,” Song confirmed, not bothering to try and repress the little grin on her face. “Take the Petrenkos down with you- I think Alondra could use some fresh air that doesn’t smell like grease, and better to take a security officer than be sorry.”

Rainet practically rocketed out of her seat. “We’ll be back in a flash!” the hybrid singsonged as she made for the turbolift, a round of humored chuckling following in her wake.