The conference room aboard Starbase 47 was alive with the low hum of starship systems and the muted hustle and bustle of dockside operations filtering faintly in through the bulkheads. A large viewport stretched along one wall, framing the USS Bell Rock, now resting under the protective arms of the station.

The USS Sausalito’s  senior staff filed into the room first, their uniforms still marked with the scuffs and stains of long hours under duress. A few of them carried PADDS and seemed alert, while others showed weariness that means they had had too little rest. They each took their places at the elongated table in the center of the room, murmuring among themselves as the room settled. At the head of the table, Captain Harper remained standing, hands clasped behind her back, eyes drawn towards the viewport.

The doors hissed open again and the crew of the USS Chawla entered in an almost formation. At their head was Captain Rigras, carrying a PADD under one arm, her gaze scanning the room with a mix of courtesy and calculation. Behind her trailed the XO and department heads, each nodding politely as they took their seats opposite their Sausalito counterparts.

For a heartbeat, the atmosphere was taut. The weariness of the Sausalito‘s crew taking center stage. Captain Harper waited a few moments before addressing anyone. She took a deep breath before speaking. “Captain Rigras, it is a pleasure.”

“On my side as well Captain Harper.” As she took her seat noticing the haggard state of the Sausslito’s crew.

“So how can the Chawla be of assistance? The Chawla and its crew are at your service.” As she took a long hard look at the Bell Rook positioned in the viewport in front of her.

“But first I would like to commend your ship, your crew and yourself on bringing her home.” Nodding toward the scene laid out just on the other side of the view ports.

Harper inclined her head at Rigras’s words, though she did not sit immediately. The compliment stung more than it soothed; the Bell Rock was home, yes, but it was scarred, broken, and without it’s diplomatic officer. She let her gaze linger on the damaged ship beyond the viewport before returning her gaze back to the table.

“Thank you, Captain,” Harper said at last, her voice calm but edged with the fatigue she carried with her. “But you should know, it was not heroics. It was grit. My people held together under fire and under pressure. They did their duty and they will do it again.”

Finally, she sat, shoulders straightening as if anchoring herself for the next phase. She placed her folded hands out in front of her on the table, steady despite the utter exhaustion she felt.

“The Bell Rock’s diplomatic officer was taking in the middle of the chaos of the Vaadwaur attack. It doesn’t seem to be random. My team found that transporter logs were deliberately corrupted. The only trace left was to a unique Vaadwaur carrier wave, one that doesn’t appear in our databases. That officer wasn’t an opportunistic prize. It appears she was targeted.”

The Commander sitting at Aryanna’s left leaned in towards her ear whispered something which she winced at then nodded.

“Excuse me, Captain. Lieutenant Commander Altizer, I’m the Chawla’s Chief Tactical Operations Officer. Let me get this straight are you saying that she was targeted by the Vaadwaur? Why her? I would think that the Captain or the exec would have been better targets if they wanted information. “ He sat back and watched the faces of the Sausalito’s crew looking for signs that something was not being left out.

Harper’s expression remained steady, her tone measured but firm. “We don’t know why she was taken, Commander — not yet. The Vaadwaur hit hard and fast, targeting systems that would’ve made escape impossible. Commander Elara was on duty when they boarded, and they went straight for her. That doesn’t feel random. Maybe they wanted information, or maybe she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Either way, we owe it to her and the Bell Rock to find out — and to bring her home.”

A murmur passed along the Chawla’s side of the table. Harper let is pass, her gaze now fixed firmly on Rigras. “As the Chief Diplomatic Officer, she carried with her sensitive context on exploratory talks with the Vaadwaur. If they break her…If they even scratch the surface of what knowledge she has, every foothold that the Federation maintains in this sector could unravel. The situation is urgent and demands an immediate response.”

Harper leaned forward slightly, “My ship and crew has already received orders to intercept. But we will not get far if we are only chasing shadows. We need your help. With our two crews working in tandem, we will be able to pinpoint a location faster and expedite the retrieval process. The help of you and your crew may make all the difference, Captain.”

Aryanna nodded at the Captains words as she said them. “Well I guess the first place to start is at the scene of the crime.” She turned and looked at the Bell Rock.

“Commander Altizer, you and your team have an hour.”

“Yes, ma’am” as he got up and quickly made his way out of the room.

”I’m sure your team did complete check Captain. But the Commander and his team have a unique set of skills. As for me, that gives me less than an hour to hear details from Captain _______ myself.” She turned toward the Commander on her right “90?”

Commander Bearsong typed something on her PADD, waited a few seconds as responses pinged back. “75 give or take a couple”

Aryanna raised an eyebrow and nodded. “Seeing as time is of the essence, the Chawla departs in seventy five minutes.  She wasn’t the only crime scene, and we need to start somewhere and I for one can’t think of a better place than where it happened.”

Harper gave a single, firm nod, her posture straightening as the tempo in the room subtly shifted from debrief to action. “Agreed, Captain. The Sausalito will be ready to depart within the hour. My crew has already run diagnostics and resupply is currently underway. We can launch alongside the Chawla.” She glanced briefly toward the view port, where the Bell Rock rested in the station’s grasp. “If we’re going back to the site, we’ll start with sensor telemetry from both ships. Whatever trace the Vaadwaur left behind, we’ll find it.” Turning back to Rigras, her tone settled into quiet resolve.

Aryanna looked at Captain Harper “We don’t let that” as she hooked a thumb over her shoulder “go unanswered and we do not leave one of our own in the hands of .” She let the rest of the it unsaid as she looked at the faces nodding at her words from across the table.

Harper met her gaze and gave a single, resolute nod. “Then it’s settled,” she said quietly, the determination in her voice cutting through the room like steel. “We launch together — and we bring her home.”