Captain Skyrunner, just left the Sickbay, angry that his wife was in rough shape but also relieved to know she is safe now. Knowing that she is safe, Kirok can channel his anger into action, coupled with his fierce determination. He started to plan out how to deal with this Vaadwaur threat. He kept recalling what Sophia told him, wondering how that could help. He walked into the main turbolift and told the computer he wanted Main Engineering. The computer beeped acknowledgement and started to move. His mind was racing at warp speed. A minute later the turbolift stopped and the doors opened to reveal a busy engine room. Captain Skyrunner walked slowly towards the currently dark warp core. Catersha was scanning the warp core with a tricorder and an assistant was tapping commands into a nearby computer console. Catersha turned to face the Ensign helping her and she noticed the Captain. She turned to face him.

“Captain, how can I help you?”

“Starships carry flight recorders, right,” the Captain asked her.

Catersha thought it over for a few seconds. At the same time, the Ensign’s fingers flew over the console. Before the Chief Engineer could answer, the Ensign answered his question with a lot of enthusiasm.

“Yes sir, all starships carry a ‘black box’ according to the old Earth term, referring to a flight data recorder.”

Captain Skyrunner turned his head to look at the bright Ensign. Catersha looked at the Ensign and the computer console she was working on. After a quick examination of what was shown, Cat looked at the Captain and nodded. The Captain nodded back to Catersha, then addressed the Ensign.

“Excellent work Ensign. Can they be retrieved?”

The Captain inquired of her. Catersha was already a sector ahead and brought up the Thunderdragon’s ship schematic, locating her ‘black box’. Catersha smiled at her Captain.

“Yes sir. They can be retrievable. Recommend we get the Thunderdragon’s recorder from the wreckage,” Catersha suggested.

Kirok smiled at her.

“I was thinking the same thing. Assemble a team Cat. I’ll inform Commander Lionel to join you.”

“Aye sir,” Catersha replied. Then she looked at the Ensign with her, “Ensign, you’re with me. Gather the gear we will need and report to the main shuttlebay.”

The young female Ensign nodded acknowledgement and went to get the gear and tools. Captain Skyrunner smiled at his engineers and turned to leave Main Engineering. He bypassed the turbolift that was in the engine room and chose to walk the corridors, on a casual route to the Bridge. We arrived at the turbolift located at the bow of the ship and entered it. He told the computer his destination and it started moving.

A minute later, the lift stopped and opened out onto his Bridge. He walked out onto his Bridge and down to where his command chair was located. Commander Lionel spotted him and stood up and moved to his chair, on the Captain’s right. They both sat at the same time.

“Status report Number One,” Captain Skyrunner asked.

“Ship systems are almost back to 100% sir. Shields and weapons are standing by. We have full impulse and will have full warp capability in an hour.”

“Position of the Vaadwaur ship?”

“Still on the far side of the planet, but slowly catching up. Their orbital velocity is a little higher than us. In about 24 hours, they will be able to detect us.”

“Helm, what is our position related to the wreckage field?”

“We are currently on the near side of the planet. Approaching the closest point to the debris field in 36 minutes. Distance to the debris field perimeter is 246,000,000 kilometers. The Vaadwaur ship will reach this point in about seven hours.

Captain Skyrunner did some quick math. He looked at Aramis.

“I need you to take the runabout over the Thunderdragon’s debris field to find and retrieve her flight recorder. Hopefully it has the important sensor data we need before we engage the Vaadwaur ship here.”

Commander Lionel looked at his Captain with a raised eyebrow. Captain Skyrunner saw that look and nodded. A silent conversation between them. Aramis nodded acknowledgement and stood up.

“On my way sir,” Aramis said, already in the turbolift, knowing what the Captain was planning.

The Tactical Officer inquired, “what is the plan Captain?”

Captain Skyrunner glanced back at him.

“We are gonna try to retrieve the Thunderdragon’s ‘black box’ and download its data.” Then Kirok turned to look at his Tactical Officer. “Lieutenant, I want you to continuously monitor that Vaadwaur ship so that they don’t detect the runabout.”

Lieutenant Tom Bradley, the Chief Tactical Officer for the USS Carlsbad nodded. “Yes sir, connecting with the probe and programming for continuous passive scans.” He continued to tap commands into the computer console. “The Vaadwaur ship still doesn’t know that we are hiding sir. Their shields are still down and weapons are offline.”

“Thank you Lieutenant.” Captain Skyrunner tapped his comm badge. “Skyrunner to Runabout?”

The voice of Commander Lionel came back from his comm badge. “Runabout here sir. We are prepped and ready to go.”

“Acknowledged Commander. According to my math, it should take you about an hour to get to the debris field and an hour back. That leaves you five hours to find the recorder before that Vaadwaur ship detects you and knows we are here. We have no idea what Vaadwaur reinforcements are in the area. Play smart Commander. Skyrunner out.”

Kirok turned to look at his console that sat between his chair and the First Officer’s, going over the sensor data again. His mind was still racing on possible tactics. The turbolift doors open and Kaelara and a security escort walked out onto the Bridge.

“Captain, I would like to request permission to help install the same warp alternate drive that the rogue Borg that Lore led, has used. It is an artificially created energy conduit. It works similarly to the tunnel’s that the Vaadwaur use but not as violent exits. Plus with Borg enhanced shields, I anticipate no major issues.”

Captain Skyrunner stood and faced her. “How long will that take?”

“Two to three hours.”

“Granted.” He looked at the Security Ensign. “Show her to the Engineering Room, Ensign.”

The Ensign nodded, showing Kaelara where the engine room was located. Kirok sat back down and looked at the viewscreen and saw the runabout circle around the USS Carlsbad clockwise, passing in front of the ship, then fly off towards the debris field.

“Yellow Alert! Standby shields and weapons,” Captain Skyrunner ordered.

The Bridge erupted into a symphony of alerts and flashing lights as the ship’s computer, announced in a calm, melodic voice.

“Yellow Alert! Yellow Alert! Caution, the ship is on Condition Yellow.”

The soft, golden glow of the console screens intensified, casting a warm, urgent light on the faces of the crew. The Captain’s chair, positioned at the center of the Bridge, seemed to hum with a quiet energy, its built-in console flashing with a series of amber-colored alerts. The lights embedded in the floor and ceiling, normally a soft blue, shifted to a muted yellow, bathing the Bridge in a sense of caution. The air itself seemed to vibrate with anticipation, as if the very ship itself was tensing, preparing for whatever challenges are ahead.